Richardson Reads One Book- "The Art of Racing in the Rain" by Garth Stein

Even though I now live in Bastrop, every September marks our annual "Richardson Reads One Book" event that Sarah and I love to go to. It's the literary event of the season!! haha

Now that I live far away, it takes a bit more effort..... taking 2 half days off of work, boarding Maude, the Parking Spot, and a plane ride.... but it is still worth the effort!! I worked a half day on Tuesday morning, then headed to ABIA. I love ABIA - it's new, clean, good restaurants, and easy to navigate. I landed in Dallas about 2:30 and was picked up by my brother-in-law Mike. We headed back to their house.

I had almost 2.5 hours to do NOTHING!! I think Mike was concerned that I was bored or lonely, but I loved it. I watched TV, read, chilled.... something I don't get to do very often at home now. Mike kept checking on me, but I was good.

Sarah got home and we headed to Richardson HS. The reception last year was at a bank, where we had booze. But tonight it was in the library at Richardson HS. So no booze. Boo hoo!! The culinary arts kids actually made all of the food and it was good, but I would have loved a glass of wine to wash it down with.... instead, water.......

Let me just say that Garth Stein is HOT. He's smart, witty, and good looking. Total package. Nice to watch. We were on the 3rd row of the auditorium, so we had great seats. He was a fun and engaging speaker. After, we got him to sign our books, then headed to Snuffers. We gorged on cheese fries so much so that we didn't want our dinner. It was so nice to have time with Mike & Sarah - I miss seeing Sarah on a weekly basis.

Next morning, I got up and Mom picked me up. We went and grabbed breakfast, then it was back to DFW to head home. I was in Dallas for a total of 20 hours, but it was a lot of fun. It was the first time I've been home in two months, so it was good to get a little shot of Dallas in the arm!

And the book? If you are a dog lover, then you will LOVE this book. I didn't want to read it after about 50 pages in bc I was worried about what might happen to the dog. I'm so glad I did. I cried at the end, just like I did with Marley and Me. Dog lovers, this is a MUST READ!!

Cost of Donation to RROB: $25.00
Airfare: $100.00
Parking: $13.50
Boarding Maude & bath: $90.00
Cheese Fries at Snuffers: $6.99

Spending time with my sister after missing her for two months: PRICELESS!!!!

Until next September........

Best of NYC, Day Five

Laura and I slept in a bit, then got up, showered and packed. We checked out and had some breakfast at the hotel restaurant. We wanted to hit a museum before we went, but we decided to go to the TKTS booth and see if there was one more show we could catch. We wait about an hour in line (during which the sky opened up on us and rained), and we got tickets to see Billy Elliott.

Since we hadn't really done any souvenir shopping, we wandered Times Square, picking up little gifts for others.

After, we stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe for a drink and to just relax and chill until our show began.

Laura and I then went and saw "Billy Elliott" - it was incredible! I was so glad that I got to see that show - it was an awesome way to end NYC!

After the show, we went to the hotel, got a cab, loaded up, and headed to the airport. It was a great five days, but exhausting. Travelling in a large group presents challenges, but I think everyone had fun and got to do/see what they wanted.

Until next time, NYC.........

Best of NYC, Day Four

Saturday morning, Norma and I headed to Carnegie Deli for breakfast. It was really good, and you got too much food!

After breakfast, we headed to the Plaza Hotel to meet the Sex and the City Tour. It was a lot of fun, we stopped at the Pleasure Chest, Buddakan, West Village, and at O'Nieals. This is the building that is used for the front of Carrie's apartment (she supposedly lived on the Upper East Side, but this is West Village). We also got to eat a cupcake and have a Cosmo. It was a lot of fun.

After the tour, Norma and I wandered around Bryant Park and the NY Public Library. We were so hot and tired, we headed back to the hotel for a little break.

Laura and I went to Greenwich Village to go to the Comedy Cellar. We stopped at Washington Square Park and just hung out there before the show. I love this park!

The show was really good - had several comedians that I had seen on TV. We headed back up to Midtown and spent a few minutes in Times Square.

We went back to our room and crashed. By this point, my feet were hurting and I was getting tired. I was ready to go home!

Best of NYC, Day Three

On Friday, the weather was much warmer than it had been the previous few days. We got up and did the downtown double decker bus tour. We got off at Battery Park and wandered around, this is the fountain at Bowling Green.
We walked up to Wall Street, wandered around, took the subway to Canal Street, wandered around, and ended up in Little Italy for lunch. Pizza and gelato - yummo!

After lunch, we went to the Empire State Building. We went to the 86th floor observation deck - I've never done that and it was really cool to see NYC from that perspective.

We were all so hot, sweaty and gross, we headed back to the hotel for naps and showers. We went to see "Rock of Ages" - it was awesome. I was on the second row right next to the stage. Constantine sweat on me! It was so much fun to see the show up close like that. Afterwards, Kim, Danyielle, Laura and I waited at the stage door for autographs and pictures.

Everyone in the cast was so nice and it was so much fun! Laura and I headed out with Rhonda for a drink and to catch up... another late night!! Once Laura and I finally were comfy and ready for bed, lights out, we get to listen to the horns and garbage trucks. NYC definitely never sleeps!!

Best of NYC, Day Two

On Thursday, we got up early to hit the town. We did the double decker bus tour of areas above Midtown. We ended up in Harlem and saw the Apollo Theatre, which was pretty cool.

After the tour, they dropped us off on Central Park South, so we wandered around Columbus Circle (I bought a REAL coach) and then we went to Strawberry Fields in Central Park. So cool....

After that, we walked around the park a bit, then ended up at the Boat House, having a couple of beers and some appetizers looking out on the pond. The weather was cool and breezy, it felt fantastic!!

We wandered around Rockefeller Center and Times Square, then came home and rested. Laura and I had dinner at Joe Allens, then Norma, Laura and I saw "In The Heights." It was a terrific show!

We were up in the nosebleed, so during the intermission, I asked if we could go sit in a box, and they let us. We were like 10 feet from the stage - it was awesome!!

Best of NYC, Day One

We landed about 5:30, went to our hotel, checked in, then headed to Serendipity for dinner. It was yummy!!

On the subway back to our hotel, someone (me, but shhhh) got the idea that we should go to Coney Island. An hour and a half later, we get there. Here's outside the subway station.....

Pretty much the only thing open was Nathan's hot dogs, but we were full. A cop told us to get back to Manhattan, so we just stood around, took a few pics with the NYPD, then headed back.

At least we can say we've been to Coney Island.......

We are off to NYC!!

In less than an hour, 10 of my friends and I are leaving for New York
City. It's going to be an amazing weekend!

I'm testing my ability to send a blog entry via my iPhone so I can
keep you posted about our adventures. Hope it works!!

Here's what is ahead for us this weekend: dinner at Serendipity,
seeing "In The Heights" and "Rock of Ages," doing the Sex and the City
tour, going to the Comedy Cellar and the Statue of Liberty, and
hitting Canal Street among others.

Stay tuned for more adventures!!

My Trip was a Total Success!!

I got home last night around 11 PM and all I can say is that I love Bastrop!! I had a very fast and furious two days, but it was wonderful.

I got all of my stuff dumped into my office and now a great project of moving and sorting all of my stuff to set up my office awaits me in July. I love the color blue they painted my office - it's going to be a beautiful place to work!

I love, love my AP. I think we are going to be a great team and we will make our school an awesome place to work and learn!

I got my living arrangements settled: apartment, utilities, Maude's registration. My apartment is so cute and I have a garage close by, so that all worked out very well.

I met the administrative team for the district and I'm excited to get to know them all and work with them. They seem like a top notch group of people. I already LOVE the elementary principals and know that we will make a great team - one not to be messed with!

And as much as I worry about Bastrop being so small, I loved it. It has a lot for a town that size and there are so many neat little shops and restaurants, it'll be so much fun to show people that come and visit. Yes, sushi and Hobby Lobby are now a 30 minute drive, but it means less impulse shopping, which is a good thing.

I made the right decision to head south in July.

It is the Final Countdown!!

So you can see I added a timer to my page to countdown to the big 4-0. On June 17, 11 friends and I are heading to NYC to celebrate my birthday (also other birthdays, college graduation, and victory over breast cancer), so you can tell it's going to be a fun time.

So here's what I'm lining up for the big trip:

1. "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart" - I've put in a request for tickets and would LOVE to go to the show. Status: Wait and see

2. "Live with Regis & Kelly" - I've mailed a request for tickets to this show and would also LOVE to go to this show. Status: Wait and see

3. "The Early Show" - Misty has us confirmed with tickets for the VIP section as well as a backstage tour of the studio. Status: It's a go!!

4. "Sex and the City" Tour - I did the Sopranos tour the last time I was in town for a long stay, so I'm excited to go on this tour. The movie comes out three weeks before we go, so it should be a lot of fun!! Status: Ready to buy my tickets, but waiting to see if we get Regis & Kelly first!

Of course, we'll do all the regular touristy things as well, but these are new things that I've yet to do in the city. I can't wait!!

I'm also going to go see "Rock of Ages" again. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE that musical!! It is so good!! See for yourself:



My favorite line from that clip? "Is there a Tony for bad-assery?"

There should be!!

Any other ideas of things to do and see for my trip? June 17th can't get here quick enough!!