Quality vs Quantity

Where does all my best material come from?  Ashleigh of course!  This one is no exception.  You should really follow her here, but then, why would you need to read my blog?! ha! 

"There is magic in long-distance friendships. They let you relate to other human beings in a way that goes beyond being physically together and is often more profound."

Gee...I absolutely, 100% believe that will all my heart.  My friendships with mes amies just across the ocean are some of the deepest, most profound, enriching friendships I've ever had in my life.  And although we may only talk once every couple of months, and send snail mail back and forth to each other, it makes the quality of our friendship that much more beautiful.  It's not about quantity, or how many friends you have on facebook (as much as my sister might seem to disagree) but about quality.  Even my college friends are now long distance relationships but when we do have the opportunity to get together....man, is it a good time.  I'm talking good time.  I love those crazy girls and always will.  

So to all my friends in their respective corners of this huge world who still read this scattered blog, I love you and cherish the relationship we have....no matter how often we are able to talk!  

...........Leading up to the fact that Ms. Laura Bottomley is coming to New York in 2 weeks!!!!  Eeeeeeeek!  It will have been almost a year since I've seen her face, but her parents live here in Manhattan and I have reserved two entire days off for us to catch up and relive old times, and make new memories here in New York City!  AND....oh my goodness...YES! It gets better!! Ashleigh is coming to the States in July!!!!! I think I might faint.  She's not going to be quite as easy to catch, she will be visiting her family in Sacramento for a few days then heading up to Michigan to visit the camp she cherishes so much.  But ONE WAY OR ANOTHER (yes, believe it) I will see my lovely Ashleigh while she's here! 

Yet just another reason why I love my job.  

Joyeux Anniversaire!

I have been out of the swing of blogging....I know.  Everyone and their brother's mother's cousin has been asking me when I am going to pick up blogging as a regular task again and I am happy to say very, very soon!  I got a new iPad for my birthday!!! :) And as soon as I get the keyboard to go with it, I hope *fingers crossed* that I will be able to blog where I have internet and free time and fill you in on my crazy life.  

This birthday has been amazing.  I spent my 21st birthday in New York City back in 2008 with my mom, and it felt good to be in the Big Apple again this year for the big 2-6! Wow, yes, I said it I am ANCIENT.  26! Geez!  I wish I was turning 21 again.  Would I do the past 5 years of my life over again? ABSOLUTELY.  Without question, YES.  Every. single. second.  

Beach trip on Thursday! Who knew there was a beach in New York?  #manmadebutitwilldo 

Dinner on the patio at Austin's Steak House last night.

The late night cake Tenee made for me! :) And yes, I know it says 62....inside joke.  

From our beach trip Thursday..... 

Celebrating in Soho Monday night! 

I got a lot of wonderful cards for my birthday from friends all over the world, and besides my mother's sappy card, this one from her best friends is hands down my favorite.  

I was especially nostalgic and homesick for Paris, as my last two birthdays have been spent 'round a blanket with French wine and yummy pastries in front of La Tour Eiffel.  I'm not sure any birthday or year of my life will come close to those years and long summer nights in Paris......they were wonderful.  Birthday dinners with the Lachaize family were such lovely evenings I began to look forward to them.    I am such a lucky, lucky girl to have an experience most only dream of.  Who am I kidding?  I'm still living a life that most only dream of...and I don't take that for granted-I love every minute of it!  I am looking very forward to going home next weekend to actually celebrate with my family-for the first time in 3 years!  

Ashleigh shared this picture with me through her Tumblr and its too perfect of an image not to share.  I spent many evenings around this carrousel with my sweet Marie-Césare.  

So here's to 26!! No promises, no 26 things to do in my 26th year....I am just going to enjoy it.  The good, the bad, the ugly, the sad, the wonderful, the impressive, the awe-inspiring, the beautiful, the crappy,  the loving, and the takes-your-breath-away.  Embrace, celebrate, and enjoy my blessed and wonderful life!!! 

Never Stop Traveling

Borrowed from my dearest Ashleigh: 

Tu Me Manques Ma Belle.

Missing Paris....and missing Marie-Césare with a crazy ache in my heart tonight!  

Airport Holidays

Hope everyone had a Happy Easter!  

Holidays in the airport are interesting.  Especially on Easter Sunday.  I wasn't expecting to work, as I was working an at home standby shift and my roommates and I were planning to go to church and lunch, as most of the Christian population does on Easter Sunday.  But alas, we all got called in and my flight out was to Atlanta at 10:45 which means I had a 9:45 sign in time.  (Turns out line holders don't like to work on holidays after all...can you imagine?!)  Since I hadn't flown anything but a turn to Montréal in a week I was happy to grab my bags and head towards Laguardia.  

The airport was crazy quiet.  No craziness, no lines at security, and only 14 people on my flight....now that's a good day!  I wasn't sure whether or not I should wish people a Happy Easter or not since not everyone celebrates, so I waited for an Easter greeting and reciprocated depending upon the passenger. We only had about 30 minutes between flights in Atlanta, so I stayed on board and chatted with my FA 2 (on our CRJ aircraft we have 2 flight attendants versus only having 1 on the Embraer) and the ground crew in Atlanta.  The gate agent was French so we had a quick conversation before it was time to board a full flight headed to Chicago.  

Chicago was CRAZY.  The airport was packed with families trying to get home all in one piece with all their luggage.  We were boarding an American flight to deadhead back to New York (deadhead=we fly as passengers but still get per diem hours/it's terrible) but we were upgraded to first class on a 767 so it wasn't as bad as it could have been.  We went through all of the safety demo videos and compliance checks, as we climbed into the atmosphere I dozed off for a few minutes.  What did I wake up to?  

A giant Easter bunny asking me if I wanted a hot towel.  

Okay, so it wasn't a giant easter bunny but it might as well have been.  This apron she was wearing was a GIANT pink bunny face with fuzzy, floppy ears where the *ahem* chest was and a grinning embroidered smile.  Yikes...how creepy.  After realizing I never answered her question and embarrassingly was staring at her front side, I cleared my throat and gave her my most unsincere, "I like your apron?"  Since she wore it for the outlandish compliments I'm sure she didn't mind.  

The worst part about her apron?  When she turned around to head back to the galley there were two white puff balls at the end of her bow ties.  Now that is doin' too much.  

Paris vs. New York

As my roommates will probably agree, you are going to get so tired of me comparing Paris and New York but there is no holding back.  They are so alike and so different in their own ways...it's hard not to constantly compare.  

Over the past few weeks I have realized how small of a city Paris actually is!!  Or maybe just how large New York is??  In Paris I could hop on the metro at the very end of the line and be at the other end of the line in 45 minutes...maximum.  We are talking clear across the city!! In New York, I guess the network is extended over a larger amount of land, so it takes forever to get from one end to another.  If we take the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) which is about three blocks from our house, we can get to Penn Station (the middle of the city) in just under 15 minutes.  If we take the bus or subway (I still call it a metro no matter what city I'm in...) it takes at least 45 minutes just to get to Rockefeller Plaza or Times Square.  

The subway in New York is way more ratchet and gross than the metro in Paris. Built around the same time as the metro, the subway feels a hundred times older.  France obviously puts more money and time into it's public transport.  (surprise, surprise? NOT.)  It's not as clearly marked nor as user friendly.  I remember when mom and I came to New York for my 21st birthday and we only rode the subway once...it was so complicated!  Having figured out Paris first has really helped in figuring New York out.      Positive:  it runs 24 hours.  Negatives: the delays and construction are not announced or put on a screen before you descend to the platforms so you are either surprised after you wait 30 minutes for your non-existent train or surprised that you must get off before your destination and take a connecting "shuttle bus" because a section of the subway is under construction.  Try that at midnight??? No fun.  

If it weren't for the price difference (one way is $5.75 for the LIRR and $2.50 for a subway/bus ticket) we would take the LIRR all the time.  And the buses are so old....there are a few electric ones circulating around but the chance of getting on one in Queens is slim to none.  

There is no walking from The Louvre to the Notre-Dame in 30 minutes time.  It takes about an hour to walk from Times Square to the Metropolitan Museum of Art...maybe more if you stop and enjoy the scenery around you.  And another hour to get from Times Square to Battery Park...and that's hustling!  Public transportation is necessary in a city like New York to get around....why doesn't the city of New York put more money/ANY money into it??  I need to research it.  

Despite such a negative review, I'm loving New York and discovering a new city and new people.  I love my roommates and my apartment.  I love our neighborhood, I love Queens and the different personalities it brings to the table.  I love my job and the people I work with.  I am so fortunate to have had the opportunity in my life to live in not one but two incredible cities such as Paris and New York.  Most people only dream!  Too bad Paris was first because New York.....................

I am still waiting to be impressed!!! 

Paris: 1 / New York: 0

No pots.

Just cooked soup in the oven. Yep, that just happened.