This is a VERY late post because I've been working on it since I got back from New York. But I still wanted to post it because I thought it was cute and stuff. So here you go, a billion months late. Sorry. Again.

Day 1 - June 7th - Arriving in New York

So we arrived at the Salt Lake Airport early in the wee hours of the morning, boarded the plane

and after five-ish hours of stewing about being in coach while my dad sat comfortably in First Class (dumb frequent flier miles), we arrived in... Newark, New Jersey! And traveled by cab to Manhatten where we arrived at The Embassy Suites hotel, which is a lovely place to stay besides the uncomfortable pillows.

By this time I had definitely noticed something drastically different about this place and I'm not talking about the hundreds of people walking, the accents, or the lack of blue sky.

I am not in the desert anymore. It is humid as heck here! My father and I are just pouring sweat and it's not even that hot outside! Just wet! I literally ended up changing clothes twice a day because they just got so gross after a few hours of shopping!

Anyways. Moving on.

We changed clothes and headed out to see my Grandparents who I hadn't seen in several months I believe. They greeted us in the lobby of the hotel with hugs galore and we set out on the town to go to a nice dinner, which was much appreciated since all I had eaten was Chex Mix, Peanut M&M's, complimentary peanuts, and Dr. Pepper.

I can't for the life of me remember the name of the restaurant but it was very nice! It actually used to be a docking station for trucks to unload their cargo but someone made it into a restaurant! A very nice Italian one. Dad had swordfish and I had some yummy pasta and way too much Coke. After a lovely meal with lovely company with lovely conversation, me and dad went back to the hotel to catch up with the two hour time difference. EDIT: If anyone watches White Collar, Peter and Neil are both shown in a scene eating in this very restaurant! Cool, huh?

Day 2 - June 8th - Guggenheim Museum

Anne stated that it was necessary for me to get

some cultural stimulation while I was on this trip so it was off to the Guggenheim Museum! The building is so amazing because it was built in about the 1940's or 50's but it looks so modern! It was full of blue prints of this one architect named Frank Lloyd Wright who designed things WAAAAAAY beyond his time! And modern art, too. :D There was a bunch of modern art and I decided that I really like modern art! Anne is actually an artist who does monotypes and they're really pretty. Visit anneraymond.com for some of her stuff! (No thanks necessary for the plug, Anne. ;D)

Day 3 - June 9th - Shopping!!!

Me and Anne went shopping and I TOTALLY scored a beautiful purse, some shirts, and a Guess wallet that was supposed to be eighty bucks but I got it for thirty! Thanks for guiding me around New York, Anne! I also got to wander New York by myself and I was surprised that I felt perfectly safe wandering a huge city all by myself. :D There's just so many people and cabs driving by constantly that you just don't ever feel lost or trapped because you can just jump in a cab, tell them where you need to go, and they know where to go to get there. :D I LOVED the city! We also went to a musical called Rock of Ages that was packed with 80's songs, drugs, drinking, protests, gay Germans, strippers, classic love stories, and some not so classic love stories. :D It was SO good! Look up the soundtrack on iTunes!

Day 4 - June 10th - Driving to East Hampton

So most people who live in New York have an apartment in the city and a house in the country for the weekend. So Anne drove me into the country with Tex, the Yorkshire terrier who is adorable! It was a long drive but we made it and had a nice dinner before we retired and I watched TV until I fell asleep.

Day 5 - June 11th - Veg, veg, and veg some more

I didn't do anything this day. :D It was lovely. Me and Anne did go out for dinner and ice cream, though. It was delicious!

Day 6 - June 12th - The boys arrive and the great search for Steven Spielberg

Anne threw a party for her friend who designs lingerie and I felt a little out of place so I pretty much stayed in my room until Anne asked if I wanted to go to town a little bit earlier than I had planned (I was going to pick up my grandpa and dad from the train station) and I jumped at the chance to get out! I took Anne's car and drove into town where I parked and walked to the bookstore. I forgot how much I loved reading! I bought two books and made my way to Starbucks because I remembered Anne telling me that Steven Spielberg hangs out there a lot. I waited with my mocha. And waited. And read. And waited. And was sadly disappointed. How do you like that. Stood up by Steve.

But that moment was probably one of the best moments of my life. I was sitting on a bench in a little cottage town, drinking a mocha and reading a really good book. Life couldn't've got much better than that.

I picked up the boys and took them home and then we ate dinner and went to bed.

Day 7 - June 13th - Sag Harbor

So this day we all, meaning Ken, Anne, my dad, and I, all went sight seeing around Sag Harbor which is this beautiful little place with a lighthouse and a beach. And it was so pretty! We got to eat on the second floor of this cute little restaurant that had great food right on the beach. That night we ate dinner with Ken and Anne and had a lively political discussion. And I can't remember much of anything else we did because I'm writing about Day 7 about seven months later. xD

All in all, it was a wonderful adventure and loved everything about New York! Thanks to Ken and Anne and my dad for showing me around!

Love,

Brit