New York, Baby!

So a few weeks ago Seth and I were thinking of moving to New York (for a few months, and then moving to L.A.) so we decided to take a trip up there to check it out. Mid-week, we decided that we couldn't afford to live in NYC, so we almost cancelled the trip. Then I realized if we were moving, we wouldn't be able to see Ryan and Lauren for a long long long time and we wouldn't have our last little weekend trip to New York (closure to the east coast living). So we took the bus up and spent an awesome weekend with Ryan and Lauren.

Okay, timeout. Seth and I are STILL talking about how amazing Ryan and Lauren's house is. To see pictures, you can go to their blog: http://woodyoureadthis.blogspot.com/2008/06/real-estate-express.html
It's AMAZING. And HUGE for New York. We are still just amazed at it.

Time in. So we took the bus up, and got into Washington Heights at about 1 AM. We sat around and talked for a bit, then rested up for our big day on Saturday!! Instead of hitting the normal stops, we decided to go down to ground zero and battery park and see the Stanton Island Ferry and the Statue of Liberty. It was so fun to see a different part of NYC! We ate lunch at this amazing place that had the most AWESOME onion strings ever. Who ever thought that onion rings would be better than onion STRINGS? I submit we should revolutionize the world and provide these onion strings in every restaurant in the world. Mmmmm. I can't even find a picture to do these justice. Mmmmmmm.

Lauren and I really really really wanted to go to Serendipity, and I think it was "Serendipitous" that we went down there, even when we ended up not eating there. Sigh. See, as we were on our way, we passed "American Kennels", a famous dog and cat store. We looked in the window and saw the cutest little mini Yorkie, which I temporarily declared I wanted. We then walked in the store. Lauren said "ohhh look at her!" and I turned and saw.....the MOST adorable little mini toy white adorable chihuahua in the world. I'm not one to use "Cute" and "Chihuahua" in the same sentence, but if you would have seen this doll, you would have said the same. She looked at me, turned her head to the side, and kind of spit her tongue out a little. I was in love.

Lauren is braver than I am, so she asked if she could hold her. Once I saw her holding (okay, Ryan named her LuLu) LuLu, I couldn't take it. I had to hold her. Lauren handed her over and little 3 lb LuLu cuddled up on my chest and fell fast asleep. I teared up. I REALLY had to have her. I turned to Seth with my puppy dog eyes and asked if we could get her. Seth is so cute, of course he said "Yes Janey, if you really want her we can get her!" (he's so nice!) so I turned to the man at the desk and asked how much......

$2300. It was devastating. I mean, how can you say "oh, i won't buy the only dog i've ever loved who totally loves me and cuddles with me and makes my heart sing with joy, because she's just too darn expensive" HELLO!!!! One CANNOT equate love and money. I was so torn. We held her and debated forever (sorry Ryan and Lauren!) and finally left the store to "think about it". We debated for hours, and finally decided not to.

Suffice it to say that for the next week I was talking non stop about LuLu, crying at night and dreaming about her and how much I wanted her. And I called the store three times to see if she was still there. She was every time, but they wouldn't come down on the price nor be nice on the phone, and poor customer service is the biggest turnoff to me. So....then we decided to move to LA anyway, and seriously, how in the world could we move with a little 3 month old (potty trained, i might add, LuLu was just perfect) puppy across the country when we hardly knew how to move ourselves? Sigh....so I hope LuLu went to an awesome upper-east side billionaire family who loves her and feeds her thousand dollar dog food and holds her all day long. She'll be happy there.

Okay, so back to New York. The four of us FINALLY got a picture together!!!



YAY! This is in central park on a pretty bridge. Right after our husbands bought us THIS:



That's right. Cotton Candy. How could a day get better?

Ohhh, let me TELL YOU how a day can get better!!!! Actually, let me SHOW YOU:



YUMMY CUPCAKES!!! That's an oreo and a raspberry swirl. They were DELICIOUS.

After cupcakes, Lauren had to go work (boo) so we went back to the apartment and the guys played Mario Cart:



And Ryan IMed with Lauren on their iPhones (because they've got 3Gs!) Ryan works for the Apple Store on 5th Ave, so he gots the hookups. They were the first two people in new york to have the new iPhones, cool huh?



Ohhh, also on Saturday we WENT to 5th Avenue to Window shop. We went to Tiffany & Co. and saw the coolest thing...it's a PURE gold SCARF...made out of gold chain link meshy stuff...



It seriously feels like silk, but is totally heavy. It's so cool, and also the most odd thing ever. Lauren tried it on, and it actually looked cool on. We stood and gawked at it for a good 15 minutes. Lauren, just wait for Christmas, you might have a surprise under the tree, haha!

Mmmm So this post is getting long, sorry!

Anyway, so then on Sunday morning we went to Ryan and Lauren's ward. It was so funny, while we were in the foyer, Brian Gee walked past!! We ran around to the other side of the church to talk to him. He's getting married pretty soon to a totally cute girl who is also an actress! Fun times, having three people from Sugar City standing in a chapel on the Upper West Side in New York City. Ahhh the directions life takes us.

After church and yummy turkey Sandwiches, Seth and I took off for DC again. It was SUCH a fun trip. New York is definitely one of my favorite busy cities, and hopefully we'll go back soon!! Thanks for fun couples trip Ryan and Lauren!!!

The Democratic National Convention

I feel like I'm posting backwards because I have so much to catch up on, but I just have to post things as they're coming to be because...well because life is crazy and it's one of the few times in my life where I've felt more disorganized than ever (but still holding it together, thank goodness!). SO bear with me...or just don't read...this one is kind of silly.

Right now I'm at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, CO. It's INTENSE man. We got here Saturday night, and we're here until Friday. It's been a growing experience for me. I am still surprised at the things I've faced, but it's been good for me personally and professionally.

A few highlights. Sunday Night we got to go to the NDI Opening Reception and hear Howard Dean, Madeline Albright, Nancy Pelosi, Ken Wollack, & Mr. Stanford speak. Also, Sunday was quite possibly the most stressful day of my life. LOST IT at the end of the day and called my sweet husband to wake him up at 2 AM his time to cry to him. I love that guy.

Monday was relatively stress free. Still worked super duper hard, just knew more what to expect. Went to some panels, listened to some great speakers. My favorite was Katty Kay. She's just so cute. (BBC News Correspondent). I think my other favorite quote had to do with the public not supporting a VP nomination for Hillary for fear of having three presidents in the white house, and America can hardly handle one. Haha, funny News Man.

Also, on Monday, while running an errand, I saw this:


That would be the riot cavalry. Most of the riot police ride on trucks around the city all day, just waiting to surround protesters. These guys were coming in AFTER the riot police to clear out the crowds that stopped, trying to figure out who was protesting what, and why the riot police had their sticks out like there was a war to be fought. Ahhh, the safety precations we take for free speechers. :)

Mmmm which brings us to today. This morning I got to see Bill Clinton speak on a panel with the former presidents of 10 other countries, introduced by Jack Staley and Madeline Albright. It was quite an amazing experience. Here, I was about 20 feet away from former Pres. Clinton. Later, I was 5 feet away.



Then comes the best part. Went to pick up some credentials, which happened to be inside the Pepsi Center. And since I was there to pick up the credentials, I got to run down with one of the passes just to get a glimpse of it all.

Ironic, the words on the stage at the time of picture taking. (Seth pointed that out....he loves it and said he's pasting it to my checkbook). But Seriously, like 20 feet from the podium? Kind of crazy and unreal! (I can honestly say I NEVER once thought in my life that I would set foot inside a convention, but it was still awesome)

Mmmm so then I walked past the CNN booth and Wolf Blitzer looked at me. Seriously, we made eye contact. He wears a lot of makeup for TV. But so does Anderson Cooper, and on TV they both look normal, so I'm not going to complain.

SOOOOOOOO, anyone who made it through this post deserves a prize...a little random, I know. But hey, that's what blogs are for, right?? Can everyone pray that I make it until Friday??

Beverly Hills, that's where we want to be!!

Drumroll.....

So this sign is going to become a permanent fixture in the window of our new apartment!! That's right friends, Seth and I are moving to Los Angeles, CA!!!!

Just a few minutes ago, we confirmed (thank you Luke!) our housing in a little neighborhood right between Beverly Hills and West Hollywood. Aparently the neighborhood is fantastic, safe, and full California fun.

I just started writing about all the great things that have come from us living in DC, but I need to save it for another post because there's far too much to write AND I just started tearing up, and I've GOT to hold it together, haha. (yeah, right, i'm really good at that!).