Tim’s travel surprise

2017.April.08

I look over, where is Fiona? It is just before 4:45am when my alarm on my watch is suppose to go off. Her USB nightlight is really bright casting a blue hue over the room. I have a damn mosquito bit over my left eye brow, little sucker itches. We packed the day before, or I should say Fiona pa Ken the day before and put my stuff out for me to confirm her selection. I approved. Got some pajama pants and a nicer shirt. Threw in my slippers when I got in bed. Corey came over last night. He will be watching the dog and taking her to wagly just down the street. We insisted he drive the ‘golf cart’ to his work and back since he is down the street. Wonder if the Darci will check up on him… I mean the dog. We got a new dog door that fits in the sliding door. Need to get another strip of weather stripping but have a plan to install it when I get back. We got the medium door which is about 8×11 for our medium dog. Willow’s head fit therefore she fits. Lawson also fits, and he said so with great gusto. Work is work and busy stuff. I have a new boss who started march 20th. He seems cool. 

Corey dropped us off with the kids in the jammies. I carried the Niamh down, and the Fiona got Lawson. Of course I didn’t take out the giant car seat we do not own from the Infiniti so get dirty looks from the Fiona (yes more than one before 6 in the morning). I drive, but before we go Corey is so excited to go he wants to lock up the house, but I gently remind him he probably want to get Lawson. LoL. We get to terminal B for Alaska and it is busy. Bummer. I pull in to the middle and some inconsiderate cab driver leaves about a foot of room to get the hatch open to take out our 4 carryons and 3 backpacks. !*#%@&^*. It is 5:45 so am allowed to be grumpy. Damn taxi driver. As Audrey Hepburn says, “How Rude”. 

We say goodbye to Corey, and go checkin, upgrade to first class. Damn it again no TSA pre check. We have to talk with James who prints out new boarding passes, but takes him a bit to understand that yes we are first class and we have already checked our bags, but he sorts us out one at a time. Good thing cause security is a bear, but the lady does not even attempt to say Niamh’s name… ah the child with a hard to say name, thanks Phyiona. We go to gate 28 of flight 786 to… surprise Newark, NJ. Look people I’ve never been to New Jersey so that will be a first too, the garden state.

We landed at an airport that looks like any other, people going through ecuritybto leave Newark was interesting, at least in the part of the airport we were in; instead of spread across it only has 2 stations that went deep for like 4 stations, so instead of 1×8 it was 2×4. Managed to find baggage claim and our bags popped off one after another it was like the lottery numbers in the right order. Fiona hailed the car service and Jason picked us up; a big friendly guy who spoke about 4 languages including Greek, German, and English. The kids were amazed by the long tunnel and pretty exited by it. 90 dollars later we arrived at the Homewood Suites, which is owned by Hilton, about 4 blocks from Times Square. They gave us two rooms instead of a suite since they ran out. They are next door but no adjoining door. So much for a family stuffed in one room on the 7th floor. At 4:45 off we went to get our NewYork sightseeing passes to see over 200 different things, we picked the passes up outside ripely’s wax museum which sort of creeped out the kids. Morgan freeman was standing out side and PINK floated in the air as we waited in line to get our passes. On our way up 8th to 42nd we passes a few beer shops. We also are conveniently staying in the garment district ‘coincidentally’ according to the Fiona. 

We sat down at Heartland Brewery where they switched burgers on Fiona and I. I took a bite of her Buffalo burger and the zippy buffalo sauce took me by surprise, as I made her switch with me for my classic burger. It was very good… better than Red Robin or BJs. The beer was ok to poor on my sampler platter of six beer. The red was awful, and porter just a step above, and the IPA, lager, and wheat, and light beers where better. Then we walked to Times Square and took a selfie, and the walked back and hid in our hotel room. Fiona and Lawson went to their room to sleep,a nod Niamh stayed with me and couldn’t fall asleep. I went to bed at 11pm and tossed around.

2017.April.09

Woke up at 9am. Took a shower. Not sure if we missed breakfast. Niamh took a shower in the other room. Wonder if we will get a suite back, but like the idea of two showers. Not sure what we are going to do today, but will be fun. Hey guess what! What! The breakfast buffet does not end until 10:30! Woot! Woot! Now get your little hiney’s in gear. The Fiona went down and foraged for fruit loops for the little birds who pecked at them on the way to the buffet. I took a shower this morning and we made it down at 10:15 along with the rest the hotel. The tiny little elevators which take no more than 6 people where backed up, all three of them but we got down and I had some eggs with onions and salsa already mixed in, a sausage link, a quarter of a waffle, and a little cup of raspberry yogurt. Lawson got amped up on more fruit loops of course, and Niamh sensibly has a bagel with cream cheese like her fabulous mother. And we are off at 10:45 to the Empire State Building also known as ESB. It took an hour to go up to the 86th floor. On the way there Niamh’s hat blew off her head as the doorman ushered us through the main doors. She swore it was tightly on, but given that is blew 50 feet inside the art deco lobby and her scrambling after it I begged to differ as I laughed at the escapade. We went through another 6 different lines and stopped at the 80th floor, to take in the views, and then walk up 6 flights of stairs, to get to the outside view on the 86th floor. For 20 dollars more we could have opted to go to the 102nd floor, but instead stuck with our 34 dollar ticket. This sight was part of the New York pass which was around 122 dollars. So we have to see at least 4 things that cost about 30 dollars to pay for the pass. We made a few FaceTime calls to the grandparents to say hello from the top of the Empire State building on a really nice sunny day. Of course Lawson hit the emergency button and was startled when a voice came out of it asking him if he was ok. What is it about buttons?

We made it back down and Lawson wanted pasta, so we found a shop not to far away, Bella Napoli. There was a cat downstairs that Lawson found which I made him wash his hands twice since we decided it was best to wash hands after the Empire State Building, and then again after he started petting the cat. Lawson got his buttered noddles, Niamh had the first slice of New York pizza, me a ceaser salad, and Fiona a bowl of soup. I helped Niamh finish her pizza; Fiona helped too. I had a Brooklyn Lager from the Brooklyn Brewey. Not bad. We then made plans to meander to Central Park by way of grand central station. Good, off we went. Oh a call from Radhika… hum chat problem? No not really but a report to say it is not a problem good idea, and gave some suggestions. Hey look grand central station! Pretty neat, and the Chrysler building right next door. Lawson wanted to see the trains, but we didn’t have any tickets. Off to the Top of the Rock. 

We made it to Rockefeller Plaza where Fiona was a buzz about see the Today show early in the morning! We saw the ice rink with about an inch of water on it. Crazy people skating outdoors in 75 degree weather. 25 for ice and 12 for skates, no thanks, for squishy wet ice. We no had to clue about  how to get to the top of the building, but used our keen senses to spot a poster that said shops below with top of the rock. One side for tickets and you get on the other side. No hats blew off this time, and the was no button to push unless you count Fiona’s? Fiona did put on her Darth mask that I had been trudging around for the green screen picture which was pretty funny. We did walk up steps to three drifferent levels to peer out at the Empire State Building and Central Park. Ok back down and to the park.

Detour. She whipped out the earth mask in front of trump tower, and something about the dark side. Oh something shiny? Another detour, Tiffany’s! How many floors of jewelry? Wait this ring costs 720k? No kids you can’t push that elevator button, see this man, that is his job. Ok time to go. 

Here is the park and 4:45. Johnny asks us if we want the horse or electric ride? How much time do we have, sure an hour. 245 dollars no I don’t have that much time… 170 for 4 for an hour tour for four? Sure that sounds better. Off we go and the kids are yelling about horse poop and pointing it out on the ground. That is the Chanel of the park? Who knew? We see the entire park in an hour with 3 stops of 10 minutes. We see where Lady Gaga lives, Jerry Seinfeld, a Kennedy, the ‘Friends’ fountain, the ‘Row Bridge, (proposal/break up bridge, the top of the natural history museum, John Legend’s place, places where a bunch of films where filmed, all very cool. Oh and Johnny is dropping us off a the Tavern of the Green at 6:15. Yes of course we will sit outside and eat and drink. It is a beautiful day! I get a Salmon with a side of mash potatoes and have a pilsner from KelSo Beer company. It was all very tasty and our most expensive meal to date. Yes kids you can have ice cream on the way back. We walk back the 2 miles and stop half way at gelato shop. It is 10 and want to watch something cool. Tata. 

2017.April.10

Dumb alarm. It rang out at 6:25am. I got up walked across the room and turned it off. Back to sleep. “Daddy can I watch cartoons?”. What time is it? 8:45? Sure. Turn it down. Lower. More. Ok. What time is is now? 9:30 ok time to get up and get going. Get dressed Niamh? Shower? No, well I’m going to shower. It is 10 am and Fiona can’t wake up Lawson with all the lights on and TV going. That is not exactly how I would rouse him, but Niamh and I got down stairs, literally as the elevators are toying with us this morning, and only appear to go up or all full on the way down. There are 15 steps between floors and we are on the 7th floor, I ask Niamh to solve how many steps… I tell here there are about 105 steps betweeen our floor and the first, as there appear to be more between the 2nd floor and the lobby. 

I have the eggs with onions and salsa, a sausage patty, peach yogurt, and a quarter of a waffle. Fiona gravitates to the fruit loops again. We quickly eat, and I get the Fiona a bagel and cream cheese, and Niamh gets herself more fruit loops. We take the elevator back to 7 this time. Perhaps we will go to the World Trade Center today and the statue? 

We took the subway, but we couldn’t figure out how to pay for more than one ticket at a time? A homeless guy said do this, and this, and get a metro card don’t you know? No we don’t know. So the kids ride free? Well ok. We caught the subway at 34th and 7th, and took it all the way to south ferry. Oh, but wait only the first 5 cars go to south ferry. WHAT? No get out and walk up to cars 5 to 1 you tourists. Scramble run, pant. Is this car 5? Crap. No let’s just keep going. Oh look a sign that says cars beyond this point go to south ferry. Thank goodness. What a crap shoot. 

We get out at the final stop and the helpful person says Staten Island is to the right right and upstairs. The ride is free. Oh wait we want Ellis Island, so we go back and the line is huge at 11:30 am. It will take 2 hours to get on a boat. We opt out and make our way to Wall Street. We stop and see the bull, the defiant little girl staring down the bull, the New York stock exchange building. Then we go down to the World Trade Center waterfall and explain to the kids what happened in 2001. Then off to lunch since it is 12:30. 

Fiona finds a place off yelp called The Malt House, and boy it was Good! I mean the beer guy who runs the place, Trevor, who is also an untpped geek. I get a tasters of New York from him which was excellent; all local beers out of New York. Yum. I started off with a Raging Bitch, a beer, not anyone I travel with. Niamh wanted a burger, so split one with her, but she didn’t want cheese. 😫, but I got a basket of garlic fries with blue cheese and aioli dips on the side. A great meal and beer, if I lived here would probably try the board. If you couldn’t have guessed this was the highlight of my day. 

Off to Freedom Tower which was not part of our Big Bus Pass of New York, but did get 5 bucks off our ticket and Lawson was free since he was 5. However it would have been better to get in as part of the package. It was not as long to get up as it seems like yesterday or perhaps I’m just used dot it? Anywho we took our funny picture on the way up, saw a cool movie show and reveal of the skyline, and then walked down a few stairs to get to the viewing room which was pretty good. It was not outside which was a bummer, but I guess is good for year round viewing? Another beautiful day. We saw the Statue of Liberty and looked back at the Empire State Building, and then went back down. Then took the the long walk to the Brooklyn Bridge. 

At pier 16, or across the street we rent bikes at 4;45pm to ridge across the bridge. Each person got their own bike. Getting to the bridge was a challenge, until we smartly plugged in the location in our phone which go us on a freggin bike path. Lawson can t pedal uphill to save himself, darn it he tried. It is a pretty good incline for a 5 year old to conquer. Niamh had no problem. Damn it was busy, and stupid people would be walking in the bike lane, and then you had the commuters tearing through as well. The kids liked the down hill part better. It took an hour to get from the bike shop to one end of the bridge, so I think we smartly decided to turn around and go back over the tourist infested bridge. Lawson did bail, but is unhurt. It only took us 30 minutes to get back, as we rode our bikes all the way instead of walking them behind people on the way to the bridge. Arrrg. Anywho the kids are hungry and tried, and Fiona has a headache. We walk up to a pharmacy and pick up Advil for her and kid stuff for the kids just in case. The turn around and walk back to front street and look at the places to eat mostly pubs with skimpy food choices, but find a cool Italian place where Niamh gets a pizza, Lawson buttered noddles, and Fiona gets fettuccine alla bolognese. I do clean up, which means I split Fiona’s meal and take half of Niamh’s pizza. Niamh is not a fan of the Greek olives? Not watered down enough for her I suppose. I get a large Birra Moretti to go with my random food. The kids are melting and it is 8pm. There is a subway stop up at Fulton and Williams, perfect. 

Wait we do not want to go to Brooklyn? Let’s get the blue line uptown? Sure? Can’t find a sit or the kids don’t want a seat is more like it.  Yeah we are walking back from 34th and 8th this time and get in at 9. Niamh finished watching spongebob at 9:30, but is still restless. Have plans to walk up at 7:45 to do it all again tomorrow, Mrs Statue of Liberty. 

Yes, we did get up at 7:45am people! The bacon sucked this morning. It was not bacon but plastic stuff that looked like like bacon but tasted like card board. No bacon on a vacation? Boo…. we left the hotel at 8:45 with fruit loops in a bag for later. Of course me with a keen sense of direction went to 9th and 34th instead of 7th. Doh! We did better with the metro card, but had to buy two more since the def one could hear me asking to top up the one card we already had. A dollar lost! Arrrrrgggg. We did manage to get in the first of the five cars and see all the other tourist scurry up to our car when we hit canal. 

Hey no line for security! Woot! Woot! Oh wait there is a stupid line for getting tickets. We get tickets and stand in another lane for security. Then we get in another line for the boat. We are on the boat by 10:40; way before yesterday! Yeehaw! We go to the Statue of Liberty and snap off bad pictures like the best of them. We get off and take more pictures. We get foam liberty hats for the kids and 2 expensive key chains. We take more pictures. We get in line again to go to Ellis Island. 

Ellis Island is huge so huge we give up trying to find all the places to go. We get to the Island at 12:30pm, and the kids get chips and Fiona and I snatch a few from the zombie children. For 7 dollars we can research who came through, but my grand father did the research. Need to find it via my dad, hum another project. It is 2:30 and we miss the ferry by 20 people. I finalize my sunburn on my neck and arms. Who knew a sun burn in New York? We get on the boat and arrive to a pub, Suspenders, at around 3ish. We have a pre dinner meal with the kids, and I have a very good grilled cheese, salad, and a side of fries. We leave around 4:30 to go to the wax museum for a 1.5 tour, but guess what? We have to stand in line to get tickets. If you guessed waiting in line then you get a good swift kick in the behind. LoL.  Anywho, it was not to shabby and even the kids had a blast. Then got out around 6pm and headed to the Beer Authority, and had 8 samplers of New York beer. Yum. It is 9 and the kids are done. We will be doing either a bus tour or a theater thing. Any who I’m toast too. Blah blah blah. 

Is today Wednesday? Uh, I thought yesterday was Wednesday. Alarm goes off at 7:45am, I turn it off, and slink back into bed. I get up 10 minutes later, and tell Niamh to get ready. I text the Fiona that we are ready…no movement or sound can be heard from the next room. At 8:30 I whip out the other key that we confuse between the two rooms and let me self in. Lawson is grudgingly rolling around saying his head hurts. I bounce on the bed and tell him I my best Tiger voice that I need food while I bounce. He smiles and laughs; what headache. He slowly gets dressed. We head down stairs into the chaos at 8:45ish. Oatmeal from a large vat, brown sugar, red raspberry yogurt, and a defeated, battered, and bruised banana. I cut off the ugly red bits which Lawson in a shocked voice says why am I wasting banana. I tell him I really don’t like the mushy red bits, I don’t tell him about my gag reflex. Blah, blah, blah. Fiona finds tickets to Wicked at the theater during breakfast at 200+ dollars a ticket, ah the things we do for culture and last minute entertainment. Vonage leaves us a voicemail and they email Fiona saying the tickets will be at will call at 1:45 for a 2pm show. Back upstairs to get the backpack, water, and I get the micro USB cable for the selfie stick. And we are off to the big bus tour around 9:15. 

Damn it another line. Wait. Wait. No I don’t want the night tour for 25 dollars a ticket, No I do not want upgrade to a third day for 20 dollars a ticket. Oh Lawson has to pee, there are no bathrooms at in the wax museum. BS to that one, but they say to try next door at McDonalds. Fiona and Lawson go. Crap a code on the door, that crafty farmer, always one step ahead of the peasant tourists. A security guard takes pity on the 5 year old and let’s the Fiona and the human juice box into the bathroom. We go across the street it is 9:45 to wait in line again, for an hour to get on a bus. Crap we have a 2pm showtime and 2 hour tour? Hum so should be done at 12:40? Place your bets if we make it. We have not gone to Atlantic City yet, but it not high on the bucket list. I took notes during the tour on my phone. Good nuggets of information for when we come see Mae Bowen when she come to university here over the next 8 years to be a successful law person. I think I will send he daily lawyer jokes on her Facebook page everyday and suggest you do the same, she starts in the fall this year. Yeah Mae! 

Bus tour

• Largest pizzeria across from Phantom of the Opera. Johns of Times Square?
• 45th and 8th juniors for cheesecake suppose to be really good?
• Hell’s Kitchen – 9th and 50th, good Mexican place. Who knew? Now I do.
• Stardust diner – singing wait staff. 50th and broadway. Damn that line is long.
• Radio City hall same ask Rockefeller- NBC shows. Fiona checks on back stage tour – no more spots, bummer.
• Hilton minus 5 ice bar in 6th and 54th. Get to wear a parka. 
• 53rd and 6th MOMO. Museum of modern art.
• Columbus Circle – next to time warner buildings. Off Central Park. Smells like horses again 😉
• Ghostbusters building- 63rd, off park
• Sesame street offices- 63rd and broadway 
• Ballet and philharmonic- 63rd and broadway (Lincoln Center)
• ABC studios- 66th and Broadway (Lincoln Square)
• Historic district street signs have black. Fantastical French apartment. Verdi square.
• It is now raining on us
• ‘The Bastille’ off 106th – lux apartments – upper west side 66th and Central Park west
• It is raining harder. I get to wear a big bus trash bag. Oh goodie.
• Columbia university / Hungarian pastry shop nearby off cathedral parkway (W 110 st, Amsterdam)
• Grant’s Tomb -least visited memorial now, has a mermaid 
• George Washington bridge 1931 busiest in world 
• Apollo theater – heart of Harlem, subway can get u up here. Amateur night tonight (Wednesday). 125th street.
• It has stopped raining now

So the best part of the tour was getting to understand where cool places are, and think I will have to check out the Minus 5 ice bar? The funniest part Lawson falling asleep. The worst part getting rainiest on, but it was only a shower and it was still warmish. Unlike SF where we would have been frozen. We got off the bus at 12:50 at the bottom of Central Park and 7th. We started walking and checking out places to eat as we zeroed in to the theater off 51st and 7th. and the walking bladder had to pee again, we ducked into a hotel. Damn key cards. A girl took pity on Lawson and get got to go. The hotel food looked gross. We kept walking down 7th. We found the Stage Coach Tavern about 2 blocks from the Gershwin Theater. We ordered and sat down at 1:10; it was going to be tight, but asked the waitress to help us out as we needed to book it as fast as possible. I got a grilled cheese with bacon, and had a mermaid lager from Coney Island. The cheese was American (e.g velveeta), but it was damn good bacon and beer in under 10 minutes. Gulp. Ok we have to go now kids, we have to go. I did give them a warning which was as soon as I’m done with these fries we are leaving. We left at 1:45, found will call and let Lawson use the bathroom again, and the show started. 

It was a very good show. We where in the audience which made up the 10 millionth viewer, John from LA got to go on stage and be sung to by the good and wicked witches. Fiona was so close, and she said she would have worn her Darth Vader mask if got picked. Wonder what she would have done if I got picked? Probably pout. LoL. The sound was weird in the theatre it sounded like they where mic’d and not mic’d, but otherwise it was a fantastic show that Niamh wanted to see more. I’m not sure it will happen this trip, but perhaps with better planning we can get the cost down or try for the day of marketplace? Hum. 

The show ended and we hiked back up to where we had lunch but across the street at The Irish Pub. Where I had a Guinness, British burger (all the made it British was it had Coleman’s mustard on it), and an Irish Coffee. I also got to finish the kids mint ice cream. The kids where squirrelly by this time with huge bags under their eyes. We walked back to the hotel via Times Square with kids on backs, but only 3 blocks for each kids. Lawson a bit more, but Fiona is a sucker, but some am I for letting miss pitiful eyes ask if she can wear the backpack and she can hop on my back. Sure what the heck- today was our least walking day. We arrived back to the hotel at the earliest time yet, 7:30, but Niamh is still rolling around and it is 9:15. She is going to be fantastic at the end of this trip…. heehee, ah, whatever it is worth it for the memory makers. Apparently Lawson is sick as he just blew chunks. Guess he is cut off. Bummer. Awe man….. guess eating Fiona coach placard on Ellis Island really did make him sick, dude stop putting stuff that is not food (e.g. Metal, rocks, pennies, fingers) into your mouth and up your nose! Wonder if he will still insist on saying we are in Disneyland? Guess it will be another easy day tomorrow. That is cool. Fiona can go to mood fabric shop next door and ohh and awe over all the stuff she will buy which will magically appear at our house via usps, I’m thinking this will mysteriously happen tomorrow…. hum. 

It was a very slow start of the day. Apparently the Fiona and Lawson where up to 1am experimenting with the different ways to be sick. No fun. The Niamh and I got up at 8ish, got ready and then went into to Fiona’s smelly room. Yes you can open the window Fiona… anywho I went down with Niamh with two wicked cups and filled them with fruit loops. I had my quarter walffle, French toast, and scrabbled eggs. I took up a strawberry banana yogurt to the room. No Fiona I didn’t see your text to get you a bagel my phone is in the room. Fiona huffs off to get a bagel, and toast for Lawson. I got play a dumb game and we leave around 10. Today will be an easy day. We set off to the natural history museum, to see dum-dum, the Easter Island head from night at the museum. We get the express train from 34th and get off at 50something to get the local train to take us up to 81st.

It was a mad house at the museum, they didn’t check our tickets really. We trudge up to the 4th floor to see mummies. It costs extra, to see mummies, so I ask where are the free mummies at and the guides chuckle at me. This is the only place. What a racket, where is my free mummy? So we book the 12:30 tour and can start at 12:15. So we kill an hour with the dinosaurs, and then see from freggin mummies! Woot! Woot! Mummies in Peru? Who knew. Cool. We find birds and Niamh is overcome with frenzied jubilation to see a snowy owl and ‘Steve’ our local owl who I think is a great horned owl,  it Fiona thinks is spotted or barred owl. Niamh thinks ‘Steve’ is great either way.  Who. Who. It is 2:30 and the kids are hungry. I find a place 4 blocks away that looks good. Another brew pub of course! I have a grilled cheese with bacon (they really do love velveeta in NY) and it was pretty good at the Amsterdam Ale House. Tools of the trade and a summer ale both pretty tasty beers too. Lawson by the end lunch of the was nonresponsive, but perked up a little when he heard that we wanted to go to the candy bar.

It was a big mistake to try and go from 76th and Amsterdam (e.g behind museum) to 60th and 3rd. There happens to be a Central Park in the way. Fiona took Lawson on her back for most of the way which was a 1.8 mile trek. Geez. 40 minutes later we arrived and I bolted up stairs to the restroom while kids filled a pint sized jar full of this, that and the other of various treats. Starbucks was next door, but the bathroom was ‘broken’ so had to take Lawson back into the candy bar so he could go. We figure Lawson and the Fiona could use a bit of time off so decide on a movie at 4:40 is the ticket. Do we go another 1.5 mile walk to the movie theatre or take the subway to Times Square and do our best to find it. We map it and the subway wins. We arrive 10 minutes before the movie starts. 

 We go to the AMC on 42nd which is right off Times Square. There is an automated ticket purchase machine that lets you pick the movie, show time, your seat and presto change-o you are good to go. There are not many X’s, so I pick row H in the middle and off we go. And by off we go I mean up 5 different escalators to theater 14. R u kidding me? So much for getting to the movie on time. It took 10 minutes to get checked in and up the escalators. We settle in for 90 minutes of the Boss Baby. The main characters name wa Tim, it was not too bad. It was too bad that the boss baby name was not Mark. Haahaa. It was pretty predictable, but I chuckled a few times, but was not worth $14.25 per ticket. I would have rather just bought it on video for a few bucks more… oh well. I find another pub a few blocks away on the way to the hotel. Turns out they are super busy so find another 2 blocks away where I have a ceaser salad with chicken, and two fine beers. The service and staff was excellent at McGettigan’s so left a nice tip. Man I had to pee again- too many apple juices for me I suppose. Hehee. Both Niamh and Lawson are out. Tomorrow will be another easy day of ‘shopping’. Hum. 

There are somethings that you think you would never hear yourself say to your daughter or son and that is, “hang on to that pole”. Heehee. I thought it was pretty funny when we have been telling the kids to hang onto the pole in the subway, but they like to see if the can really ride without holding onto the pole and think it is really funny go flying into me or Fiona. Something’s it is, but really depends on how grouchy the parents are and the time of day. 

Apparently PopPop got himself an early Fathers Day present, a table saw. I think I’ll go all out then this year and get him a 2×4. LoL. I miss my table saw, but like space in our garage. Enough random thoughts this Friday morning.

Anywho it is super early this morning, 7am, thanks to my little friend who has to, I mean HAS TO, watch spongbob on her kindle. Why she can’t find the episodes I downloaded on her kid profile is weird, damn you amazon (this is me shaking my fist in the air as I try in vain to find the episodes under her profile). She is now watching season 1 under my profile, yes I gave up. Might have to research this one. Anywho should be another easy day now that we are adjusted to the time zone. Ho hum.

According to our watches today was our biggest walking day with over 20k steps for the big people, or around 10 miles. Yes, Fiona did go to move fabric and picked up something to make the kids which is from Italy and is unique and costs just as much from Joanna’s down the streeet. Well ok. We walk back and put it in the room and then take the subway to canal street and get off to walk across the Manhattan bridge. It is really noisy since the subway cars also go across at the pedestrian level. Oh well. It is over a mile to cross the bridge, and I take photos. I find a place called the ugly duckling on smith street in Brooklyn. We go and eat around 12:30 and I have a pretty good burger, and another NY beer from Braven Brewing, the white IPA which is good. Then we walk to the botanical garden another 2 miles away. Our NYC passes expires yesterday which makes no sense since we picked them up and first used them on Monday? Uh hello today is day five? Duh? Of we got to visit the Brooklyn Library so Lawson could take a break. A Brooklyn police person had to let Niamh and I into the men’s bathroom. We see. Bunch of Jewish people around enjoying the day with. The kids with their shaved heads and curls on the sides of their temples. They had on silk robes and cool hats. Pretty interesting as we walked through the botanical garden. The kids where toast by this point, so we left around 3:30 to get on a subway around 4 to get into the city back around 4:45. 

On the way to the next pub I saw some painted girls, and on the back side had with N, Y on each butt checks. It was pretty funny. The pub we tried to go to was just a pub, but around the corner was the iron bar and grill on 45th and 8th. I had the worst ceaser salad ever- I think they tried to grill the salad? I don’t know but I ate it with the bacon that cost 2 dollars extra. I then snuck some of Lawson’s fries and had some beer fro Saratoga New York; an IPA and a lager. At least the server said it was from so that is what I’m going with… we had planned on getting a hotdog from a vendor outside for Lawson, but as soon as we passed the last one he decided yes he wanted one, but didn’t see anymore on the way to the hotel. Anywho, this is he earliest we have been back, but probably unconsciously did it since we walked the most today-haahaa. 

2017.April.15

The day before Easter, and yes we are going home. Niamh and I pack up, and take the bags over to the second room to consolidate crap. We do not find a pack to eat for breakfast at 9:10am. This blows for the last day of bumming around. We finish breakfast on leather couches while watching people queue for the very small elevators. I have ess, pancake, and quater waffle. Throw in another yogurt and I’m done. We give Lawson cheerios, and Niamh opts for fruit loops … again. We go back up to the room and a rainbow explosion occurs as Niamh does something weird with the extra fruit loops we are taking for a snake. Yes you do have to throw them away in the garbage can. Yes we will get more when we go back down stairs. We leave at 10 to hit up the souvenir shops for random crap for the kids. We visit many on the way down towards the Empire State Building, but as we get close to 25th we turn around and head back up broadway. Oh Lawson needs a potty break so we duck into Starbucks where an excited lady also waits inline to show Niamh a new baby giraffe. All in all, we visit 6 or 7 different shops all with the same china import crap. Oh well. We go back to the hotel at 11:45 go to the bathroom one last time. The checku n our bags and go across the road to the houndstooth pub.it is 3 minutes before opening at noon, Niamh spots another souvenir shop, and the guy quotes me the best price for the crappy tshirt that Niamh wants, 12 bucks, but we also want a wallets, fire engine and a tie. It all comes out for 40 dollars, what a rip off. We go across and Fiona and I split a burger and salad. Lawson finally has a NY hotdog, and Nimah gets penne and red sauce. I have my final two New York beers which were two pretty good IPAs. 

Back to the hotel and a walk to penn station which is 34th, but to get in we pay money to get into to subway which is pointless as we walk through and exit the subway without ever getting on. We find an amtrack kiosk, put in our destination of the airport, and is says it will be 195 dollars? Are you rigged kidding me? What happen to 12.50 a ticket? Hello this is supposed to be cheaper. WTF? We call Ruberry and it is 70 dollars. Done and done, but we have to find the driver and we have no idea where we are. We follow signs to 31st and 8th. If we had only walk 3 more blocks we would have saved 5 bucks, bummer. We jump in a Ford Escape that we hope is the correct car, the lady appears to want to take us to Newark airport 😉 we get out of the city and arrive at the airport in record time 25 minutes, at terminal A, for Alaska? We make is thru TSA no issues, but Niamh gets the random pick for getting swabbed. We are at gate 31 and our flight leaves at 4:05. There is a Portland Oregon flight that leaves at 3:50, so it is a bit of a mad house, so we opted to sit in gate 38. Hopefully in 20 minutes we can get onto a plane. I guess the elder Rowe’s are insisting on picking us up? Ok? I look forward to the first class upgrade that Fiona paid for yesterday for 161 bucks a ticket. There is a bar behind me? I bet I can have a beer before we go? Hum?