Hodge Podge

It is so good to be home! Santa Barbara really is one of the most incredible places on earth. When I was flying in yesterday I was so excited I just stared out at the islands and the beautiful coast and grinned like a little kid. I feel so blessed to call this place home.

Anyway...I just thought I'd post a random mix of photos from the last few weeks that never made it on here due to this or that...busyness...you know. Enjoy- I did! :)

New York City (from the US Open in Queens)

The Jersey Shore

Miss Brittany Raffill <3

...and Mr. Gerald Lahay

Just a bunch of kids really...Central Park Zoo :)

Miss Amy Nave! <3 (p.s. I can't figure out how to rotate this baby- but I just had to add it...tilt your head a little ;)

Amy=Claustrophobic

"wait...we're getting on that?" ;)

Sent from my iPhone

RAAARRRR

Sent from my iPhone

I'm back in the city and last night Josh and I went to this incredible little Italian restaurant and then to The Lion King! Thank you to my dad's fiance Teri for these amazing tickets- we were 10 rows back, center stage and it was AMAZING!! It is such a wonderful, moving story (one of my fav Disney films) and probably the most visually stunning plays I have ever seen. The dancing was phenomenal and made me feel inspired and washed-up at the same time! ;)

AND...it just keeps getting better because Amy is flying in tonight and I am heading over the the Grand Hyatt to check us in now!! I cannot wait until she gets here! :)

p.s. I slacked on the blogging in Jersey...I'll post some about that later.

More fun!

Too much to process = snapshot approach...

Sent from my iPhone

Sunday- Brunch bottom-less mimosas...afternoon stroll through Central Park...Redeemer Presbyterian Church...dancing to the wee hours at APT- swanky- and pretty much a gay bar- so much fun though! :)

Monday- Business plans...David Letterman (we got the special tickets- red-sticker="T" for Trouble)...Le Madeline (best creme brulee in the city)...late night brainstorm sesh.
Tuesday- Slept til noon...Thunder storm (and Neil's first day as a bike messenger- yikes!)...Cocoa cafe- coffee, chocolate, wine= heaven on earth- right around the corner... fire-escape the madness for a bit...and more fun to come!

:)

Lazy day :)

Reading on the fire escape (Eat Pray Love- poignant writing- love it)...

Long subway ride...The original hot dog- found on Coney Island...

Stroll down the boardwalk...long subway ride- home. :)

4:13

Today was SO incredible! Actually, the last few days have been unreal. I wandered around Central Park and went to the Met all day yesterday by myself, which was so much fun. I love being by myself in this city. Then, Josh and Neil and I met up at this outdoor theater in the park and saw a free play- A Midsummer Night's Dream- which was so masterfully done. It's a tradition in NYC to have free plays in the park in the summertime- so cool!

Today Josh and I went to the Bodies exhibit, which is basically every conceivable part of the human body displayed in both informative and stunning ways. I was incredbily moved by the section devoted to the growth of a fetus and specifcally the female body that had a child still in her womb. So amazing to see that so vividly displayed.

I took all three roommates out to this ridiculous Indian restaurant we found yesterday that is absolutely packed with florescent lights. Then we hit up a few bars. We found one called Fat Baby that was playing pretty good dance music (b/c we all know that's the only reason I go out)- but no one was dancing! So Josh and Neil challenged me and I spent the rest of the night getting people to dance with each other. It was so fun- totally changed the dynamic! One guy saw what I was doing and told me I would make a great politician (food for thought...)! ;)

I can't believe it's only been 3 days- I feel so at home here. More later- I need sleep!

Love, love!

Yesterday was a blast! I got into NY mid-morning and met Josh in the city. He took me to his aunt's apartment and made me breakfast. So sweet! His aunt lives on the 44th floor of this building that is rent only to artists- she's a composer. Her apartment was classic!

Josh, Neil, and Chase have a sweet apartment on the lower east side, which is right by China town and Little Italy! They even have a fire escape- which I absolutely love! Josh and Neil make a great pair of cooks and after an incredible dinner (I'm being very spoiled here) we head out to the US OPEN!! I have never really watched tennis but this was SO much fun! The stadium was absolutely packed and I love that kind of energy! Plus- tennis players are pretty hot. My favorite was the Swiss guy- Federer. :)



Btw, I learned all sorts of tennis lingo- love,love means the score is 0-0. How fun is that!

Today I'm heading uptown to wander around the Met for a few hours...I love it here! :)

The adventure begins...

So a couple hours ago I got on my first flight by myself! I have traveled a good amount but never without a friend or my family. It's been funny b/c I'm usually totally confident traveling, but the newness of this makes me kinda neurotic...I've felt like I was forgetting something since I got to the airport and I thought it had something to do with worrying about my bags, but I realized it's more of a feeling like I'm missing someone. Pretty deep, huh? ;) I think I'm going to start journaling. :)

Josh and I are going to the U.S. Open finals pretty much right after I get to New York so I'm supposed to be studying up on tennis and the players so I'm not totally lost. My solution: beer in a sports bar. What says lone traveller better than that?! :)

I'm so excited to get to NYC I doubt I will sleep at all on the flight. I hope it's not too taboo to laugh deliriously during a tennis match...don't worry, I'll hold it together. :)