Random thoughts and lists........: Wonderful New York

My husband and I are spending some time in New York 8 years after 9.11. We're from Chicago and consider ourselves pretty hearty. One has to be, to survive Chicago winters. However, people in New York take it to a whole new level. They're just incredible. They're friendly and kind, and direct and have great smiles. They're helpful and warm and emotional and caring and they love their city and their country. Visiting New York is like getting a big, warm hug and it feels great being here.

One funny story before you look at these few pictures. I planned our entire trip and knew what we were doing each day, including how to get there, which can be challenging in New York. So today, we had been walking for more than 2 hours, when we decided to take a cab to Grand Central station, take some pictures and then walk the 4 or so blocks back to our hotel. It was raining, so it took several minutes to flag down a cab. We flagged down a cab who cut over three lanes of traffic and screeched to a halt across the street. We ran over, hopped in and with all the confidence of someone who has spent the last 48 hours giving addresses (and cross streets) to cab drivers I said, " Grand Central Station please." The driver gave me a very strange look and said, "what?" I said, "Grand Central Station." He said, "It's right there, on the next block." Me, "Oh! Thanks. Sorry. "We're not from here." (Something I probably didn't have to tell him). We thanked him several times and got out of his cab. We then walked the less than one block to Grand Central Station laughing about how un-cool we are. Here's what we've done these last 48 hours: Time Square, eaten NY pizza, Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Ground Zero, Irish Famine Museum, Irish Pub, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral and Grand Central Station. Okay, time for a few pictures.