The Lowdown of Chinatown

Please note: Today's characters' names have been changed to protect the innocent (or would that be the guilty??).

I think Chinatown is where I said that I would begin today. Dayla and Dybil had a free evening, while Dristi visited with a college friend of hers in Long Island. The two ladies opened up their trusty city map to see what trouble they could find and Chinatown popped out at them screaming their names. Dayla had mentioned that she could really use a new wallet, so what better place was there to complete the mission than in shoppers' paradise. So, how does one find great deals on name brand leather goods? You don't. They find you. As the two ladies were meandering the streets of the aptly named area, they were randomly hearing understated voices in their ears saying things like, "handbags?", "purses?". Ding, ding, ding....hellooooo, anybody home? was what Dybil was thinking when she realized what was going on. Yes, yes, Dayla, he said "purse", as in "do you want to purchase a wallet?". So off they followed this little man through a shady doorway off the street, up a flight of dirty stairs into a 12 foot by 12 foot room full of designer bags and wallets. Dayla didn't find a wallet she liked, but fell in love with a "Coach" purse. She haggled with the little Asian lady and settled on a price, but when Dybil bargained for a purse that she liked the store proprietor turned her down cold. "Fine Helen", (that's Dybil's nickname for those that she doesn't actually know their name...don't ask me why) she said and was out the door, down the hall and in the stairwell when trampling footsteps from afar could be heard with a shrill scream ensuing, "HELLO, HELLO, HELLOOOO!". Dayla and Dybil stopped in their tracks as the out of breath Asian lady said, "OK, OK, I sell to you". Wow, is that all you have to do is leave? So, Dybil went back, made the purchase and was on her way when she realized that she got the purse that had a flaw. She went back to tell the storekeeper that she wanted the other one that was just like it, but without the scratch marks. Well, heaven forbid. That didn't go over well. She was yakking in Dybil's ear to her friend that that was why she gave her such a good bargain in the first place. Dybil opted out with a no way Jose, got her money back and was out the door and to the stairwell when the stampede of feet started, once again, with the same song second verse of "HELLO, HELLO, HELLO!". Yeah, you get the picture. The whole experience was a hoot and Dayla and Dybil decided that there was no way that they could allow Dristi to miss this experience. They took her back the next day, but it was a whole new ballgame even for them. This time, no back allies or stairways. It was hidden doors and rotating walls. That my friends, is the lowdown of Chinatown.

To read comments, please click on the thoughts box above. Thanks!

The King of Broadway Delivers

Let's see...where did I leave off? Ah, we had just visited the hallowed ground of 9/11. It was late afternoon and we were starving, so we popped into (I'm embarrassed to say) Burger King. Of all the eateries in NY, you say?! We were starving and a whopper was really sounding good around that time. Well, that was until we noticed the calorie content listed on the menu..."make mine a junior, please". Apparently New York has some kind of calorie law requiring some restaurants to list those evil numbers just to take the fun out of eating. We headed back to the hotel to get ready for our Broadway outing to see The Lion King with my Manhattan resident nephew, Kevin. For, myself, being a self proclaimed musical hater, this production could not get any better. The costumes, the acting, the singing, and the set were absolutely amazing. It was well worth the loan that I had to take out to get the tickets. I was crying like a baby in the opening scene as they sang the Circle of Life. If you ever get the chance to see this one, don't pass it up. We strolled through Times Square after the show and wondered just how much their electric bill is. I had a message on my Facebook when I got home that one of my classmates from high school saw me and the girls there. He didn't approach me for fear that it wasn't really me and that he'd make a fool of himself. He later saw on my FB page that I was in NY. Is that crazy or what?! On our way back to the hotel, we grabbed a hot dog from a street vendor...another one of those NY experiences that we just couldn't pass up. The next morning we were up and at'em at 6:00am to head to the Jason Mraz concert that NBC's Today Show was sponsoring. We decided to grab us some fast food breakfast first so by the time we got back to Rockerfeller Plaza the place was a mob scene. We could hear him singing, but couldn't see him. The girls decided that if that were the case, it was just as well to listen to his c.d. and head back to the hotel and get a nap in. Next up in our NYC capers: The Chicks Do China Town


To read comments, please click on the thoughts box above. Thanks!

Taking a Bite of the Big Apple

The girls and I hit the pavement running when we arrived late Thursday morning. We took a scary (very scary) taxi ride to our hotel room across from St Patrick's Cathedral and just down the street from Rockerfeller Center. We were there just long enough to unload our bags and check in, before heading out to the last day of filming for the 10th Anniversary of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" hosted by the man himself, Regis Philbin. It was more fun than I expected and a total nail biter. I'm not going to be the spoiler for the show. so you'll have to tune in on Sunday, August 23rd to see how it went. Also on Thursday we had just enough time to take a bike tour of Central Park. By bike tour, I mean someone else doing the peddling, while the girls and I sat back and relaxed. Yesterday morning we went to the Statue of Liberty and got in line behind a gazillion people to enter the monument. After being in line thirty minutes or so, I heard a park ranger conversing with the people in front of us. Something he said made me question the line we were in. 

Good thing, because we already had our tickets which we just needed to trade in for arm bands. That took about five minutes, which totally allowed us to pass up literally hundreds and hundreds of people all because we had tickets to enter the statue's crown. After three hundred and fifty something of steep spiraling steps, we finally made it to the crown which was way smaller than I would have expected, but none the less we felt accomplished for not pooping out. After our trip back to Battery Park from Liberty Island, the girls and I took a break and had our caricature done, though I'm not so sure it's a true likeness of us. From there we made our way to Ground Zero which I thought would not affect me since 9/11 was so long ago, but when I saw the plaque with the 

words "May We Never Forget" I was overwhelmed with the memories from that day. To be continued...

To leave or read comments, please click on the post's title above.  Then click on Post Comment.  Thanks!

Health Break II

Kristi and I snuck* away to Port Arthur this weekend without you guys even knowing it. I didn't advertise the trip because I wasn't going to have time to visit friends or stop and meet anyone for coffee along the way (sorry, Kim!). I went back and had a Reclast infusion to treat my osteoporosis. It's a quick fifteen minute procedure by I.V. that takes the place of my Boniva that I loathe to take. I know that it sounds pitiful that I can't stand to take the time once monthly to pop that little pill. The pill itself is not so bad. It's the fact that I have to take it first thing in the morning and I can't drink my coffee for an ENTIRE hour after taking it. Oh, the turmoils of my life, but that one has been solved for a complete twelve months. Yep, the I.V. lasts an entire year. I will be a compliant patient if only I can remember to take my calcium along the way. I think I can handle it knowing the other is no longer an obstacle. Did I say fifteen minute procedure? Unfortunately it can take a bit longer if they have to use three different nurses at three different times to find a usable vein. Luckily, they hit pay dirt after four separate sticks, so all is well that ends well. We got back to Kyle last night, but not without stopping in to visit Kayla at her Hyatt job at the Lost Pines Resort in Bastrop. Kristi and I enjoyed a nice evening meal on the patio, although we had to check with Kayla to make sure there was anEpiPen in the area to save Kristi from the killer bees that were hanging around her and her soda. She's been known to swell up quite nicely from bee stings. We survived the bees and enjoyed the mild evening temps as we were waited on by the best (and prettiest) waitress that Shellers has to offer. I can't help myself...just call me the proud momma.


*I know that "snuck" is not a word, but sneaked just sounds so silly!

Yes, another health public service announcement: You may be at risk for osteoporosis and not even know it. (CHECK HERE) My GYN would not give me an order for testing when I discussed with her that I felt I was at risk due to my small frame and family history. Because I had not reached "menopause" and was only in my forties, she saw no reason to order a scan. A year later when my family doctor recommended a bone density scan, my osteoporosis was already in the severe stage. If you are at risk, demand an order for a scan from your doctor!

To read comments, please click on the thoughts box above. Thanks!

Back to Doha for a Break

We made sure David got all those daddy do's done before he took off into the great blue yonder yesterday. Dustin's car started doing the smokin' and overheating thing on his way home from school the other day and he had to leave it parked on the side of the road in Kyle and walked the rest of the road home. I was glad David answered that call, instead of me having to deliver the news to him. Fortunately, it was just a busted water hose, that he replaced in no time. Knox car repair is officially closed for the summer. We also got Kristi's mattress moved from her summer apartment back to Kyle. Good thing cuz there's no way we could have done it without David. I'm not sure how we'll get it moved to her apartment at St Edward's when school starts back. We dropped David at the Austin airport yesterday morning for his flight back to Doha. I got a call from him at 8:00 this morning which I expected as it was his estimated arrival time. The only problem was that he was calling me from London. He had a scheduled one hour layover there, but being that the Qatar Airways ticket booth closes one hour prior to take off he missed his flight. So, who sells you a flight with a connection that is impossible to make? Expedia, that's who. I'll let David take that up with them after his jet lag clears. I have that same flight later this month and obviously it's not going to work out. So, truth be told, I don't know if he's even made it to Doha. He should have gotten there around midnight his time, but I haven't heard from him yet. I'm thinking he might have been just a bit worn out and irritable by then, so it might be better that he didn't call. Later.

To read comments, please click on the thoughts box above. Thanks!