New York, New York! Days 2 & 3

I was excited when I woke up because I knew that I was going to meet some of my fellow Hosts from Prevention plus Irina (Community Coordinator) and Linda (Community Manager). It turned out that I also met other members of the team which was really nice.

Due to wonky phones and missing calls I missed meeting up with sandwichmom and her daughter, Sara, before we had to be at the Rodale building. I caught a cab and must of had one of the drivers from hell. I got into said cab. He got out, went around and checked all the doors. He then got back in and because he faffed about we missed the light so sat there for ages. When we started he began to move around a cloth he had on the steering wheel. he then got a personal phone call. I couldn't place the language though. Phone call ended (isn't that illegal here in the states?) and then he stops across from a food vendor and motioned that he wanted coffee. Gee, I thought his job was to get me where I wanted to go. He gets his coffee and wow, we're off.

Driving up and down the streets I really hoped that he knew where he was going and...he did! Finally got to the Rodale offices in one piece a few minutes later than meet-up time.

I went in and I could see on my left some women sitting and standing and thought ah ha! I could guess who Linda was, she of the clipboard, and Molasses and Irina because they use their photos as their avatars, but the others? I have to admit that Iz and Boz looked so familiar although we have never met before. And guys, I am not a celebrity.

We waited for sandwichmom and her daughter. I expected SM to be short and have long hair. Surprise when this short woman with short hair came in. She had been threatening to cut it and did on Sunday. It really looked nice.

While we had been waiting for SM and her daughter we had a quick tour of the Prevention floors.

It was a very calming place with light green walls. They even have a yoga room which impressed me. As we walked around we met staff members and it was nice to be able to put faces to names. We all ended up in a conference room where Judi managed to call in to listen and to express her opinions. I really wanted to ask her how T's peas were coming along.

We sat around a round table and introduced ourselves and explained how we found Prevention . I had found it in April 2004 after I read about 'The South Beach Diet' in the Daily Mail, a British national newspaper which ran articles about it for about a week. I 'Googled' the SBD and found Prevention and have been there ever since, first as a poster and now as a Senior Community Host.

So we discussed what was happening with the Prevention message boards and what will happen in the future. We also got a goody bag with Prevention items in it. Love those goody bags. After the meeting we went to an Indian restaurant for lunch where we enjoyed the buffet. And yes some of us had dessert, a wonderful sorbet which actually came in the frozen fruit. Mine was peach and it came in a half frozen peach while the others had theirs arrive in a half of a small pineapple, really clever. I think Boz was the rebel and had rice pudding.

So here we are


Linda

Irina

Sara and Molasses

SM

Iz

After lunch some of us caught an air conditioned cab and the rest walked to their destinations. WALKED!! In that heat. I hear that SM and Sara gave up after a bit. It was just too darn hot and humid.

When I got back to my hotel room I was shocked to see that my window was open and a hose was running from the radiator to out the window. I got in touch with the electrician who said that the plumbing had broken down and that I had to change rooms. *sigh* So they got in touch with the desk and then they said to come down and get a new key for my new room. I was already there. So I got the key, thankfully the room was on the same floor. I packed up and moved. The room was similar but without the same view, it was closer to the elevator though.

I then decided to walk around the block and see what's there. I found the Manhattan Mall and wasn't too impressed with it so walked out and right across the street was 'Jack's 99 Cents Store'

It was crowded and I wasn't in the mood for the scrum so I left and continued around the block. I did go into one of those hat stores and bought a hat for Ben and a pink 'New York City Princess' tee shirt for a friend's granddaughter.

I ended back at Macys and since my dinner plans had changed I bought another salad and fruit for dinner. I ended up taking a shower, eating, and then fell asleep around 6pm and then didn't wake until the thunder woke me up around 2am. They had terrible thunderstorms during the night and there was a lot of damage in New York and New Jersey. I went back to sleep and then woke up at 6. I guess the heat and the humidity is killing me plus I haven't been having my naps.

Day 3

So woke up early and listened to the news where the damage in some parts of the 2 states was bad. Then they said that NJ Transit was having problems. I thought, okay, but that's not me, until they said that there were delays getting in and out of the city. I had arranged for my parents to pick me up after my dad saw the doctor so I had to time my arrival for theirs. Thinking that I don't know how the system works at Penn Station, nor the amount of people or how delayed I would be, I set off much earlier than I had originally planned. I thought so if I am early back at Hamilton then I can just sit in the air conditioned waiting room.

It was a breeze getting my ticket, waiting for the train, which wasn't late by much and getting back to Hamilton. Then the 2 hour wait started. Finally I saw my parents' car with my youngest nephew driving and dad in the car. We got back to my parents' home in about 40 minutes where my sister and her grandbaby were waiting.

And that's my New York City Adventure.

I have decided that I am going to sneak into Macys and live there. Why not? I bet there are others who already do. ;)

New York, New York! Day 1

My kind of town, New York is.

When I planned this trip to the states I wanted to make sure that I met Norma, a descartesbabe that I have been writing to since 2004 at the Prevention message board, on The South Beach Diet forum. So to do that I had to go to New York City, somewhere I haven't been since applying to Beth Israel Nursing School in 1967 (oh they rejected me after taking their cockamamy psych tests. So I resent authority? Ha!)

I looked on the internet to see what hotels were around Penn Station so my sister, who originally was going with me, wouldn't have to walk far. I found the Hotel Pennsylvania and booked 2 nights for us. At the last moment my sister said that she couldn't go so I went alone.

Norma and I made plans that we would meet in the lobby of my hotel at 4:45pm after she finished work.

So on June 9th, Dad and I left the house about 8:55am and got to the train station at 9:45 - not bad for getting lost once. It was just Dad and me because Mom was still feeling poorly so we left her sleeping. I think that Dad might try to persuade her to go to the doctor if she is still feeling bad.



We drove to Hamilton New Jersey and a one way fare from Hamilton, NJ to NY Penn Station was $12. The Penn Station code is 000.


This was the local train stopping at every town but it was interesting. We left at 10:09. It was nice because the train was cool.

The ticket guy came, punched my ticket, kept it and then replaced it with another ticket which had lots of numbers and it was place under a clip in the seat next to me. I was sitting on a side seat with my suitcase.

We got into Penn Station and I had no idea of where to go. A nice conductor did carry my case up the stairs and directed me to the right exit. Wow! The hotel was literally right across the station.

So I went in and attempted to register. Thankfully they let me register early, it was only after 12 and normally the time is 3pm. So I caught one of 8 elevators (lifts) to room 1083. I was told that it was a bit of a walk from the elevator but I did have a view of The Empire State Building. Well, I did but not of all the floors.


The room was ok but no fridge, I guess I am spoiled by the casino hotels in Atlantic City. I figured out that I can place my Byetta pen on the sloping cold air vents to make sure that it kept cold. I hung up what ever and then went out to find Macy's.


The doorman (a miserable git) pointed the way. That was only a block away. I went into the building, it was so cool inside. Oh, did I mention that there was a heat wave?

I could only find the 'Men's Store' country mouse that I am. I walked around and then out thinking, maybe there's another store for women (are you laughing at me?). So I went back into the 'Men's Store' and finally found the board with all the departments. Aha! The department that I wanted was on the 7th floor. The store is huge!! Plus there were different eateries within the store. A MacDonald's in the kiddie floor?


There was also a 'Starbucks' and an 'Aunt Anne'. What saved me was 'Cucina&Co in the Cellar @ Macy's'.

So I wandered around the 7th floor and ended up buying 3 tops. I did realise that I left my discount card back at my parents so I went to the Tourist Information Center and got a tourist card with 11% off of my purchases. I went to one of the men's floors and bought Ben a shirt of a lizard smoking a cigar. I then went from floor 7 and hit each floor just to see what was what.

I went back to the hotel and got ready to go down to meet Norma. I went down to the lobby at 4:30 and went towards the benches that are there and I sat down next to an Israeli couple so I could listen to their conversation (Hey, it's good practice for my Hebrew) ;) As I sat down I heard, 'Hi Carol'. It was Norma on the other side of me!! She looks exactly like her photos. She is also a very sweet and caring person.

Us

We ended up at Lindy's over a glass of ice tea and talked and talked. Sadly she had to go earlier than she intended because she was worried due to a fire knocking out the power in her apartment. So she left and I went back to my room.

A little later I thought that I would go back to Macy's and to the cellar to get a salad from the salad buffet in 'Cucina&Co'. It was quite nice and I also bought some fruit for pud.

I ended up taking a shower, reading a book that i bought from Border's earlier and then went to bed.

End of Day in the Big Apple.

Moorestown Day!!

Yesterday was the annual Moorestown Day and they had a street fair and a race going on. My sister rented a spot and we put up a tent and displayed her wares.






Shelia, our family's neighbor and like a second mom to my sister came along to help.

My sister has a tent which really came in handy because it was so hot and humid outside that it gave us shade. We had 3 tables full of products. It looked like we were the only ones selling animal tee shirts and towels (more about the towels later). We also had tees hanging.

Marla (my sister) putting out tees.


Tees


The jewelry table


Can anyone name this breed of dog?


My brother-in-law, Ken


My nephew William


The towels which my sister embroiders

As we sat there this tall guy came up and he looked very happy. It seems that we were the only ones selling towels and he was desperate for one because he was sweating so heavily. So he bought one.


One of the stalls I missed the actual contest.


Some of the runners


Some of the visitors






Rumor has it that the stalls that were further up the street and nearer the food did better than we did. One stall holder told my sister that she made over $300 and then we hear her tell her daughters that she did badly, so she told a fib to my sister.

We had take away from a new Japanese restaurant for lunch and then I went to get some soft pretzels.

We started packing up about an hour before the final time as did others.

It was an interesting 5 hours even though it was so hot and sticky.

My first tradeshow

My sister has a new and up and coming company, Keep You In Stitches and she goes to different tradeshows for contacts and new information. So when she received notification that Promotions East was holding their tradeshow on June 3-4th she decided to go, and take me with her. And my parents.

So off we went at 8am on Wednesday the 4th to Atlantic City where it was being held. We had booked a room at The Showboat hotel casino for the night so we could rest our weary bones.

It was huge! 800 vendors were there talking about their products and giving away free samples. I now have enough pens to last me a lifetime plus bags. It was interesting and very tiring.

Mom resting with her free hard hat.


Dad on his scooter.




Some photos of the stands and people.







Some goodies in one of the bags. My sister came out of the show with a small rolling suitcase that she brought with her and 4 large bags (free) full of free things.




So after we were finished, around 3:30, we went to the hotel, The Showboat

There we had something to eat and then I went to play the slots where the first time I was a winner! Yay me!! Not a big winner but I left with more money than I started with.

On Thursday it was decided that we wouldn't have breakfast at the hotel but that we would leave and have breakfast at Dennys so Dad could have his 'Grand Slam'. Well, so did I. I had grits for the first time in years. We also stopped at Wal*Mart. I had to laugh when I got to the clothing department because I forgot that it was George!! We have George in our 'Asda' stores which is Wal*Mart in England. I did find a nice pink top for the winter on sale and then when you use the money converter, it was practically given away.

Leashes of Love

No, this isn't a post on S&M but of a wonderful idea, Pet Therapy.

Leashes of Love is a group of people who have trained or are in the process of training their dogs to be ready to go to meet people who will benefit with the interaction of a well behaved dog. These dogs go through evaluations, training so in the end they get their CGC Certifications and Therapy Dog Certifications.

Today, animals provide many positive human health benefits:

Companionship, a friend to care for and to keep one occupied, something alive and warm to touch, a focus of attention, a reason for exercise, and to provide protection. Therapy programs using animals have evolved worldwide in many forms and names. Usually these programs are directed toward people with health problems requiring rehabilitation, such as elderly, physically handicapped, deaf, blind, emotionally or physically ill, or persons in correctional institutions.

The group I met yesterday is based in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.

I went with my sister and a friend of hers to Posh Pets, a dog grooming salon which has Leashes of Love based there. My sister is the owner of Keep You In Stitches and she was measuring dogs for their vests. She'll embroider the dogs' names on the vests so they can wear them when they are 'working'.

She was also selling tee shirts and jewelry that she makes. More about her company on a later post.

This is Zoe and she's a beautiful dog who is being trained.


Therapy dogs come in all shapes and sizes. Unconditional love comes in all sized packages.









And of course I have to include this handsome chap who just happens to be my furry neffy, Varg.




Varg is a Newfoundland dog who right now is still growing and weighs a mere 146 pounds. He is so beautiful and even tempered.

He is also he figurehead for my sister's company, Keep You In Stitches.

If you want more information on dog therapy you can visit:

http://www.poshpetsgrooming.com/therapydogs/

Or how about information about The American Kennel Club's Canine Good Citizen® (CGC) Program?

http://www.akc.org/events/cgc/index.cfm

Started in 1989, the CGC is a certification program that is designed to reward dogs who have good manners at home and in the community. The Canine Good Citizen Program is a two-part program that stresses responsible pet ownership for owners and basic good manners for dogs. All dogs who pass the 10-step CGC test may receive a certificate from the American Kennel Club.