A Day at the Museum

I'm on a roll here, aren't I? At this rate I'll post more times in one month than I did all of last year. Not a bad thing, given that last year seems mostly a blur at this point!

On the Tuesday morning, we left the hotel a bit later than I had anticipated. Against my better judgement, I had given my family a bit more credit than was due. I'm a bit of a slow study that way ... or maybe an optimist. You can tell me.

I did a lot of surfing to plan for this trip and tried to book as many tickets ahead of time as possible. (A major tip: I visited this website, "broadwaybox", where you can find discount codes for many NYC attractions, broadway and offbroadway shows.) From our previous experience at the AMNH, there were lineups galore if you waited to purchase tickets onsite. So I booked ahead to make it easy upon arrival - I would just have to visit their ticket kiosk (like an ATM) - swipe my credit card and prest0, we'd have the tickets. The problem with that is that at time of booking, you have to decide on the scheduled timing for any shows that you'd like to include in your package. I made the executive decision that we would make the 10:30 AM showtime no problem given that it should only take 10 minutes to walk from our hotel to AMNH.

Surely this would give us plenty of time - we were in NYC and although there was so much to see we'd still have time for a leisurely breakfast, no?

No. Not so much in reality. Seems I'm still the only morning person in this family. We left the hotel by 10 minutes after the hour, giving us barely any slack to pick up the tickets (yes, I still had to get those) and figure out where the space show was in the HUGE building. And of course we went to the wrong spaceshow first! I hadn't anticipated an early run - I suppose it could be seen as a fringe benefit, but not necessarily when you're not in the mood for a workout. In the end, we did make the show (and not that it was worth it- if it's the Whoopi Goldberg narrated space show, just skip it).

(...here's another lesson - although it might seem a little easier traveling with school-agers versus toddlers - ie. no diaper bag, no lugging around food/bottles/ strollers ... there is now more baggage of a different kind. A lot more negotiation is involved when you're dealing with whining about leaving beloved Cartoon network and the TV shows that we don't normally get at home. And also not helpful - a husband who is not a morning person and who would prefer some deservedly extra shut-eye. The mother/wife a.k.a . Me in this scenario just feels like a caged animal in the hotel room, as she's usually the first up and itching to do NYC in short order. By 10 AM I've already been up for more than a couple of hours and stir-crazy is putting it mildly. I wish I were a runner ... now that's an idea for next time...)

Rant over. Let's move on. The AMNH was wonderful - again. We had actually seen the "Night at the Museum" a second (or maybe 3rd time now) over the Christmas break, so it was amazing to see some of these things live.

That's one big canoe...

An origami tree

The squid and the whale (have you caught the movie? You should.)

Hall of "water dinosaurs" according to the girl

Our gracious hosts...

Most of the rest of the visit was captured on video, so the shots here weren't really representative of the amount of ground we covered. By about 1:30PM the kids were tired and hungry, and the museum had gotten rather crowded. You probably need at least 3 days to see everything at the AMNH rather than just 3 hours. But we were all museumed out.

We headed out into the frigid temperatures - and yes, even for us Canucks, it was very cold on that Tuesday. After a bit of arguing as to the best place to eat with the kids (another note to file - hungry is not a good state for this family)... we settled on a French cafe "Nice Matin" which is the restaurant affiliated with another hotel I had looked into staying at - The Lucerne, which also has kitchenette facilities. I had the most amazing sandwich there and the kids were happy with their meals - it was a welcome respite from the crazy frigid wind.

It was really too cold and late in the day for the family to do anything after getting back to the hotel. Well, you guessed it, except for the Momster - who decided to walk a few blocks down to the Upper West Side's Century 21 location. After all, I had to buy a couple of hats for me and the girlie - it was so darn cold! But yes, I scored again with Betsy Johnson ("Mommy are those spiders?) and Velvet Tees; and a great Calvin Klein dress for work.

For dinner that night everyone was still tired and seeing as it was so cold, we decided just to have dinner again at the Viand Cafe. Nice and close - and a perfect end to a long and busy day.

Agenda for Wednesday? Times Square and shopping - only this time not for me.

Epic start to 2012

Heroic. Massive. Impressive.

Long.

Words that could be used to describe this post. What I'd like to accomplish here is two-fold: 1) cyber-dump the description of my last week for the internets to enjoy, and 2) have something for me to look back on as I will inevitably forget the details.

Details? Oh yeah - another recent discovery. Not only do I need more cowbell, but apparently a lot more walnuts as well.

I'd like to capture the best parts of what it was like to spend 5 nights in Manhattan with our 11 year old and just turned 7 year old. A nice family, bonding, city vacation. NYC was such a blast for me solo in November - and because we have extremely fond memories of the last time we took the kids around the same time of year in 2006 , we were pumped about this trip.

As I said, I could make this an epic post. But I won't. I'll need to break it up - for my sanity and for yours ...

Day 1 - New Years Day 2012

2:15 PM flight was very civilized. According to the flight attendant at check-in, the morning was an absolute zoo at the airport. We apparently avoided it all. A+ to me for planning the timing.

Side note: This allowed us to enjoy some New Years' Eve activity the night before (at a friend's house where, had my kids not had their friends to keep them busy, I would have embarassed them to no end dancing to Rush, the Cars (come on- "Just What I Needed?" - just have to bop to that...) - oh there was Radiohead too and some Green Day too - little G did great but had a meltdown at about 11:50 PM as there was too much of this old people stuff and LMFAO's "Sexy and I Know It" did not come on again as quickly as anticipated). ANYWHoooo...I'm rambling...I hope not to digress so much as we move forward.

We arrived at LaGuardia about 4:30 PM- I keep forgetting what a yuck airport LGA is- at least we didn't have to wait in the lounge here. Different story later when coming home.

We picked up a taxi very easily, and hit the road for the Upper West Side.



I had booked the Hotel Beacon, a couple of blocks around the corner from the Museum of Natural History. Seeing as we'd done midtown last visit, the UWS seemed like another great part of the city to explore.

Hotel Beacon is adjacent to the cool Beacon theatre that has hosted the likes of such acts as The Cure (incidently, Robert Smith is almost looking more Divine than anyone else these days -I know, so cruel, but it's hard to continue rocking the look of Goth when you're in your fifties, I suppose...) Morrissey, Louis CK ... who knew. Unfortunately, no great shows were on while we were there - although Peter Frampton is apparently "coming Alive" again in a few short weeks. Him and Myth busters - now THAT be would be cool.

The hotel is a converted apartment building - (in fact it appeared as if there was an original tenant just next door - very elderly )but it was perfect for a family - with a small kitchenette, pullout in the living room and a completely separate bedroom with King - an ideal space. Bonus with Fairways market across the street and a 24/7 Duane Read two buildings up.



The kitchenette, because you know, I've got a thing about kitchens...




We took it easy on our first evening, to energize for the next day of exploring. So that evening we had a delicious steak dinner at the Fairways Cafe, complete with amazing onion rings and reasonably priced wine.

All settled in to start our fantasy of living like an UWS family. Well, one can dream, right?
Next stop, Central Park.

Update, Vacay style

Hi y'all - yes, still here. Actually managed to get to the office for one day -meetings took up most of the day, but then it was good to get back into it and stay in the loop. Now onto family vacation. Don't you just love the summer?

Following the last post...

Cairo Time - I'm officially in love with Patricia Clarkson (who happens to be the busiest actress this year... can't wait to see her in "One Day" and "Friends with Benefits"). Gone are the days of the great restrained romantic movie.. and then comes this. A love story to Cairo as well. Love.

For the record, I hosted a book club for "One Day" the book... and will post about it later. Love again.

The Fighter - Wow. No other words. No wonder so many Oscar nods.

Toodles.

So are you still happy?

It's a soggy Sunday morning, the man is on a bike ride, the kids are being hypnotized by their respective screens, so what's a girl to do?

Blog, I guess.

I contemplated participating in Weekly Winners, it would have been easy enough, as I actually have photos, albeit a week late. No videos of course (video camera went MIA on our recent trip, apparently it was a collective "WE" who lost it, and for the sake of my marriage I decided to let it go... which was terribly difficult for me, as you know, as I am nothing if not a superior wife, and maybe I'm still shooting myself that I hadn't personally taken responsibility of it and crazy-glued the thing to my person...did I say I was over it yet...? Honestly, I am.).

Anywhoo, it was a wonderful city vacation. So this will be a wordy Weekly Winners.

Can you guess where we were?









It was great being away from the office for a couple of weeks. Sure, it was right in the middle of major crises but when you think about it, is it ever a good time to take a vacation? But being physically and electronically disconnected (I only checked my e:mail once while away) was critical in keeping everything in proper perspective. Much needed perspective.

I looked back at a post from this time last year. I was posting about Barbie beds, BBQ's and friends turning 40. I was a full time stay at home Mom.

This time THIS year, I unfortunately haven't made the time to renovate Barbie's decor. However, there are still the BBQ's and dinners, and more friends turning 40-plus. In fact, we had a couple over for dinner last night. And I am now a full time work-out of home Mom.

The requisite question came up, from my SAHM friend:

"So Karen, are you still happy with your work?"

How did I answer?

"Yes, I am. Actually as of Friday, rather ecstatic".

I've adjusted fairly well, ya think?

When I was presented the job opportunity last year, the biggest part of my reluctance to move away from doing my own thing and jumping back into the corporate fire was the "people" stuff. And what did I encounter within days of being on the job? People stuff. Big people stuff. As in high frustration and low morale stuff...with no realizable solution in sight. Sort of like staring a corporate Mount Everest in the face.

I was so stressed, so nervous, so "how am I going to do anything about this, I'm the new kid on the block, no one knows me here, the processes are overwhelming and gahhhhhh, I haven't done this sort of thing in five freakin' years!!!!!"

I assigned myself Project Number One. Project number one was to alleviate the pressure. Project number one was to make things happen, for people who saw little hope. I had to put on my thinking hat, brush off my subtle powers of political persuasion ( skills honed by potty training negotiation and perseverance likely helped), put the business case scenario ducks in order...

Project number one, with no realizable solution in sight - is now within a hair's breath of being resolved.

It took me almost a year. But I suppose a year to move a mountain is no small feat.

"Hey Karen, maybe you could move while you talk?" I got a nudge from the hubby as he transitioned our dinner guests into the dining room for the tomato-cucumber-bocconcini salad (oh the powers of Google) that I had literally just thrown together.

I guess I get a bit overly-excited when I talk about work. I always have. And there continue to be mountains to move on the work-life balance front.

So, am I still happy?

There is the next issue, a Mount Vesuvius in the wings ...

But yeah, I'm pretty sure that I am.

Weekly Winners - Paradise

We're such rotten parents, aren't we? We took the kids out of school to go on a one week trip to Mexico. ( When I told the girlie we were going, she said she didn't want to get sick. So aware, these 5 year olds are these days. I had to tell her she'd already had the flu that started in Mexico. Great segue into getting her a Hep shot, though.)

And now they're starting their spring break. Wishing we were back in Mexico. Group sigh this time.

The ultimate fort...

Cocooned

Running...

with...

birds.

My favourite part
For more photo fun, visit the home of lovely Lotus. She'll take your breath away.

Wordless and wishing ...

that we were still there.

Sigh.

Weekly Winners - Summertime

It's been over a month since my last WW, and I've missed this. This week just some snaps of what we've been up to, colder summer temperatures notwithstanding...

Nightime at a friend's rented farm near Thornbury:

Exploring the Scenic Caves of Blue Mountain:

My off-roader in Albion Hills

The beach in the hills

We took the kids to Markham Museum, an outdoor museum which captures life as it was in the 1800's. A little gem, which I'd always wanted to visit but never had the chance. We had our own tour because no one else was there! First, inside a typical variety store:

A wreath made of human hair, displayed in a family home:

(Edited to add: uh, I think when I posted this initially it looked like, yeah, a wreath of human hair is just so everyday to me, when really I was thinking "OMG, a WREATH made of the stuff, it's sorta creepy, I HAVE to post this!!" and then thinking what an awesome wreath I would be able to make with all the serious high Asian hair turnover I have...that's the truth!).

And finally, newfound friend in our garden

For more photo fun, check the home of Weekly Winners, chez Lotus.

Happy to be home

It's been an entire week that I've been away from the blog and surprisingly enough, I do not have the shakes.

This is the first day I've been really home since July 16. A trip to Vancouver with the family, followed by a quickie weekend to Chicago all by my lonesome, and then a week with family at a cottage, capped off with a resort visit at Blue Mountain brings us back home today... and exhausted. It looked great on the calendar, but now I need more vacay from the vacay.

A few things I've learned during the whirlwind of the past couple of weeks...

• having my own "thing" (blog, blog conference/ girls weekend away), something that's mine, all mine, is okay. In fact, better than okay. I got to rediscover who I am as my own person; the kids got to spend quality time with their Dad, and I came home to a clean fridge and cupboards cleared of expired goods, vintage 2006. I told you, I'm a horrible housekeeper, but what a strategy, don't you think? I need to get away on my own more often;
• there are a gazillion cute little dogs in this universe, all on vacation and more than willing to help my kids with their pressure tactics;
  
• my son loves having swimming races with me, and I can still do a surface dive in the deep end of the pool and come up with only one blood shot eye rather than two (it was the swimming, seriously, not the drinking, come ON!);
• trying to remember the lyrics to 80's and earlier songs (aloud) while dancing and making s'mores for your kids around a campfire, will make them think you're drunk. It was only mid "Stairway to Heaven", when I reminded my boy not to perform a faceplant into the flames that he remarked, "that's great Mom, thank goodness, now I know you're still here with us!"
  
• my daughter is in such a rush to grow up and two 16 year old female cousins will trump Mommy every time;
  
• my relationship with the man is still strong enough to withstand his new love affair with Ms. GPS. Damn her sexy robotic voice; but if she can navigate while I sleep, it's a win-win;
  
• missing a blog post or two in a week can set you free. I'm hoping to have better quality writing and real posts some time soon.
  
• there's nothing like your own bed.

Happy to be home indeed.

Weekly Winners #31

PERFECT

TEN

KIDS

READING

CHASING BUBBLES

For other Weekly Winners check out Lotus' place.

Super Random Saturday

This post is going to go all over the place. Because we're now officially on...





so my brain doesn't have to work so hard. Not that it ever does, most days, at least it feels that way. Should be interesting when I start to do some work in the fall...

Hubby is off for a few weeks; we'll see if he can stick to it and not check his crackberry overly much in the next little while. Perhaps if I just keep the kids after him round-the-clock that might do the trick.

I'm not great at these random thingy's, usually trying to carefully craft each post with brilliant precision (stop laughing), but it's Saturday morning, and this is what I feel like.

For breakfast:



Yes, Japanese pound cake from a Chinese bakery, likely made with pure lard.

Perfectly healthy, while I make my girl eat this:



Let's hope she manages to get a few flakes down without acting like I'm force feeding her fish food (but I suppose that's what they sort of look like). We don't want the drama of "Constipation the Miniseries" that happened earlier this week to go into reruns.

Other news on the girl front, well, here's her new sleeping buddy. (Never understood why anyone would think a RAT would be good stuffed animal material, but then I suppose my daughter is just that market...)



Hopefully her taste in sleeping partners improves with age.

This is the worst time for me to be having that type of breakfast, but I'm hangover free after a night imbibing 4 mojitos and fistfuls of Lays potato chips. I suppose this is what happens when I'm suffering from Bodyjam withdrawal. Not going to gym = pig out on all the junk in the house.

Yes folks, because I went a bit overboard on the last couple of sessions at the gym, my back feels like I've been playing...

24/7 for about a week. I'm forgetting that I don't have a 20-year old body anymore. It's fun to play with the 20 year olds, but the body is good at reminding me that it ain't all that any longer. Oy.

What will we be doing on vacay? Not a whole heck of a lot. A few day trips with the kids, stuff around the house, we still need to get the kitchen finally, finally finished because in addition to more Cowbell, we need a light in here....



And a garage sale is likely in order ... ugh...

I'll still be around, but likely posting sporadically (I know you don't believe me, but I'll give it a try, honestly I will!)

Have a great Saturday!

Weekly Winners # 27

Beautiful gardens at U.B.C.

Kids wrestling, forehead style

On your mark, get set ...

For other Weekly Winners check out the home of Sarcastic Mom

Haiku Friday - Family Vacay

Yup I've been away
Five days in Vancouver sun
Third year in a row

Kids love this city
And all it has to offer
Plus gorgeous weather

And we had such fun
Saw new things this time around
Pics and the story...

Sequoia Grill lunch
Stanley Park in its glory
Beaches and ice cream

Jazz Fest in the Park
Lemonade and Cerveza
Music to the ears

Cactus Club Cafe
Canadian Iron Chef
with Me and the Boy

Mini haiku - Boy's shirt
(Eurocup Soccer
This is the year of red Spain
Germany is sad)

Grouse Mountain top views
Lumberjack show and wet T's
On the guys, I mean

Grizzly bears playing
in natural habitat
Birds in Motion, too






Metropolitan
Hotel we're just so spoiled
Suite deal was perfect

Swimming was a hit
A must-have when you have kids
Family time rocks

Diva at the Met
Great food but a tad pricey
Okay for a treat

Cool Kitsilano
Sophie's Cosmic Cafe lunch
Great food, and Elvis



Canada Day sweet
Hyperactive here we come
But who can resist?


Nitobe Garden
Beautiful memorial
Even boy felt zen


Robson street dinner
Upstairs at Earl's with cousin
Girl slept, boy ate -- nice

Robson street shopping
Plenty, Lulu, Shifeon
Cannot stop the shop

Art Gallery show
Anime, cartoons, vid-games
Souvenirs galore

Lunch at the cafe
White wine, Orange crush and milk
Wonderful last day


Only one hitch though
Visit and notice was short
Next should be longer

To meet new blogpals
Cool Women of the west coast
So I WILL be back