New York City (Part One)

New York always feels like coming home to me. I first came to the city as a shy seventeen-year-old, starting college at Columbia University. Although I transferred to Colorado my sophomore year, I later returned to get my Masters degree (which, in a roundabout way, led to my writing career). So I definitely spent some formative years in the Big Apple. I feel comfortable here. And I think, if I had the money, I'd like to live here again.

But for now, I'll content myself with an occasional visit.

The nice thing about returning to a city you know (and love) is that you can focus on just being in the city. You don't feel overwhelmed by all the touristy things you want to do. You can just ... exist there. This is really the only sane way to travel. Here's how it's going so far:

Day One

• Get up at 4:45 am to make my 6:00 am flight to Chicago.
• Flight gets delayed for a maintenance check (yes, Captain, I'm glad you checked out the puddle of fluid beneath one of our main engines).
• Land in Chicago with 35 minutes to make connecting flight.
• Run through O'Hare in heeled boots.
• Feet on fire, but make it to the gate just as boarding begins.
• Land at LaGuardia and wait for Sharie's plane to arrive.
• Reunite with Sharie, whom I haven't seen since October.
• Cab into the city. It's Sharie's first time, so I'm playing tour guide.
• Check into our lovely hotel.
• Walk through Times Square.
• Eat late lunch at Famiglia, my favorite New York pizza place.
• Subway to SoHo, where we check out Kate's Paperie, Pearl River Mart, and Rice to Riches (aka the rice pudding of dreams).
• Dinner at a little Chinese restaurant on the edge of the Village.
• Show up at Madam X for Lady Jane's Salon ... just as it's ending. But had good chat with other writerly types, including the fabulous Sarah MacLean.
• Subway back to hotel and bed.

Day Two

• Get up at a leisurely hour.
• Eat breakfast in the hotel. Yummy ham and gruyere omelet.
• Finish getting gussied up and then taxi to the HarperCollins building.
• Sharie heads off with her Avon editor and I hook up with my darling editor.
• After much laughing and chatting we editor and I head to lunch at Lily's (note the significant name) with Harper's fabulous library coordinator and two awesome sales reps. Mmmm, portabella burger with those little stringy, crispy fries.
• Meet Sharie back at the hotel. Some lounging--and some blogging--before out to dinner for fabulous Mexican food with Sharie's agent. Mango margaritas and tableside guacamole.
• Walking a little the brisk evening before cabbing it back to the hotel.

(Please note the recurring food theme in all New York-related travels. Apologies. It is unavoidable.)

The only sad thing about laid-back existing as you travel is a lack of photographs. I've only taken a couple. But hopefully, as I move on to new places, to cities I've never visited, there will be more, and more exciting photo ops.

Until then....

Hugs,
TLC