stretch those synapses.

Its now been...
7 weeks.
47 days.
1,126 hours.

I found the most delicious Carrot Cake Cupcake (does that make sense). I need to get Grandma's recipe as I had forgotten how much I love carrot cake. 

Three Black Bears decided they would explore my neighbourhood for a few days. In the picture below you can see the helicopter flying overhead. The skies were filled with helicopters looking for the bears who decided to temporarily make our home their home. They found a baby bear asleep up a tree (ooooh so cute!!) but two more out smarted the officers (I actually don't know if they've been caught yet). The strangest feeling to think when I opened the back door in the mornings that I may just see a bear staring back at me. I actually would like to see one (from a distance, maybe I'll just go to the zoo). 

The little boy I look after graduated from Preschool (summer holidays have arrived for him). There was a class party with so many different American foods. 

The one I liked the most was 'pigs in a blanket' (pictured above). Without a doubt the most unhealthy (you can almost taste the fat) BUT really tasty!!

Then my best friend decided it would be her birthday. It's the first birthday in 5 years I  have missed. It's these moments you realise you really are a long way from home. You trade one experience for another experience. It was weird not to celebrate with her. But as it's only 24 I know I will have many more chances to celebrate with her. I'm thinking at least 70 years more. Love you HJ xx

As summer is fast approaching I decided to order myself some new Bikinis to match. Victoria Secret. Black, yellow and floral. A mix that should work. Please ignore THAT quilt cover. 

This week I was very lucky to be able to buy tickets to the US OPEN (I know you'll be proud of that Grandmama). It's a birthday present to me (day after my birthday) on Labour Day September 2. So very very excited to be going to the tennis with my friend Aura who has played tennis her whole life so we are both verrrrrry excited! Cannot wait. 

After intensely disliking all types of Greek yogurt for as long as I can remember I was faced with the reality that Greek yogurt is pretty much the only option in New York. I've been told that as of a few years ago it's become very popular. Whilst I did find a few 'Wallaby' (literally the name was Wallaby) branded yogurts that taste like Aussie sweet 'normal' yogurt I decided to give this Greek yogurt thing a try. To my surprise it's actually delicious!  And I'm now a fully converted Greek yogurt eating American.

With the children now on school holidays, days are filled with finding new and inventive ways to entertain them (with 3 months of summer holidays I fear this may become rather challenging). Below is a picture of one of the children's Grandparents houses. I felt like I was in Peter Pan and landed in Neverland. 

This place is honestly like the Botanical gardens. Filled with beautiful trees and flowers. This is their family home for over 30 years and they planted all of the plants themselves. Gorgeous. 

Friday arrived, as did the torrential rains. The weather is like a hormonal teenager at the moment. One minute it's beautiful, so hot I can hardly breathe, sun shinning and the next it's pouring with rain, winds blowing and cold! 

I arrived in Manhattan on Friday evening at rush hour, 5:30pm. All I can say is WOW! So many people. Everyone just wants to get where they are going, quicker and faster than ever. However, even in the chaos, a woman managed to grab my arm (I admit at first I thought I was getting attacked because why else would a stranger be grabbing me in the subway right?!) BUT I had dropped my Metrocard full of money for the subway and she was showing me.... thank you stranger. Even in chaos there still remains kindness. 

After surfacing from the chaos below, I was greeted with Grand Central Station. 

When the rains come, the traffic comes and the floods come and.... Rachel gets annoyed. The most ridiculous traffic jams I have ever experienced (below, look at those break lights!). 

Saturday morning the hormonal teenager was in a good mood and the sun was shinning. About 27 degrees. What better way to spend the morning than reading my book in the sun right? Right. 

Today I wore my summer dress and my summer hat. 

Sitting still for a little while. Just reading. 

The day was beautiful. No time to waste. I was back to Southold, Long Island. Out on the boat to go for lunch in Greenport. And today I would learn to drive the boat (I know it's not that difficult but it can be fast and waves can be scary etc etc I'm acting like a real girl). 

Glasses on. I'm a little short so when I pushed the throttle down and the boat reared up a little, I had to stand on my tippy toes. 

And don't worry Grandparents, I wasn't driving the boat and taking pictures! I drove the boat to Greenport for lunch but not on the way back. 

Arrived in Greenport for lunch. Reading the Hampton's Paper and drinking a Corona.

Looking in the Hampton's real estate section. Winning the lottery added to my bucket list eh? Any of these pretty places would do. Although the house prices are similar to that of Sydney Northern Beaches. 

Eating at Bruce's for lunch and watching the people and cars pass me by. 

The most giant sandwich, filled with salami, prosciutto, cheese and red peppers. And a pickle. I don't know what the thing is about American's and their pickles. Hold the pickle next time thanks.

FDNY (Fire Department of New York) boat in the bay. Beautiful spring afternoon in a beautiful part of the world. 

Saturday night. Old and new friends. Vodka cranberry drinks. Music and a dance floor. Spring night in New York.

New American friends who have promised to make me Lammington's. This is exciting because not only do they know what they are but they offered to make them!

A weekend that had to end. The glimpse of that New York city skyline. The first and the last thing to always see. Marking the beginning and end of a weekend.

The quote below really couldn't represent my life at this moment any better. I am still adjusting everyday to my new surroundings.... whether it's hard, easy, fun, crazy, scary or challenging... this experience is stretching every synapses in my brain and building whole new dimensions. 

Got to be thankful for that. 

xxxxx

less thinking, more living.

Somehow I stumbled across paradise. Again. Here in Southold, New York. 

As I mentioned earlier, the city is getting unbearably hot. Traveling to find a cooler place with an ocean breeze is the smart choice. The lucky option. 

I got the bus (a 2 hour trip) to Southold. Usually I don't mind buses and this bus was nice, it really was BUT I made some rookie mistakes. #1 sitting behind the girl who wanted to sleep, her chair was therefore reclined completely (touching my knees) and she thought it necessary to lump her weight back on it every so often as if in hope she could have MORE space. #2 sitting in front of a 4 year old boy who thought it would be a fantastic idea to kick my chair, poke my arm and lean over the top of the chair and pull my hair, "whyyyyy are you allowing your child to do this lady?!" (I felt like saying, but passively aggressively I just huffed and turned up my music louder). #3 sitting next to an older (I'm sure harmless) man who needed less personal space than I and resulted in me squished against the window. Yayyyy for bus trips. But but buuuut.... whilst on this bus, driving through the New York countryside I had a lightbulb moment. After 6 weeks of being here in New York I all of a sudden had the intense realisation that I was here. I mean seriously, for so many years I've longed for New York 'the city that never sleeps' but to be ACTUALLY here!? Whaaaaaat, how did that happen! Lucky me. 

A nice 28 degrees Saturday and the sun was shinning bright. Time to dip my feet in the pool and go out on the boat. I was a little (being an understatement) nervous that I would get seasick. I have been seasick and travel sick in the past and the wind was pretty strong today making for some choppy waters but I crossed my fingers and toes. 

So much gas (petrol).

Southold. NY.

Southold. NY.

Southold. NY.

Southold. NY.

There is Corona down in there. I promise.

Don't fall off for a photo op Rachel. Southold. NY.

Fishing. Southold. NY.

Gotcha! Poor fishy.

John with the catch. 

Southold. NY. June. 

Andrea and I. What a beautiful day.

Southold. NY.

Southold. NY.

Below is Plum Island. This Island is owned by the United States Government and is a federal research facility. There is strictly no public access (big, but not that big signs line the shore). It is also known as Plum Island Animal Disease centre. Lots of weird and toxic substances exist here. So strange to be so close. If you Google Plum Island and click images... you will be freaked out! It's like some kind of Jurassic Park. 

Plum Island. NY.

A birds eye of Plum Island. 

Southold. NY.

After a day out on the boat we got ready and got back on the boat to head out to Shelter Island for dinner at a restaurant called SALT. What an absolutely amazing night to be out on the water in New York.

On the boat to Shelter Island.

On the boat to Shelter Island.

On the boat to Shelter Island. A little too fast.

On the boat to Shelter Island.

Sunset. NY.

On the boat to Shelter Island.

Andrea and I. On the boat to Shelter Island.

Shelter Island. NY.

Shelter Island. NY.

Shelter Island. NY.

SALT. Shelter Island. NY.

This weekend was a little less words, a little more photos to explain. I mean, sometimes, words just don't cut it. You've got to see it. And this place really needs to be seen. So beautiful. So much fun. Even though there was a few times I thought I might bounce off the side of the boat when we were going a little too fast and hitting the waves a little too hard.... I was laughing, smiling and having an unreal time. Trying to live life closely to the quote below.... less analysing, less thinking, less worry and more living. Because that's what this year is all about right?

If New York doesn't have it, it's not worth having.

My afternoon was spent at baseball watching the boys play in the stinking heat and from here I had to run for the train tonight. The heat is still swirling at 6pm. Bag swung over my shoulder, full of 18 different options (give or take) and no make up for the first time. It would just slip right off. I will have to find a bathroom in the city to apply, mind you thats a challenge of its own. There are hardly any toilets/restrooms for public use in manhattan. For obvious reasons of homeless and drug use. Howeverrrrrr  inconvenient for me. I'm off to Long Island for the weekend and it's supposed to be hot. Perfect. 

Out of the train and into Penn station in search of the subway. 67897 million degrees. I literally feel like I am inside an oven. Literally. I see signs for the restrooms and immediately seize my opportunity. Who knows when there will be one next. As I enter I realise this will be a challenge. Trying to find the "cleanest" spot to place my bag on the floor, in-between my feet and then to balance my large handbag on top and then to carefully place my makeup bag on the sink. I'm getting a few strange looks by a rather large old lady, wearing big round cookie shaped glasses, short curly grey hair and a lip that turns up like she's smirking (or maybe she is just smirking at me). She goes in and out of the toilet 3 times, as if each time she's hoping I'll miraculously disappear when she closes and reopens the door. Perhaps I'm invading her spot. As weird as this is and as uncomfortable as I am, makeup needs to get done. I'm staying here. 

I'm absolutely starving and food on the run doesn't offer many options other than pizza, pretzels or cakes, especially in the train stations. I get a mini Pizza Hut pepperoni and charge for the subway. Do you remember that game called traffic? It's on a small tray and it's filled with cars and you have to move each piece carefully to successfully release your car. Well that's what the subways like tonight. Dodging and weaving everywhere. Men who are forced to wear suits, now have their sleeves rolled up, ties pulled loose, buttons undone and big wet patches decorating their shirts. This heat stinks (I know I know I shouldn't complain). I'm trying to figure out how I can start avoiding the subways when summer really kicks in. I don't know if it's possible. Walking the streets in the crowds is unbearable, especially if it's 20 blocks but the subway is like one giant jelly oven bath party. Bearable once, but not twice. 

I hop on the subway. I need to get across to 3rd Ave to catch the bus to Long Island. I'm standing holding onto the rail and I hear Spanish male voices behind me and then a whistle. I turn around and they are looking at me and wink. Ew, no. But I can't move now because I'm on a subway and fighting to hold my balance with an overnight bag, handbag and pizza in hand. It also appears this driver is in a hurry as we sway from side to side. I'm definitely not one for conflict or rudeness but I'm trying my mighty best to ignore them and look 'serious' but as I catch their reflection in the windows I realise I could be in a scene from a Mexican Mafia movie. Hurry up subway, it's only 7pm. 

I jump off the subway and here I am on 3rd ave, now to walk a few blocks. I see a man running through the traffic "out of the way, it's Friiiiiiday people!" Yes, yes it is. I look up and see the Chrysler building staring back at me. I haven't seen that up close before, beautiful. 

As I walk across the street I get a kiss blown at me by a rather tall, pretty, pink dress wearing, blonde wig flowing transvestite. And it's not even 8pm. I was told last night by an Australian in his 60s "if New York doesn't have it, it's not worth having". Well New York, you certainly have a lot but for now, I'm off in search of the sand and water for the weekend xx 

Sensory overload.

It really is like a love story. You have these wonderful expectations of the magnificent concrete jungle. The bright lights, the people, the music, the food... How can it let you down? It can't! right? You put all your excitement and trust into it. It gives you that needed confidence boost you need. It's like your boyfriend holding you tight and whispering "you got this". And then all of a sudden, it doesn't matter what anyone says now, you got this. And that's manhattan. 

You see the skyline and you feel the buzz and you know... you got this. This past weekend Manhattan hurt my feelings a little. I can't put my finger on it exactly, too much time, not enough time, or too much chaos, all maybe all of the above. I mean spending time in Midtown can at times be exhausting, you're continuously dodging people, running for the lights, avoiding crazy people (literally) and the smiling but "no thank you" to people shoving brochures in your face". After a while its like sensory overload. Way too much for way too long, so I think my mistake was too much time in Midtown. It's just like spending a little too much 'one on one' time with your partner, you kind of want to kick them in the shins and put your head phones in with a coffee after a while. That's how I felt about NYC this weekend. It was like our first argument after our honeymoon period. Didn't expect that one but I knew I would just need to reassess things. 

BUT it's Thursday night and I am going into the city earlier than usual. 

My host dad said tonight, where are you off too tonight? It's 32 degrees and so hot. Staying indoors in the aircon would be nice but I'm off to the city to meet my Uncles for dinner in Manhattan. He says "do you know where you're going?" I reply while cooking the kids dinner, "yeah yeah the train pulls in at 34th and ill just jump on the A subway up to 42nd and walk to 44th and down 8th" he says, "Look at you, you New Yorker!" Huh. Look at that. 

On the train on my way in, I'm so excited, once again. Look at that, that didn't take too long after all. Don't upset me again NYC please, at least not for a little while.