The sights of New York and the adventures of Libby

It's been almost a month and I haven't been anywhere, and it's possible I have developed a traveling Jones. That's an old phrase I've heard before and I'm using it. Except for some day trips, I'm stranded in town because I've lost my reliable sub, and it's a total bummer. I don't understand why teachers, who have worked all day, don't want to stay another two hours to keep an eye on multi children. It's a mystery! 

In the meantime I want to finish our New York trip so I can move on to other topics. I'm not sure anyone even reads this blog anymore, which means I'm just talking to myself...and that's just sad. So here I go talking to myself again....


Here's what I've decided.....Lady Liberty obviously made a HUGE impact on my trip to NYC, so instead of doing the usual, I was here...and we was there....I thought it appropriate that I would do...Libby was here and Libby was there. So that's happenin. For the record, I still think she's spectacular in every way. 

The poem on her statue says...
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, 
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” 

I mean come on....even at our worst, America is still the best. It's God's grace that makes it that way, even for the people who think they don't want Him, His grace is sufficient.

So come along with me back to New York City and see all the things we saw. It was really quite something to behold. 

Arriving in the skies above New York City, I had my first sighting of Lady Liberty.

I was BEYOND, but had no idea how much better it would get.

This was awesome, but not as great.

The Empire State Building, but it's no Lady Liberty.

The first thing we had to do was find a ride into the city, so Melanie, Carrie and I were standing in a long taxi line when a man approached Carrie and said, "Big car, 65 dollar." He then proceeded to take her suitcase and walk with it to an unknown destination. She hurriedly followed after him.....and her suitcase...so Melanie and I followed after her, her suitcase and the man with her suitcase. Well, we walked across several lanes of traffic and into a parking garage, expecting to see a town car or something like it. We passed every car until all that was left was a huge white limousine. We were surprised and amused, but we were in it to win it at that point, so he loaded up our bags and off we went.   

I do not lie.

In our 80's fabulous limo.

Park Avenue was just right there. 

After we met Becky at the hotel and settled in, we ate at an Irish pub all dressed up for Christmas.

Then set out walking to all places New York.

One of those being Times Square.

It was there, in Times Square, the magic happened an I found Libby, or 5 Libbys waiting for me.

That's when she joined us in our adventure. The next morning we had a date with the BIG Statue of Liberty and I had a fun thought about bringing her with me the next day. It was a simple plan, small Libby meets extra large Libby and then I would be done. 

When the next magic happened.

Manhattan in the background, sadly Libby wasn't included.

Then I thought why not document where Libby spent the rest of that day. That's Manhattan in the background. That tallest building is the Freedom Tower. 

There's movie stuff everywhere! Staten Island Ferry! The very best ferry! 

We then walked to the financial district to see that bull and Wall Street. 

Crossing the street. Obvi. 

This is just an excellent shot. Also, I don't think the XL Libby has that hole in her chin. 

I mean, that's just another great shot of her somewhere close to the financial district. It's so hard to eliminate the pics of her. 

Finally...made it...

To the bull.

And so did we. There were so many people standing around trying to get a picture with the bull, we got what we got and we didn't pitch a fit. This is so funny. We are all in it, but for some reason, me prominently. This picture is an illusion, because you can't see the teeming masses at our elbow.  

OK, so it doesn't LOOK like the masses were teeming...but it felt like it.

Here she is at the New York Stock Exchange.

Her with New York City Policemen.

Trinity Wall Street Church.

Inside the church. Obvi again.

We ended that first night at the 9/11 museum and the World Trade Center site. I didn't want to take any Libby pictures there, unless I could have super-imposed a tear on her cheek. So she stayed in the purse. That post is for another day, or never. 

After a snack we headed home by subway, which was surprisingly not too bad. Here's Libby seeing if the subway train was coming.

It was, so she did.

Tuckered after a full day of seeing the sights, it was time for bed.

But there was just enough energy left to jump up and make her debut in White Christmas!

And that's where Libby's run around New York was supposed to end, but then Olivia and Mollie had the harebrained idea she should continue with us over the rest of our days. Once I was challenged, it became a "Where in New York City" will Libby find herself next. 

After a good night's rest, what sights did she see the next day ? 

The five of us headed towards Snoopy and Macy's. 

Macy's Flagship store takes up almost an entire block in New York. I looked that up by the way. 

Inside Macy's, the Christmas decorations were gorge. 

I'm certain not one human being thought it was weird we were taking pictures of a tiny Statue of Liberty all over the place. 

This is a great shot of her, but you can't see where she is.

But it was 34th street.

We sniffed our nose at the liberal rag New York Times. 

That's the Cake Boss' shop across the street. 

Hell's Kitchen is a district in New York City where the poor and working class Irish  Americans lived. I looked up this Smith's Bar in Hell's Kitchen and found that Hayden Panettiere's father just reopened it recently. I had no idea until I looked this up as well.

Radio City Music Hall, home of the Rockettes. There was not one Rockette I could find.  

Then it was time for a well deserved cocktail. 

She had a pretty sweet ride. At some point in the purse riding experience, Libby's torch carrying arm was injured. I blamed myself really. In the end I was able to use a band aid to splint it and keep it in place, but the damage was done.   

Jimmy did not come out to meet Libby. 

We got cupcakes at this supposed famous bakery. 

Street food vendors had roasted chestnuts at the ready, we were gonna try one but they stunk so bad. We never did.

Neither Simon nor Schuster was available because they are dead. Simon is the father of singer Carly Simon. Schuster, wasn't easy to find anything about and since I don't care, I gave up very quickly. The most important fact about the company to me is, it began its publishing career by making crossword puzzle books. We all know Billie June is a master at a crossword.     

In spite of her injury she soldiered on to the Rainbow Room, a famous rooftop restaurant. This is as close as we got to it. 

Christie's, but there was no auction therefore we bought no masterpieces. 

That's the Rockefeller Center tree in the background. 

My apologies to Libby and all people for not including her in this group shot. At the time I didn't realize the magnitude of the decision. 

With another New York day in the books, I had the aching dogs to prove it.

On Friday night we got a late night visitor and then the next morning we were off on another adventure. Hello Russian Tea Room! (This was not the visitor.) It was just down the street from our hotel. We never ate there.

Emma rode the bus to New York Friday night and spent the weekend with us.

First stop on Saturday was The Empire State Building. 

It was there I took multi viewed shots of her with the city as a backdrop, so get ready for a few. Manhattan in the background.

The Empire State Building is in Midtown Manhattan. 

Selfie sticks do serve a purpose, although I find them obnoxious. 

Took this lovely photo of Emma atop the Empire.

I'm only missing two more daughters.

This is only one of two photos with all six of us. Again, I had no idea the magnitude of the project when it began.

A shot of her in front of Macy's 

Still sporting her bandage, I took this to show the enormity of this bottle of Chanel.

The ability to make a really great "forced perspective" photo continues to escape me, and makes me sad. This looks a little like it's being set on top of the arch, but it still needs work. 

The only other pictures of all of "us."

These make me giggle.

Me and Em in front of Washington Square Park Arch. It was built in 1889 to celebrate the centennial of George Washington's inauguration.   

The arch is just across the street from where Fifth Avenue begins, hence, One Fifth Avenue. 

Walking along the fancy pants neighborhood of Fifth Avenue. 

Hanging out in the ritzy part of NYC.

 Gray's Papaya hot dogs across the street. 

Every thing and even one I expected to find in New York, was all there. I would've been disappointed If I hadn't seen these people playing basketball on a street corner.

The closest subway station to our hotel.

The New York City Library.

Inside the library. The famous Rose Main Reading room was closed to the public when we were there. I was so disappointed we didn't get to see it. 

After I found out the reading room was closed, it knocked out what little wind I had left in my sails. I then found a step to sit on while waiting for the other people to finish wandering about. 

I was OVER. IT. At that point, so tired and so far from home. 

But we still hadn't experienced a piece of New York City pizza. And then we did. It was delish.

On our way to Grand Central Station with the Empire State Building in the background. 

Grand Central.

Inside Grand Central Station, was very grand. 

After a full day of sight seeing, we had a lovely dinner at some Italian place I don't know the name of not far from our hotel.

The most important part of that meal was the cocktail. 

Look people. So many times I've purposefully tried to make a forced perspective photo. So many. Look at this one. Unintentionally it looks as if Melanie's drink straw is in Emma's mouth. It kinda annoys that this happened by accident. Cheers! 

Now it looks like she's looking down into the drink with attitude. Perfectly accidental. Well unintentionally done me.

We cruised by Trump Tower. He did not greet us. 

Don't know where this is, but I liked this picture. She weathered her injury well.

Sunday was our flying home and Emma's bus ride back to DC day. We started the day with a fabulous brunch at some French place I don't know the name of not far from our hotel. 

Omelet? Yes please!

After our brunch, it was off to The Plaza. To look....not to go in. 

On the way there I saw this Norman Rockwell painting in a antique store I don't know the name of sorta far from our hotel. 

One more shot of The Plaza. 

We took a stroll through Bergdorf's to find a restroom. The staff was very friendly and helpful. We bought nothing because everything was sooooo expensive. 

This is a sculpture of William Tecumseh Sherman at the entrance of Central Park. Weird. I looked it up and it said that Sherman lived in New York after the Civil War, and this statue was crafted in France, brought here and placed at the entrance. Hmmm, OK.

The sights of Central Park.

Me and Emma in the park.

Rocks in Central Park, saying her goodbyes to the city that never sleeps, before she relocated.

The skating rink in Central Park in the background. 

The walk way I've seen tons of times in movies.

After our short walk through the park, we parted company with Emma so she could catch her bus back to DC and we made our way back to our hotel to meet our ride to the airport. But we made one more stop on the way. 

We had some time to kill so we stopped for a drink and dessert at a place I don't know the name of not far from our hotel. 

Then it was time for our ride to the airport. 

"The Mexington Avenue bus." Katherine Hepburn said that in Desk Set. One of the greatest movies ever.  

Libby was safely placed out of harm's way to avoid further injury.

Then I saw the Queensborough Bridge and had to get one more shot of a New York landmark. 

Made it to the airport safely, through security and was waiting to board. 

Saying our goodbyes to New York. Good bye New York.

Tucked in for the very very very bumpy flight to Dallas. Like woah.

Is she inside or outside?

Have we landed in Dallas yet?

Indeed we have. Welcome to the south Libby.

Where cities may sleep, but people say excuse me when they bump into you. 

After we made it back to the house, Melanie and I decided to head out on the open road and go home that same night. We made it safe and sound at about 2ish to sleep in our own beds. It was a good decision.  

Home sweet new home in Louisiana via Dallas from New York. 

And there in a very long post, encompasses the adventures in travels of the tiny Statue of Liberty I came to call Libby. I will always remember New York so fondly. It was truly an epic trip and I'm happy to have had the chance to go. 

But for now.... 

I'm so glad this is finished! It took me forever. For Ev Er. 

I'm so tired and after seeing the clock, I'm even more tired.

Off to snuggle and sleep.