Day 66: If you are going to fail, might as well do it with style....

Now, I have worked in a coffee house for 4 years of my life. Because of my previous experience, I assumed that working for another coffee house would be an easy transition. OH! Ha. You know what they say when you assume.

Today, not only did I miss- date some things but I also made a mess. Oh, what a mess. I thought it would be smart to clean the floor with egg nog. Yup. Egg nog. Did you ever hear the old wives tale that washing the sticky floor with a sticky substance will cancel out the sticky-ness? Oh no? Well that is what I was CLEARLY doing. Honestly.

The day before that, I decided(while working the drive through expresso bar) that I did not like wearing all black 7 days a week. Therefore I decided to spill Matcha powder all over my pants so that I match my green apron. I want the record to show, I was just trying to change up my outfit. Matcha powder went all over me because I was tired of wearing all black. It is the black clothes' fault.

I am curious what adventures will happen on my shift today. Oh yes, I am working from 11-4:30 at the coffee house. Please... stop by and see what color my apron is.

Haha!
Happy Thanksgiving!
One Day is Today.

X.

Day 65: Multi Religions Under The Stone Columns

The past hour and forty five minutes I witnessed one of the most beautiful religious moments. Eight local religious groups gathered under one stone roof to sing and give thanks to their own form of the One God. The religious groups included were

• The Congregational Church of Huntington,  
• Gathering of Light Multi-faith Spiritual Fellowship, 
• Huntington Jewish Center,
•  St. John's Episcopal Church, 
• The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington, 
• The United Methodist Church in Huntington, 
• Our Lady Queen of Martyrs
•  and hosted by St. Patrick's of Huntington. 

On top of these eight fellowships that joined together, we also experienced "Azan" - A Muslim call to worship, a prayer from the Hindu Tradition, and a prayer from the Baha't Tradition.

What was so astounding to me was the different religious garb's that walked down the cold marble aisle of St. Patrick's Church. My eyes were unused to seeing the bright colors of the Hindu and Baha't Tradition compared with the usually solid green garbs of our priests. Also, the chilling chant of "Azan" echoed easily inside the belly of the church.  The heavily nasal guttural call seemed to wrap around every body that was in that church, calling them to silence and to prayer. Brilliant.

I want to share one final thanksgiving prayer with you all that was at the mass. If you like it, I will be posting one a day starting tomorrow on my Twitter and FB. Feel free to check that out!

"For this fragile planet earth, its times and tides, its sunsets and seasons, we give thanks this day"

One Day is Today.
X.

Day 63-64: Snow storm+ No Power= #Adventurein2012

Some cosmic force has a sense of humor. Whether you believe in a monotheistic religion, a polytheistic religion or are a spiritual person with no attachment to any religion I hope you have taken a moment today to look up and say "touche". I mean, if you live in any of the area's hit by Sandy all you can do at this point is laugh and say "Well played Mother Nature".

Anyways...

After 11 days with

• no power
• no heat
• no hot water
• taking showers at the YMCA
• no laundry

You learn that every day is an adventure! Whether you want it to be or not...

I mean, take my day today. 

I treated myself to a long work out at the YMCA where I ran, biked, lifted and stretched for a total of 2 hours. After I showered, I went over to my favorite diner where I had bowl of hot soup, a side salad, bread and a bottomless cup of coffee. Then I attempted to go to the laundry mat to wash my work clothes for tomorrow. I come to find the ONE laundry mat I know does not take quarters. Yes, you heard me correctly, a laundry mat that does not take quarters. Instead you must approach a machine where you can purchase a money card and then fill it by inserting bills only. Now, what the machine does not inform you is that you have to first purchase the card for EXACTLY 1 dollar. Once it is purchased and in your possession, and only then, may you re-enter it into the machine and put money on it. No, you may not go to purchase a card with a $5 and expect the left over cash to then be converted onto the card. Nope. You can not do that. Trust the person who ONLY had a 5 dollar bill on her. That is severely frowned upon by this Laundry Mat and Laundry Mat Machine. 

Now, I am sitting at the Huntington Public Library (my home away from home for the time being) with two plays and Uta Hagen's Respect for Acting next to me waiting to be read. NPR is playing in my headphones as I blog and catch up on the world news. Adventure, I tell you, Adventure! 

If power does not return, tomorrow will be another adventure. Cheers!

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 62: NYC for the Election

In the past 24 hours I have witnessed the closest Presidential Race I can remember, slept in a warm place(the first time in 10 days), and pigged out on chinese. Wait, no, that is not important. Let me change that last experience to going to Democracy Plaza. Yes, that is better. I tell you, I was thrilled to partake in the feast of chinese food but I can not see how anyone else would find that interesting. What a feast it was! Sesame chicken, General Tao tofu and broccoli, steamed dumplings and.... my apologies. I forgot we were not discussing the chinese pig out session. 

Since the intake of chinese was so great I will confess that I was slightly drowsy. However, when Romney conceded in the "wee hours of the morn" the streets of New York City suddenly were flooded with chants of "OBAMA" and joyous exclamations. You know, the tough reputation that New York City has is showcased by its citizens fight for democracy, equality and free will. It's people will fight tooth and nail for what they believe in for there is heart in New York. 

Democracy Plaza was an incredible site. News crews and the City took over the ice skating rink at Rockefeller Plaza to show which party won which states. Picture of finished artistic brilliance is below. ENJOY!  

I want to now thank my friends who supplied me with a warm place to sleep and food to eat. Your generosity was overwhelming. So thank you, thank you, thank you!

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 61: Setting My Adult Priorities

I have graduated college. The ability to run away to school and throw myself under a pile of scripts and textbooks is non existent anymore. As an "adult" I now have financial responsibilities to myself and to others (student loans) that need to be taken into consideration. Not to mention the adventures I would enjoy spending money on such as

• European Trip with Ms. Lillis
• Apartment
• Dance classes
• Audition Classes
• New shows
• Nights out

Taking all of this into account (for the first time in my life I will have you know), I have come to one very important conclusion. I need money. Not a "once in lifetime" lotto win or a sudden inheritance [Although I swear I will not be choosey if my life throws either one of those in my lap]. What I need is a steady income. 

Guess what everyone? I have two months of hard work ahead of me but I did it! With Sandy shutting down my power and all, I  am now employed full time at one company and part-time at another! I understand that this will result in long days but my part time gig is only for the Holiday Season, which means I can save up some extra money and put it away towards classes, while my full time position will fund the long term goals such as Apartment and the European Adventure! 

I am so excited to get some money saved away. Now, if I could just get my power and heat back but I will take one miracle at a time! 

Any money saving tips from people would be much appreciated! Even links to websites! Let me know

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 54: Surviving a Hurricane and the Aftermath

Hey All,

I am currently on Day 6 of no power. I have been fortunate enough to have my first internet thanks to the VNS on Long Island.

So, it has been quite an adventure! Lots of wind, immense amounts of flooding and fires have made for quite the 6 days. I have found out that my house is a fort. We have come out with little damage which is  more than I can say for a lot of people.

Things I learned how to do:

• Build a fire 
• Boil water to wash dishes in a big bowl
• Wash my hair in 5 seconds (because the water was freezing)
• Re-play Cribbage

Things I accomplished in these past 6 days with no power:

• Read 3 books. I recommend "How to Be a Woman" - very funny!
• Completed 4 scarves for Christmas presents
• Cleaned my room (twice)
• Wrote some poetry
• Ran outside

I have a few pictures below to show what I have been up to. Enjoy them.

 However, for all of those who read this blog I ask for your help. Please follow the links below to the following sites. The smallest  donation will help! Please please please!

Thank you!

Remember, ONE DAY IS TODAY!

X.

Red Cross

Salvation Army

Medicine

BREEZY POINT
For any supplies donations, they can be sent to 
St. Thomas Moore Church in Breezy Point.
20425 Rockaway Point Blvd
Breezy Point, NY 11697
Neighborhood: Breezy Point
(718) 634-6357

Day 53: Preparing for a 1/2 Marathon

Last month I made a promise to myself that I would run a 1/2 marathon. It gave me a fitness goal to work towards over a long period of time and it is helping me drop weight along the way! BONUS! 

Anyways, for those of you who are not long distance runners or even a runners at all, do you know how many miles are in a half marathon? Well, if you do, you will now realize what I predicament I have put myself in. See, I could not run for more than two minutes at a time when I first made this promise.  Two minutes of running gets me about .2 miles(I have short legs). That now creates a gigantic issue because a half marathon is a little under 14 miles. Yes, you heard correctly, 14 miles.

I am in trouble.

I will not give up because

1. I am stubborn
2. I swore to myself I would do this. 

However, the road from .2 miles to 14 miles is a long one.

THE GOOD NEWS! 

Today was a huge accomplishment! For the past two weeks I have been running every other day. And with each run I swore to myself that I would go for an extra 2 minutes. Well, ladies and gentlemen, for the first time in my entire life, I ran for 30 minutes straight. That is 2.75 miles. I am so proud! I know I have a ridiculously long journey ahead but right now I am celebrating. If you would like to celebrate with me, please enjoy the link to my celebration song below. Beware, it does use curse words so all readers under the age of 13 please find yourselves a different celebration song. Thank you

Celebration Song 

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 52: Empanada Mama

A skill that I am proud to say I learned through watching my Father, Mother and Sister is my ability to find good hole in the wall restaurants. Apparently, Ms. C. Lillis is ALSO very good at this task.

After a long day of auditioning and Ms. Cory's second day on the job, we decided to celebrate by having a nice dinner on 9th Ave. As most people who have walked 9th Ave, there are numerous places that one can dine at. Walk from 33 Street up through 56th Street and you will come across:

• At least 15 Thai Restaurants
• Restaurant Row
• A few Italian Restaurants
• Unlimited amount of margarita joints all claiming to have the best margarita. ( I swear by Ariba Ariba near 51 St and 9th)
• At least 30-40 Bars

Now, with such a selection how is one to choose? Thanks to Ms. Lillis's skills and the fantastic invention of www.yelp.com we came across Empanada Mama. One of the TINIEST, hole in the wall places where there are only enough table room to sit around 20 customers at once. Now, Do not fret, they have a take out menu! I tried 3 different empanadas for only $2.75 a pop! Insane! Also, their homemade guacamole with plantain chips is the best guacamole I have ever encountered.

Do not just take my word for it! Go try it out! Corner of 51st and 9th! 

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 41-51: Lack of Adventures, HELP!

After watching Perks of Being a Wall Flower a few weeks ago I realized that in my haste to dedicate the time it takes to write every night I have started doing "Simple" adventures instead of ones that I truly wanted to do. 

And after so many weeks of only doing one huge adventure a week I have now run out of ADVENTURES! 

So here it is people, I am extending a hand. Please please please help! 

Comment/ text/ email me idea's for adventures. The less money I have to spend the better and all ideas are welcome. I will give you credit in the blog. 

What am I looking for? 

• Little money
• Push me physical or mental limits
• Fun
• Unusual

Please please help!

X. 

Day 41: MGR Scavenger Hunt in 24 Hours.

The title leaves little to the imagination. The Britt and myself EACH completed the scavenger hunt in twenty four hours.

What we completed:

1. Bake Cookies (5 pts)
2. Picking up your mail (5 pts)
3. Cooking Kraft Mac and Cheese (5 pts)
4. At a winery (10 pts)
5. In a MGR hoodie (10 pts)
6. Buying something at the dollar store (15 pts)
7. In front of the Utopia club (15 pts)
8. Recycle a glass bottle at Byrne and Dairy (15 pts)
9. In a corn field (25 pts)
10. Eating Sushi (30 pts) 
11. Carving a Pumpkin (30 pts)
12. A tombstone of someone who died before 1850 (35pts)

Total that up? We have 200 Points!  Here are some of the fun photos! ENJOY!

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 40: Cooking with KMN

When you combine fun music, three ladies, delicious ingredients and some heat you will have a fun filled night cooking with the KMN. While dancing around to Maroon 5, we minced, stirred, and sauteed our way to a fantastic dinner. The menu: Herb Crusted Salmon with Cauliflower Cous-Cous. 

Simple recipes that Nikki took out of her magazines. Unfortunately, since these recipes came out of a magazine I feel just terrible about sharing them. However, I am sure you could find them in online if you searched!

Now, not only did we make a delicious dinner but we made TWO different desserts as well.

Combining

• Cinnamon
• Sugar
• Flour
• Apples

We made the same inside for our dessert. However, half of it we rolled into pastry dough to bake and the other half we wrapped into pie crust to make a crostini.  Delicious! What is better then baking? Oh! Sharing. SO we brought both desserts to the theatre and let me tell you they did not last past the 5 minute call. Hysterical!

What better way to learn/try new recipes then with friends! Go have an adventure! 

One Day is Today.

X. 

Day 39: Welcome to The Island of Misfit Toys

On my day off I adventured with some cast mates to Syracuse to catch the matinee showing of "Perks of Being a Wall Flower" What a wonderful movie but not typically my cup of tea. I rarely go out of my way to pick movies that evoke much emotion. I would rather the "happily ever after" romantic comedies that make winding down at the end of the days simpler. Actually, I am not sure I would rather  have that simplicity but that is the type of movie common when I was growing up. I think it is a default setting. I rather enjoy thought provoking scripts and stunning cinematography. However, at the end of a long day in which you find your mind is burnt out sometimes the best solution is "Madagascar".

Anyways, returning to the beautiful film that is "Perks of Being a Wall Flower". What a roller coaster of emotion that was. Depression. Medication. Coming of Age. Becoming Enlightened. Finding Your True Self. Friendship. Love. High School students who seemed to have meaningful life moments every second of the day. Dedicated Soul Searchers. Professional Life Livers. Charlie is our narrator through this exploration of his childhood and transition into adulthood. We find his easiest form of survival is by living. A beautiful film that especially spoke to this time in my life. I do not want to ruin even one word of this beautiful script for you. Nor do I want to describe the brilliant visual shots. Instead I will say, I highly recommend you all see it and remember your tissues.

One Day is Today.
X.

Day 38: Tofu Scramble

I was reading the latest issue of Women's Health Magazine and came across their recipe for Tofu Scramble. A simple and delicious dish that they recommend to jump start your day. However, I wanted to change the recipe just slightly and have it as my lunch.

Simple by changing the bread type and decreasing the amount of tofu to fit into a wrap, my version of the Tofu Scramble came to only 253 calories!

I used the following ingredients:

• 1 tsp of extra virgin olive oil
• 1/4 cup of Firm Tofu cut into small blocks
• 2 Baby Mushrooms cut into slices
• 1/4 of a Green Pepper
• 1 tsp of Spicy Mustard
• 1/4 cup of baby spinach leaves
• 1 Flat Out Light Spinach Flatbread

1. Sauté up those mushrooms, peppers and tofu until nice and golden!
2. Spread spicy mustard on the flatbread and place spinach leaves on top. 
3. Scoop sauteed goodies on top (Leave the extra oil      in the pan!)
4. Roll and Wrap! Bon Appetite! 

Any other fun recipes I should try? I love very spicy food! E-mail me at leafturned@gmail.com 

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 37: A Familiar Place Thru New Eyes. Ithaca, N.Y.

Today I had the pleasure of having the entire day off and after two full days, totaling in eleven hours of performing/ rehearsal, it was a much anticipated event in my week.  What better way to spend a day off then visiting a good friend?

My friend Roger, currently enrolled at Ithaca, invited me to come visit and see his campus. My previous experience's in Ithaca typically resulted in me driving directly to The Commons and walking straight to the used book store. I do not pass Go. I do not Collet $200. Although, they should return some of the money I spend at the that store.

However, today Roger wanted to introduce me to Taste of Thai, (a completely brilliant suggestion since I have not experienced Thai food or any other of my favorite ethnic cuisines since I was last in NYC). I chose a scrumptious Green Curry with Beef that included ginger root, eggplant and cashews and had a side of jasmine rice. The perfect serving size, it came in a small bowl and was ONLY $7.50. Incredible! Another fun fact about Taste of Thai in Ithaca, NY is that you can choose how hot your dish is made.( Rating 1-5) I took my Green Curry at a 3 and it was the perfect balance between flavor and just enough heat to clear out my sinus'.

After our lunch (One of my top five meals in the past month), Roger wanted to show me around Ithaca's Campus. I was unaware that Ithaca was not located in the town, but rather a 15 minute drive from The Commons. What a beautiful campus, from the simple flower araganmets to the incredible Black Box, I could not have been more astounded! Below are some photo's from the day. Enjoy!

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 36: The Mysterious Kale Chips

I have learned many things during this contract from all of the wonderful people I have worked with. One of the more interesting things I came to discover was my love of Kale Chips. Travis made a batch for the cast during "My Fair Lady" and all it took was one bite and the sparks were flying!

Now, he described in great detail how to make these delicious treats. However, trying to recall all that very important information a month and a half later was not as easy as I had hoped. This lead to many discussions with my current cast about what would be the best way to go about baking these. The solution:

• Wash kale leaves
• Tear them off into bite size pieces
• Dry 
• Place on baking sheets
• Spray with Pam
• Salt
• Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. *It may be less time, please keep an eye so that they do not burn* 

Then let the kale chips cool off and BON APPETITE! 

One Day is Today!

X.

P.S.-If you have any adventure's, please e-mail me! I would love to share what everyone else is doing! Spread the excitement! 

Day 35: Learning to be Okay on Your Own!

Each day can be a daunting task for the (relatively) newly single girl. I find myself surrounded by woman who gush about their significant others and such. Now, why shouldn't they? They are happy, their significant others are healthy, and they deserve to gush about finding such bliss.

This blog has been a way for me to restart my life through positivity and find out more about myself. Today's adventure was talking myself thru a rough day and finding a positive way to decompress alone. Daunting...trust me, I am aware. I will be the first person to run straight to their phone to text a friend when disaster strikes. However, I refused to let myself completely emerge in negativity and get lost in my cellular device.  I took necessary steps through out the day to keep my sanity. I hope you will find this beneficial in guiding you thru your own future obstacles.

1. Separate Yourself from the Physical Space Where the Negativity Occurred: Do you know, I used to witness/experience negativity in a certain room and then, on break, STAY in that room instead of leaving. By staying in that atmosphere and not allowing a mental break, you are increasing your agitation and allowing more negative feelings to fester. Today, I took my lunch and my iPod and listened to my NPR playlist as I looked over the lake. The cool breeze and calming sites  helped to cool of my blood. 
2. Use up That Extra Energy on Exercise: Don't allow all of that extra energy to go to waste. As it is so brilliantly put in the movie Legally Blonde: "Exercise gives you endorphins. Endorphins make you happy. Happy people just don't shoot their husbands...they just don't." I spent the middle of Act 1 (When I was not singing) busting a gut doing Insanity. I tell you, I was in a much better mood after just 38 minutes of being screamed at by the beautiful Shaun T. 
3. Take a Moment or Two to Yourself: At the point in the day when I thought I was going to lose my cool, I stepped into the bathroom and let the hot shower run for 10 minutes. Breathing nice and slow I kept repeating "Find your strength, Find your power, Find your stability". 10 minutes of simple chanting in my own personal sauna really renewed my sense of strength.
4. Pamper Yourself: When my day was finally done, I turned off my cellphone, poured myself a glass of red wine and sat in bed. I gave myself a facial. I shaped my eyebrows. I even cleaned my makeup brushes and gave myself a manicure. Why? Because you need to spend time taking care of the one "temple" you were given full responsibility of. No matter how tough the day is, you still have to take care of you. 

I hope this helped! Much Love to All!

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 34: A Moment In Time...At The Green Shutters

5 Generations. 6 Intelligent Women. 2 hours of discussion over diner food...

On a cool October evening, a group of ladies sat down to have a nice dinner at The Green Shutters.  Four of the ladies were performers and two were cousins who had come to see the show.

Once the basic introductions had started the conversation just poured out. Stories about NYC after 9-11 and how Equity allowed their members to perform on the street for free to try and lure the tourists back. Or when Bill Clinton admitted to having relations with Monica. One of the lovely ladies was trying to return from Canada. She and her companions had missed the last ferry from Wolfe Island to the United States. Clearly upset, with tears in their eyes, because they had no where to sleep that night. The group walked into a local restaurant just as Bill Clinton was on the news admitting he lied. The Owner came up to them and said "Would you Americans like some ice cream on the house?".

I mean, story after story about which presidents they liked. Which presidents were "horn dogs" (as the wisest and eldest lady so eloquently described it). We discussed anything from the loss of the arts funding to Obama's Book (which I have not read yet, but it is now on my list!)

I mean, two hours flew by and I could not have been more invested and intrigued. I always associated political discussions with full on arguments. Why? I can not tell you. It is certainly not from my household because we all have similar views and would rather talk about family morals then politics. However, what I learned about life and about myself in these short two hours is that so often I shut out people or situations because it may not be pleasant. What I realize is that I am shutting out life and beauty. People have rough days and inconsequentially will get upset. Why run from problems or discussions which, as I now understand it, lead to solutions and compromise. Let yourself become intellectually invested into a conversation and, whether or not the outcome is agreeable , you will feel emotionally rewarded.

Just my coffee talk for the day!

I hope you are all out their having daily adventures.

One Day is Today!

X.  

Day 33: My Own Little Corner...

Even though I do not own this apartment and even though it technically will not be my home much longer, it is  the first place that I had all to myself. I never thought it would be such a large difference from living with a few roommates, but it truly is. How nice it is to be able to sing at the top of your lungs(respecting the residents below, of course) and taking over the kitchen to cook delicious dishes while you blast ACDC and such. 

Anyways, I spent my first day off,  where I did not have a million and one things to get done, decorating my house. You heard correctly, I decorated my house. Oh! I will give you one better! I first cleaned and than decorated my house! For those of you who know me, I find peace in chaos when it comes. It may be messy but I can tell you exactly where everything is! And if I can't, I can give you the top 5 places it would most likely be. Trust me, I have a system. 

I may only be here for a little over two weeks but I found a few things out about myself while I decorated. 

1. I love flowers. I put them in wine glasses or I hang them upside down in the windows. I just love having them around. 
2. I love candles. I lit three once I had finished cleaning.
3. I like taking my time to cook and enjoying it. Guess I can thank my wonderful parents for that one. Anyone want a chef? 

Anyways, I will be home soon and then there will be a whole new set of adventures to be had. Ms. Lillis and Mr. Daly, I am referring to you! Get ready for shenanigans! It's funny though, just when you start to get settled it is time to move again. I believe thats life's way of saying find more adventures. 

I hope you all are spending each day trying something you have never done before, even if it is as little as spending 2 hours attempting to build a lego space ship. 

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 32: Awareness

I have always wished that I was more aware of what was going on in World News. My family has been very aware of what is going on in the news. However, I was less inclined to follow in their media practices.

Recently, within the past year, dear friends have hooked my attention on to NPR. I spent the majority of my senior year of college listening to the live stream off my laptop while I stitched costumes in the shop. Unfortunately, my currently schedule does not allow me to have access to my laptop or wifi for the majority of my day, resulting in a feeling of blindness.

Now, you may be asking why I am blogging about NPR since I have been a listener for about a year. Well, did you  know there was a NPR App? (If you did know about it, pretend to share my excitement. Thank you) Well, it is a wonderful app that you can download right to your iPhone and it works like the CNN app and the Pandora App jumbled together. What I love about this app is that you can set up a playlist of their podcasts and listen to it throughout the day. This allows me to catch up on local and international news throughout my breaks.

I would highly recommend it! Check it out!

One Day is Today!
X.

Day 31: How To Cook an Illness Away!

If you frequently visit this blog then you would have read my 29th post about my visit to Urgent Care. Well, it has been almost 2 weeks of this lovely "thing" that I have and it still hasn't been resolved. Going to see the Doctor on Thursday and hopefully it all will be figured out.

Anyways, the great thing about feeling a little under the weather is you crave home cooking or comfort food. So, I took the initiative to create a new soup! My Black bean and Corn Spicy Soup. 

Ingredients:

• Can of Sweet Corn
• Can of Black Beans
• 3 types of onions (Red, White, Green) 
• Hot pepper
• Garlic clove
• Basil
• Vegetable Broth

Directions:

• Chop about 1 cup of onions up and toss into a large soup pot.
• Drain cans of sweet corn and black beans and put in the pot
• Cut 1 Hot Pepper, garlic and basil and put in pot
• Put two cups of water in.
• Generous amounts of pepper and garlic powder. 
• 1 cup of vegetable broth. 
• Place cover and let soup simmer on low for an hour.
• SERVE!

Its delicious and nutritious! Plus, because the soup is super spicy it clears my sinus's right out! 

ENJOY! 

One Day is Today!

X. 

Day 30: Back on the Wagon

Hey! You remember that time I swore to myself I would spend a small time everyday doing something I had never done before? Right, well this past week got away from me and I have not been blogging.

This means its time to jump back on the wagon! The thing with jumping back on the wagon is you can not beat yourself up about why you stopped in the first place. The moment you start, you will give up. Giving up is not an option right now. SO here I am, admitting my life got to hectic for my own good and promising to take time for me from now on!

Do not give up!
X.

Day 29: Urgent Care? What!

In my short life, I have had numerous hospital and doctors visits. For those of you who do not know, I am prone to the most unusual health issues. If it is rare, there is a good chance it will happen to me. Why? Who knows!

Well, I have been perfectly healthy all summer until about a week ago I started developing red itchy dots all over my torso. I thought maybe it was bed bugs so I spent that whole day washing everything that I had touched or had been near. The bumps continued to get worse. By the fourth day I knew I had to do something. Thanks to our wonderful Company Management, I was able to be seen at Urgent Care.

What is the difference between Urgent Care and a Doctors office? Honestly, I am not sure. It seemed like Urgent Care was a mix between a doctors office and the emergency room.  Well, the ladies were all so sweet and they could not help but gush about the production that is currently happening at the Merry-go-round Playhouse. I was off to a good start.

And then the doctor came in. He took one look at me and all he could say was "....oh my. What did you get into? " I get it, it was bad but what doctor would think thats okay to say! Haha! Anyways, It was pretty brief and I was able to get prescriptions right away to help. How many? Oh just the casual number of THREE!

For those of you who do not know, I just started swallowing pills. So staring at four pills three times a day is quite daunting.  But I am doing it!

I just hope it works!
X.

Day 28: Caught in the Rain

On of my oldest and dearest friends came to visit me while I am on contract in Auburn, NY. We spent the morning walking around Emerson Park. I wanted to show him the playhouse and how beautiful the lake is. It was a fantastic idea! That is, until the heavens opened up. A mad dash to take cover, minutes of laughter following and finally we got to talking.

How often do we take for granted talking with the people who know us the best. There is truth to be found about oneself when talking with a friend. It has been awhile--I need to reach out and do that more often.

I hope you all get caught unexpectedly in the rain soon.

One Day is Today.

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Day 27: Make a Scene!

Exercise Makes You Happy. Music Makes You Happy. Dancing Makes You Happy.

So the key to HAPPINESS is :

Exercise+Music+Dancing = Smiling

Do not be scared to enjoy that! I spend 30 minutes on the stairmaster "Dancing" and mouthing the words to

• P!NK "Raise Your Glass"
• Marron 5" Moves Like Jagger"
• Outkast "Hey Ya!"
• Ricky Martin "Livin La Vida Loca"
• C+C Music Factory "Gunna Make You Sweat"
• Halestorm "American Boys"

Did I make an ass out of myself? Oh, most definitely! But damn was it fun and I felt amazing walking out of that gym!

Enjoy it!

One Day is Today!

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Day 26: Nunsense

Today's Adventure: Learning a new musical from scratch

It is a similar feeling to the first day of school or cracking open a new book. The simple excitement that takes over your body and you find your breathing becoming shallow. The moment you hear the cast hit the harmonies for the first time the electricity in the room is intoxicating.

Now, Nunsense is a musical about 5 nuns. If you would like the basic synopsis, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nunsense

Or a Clip :


If you are in the area, you should come check it out:  Merry-Go-Round Playhouse

Have your own adventure in Auburn, NY!

One Day is Today!
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Day 25: The Silver Anniversary! Fresh Start

The past month, I have hit brick wall after brick wall and when I thought I could finally stand up to it another one would hit. I know, we have all been there. A tough set of days, whether they be personal or professional, that seem to be never ending. What I find when I hit something like this is that I need to put myself into a pattern. An amazing suggestion given to me by my wonderful family. You find a great thing that is a part of your life and make sure it happens daily!

My great thing? My job. I have a wonderful job with a fantastic group of people around me! I could not ask for anything more. Lucky me, I get to see them at least once a day for a show (minus Sundays). It is the rest of my day I have to get into a routine. To help with that I have made a reward jar. For every work out I do, I place one dollar bill in my jar. That way, I will go to the gym and make it part of my routine AND in the end I can splurge and buy something fun! Or maybe save enough to go on a nice adventure. 

Here is my jar. Enjoy! 

One Day is Today!

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Day 24: Apple Picking Adventure

The wonderful season of fall. Pumpkins, apples, and leaves changing! How glorious is that? A few fantastic friends and I decided to spend our day off APPLE PICKING!

If you are in the Syracuse area I recommend going to Beak and Skiff. www.beakandskiff.com
It has:

1. A wide selection of apples
2. A cute store filled with apple cider, honey and fudge
3. Apple Cider Doughnuts 
4. Winery/ Distillery

During this adventure I was able to go on my first winery tour and climb my first apple tree. I know, it's severely frowned upon, but I needed to do it just once!

One Day is Today!

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Day 23: A Refreshing Sandwich

Whenever I walk through the grocery store, I am constantly thinking about what flavors would go well together.  On my last adventure through the grocery store I picked up low fat vegetable spreadable cheese, wheat bread, avocado and mixed greens. 

Toasting the bread until crispy, I spread the cheese (Rondele Garden Vegetable) onto the toast and allowed it to melt slightly. I then placed the mixed greens and 4 slices of avocado on the bread. Squishing it all together, I am finished! A 5 minute sandwich that is both nutritious and low cal! 

You all should try it!

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Day 22: Positive Play Time

When I was in college the most stressful time of the year was Finals Week. *Cue Dramatic Music* I mean, everyone knows that feeling. There are 5 papers due, 1 journal, 6 final exams and you only have 5 days to do it all! I used to count down to my winter/summer vacations by saying I only have "Blank" many tasks  left to complete before I am free.

What my college does during this time is they allow for an animal shelter to bring their dogs for the day. This allows the college students to take a break from studying and play with the animals. De-stress a little, you know? 

Now, I have not been feeling anywhere near as stressed as I used to during finals week, but everyone needs some fun time to let go and not think about things. And if you do not agree, you better get your butt to a spa because darling you are going to drive yourself up a wall!

Today:

 I went on an adventure with Miss Emily, The Brit, and Bubba. We went and got our nails done at this beautiful salon. A nice relaxing after noon out.

I'm sorry....was that anticlimactic? 

WELL! Then we saw the Promised Land, Pet Depot. Pet Depot means cool fishies, crazy birds and most importantly puppies! Who does not love puppies? Well, the puppies were behind the glass and sleeping. FAIL!  We all were about to walk out, filled to the brim with disappointment, when suddenly we noticed we were missing The Brit. Where was she? Why she was playing with the ferrets!

I tell you children, ferrets are just as entertaining as puppies! 

So take time out of your day and go play with some ferrets! De-stress and Laugh! 

One Day is Today!

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Day 21: Biking to Work!

Yesterday I decided that I should attempt to bike the 2.8 miles from my house to the theatre I work at. I know what you all are thinking, "2.8 miles? That's It?". Well, let me explain that the last time I rode a bike I was 15 years old. Although the old saying "It's just like riding a bike" implies it will be easy, it was not!

However, as hard as that "tiny" hill by the elementary school was to climb and how dangerously close some of the cars got, it was a ton of fun! There are few things that feel as wonderful as the wind hitting your face as you accelerate down a hill. Not to mention a great work out!

Another great thing about riding to work was that I was able to actually look at the beautiful houses that line the streets of Auburn, NY. Stunning mansions that have been left  long unattended and a beautiful park that could rival any in the United States. Here is a picture of the view. ENJOY!

One Day is Today!

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Day 20: How Many Different Ways Can One Attempt to Fix Their Back?

Every body has their ticks. Mine is that my lower back likes to tighten up on me so that I can not stand with my back in the proper alignment. This causes nerves to be pinched and pain to be had. Not a pleasant experience.

My wonderful mother had prescribed ice and hot treatments every 20 min and stretching 3 x a day. It was keeping the pain at the same level but not relieving.

Today I tried those medicated pain relief pads that stick to your skin. It allowed me to stretch with heat continually on it which helped release the seized muscles. You feel like a fool and you might have some strange tingly sensations but it will work!

With these heating pads on, I stretched and rolled out the muscles. If you have some pain, take care of it!

One Day is Today!

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Day 19: Penzu Your Positive Thoughts To the Surface!

Penzu-( http://penzu.com/aboutus ) A wonderful site that allows you to write down your thoughts online. The kicker? It's Private.

Now, I do not believe any site online is private. Anything online is out in the open. But after a nice suggestion from a great friend, I downloaded the APP on my phone. It was suggested that I should use Penzu to write down and take pictures of three things that make you happy through the day!

Today's Happy Thoughts?

Back at the Theatre for tech! Tried a wonderful recipe for Salmon fillet! Sabastiani dressing as a pirate!

Enjoy the pictures. Oh! And studies show that people who take the time to appreciate what they have will be happier. Just saying, it can't hurt you to try :)

One Day is Today!

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Day 18: Fighting for what you want

Sometimes, you have to be honest. Sometimes you have to fight for what you want. Do it. No questions. What is the worse that will happen? You get told NO and you take it one day at a time. But until then, don't give up hope

Day 17: Starting the Day off right! #adventurein2012

Have you ever stayed up all night just to watch the sunrise? I haven't. I mean, I have stayed up all night, typically in a back corner of the Library studying for a final, but I have never stayed up all night.

There is something therapeutic about watching the sunrise; watching the sunbeams tickle the tree limbs as you sit on a roof and drink your hot cup of coffee. What a wonderful way to start a day! Start new by watching everything come to life.

I know this is not exactly a long entry, but I think that experience is very personal. Try it out. Let me know what you think :)

One Day is Today!

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Day 15/16: The Last 10

With my new life goal to always have an adventure, yesterday I decided to start my adventure of being a healthier me! I have dropped 15lbs since my freshman year of school and now I only have 10 more to go!

What is helping me do this? I had to come to terms with a few things:

1. Baby Steps. You will not drop 10 lbs in one night (unless you cut off a leg). So accept the fact that this will take time and dedication. 
2. EVERY DAY COUNTS! You skip a day or overindulge too much; it will trigger a new pattern in your life. One that is not healthy. Keep your good mojo going! 
3. You have people in your life who will support you. And if you don't, than I will! ( We can be workout email buddies! )

The New Plan:

Monday/Wednesday/Friday/Sunday- These are your golden days! You just have to do 45 min-1 hour of cardio on these days. Go for a bike ride or a run. Step on that elliptical and plug in those headphones on your lunch break to listen to the news. You can give yourself 45 min of you time! You deserve it!

 45 min. Warm up for 5 (nice and easy). GET PUMPED! Do interval sprints for the next 35 min. For example, if you are running, increase speed in intervals. This will cause your heart rate to jump up. Last, COOL DOWN for 5. These cool downs restore your heart rate to its natural pattern. 

Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday- YOU FEELING STRONG? These are your toning days! My routine starting off is 

•  Reps of 10 - biceps curls with 8 lb weights- 2 sets each arm. Alternating and not stopping is best!
• Sitting on a large exercise ball (to engage the core)- Reps of 10- Shoulder press- 8lbs.
• TRICEPS! Stand facing the exercise ball. Put one of the 8 lbs weights in your right hand. Place your right shin bone on the exercise ball. Lean forward so that your left hand is resting on the exercise ball and your torso is parallel to the ground. REPS of 10, Each arm 2 times. 
• Take 5 lbs weights and stand with feet shoulder width apart. Raise both arms (so that the weight is parallel to the the floor) 45 degrees, then rotate the arms so that the weight is now parallel to the wall and lift to 50 degrees. Last pulse, rotate your arms upward so that the weight is parallel to the ceiling and bring it to 90 Degrees. Release. Repeat 10 times. 

Now legs:

•  6 lb exercise ball. 25 squats. 
• 6 lb exercise ball, 12 side lunges.
• 6 lb exercise ball 12 lunges front (both legs)

STRETCH! 

I am also taking advantage of my gyms sauna and steam room. I spend 20 min in the sauna( and if empty, I take some easy yoga poses to lengthen my spine and hamstring muscles) Then I spend 10 min in the steam room warming up my voice, realigning my spine and focusing on my breathing. 

The DIET!

I know, I KNOW. I am a FOODIE like no ones business. But what I have come to terms with is that being a "foodie" means that you can make some amazingly tasty dishes and still be on your diet.

In my phones calendar I have 5 alarms set throughout the day. What times? What do I eat typically? These alarms are 3 hours apart and are my 5 small meals. I eat less then 400 cals a meal, but because I eat every 3 hours I am never that hungry

Finally, Here is today's Schedule: 

• 7am Up and packing to go to the gym
• 7:30 am Grab and Apple and walk to gym
• 7:45-8:45 Workout
• 8:45-9:15 Sauna and Steam Room time. Ahhhhhh 
• 9:15-9:45 Get ready for work
• 10 am START WORK
• 10:30 Snack: Protein Bar (with chocolate and peanut butter, oh yeah!) 200 Cals 
• 1:30 Lunch(Tortilla wrap -110 cals, Chicken breast-90 cals, Sweet Peas- 60 cals, Hard Boiled Egg-70 cals)
• 2:30 Return to work
• 4:30 SNACK! Nutragrain Bar 120 cals
• 6:30 Work over
• 7:30 Dinner- 2oz of Pasta 200, Salmon 180
• Enjoy!

It's not that hard. These 5 meals help you not overindulge! 

Best of Luck!

One Day is Today

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Day 14: Overwhelmed? HELPFUL HINTS

Come On! Everyone has them. Those nights where everything seems to pile up at once and you can not, for the life of you, sort it so that it seems less overwhelming. Well, I have a fool proof guide to what works for me.

My routine: 

1. TURN OFF YOUR CELLPHONE(Trying to focus on getting work done with people constantly texting you or Facebook notifications distracting you will not help you stay calm)
2. Take a good old fashioned piece of paper and pencil and write out a schedule for the night in 40 min increments with 5 min breaks. 
3. Pop a nice piece of chicken or start boiling water for pasta as you begin your first Activity. 
4. TAKE YOUR 5 MIN Break to do something active. Pushups, sit ups, jumping jacks, etc.(Check your dinner)
5. When you schedule your night, make sure you put a reward at the end. For me, it involves a good movie and a glass of wine.
6. Most importantly, if you put in the time, you will get everything done! I promise 

Tonight's routine: 

 40 minutes on each character with pushups during my 5 minute breaks. Reward is wine and Madagascar! 

One Day is Today

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Day 13: What to do if your gym is closed?

It is Labor Day! That means picnic's and a day of relaxation for most. It also means most stores and, more importantly, GYM'S are closed!

If you are a work out fanatic (like I am) then you will not know what to do with yourself! Well, here are some easy options you can do at home!

1. Go for a run outside! A great App to help navigate and record your run is called "MapMyRUN+" It allows you to track your run, save your route and see your friends running routes. TIP: Run early in the morning or later in the evening. Although fall is on its way, the air is still humid and can make mid day running difficult. Also you will see wonderful sights on your run! 
2. YOGA A great App is YOGA. It lets your create your own flow or choose a pre created workout. These workouts range in difficulty and length. A fantastic way to get your flexibility on.
3.  A Picture Says 1000 Words I came across this FANTASIC tumbler sight where I was able to save these pictures to my phone. A work out a day! Please visit the original site! http://allyfit.tumblr.com              

 

Make it count! 

One Day is Today

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Day 12: Boom Babies

So, there is something therapeutic to shopping. Any female will tell you this. Now, add a really great friend and some vintage clothes and you have a recipe for success!

My day off, Brit and I got into the car and took off to Syracuse. With Scooby Doo leading the way, we only needed to make 6 U-Turns to find a wonderful shop called Boom Babies. Oh! I should also mention that the lovely driver told me this amazing story about how when she gets lost, she tends to end up in different states. Safe to say- it was shocking we made it there in only 45 min!

So Boom Babies has both new and vintage clothing in the shop. More of a selection then I had thought.
Boom Babies Now, this website only shoes the Prom Dress selection but the majority of the store is actually vintage shopping. If you are in Syracuse, YOU MUST CHECK IT OUT!

By the way, Can you find the Brit? 

One Day is Today

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Day 10: Positivity First Thing in the Morning #Adventurein2012

Today was a trying day for many reasons. When I came home and realized I still had not done my new adventure for the day, I became defeated and a little upset. It was too dark to walk anywhere and I do not have access to mass amounts of crafty things in this house.  Unwilling to give up on my mantra to live life and try something new everyday, I jumped in Cry Baby and headed out to A.C. and Moore. 

I walked those aisles mercilessly. Unwilling to really settle on anything and unable to find anything to bring a smile to my face I finally settled on an idea to remind myself of the positivity I have promised to live by. I purchased a white travel coffee mug and walked out those doors still grumpy.

When I came home, I poured myself a glass of red wine and pulled up Pintrest. I scrolled through the category "Quotes"coming across beautiful images and words that reminded me to not waste this life. Every time I found a quote that spoke to me, I took one of my sharpies and wrote it on my new white coffee mug. With each letter, my mood lifted slowly and when I was finished I took in my new travel cup. Every morning I will be able to read quotes to lift my spirits, realize I am enough and to keep the positivity going. Sometimes you need to see positivity first thing in the morning.

I  recommend this project to everyone. Put your individual spin on it. Put your thoughts, aspirations and passions down on this travel mug and you will be reminded every day why you do what you do.

One Day is Today

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Day 8 and 9: A Bear that serves burgers?

Day 8: Bareburger and A Beer the Size of My Head

Typically, when I go into the great city of Manhattan, I do not preconceive what restaurant I should eat at that evening. I walk around, taking in the smells, reading the menu's, seeing what year it was "Zagat rated"

However, on this trip, I was able to stroll along while my foodie guide for the night brought me towards this heavenly smell. After almost 5 blocks we came across this restaurant called Bareburger. I felt very Anthony Bourdain : No Reservations. There might have been some explicit words and conversations not to be overheard by anyone over 13 and a large mug of beer the size of my head but none the less, the company was exceptional and the food was to die for.

You pick your "style" of burger. I personally chose the Mediterranean which involved mint yogurt with cucumbers and glazed onions.

You then pick your "beast" as my wonderful guide put it. There were turkey, chicken, bison, lamb and many more "beasts". Did I mention it is all Organic! WHAT!

Lastly, You pick your "Bun". Do you feel like your bun of choice would be whole grain, rye, ...etc.

Delicious. DELICIOUS I SAY! You must check this out.

P.S.- Final recommendation- Get the 25 oz beer.

You must check this place out!






And now My friends, my DAY 9 of Adventure consisted of me sitting in my car Cry Baby and driving back to Auburn. Road trips that involve driving in or around Manhattan (with its traffic) are enough of an adventure for one day. TTFN from Bruce and I

One Day is Today

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Day 6 and 7:Spending time #Adventurein2012

Day 6:
Every human being out there is stressed, over worked and exhausted. Up until now, my solutions for those tough days is to take a minute and sip my coffee. However, My eyes have been opened!  I've had a religious awakening!

THE CHAIR MASSAGE!

A simple 30 minute chair massage at your local nail salon can help realign your spine, relieve any headache you have and release the knots in your back. And while you are at it, try getting a manicure. I swear, you will walk out feeling like a new woman. Men- to each his own!

It also is a wonderful time to catch up with friends or have a wonderful Mother/Daughter day.


Day 7:
Spending time in the most wonderful City while seeing phenomenal people and sights! My recommendation? Just get out there and do it! Where ever you want to see, what ever you would like to do, just do it. It is worth the energy!

One Day is Today!
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Day 5: Learning from the Great Chef Quigley #Adventurein2012

If you have never been to a Quigley Family Party or over for dinner then there is a small explanation needed.

 My father is, by trade, an English Professor who has an unnatural knack for technology. However, when he is off the clock, he comes home to his bat cave. Puts on his chef superhero cape and demolishes all raw enemies that come across his path.

You maybe thinking he is just a guy who messes around in his kitchen. You mean how Batman messed around in his cave? I am being honest, although he experiments with cooking off the clock, He and a team claimed the title of First Iron Chef at NYIT. There is even a fancy BLACK chef's jacket with gold embroidery to prove it. (Batman's colors? I see a pattern here)

Since I destroyed my back when I played pack mule across the Brooklyn Bridge, I thought today's adventure could be:

COOKING WITH CHEF QUIGLEY: Creating a Yellow Squash and Leak soup with Coriander

Is your mouth watering yet?

INGREDIENTS NEEDED:

• 1 Yellow Squash
• 2 Leaks
• Coriander (fresh is better)
• Saute Pan with Cover
• Blender (stick blender is easiest)

HOW TO DO:  

Follow Picture Guide counterclockwise from Top Left

1. Cut of top and bottom of leaks and toss them in the trash.
2. Take the steam of the leak and slice it down the middle. You will find grains in the leaks. To remove grains, place under water and fan the layers so that all grittiness is washed away. 
3. Slice the squash thin. 
4. Heat the saute pan and toss in leaks, squash and coriander.  When it reaches what looks like the bottom left picture you add vegetable stock until contents are just covered. 
5. Put the cover on pan and let simmer until veggies are tender (10 to 12 minutes so do not put on your favorite show on TV). 
6. Pour contents of saute pan into a large bowl. Place your stick blender into the bowl and press on. *CAUTION* if you do not place the stick blender low enough, prepare for a yellow squash and leak soup shower. 
7. This soup is meant to be chilled before serving. 
8. ENJOY! If you make this recipe please e-mail me photo's and tell me how it goes! I will post them! leafturned@gmail.com 

Remember, please share your adventures or idea's you would like me to try. Join me ! 

One Day is Today. 

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Day 4: Tourist in My Home City. #Adventurein2012 #IHeartNYC

One of the perks of this new life goal is the "excuse" to be a tourist in a city I grew up in. I have gone to:

• The Statue of Liberty
• Ellis Island
• Top the of Empire State Building (My thoughts and prayers with the victims of todays shooting)
• China Town
• Little Italy
• Canal St.
• Macy's at Christmas Time
• Rockafeller Center
• Times Square

What was left? What was I missing? Why it is the Brooklyn Bridge. I have never walked the Brooklyn Bridge.  But then again- How many New Yorkers have walked the Brooklyn Bridge?

Anyways...

FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE:

1. The Golden Gate Bridge was modeled after it because of how well it has lasted. 
2. After the 9/11 attacks people walked across it to leave Manhattan. 
3. The first person to jump of the bridge was a swimming team by the name of Robert E. Odlum. It was a drop of 135 feet. He did not survive. 
4. The Brooklyn Bridge was completed in 1883.

TIPS

1. Respect the difference in the Bike and Pedestrian Paths.
2. Do no follow traffic signs to get to the Brooklyn Bridge.
3. Bring Water
4. Do not carry heavy bags( Specifically with audition material weighing it down)
5. Do Not Take Any Second For Granted. When you stand looking at the NYC skyline from half way across the bridge you will notice you are surrounded by at least 3 different languages, 126 years of history, and can view so many different aspects of NYC right there. Appreciate it, take your time, love it.

Join in the Adventure! Share your Journey!

One Day is Today!

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