NYC Trip - Day 3

The alarm clock went off at 8:15 on Sunday morning, and none of us wanted to get up. After hitting the snooze about 5 more times, Maddie took the first turn in the shower, and then one by one, we each got showered and changed. Chris and most of the crew were headed to dim sum in Chinatown, while I gave Kat a call to meet up with her for brunch in midtown. The weather was great (a bit warm, very sunny), so I walked the 12 blocks to Kat’s place instead of taking a train. We headed to Eatery, which was the same place we’d gone to the last time I’d visited her and which had the best bloody mary’s ever. I wasn’t hung over, but the mass amounts of food (especially those ridiculously good cupcakes) made me think that I should take it easy. I decided that I wasn’t quite ready for that much tomato juice and vodka yet, so I went with a bellini instead, which was much lighter and really delicious. Oh, and there was some food involved, but if there was anything I learned from this weekend, it was that my alcohol tolerance was back up. Yay?!

It was really nice catching up with Kat over brunch. We’ve both been pretty inconsistent with keeping up with each other since we’re so busy (me because of a mild case of ADD and poor time management, her because she’s simultaneously planning a wedding, studying for the PA bar, and prosecuting criminals…she wins!). Yet, every time we talk or meet up, it’s like nothing’s changed from college and no time has passed at all. That’s kind of the hallmark of a good friend – when you can pick up the phone after not having talked for a while and pick up right where you left off. Kat walked me back towards the hotel, but not before we heard and spotted the start line for NYC’s Gay Pride parade. I hadn’t really realized that it was going on, although the guys in the ultra-short shorts should have been a tip off (only in NYC and maybe SF does seeing that outfit on the street not phase anyone). Since the roads were blocked off, we wandered over to Rockefeller Center and stood with the huge crowds of onlookers. The NYPD and FDNY representatives were walking by at that point, and they got a huge response from the crowd (they’re still treated like heroes after 9/11, as well they should). Next came the more flamboyant floats, blasting dance music and Village People songs, accompanied by men and women (sometimes both in the same body?) dancing along in spandex, rhinestones, and feathers. It was pretty over the top, so Kat and I headed back towards the hotel, where she caught a train back to her apartment, and I headed back to the room to get in a few more chapters of Twilight before my flight.

The rest of the day was pretty uneventful, other than the horrendous traffic around midtown, thanks to the parade and the almost endless sea of gawking tourists who have never seen drag queens before. I bet the parents walking around 5th Ave that afternoon were going to have a great time explaining all that they had seen to heir little kids. Eventually, we made our way past 5th Ave and were clear almost all the way to JFK. I managed not to scream at the guy in front of me in the security line who actually took my things out of the bin and used it for himself (really, I’ve never seen anyone that rude…he was totally oblivious). Fortunately, the guy behind me was nice and ran back to get me another bin, which restored my faith in New Yorkers. The flight home was quick, although I did manage to finish my book. That was good because I immediately launched into New Moon as soon as I got home. Tonight’s task is to go to the bookstore and buy the last 2 books in the series. At the rate I'm going, I should be able to finish off the whole series over the July 4th weekend.