ShannonAlbert.com - June 2009

Mom and I headed to Grand Central Terminal and tried to keep warm on the walk. brrrr. But once we got there....wow!



There's a holiday light show taking place where they project images on the walls inside the main part of the terminal and holiday music plays.





Off the main room, a holiday craft fair was taking place. It was so beautiful in this room too and each vendor had a very nice niche. We just may have bought some stuff here. ;)



Then we headed for the main dining course and mom decided she'd try some sushi. I ordered us some miso soup, 9 sushi rolls and some drinks and we sat down to eat it. In mom's words she "didn't love" the sushi. That's fine - at least she tried it. :) I did love it though. We then headed out for some shopping and hit some interesting stores.

This train store had a huge NYC replica setup that had so many tiny, tiny details that we couldn't believe such as a small house w/its own train set inside of it.





Looks real but just a replica...


Right near that shop, the subway...that we won't be taking!


The bakery case in Grand Central Terminal Market...


We decided to leave GCT and just walked. We could see the bright flashing lights of Times Square several blocks away and followed them like a firefly but in between, stopped at a diner for some waffles w/bananas on it (don't ask...we were hungry and cold and it was good). Finally, we made it to Times Square...




Everything moves! and is shiny! and makes noise!


We went in and out of a few stores and our last store was Toys R Us.

The ferris wheel that's inside Toys R us...


I've never felt so overwhelmed by a store other than the World of Disney store in Orlando (incidentally, there's a World of Disney NYC store just down the street from this Toys R Us as well). Too many choices and we left empty-handed.

We headed back to our hotel and started reviewing our plans for tomorrow. Tomorrow we've got a 5 1/2 hour guided shuttle tour in the morning and early afternoon and at night we're going to be seeing The Color Purple!

Made it to the hotel around 3 after a fairly uneventful flight on Midwest. First time flying Midwest and definitely enjoyed their warm cookies and big, leather seats. Cab ride had us holding on tight. Each floor of the hotel has just 6 rooms on it but many floors. We're putting on a bit more layers of clothing and heading out to Grand Central Terminal right now for some food and shopping.

In KC, before take off and waiting to be de-iced


Ready to go! (Notice the difficult reading material I've chosen)


Getting close to landing...





Made it to the hotel!

Made it to my parent's house around 8 after leaving straight from work. Snowstorm coming in tonight but shouldn't be too bad. Flight out at 9:45 Saturday morning and flying on Midwest Airlines which I have always wanted to try. Next post from NYC!

I don't often post anything serious here but thought this was worthwhile. One of my favorite sites ever, Dooce.com, is written by a woman named Heather who happened to suffer severe post-partum depression which I very, very much relate to. Most of you know I had severe post-partum for a year after having Blake (it may even be considered psychosis but was never officially diagnosed as anything other than PPD) and having this kind of info is invaluable. I'm fortunate that it went away after a year (and that my family was able to survive it w/me) and I'm medicine-free now but for many people, it's a lifetime of treatment.

Don't be ashamed to get help.

me: "blake, remember there's $1 in your backpack that you need to give your teacher."
blake: "what is it for?"
me: "there's a family that can't afford presents so the teachers are going to take the money and buy them a dvd player."
blake: "they should buy their own."
me: "well, they can't afford it."
b: "santa comes for everybody. he can do it."
me: "well, but the parents want to give them something too."
b: "they'll probably waste it."

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both.
2. Real tree or artificial? We have a pre-lit artificial so it's quicker for the kids to get started decorating. Real smells so good though!
3. When do you put up the tree? First weekend in December.
4. When do you take the tree down? January 6.
5. Do you like eggnog? No.
6. Favorite gift received as a child? My first computer, a TRS-80, which was really just a keyboard that you connect to the TV and I stored my programs on cassette tape.
7. Do you have a Nativity scene? No.
8. Hardest person to buy for? Andy - he doesn't want anything.
9. Easiest person to buy for? Payton by far. She knows what she likes.
10. Worst Christmas Gift you ever received? Dolls.
11. Mail or email Christmas cards? When we send them, it's by mail.
12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Elf.
13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Around Thanksgiving.
14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Nope.
15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Baked goodies on Christmas morning. This year's baked Christmas morning goodies - croissants from Williams-Sonoma.
16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear but the kids want colored.
17. Favorite Christmas song? Baby it's Cold Outside.
18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? We haven't had many Christmases at home. Usually at my parent's house.
19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? No.
20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star. Apparently this question drives Andy and his siblings crazy and starts a big debate. I don't get it.
21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas Eve w/Andy's fam and Christmas Day w/mine.
22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Blake counting down the days.
23. What is the 'corniest' family tradition you do, or miss doing? Not sure we have a corny tradition.
25. Which looks best, theme trees or homey trees? Homey. I don't really care how the tree looks as long as the kids have fun decorating it.
26. Gingerbread or sugar cookies? Gingerbread.
27. Do you like Fruitcake? Don't think I've had it but they don't look good.