2017 was an interesting year for me. It got off to a slow start when I was more than half way to California to start a job and the job was cancelled on me. I continued on to California to regroup and look for another job and spent a month adventuring around the state. On one of my adventures I met an amazing man who happened to live not far from where I had found my next job. We dated, fell in love and continued on adventures around the state. Eventually my heart was broken and I made my way back home to my sunshine state and to soak up some time with family and friends.
In 2016, I made a vow to see two of my oldest friends in 2017 and I am proud to say that I accomplished those goals. I traveled to Montana to see my preschool best friend get married to her love and I spent time in NYC seeing another friend I have known since middle school. There is nothing quite like old friends who keep you grounded and love and support you through life's events. Even though we cannot be there every day, I always know they are just a phone call away but there is no substitute for seeing them in person.
I sharpened new skills as a physical therapist and broaden my horizons by working in a new field within my field as a home health physical therapist. It led me to meeting new people from different walks of life who were often at one of the lowest points in their life and dependent on me and my colleagues to help get them back to health. Not only did I stretch my boundaries as a physical therapist but I also learned to parallel park while working in the Bay area which is no small feat and one of my proudest accomplishments of the year. Seriously... I was that bad at it before.
I spent a significant portion of my time in California outside. Exploring the ocean side, the desert and the many National Parks. I have always known how much I love the ocean but I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved the desert and especially Death Valley as well. I stood next to trees that I never imagined could be that tall, I watched whales surface so close to me that I could hear the breath they took, I explored small river towns around Sacramento that I never knew existed, I snowshoed, I learned to eat at a nice restaurant by myself, I ocean kayaked for the first time, I walked over the Golden Gate bridge, I got up before the sunrise to see the mass ascension of over 50 hot air balloons in Reno, and had so many other amazing experiences.
The year was filled with some very high highs and some very low lows and I am moving into 2018 full of hope and looking forward to new challenges and experiences. I am super excited that I will be starting the New Year in Maui, Hawaii and cannot wait to find out how I will grow in experiences and as a therapist in the coming year! Stay tuned!
Friday, December 29, 2017
Saturday, December 16, 2017
Christmas in New York City
Christmas is always a magical time of year... the twinkling lights, the sparkly decorations, the child like excitement in the air. New York has every bit of that magic and add to that larger than life trees plus impressive and imaginative window displays and there is no better place to get in the Christmas spirit. I am lucky that this was my second time witnessing the beauty of NYC at Christmas and also that I was able to see it while visiting really good, lifelong friends who live in the area.
I arrived at Marianne's apartment in Brooklyn to drop off my luggage and then her husband so nicely walked me to the subway station and made sure I knew which train to take so I could meet her in Manhattan when she got off work. I arrived near Rockefeller Center and found a place for lunch before walking around for a bit and meeting Marianne. We went to Times Square where I got to put my wish for the New Year on a piece of confetti that will be released for the ball drop on New Year's Eve! Fingers crossed that it comes true! We walked to the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and took the subway back to Brooklyn and walked along the river to see the Manhattan skyline including the Statue of Liberty lit up by a beautiful sunset. I took some amazing pictures but really wished I had my long range lense with me for a close up of Lady Liberty in all her glory. Maybe next time.
Saturday morning started with a bagel and cream cheese. One of my requests when planning this trip was to have an authentic New York bagel and it was delicious. So delicious, in fact, that we ended up having them every day I was there! We made our way into the city and went to the mecca that is Macy's. Floor upon floor of shopping with a final stop on the 9th floor and the Christmas filled wonderland with ornament upon ornament displayed for purchase. The whole floor was 50% off except, of course, the one ornament that I picked out and promptly returned to its place when I realized it was the one not on sale.
We met my friend Adrienne who recently moved back to Long Island and went to The Pierre for high tea with champagne. I love getting dressed up and splurging for high tea at a fancy hotel. Seeing the decorations and a beautiful platter of scones, finger sandwiches and sweet treats in tiers. The time is always spent in the company of good friends and it is something Adrienne (whom I met when we studied abroad in London) and I try to do whenever we get together. The Pierre did not disappoint with impeccable service and a great time had.
We walked in and out of several of the hotels looking at their decorations and down 5th Avenue, peering into the windows and seeing the colorful and festive displays. We walked around a Christmas Market where I fell in love with a pair of sparkly earrings that I had to have. After drinks with a view of Central Park and more window shopping it was time to head home for the evening. My feet took 21,000+ steps for the day and were ready to be up and relaxing!
Sunday was spent exploring Brooklyn. It started with a slow, relaxing ease into the day before we made our way to a Christmas arts and crafts fair and ended with a trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and feasting on oysters and prosecco at one of Marianne and David's favorite local restaurants. Then we returned to their apartment for a dinner of homemade nachos while decorating the Christmas tree.
I always remember my first trip to New York as being magical. Truly one of my favorite trips to date. Sometimes when you try to repeat an experience then it almost dims it because it cannot compare to the original memory but my second trip was every bit as magical and exciting as the first trip. The fact that I got to see it with some amazing friends that I don't get the opportunity to see very often was the shining star topper to my Christmas trip.
I arrived at Marianne's apartment in Brooklyn to drop off my luggage and then her husband so nicely walked me to the subway station and made sure I knew which train to take so I could meet her in Manhattan when she got off work. I arrived near Rockefeller Center and found a place for lunch before walking around for a bit and meeting Marianne. We went to Times Square where I got to put my wish for the New Year on a piece of confetti that will be released for the ball drop on New Year's Eve! Fingers crossed that it comes true! We walked to the Rockefeller Christmas Tree and took the subway back to Brooklyn and walked along the river to see the Manhattan skyline including the Statue of Liberty lit up by a beautiful sunset. I took some amazing pictures but really wished I had my long range lense with me for a close up of Lady Liberty in all her glory. Maybe next time.
Manhattan skyline
Brooklyn Bridge
The Statue of Liberty with the amazing sunset behind it.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Saturday morning started with a bagel and cream cheese. One of my requests when planning this trip was to have an authentic New York bagel and it was delicious. So delicious, in fact, that we ended up having them every day I was there! We made our way into the city and went to the mecca that is Macy's. Floor upon floor of shopping with a final stop on the 9th floor and the Christmas filled wonderland with ornament upon ornament displayed for purchase. The whole floor was 50% off except, of course, the one ornament that I picked out and promptly returned to its place when I realized it was the one not on sale.
Ceiling decorations in Macy's- loved the owl and the revolving Christmas ball
We met my friend Adrienne who recently moved back to Long Island and went to The Pierre for high tea with champagne. I love getting dressed up and splurging for high tea at a fancy hotel. Seeing the decorations and a beautiful platter of scones, finger sandwiches and sweet treats in tiers. The time is always spent in the company of good friends and it is something Adrienne (whom I met when we studied abroad in London) and I try to do whenever we get together. The Pierre did not disappoint with impeccable service and a great time had.
Tea, champagne and all the yummies at The Pierre
We walked in and out of several of the hotels looking at their decorations and down 5th Avenue, peering into the windows and seeing the colorful and festive displays. We walked around a Christmas Market where I fell in love with a pair of sparkly earrings that I had to have. After drinks with a view of Central Park and more window shopping it was time to head home for the evening. My feet took 21,000+ steps for the day and were ready to be up and relaxing!
Incredible light display at Saks Fifth Ave with light show dancing to a music melody for the anniversary of Snow White.
The requisite selfie with the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
Christmas tree at The Plaza
Window decorations at The Plaza
More store windows
Decorations at Tiffany's
Decorations at The Peninsula hotel
Sunday was spent exploring Brooklyn. It started with a slow, relaxing ease into the day before we made our way to a Christmas arts and crafts fair and ended with a trip to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens and feasting on oysters and prosecco at one of Marianne and David's favorite local restaurants. Then we returned to their apartment for a dinner of homemade nachos while decorating the Christmas tree.
I always remember my first trip to New York as being magical. Truly one of my favorite trips to date. Sometimes when you try to repeat an experience then it almost dims it because it cannot compare to the original memory but my second trip was every bit as magical and exciting as the first trip. The fact that I got to see it with some amazing friends that I don't get the opportunity to see very often was the shining star topper to my Christmas trip.
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