4 states in 1 day

After Lam and Anita's busy party, Richard and I went to four states the following day--Something that can only be achieved on the east coast, obviously. We left from Delaware and headed to Philadelphia, NJ, and then NYC. Just so you know, this was not planned at all. It was actually just a spontaneous idea since some of my cousins from CA wanted to stay on the east coast one day longer. They had never been to NYC so my brother decided to take them on a field trip in the middle of the night so they could enjoy some yakitori, walk Times Square, and then eat at the famous Halal truck.

By the end of the trip, we all had to rush back to Delaware to pick up luggage only to have to drive back north again to the Philadelphia Airport to catch our AM flight. Yikes! I was absolutely brain dead by the time the plane landed in Orange County.

In a rush to complete everything on my agenda within 24 hours, I was able to...

1. Show Richard around Philly

2. Wait in line and grab a cheesesteak from Jim's Steaks (Pat's is overrated according to my brother)

3. Visit my favorite friends in Manayunk

4. Hang out with my Dad briefly in NJ and hear Richard sing in Vietnamese. HAHA!

5. End the day with the family in NYC.

** Thank you Lam, Richard, and Anita for driving all morning until night!

Brooklyn: the BK, the new Manhattan?

These are just some of the nicknames for Brooklyn, one of the five boroughs of New York City. I like the term the "BK" just because Destiny's Child called it that in their song "Soldier" (where they at, where they at?). To be honest, I don't know much about Brooklyn. When I think of Brooklyn I think of the Brooklyn Bridge and Peter Luger.

I suppose you can call this post a shout-out to the best steakhouse in
ALL OF AMERICA



A group of us drove up for a weekend trip to N.Y.C. so we could visit the sights and sounds (again) of the bustling city. However our Cali-steak-lovin' friend, Dennis, came along for the ride and reservations were made to his favorite steak joint in New York, Peter Luger!

If you love to eat and you love steak then you must visit this place at least once. They have two locations in NY- one in Brooklyn and one in Long Island. I've enjoyed steak at both of those locations but I personally prefer the Brooklyn atmosphere more.

Peter Luger steakhouse in Brooklyn


Peter Luger steakhouse in Long Island


Each piece is carefully selected, aged, and then buttered up and broiled. Writing about this is making my mouth water so I won't go into anymore details. You can just read their website if you are interested in going! Keep in mind that it's hard for them to seat big parties. It's best to go in a small group (6 or less). Peter Luger Steakhouse Website

After our 5,000 calorie dinner, we worked off a sliver of those calories by walking back to Manhattan via the Brooklyn bridge. YES, you did not read that incorrectly. We walked the Brooklyn Bridge back to Manhattan! It was a beautiful experience because we saw part of the skyline of Manhattan and the Manhattan Bridge across the river.


I found this fantastic picture of the Brooklyn bridge when the World Trade Center was still present in the background. This bridge was built over the East River from 1870-1883 and it connects Manhattan to Brooklyn. This picture shows the separate walk ways along the center line for pedestrians. One side is for walkers and the other side is for bikers. I recommend walking the bridge when the weather is warmer. A lot of people use this bridge for their morning workouts- something I'd like to do one day!

Here are some pictures from our invigorating walk:






This is the view of the Manhattan Bridge from the Brooklyn Bridge


Walk way at night


The start line

Celebrating the New Year in NYC

New Year's Check list:

Picture at the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree-check
Times Square-check
NYC Manhattan party-check
Festive dress for the party-check
Fun friends from undergrad-check
Loads of food-check
Champagne-check
2009 corny glitter glasses-check
2009 corny glasses that glow in the dark and make seizure inducing flashes (batteries included)-check

Happy New Year!!

I've been to NYC multiple times but this was probably one of the best trips. It was New year's eve in New York City! I bet you're wondering if I stood at Times Square for hours on end in the freezing cold to see the ball drop by the Clintons...I didn't. That would've been CRAZY. Just so you know, there are many rules to follow if you do want to go to Times Square for New Year's Eve: you can't leave the barricade once you walk in, you can't use the bathroom, there are security checks, and you can't bring the bubbly for the midnight toast. However, the program they have during the New Year's ball drop is pretty cool. This was the event schedule






New Year's Eve started off with a long commute with my friends from Delaware straight to Staten Island. We then took the lovely Staten Island ferry to Manhattan and saw the Statue of Liberty.

From there we took the subway to Steve's West Village apartment, grabbed lunch, and then took a much needed nap before the big party started at 10pm (and ending at an unknown hour).

NYE in NYC




5,4,3,2,1! HAPPY NEW YEAR! The toast!

(After the toast, we picked up pots and pans and banged them outside the window)




It's OFFICIALLY 2009!




Well, one cannot leave a New Year's post without talking about resolutions. I've thought long and hard so here are my 2009 resolutions:

1. Stop ignoring my morning alarm clock
2. If I do ignore the alarm clock, I can only press snooze twice max (number can increase to 3x if I don't have class and a dismissal of alarm is allowed if it is the weekend)
3. Start backing up my computer files just incase an unnamed person uses my computer and downloads a virus that automatically downloads unmentionable images onto my computer.
4. Go to the freakin' gym
5. Eat healthy foods that contain antioxidants (Red wine counts as a source of antioxidants)
6. Save more, spend less
8. Keep in touch with friends and family via phone calls, texts, or preferably...Facebook
9. Follow through with responsibilities that I have agreed or will agree to take on
10. Buy tickets to the new Killers concert
11. Somehow find a part-time job or take out additional school loans(this one is a toughy)
12. Think before I speak unless the person I'm talking to is c-r-a-z-y
13. Take advantage of opportunities
14. Relax when I can and work hard when I have to
15. Last but not least: "I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil-this is the gift of God." Ecclesiastes 3