Horse Lamp

I usually work Friday and Saturday nights but took Friday night off because Jen desperately needed a night out on the town. An area that’s known for great nightlife is the meatpacking district/ south Chelsea/ West Village part of Manhattan on the west side near the highline. We took the E train straight there and didn’t even have to do much walking which was nice. Jen was wearing high heels… and amazing eye shadow she adds.

We started at The Park, an outdoor themed bar and restaurant in south Chelsea. It has several trees, lawn ornaments, and garden gnomes in its outdoor garden section where we sat because the weather was so nice. The female servers are dressed as park rangers and the guys have picnic blanket print shirts on. The busers are dressed as park maintenance. It sounds kooky but it’s upscale at the same time. One notable aspect was the delicious focaccia (blogger's spell check recommends cowcatcher as a replacement for my mispelling of this word-??) bread they bring to the table. Jen thought it was right up there with Red Lobster’s cheddar bay biscuits. Haha.

Next we went to an underground lounge called Bar 675 in the meatpacking district. We were right around the Gansevoort Hotel, one of the best places in the city to spot celebs. We didn’t see any though, wahh wahh. The buildings in the area are all pretty historic, this one once housing a grocer, safe and lock company, bowling alley, and infamous sex clubs of the 1980’s and 90’s since it was built in 1849. Today it’s cavernous side alcoves that were at one time used for God knows what, now are little lounges with Jenga, foosball, packman, and cards. It was a fun place. My favorite thing inside was this awesome horse lamp that Jen spotted. We might have to get rid of our couch, but I think that kind of style is worth sacrificing for.

FDNY EMT CPR

With my first real clinical assignment approaching at the end of next month there are a lot of things I need to do in preparation. Most importantly, I need to pass all my finals and practicals in the school clinic which are the first and second week in June.


Friday my class and I spent the morning getting CPR certified, a pre-assignment requirement, by two FDNY EMTs. So many acronyms, lol. Paul and Nemo (yes that was his real name) were very entertaining and tried to get through all the information as fast as they could. It was the best certification class I’ve ever taken, and I’ve seen a lot of them.

Saturday’s doctor visit, another requirement for my assignment, at an NYU med student clinic was an interesting experience. The good news first: it was all free. The bad news: I waited a total of about three hours to see all the people I needed to, students using my arms as practice for their “needle work,” and the wait for my blood work results was quoted at about two weeks. I’m cutting it close to my deadline and pray I get all the paperwork in on time. If I believed the world was going to end on Saturday evening, I wouldn’t have spent the whole day in a doctor’s office.

Jen’s doing well. She asked for and received her second raise at work in all eight months she’s been there. I’m so proud! She’s slowly working her way towards what her boss should have been paying Jen from the beginning... jerk. :)

Bodies

I noticed a few really random art installations on Vernon Blvd in our hood a few days ago. They were outside a storefront that's usually empty but suddenly full of art so I wondered what was up. It turns out that it's LIC art week! It's too bad it's supposed to rain until Saturday. I would like to check it all out but this weather is not very conducive of strolling around LIC looking at art being displayed in local businesses.

Today I went on a class trip to the Bodies exhibit. I had been once before and kind of regret going this time because so much has been taken out of it. The guides explained that the American tour length had been extended but loans were up on many of the bodies and they had to be returned to China. It was good, though, to have Dr. Ross there to point out interesting things on the bodies related to PT and quiz us on material that will be on those fast approaching finals.

After the exhibit a few of us decided to go out for some food and drink. The south street seaport area where we were is quite nice but also expensive. We decided to journey down Fulton towards Wall St. and found a nice little Irish pub that did just the trick. Good times. Everyone is so ethnic right?... Laguardia is called the world's college after all.

Cuba

My latest celebrity sighting was a pretty good one. Cuba Gooding Jr. (pic) and friends came into my restaurant Friday night for some drinks and guess at whose table they were sat? I handle all the VIP clientele :). I honestly never really liked him in movies that much but I respect him more now that I know he’s such a nice guy. He thanked me for everything I brought them and was very apologetic when they had to leave after only staying for about twenty minutes. Turns out they were going to a private party hosted by Justin Timberlake. I assumed it was at JT’s restaurant, Southern Hospitality, which is just a few block from ours. I guess that’s cooler than hanging out at Bourbon St., ha. Supposedly there was an actor from the show “The Office” in Mr. Gooding’s group but I don’t think he ever came upstairs so I’m not sure who it was.

As you should know, Jen’s birthday was last Sunday so yesterday, after doing a lot of narrowing down, we went to pick out a new phone. She decided on a smart phone, the Droid Charge by Samsung (pic), which was just released yesterday. It is pretty awesome, especially in comparison to our “dumb phones.” After an hour or so at Verizon in Manhattan we went for brunch at Lounge 47 just a few blocks from home.

I guess I should comment on school since it’s such a time sucking priority right now. I’m doing well I think. I’ve gotten one of the highest scores in my class (99% and 97%) on my last two exams which I’m ok with. I have another exam tomorrow and hope I continue that good trend.

1st Communion

We just got home from our eventful weekend in White Plains. Jen's family was in town from FL for Lisa's first Communion, Mother's Day, and of course Jen's birthday.

Saturday morning Pup and I took a morning train upstate (Jen went up the night before). Lisa's first Communion was that afternoon. As part of the ceremony she did some reading up front on stage and was so cute adjusting the mic and everything. She would turn away every time she had to face us as she walked down the aisle out of shyness I guess. Afterwards we had an amazing five or six course meal at Spiga's, one of Lisa's favorite places to eat. The rest of the weekend was a series similar and delicious lunches and dinners with family. Oh my Lord, do we know how to eat! I doubt I'll be eating much more than salads for the next few days as thoughts of full meals and dessert make me sick. The food at the restaurants was great... my self-control is not.

Saturday night, because dogs are never allowed in Jen's Aunt's apartment complex, Pup had to stay with Jen's parents at her Grandmother's place. Although Jen and I knew better, Jen's Dad said there was no way Pup would be sleeping anywhere but on the floor or in her small, travel sized carrier. The next morning I laughed after hearing she spent the whole night in bed with both of them. Our little weasel...
I'm taking Jen to get a new phone for her b-day sometime this week. I-phone or Android? We’ll see.

Feliz Cinco de Mayo!

I could not ask for a nicer day on Cinco de Mayo. This morning Pup and I went to the park, the one in LIC that allows dogs, to enjoy the weather and do some studying. As much as I'd like to boycott the no dog park on the water, it's too beautiful down there to stay away. I think Pup stayed busy chasing pigeons up into the trees.

Today, biking home from class I passed alot of production happening in the neighborhood. There was what looked like a photo shoot for a fashion magazine in the more industrial part of town close to school. Then, a couple blocks later I was riding right through filming for something on HBO titled "Girls." I'm so out of the loop with TV that I'm not surprised I never recognize titles for filming that are posted on the no parking flyers. At least I'm not as lost as my cousin who asked, "what's an iphone?" This after devoting all her time to raising her baby boy, a good enough reason I guess.

We might go out tonight for drinks with friends but it is only Thursday with a big lab ahead of me in the morning... we'll see.

This weekend we're heading a bit upstate to White Plains for Jen's cousin Lisa's first communion. Even the FL Cappellos will be in town for the big day.  

Rig'n

Although it’s pretty chilly today, the weather here has been beautiful. Yesterday afternoon between church and work Jen and I went to the park and wore shorts and sandals for the first time in about six months! It was a good feeling. There are always New Yorkers though who choose to dress like it’s still freezing out. For example, take this woman (pic) who I was sitting across from on the train the other day. I don't even think they had the air on in there. Cookoo for coco puffs.

This weekend Jen noticed that her phone wasn’t charging when she plugged it in. After a little, or a lot of “rig’n” I got it to charge again. (pic) We had a good laugh at this one and joked at how easy this will be to do every night. Jen's brother took her upgrade...

Jen’s family is in town from FL for Cousin Lisa’s first communion. Because I took next weekend off for it, I decided to work last night which is where I was when I heard the news that Osama is dead. I agree that it’s a time to celebrate and that we must also be careful, but I can’t help but wonder if what CNN or MSNBC news is told to report is ever the true story. This war we are fighting is still against terrorism right? Ok, that’s just my opinion and about as far as I go with politics, ha.

Jen’s birthday is this Sunday, May 8th! I think I have some good ideas and need to do some shopping this week.