So, this is how I started my New Year. You know, the one that was going to be so awesome. I was all “bring on 2019”. Yeah.
Well, this is what happens when you have 3 house showings on January 2 and have not touched a Clorox wipe or vacuum since before the Christmas holiday. At least I had my friend Coors Light to keep me company and make it a little better.
So, if you back up a few weeks to the Christmas holiday, you’ll remember that Jackson received a trip to NYC to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Broadway. Well….because I had seen exactly one-half of one HP movie, I had some work to do in the days leading up to the trip. And, I’m nothing if not diligent in my pursuit, so the kids and I hunkered down and watched 20+ hours of wizardry in 4 days. We finished #8 literally just in time for Jackson and I to hit the hay for our 4 am airport wake-up call.
And, while we’re on the subject of Hogwarts, I cannot tell you how much I loved these movies. I have read bits and pieces of the books, and can’t wait to go back now and really get into them. But, the movies are SO SO SO good. I will watch them over and over with my kids, my future grandkids, the neighbor kids. Hell, I might even watch them again by myself.
So, off we went to the Big Apple. Our first item on the agenda was high tea at The Plaza with Eloise.
Let me tell you, it did not disappoint….champagne? Check. Finger sandwiches? Check. Cotton Candy? Of course!! Oh, and some sort of tea…I was there for the champagne. But, that being said, it was a really good thing that John was flying in separately and was unable to make it to The Plaza. If you’ve ever been out to eat with John you know that he orders one of the largest things on the menu, with a side of the second biggest item. So, even though there was PLENTY of food, he would have taken one look at this tower and declared the whole event “worthless!!!”
Not to worry though, we met up with our big man just in time to head to the theater for the big show. Jackson and I were very excited and I actually felt a little sorry for John because he wasn’t a part of our HP marathon and thus had NO IDEA what was happening. I bought him a couple of BIG glasses of wine and he was happily in oblivion.
After the show, we went to get something to eat….because of course. I had been hearing about Serendipity for years, and as much as I’m not really a dessert eater (more wine please), I thought it was a for sure on our list. Get this though, the only reservation I could get was for 11:00 PM. Who eats ice cream at that hour? Lots of people apparently, because the place was pretty busy.
So, I decided to just have a light snack. John too.
After the ice cream coma and a good night’s sleep, what did we do the next day? Went on a Chelsea Market Food Tour!! At this point in his solo vacation with his parents, Jackson realized that both of his parents are motivated by food….at all times. When on vacation, we plan entire days around it and this trip was no exception. The Chelsea Market is so cool, full of little food shops and restaurants and our tour guide was a wealth of information and inside stories about the history of that part of New York City. I highly recommend.
Now, I could have wandered from restaurant to restaurant all day sampling the goods, but after a few hours our young man was DONE. He wanted to do something that did not involve eating or drinking. The Empire State Building was high on his list of priorities, so that’s where we went. Little known fact, John is terrified of heights so the fact that he took one for the team and went out on the observation deck for ONE picture proves how drunk he was from the earlier food tour. Just kidding, he was a great sport because that is WAY UP THERE.
Later that night we went back for the second night of Harry Potter and then probably had some more snacks. I can’t remember.
And, if you haven’t figured it out by these pictures the weather in NYC was COLD. We’re talking bone chillingly cold. We braved the elements on days 1 and 2, but by day 3 we were over it. So, a few of the outdoor sightseeing things that we really wanted to do will have to wait until our next trip. It was just too miserable to be out all day. So, Jackson and I were good sports and followed John around on his quest to find the “best NYC Ramen.” Sometimes dining out with John is a real struggle people.
Afterward we went in search of something to do and found ourselves buying tickets for Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. I always thought the idea behind this place was a little cheesy, and it for sure was, but also super fun at the same time. After that,we went to the Ripley’s Believe it or Not Museum. While it was not quite as cool as the creepy wax people, it was still something to do. If they only served cocktails, I’d write them a 5-star review on Yelp.
I think that night we followed John in search of “the best NYC Italian”….are you starting to see a pattern here? This is what it’s like to travel with John. He missed his calling as Anthony Bourdain’s assistant….they could cuss like sailors while traveling the world looking for the best gross food.
As much fun as we had, I was excited to get home to my babies. And Reese and Malory too;-) My dogs have a favorite time of the day, which is of course breakfast and dinner time. But, a close second is our afternoon Book Club. A few days a week we take a little time before the chaos of the afternoon post-school feeding frenzy and have a little reading time. They know at this point what’s coming and jockey for position on my lap. On this particular day there was literally no room left for me…..
A couple last things in this first month of the year. Every single year we take a trip to the National Western Stock Show. It’s the only time that I wear my cowboy boots and jeans. I would also say that it’s the only time of the year that I drink a bunch of beers and eat some questionable street food, but that would be a lie. Either way, it’s a family tradition that we do not miss. The little lady took her brother’s place in the boot shine seat with her dad. I am pretty sure her boots are made of “pleather” but the smile on her face ALMOST made the $20 shine worth it.
And on the subject of my little lady….she turned 100 years old at the end of the month. Actually, for the 100th day of school she dressed up like an old lady…complete with cat. Nailed it.
