Manic Monday...homage to Prince - not the Bangles

Monday (Oct 1st) was a day of saw that - did that.

Once we got rolling - who knew setting up a blog would take so long - we went on a NYC landmark quick tour. Since "the fam" is planning on coming for Thanksgiving, and Teake will be a part of that tour too, we limited our time at each site. Also, we did not start until 4 and have to be at the Avenue Q lottery at 6...you can do the math (even my majors can do this math...yes, kids, that means you).

Here we go...Ground Zero - check. As many times as I have been there since 9/11, it never loses its power. People talk in respectful whispers, dozens of fresh flowers are scattered around the site with various notes, an abundance of police surround it - I don't know so much as a security measure but as a sign of respect.

The site is currently surrounded by an opaque fabric wall as they begin the construction on the Freedom Tower...again, Google it if you would like to read about the plans and see a design rendering. Another change is that they are now offering "Ground Zero Tours." Of course they are. I have to say that this disappoints me. What is there to tour? Stand there and look at the hole of destruction. Imagine the potential of creativity, the power of prayer and the capacity of love that was lost when 2,794 were killed. How do you tour that? Also, it also reminds me of a poem - I can't remember the exact words or the author; maybe one of my colleagues can remind me - that talked about the irony of watching families and friends taking smiling pictures of one another and having picnics at Auschwitz....like it was a "have-to vacation spots" like Disney Land or Vegas.

Teake and I then walked through Wall Street - check - on our way to Battery Park - check. It was the perfect place to just sit and reflect after leaving Ground Zero. Looking out at the Statue of Liberty from the harbor made her seem so small - a perfect reminder that hope can come in the smallest of forms, and greatness and strength in others is discovered as you get closer.

We hopped on a train (subway) not really knowing where we were going to end up; it was a line with which I was unfamiliar. However, we had enough time to get a bit lost before we need to be on 45th Street, so we took it. We wanted to go to the Empire State Building - check, but it was a bit too overcast, so the view would be limited. Therefore, we just stood there and appreciated the architecture. Yeah, so we looked like gawking tourist as we stood on 5th...just looking. We are, and we did.

Good news. We won the Avenue Q lottery (Broadway Show) -check! Mine was the first name drawn! A bit of explanation of the lottery is needed. Many theaters sell @ 20 tickets 2 hours prior to show via lottery. If they draw your name you can buy one or two for $21.50 apiece - cash only. They are in the front row (which means you get spit on and can count nose hairs). However, it is also great because you can connect with the performers and - many times - see into the wings...I love that. As a director, I would be mortified that someone could see into the wings, but as a director in the audience, I love it.

Teake and I ran home to eat and change. The poor kid was so hungry. He even said, "I am not used to this pace. We walk, walk, walk, fast, fast, fast and only eat a couple times a day."

I am so glad I saw Avenue Q again. I saw it in previews in 2004 - before it opened and before it won the Tony Award for Best Musical. So much had changed. I "stole-pirated" an abundance of ideas. Those go into another journal. Teake loved it. As he said, "It is all a bit sick and wrong," but what do you want from a show that is advertised as "Sesame Street for Adults" and on its posters it says, "This show contains full puppet nudity?"

It was a beautiful night in the city, so we opted to walk home....picked up our bagels, rolls and cream cheese for breakfast and called it a day.

OINK (Only in New York) Moment of the Day.
Today we met a person who really made an impression on us. Hercules, originally from Greece, runs a little store on the corner of our block. We have stopped in to buy our morning beverages the past couple of days. That's all it took...two days. He wanted to know all about us and South Dakota. He is sad that Teake is going home on Wednesday. He said as we left, "Too bad you go home...you good boy."