great night at Carnegie

last night went to Carnegie Hall for the New York Pops Holiday Concert.  it was fantastic! normally i get annoyed with too much singing by the guest artists because it takes away from the Pops.  not this time.  the guest artist's were the King's Singers and they were amazing!  it is just my luck that they performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir at their Christmas concert last year AND it's being broadcast on PBS on Christmas Eve.  

i loved the Mack Wilberg arranged O Holy Night performance.  it made me cry.  at least i know i'm not dead inside during the holidays.  thank you Christmas music.

just so happened that the concert was held the night of the "big" snow storm.  love the beauty of a snow covered city but not as happy to try and schlep across town in it.

New York Fun Day 2008

the 7th annual new york fun day was fantastic.  we started early with our traditional brunch at Corner Cafe and made it to Macy's, Bryant Park, Avenue of the Americas, Au Bon Pain, Rockefeller Tree (with tubas), Saks Snowflake show that didn't happen, dinner at Outback Steakhouse and finally Christmas K-A-R-A-O-K-E!  

we had such a great time despite the crowds, cold weather and slight tiredness.  hard to believe another New York Fun Day has come and gone.

the unicycler

took a cab to work this morning and saw a man wearing a suit and riding a uni-cycle down park avenue. that was something i had yet to witness in the city.

any strange sights you've seen that you would like to share?

the Fun Day cometh

the story of new york fun day...

i was quite depressed after moving to new york in september of 2002. the adjustment was much harder than anticipated. it was december and i needed a serious "pick me up" otherwise i was pretty sure i was going to head back to joani's. thankfully i had forced doc to be my buddy. one saturday in december 2002 we decided to hit the town and pretend to be tourists to see new york in all of its christmas glory. we went to Rockefeller, Macy's, up 6th Avenue and through Central Park. thus new york fun day was born.

this saturday is the 7th Annual New York Fun Day! i'm so excited. for some reason i don't feel like it is Christmastime until the fun day. thank goodness doc is able to travel from the wilds of medical school to join in the festivities.

itinerary remains the same with brunch, Macy's windows, strolling up 6th Avenue to see the ornaments, hot chocolate at Au Bon Pain, Rockefeller tree, Saks Snowflake show, dinner at Dos Caminos and the finale of Christmas Karoake. i'm really excited to play with netter and doc on saturday.

pics from fun days past:

Christmas all around

i'm so ready for Christmas.  last Saturday i went to white plains to do some shopping (and ate at the Cheesecake Factory of course), saw a Christmas movie that was better than expected, and BOUGHT a tree!  amazing how a tree can lighten a room and bring the Christmas spirit.  i hope i feel the same way when i have to remove it.  :)

Rockefeller Tree Lighting

Me and my new tree

My pretty tree all lit up

London Calling

i have been sorely chastised by family and friends for my tardiness in posting content from my trip across the pond with netter.  there is no excuse that i can give.  it actually makes me feel good to know that people actually care about where i go, what i do and how i am able to capture it all photographically.  London was good, but the picture to the right captures the trip in a nut shell -- it was rainy, windy, and as Claire would say "blasted cold!"

tonight i'm tired after going to the 'burbs to shop for the cutest rug rats ever so i'm only going to post a select number of London pics -- the creme de la creme you might say.  thanks go out to netter for her stellar photographic abilities. details about the trips activities will come along shortly...just not tonight, because i'm tired.  

The Chopping Block

while riding in a cab returning home from stake conference with Elder Holland, netter dealt some bad news to me. two of my shows were cancelled. it was truly tragic because the networks didn't give them a chance especially after the writer's strike cut into their debuts.

i bid you a fond and sincere farewell Dirty Sexy Money and Eli Stone. i shall miss your musical numbers and overdramatic cat fights while sifting through the reality show retardation which shall take your place.

i hope no other stellar ensemble shows like Brothers & Sisters or Heroes find themselves on the chopping block otherwise, my netflix subscription will have to go from 2 movies to 3 movies.

a new chapter in my life called...

cub scouts. tonight i attend my first pack meeting. honestly, i'm a little afraid. i like the cub scouters but the organization itself scares me. first, what the heck is a webelo? the bear and wolf i get but the webelo throws me.

i guess the fear and trepidation stems from my mother's aggrevation and irritation with getting my three brothers' Eagle Projects put together and completed. but the cub scouts don't need to worry about that until they hit the big time AKA the Boy Scouts.

wish me luck in my inaugural journey into the world of scouting. as long as i don't have to pitch a tent or go on a 50-miler all will be well.

the Befores

a few more Holiday "before" pictures:

the Macy's windows (unveiled day after Thanksgiving)

Rockefeller Rink minus the Tree

Saks Fifth Avenue windows shielded by Swarvoski drapery

random "next blog"

had some time on my hands so opted to click the "next blog" button shown on my webpage. interesting that of my 8-9 "next" clicks that not one of the blogs was written in english. had a bunch of spanish and french blogs, an japanese or chinese blog and some middle eastern language. it just goes to show that the world is a very big place that can fit onto a very small tableau known as Blogger.

Battle Royale

it has come...the battle between BYU and Utah takes place on the football field at Rice-Eccles Stadium this Saturday. i'm very much looking forward to trying to watch the game (don't get me started on The Mtn.) and hoping for an outcome that is less dramatic than years past.

obviously i hope my boys in blue wipe the floor with the utes, but i also hope that it is a fair fight and no injuries occur. thinking about the game and potential outcomes had me reflecting on past great Cougar football moments especially when a win against Utah is on the line.

Enjoy "Magic Happens 2.1"

Primary Life

about two months ago i was asked to serve in the primary presidency of my ward. honestly i have never been in a presidency so my thought was that it couldn't be that difficult. i was wrong and i was right about that statement.

i am the secretary which means i'm the implementer. this role is perfect for me because i like to plan and then watch projects materialize and be completed. who knew that so much was necessary to implement though. of course it didn't help that they made the presidency change three weeks before the primary program. oh good times.

one thing i will say is that my Sunday meetings fly by. no more checking the watch for ticks that will take me closer to noon. instead i barely have a breath to sit and reflect on the wonderful spirits there are in the primary room.

its the meetings i'm not a fan of. i have a whole new perspectivie for my religious leaders because their meetings start much earlier and more frequently than mine do. no more complaints out of me.

It's Beginning to look alot like...

...the preparations for the Holiday Season are underway. I wanted to do a "before & after" photo essay. here are the before photos:

Wiring for 57th Street/5th Avenue Star

Platform for the Rockefeller Tree - arrived today amongst fan fare

No heralding angels and Saks Store Snowflake show is installed but yet to be running

I Think I Can Dance...

last thursday, the SYTYCD posse headed to Jersey to see the live tour. this was a surprisingly easy quick trip via NJ Transit. big mike, dancing queen, netter and i enjoyed some of our favorite routines from the past season like the door, bed, briefcase, and pole dances. some highlights:

Even as a child...

...my love of New York City was apparent. During a conversation with my co-workers Jersey Girl and Pharmacist I realized that my favorite restaurant as a child growing up in Mesa, Arizona was "The Big Apple". A coincidence, I think not.


I will have to make sure Big Mike and I go there while in town to enjoy the sunshine and attend NBA All Star Weekend.

Walking through the Park on a Saturday

my friends Artiste and CA Lady asked me to take some pictures of them in the Park for their Christmas card.  i jumped at the chance to enjoy a walk through the Park during some spectacular colors on the trees.  we ended up doing a double session of snapping pics - one in dusk lighting and the other in early morning sunshine.  i definitely have my favorite pics of my subjects.  here are just a few as well as spectacular color.

i encourage all to try and experience an East Coast fall at least once in their life. it is breath-taking.

'Tis the Season

tonight i made my Christmas playlist.  amazing how quickly the holiday season rolls around each year.  i know that technically we still have the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving to enjoy, but walking in stores fully decked out in the colors of the Christmas season it is hard to not get caught up in the early holiday magic.  playing the music just adds to the magic.

after finding out the results of our sibling Christmas gifting raffle, i've thought about what i could give to Sunshine and Pookie that would be meaningful and not necessarily standard gifting procedure of a DVD, CD or gift card to Applebee's.  my attitude towards gifting and receiving has become one of "precious moments" rather than "stuff."  i think the holiday season can be so much more than just shopping for names on a list.  now that i have put all this pressure on myself to find that meaningful precious moment gift for my brother and sister-in-law, i hope i don't disappoint.