Flickr

Just a quick note...

I have posted some of my New York photo's on Flickr, and have added a link on the right column. Unfortunately, at this time, I have a cap of 20mb of space on Flickr per month, (and I have already used it) so I have only posted what I think are my better photo's there. I was going to get rid of my Yahoo account, but I think I will keep it for now, unless I want to shell out cash for a bigger Flickr account. The nice part about posting to Flickr, is that it is a better quality photo for you to view, while the Yahoo account shrinks the photo's so you lose some of the detail in the shots.

Meanwhile, go and look at my photos. Please enjoy responsibly.

EDIT:Because Flickr only allows 20mb of uploads a month, I have put all my other photos on my Yahoo account (My Photo's in the right column). Actually, I am in the process of uploading them, and will probably be finished some time Monday night. So, there you go,two places to see my photos. And if you join Flickr, you have the option of seeing the photo's at full res, making it easier to see all the detail in them. I think I will use Flickr to show case my better shots from now on, and keep Yahoo for all of my pix.

Home...home again

Ugh. Jet lag.

So, I met Dave and Nicola in Penn Station in Midtown, then went out to JFK to catch our flight. We were really early, so we had dinner at an airport restaurant, which turned out to have terrible service, then sat around till boarding. We flew on Cathay Pacific, and this time we were smart and took an emergency exit aisle for more leg room. The flight was rather smooth, and having the leg room was nice. Still, being tired from the night before, and then letting myself get dehydrated, and then getting in late, made for some nasty jet lag today.

So, today has been a lazy day. I took my film in for developing, almost getting killed when some meathead in a truck blew a red light and nearly t-boned me. Good thing I have good reaction skills, and managed to get out of his way. The moron didn't even hit the brakes. Then went for breakie, bummed around the house, went for tea with Bonnie, then picked up my pictures. I must say, I am a bit disappointed in some of my night shots. I really should have used my tripod. Next time I will have to do a couple of night time photo-shoot trips to get some good pix.

The best part about today is that Bonnie gave me a belated birthday present, with perfect timing. A pedicure. It is going to feel so nice after all the walking last week. =) So, tomorrow, I will be relaxing while someone massages my feet for me. But don't worry, no nail polish for this guy!

Everything you've ever done ends tonight

Last day in New York, gonna get on that big airplane and fly back home tonight. Dave and Nicola are already in Manhattan, shopping still, I really can't believe how much they have bought already and now they are getting more! Maybe they bought some more luggage to bring stuff home. =)

Andy and I got in about 5:30AM, after his band played at CBGB's. I am so happy that I finally got to see him play, and see the famous club. We also sat and watched one of his band mates, Chris, eat 12 taco's to win a bet. It looked painful, but he was successful!

So, I still have one more thing to purchase for a friend, then I will be ready to go. I can't believe I forgot to get it earlier. Oh well, the day isn't over yet.

Well, I must say that it has been a great vacation. New Yorkers are some really nice people, and I have thoroughly enjoyed myself. I am looking forward to my next visit already!

They're all reved up and ready to go

I didn't go into Manhattan with Dave and Nic today, taking a much needed rest. Andy is busy teaching students how to remove stuff from samples (I really have know idea what he is doing), and I have just finished writing my 20 postcards.

The real reason that I am not running around is that Andy and I are pulling an all- nighter tonight. Pale Horse is playing the lounge at CBGB's, and it will probably be my only chance to see the famous club before it closes forever. (Actually, after reading the CBGB website, it looks like although their lease is up, and they are fighting to stay open. I sure hope they are successful!) Lot's of famous bands have had their start at CBGB. Ever heard of The Ramones? How about Blondie? Maybe even the Talking Heads? Thought so.

So, Andy claims that we should be back by 5AM. That might give me a few hours sleep before heading into Manhattan, only to head over to Long Island and JFK Airport to fly home. It's going to be a couple of long days.

A Great Day For Freedom

We spent this afternoon on the aircraft carrier Intrepid. It has been turn into a museum of itself, of aerospace, and of maritime combat history. It first set to see in 1943, and saw action in the South Pacific. It was the first ship ever hit by a Kamikazi pilot, and although being hit by another, and having 63 sailors killed in the ensuing fires, it limped back to port, was fixed up, and came out fighting once more. It was damaged so many times, every time returning to combat, that it became known as the "Ghost Ship" to it's enemies.

It has many aircraft on it, including a F-14 Tomcat, a Harrier, a MiG-21, and an A-12 Blackbird (early model of the SR-71). There are also displays of the Intrepids involvement with NASA and the Mercury and Gemini projects.

It was a fun afternoon, and I even went on a F-18 "simulator". You can control the motions, but this thing moves you in EVERY direction! Seven hours later, I am still feeling a bit queezy...definitly NOT fighter pilot material...

Randy Andy

Just a brief not on who this Andy guys is that I keep mentioning...

Andy is this Uber-cool guy that we have know for some time. He is currently trying to finish his Master's degree at Fordham University in NY State.

Andy is also a Rocker. He rock's out. He is the vocals of a band called Pale Horse. If you clicky on the "Randy Andy" up above, you can go to their website. I will finally get to hear them live tomorrow night at CBGB's. (Just a note, CBGB's appears to be closing forever! If you have ever wanted to see this famous club, and want to see a fine indie thrash band playing the lounge, now is the time to act! Come see Pale Horse on November 11th!)

Andy is also a great friend, and likes to get up early to get rid of his friends and guests by dropping us off at the train Station so we can go to Manhattan for the day, then picking us up late at night so we don't have to take a cab.

All the kids say he is a "righteous dude".

No sleep till Brooklyn

The Brooklyn Diner, home of the 15 bite hot dog. Actually, it took me closer to 30 bites, and with the mountain of onion rings, I was near explosion! And then, just to add to the pressure on my belt, we shared a cheesecake. We were never hungry the rest of the day. Dave and Nicola had the 1lb cheeseburgers, and Dave actually finished it all, plus the fries, and onion rings, and the milkshake and the cheesecake. The guy must be hollow!

This past evening, we also went to see The Producers, by Mel Brooks. Very funny, well done play. Completely enjoyed ourselves.

After we got back to North White Plains from Manhattan, we stopped at a Jimmy Lee's, a bar-b-que house and bar, while waiting for Andy to get back from his band practice in Hoboken. Unfortunately, it was Karaoke night. There was one guy that was really pretty good, and a couple of others that weren't, and then Dave got up there. Dave should never sing Sweet Child of Mine in public again. Poor Nicola looked like she wanted to crawl under the table. Luckily, Andy showed up and rescued us from an other attempt by Dave to sing. =)

Tuesday's gone

Just a quick re-cap of what I have done so far in NYC.


Times Square, Rangers game at MSG, Central Park, Museum of Natural History, Empire State Building, U.N. (almost, the line up never moved, and there were only a few people in it so we gave up), Rockerfeller Plaza, Circle Tour around Manhattan, quick stop in Saks Fifth Ave (just to say we had been there), and diner at Tom's Diner. I swear I have walked a good 100km this past few days, my feet and legs are killing me!

And there is so much more to see and do. Tomorrow night is the Broadway play The Producers, by Mel Brooks, plus probably a bit of shopping in the afternoon.

(Just a note, I have done a bunch of post cards up, but haven't seen a post office to get stamps! As soon as I do, I will mail them off. Don't worry, you will get yours eventually!)

Tom's Diner

JEERRYYYY!!!! Welcome to the diner that Jerry, Elaine, Kramer and George used to hang out in. Located at 112 St and Broadway in Upper Manhattan, it's a quick subway ride (although crowded subway ride, it was rush hour) from the Museum of Natural History and the Hayden Planetarium. Although the exterior looks right, the interior wasn't the same as in the show (the shows diner was on a sound stage in LA). The diner is mostly used by college students from Columbia University, and the odd tourist.

New York Groove

This is the view from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building looking north-east towards the Chrysler Building and Grand Central.

Lady Liberty

Out for a ride on the Circle Tour boat, we ran out to Lady Liberty for a quick visit. You may not think much of this landmark, but when you come near, she takes on a whole new image. She is a beautiful sight.

A New York minute

After a nice long flight, and and even longer trip through the train systems of New York, we got to my buddy Andy's pad. Along the way, we saw Times Square, Empire State building, the Chrysler building, NY public library, plus MILLIONS of people!

Well, more later, when I am awake. Go look at Dave's blog to see some random cell phone photos.

Big ol' jet airliner

Friday afternoon, and I am busy scrambling to get laundry done, and bags packed for my jaunt to NYC. I have 7 days to do a much as I can in the Big Apple. I MUST find time to go up to the top of the Empire State Building, preferably at night to get a bunch of photos of the city. Gotta wander Central Park, 5th Ave., see the Gugenheim, and as much else that we can. 42 St. looks interesting, lots there to see. Ack! I need another week or two to see everthing!

I will try and keep things posted as they happen.

Bite the Big Apple

Four more days till I jump on an A340 and fly off to NYC! A week in the Big Apple with a bunch of friends, gonna be fun! Hockey game at MSG, a play on Broadway, tours of museums, and other tourist destinations. It will be nice to get away from the normal, everyday crap and to do something different. I love to travel, and there is just too much world out there to see and never enough time to do it all. But, I am gonna keep trying!

BTW, I have been adding some photos to my gallery...my new phones camera isn't great for qualitly shots, but it still gets the point across. It's fun to be able to take photos af things I do so that my friends can see my life. Soon I will have a better digital camera, and then I will have to get a different gallery account, so that the viewer will be able to see better detail than my present account.

But that is after NYC!