Blue Mountains

Murray and I had a chance to escape away to the Blue Mountians for a day recently. Here are a few of the pics.

"The Three Sisters"

A lovely red heart shaped leaf.

Mary's Lookout

Katoomba Falls

Santa Monica, in the winter time

In Santa Monica, in the wintertime,
the lazy streets so undemanding I walk into the crowd
In Santa Monica, you get your coffee from the coolest places on the promenade
Where people dress just so Beauty so unavoidable, everywhere you turn it's there.
I sit and wonder what am I doing here?

But on the telephone line I am anyone, I am anything I want to be.
I could be a super model or Norman Mailer
And you wouldn't know the difference Or would you?

In Santa Monica, all the people got modern names like Jake or Mandy
And modern bodies too
In Santa Monica, on the boulevard, you'll have to dodge those in-line skaters
Or they'll knock you down
I never felt so lonely Never felt so out of place
I never wanted something more than this


But on the telephone line I am anyone, I am anything I want to be
I could be a super model or Norman Mailer
And you wouldn't know the difference
On the telephone line I am any height, I am any age I want to be
I could be a caped crusader, or space invader
And you wouldn't know the difference Or would you?

Santa Barbara

It looks like that this piece of paradise might be "Home" to me for six months. There will be heaps more photos of this place if this is the case.

This is looking back onto SB from the Wine Bar at the end of Sterns Wharf.

The flu in the coldest place on earth

Rochester - move on folks, nothing to see here.

I haven't written much lately because I haven't had much to update! Mostly due to having the flu! I don't remember being this sick for years!

On Saturday I didn't do much, I was feeling a little run down. Just a spot of shopping and the very exciting Hello Deli and the Ed Sullivan Theatre where The Late Show with David Letterman is filmed. Unfortunately I didn't get to see The Late Show, but I'd rather wait until Murray is with me to try and do that. I thought nothing of going home for a nap that afternoon.

I woke up on Sunday wishing that I hadn't woken up. Stuffy head, coughing, sore throat, aching body. This wasn't helped by hanging around aiports, and sitting on the tarmac for well over an hour while waiting to fly out to Rochester.

And Rochester would have to be the coldest place I have ever been to! I can't believe that people live in places that are even colder than here. Monday had a HIGH of -8 degrees celcius. On Monday I struggled through meetings with a fever, stuffy head, and aching body. I got back to the hotel around 5.30pm and then slept until around 7am on Tuesday (yesterday), when I had to work again.

I did feel somewhat better yesterday, although annoyingly we were snowed in. Flights were cancelled due to snow and bad weather. So with enough luck today we'll be able to fly out on time to make our connecting flight to LA. So needless to say I haven't enjoyed my time here in Rochester.

I'm not looking forward to flying with this flu... particularly the blocked sinuses. Although I hope that LA brings milder weather and a healthier me.

Daaaaaaavid Letttttteeerrrrmmmmaaaan

Okay, I know I've been a terribly bad blogger - but finally I'm catching up.

Broadway, New York (I think!)

Although I didn't get to go to David Letterman and The Late Show on this visit it was still pretty cool to see the Hello Deli, and the Ed Sullivan Theatre.

World Trade Center site

What more can I say?

You want a piece of me?

"The Statue of Liberty is no longer saying, "Give me your poor, your tired, your huddled masses." She's got a baseball bat and yelling, "You want a piece of me?" Robin Williams


After the excitement of Wall St, I went down and caught the (free!) Staten Island Ferry. This short trip between Manhatten and Staten Island gives great views of the NYC landscape, and also of the Statue of Liberty.

The terminal where you board the Ferry was so crouded, and this was off peak and in Wintertime - I can imagine it gets extremely busy!

The views of the city were amazing. I was so lucky to have such great weather.

Not to mention the Statue of Liberty. Even after seeing it, I dont feel a massive connection with it. Its just.... a big statue. I felt more connected to Alice in Wonderland at Central Park!

The Charging Bull of Wall St is a symbol of agressive financial optimism and prosperity. Also... apprently if you rub its testicles it will bring you good financial luck... I'll let you know...

Money money money

Today my inner geek was no so inner... infact... very much on the outer! I was so excited to go to Wall St today! Whoo! Firstly though, I had to brave the Subway. Yes, the NY Subway. And guess what Mum! I wasn't mugged! Infact... it was just like riding the loop in Melbourne for a really long time. And it was easy to use, clean, and just $2 a ride! And not surprisingly, it looked just like it does in the movies.

First stop on the way to Wall St was Trinity Church. If money is the root of all evil, then Wall St has a beautiful Church nearby to offer a refuge. A stunning neo-gothic Church in a surprising location. I was also surprised by its graveyard, it seemed so out of place in the middle of the financial district of NYC.

First stop on Wall Street was the New York Stock Exchange - I was so excited about this, and awfully disapointed when I found out that there was no viewing platform or live feed available for what was happening on the ground.

The flag was amazing, and just huge. American's are so patriotic!

The security surrounding the building was intense, but i guess after the events on 9/11 it is to be expected.

The steam at the bottom of this photo is coming from the Subway I think. Its so cold that all these steaming potholes give everything a rather eerie look sometimes.

Right next to NYSE is Federal Hall - 'The Birthplace of American Government' (they sure have a lot to answer for then!) This was the location where George Washington took the Oath to become America's first president.

This is the bible used by Washington when making his Oath. Pretty big... and OLD!

This is the Trump Towers. Again, couldn't get inside... but looked amazing and like it was oozing money.

This is where my future rich Wall St trader husband will buy me gifts at lunchtime.

I also went to the Museum of American Finance (I told you my inner geek came out). It was great to see the use of money throughout the ages, as well as a lot on the Stock Exchange. I loved this quote - of course thats why you'd rob a bank!

This is another item from the Museum - ticker tape from the NYSE crash of 1929, the beginning of the depression.

MandMs

Yes... there is a MM Store in Times Square.

Yes... its 2 Levels of just MandMs and related merchandise. Just incase you ever need them - you can get everything from MandM socks to MandM pajama's, MandM school supplies, and of course... MandMs in every colour. (it wont allow the 'and' symbol)

NBA Store

New York has the worlds only NBA Store. And so of course I had to visit for Murray.

Look how HUGE thier hands are!!! Some of Murray's favorite players...

You know what they say about men who have big hands.....

They play basketball well.