I had a very busy New Year this year. After spending Christmas in Myrtle Beach I was back in Virginia and preparing for a trip to NYC to see Shrek the Musical and Tammy was going to meet me there for his first time ever in NYC! Woohoo! At the same time Jan Ohye, my boss from Impact had turned in her notice and was about to head out to LA for a new job. We had been trying to meet up before you headed westward but to no avail. So Chris Elliott and I had planned for a surprise, I would fly out to Seattle for her farewell dinner.  And all of this was going to happen the same weekend. Whew.

So off to NYC. I didn’t get in til 10pm, Tammy had gotten in earlier and met David who showed her some sites while they waited for me to arrive. After I got there we walked around, bought Tammy a new hat, because it was COLD. We had her try on many, it was quite fun and I wish I had pictures of all the hats we made her try on! LOL Then off to Times Square. Silly Tammy forgot her camera. But I got a few shots for her. Times Square at night is an awesome thing, and I was trying to remember what it was like my first time there. So many things to take in, its just nutz, but Tammy was right at home and enjoyed the experience. We stopped for a beer in an Irish Pub and wandered around a bit more, then called it a night.

Saturday we got up and met David at a corner diner for breakfast. Then the 2 of them headed off for the best ticket in town. A ride on the Staten Island Ferry to see the Statue of Liberty and Manhattan from the other side, while I went to the musical where I met Wendy Lew. The musical was great, still can’t beat Dirty Rotten Scoundrels – by far my favorite, even above The Producers.

After a quick run back to the hotel, we changed for dinner and headed to the East Village for dinner at the Mermaid Inn where we met David and Rebecca Lloyd. It was great to see Rebecca and we had a lots of food and fun conversation. The fortune telling swedish fish at the end of the meal was a hoot. Did it curl up or roll over??? I can’t tell. LOL

After dinner Rebecca had to head home, she had to work over the weekend, David, Tammy & I headed to a pub to show her our old haunts when David used to live in the East Village. Eddie Chan met us out for a bit as well and it was a great evening.

The next morning I was DRAGGING. Too much fun – LOL.  Tammy and I went for breakfast and then wandered the city. I was bound and determined to show her around no matter what because she was flying out that afternoon. We walked all over. Down to Central park and then over to Grand Central Station, the whispering walls by the Oyster Bar, then a quick stop by the Empire State Building, which they are apparently renovating. Oh well.  Then back up by Macy’s and on to the hotel so she could pack to head to the airport.  

I was staying at the hotel one more night, then to work from our NYC office on Monday. Monday night I was staying with Jan & Osni, because of a long story I won’t get into, the surprise was no longer a surprise and Jan knew I was coming. We got the same flight out on Tuesday morning.

Monday I worked very little (uumm No I mean LOTS – I got LOTS accomplished – yeah). I visited with Michael, Janis, & Kin, and swung by to see a few other people whom I’m not going to list everyone here – but you know who you are. After work, I headed over to Grand Central to meet Linda. I WAS supposed to meet her for lunch, but I misunderstood some plans and missed it, so I met her Zocalo at 4pm where we had dinner and caught up. Then I headed over to Jan & Osni’s.

Jan & I managed to have the same flight out to Seattle, and switched seats so that we could sit together and talked the whole way out there. It was the first time I could remember that I actually flew with someone I knew – which was really nice. We used to talk everyday on the phone, and I really missed that, so it was nice to have her to talk to on the plane. We got in around noon and my flight out was going to be at 11pm that night. Yes, you heard that right. In and out the same day. Crazy I know.

It was great to see everyone, and it really boosts your ego to have people get excited when they think you are coming back, or are asking if you would come back. LOL  We had dinner at the Metropolitan Grill, and I don’t how Chris got Finance to pick up the tab – but bless him! It is definitely an expense account meal. Huge steaks, crab mac & cheese and the infamous 12 layer chocolate cake. It was Chris, Dan, Glenn, Jan & myself. We had a great time and I really miss them all. The team at Impact was probably the best team I have ever had the pleasure to work with, and I only hope that I find another one like them in my future. I’m working on the one I have now, and I have hopes. =)

Chris gave me a ride to the airport and I was off, and out cold before the plane even took off. Touchdown at Reagan and I caught a cab to the apartment, dropped off my bag, did a quick clean up, and jumped back into the waiting cab to take me to work.

Whew! I don’t think I will ever do that again – but I wouldn’t have missed any of it for the world.

Here are a few pics from the weekend.