New York, Japan, Italy, My Past

The next portion of the road trip took me back to old places I wasn't sure I wanted to see, and introduced me to new people I absolutely adore. Lisa and I began the long trip from Michigan to Long Island. My good friend Lindsey- whom I adore- is living there with her future in-laws and they were kind enough to put Lisa and I up for a couple of nights. What this meant was that I had to return to Long Island, a place that I wasn't so sure I wanted to see again. The cool thing was that as we drove we went past places I knew, and exits I remembered, I didn't feel sad or as if I was missing out on anything. My life has moved on, and I love where I am at. I particularly love it in January when the low is 72.

Anyway, Lisa and I stayed at Lindsey's fiance's Vinnies parent home. It was beautiful, and so wonderful to see Lindsey being welcomed into such a warm and loving family. It made me feel so much better about her leaving us in Boca to move to the wretched north.

After a lovely night in whatever is Japanese for home, (did I mention that Vinnie's family is Italian? They are) Lindsey, Lisa and I headed into the Big Apple. We began our day by heading for ground zero. With all of the construction going on there is not a lot to see, but the church accross the street offered a ton of information and pictures and stories. We were each moved to tears.

We then headed out on a double decker bus tour. It was on said tour that I learned a very important fact. A tour is only as good as the tour guide. We never did find one that matched each of our tastes, but that is not from a lack of our getting off and on buses until we found a new one. We had a delicious lunch at an Italian restaurant.
Map reading skills are so important but Lindsey and I can't find the building with the homeless man in front of it anywhere. Oh GPS we need you!!
Our day was capped off by a trip to Macy's bridal department. It was there that we met the wedding Nazi. Lindsey had asked me to try on bridesmaid dresses so that she could get a feel for what some of the options might look like on her bridesmaids. Now after a few weddings I have grown to have less and less of an opinion about the dress I'm in. So I was pulling just about everything that might strike Lindseys fancy. It was then that the wedding nazi begins her diatribe, about the fact that I should have no opinion on the bridesdmaid dresses, that it is the brides day and I should smile and nod (all of these things I know- remember I'm always a bridesmaid never a bride girl) She then proceeds to go off on Lindsey about the fact that she shouldn't even look at a bridesmaid gown until she has her wedding dress picked out. She lets me know that I am a bridesMAID not a bridesfriend and that I really had no place there.

It was a very humorous end to a long day....tomorrow we go belly dancing in the Bronx.

Back to School

We spent days 4-6 in Michigan with Satin. I have to say some things never change. When we were in college we watched movies, sang along with Mike's guitar, ate Chinese food, played games and teased one another. Now that years have passed, we are older, wiser, Mike told me that I have really changed. But you put the three of us together and what do we do?

Oh yeah, watch movies, sing songs, eat, play games, eat, tease each other, eat, and drink.

I guess some things never change. and honestly- I don't think I'd want them to.

I'm still bummed we never made it to the train museum or the under water restaurant- but next time....well next time we'll probably eat, watch movies, eat, sing, eat...you know the drill.

Hell 'n' Back

Its day three and we are on the road again. After our failed attempt to find the worlds largest silly nose and glasses we should have assumed that hunting down roadside attractions was not the glamorous and romantic occupation I had first anticipated. Our next stop on our journey was to be Hell, Michigan. Why would two nice girls want to visit Hell? Good question- no real answer- maybe we aren't really that nice.

Before two nice girls can head to Hell they need to pick up the Hell essentials- hand baskets. We stopped at Walmart (another type of hell) and began our car craftiness.

Here I am working on car crafts. As our journey continues deeper into the Michigan country side. We discover that Michigan is beautiful, and my cd is not doing it justice (sad face) Now that the hand baskets are finished we are excited to experience everything Hell has to offer.

Lisa pulled up to 3 very shabbily painted building with all sorts of cheesy slogans and sayings.

We began by walking around, taking the occasional cheesy picture. Might I ad that I look 20 pounds heavier in every single one of them. That's Hell for you. After walking around outside saying "Is this it?" We head inside to see what they have to offer and see if we can at least find a good post card. We are greeted with a very frosty reception by a less than friendly reception but after all- we are in Hell. Wait for it- it gets worse. The postcards are lame- the stickers are over priced and finally when we decide there is nothing here for us, we decide to leave and see what else Hell has

to offer. I kindly ask where the restrooms are...and wouldn't you know it. What are the facilities in Hell? Port-o-potties out back. THIS PLACE REALLY WAS HELL!!!

We decide to leave this section of Hell for more interesting tourist opportunities. We head on with our GPS to discover that those three buildings were Hell. There was no more, that all she wrote. Since the only food offerings in Hell was pizza we left. Found a wonderful coffee shop with huge sandwiches and Fabulous coffee. We continued on to Satin's from Hell and we are happy to say we will never be going to Hell again!!