When Plans Fall Through (For the Better)

Well, I am no longer going to London next week. Plans fell through in a number of ways. In just a few days, I went from not having a place to stay anymore to my return flight begin canceled by the airline "due to unforeseen circumstances" (with a full refund as an option given by the airline). But in between those two happenings I was having second thoughts on going, anyway. It was really on Monday, just a few nights ago, that I was lying awake in bed wondering why I was going off to London for a week by myself to gallivant around when I could go home my last week of summer and spend it with my family. Also, the past few weeks I've been trying to figure out how I was going to get home and visit my grandpa, who's probably not going to be around for much longer. I had already booked my trip to London before my mom told me the most recent doctor's prediction. I couldn't see how I could swing both London AND find time, especially once I start school, to go home. I was planning on making it happen somehow, anyway, but this has all really turned out for the better.

I will now be on a plane THIS Sunday bound for H-O-M-E, and I couldn't be happier. London's not going anywhere. And the fact that the airline is going to refund at least the return portion of my ticket (maybe all of it, I'm not sure. The woman on the customer service line was so quick with the transaction), just tells me that this is more than mere coincidence. At least, I like to think so. And isn't my grandpa so handsome!?He's definitely more important to me than a trip to London. I recently began a tradition of calling him every Sunday afternoon as I walk over to the Hudson River/Riverside Park. He always greets me with a warm "Hello, Elizabeth!" and we talk for about 15 minutes or so. He asks how I'm enjoying New York and we talk of our similarity in enjoying travel. He's been so many places I can only dream of visiting, like Greece and Italy! And he's always sure to thank me so much for calling him. It's more than my pleasure to do so, I don't think he realizes. I just wish I would've started this phone call tradition a long time ago, though I have made it a point to visit him every time I've gone home since I moved to New York. And I didn't think I was going to make it home again until Christmas. When we took this photo below in June, I didn't want to think it could be my last visit with him, but I had to be realistic.Needless to say, I'm very much looking forward to this visit and am more than grateful the last week of the best summer of my life will be spent with my family.

Weekend in Pictures

Shake Shack time

aka: Delicious time

Movie time!

Central Park time

Hudson Sunset time

Free Stuff Always Tastes Good

Tonight I got to experience my first free concert in NYC! They happen all over the place in the summer here, and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra plays every year in Central Park. A few girls I know sent a Facebook invite out and the turn-out was a good size group--about 20 people or so, I'd guesstimate. As I mentioned in the last post, it's been raining a lot here lately, and today was no exception. We brought various forms of plastic to put down on the ground to keep our blankets from getting wet. Someone brought an extra shower curtain they happened to have lying around her apartment, I brought two large garbage bags and a few park/concert pads to sit on, and my friend Karene brought this huge plastic sheet thing she bought at Home Depot for $2! That turned out to be the life saver, as we had plenty of seats for everyone. The rain stopped long enough for the concert to happen, which included fireworks at the end of the performance! Everyone kinda chatted and socialized the whole time, because, ya know, we were in picnic-like form, and it was like the orchestra was providing background music. We were too far away from the stage to actually see the performance, but hearing was the important part, anyway. I forgot my camera, but I borrowed this image from elsewhere, and it is pretty much exactly what it looked like from where we were sitting:The NY Phil. sounded sooooo good. I learned from the program handed out that it's the oldest orchestra in the United States. Not surprising. And I think it said there are 108 members. For the last part of the performance they played some of the music from Romeo and Juliet, so I actually recognized some songs! That was cool. Yes, I like classical music and such, but I only recognize the popular stuff. Don't judge me. Needless to say, it was a lovely evening spent with lovely people in a lovely park with lovely music.

Adolescent Summer

I'm pretty sure I'm having the best summer of my life.

I've coined it my "adolescent summer" for a reason, and I couldn't have picked a better title. I'm babysitting kids for employment, hanging out mid-day with friends with no obligations in sight, having sleepovers, going to outdoor movies, taking small road trips, eating pizza three times a week, etc. And then last weekend I attended a Sadie Hawkins themed party! I was so excited about it when my friend announced she was having such a party. I never went to Sadies when I was in high school, so I was glad to make up for it. Part of the deal with Sadie Hawkins is that the girls have to ask the guys to go. I made a new friend a few weeks ago and decided to ask him to be my date. He accepted and we had fun coming up with an idea of what to wear. That's the second part to the theme--we had to come to the party in matching outfits of some sort. Last week he and I walked through Chinatown and Little Italy to get inspiration, with all the t-shirt shops that exist in those areas. Sure enough, it worked! We saw a Marilyn Monroe shirt that was pretty awesome, and my date goes, "That would be cool if you wore Marilyn and I wore JFK". Done and done! We decided to shop online for such shirts, and I found some pretty sweet ones for both of us. We ordered them the next day and hoped they'd show on time. Mine came within two days! It was super fast. His, unfortunately, never showed. But a few days before, my roommate had suggested trying iron-on paper for fabric, in case the shirt didn't show up in time. I went ahead and bought some paper at Michael's and tested it out. Well, my tester became the shirt we used that night, and it turned out great! The shirts looked great together! We looked great together! ha. The scandalous duo was a hit. On the way to the party, Jackson (my date) got a compliment on his shirt before we even got out of his building. And when we were coming up from the subway, this other guy passing by us said he loved our shirts. And people at the party also loved the combination. Jackson and I thought, if there were a contest for best outfits, we would surely win. :) Everyone danced all night and it got so hot and sweaty in the apartment, but it was so much fun. The dj (my awesome friend Jendar) even played a slow song or two, making it a genuine adolescent dance experience.

I'd say this night climbs the charts for making my summer truly a teenage experience.

Beach Day!

Memorial Day is a time to remember those who have fought and died for the U S of A. I like to interpret it as a time of freedom, thanks to the very men and women we commemorate. On this day, I decided to celebrate freedom by attending the beach with friends! The weather was perfect, the company was divine, and the sun was in full force. Lots of sand and sea. Lots of good times. See for yourself.

Best. Week. Ever.

It's true--I've created a stress-free, leisurely summer break for myself. Don't judge me. It's probably the last summer I will have that is as relaxed and free as this one, so I don't feel guilty. For not having a "regular" schedule (i.e. full-time work and school), I'm doing well at keeping myself busy, so far. This week is a good example.

Walks along the water,getting paid to play with kids, temple work, picnic in Central Park,
pedicures with girlfriends, dumplings in Chinatown (ran into the sister missionaries there), crashing on friends' couches spontaneously, watching "Top Gun" on top of the Intrepid (an aircraft carrier that was used in war),


Saturday brunch, and a movie.

It really was an incredible week. This week will be off to a good start, with a trip to the beach with friends for Memorial Day, and to end the week, a trip to Salt Lake City and Las Vegas (aka: home sweet home).

Life is good. :)

I Will...No...I DID Survive

No, I haven't received grades, yet, but I can safely say that I survived my first year of grad school at NYU. I'm not gonna lie, I'm feelin' pretty good about it. Duh. I just finished writing my last paper of the school year, to turn it in on Friday at my last class. SIGH of relief!!!! Now I get to focus on making some money via various jobs this summer (i.e. babysitting, possibly a paid internship at a senior center, and a paid respite job with my current internship), and having FUN with that money, New York City style! Things are looking up! I've babysat a few times over the last month, and while it's not big money, it sure feels good to be earning again! Seriously, to work and get paid for it...there's just something about it. I feel like I'm contributing to society and society is contributing back...in CASH!!! Also, I get to pay tithing at church again. Once more, the ability to earn and contribute = good feelings, not to mention blessings.

The babysitting gig may be short-term and it's only once a week, but hey, it's something. I met the mom and the two kids today and the kids are SO ADORABLE! They both have dark brown, almost black adorable curly hair and dark brown, adorable eyes. And they totally took to me! I've always thought I had a knack with kids. I told the mom this, and she saw it in action and confirmed it. She was impressed. :) For some reason, kids just love me...probably because I love them first. They're like dogs. They can sense if you like them or not. Babies and dogs. I love them. They love me. There's a certain age range of love, though. Kids between the ages of 1 and 4, maybe 5, love me. Maybe that's just because that's the stage where they still rely on adults a lot. I like to think it's my golden blond hair and big smile that gets 'em every time. ;)

Suburbia Saturday

Meet Holly! She's super sweet. She slept by me last night.:)
This morning I went to a service project in Queens. On my walk to the Long Island Railroad, to get back into the city, I saw this!
Ahhh, suburbia. Gotta love the Sev. Slurpee summer!!