songbird's crazy world

Becca was still in high school when I began this blog.  hard to believe she will graduate from college on May 17! Today Drew and I put down a deposit for a party room at a local Italian restaurant.

Since I've been sharing -- The 2008 posts: http://songbirdscrazyworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/wall-street-tree.html  http://songbirdscrazyworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/nyc-at-christmas.html The 2009 trip: http://songbirdscrazyworld.blogspot.com/2009/12/new-york-at-christmastime.html The 2010 posts: http://songbirdscrazyworld.blogspot.com/2008/12/nyc-at-christmas.html http://songbirdscrazyworld.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-in-nyc_12.html No trip into the city in 2011 -- that was the year I was under the weather all month. And last year's post -- no photos, but a good description: http://songbirdscrazyworld.blogspot.com/2012/12/nyc-christmas.html

So we figured that the Friday after Christmas would be a good time to do our annual NYC "windows" trip.  The city was only slightly less crowded than it would have been before Christmas. We took the train to Penn Station (32nd and 7th), and that's where our adventure began. Lovely shot of the empire State building: Our first stop -- the windows at Macy's.  Macy's always does two sets of windows.  This year the 34th Street windows featured a "Yes, Virginia, There Is A Santa Claus" display -- Macy's sponsored the animated show on TV a few years ago.  It's cute, but honestly, the "Miracle on 34th Street" display, which saluted the original move, was a better set of windows.  The Herald Square windows had a fluffy bit of froth about dreams and believing.  Very nice. Fortified with hot dogs from a street vendor, we walked over to 5th Avenue.   Lord & Taylor did lovely windows, all about high fashion in years gon...

Yesterday we went to NYC to see the Christmas decorations -- full report will follow shortly. We did a lot of walking.  And I do mean a lot.  Given my age, weight, medical issues and lack of activity, it's no wonder I was limping by the end of the day. And today I am in pain!  Seriously, all of my muscles hurt as if I'd run a marathon.

All stereotypes, good, bad or indifferent, hold a grain of truth.  What do Jews do on Christmas?   We go to the movies and eat Chinese food, of course.  If it's good enough for Justice Kagan, it's good enough for me. Yesterday Drew, and I and our friend Flo went to the movies.  First show of the day, reduced admission costs, popcorn for breakfast.  We saw American Hustle .  Set in 1978, it's a fictionalized version of the ABSCAM scandal.   It's an interesting story of manipulation and moral ambiguity.  I barely remembered the scandal, had to Google it.  Political corruption at  its "best" -- the scam netted a mayor, several congressmen and even a US Senator.  Loved the nostalgia, the fashions and music of the 70's. Later, a group of us went to dinner at Jani.  I'd never been to the Hicksville location before, though I've enjoyed numerous meals at the Wantagh and South Huntington locations.  This location is ...

So we were driving through Hicksville (yes, that is a real town, you can look it up) and Drew said to me "There's a house you should see." The house is in a side street, just off the  main road. Every conceivable space on the walls and the roof is covered in a variety of lights, multicolored and blinking beautifully.  Every inch of the lawn is covered in figures -- Santa, reindeer, snowmen.  It is gorgeous. Over the top. And then there's the house next door.  Simple display of white lights formed into an arrow.  And next to the arrow, a single word: DITTO