September 11, 2015: Patriot Day

Tanya's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 14 DAYS

We Will Never Forget

Hi there everyone. 


I don't know what I was doing 15 years ago. 
I can't remember what I was thinking or where I was going. 13, 12, 11 years ago to this day in order to tell you what was going on, I would honestly have to go look it up. 


HOWEVER...


Like most of us, I will never forget where I was and what I was doing today exactly 14 years ago. 
I was pregnant for Cosette and in a state of shock.
A shock that just wouldn't go away.
All I can remember for the days to come was being numb and having no words. 
I still have no words. 
But on this National Day of Remembrance none of us will ever forget.

Usually the kids have a performance with their Peace Choir on this day of remembrance, but this year they just have their first rehearsal back since their couple of "vacation" weeks off, and they are booked to perform on Sunday. 

That's where we will be tonight. At rehearsal. 
I'll be running around the rest of the day, doing some shopping and a return...which is a bit of a story.

Ya see, do you remember last week when I was doing some online shopping? 

Well after a long while I finally found the pocketbook that I wanted to take with me on our Hawaii Trip. 

After a very confusing day of whether or not I'd even be able to go pick up my order (I got an email earlier in the morning stating that if my order was not picked up by the end of the day that it would be returned/refunded).

I went back and forth on whether I should go and squeeze it in or just say screw it and let them return the items.

Finally I decided to pick up the pocketbook last night. But once I got there and the order was given to me, it wasn't even as I remembered it! 

It wasn't even the same color that I thought I had ordered! What the heck is wrong with me?!

I hated it. Really hated it!

So right off the bat, I decided to go look in the pocketbook department for the color I thought that I ordered (but hadn't).

BTW - Pocketbook = Purse/Handbag

Anyhow, once I started looking in the department I couldn't find what I was looking for and started to get really stressed out. 
The department was a bit messy (not terribly - just a bit). 
However...Messy stores are a trigger of mine. I can't shop, I stress out, and I have to leave.

So the bag goes back today!

The rest of my yesterday was spent going to the Tack store, the Stables, and running a few other errands. But again it was just too darn hot to be outside doing anything!


We did take a short break when we heard some chirping and found a tub full of adorable little chicks! 

I also spent a bit of time last night re-working our Spain/Portugal trip - I'll go into details on this trip and others on TRAVELIN' TUESDAY.

And today happens to be FOODIE FRIDAY, it's Elisa's turn and I'm sure that we are in for a treat with her review on Scarlatto in NYC.

BTW Did you have a chance to to check out the new post Ballooning, Biking, and Baseball - a weekend in San Diego?
And have you checked out the finally posted Auschwitz photo page? 

I hope that you can manage to have a pleasant and peaceful day and I'll be back to catch up with you tomorrow!

-T

Elisa's Daily Scoop
NEXT TRIP DEPARTS IN: 14 DAYS

A Day of Rememberance

Good day to you.  I'm sure like many others today, it is a day of sadness and remembrance. 

I will never, ever forget where I was on September 11, 2001 and the days that followed.  As a New Yorker, the impact of having my city attacked, causing the carnage and heartache that it did, will never leave my memory for as long as I live.

What's more, living on Long Island, the smell of the burning buildings filled the air for days to come. The unending sound of bagpipes for countless funerals in my own neighborhood in the week that followed will always resonate in my head.

My prayers and heartfelt sympathies go out to all of those who lost loved ones and whose lives were forever changed on this day 14 years ago.

I spent most of this morning watching the 9/11 tributes and in quiet prayer.

Unlike this day in 2001, which was a beautiful, sunny and clear day, today was quite overcast and gray when I woke up.  But, the sun is supposed to make its appearance later, which I like to believe is God's way of letting us know, we need to have hope for brighter times as we reflect today.

**************************************

I would like to segue at this point to tell you about my evening last night in, of all places, New York City. 

I took Kelsey to see An American in Paris  on Broadway to celebrate her 9th Birthday.  When her sister, Gianna was 9 years old, I took her to see Jersey Boys, as a Mommy & Me day.  

CLICK IMAGE for information and tickets

So, last night was mine and Kelsey's special evening out in the city together as she approaches her 9th this coming Monday.

The evening was WONDERFUL!!! 

We started off with a leisurely drive into Manhattan.  We got clobbered with a bit of rain on the drive in but made great time.  

Unfortunately, as always, the traffic and delay hit driving cross-town from the Midtown Tunnel to the West side.

Although I usually make a dinner reservation when attending the theatre, I decided to just wing it last night and see what eateries were near the theatre.  And, as I expected, things worked out perfectly.  Right across the street from the parking garage was one of my favorite Italian restaurants, Scarlatto.

I had forgotten how close this was to the Palace Theatre and what a nice surprise to see it there.  Kelsey and I ducked in and since our show was at 7:00, rather then 8:00 (the customary evening showtime), we had no trouble getting a table.

A great Theatre district Restaurant on West 47th Street

Kelsey and I exiting the parking garage - didn't have time to take this one over since cars were beeping us to get in the lot

I will be talking about Scarlatto Restaurant & Bar in today's Foodie Friday feature, but let me just say a few words here.  This restaurant is a "triple threat" (to put it in entertainers' terms!).  GREAT FOOD. GREAT SERVICE. GREAT LOCATION.

There was only one negative, that Kelsey and I were pressed for time and did not have time for dessert. (insert BIG sad face!)

Just a little teaser on the food...I had the pumpkin ravioli in a butter sage sauce which was out of this world!!! Kelsey ordered spaghetti with tomato sauce, but not only was the sauce delicious, but the pasta was cooked to al dente perfection!

Me and my Birthday Girl at Scarlatto last night

Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage-Butter Sauce at Scarlatto

We scooted over to the Palace Theatre, half a block away, and couldn't have been more thrilled with our seats!!!  

Not sure if I had mentioned this before, but because I'm a member of Audience Rewards, the loyalty program for Broadway show tickets purchases, I earned enough points to garner two free tickets to An American in Paris!

I requested Orchestra seats, and the seats we wound up with were amazing.  We were located right of center (first two seats off the aisle) in Row N, in a small "box" area that was slightly elevated. 


We were lucky enough to have the first two seats on the aisle in the first row, with no obstructions to our view!!! It was perfect for Kelsey!! No booster seat needed!!

Now, for my thoughts about the show...
I LOVED IT!!!  I really didn't have any expectations and it MORE than exceeded everything I could have imagined.

Of course, when you start with a score by Ira and George Gershwin, you are already well poised for a great evening.  

The performances were spectacular!! The dancing was so amazing, it was as if the dancers were floating on the stage. (no wonder, Christopher Wheeldon won a Tony Award for Best Choreography!). 

And as if this wasn't enough, the lighting and special affects implemented on stage were so creative that you felt like you were in a movie.  

Just beautifully done all around!  

I'll be doing a full review of this show for an upcoming Entertainment feature!

The rest of my day I'll be overseeing some work being done in my house to fix the hole in my living room ceiling from the bathroom leak (that is all repaired now). 

I'm going to run out briefly to get a mani-pedi.  
Tonight I'll be heading into NYC again for a girls'  night out with my sister.

See ya back here tomorrow when I'll be out East for the girls' riding lessons!!

-E
xoxo