They have a tradition in the Harlem Ward. If you are a visitor of three weeks or less, after Sacrament Meeting, you stand and introduce yourself and then the entire congregation says, "Welcome!" So we stood today and Quint introduced us for the third time and said that it was our final week. The Bishop looked genuinly sad and thanked us for lending Sterling to the to pass the sacrament. In Relief Society, I sat next to Amber. She's lived in the Harlem ward for 3 years now? She worked at my store in Michigan... about 8 years ago at least. Small world.
Tonight we had peanut butter Hershey kisses cookies with milk. We ate them at City Park. Marcie graciously agreed to conduct a private walking tour of the LDS church history sites in lower Manhattan. Joseph Smith, Parley P. Pratt, Martin Harris and others visited NYC. The Brooklyn set sail from NYC, sailed around South America, the Cape and into San Francisco. Brannan, the leader, is credited with begining the gold rush (printing the news in his paper) and settling San Francisco. It was Yerba Buena then. We saw where the statue of Joseph Smith stood for 6 months. It's now in storage in the parking garage of the Harlem Ward. Then we looked over the harbor. It was a fun night.
On the subway ride home some of us sang camp songs with Laurie and her ukelali. Three passengers actually joined in and requested songs. We had no need of begging subway performers. We brought our own. Only we don't beg. Allison shot video and posted it on Google video. I'm next to Lauri — not singing.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3111513436482905830
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Coney Island, the Aquarium then Jail and a Lawyer
They are tearing down Coney Island. So we had to see it. It takes about 75 minutes by subway to get there. The subway was running faster than it was last week, but it was mixed up. The local 1 train was running on the 2 and 3 express tracks and vice versa. Now why this helps construction, no one seems to know.... another mystery to be cleared up in the heareafter.
We decided that we needed to have the real Coney Island experience. We started by going on Cyclone. Quint and Jennifer were the cheering section. It was a combo of "Colosus" at Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA.... "Space Mountain" (before improvements) at Disneyland, and "The Tower of Terror" in Disney's California Adventure. I'm glad the operator told me to put away my camera. It was insane. Jennifer and I did the "Log Jammer" type ride while the rest went on Dante's Inferno. Then they joined us. Then it was off to another "land" for the Ferris Wheel.
Ever since 1979, I have liked Nathan's Hot Dogs. When I found them at the supermarket, I started buying them. Quint was in heaven. He prefers hot dogs over burgers. Everyone had a dog of their choice, a drink (mostly lemonade) an we split 5 orders of fries. A real NY experience.... followed by the Freak Show. No photos allowed.
It was so freaky that no one wanted to leave. After an hour, we headed to the NY Aquarium. Good thing it was open util 7. We got there about 3. Then we headed to the exit/entrance to head home. Except Jennifer saw the beach. She knew we brought her suit. She never got to actually go into the water in Massachusets. Not content to sit and watch the volleyball game, we trekked out to get her feet wet in the water. But that wasn't enough, so we trekked back to get her suit on and back again so she could get in the ocean. This is when I realized that when your mom tells you not to run (as I repeatedly did with her) it is not because she thinks you may fall (although you may and then that could require an ER viist) but it's because the child has too much energy and the mom is worn out and cannot keep up. After we returned to the boardwalk and joined the others she stated that she planned on getting in her stroller and going to sleep.
BITTER ALERT: Sterling says I am bitter about the following experience. So skip it if you don't want to have to read a rant.
It's a nice entance to the subway. Except the MTA person isn't at the gate. New York doesn't win any awards for disabled subway access, stroller access, etc. But cities are made to be efficient and babies and handicapped are not efficient. I have to be careful of my right elbow, so picking up the stroller and carting up and down the stairs is a potential problem. This gate was a real nighmare. It's a "goat gate" Like the ones at a children's zoo to keep the goats in. There is no way a child in a stroller can go through. You either have to disassemble and fold up the stroller (and the "crap a la family of 4" that goes with it) or you have to ring the attendant and have him buzz you thru the emergency exit "normal" gate. So Quint rang.
We knew, from another intern's first-day-in-New-York experience, that even if you hold a monthly pass, you have to swipe the card thru the reader and then turn the stile when using the gate for a stroller. If you don't you could be fined $60. So Quint rang. He was buzzed thru. But held the gate open for me in case it didn't work. We pushed the stoller thru to Ster, who went thru the goat gate. Quint swiped his card then went thru the gate. I swiped my card but turned the stile for Quint, stupidly, locking my card out since I had just swiped. It said JUST USED. No problem, Quint held the gate open for me. Meanwhile, the open gate is setting off the emergency alarm; even though the attendant buzzed us through.
Next thing we know, four officers meet us at the stairs to go up to the trains. Three remian on the stairs and one comes down on to the landing to us and gets in our face. He is accusing us of opening the emergency exit and not paying. Quint starts to explain and he gives us this Brooklyn cop attitude. I knew we were in for it. He wantes to see ID. Quint gives him his driver's license. I give him my I-house ID. It has a photo, my signature, a hologram stamp. etc. I'm not driving. But it's not good enough. Not wanted to further the butt-head moment, I get out my wallet and give him my license. "We don't do things here you do in Utah." He continued the heated lecture. I explained what happened, backing up what Quint said, but I got tongue tied. He jumped all over me. So I raised my voice at him and cut him off when he cut me off. AND I RAISED MY INDEX FINGER.
Evidently this is a crime in Brooklyn. I also could see that this guy was not into solving a problem or finding the facts. He wanted blood or money. He started in on a lecture about the rules in New York. And the problems including people with strollers who open the gate and then non-paying people come in. (How is a tourist supposed to know which NY rules are real when everyone walks across the street on a red light?) So I said to him, "Why don't you take our passes and scan them and see if we used them." He shut up. Evidently a novel idea. Also I had him trapped. I knew we had used our passes. He didn't know. He didn't hear the conversation with the attendant and he didn't witness us going through the gates nor swiping our passes. He only heard the alarm. So he gave our passes to his little buddy partner. I was peeved that he didn't do it. But now I am glad. I don't know if he would have told the truth.
What I didn't notice was that the other cops had told the students and our kids to go upstairs. We were sectioned off on the platform with the one cop. I swear this cop with the bad attiutde and accent was going to arrest us. He was salivating. He continued to explain that people going thru the emergency exit was a real problem in NYC-- holding the door open for other non-paying foks. I told him that if it were a real problem, then he should be stationed at the door. That this was the most unfriendly stroller town. PERIOD, Then his buddy came back. "They are good." The cop was stunned. We told the truth. Quint said we appreciated the job he did and we walked away. What a suck-up. (Obviously he is practicing.) But my view of Brooklyn cops has changed. 4 cops. One shooting off his mouth. The other 3 standing there like dumb, dumber and dumbest. No one trying to be productive — trying to solve NYC's biggest problem. He was out for a Saturday night of bashing heads.
That night I had dinner with my best friend from Jr High and High School. She is now an attorney in L.A. with an advanced law degree in mediation. She said his problem was that he ran into someone who was was a thinker. Just like most of our current elected government officials, this cop didn't want to actually solve a problem, he just want to bash heads. I'm glad I told him to check our passes. It certainly wasn't on his radar. Or at least if it was, he wasn't going to say anything about it. I'm glad I knew that you could do that. I found that out by accident when Jennifer turned the stile and went in ahead of me weeks ago. I had to ask an attendant to let me in. If it is a big problem in NYC, then one of them should have a reader to check those around gate when the alarm goes off... or run the card thru the gate reader. It would say JUST USED. But they were there to bash heads and lighten wallets... and make tourists glad they are leaving Coney Island.
Coney Island is supposed to be redesigned to resemble City Walk or Downtown Disney. I wish them luck. No one ever comments on how they like abusive cops at those venues. They may need to send them out for extensive training. Or bring LA or Anaheim cops here for tourist training. The urine in the elevators on the subway and the lack of elevators at any station other than Time Square are bigger issues, in my opinion.
Dee and I had a great time together over dinner. It funny how you can not to talk to someone for years and then pick up a conversation and it feels like you haven't been apart for long.... I showed her the way to the shuttle to Grand Central Terminal and I continued off to Harlem at midnight. There were more folks out at midnight than during the day! She was to take the train to see Roger in CT. I hope she made it. Roger is a trooper. He is so excited to see anyone he goes to great lengths to accomodate our weird schedules: the Bronx Zoo or the train arriving at 2 am.
But the mayor is getting a letter... and maybe the NY Times and the new Coney Island Developers.
We decided that we needed to have the real Coney Island experience. We started by going on Cyclone. Quint and Jennifer were the cheering section. It was a combo of "Colosus" at Magic Mountain in Valencia, CA.... "Space Mountain" (before improvements) at Disneyland, and "The Tower of Terror" in Disney's California Adventure. I'm glad the operator told me to put away my camera. It was insane. Jennifer and I did the "Log Jammer" type ride while the rest went on Dante's Inferno. Then they joined us. Then it was off to another "land" for the Ferris Wheel.
Ever since 1979, I have liked Nathan's Hot Dogs. When I found them at the supermarket, I started buying them. Quint was in heaven. He prefers hot dogs over burgers. Everyone had a dog of their choice, a drink (mostly lemonade) an we split 5 orders of fries. A real NY experience.... followed by the Freak Show. No photos allowed.
It was so freaky that no one wanted to leave. After an hour, we headed to the NY Aquarium. Good thing it was open util 7. We got there about 3. Then we headed to the exit/entrance to head home. Except Jennifer saw the beach. She knew we brought her suit. She never got to actually go into the water in Massachusets. Not content to sit and watch the volleyball game, we trekked out to get her feet wet in the water. But that wasn't enough, so we trekked back to get her suit on and back again so she could get in the ocean. This is when I realized that when your mom tells you not to run (as I repeatedly did with her) it is not because she thinks you may fall (although you may and then that could require an ER viist) but it's because the child has too much energy and the mom is worn out and cannot keep up. After we returned to the boardwalk and joined the others she stated that she planned on getting in her stroller and going to sleep.
BITTER ALERT: Sterling says I am bitter about the following experience. So skip it if you don't want to have to read a rant.
It's a nice entance to the subway. Except the MTA person isn't at the gate. New York doesn't win any awards for disabled subway access, stroller access, etc. But cities are made to be efficient and babies and handicapped are not efficient. I have to be careful of my right elbow, so picking up the stroller and carting up and down the stairs is a potential problem. This gate was a real nighmare. It's a "goat gate" Like the ones at a children's zoo to keep the goats in. There is no way a child in a stroller can go through. You either have to disassemble and fold up the stroller (and the "crap a la family of 4" that goes with it) or you have to ring the attendant and have him buzz you thru the emergency exit "normal" gate. So Quint rang.
We knew, from another intern's first-day-in-New-York experience, that even if you hold a monthly pass, you have to swipe the card thru the reader and then turn the stile when using the gate for a stroller. If you don't you could be fined $60. So Quint rang. He was buzzed thru. But held the gate open for me in case it didn't work. We pushed the stoller thru to Ster, who went thru the goat gate. Quint swiped his card then went thru the gate. I swiped my card but turned the stile for Quint, stupidly, locking my card out since I had just swiped. It said JUST USED. No problem, Quint held the gate open for me. Meanwhile, the open gate is setting off the emergency alarm; even though the attendant buzzed us through.
Next thing we know, four officers meet us at the stairs to go up to the trains. Three remian on the stairs and one comes down on to the landing to us and gets in our face. He is accusing us of opening the emergency exit and not paying. Quint starts to explain and he gives us this Brooklyn cop attitude. I knew we were in for it. He wantes to see ID. Quint gives him his driver's license. I give him my I-house ID. It has a photo, my signature, a hologram stamp. etc. I'm not driving. But it's not good enough. Not wanted to further the butt-head moment, I get out my wallet and give him my license. "We don't do things here you do in Utah." He continued the heated lecture. I explained what happened, backing up what Quint said, but I got tongue tied. He jumped all over me. So I raised my voice at him and cut him off when he cut me off. AND I RAISED MY INDEX FINGER.
Evidently this is a crime in Brooklyn. I also could see that this guy was not into solving a problem or finding the facts. He wanted blood or money. He started in on a lecture about the rules in New York. And the problems including people with strollers who open the gate and then non-paying people come in. (How is a tourist supposed to know which NY rules are real when everyone walks across the street on a red light?) So I said to him, "Why don't you take our passes and scan them and see if we used them." He shut up. Evidently a novel idea. Also I had him trapped. I knew we had used our passes. He didn't know. He didn't hear the conversation with the attendant and he didn't witness us going through the gates nor swiping our passes. He only heard the alarm. So he gave our passes to his little buddy partner. I was peeved that he didn't do it. But now I am glad. I don't know if he would have told the truth.
What I didn't notice was that the other cops had told the students and our kids to go upstairs. We were sectioned off on the platform with the one cop. I swear this cop with the bad attiutde and accent was going to arrest us. He was salivating. He continued to explain that people going thru the emergency exit was a real problem in NYC-- holding the door open for other non-paying foks. I told him that if it were a real problem, then he should be stationed at the door. That this was the most unfriendly stroller town. PERIOD, Then his buddy came back. "They are good." The cop was stunned. We told the truth. Quint said we appreciated the job he did and we walked away. What a suck-up. (Obviously he is practicing.) But my view of Brooklyn cops has changed. 4 cops. One shooting off his mouth. The other 3 standing there like dumb, dumber and dumbest. No one trying to be productive — trying to solve NYC's biggest problem. He was out for a Saturday night of bashing heads.
That night I had dinner with my best friend from Jr High and High School. She is now an attorney in L.A. with an advanced law degree in mediation. She said his problem was that he ran into someone who was was a thinker. Just like most of our current elected government officials, this cop didn't want to actually solve a problem, he just want to bash heads. I'm glad I told him to check our passes. It certainly wasn't on his radar. Or at least if it was, he wasn't going to say anything about it. I'm glad I knew that you could do that. I found that out by accident when Jennifer turned the stile and went in ahead of me weeks ago. I had to ask an attendant to let me in. If it is a big problem in NYC, then one of them should have a reader to check those around gate when the alarm goes off... or run the card thru the gate reader. It would say JUST USED. But they were there to bash heads and lighten wallets... and make tourists glad they are leaving Coney Island.
Coney Island is supposed to be redesigned to resemble City Walk or Downtown Disney. I wish them luck. No one ever comments on how they like abusive cops at those venues. They may need to send them out for extensive training. Or bring LA or Anaheim cops here for tourist training. The urine in the elevators on the subway and the lack of elevators at any station other than Time Square are bigger issues, in my opinion.
Dee and I had a great time together over dinner. It funny how you can not to talk to someone for years and then pick up a conversation and it feels like you haven't been apart for long.... I showed her the way to the shuttle to Grand Central Terminal and I continued off to Harlem at midnight. There were more folks out at midnight than during the day! She was to take the train to see Roger in CT. I hope she made it. Roger is a trooper. He is so excited to see anyone he goes to great lengths to accomodate our weird schedules: the Bronx Zoo or the train arriving at 2 am.
But the mayor is getting a letter... and maybe the NY Times and the new Coney Island Developers.
Dinger to Plymouth, Plimouth and Hyannis
When Q was on his mission in Montreal, a trip outside of your assigned area was called a dinger. It was NOT a good thing. But I really, really wanted them to see Plimouth Plantation. And this dinger wasn't against any rules. I had been there in 1996 with my folks. After a couple minutes in the air-conditioned car, we were all glad to make the trip. We stayed in Plymouth Wednesday night after a 5-hour car ride. It only takes 4 hours, but we had to stop 4 times for potty breaks! 
We saw Plymouth Rock that night. Sterling was doubfounded that it was so small. They say it has eroded to about 1/3 the original size. 
Earlier, Jennifer wasn't impressed with the pool. We thought after her Connecticut visit, she would be anxious to swim. Ha. The water slide was too scary to even attempt a swim in the pool. (That only makes sense to a 4-year-old.) Quint and Ster loved the hot tub. 
Jennifer was too young for the hot tub, despite her insistance that she was 16-years-old. I'd be totally grey-haired if she was... 
Across the street from the hotel is a cool pond. Complete with geese and turtles.
The next day we went to The Mayflower II and Plimouth Plantation. It was very fun. Although it had been chilly and drizzling a bit the night before, the weather was perfect and not at all humid.
The actoros on the Mayflower will only answer questions and talk as if they lived at the time. There are other guides who will answer modern questions. At the Plantation, the native people will answer any quesitons. They freely talk about their life now and what their ancestors did. This particular fellow was showing how they hollowed out a tree to make a boat. A woman was cooking. others were gardening. One was in a home. Then Pilgrims in the plantation answer questions just like those on the Mayflower. Some of the homes I saw in 1996 are not there. They have build new ones. Last visit, they told us that it isn't uncommon for one to burn down. There are no chimneys — they cook under a hole in the roof. After a rain, it can be quite muddy inside. Made of all natural materials, the homes probably rot also. That night we drove to Hyannis and stayed there. Jennifer was impressed with the playground outside the sliding door of our hotel room. They have a wave pool, a hot tub and a mall with a Talbots. So everyone was happy. She was a little more brave in the wave pool and that prepared her for the beach the next day. She delighted in "saving" her brother from the waves.
The next morning Jennifer awoke with a start and said, "I'll be outside if you need me." Off she went to the playground. We then went to IHOP and the beach. They have cool shells on the beach, unlike Santa Monica or Malibu.
Jennifer got so wet "wakling on the beach" and splashing in the waves that we had to open the suitcases and start all over. 
Then we drove home... until a couple miles outside of NYC. Then we crawled home. 7 hours total. Two hours spent merging and merging and merging and merging awaiting to get on the Geo. Washington Bridge. Which we actually don't get on... we get off the freeway at the last exit in Manhattan and the one before the bridge! It was crazy. We barely made it home by 10 pm to return the rental car.
We took a short subway ride home and were ready for a shower. No sweating all day and 15 minutes going home in the subway and we were soaked. But now we understand a country home, city apartment and the purpose of "The Hamptons."
The Met and the Pyramid Playground
We went to the Met on Tuesday. The costume exhibit was moved for the Egyptian exhibit. It was fantastic. I had no idea they had so many various mummies, sarcophogai (?), and a real temple. The Poiret costume exhibit is in the midst of the Greek artifacts. Wonderful. The sign outside the exhibit is the same as the general museum.. no flash photographey. So I'm clicking away.... well no photos allowed. But here is anillegal photo. I think I took five total.
Obviously, they want you to buy the book. (The interesting thing is that there are Mary Englebreit-type flowers beaded on the skirt of this outfit.) Then we saw Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Gougin, Van Dyck, Monet and many more. The ones I wanted to see were in storage to give more room for a special collection of someone whom I can't remember. So I bought the postcards. 
We also went into American furniture. Frank Lloyd Wright and Tiffany were my favorites. Can you image having this mural of Versailles in your home? I thought this photo of Sterling was a little funny. It reminds me of family vacations of the past... driving long distances somewhere.
Quint's feet hurt so much he and Ster got a wheelchair while I was in the Poiret exhibit. In handing the fellow his driver's license, it fell, flipped and slipped into the back seam of the desk. The problem is that the desk is made of granite. It took at least an hour to disassemble the specially-made desk to retrieve his driver's license. I wonder if they will now chalk the seams. He paid Ster to push him around the museum. I pushed Jennifer around in her stroller. She was asleep. We saw perhaps a quarter of the museum. Perhaps. But I didn't get to read all the placards so I don't know if that even counts.
Outside the museum, to the north is the Pyramid playground. After the hour-long nap in the stroller and a frozen lemonade, Jennifer was ready to unleash her energy.
Happy 25th Anniversary
In celebration of our 25th Wedding Anniversay, Tuesday evening, we took a taxi (after a subway ride) to the Boathouse in Central Park for dinner. Excellent. Best food I think I've eaten. I had salmon. Quint had steak. We both had spinich. I liked his better. He had a creamed spinich, mine was steamed with garlic slices. It had rained earlier in the day, but by evening, it was dry and very pretty. They slid open the wall of windows so we could overlook the lake and watch the Gondola. Then we walked through Central Park and saw the Falconer Statue. I knew the way home, Quint asked an officer. I was right. Some things never change after 25 years. When we got home and I think I did a load of laundry. Afterall... this is a real reality show.
Lauri Frost, one of the interns — who is a great news photographer, took this photo on our last day. I didn't bring the camera with us the evening of our anniversary. I wanted Quint to have a great time also.... actually I just forgot it. I wasn't trying to be considerate.
We Miss Derek
This is one of the latest photos of Derek, Jennifer's nephew. He is getting to be quite the little chunk. He looks like his daddy... now; not when Bryce was a baby. He looks more like Nancy's baby photos.
More lines... The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island
I tease our family that our vacations are ADHD vacations: small spurts of activity then we go home and rest the feet. Friday morning's goal was to get tickets to the Disney plays. At least one or two. We got to the box office to stand in the immense line. We were it — for 45 minutes. But we got out with tickets for 3 of us to see "Beauty and the Beast" that night. Jennifer obediently took a nap for a couple hours so she wouldn't fall asleep before it was over. Her eyes were enormous during the play. Especially when the giant champange bottle pops and confetti spurts over the audience. The wolves were terrifying. She loved it.
Saturday morning, we got a relatively early start (for college students) and headed down to the Statue of Liberty. The boat ride was refreshing and a lot cooler than standing in line... or Manahttan... period. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Lacrosse.
Together for 2 seconds....
We boarded another boat and continued on to Ellis Island. What a wonderful place. We called Grandma Barlow to double-check if we had any relatives that went through Ellis Island, but all of ours came at the peak before the island opened. The documentation, pictures, history and accounts are facinating.
A U.S. flag from one view and photos of folks descended from immigrants on the other side.
And now a word from our sponsors...
We ended the day with a water run-through in Battery Park. Jennifer and Quint were the test subjects. We brought Jennifer's suit. Then she fell asleep in her stroller for the subway ride home.
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