Two Guys, a Taxi, and a Bunch of Bagels

We're back from New York. The trip was spectacular. Bear with me through the wall of text. Pictures will follow.

Manhattan is quite the place. There are a ton of people. We easily saw thousands upon thousands of faces the first day, few of which were the same face twice. The skyscrapers do just that, scrape the sky.

The first thing we did was check out the Empire State Building. It was just a couple of blocks southeast of our hotel. You could literally see it from our window on the 32nd floor of the Hotel New Yorker. Of course, the two of us being the most observant folks around, we saw it right away. Not really. We didn't realize it was so close, and only realized the fact after looking at a map.

The view from the top is amazing. The viewing deck is 86 floors up, or 1050 feet up from the ground. We could see out 25 miles that day, and you can basically see the whole of Manhattan and parts of other boroughs. The Chrysler Building, Madison Square Garden, the World Trade Center site, Shea Stadium, and Yankee Stadium, among other sights, were all visible that day.

After the ESB, we took a quick stroll through Times Square on our way to Central Park. Even though we wanted to check it out at night for the full effect, it's still quite the sight during the day.

Central Park is pretty sweet on its own. It is absolutely huge. You almost forget that you're in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world. You're only reminders are the occasional buildings that pop up over the trees on the horizon. You could spend a whole day there and not see it all. There is a zoo, two large lakes, Belvedere Castle, and a whole slew of sports fields in the park. It would take a few days to see it all.

But we didn't have a few days. So, after a fairly quick walk through the park, we headed back towards our hotel. Our cameras got a quick recharge, and we headed for Times Square. It's just as bright as you would think. Advertisements litter every wall of every building. Theaters, both movie and musical, are everywhere. Street performers pound out music for the throngs of people that crowd the streets. And there's tons of shopping.

That was day one. The next day consisted of a cab ride to the Bronx and a day game at Yankee Stadium. The home team, my "beloved" Yankees, were playing the hated Boston Red Sox in their last game against each other in the House That Ruth Built. You see, next year the Yanks are moving across the street into a new stadium. It's one of the reasons Nic and I wanted to take the trip. Yankee Stadium is a big part of baseball's history, and we wanted to see it before they tore it down. Our collective first impression was that it's not as big as it looks on television. There's only one screen in center field so, if you're not sitting opposite of it, you don't see all the cool videos and other such things. We were in the right field bleachers, and were privy to one of the coolest things you will ever see at a sporting event. The right field bleachers are home to the Section 39 Bleacher Creatures, and they make sure that everyone in the place knows they're there. They chant each starting Yankees name until that player acknowledges them with a raise of his glove. They must have been doing this for quite some time because all of the players responded real-quick-like. Like I said, one of the coolest things I've ever seen at a sporting event.

The game, for the most part, was boring until it was nearly over. It took a while for the BoSox to put up two runs, and it looked like they would pull off the sweep. That is until Jason Giambi was plugged into the Yankee lineup in the seventh inning. In his first at-bat, with the Yanks down 2-0, Giambi blasted a two-run homer right at us. Then, in the bottom of the ninth and with the scored tied at 2, Giambi came up with the bases loaded and roped a single into center to win the game. "The Power of the 'Stache" indeed. If you don't know what I'm talking about, look it up.

After the game, we went back to Manhattan, took in some more of Times Square, got a bite to eat, and crashed at the hotel. The next day would bring a lot of time spent at the airport and flying over the entire country. I won't bore you with the details. Suffice it to say that delays are bad and finally arriving home and seeing your wife and kids for the first time in weeks is AWESOME!

I've left some things out, like seeing Rockefeller Center, Madison Square Garden, the world's largest post office, and the studios where they shoot Saturday Night Live and David Letterman. Not small things, but there was so much to see that it's hard to remember it all. Just know that we had a blast and would definitely suggest it for a trip to the rest of you. Just be ready for the organized chaos that is Manhattan.

One more thing. Just a piece of advice. If someone pulls up in an unmarked Lincoln Town Car and asks if you need a taxi, make sure you verify that they are what they say they are. Me and Nic? We just jump in and hope for the best. Now, on to the pictures.


THE PLANE RIDE EAST









DAYTIME VIEW FROM OUR WINDOW


AND AT NIGHT


CAPT. OBVIOUS SAYS "THAT'S MSG!!!"









ESB FROM 8th AVENUE


THE TOP OF THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING


CHRYSLER BUILDING ON THE RIGHT


FROM 1050 FEET UP












BROADWAY IN THE A.M.









TIMES SQUARE, EARLY MORNING









IN FRONT OF ROCKEFELLER CENTER


ROCKEFELLER FLAGS


CENTRAL PARK


CENTRAL PARK SUBWAY


THE HOUSE THAT JETER BUILT?


NEW STADIUM BACK THERE


VIEW OF CENTER FIELD


WARM-UPS


A-ROD


JETER


WE MAKE THE PLACE THAT MUCH COOLER


THE PLACE WAS GOING CRAZY


THE HOUSE THAT RUTH BUILT


HEADING BACK WEST


DON'T EAT BAD VEGGIE BURGERS


A REAL SKYSCRAPER

Flattering Picture of the Week

We're back with another installment of the Flattering Picture of the Week. What I'm about to do may get me a in a lot of trouble, but everyone knew it was coming so I might as well get it over with.











Like I said, I'm going to pay for that. Oh well. It was worth it.

I hoped you enjoyed this week's flattering picture. See you again next week.

Flattering Picture of the Week

I'm going to try and make this a weekly thing. So, if we have a picture of you, know that it will be used. Don't you remember the waiver you signed?

In the name of fair play, this week's picture goes to... me. Yep, I won't do unto others what I wouldn't do unto myself. So, here it is.










See you next week with another...

Flattering Picture of the Week!

New York, New York

I don't think I've mentioned this yet, but Nic and I will be heading over to New York for a three-day trip. Yep, we're going to the Big Apple. We're gonna see the sights and catch a Yankees game. I forget who they're playing, but we're going for Yankee Stadium more than the game. You see, they're tearing it down after this year, and we wanted to see it before they do it.

I'll be sure to take plenty of pictures. It should be a fun trip.

Silence Is Unnerving

Sarah and the kids are at my mom's house right now. That's right, it's just me and the animals. I feel like I've been stranded on a remote island where my only friends are wild creatures and where I still have to go to work every day. It will be a while before I see them. I'm going to New York with Nic at the end of the month, and I won't see them until I get back. So, from now until September 1st. Wow, that seems even longer when I write it down.

They're having fun though, to hear Sarah tell it. The road is always so rough for her, what with two young children to handle, but she does handle them very well. I know I couldn't do it. But, that's one of the reasons why I married her. She's my rock.

So, what have the dogs and I been doing? Well, nothing really. I went to Wal-Mart and dragged them along. They seem to like the car more and more. I was going to go fishing with my neighbor Phil, but I got unintentionally by the klutz of the family, Bo. I was coming up the stairs with my hands full of groceries when Bo came charging up behind me. He took me out at the knee and I tumbled backwards down the stairs. I twisted my ankle pretty badly. So I'm a little lame right now, and don't really feel like doing anything.

Happy 25th, Sweets!

That's right! My wonderful wife is 25 years old! *wink, wink* Really, she's 28, but don't tell her that.

I made her a cake, and would show you guys how it looked, but the camera was out of batteries. Oh well. She says it was good, and that's all that counts.

We'll be taking a four-day weekend down to Holly and Steven's to celebrate. We're really looking forward to it.

So, Happy Birthday, Sweetie. I love you.

Not Beverly Beach, but not much is.

The above was our attempt at a family self-portrait. Sarah set the timer and then tried to get herself and Bradon into the picture, with somewhat successful results.

In the picture, we're at a little campground - I forget the name - up Toats Coulee Road in Loomis, Washington. We were checking the area for good camping spots and I think that's the one we're going to when we take our first family camping trip. Now we just need to get some gear.

The spot is really nice. It's out of town quite a ways, but not so far that we don't have access to emergency services if something happens. There's a fairly good-sized creek right next to the site, and there are some hiking trails nearby as well. We really liked it.

It Was Cold












On A Log Hanging Over The Creek









We also recently went to the town of Oroville's Centennial Parade. Not as good as its May Day Parade, but the kids had fun. Plus, as before in Tonasket, there was free candy.

Mads got to play with her friends. There have been quite a few new additions to the station up here, and everyone who comes seems to have kids, so Mads has made quite a few new friends.

Maddie And Miles









For When Agents Want To Fish, Right Jared?