It is barely still Monday, but I am writing this with 45 minutes to spare so at least I made it in time.
For the past couple of weeks I had been keeping a daily list of whatever positive happened that day, but I had a positively glorious week in NYC so I am listing fantastic things that happened with no particular order.
To begin with we had a direct flight to Laguardia. This may not seem like a big deal to most of you, but Birmingham is a secondary airport and nearly all flights lead through Atlanta which also includes at least an hour and a half layover. (We have learned to hard way to never book connecting flights through Atlanta with less than an hour and a half between flights. Ditto for flights through Charlotte)
So we flew direct and it made all the difference in the world. Our total trip time there was just a tad over 2 hours. Then when we got to the airport we ordered Lyft for our ride to the hotel and made it to the Upper West Side in about 20 minutes. I have never gotten there that fast before!
Son 3 had been in late rehearsals so he met us for a late dinner at the restaurant next door to the hotel. We had not planned on seeing hime until the next day, so it was a bonus. (However I have noticed an incredible availability when Dad picks up the check)
Over the next several days we managed to eat at Peruvian, Turkish, French, Italian, Latin and standard American restaurants so we did score some really delicious food. We did not make it to Cuban or Dominican restaurants or the Ethiopian one I wanted to try. Oh well, next time! (We are going again in April)
We met Helena and found out she is as lovely in personality as she is beautiful. It seems Son3 has become very smitten with this Nordic beauty who is smart, talented and has a personality large enough to not be overshadowed by his big one. She is teaching him Swedish and helping him with his German. He is teaching her "Redneck" speech, and now she is saying "Bless her heart" right before she says anything ugly about anyone since we all know blessing her heart cancels out calling anyone a crack whore .
We were able to see a smoking hot jazz concert (Music of Oliver Nelson) and a Mahler symphony which was perfectly beautiful. Thanks to the students who provided us with tickets! I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed the performances. There was also a free to the public Chamber Quartet at the Lincoln Center Atrium.
Saturday was the reason for our trip. Son3 had his senior recital (a requirement for graduation) It was a lot of fun and again I can't begin to express my appreciation for the young men who were part of the band. I know part of being in school is playing with each other, but I also know they had to devote some of their very scarce free time for a couple of rehearsals, so thank you Julius, Dan, Doug, Chris and David.
We did have one unplanned complication. Son3 mentioned it was customary to have a little get together after the recital. He just forgot to mention it until late Thursday Night. We went into scramble mode to try and find accommodations for a party of about 20 people with just a day and a half lead time. At the last minute we talked with the concierge at our hotel and found they had a "deal" using the existing hotel bar and some finger foods which was about 500 bucks less than all other available options. As it turned out, about 30 people came, so the 2 hour open bar (beer, wine and champagne only) was actually not too horrible per person. I think a couple of rogue hotel guests even had a drink or two on us while congratulating Son3.
And now we are back and I am getting to take care of everything I could not do for Mom while I was gone. I did have Son3's roommate video the recital so Mom could see it. There were only 7 pieces played and 4 of them were original songs (You have to have at least 2 original compositions for the recital, but most students opt for at least half of them) Since Mom only knew one of the remaining 3 pieces she only liked 1 tune. And her taxes are not done (because we are still waiting on another 1099 and K-1, but she made me take the incomplete info to her accountant anyway) And her new phone that she insisted I install before I left is not to her liking and somehow she had turned the volume as low as it would go and she couldn't hear anything. And its call list is different than her old phone. And her toilet sound funny! And she wants the fringe taken off her Iranian carpets in the living and dining room, but I did not take care of it today! And now I am back to my reality! Ah but the week away was so worth it!!!!
I am providing a link to my new favorite jazz song. Wednesday night the conductor set the song up this way___Imagine you were a slave on a plantation and the news of the emancipation proclamation had just surfaced. This is the day you are leaving what you have known and entering the life of freedom.
Emancipation Blues by Oliver Nelson
p.s. I have been reading all your blogs, but did not respond to many because my Ipad is a pain in the butt. I will start commenting again tomorrow!
For the past couple of weeks I had been keeping a daily list of whatever positive happened that day, but I had a positively glorious week in NYC so I am listing fantastic things that happened with no particular order.
To begin with we had a direct flight to Laguardia. This may not seem like a big deal to most of you, but Birmingham is a secondary airport and nearly all flights lead through Atlanta which also includes at least an hour and a half layover. (We have learned to hard way to never book connecting flights through Atlanta with less than an hour and a half between flights. Ditto for flights through Charlotte)
So we flew direct and it made all the difference in the world. Our total trip time there was just a tad over 2 hours. Then when we got to the airport we ordered Lyft for our ride to the hotel and made it to the Upper West Side in about 20 minutes. I have never gotten there that fast before!
Son 3 had been in late rehearsals so he met us for a late dinner at the restaurant next door to the hotel. We had not planned on seeing hime until the next day, so it was a bonus. (However I have noticed an incredible availability when Dad picks up the check)
Over the next several days we managed to eat at Peruvian, Turkish, French, Italian, Latin and standard American restaurants so we did score some really delicious food. We did not make it to Cuban or Dominican restaurants or the Ethiopian one I wanted to try. Oh well, next time! (We are going again in April)
We met Helena and found out she is as lovely in personality as she is beautiful. It seems Son3 has become very smitten with this Nordic beauty who is smart, talented and has a personality large enough to not be overshadowed by his big one. She is teaching him Swedish and helping him with his German. He is teaching her "Redneck" speech, and now she is saying "Bless her heart" right before she says anything ugly about anyone since we all know blessing her heart cancels out calling anyone a crack whore .
We were able to see a smoking hot jazz concert (Music of Oliver Nelson) and a Mahler symphony which was perfectly beautiful. Thanks to the students who provided us with tickets! I can't begin to tell you how much we enjoyed the performances. There was also a free to the public Chamber Quartet at the Lincoln Center Atrium.
Saturday was the reason for our trip. Son3 had his senior recital (a requirement for graduation) It was a lot of fun and again I can't begin to express my appreciation for the young men who were part of the band. I know part of being in school is playing with each other, but I also know they had to devote some of their very scarce free time for a couple of rehearsals, so thank you Julius, Dan, Doug, Chris and David.
We did have one unplanned complication. Son3 mentioned it was customary to have a little get together after the recital. He just forgot to mention it until late Thursday Night. We went into scramble mode to try and find accommodations for a party of about 20 people with just a day and a half lead time. At the last minute we talked with the concierge at our hotel and found they had a "deal" using the existing hotel bar and some finger foods which was about 500 bucks less than all other available options. As it turned out, about 30 people came, so the 2 hour open bar (beer, wine and champagne only) was actually not too horrible per person. I think a couple of rogue hotel guests even had a drink or two on us while congratulating Son3.
And now we are back and I am getting to take care of everything I could not do for Mom while I was gone. I did have Son3's roommate video the recital so Mom could see it. There were only 7 pieces played and 4 of them were original songs (You have to have at least 2 original compositions for the recital, but most students opt for at least half of them) Since Mom only knew one of the remaining 3 pieces she only liked 1 tune. And her taxes are not done (because we are still waiting on another 1099 and K-1, but she made me take the incomplete info to her accountant anyway) And her new phone that she insisted I install before I left is not to her liking and somehow she had turned the volume as low as it would go and she couldn't hear anything. And its call list is different than her old phone. And her toilet sound funny! And she wants the fringe taken off her Iranian carpets in the living and dining room, but I did not take care of it today! And now I am back to my reality! Ah but the week away was so worth it!!!!
I am providing a link to my new favorite jazz song. Wednesday night the conductor set the song up this way___Imagine you were a slave on a plantation and the news of the emancipation proclamation had just surfaced. This is the day you are leaving what you have known and entering the life of freedom.
Emancipation Blues by Oliver Nelson
p.s. I have been reading all your blogs, but did not respond to many because my Ipad is a pain in the butt. I will start commenting again tomorrow!
It sounds like you had a whirlwind trip with lots of music and good food. I had no idea that direct flights to NY were available. I will have to look into that as I may have to take a trip to NY to see my dad. The thought of taking two flights or driving for two days is not appealing. Glad it all went well for you without any snafus.
ReplyDeleteThe only direct from here are Delta flights. No idea about Mobile or Pensacola
DeleteYou know how to enjoy New York. Your trips always sound so fun--except for the part that "I need to have a reception tomorrow." But it sounds like that worked out in the end.
ReplyDeleteIt worked out fine in the end but we did spend Friday scrambling a little.
DeleteSounds like a fabulous trip!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it wonderful when our children find someone who is great for them?
Being from a small town, I understand the delight of a direct flight! Finding one is almost like finding a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
Sometimes that flight is a gift,especially when it is the same price as one routed through Atlanta
DeleteCongrats to your son!! A great accomplishment! I love that song - I'll be adding the Oliver Nelson music to my iTunes wishlist!
ReplyDeleteIsn't a fantastic song. I knew about Oliver Nelson before but I had never heard that particular song.
DeleteYou ate your way through many countries! Glad you had a nice time and that your Mom was so kind to save up all her complaints for you (because likely no one else listens?) lol
ReplyDeleteWhen we are in New York we always try to eat at ethnic restaurants, especially a couple we don't have access to nearby.
DeleteMom is always kind enough to let me know everything that is wrong with her life as soon as I return!
Sounds like you had a great time in the Big Apple! =) You must be so proud of your son! And, now after reading your post about NYC, I want to take a day trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art this summer! LOL
ReplyDeleteWe have decided we need about a week at the Met. We have been a couple of times and just barely scratched the surface of a few rooms.
DeleteSounds like fun. Aren't kids a blast? Financially I mean? By the way I need a Senior recital party. We have a huge jazz festival here at the Lional Hampton school of music.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun, an unexpected expense that we did not have in the trip budget, but fun nonetheless.
DeleteHave fun planning your recital party. I guess having no time to plan was actually kind of nice. There was nothing to stress over, it just was what it was.
Aren't you afraid we will all end up becoming like our own mother? Goodness knows we love them but they do seem to become a bit set in their ways don't they. Our boys have something to look forward to then! And your trip sounds wonderful BTW. Anna
ReplyDeleteI am not worried about becoming like my mother. Since I have only sons it will never be an option. They will just put mu saggy butt in the cheapest nursing home (you know, the one that reeks of urine) and send me flowers on Mother's Day!
DeleteSounds like you had a really nice trip, even with the need to arrange a party at the last minute! I'm glad your son's senior recital went well. Congratulations to him. I gather that your mom missed you while you were gone. (((HUGS)))
ReplyDeleteMom missed having me here to make her life easier. She is not fond of doing things for herself.
Delete