Ringing in the New Year - NYC for NYE

Christmas was pretty good - Christmas Eve I ran errands, cleaned up around the place, then headed to my parents. We had steak and opened gifts. It was tasty. Got most everything I asked for from my parents like slippers and a few pairs of shoes. There were a few weird gifts like my mom always buys, and it is like why? I got a car blanket for my trunk, a horrid looking pocket watch with some hunting scene on it... wtf am I 70? Who uses pocket watches? Socks that don't fit.

Christmas Day was spent making some spinach dip, then going to my aunt's house. Great fun hanging with the family. I wanted one of those little flying helicopters like they have in the malls etc. that you can buy, and had my hands on that during the gift exchange/stealing game thing, and it was stolen by my aunt. I had my hands on an Atari game set, which was also stolen, then ended up with a color changing shower head that apparently won't fit any of my shower heads.

Day after I jetted off in first class to NYC. Matt Damon was on my flight with his familia. He is HAWT.

Spent the next day with Mike's family. We went out shopping with his mom. The following day was pretty much like that, we also met his cousin who lived in the area devastated by Sandy.

Made our way to the city the following day to hang with his friend K, O and P. We went to dinner at several small plate places in the west village. Browsed real estate too in the area. Found a place for $299 that was probably really scary, or had some insane HOA. Found a cute $459k place on 25th that was also vetoed. Enjoyed our Times Square hotel btw.

Went to the transit museum, and shopped our favorite NYC stores. Best store ever is Lord & Taylor. LOVE THAT STORE. Great shoes, clothes, etc. Uniqlo was insane. Too crowded to buy anything.

Met up with my friend D who just got back from Albania and is teaching in the Bronx. Mike didn't really like him. hahaha. He was a bit obnoxious he thought. That's his personality. Haha.

NYE was spent shopping at the stores mentioned above, then we had our own party up in our hotel looking down onto the stage. Melissa Ethridge took the stage about 6, then there were a few performances every now and then. I thought the entertainment would be constant. Could not fathom standing on the street for hours and not being entertained continuously. We watched simultaneously down below, could open our window and hear it, then watched on TV. Went down to dinner about 10:30 at a Thai restaurant, were back up in our room to see the ball drop and make out session, before heading down on the street to see the aftermath. It clears out fast. The amount of trash and pizza boxes and confetti is amazing.

Up at 8 the next morning for brunch with K, O, and P. Mike made eggs, potatoes, and a few other goodies. Lots of champagne too. We left K to nap while we made our way to Union Square for Nordstrom Rack. Found nothing. Headed up 5th Avenue to the flatiron district for our favorite stores. Met K a few hours later for a shopping adventure. Thought about DaninOKC as we found some really cool stores. Our favorite we had been to before was Fishs Eddy, found some awesome plates and gifts. Then we found a few new stores that are new favorites - ABC Home. Dan, that's a store I think you would really enjoy that is a mix of furniture, design, and more. Walked all over town up to nearly 23rd and then down to West Village again where we found cute places for dinner. Went into the hidden Speakeasy Employees Only. AMAZING MANHATTAN. Love me my Manhattan. Said goodbye later to K, which was sad.

The next day was spent traveling home - made it out before the blizzard. It was a feel like 12 degrees, but really 22 when we left. I loved the cold weather. I loved the calm. I loved being all bundled up. Rode home in first class. Only way to go.

Yesterday was my cousin's wedding, and it was so amazing. I nearly lost it. She was so beautiful. Had an awesome Oscar De La Renta dress. Had such a fun time with family too.

Craziest story. I kept seeing a girl at the wedding and kept turning around to look at her. Stalkerish, well, I knew her. I kept trying after the wedding to talk to her, but she disappeared. I finally asked my cousin's now husband if the girl was, and the name of my student. He said he had no idea. I finally saw her again, and approached her, and found out there's a weird family relation - very distant. My cousin's now husband's sister's husband's sister is my student. What would that make her? LOL. I think she was as surprised as I was. She's a good girl. She's got like a 98% in my class. Always challenges everything that I say in a good way - a discussion type of way - she's very vocal. What are the chances of this meeting? So weird. My cousin married into this Mexican family, and my school is in an all Mexican area. 92% hispanic. Her husband went to my school when he was in middle school. My cousin does live in the area I work, so I guess there's always that chance.