Pre-Holiday Musings from NYC

Last week I had an unexpected appointment uptown the day before Thanksgiving.  I really wasn’t looking forward to it, since that day was a designated “gridlock” day.  I dutifully decided to take the bus this time.

If you sense a recurring theme, you are right.  As I posted on my twitter bio, I “luv” being back in New York.  I am like a kid in a candy store, and Christmastime is the best.  There are the old standbys like the tree at Rockefeller Center and the department store windows.  That’s just a start.  Trust me, there are real New Yorkers like my mom ( a Big Apple volunteer no less), who don’t get so smitten by this stuff (or at least pretend they don’t) and then there is everyone else.  I am a New Yorker but still getting back in the groove.

So, acting like a tourist, I left the Greyhound bus terminal, and snapped the New York Times (www.newyorktimes.com)  building smak in front of me.  I know a lot of people walk through these doors, but in this age of twittering, the barren entrance spoke volumes to me.   (I have to say it: don’t count them out — I follow the NYT on twitter and am still a big Times reader, just more online these days).

Next up was the Rockefeller Center tree, and …darn, it wasn’t ready yet! But in the span of a few hours, all the scaffolding was almost down and this is what I saw on the way back to the bus terminal.  The tree lights up this week and I will go back down again.

Now for the pet sightings.   I am missing our 13-year-old Labrador, Randy Jo, alot this year. I even have pins I wear sometimes in her memory.  Isn’t there a song, “How much is that doggie in the window?”  This lab wasn’t in the window (otherwise I would have asked!).  She was peering in the window of the Godiva Chocolates (www.godiva.com) shop on Fifth Avenue  and was waiting for her owner. While she looks a little lonely here, she actually got plenty of attention to keep that tale awaggin.

Now you know one of my indulgences, a brisk walk through the city to my appointments when I can, texting, twittering and calling all along the way.  If you have some pictures of your city during the holidays and your pets, send them along to us here.  Happy Holidays!