Our Trip to Palmyra

Saturday (Sept 22- B’s birthday!!- and the 180th Anniversary of Cumorah), we got up early, went to the airport and flew to Rochester, NY- where we rented a car and went to Palmyra to see the church sites. This is something that I have never been really interested in, but we thought we would try it and I absolutely loved it. It was an amazingly spiritual, peaceful and serene experience. It was cool to be in the places and sites where the prophet, Joseph Smith, and the early saints were- it was comforting and calm (like you feel when in the temple).We went to Joseph Smith's Farm, the Sacred Grove, the Palymra Temple, the hill Cumorah, and the Historic Publication Site of the Book of Mormon.

Les Miserables on Broadway

Friday (Sept 21), B got off work early and went to Manhattan to stand in line for discount Broadway tickets; she ended up getting tickets half off for Les Miserables. We saw it that night and it was amazing…to say the least. It was so great to be able to go see a Broadway; to get all dressed up and glamorous, to walk down the packed streets of Time Square, so actually know that you get to participate in the banners of flashing lights. We had both grown up knowing and singing this musical and so it was really exciting to be able to go. It is one of those great musicals that is a dream and is just a ‘have to’ in your life. The story made tons of sense with the music as it was watched on stage (it tied the story and music together- we could see where it all fit in). The performers were amazing and had such great talent. The theater was smaller then I had expected (smaller then the Buelle in Denver, but that makes sense) and the set was so amazing; the floor spun and they had three level sets that they pushed on and off and would turn to make different buildings- it was great. The whole thing was a dream come true- it was so amazing.

Manhattan New York Temple

Ben and I were able to go to the New York temple on Thursday (Sept 20) evening. It was so amazing. I had only ever been through the Denver Temple so it was a lot different- you moved from different rooms. It was such a great experience and was just so amazing to be able to go through the temple again. It was such a spiritual experience and it was good to get out of the world- it felt like we had to walk back into the world when we were done, and it was so surreal. We will defiantly have to go back again.

Central Park and Julliard

On Monday (Sept 17) Ben came and picked me up after work and we walked to Central Park. Central Park was so beautiful; it was clean, elegant, quiet (compared to the rest of the town) and peaceful. I was SHOCKED- I thought it was going to be dirty, like the rest of New York and full of bums and creepy men- but I was WRONG!! There were ponds, castles, outdoor theaters, fields, and tons of beautiful things. The trees were huge and the architecture was so cool- we both felt like we were in Europe (or so we assume Europe would feel like). Walking out of the park we came upon a big black tie event where there were lights, music (Latin- made me want to dance) and people dressed up all elegant- we watched for a while (kind of a Sabrina moment) and then kept walking. On the west side of the park we walked up past the New York Temple (so comforting to see it and have it so close) and across the street is Julliard. So we went over there and awed at the idea. We had dinner at another great pizza place (Pizza is very ‘New York’- and I think that’s because it’s the cheapest thing in New York). It was such a great night- we just walked around and awed at things- we took tons of pictures- and we loved it!!

Our Life in NYC

Murder Burger

So one of New York’s finest dining experience, a must for everyone from the common naive tourist to the know-it-all New Yorker, was dinner tonight -- White Castle. Be not alarmed at the two common words that when but together create a rumored whisper that echoes through the streets “Murder Burger.” You yourself will not participate in any murder, nor can you be convicted of any crime, for the murder of which they speak will be your own…. We ate at white castle restaurant last night. If you like fast food and a lot of grease you will love it. The burgers come in their own little box and trust me when I say little-The burgers are probably 2 inches by 2 inches. Since they are so small, one or two are not sufficient, you have to eat about 5 to 8 to actually feel like you had a real burger. It wasn’t bad though-I even went back for some more, but that is the danger. They are so small that you think you can eat more, but you end up over eating. B only ate 4 and then she was sick- they are very greasy and just go straight through (so you can’t plan much for right after). It was defiantly an experience, but not one we are sure we will do again.

Quick Life Update

B got a calling as the 1st Counselor in the Young Men's Presidency. Which (in our small branch) also means he team teaches young men’s and is one of the scout leaders. He has about 6 boys and is excited to get to know them all. Mutual is Friday nights and so we both go- and then go out afterwards. He likes his job and loves his coworkers- they are great people and he's making good friends.
B finally got a job (working for Ben's boss’s husband) as an Administrative Assistant in a physical therapy (Prehab) office in Manhattan. She has only gone to work a couple of days but loves it so far- she really enjoys having something to do and she is quickly learning to use the transit system.
They are both loving their experience in New York and learning a lot of new things. They miss autumn in Colorado but they are excited to see all the great sites and spend the upcoming holiday season in the ‘Big Apple.’ Marriage has been treating them good and they are in love and happy.

The Feast of San Gennaro

Yesterday (September 13, 2007), after work we went to Mulberry and Canal Street to experience the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, NY. This is a festival that is going on in Little Italy for about a week. They close down the street (for 6-7 blocks) and have lots of food, booths, carnival games, music and TONS of people. It smelled HEAVENLY- there was such good food (even some free samples). We walked all the way down and then came back to eat at a place to get some good meat (cooked on a round turning leaning grill)- it was such good food. We had so much fun and got to see a lot of cool things.
Some Picture Explanations: If you look behind B in one picture (He is standing in front of the women with a snake body display) there is an old man leaning back and asleep in the middle of this huge festival…it was so weird to see him sleeping- that is what I call tired. B took her picture with a bunch of NYPD- they thought she was weird, she tried to get them to pretend to arrest her but they denied- which might have been a good thing (maybe they wouldn’t have let her go).