DC

I haven't written since I've been here because I have been mourning the post I lost that I spent 2 hours on the train typing on the way here about Philly, freedom and my own personal revolution. Then I had a horrible hotel disaster that would have been less tragic had I slept, eaten and not been sick as hell and overheated from walking around in the heat with a jacket on for 5 hours before finding out I didn't have a room. But those factors all were present and I had a panic attack in the middle of a lobby and all I could think is that they must think this poor little white girl is nuts. The one thing I can say for that place was the staff and the beautiful women with their amazing Carribean accents did a great job in trying to calm me down. I ended up finding another room and spending twice as much money, but in a much better situation and just saying I will have to deal with it when I get home. I'm here now, and I'm not having this week ruined for anything. Priceline, I bow to you like the god you are.

I'm so sick of being sick, and heat and jeans and yeah...It's just not been the most comfortable leg of the trip. I'm congested and snotty now, which is at least dealable. I've managed to go just as hard in DC as I did in NYC, and now tomorrow have a "cleanup" day after the parade, which means there is a much shorter list of things to fit within 8 hours. (I have a ticket for the Stephen Schwartz Project in Alexandria tomorrow night, but getting there is a huge PIA and not exactly a safe area, so even though he is a musical genius, and I hate to waste money, I may have to shine it.) I've just spent the past hour sorting out my souvenirs and my folding all my dirty clothes and bagging away my smelly socks. I've done a really good job of having a moderate trip where I've gotten to do most of the things I've wanted to do, and haven't felt too restricted on most things. I've bought what I've wanted, and not really said no to myself too many times. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and so I'm going to live it. I've had one spoiling meal in each city, where I sat and relaxed and enjoyed myself with a indulging meal, in NYC and here with a yummy speciality cocktail. (I was too sick in Philly and Nyquil was my relaxation inducer of choice.) I'm very pleased with myself and how I've pushed forward, alone, on this trip. I feel accomplished and independent, save for my little breakdown where I really should have been stronger and pulled it together. I ended up doing it all by myself anyway, I didn't need to make that scene and it serves as the only weak point on this trip. I feel like a postman. The show must go on. Despite fever and blisters and rain, I've powered forward to see a list of places that seems unimaginable in just a short time. I've been having serious knee issues, have a side ache that won't quit, and I've lost weight that I couldn't afford from lack of making food a true priority this week, but I'm certain a bit more of a regular schedule coming after my work trip to NY next week, I will be okay. (This trip has made me feel old in so many ways, I'm really not liking certain thoughts in my head, but I am trying to push them out.) Wait, oh my god, I have to come back to this coast in 5 days and I haven't even left yet. It seemed novel at the time, but knowing I now have 2 days to get all my work done from the week I was gone and the week I am leaving, laundry, pack, and do my taxes, and not upset my cat, I'm starting to think it was a bad idea.

I've been laying down since 5pm almost straight and my feet STILL throb and my knee is aching. The saving grace moment of the day came when I got to the fountain that I could shed my shoes and stick my feet in the freezing water. I would have never made it down the Mall to the Washington Monument. Today, I went to the grand opening of the Newseum (very cool to be a part of history), went to the top of the Washington Monument (cause I got up and stood in line at 7am this morning to get my ticket), stood in line for another hour and saw the Constitution and other documents of freedom, saw the Hope Diamond at the Natural History Museum, Mister Roger's sweater, Dorothy's Ruby Red Slippers, and other "American Treasures", went to the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum, the Air and Space Museum for a few minutes, the Smithson Crypt and Smithsonian Castle, and had the best tortilla soup I have ever had in my life. (In fact, I may go back to that same place tomorrow and see if I can sneak in again, it was serious yum. They had things like duck tacos and some of the craziest Mexican food I have ever seen.)

I deserved this week, and I will never forget it. I'm so glad I have one more day, I think it will be the perfect wrap up to a set of lifetime memories. No matter what happens when I get home, I had these 9 days, learning, living and breathing free. Good job girl.

For those Project 30 curious, I've just not had the energy to give them the proper attention, but yes, we now have Mission Accomplished on Broadway, Yankees and DC Museums. Woohoo! Official posts to come, but I am now HALF WAY DONE!!!!! And for that alone, I will find a nice place to have a drink tomorrow night at the end of my day to toast this trip and my accomplishment. I'm proud of me.

Storming the East - Part 2

Alas, New York my dear friend, we will meet again next week, even if it is for work, I know it is easing the pain of leaving you today. I could have gotten lost in your neighborhoods forever. Our time together was amazing and forever unforgettable.

Philadelphia, you welcome me with open arms. The vibe of your town already showing me the way to your heart. This town is beautiful and I've only just arrived. My room...nothing short of beautiful and classic and perfect for this leg of the trip. Now to shower and explore...

Leg One Almost Done

I feel very pleased with my New York trip. I could do so much more, but I feel that I've hit about 90% of my high priority targets, and saw many things I hadn't expected to. I think the only things I really wanted to see that I didn't are Lincoln Center and Tavern on the Green. On the second level list are Chinatown, Little Italy and the American History Museum. I mean, you have to leave a reason to come back right? (Lion King, Beauty and the Beast and Crybaby are another few...I want more, more, more theater.) I desperately want to go to the Met Museum, but knew that there was no way it could fit on this trip, even for a girl who can do any museum in under an hour, that's at least a whole afternoon.

There will be lots of postings and lots of pictures and details, but I am so very sore, and have a very long trip ahead still. I sleepy.

Tomorrow...Philly!

Oh My

Just for the record, I prefer the hostel and the location over the hotel room and this location, but alas, I can sprawl and set pictures uploading and go...8 million blocks back to the subway. Dammit.

I can barely walk I am so sore and my feet are just one big blister.

I've had a taking it easy morning...now I'm off to get bandaids, the Museum of Sex, the MOMA, NBC and the Yankees

Just a few of the things I saw today...

Mary Poppins on Broadway
Madaam Tussand's Wax Museum
Central Park
The Guggenheim Museum
The Whitney Museum of American Art
Madison Square Garden
Times Square during the day
Radio City Music Hall (outside)
Rockefeller Center and Top of the Rock for New York during the Day
Empire State Building and New York at Night
Bryant Park at Night
Washington Arch at Night
Greenwich Village and an amazing spoiling steak dinner and cocktail

And also walked from 59th St and Lexington to 4th Street. That's a minimum of 55 blocks, almost 3 miles if I hadn't of gotten lost like a million times and wandered back and forth and stuff. Yay me!

Broadway

While I will write my official Mission Accomplished post tomorrow I have a few short points to make...

1 - Patti Lapone is a Broaway Goddess with the voice of an angel, and those in the know from my eavesdropping say that she has outdone herself with this, the show that was seemingly made for her, the best Mama Rose ever.

2- I have never seen a standing ovation in the middle of the show, and she got one, me with my hands over my head, the man next to me yelling Brava! I can't tell you how many times I sang "Rose's Turn" in the mirror as a teenager, practicing until I could get the whole song out without falling breathless...she stunned me with her power.

3- I call it now, she WILL win the Tony. I am a lucky girl I got this ticket before it opened and at a discount, she's catching on fire.

4- Be prepared for me to gush about all of that again tomorrow.

I am not sure how my feet will survive 8 more days of touristing.

So I am here. I got here. It was an okay set of travel, just a really long day. The shuttle driver from the airport to LIRR was HILARIOUS and I met this nice guy Chad that was on his way to Brooklyn from Atlanta. It was really cool for me to have these very first experiences of friendliness. Can I just tell you how friendly everyone in New York is? I mean, yeah, there are some scary crazy people in this city...everywhere. But none more than SF, LA, etc. Just different. I think this city is the most diverse city I have ever been in, and I am eating it up. Unfortunately, I am not so digging the hostel thing, but keep reminding myself of how much money I saved. Last night, everyone in my room was asleep when I got in, and it was very awkward even trying to find my bed and clean out my locker from someone else's crap. I was no quiet, let's just say that. I ended up being thankful I brought ear plugs and sleeping pills, it's just a noisy building and my room is right next to the front desk. Unfortunately, those two plus hostel plus alarm clock I think means I am the most hated girl in the room right now. I tried to stay away as much as possible today until my feet swelled and I am about to collapse from lack of energy, and STILL someone is asleep in the room, so it's all dark still and I can't even get into my stuff. I grabbed my laptop since I had to clear pictures from my card (439 since I left SC) and headed up the lounge where I am trying not to collapse and sleep on the couch. I also am still sure I am sick and just pushing through, but I have to. I can't believe how much left there is to see.

Today, I fit in all of Lower Manhattan, which I am sure I will write about at length later, but since this trip is about me and my growing as a person, I think I want to jump straight to the biggest awakening of this trip. I'm a morning person. No really...I am. I like sleep too, it's amazing hobby, I think it's awesome. But, I love watching a city come alive. From home to the playa to SF to wherever, there is something about being out before anyone and seeing it come to life. Today, I left Union Square to a little north of the Bowling Green and wandered around in the damp air, meandering down to the Castle Clinton Monument and the Statue of Liberty. First piece of advice - If you ever plan on coming to New York and seeing the Statue of Liberty, get your ferry and monument tickets ahead of time, get there at 8 o'clock and in line to pick them up and go on the very first ferry out. If you miss Ellis Island, you're still pushing noon. Between 2 security checkpoints, lines, etc, it's a big ordeal, and when I turned around to see the line behind me, I was shocked. Anyway, even though the ferry was insanely crowded, and the line to the monument still seemed long in front of me, I managed to work my way through security faster than everyone but one couple. What that meant is that for a brief moment, I was in the statue of liberty alone. When I walked in the door at the base, I wept. I walked all 156 steps to the pedestal, and came out in full tears. I called my grandmother and told her where I was, I needed to share it with someone at least a little closer to my time zone. I am very thankful I had her to call, I needed to share that desperately. It was seriously life changing.

She is beautiful. As you take the ferry there, you start to think she is so much smaller than you thought, but when you are standing under her, looking at every fold so carefully carved, you realize the undertaking. She is majestic, and amazing. I was so glad that I was there as the sun broke through the sky, gleaming her torch in the sun. As far as moments in my life go, I am certain that this was one of the most amazing. I walked to the lowest level of the pedestal, still free from any other people who seemed to be crawling like ants below. I laid on the ground and stared up at her. I am sure that anyone up at the top at this time may have thought I was nuts. I walked up and I touched the rock that held her up and thanked her for guiding us. I have hundreds of pictures, but this I just had to share for now.













More to come...

The Night Before

This has been a crazy day, but it's here, it's like Christmas eve.

First, uhm, I'm sick have allergies and it's not cool. I'm pumping vitamins, and hoping to pretend my way through, but frankly, have the energy of a slug and want to sleep the next 5 days. That not happening, we're going to fake it until we make it.

Second, I've come to the miraculous breakthrough conclusion that the reason I procrastinate on things the night before a trip is that it helps me push off the panic attacks. When things get done, there is only time to worry. I have mostly just work to do before I can call myself free to go on vacation and I'm saving that for last after my shower as I enjoy my cleaned up house and packed self and anxious kitty.

We had a 3 hour diversion earlier when, me in all my procrastinating glory, discovered my camera charger missing and my batteries uncharged since Missouri 3 weeks ago. Not cool. So we searched, cleaed, searched some more...I even found my umbrella and found the floor in parts of my car. Finally, trying to convince myself that there are solutions, I was about to give up, trying to get focused enough to do chores, when I found it. It was amazing how much relief I felt, my heart raced. Able to focus again, I've got most things packed and cleaned and am feeling less stress than normal before a trip. I think I should be fine, I just am going to miss my cat.

I really don't think I can be any more prepared...let's just break down some of the modes of transportation I will be taking over the next week...

A car to a shuttle to a plane to a shuttle to a train to a subway to a hostel.
A ferry, maybe another boat, another train, probably a taxi or two, and yet another train.
Another type of subway, a bus or maybe another train back to a plane back to a shuttle to my car.
And probably some more things I'm forgetting.

That's cool.

Oh, and Jesus is here, with me...Mike was kind enough to allow Jesus to miss HIS 30th birthday so that he could escort me! I'm actually not going to New York alone. Yay. We'll have to do something very special for him when we get back!

Wish me luck folks, I have to get to stuff...but watch for pictures and updates and fun! Can you believe the project is almost 1/2 done?! Broadway, Yankees and DC here I come. I challenge myself to do 30 "little" other things that I have never done before, since technically I keep saying this is the big birthday present to myself in the project and I want to push myself to not be afraid. (Staying in a hostel, Ride the subway or walk the brooklyn bridge counts, seeing stuff doesn't.) Let's see how many things I can see and how many new experiences I can have in the next 9 days. I'm off!