NYC or Bust

Saturday, September 5th - Day 1

Can't be time to wake up, surely not. But lo and behold the two hours of sleep have passed quickly past (as Monty Python would say) and it IS time to get up. 4:15 a.m. already? How'd that happen? Last thing I remember is how good it felt to lie down around 2 a.m., yes just over 2 hours ago, having been completely bagged, although elated, after such a spectacular 25th Anniversary party last night at Patti's. Emily and Patti managed to completely surprise us with a trip to NYC. Something we had wanted to do for a very long time. So thoughtful and well-executed. We really didn't have a clue! So, thank you Emily and Patti for such a special party and gift. It's something we'll never forget. Thank you everyone for being there, for the well-wishes, the gifts, cards, ideas for the trip - for everything! Bob, Brenda, Andrew, Tim, Meaghan, Jay, Randy, Linda, Doug, Onalea, David, Roberta, Brian, Angie, Rose, George, Todd, Holy Smoke... who have I forgotten? Also for the gifts and wishes from those who couldn't be there, Duve, Pam, Norma, Harry, Mom, JoAnn, Susan, Wade, Diane, Lynn, Ron, sorry if I've forgotten anyone - doing this from memory and on not much sleep!

Patti, great place for a party, loving the basement with the horseshoe bar, the deck, it all works so well. Good food. Emily - great desserts, and then the total surprise of the trip - unbelievable and overwhelming.

So, after about two hours of sleep we haul our exhausted but happy butts out of bed and set off for the airport. Emily sleepwalks to the car without even opening her eyes and squeezes another 20 minutes of sleep in before we get to Calgary International and she has to drive herself back home. Just as well there's not much traffic on the road at 5:00 a.m. on a Saturday.

Thankfully I can sleep on planes and fall asleep I do, even before we take off - drives Bruce just a little bit crazy that I can do that. We have a short stopover in Toronto to de-plane, claim baggage, fill out customs form, walk baggage through customs, re-check baggage, clear security, wonder why the guy in front of us is wearing pants with enough metal buttons to made the beeping wand sing at the top of its lungs - and get on the plane to New York. Flight from Pearson to La Guardia is super quick - barely enough time to get a second nap in. I wake up just in time to see the big apple approaching. Hard to believe that 24 hours ago we had no idea we were going to be in NYC today. Wow.

Luggage comes quickly and after a minor goof-up where I follow a women into the parkade before realizing she is trying to scam us into getting into her SUV instead of taking a real cab, we quickly make our way back to the yellow cab line-up. Bruce isn't sure what the heck I'm doing - he just gives his head shake.

Have my camera, well Emily's camera, out in the cab, at the ready to get some shots when we get to the Toll Booth and the toll guy makes the cab wait a moment while he instructs me to roll down my window and then carefully tells me, like I'm about 6 years old, that you're not allowed to take any photos of bridges or tunnels - "it's against the law so why don't you just put. the. camera. away." (over enunciate those words as you read them). It was like one of those Law and Order episodes - put. the. weapon. down. So I do. Ooops.

That is what you call a New York Minute.

Patti and Emily - nice hotel! Fantastic location. We are very happy here. It's a big room with a kitchenette, clean bathroom, kingsize bed, AIR CONDITIONING - WOOT! - small couch, a TV with lots of stations, and a gym in the basement. No wireless connection in the room but there is in the lobby so I can check in at night (like now).

We're unpacked by mid-afternoon so it's time to explore a bit. We go for a walk and quickly see what a fantastic location this is. A couple of blocks away we walk past Grand Central Station, and go inside to check it out. Gorgeous - cool ceiling, lots of people, families mostly, probably because it's a long weekend. We wander a bit, take a look at the spot where Paul Shafer and the band pose for their picture on the David Letterman opening sequence and start to realize, we're in New York City!

Wander along 5th Avenue until we come to Saks and I have to stop and look in the windows especially for Todd. Those are some fancy gowns - not sure what that one hip flap is for exactly but it's ultra glam. We go inside and walk the main floor - try a perfume and leave. Not in the mood to try on gowns today...

Next thing we come upon is the Rockefeller Centre - that's an impressive complex created by an undoubtedly complex and very wealthy oil man and philanthropist - wow, and Todd, you're right - the skating rink is smaller than you'd expect. I bet the Christmas tree is pretty amazing when it's up.

Other things within the immediate vicinity are the MOMA gift shop, NBC studio, Radio City Music Hall, the top of the Chrysler Building is visible, St. Patrick's Cathedral, so many famous places considering this was just meant to be a little exploratory walk!

Decided to eat in tonight since we're pretty bagged, and overwhelmed so we picked up some salads and sandwiches in a local deli and stayed in.

Great first day. Great birthday. G'night!