things to do in NYC - I loved going up to the top of the Empire State the one time I did it - but the wait to get there was murder. Never have been to the Statue of Liberty.

I have been parasailing over the Hudson and on a helicopter ride around the city. I recommend both.

Dan -- That sounds interesting, too bad Dad and bro are watching football. I wonder if they'll rerun it. I wonder if I get that channel.

I probably will too Sail, but here's hoping.

When Scott and I were first married, I got in a car accident--hit from behind. I had classic whiplash, but never went after the other driver because I felt bad for the kid who hit my car. The traffic was shitty, and were were on a very stop-and-go stretch of road, right outside of Boston. I got the cervical collar then, because it was that bad. I've had a little trouble with it off and on, sense. Usually, it's because I do something (or have my bra shoulder straps too tight, or $15 of change in my shoulder bag, or something).

Years ago, Julia was terribly sad, because Daddy and Ben went camping with the cousins and she was stuck (!!!) at Nana's beach house with Nana, Chris (who was a baby) and me. Little did we know, she was also getting really sick, which accounted for about 1/2 of the heartbreak. Anyhow, in an effort to cheer her up, I was pretending she was my hat. I would pick her up, over my head, and say, "Oh, look at my hat. I have the prettiest hat in the world. Have you ever seen a prettier hat?"

The next day, I couldn't move, and the pain was excruciating. The doctor thinks I sprained it, and I know I have a pinched nerve, because of some of the symptoms, from time to time. This time, it started bothering me Christmas morning, but it's been really mild, and seemed to be working itself out. Last night, I fell asleep on the couch, and this morning? Agony.

we're up for just about anything as long as it isn't touristy crap (no desire to go up in the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building, for example)

When we visited last year we only had one day in the city and opted for a visit to the Metropolitan Museum and a Yankees game. I really wanted to go up in the ESB because I had a professor in college that told me his summer job as a kid was delivering telegrams in the ESB. He spoke lovingly about the elevators.

It hurt me to pour milk, and get the syrup out of the cupboard, for the kids.

Cindy, I'm sorry about continued neck crappiness. This is the worst kind of discomfort. I can't even imaging sleeping in a neck collar!

Has anyone heard anything good about the CBS mid-season replacement "Numbers"? DH is very excited that they've FINALLY made a tv show about math. And crime fighting.

Last night, I fell asleep on the couch, and this morning? Agony

Oh, yeah. It's all about getting the neck into a neutral position and couches aren't neutral, they're evil. At least, to sleep with. They start out like Angel when you're just watching TV, but sleep with it? Angelus in the morning.

things to do in NYC

The museum at Ellis Island is actually fabulous -- last time I was there you still couldn't go up in the statue, but the museum is fascinating.

Definitely walk around the Village -- lots of great bars and coffee places, not to mention shops. There used to be a great bar called Nightingale on Second Avenue and...11th or thereabouts, which is East Village, and I don't know if it's still there. Kind of a shithole, but they always had good music -- Joan Osborne and Blues Traveler and the Spin Doctors used to play there, before they got signed. Dan Lynch, a fantastic little blues bar used to be right down the street, but it closed (sob).

What kinds of things do you want to do? Drink? Eat? Hear music? You should definitely check out Central Park, and the Metropolitan Museum, if not the Guggenheim. MOMA is open in Manhattan again, and there's always the Museum of Natural History, too. Then there are all the galleries in Soho and Tribeca.

Hmmm. I love New York. And actually, I'm watching the Ric Burns documentary on PBS right now.

Yeah, Central Park is going to happen, more than once if I can manage it. I've wanted to see it for years. As for the Statue, we'll be passing by it on the ferry a lot, which is enough for me. Beholding such things with my eyes is enough--then I want to get something to eat and drink. So yes, food, bars, music all desirable. We're looking into comedy clubs too, like the Comic Strip. I've got a friend in NYC who's going to try to get me into some hole-in-the-wall, Prohibitionesque speakseasy that you can't get into unless you know somebody. You know, "real" New York.

Okay, forget Nightingale. I just Googled and they seem to have renovated it into the Nightingale "Lounge" with thrown pillows and "plush sofas" for God's sake. The bar I remember had a pool table in the back with Hell's Angels usually gathered around it, and once a night someone threw up in the disgusting, stamp-sized bathroom.

But Dan Lynch seems to be open again! Unless the web page I found is on crack. Which could be the case. Kenny's Castaways, which is on Bleecker if I recall correctly, also has good music.

There's a great restaurant in the 30s called Artisenal, which is All. About. Cheese. It's not cheap (but not wildly expensive) and it is so fucking good. Fondue, more fondue, cheese biscuits and lots of bread, and really good country-style French stuff. Delicious.

And Cafe Espanol, which has more than one location (although one is on Carmine Street in the Village) is a good little Spanish place -- not Mexican, Spanish, so paella, seafood, etc. Not expensive.

There's a great restaurant in the 30s called Artisenal, which is All. About. Cheese.

It has a cheese cave! AND a maitre du fromage, who is the dude in charge of the cheese, like the sommelier with the wine. (And maitre du fromage translates literally to CHEESEMASTER! I AM THE MASTER OF THE CHEESE! TREMBLE BEFORE ME!!!!)

{{{Cindy}}} I hope your neck feels better soon.

{{{Anne}}} Relocation ~ma.

No luck looking at apartments again today. I don't want to have to do this, and know that I have to isn't helping.