Brief NYC debrief

Ice pellets; gusting winds; snowfall warning….this is a gloomy Friday. I’ve managed to catch a cold that has progressed with the week, and today, all I want is to be at home in my cozies. Instead, I had to be at work today to pack up my office (we’re losing our closed offices, boohoo! We’re being moved to cubicles since our closed offices are against Treasury Board standards – ridiculous!). I also have to chair a Very Important Call today. So no absentee-ism, although I’m sure my colleagues would appreciate it. It’s embarrassing when I hack all over the place and see people cringe, like on the bus this morning.

Last week, I went to New York City to help a friend move her sister-in-law’s things back to Canada. The trip was perfectly timed as I had been yearning for a little adventure to spice up this long stretch of time between Christmas and Easter. And what a fun time we had! We took the red eye bus last Friday night, where we indulged in copious amounts of Bulk Barn candies while having a proper catch-up. We slept most of the way, and arrived in the great Big Apple at 6am. We proceeded to our Queen’s Hotel, carting our 4 gigantic suitcases (to bring back the sister’s things), crashed for 2 hours and then went to the estranged husband’s apartment to move a TON of bags/suitcases. We spent the rest of the day in Manhattan shopping, walking and eating great food. That night, we returned to the hotel to pack all the possessions into the suitcases. Unfortunately there was so much stuff, that we ended up with six huge, bulging suitcases to carry between us two tiny people. Trying to maneuver the suitcases in the Port Authority, through customs and through the Montreal bus station was so ridiculous and stressful, that I collapsed in a fit of giggles each time. It really was a sight, and thank goodness we kept our sense of humor. We finally got back to O-town around 2am exhausted. But we had such a good time, and I was so glad I could help my friend out, as the whole situation was pretty stressful for her.

It was so fun to be back in NYC; last time I was there, I was 16 years old and more interested in the cute Irish boys staying in our hotel than in seeing the sights (such a silly, stupid girl in hindsight, haha!). So much was as I remembered it, although Times Square has seen some change. I can’t get over the number of McDonalds I saw – it was like Starbucks in Vancouver, they’re just everywhere! We met some very friendly New Yorkers, which was such a pleasantry especially in the Port Authority with our gaggle of bags – we couldn’t have made it without the friendly Red Cap.

This week, I’ve been fighting the sugar cravings, which were set off by the Bulk Barn candy binges on the Greyhound. It’s a daily struggle, and most days this week, I’ve caved to temptation (damn that jujube candy bowl on my colleague’s desk!!). And last night, I made a banana sour cream pie – but that was more to use up our sour cream than to satisfy my sweet-tooth – which doesn’t improve the situation.

With this nasty weather, I hope my first half marathon clinic on Sunday morning goes okay. I can’t fathom running on slippery, snowy sidewalks in running shoes.

Have a lovely weekend!