Life Happens

My theme this year is: I can do hard things. This is more of a school year theme, but it applies to real life too. Last summer I picked up and took the chance of a lifetime to live in New York City and attend a fabulous school. I knew it would be difficult to leave my family, but I never realized how difficult it would be to create an attachment to my new home. I spent a lot of months in a very unhappy place. I have since learned to love my new home and now that I am soon to leave, I have been having trouble coming to terms with that. Grass is always greener and whatnot.
I was speaking with my mom a couple weeks ago (when I first started this blog post) and I told her my theme for the year. Little did I know my theme would be put to the test. My computer died again. And it was in the middle of everything. Papers, teaching on Sunday, crazy work meetings, etc. I had so much to do over the span of a couple days and I needed a computer for all of it. I called my dad in a panic (I am sure he is getting really sick of my panicked phone calls). I was beyond frustrated and I decided to quit hassling with that computer and invest in a new one that better last me until my 50th birthday or I am going throw a fit.
I called a few of my bffs and we went laptop shopping. Which really means they flanked me while I assaulted the laptop guy with my endless questions. If there is one thing I know how to do, it is research a product. We went to a couple stores, tried every laptop within a 20 mile radius, and eventually found one that had everything I was looking for. Unfortunately, I switched brands so I am a little confused when it comes to working the new laptop.

Things I hate: When technology gives out on me
Other things I hate: How dependent I am on technology.
One last quick thing I hate: The fact that I don't know how to work my new computer. Should've signed up for the classes....

Philadelphia aka Penrose Diner

Quick spoiler for those of you who don't like words: This is a mostly wordy post because of the aforementioned problems with computer/phone. But today I spent a couple hours backing up my computer and phone to an external hard drive. Then I wiped the photos off of my phone so my Photostream can do its job so I shan't be losing anymore photos. Thanks, self. Welcome, self.

At the beginning of December my friend Sydnee had to go to Philly for a few days and invited me to tag along. In a last minute whirlwind I decided to go because when will I have the chance to do that again?
We spent too many hours on a train playing cards and watching Sahara (one of the greatest movies of our time) and finally got to the hotel in the middle of the night.
The next morning we woke late and went to breakfast at Penrose Diner in South Philly (it was the only food joint around). And weirdly small town-esque.  Everybody knew everybody else and they were calling across the diner to each other. We felt like outsiders. I had a giant and absolutely delicious Cajun grilled chicken sandwich.
We public transportation-ed ourselves into the middle of the city where we saw a few of God Bless America's priceless treasures. We did not steal the Declaration of Independence, but that is only because the current threat level was so low that it just would have been embarrassing.

 

These are the only picture I have of our historical adventures.

We wandered around for a bit longer and went to a few other historical sites. Sydnee then informed me that there is a place called "Jeweler's Row" so of course we had to go. It is a small street where each shop is a fine jewelry store. We went in a couple of them and then decided to actually try on a couple rings. We picked out settings that we liked and then the kind sales associate went to get real diamonds to put into the settings. We died inside and snapped a quick pic. 

I pointed to one ring without a center stone and asked if I could try it on. The sales associate, we'll call him Bobby, told me I had good taste and handed me the ring. I glanced at the price- $25,000. It didn't even have a center stone! In what world is that a thing?! It was, of course, beautiful and I was done looking around. Then Syd started trying on various setttings and another setting caught my eye. I looked at it several times but didn't think much of it. Bobby saw me eye it and pulled it out of the case. I tried it on and that was the end.

 I found the one, guys. This is not a drill. If I get married I must have this ring. And it costs waaaaaay less than $25,000. I almost bought it right then and there.

After our diamond adventures we public transportation-ed ourselves back to South Philly where we went to Penrose again. And again, delicious. We ate phillys. In Philly. I don't think I need to explain that one. 

On Saturday Syd went about her Philly business and I did...homework!!

After Syd was finished with her obligations we met up and went to Penrose Diner where I had a yummy burger. Sensing a theme yet?

And then we went home and watch a very scary movie that was almost too intense. We kept changing the channel to anything else only to go back and watch it again. 

At some point in our evening we decided it would be a fun and great idea to stay up all night long. So somewhere around 2am we were hungry and went back to, where else, Penrose Diner! And- this is the weird part- it was JUST AS BUSY as it had been during the day! This place had been packed every single time we went there and 2am was no different. People still called out to each other. And not like annoying teenagers. These were full grown adults with babysitters at home. We ordered soups (french onion and corn chowder), played cards, and talked until 4. We finally went back to our hotel room and slept for a couple hours until I went back to NYC and she went home to Canada. 

And then we never saw each other again until the end of January. It was tragic.

I know this post looks like it is about a fun adventure between two friends, but it is more than that. It is also a shameless plug for Penrose Diner. Seriously. Go. I'll meet you there in 20.

Melissa

You may have thought I died. You were wrong.
But my computer died. And in turn, so did my will to live/blog.
But we are better now (don't tell my computer but as soon as I graduate I am throwing him in the ocean. He's the worst).

Melissa, my long time partner-in-crime came to visit me. We did NYC like any good tourist. We saw the sights, ate the food, walked the streets, ate the food, took the pictures, ate the food. There is one thing I make all my guests do when they visit: the 5 pounds in 5 days challenge. And if you think that is a lose weight quick pitch, it's not. It is, in fact, the exact opposite. If you haven't gained 5 pounds during your visit I've done something wrong. So put on your fat pants and get ready to party!

Top of the Rock- One of my fave places!

A brisk walk around the lake in Central Park. I am wearing a HOOD- not the world's ugliest bow earmuffs.

 

 

We went to Cafe Lalo aka where Tom Hanks stood up Meg Ryan. We wept into our delicious desserts for Meg.

A bathroom selfie at Cafe Lalo. Because if you are going to bathroom selfie anywhere, it better be in a world-famous bathroom.

We entered the lottery for Wicked tickets and won! Hooray! Front row, very center. I made eye contact with Elphaba and promptly looked away.

 

Patsy's. I take everyone here.

Roof Chats: a series to be continued when the weather warms up

Not pictured: everything else we did. Apologies. When the computer dies and the phone dies you lose a lot of pictures. And a lot of hope.

The best news: she is coming again in a few short week where we will recreate all of our memories and this time I will back up my photos so as not to fling myself off of the Top of the Rock! That would just be a tragedy for everyone.