Happy Holidays Everyone!

Happy Holidays from NYC!

shopping village

saturday we decided to take a walk down to bryant park. this is the site of one of the many holiday shopping villages around the city. there is also one at columbus circle, which has many of the same items. i wanted to check out bryant park though, since i had not been there yet. so, we walked down, through the tourist filled shopping streets of midtown. the park is in a really nice area of the city- the scale of the buildings around it is really nice.
the shops were fun too. we enjoyed a cup of hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick while we browsed. i think zach's favorite shop was the one where everything was made of metal parts and ranged in scale from small figures to a life size darth vadar. i think we'll have to go check that place out again!
there is also free ice skating at the park (rentals are at a charge) but we decided to pass, since the line was extremely long. now that we've scouted out all of the stuff, we'll be ready to start our christmas shopping!
bryant park will look very different when its time for fashion week!

o christmas tree

today, i decided to work on a craft project in between interview stuff. i had this idea for a christmas tree wall hanging, but couldn't find anything online that was what i was looking for. so, i drew up a pattern this morning, and using fabric i had already, i made a tree and ornaments. i decided to hand quilt the whole thing, to give it more texture, which ended up taking much longer than originally anticipated! using ribbons, i hung the tree on the metal gate over our window. now all we need are presents! (and lights). in this photo it looks a bit like we live in jail. i think this photo would look better if taken during the day.

oh... and i accepted a job offer today. i think i start monday! so, this is my last few days before i return to the real world.

a little snow!

i love snow. it snowed early sunday morning, and i saw some flurries again today. somehow the freezing cold weather and strong winds don't matter when there are flurries. i found this link on the weather channel that charts the probability of a white christmas. snow map
i have started doing interviews. scheduling these, sending out additional resumes, and going to the interviews themselves is keeping me busy. i also have to come up with something to wear! i hate to admit it, but i think i am going to need to buy some more comfortable shoes. heels and cold weather don't work well for long walks to the subway!
Happy Hanukkah, tonight is the first in the eight days of the festival of lights.

remembering a smile

this weekend i traveled to virginia, to be with my family at my grandfather's funeral. he passed away early last week, after a long journey though hospital stays, nursing homes, and finally, hospice. it is good to know that he is finally in peace. the services were really lovely, a remembrance of his smile and sense of humor. he was a good man, who loved his family, and believed in helping others. the list of organizations he has been involved in is impressive. but to me, he's the person who would show me his garden, play silly games, and mail me comics with the punchlines highlighted. thank you to all of you who sent cards to myself and my family, it means a lot.