They're probably actors...

Although this is a terrible picture, I just wanted to take a moment to pay tribute to the poor souls who dress up as toilets in Times Square to advertise Charmin.

I seriously hope they pay these people well because 1. It's freaking freezing out and 2. They're dressed up like toilets.

Here's to you, out-of-work-actors. I feel you.

Standing up for what I believe in

It was really special to feel like a part of history in the making. And Dan and I made it on NY1 news the next day!

Rainy Day Rumination

It's days like this that make living in New York City a battle, rather than an adventure. Oh, scratch that, every day living in New York City is a battle. Most days, it's a battle I win. On obnoxiously rainy days, it's a battle that's impossible to win.

I've also decided that you must be seriously inconsiderate to live here and think carrying around a golf-sized umbrella is a good idea. I mean, really. It's like driving a motorcycle with steel spikes sticking out from the sides around on the sidewalk and thinking that should be okay. Who do you think you are, golf-sized umbrella people? Not only do you end up possessing a disproportionate amount of precious New York City sidewalk room, but you also end up nearly decapitating me. My neck is right about bottom-of-the-umbrella level, people! And there are little spikes on that thing. Thanks.

I did see a totally awesome pair of boots at an audition, though. This girl actually had flamingo pink kitten heel galoshes. I snagged a picture because they were so cute and I didn't think anyone would believe me.

Here's to rainy days in New York City and to all the New York residents who survive urban flooding (that's an actual weather term I saw in a weather warning -- I love it!) and near-decapitation and STILL manage to set fashion trends.

ANSWER: There is no good reason

So the best reason I can figure out for why Manhattan is the only "New York, NY" address is Sheer Postal Service Laziness.

According to every source I've run across, it's because they simply haven't changed the addresses since the city was incorporated in 1898, before which Manhattan and Brooklyn really were separate cities. Interestingly enough, this also explains why you sometimes send a letter to "Brooklyn, NY," but never to "Queens, NY." When the city was incorporated, Brooklyn was a solidified city entity, but Queens was only a set of villages, much like the towns/villages further out on Long Island still are today (although they are frequently grouped together by their county designation).

I guess old habits die hard. In 1898, "City People" were horrified and depressed by being united with those country Brooklyn dwellers. Over a hundred years later and Manhattanites are still offended by being grouped together with Brooklynites.

Manhattanite Snobbery

As I was addressing envelopes to soap opera casting directors in Manhattan and Brooklyn today, I considered how offensive it must be to Brooklynites that their address doesn't end with "New York, NY."

Why is Manhattan "New York, NY," while Brooklyn and Queens are either the borough name or the neighborhood name (Sunnyside, Kew Gardens, etc.)?

I have to look this up. I'll let you know if I find anything out.

Christmas on West 37th

Tonight we bundled up, lit a fire, drank a good deal of eggnog, turned on the Pandora.com Christmas carols, and decorated our tree.

It came out beautifully, I might add, for a first Christmas tree! Yes, it's small. But so is everything in our life at this point.

We also hung four stockings. One for each of the two of us, plus one for Duncan and one for our foster kitty of the moment, Chloe.

Merry Christmas to West 37th street and all of New York!

The first snowfall of my New York residence

Don't worry, even though I was inside minding children for a living, I managed to capture a picture of the beautiful first snowfall of the season.

Jumbli champion

I don't know if any of you have ever played the CNN board Jumbli game in Times Square, but let me tell you, it's a little addicting. It's kind've like a cross betwee small-scale Boggle and Scrabble  where you text message your words to the number on the screen and if you get the most points, your words get up there for all of Times Square to behold and marvel at. Supposedly, if you text your name right afterwards, your name gets up there, too, but I haven't been able to get that to work so far.

Anyways, I have included picture proof that I am a Jumbli Times Square champion. "Wave" AND "hog" were both my text message masterpieces. Someone else thought they could take me down with their pathetic "eat." Please. I dig the glory and I also like that it's something to do while I wait for Dan to get off work on the new bright red TKTS steps.

Don't call me lame, I'm just competitive.

Who knew?

We purchased a tiny, cute little, Manhattan-sized Christmas tree today right off the sidewalk. 

Before I moved here, I would never have imagined that New Yorkers could peruse large groups of Christmas trees in a similar manner to the rest of the world.

Pictures of our decorated masterpiece will follow once we've finished.

On a side note, I think that New York City must be the best place in the world to be for the Christmas season. Lights everywhere, music emanating from random stores, snowflakes falling on the city streets...beautiful.