The ball will drop in an hour and we are safely ensconced in our hotel at E 38th and Madison Avenue. It was tough getting around today and we even finally ended up taking the MTA subway – albeit in a straight line and for only 5 stops, to get to the Guggenheim Museum uptown.

We started the morning at 5:45 AM, and were at breakfast when the hotel opened the restaurant at 7 AM. We meant to get straight up to the Today Show as soon as we could, but it was so early and the Empire State Building also opened at 7 AM and we hit there by 7:30 and no line, so up we went. There were big lines by the time we left about 45 minutes later, tho, and we patted ourselved on the back for stealing the moment The sunrise was blinding and it was warm on one side of the building until you went around the corner and whew! Boy was it cold! I had my good mittens today and I was glad.

We hoofed it up to 51st and Lexington, the closest Staples we knew of, to buy our poster board and markers to make our sign. By the time we got into the Today Show area, it was about 9:15. And no Al Roker! He was in Pasadena going on about some silly football game tomorrow. Sheesh. We tried to get on camera, and I did get a report from my sister that she saw us for a moment right at 9:30 from an aerial camera that Steve had pointed out and we looked up for a moment and she saw us. maybe you did too? But you couldn’t read our sign from there to be sure. So here’s a picture.

We next went to the MoMA, Modern Museum of Art, which was close by (more Monet’s here). Around 11:30 we hit the wall, hungry and tired and tired by the crowds and the volume was growing by the minute everywhere we went. Most museums are closed on Monday but since today was considered a “holiday Monday” some of them even opened an hour earlier to accomodate the visitors. And we were not alone, that is for sure!

We took a cab back and Steve picked up sandwiches from a nearby deli and we hit the sack for a power nap. Well, a real nap really, since we slept for nearly 2 hours. But we woke refreshed and ready to tackel the MTA subway to get back uptown to the Guggenheim Museum.

Disappointingly the museum was “in a bag” and undergoing renovation. Steve loves that building, it was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. There was an interesting exhibition by an artist named Richard Prince, and I spent a lot of time laughing at the jokes in his paintings. (More Monet’ shere, too.)

We left the museum at about 5:30 to take a cab to Paradou, a French restaurant in the hip Meatpacking District. We made reservations a month ago and have been eagerly awaiting the evening. The dinner was amazing, the wine the most expensive I have ever drank probably (and quite good), and the prix fixe menu I am pasting in here since I am afraid the page may disappear from their web site.

New Year’s Eve 2008
~ ~ ~ ~
Amuse Bouche with Champagne Cocktail
~ ~ ~ ~
Lobster Salad with Blood Orange & Espresso Soy Gelée (Wendy)
Or
Wild Mushroom “Cappuccino” with Black Truffle
Or
Pan Seared Foie Gras with White Wine Poached Pear (Steve)
~ ~ ~ ~
Cranberries-Peppercorn Crusted Fillet Mignon
over Saffron Pearl Barley & Bordelaise Sauce (Steve)
Or
Mango & Tarragon Marinated Cod
with White Asparagus & Wild Rice “Pilaf” (Wendy)
Or
Duck Trio – Duck Leg Confit in Cassoulet
with Roast Duck Magret & Duck and Armagnac Sausage
~ ~ ~ ~
Selection of Artisanal French Cheeses paired
with Chef Kfir’s House Made Confiture
~ ~ ~ ~
Tarte aux Marrons
Or
Chausson aux Poires & Noix de Pecan
Or
Bitter Chocolate & Cognac Crème Brûlée (Both of us!! It was so amazing!)

Steve felt so sick afterwards (the espresso put him over the edge) we walked for quite a distance before hailing a cab back to our hotel. We are now safe, and I can tell you in advance the ABC is probab ly going to be the best network to watch the ball drop. We are watching the local news at the moment and they are warning of a big storm coming in tomorrow. We hope it doesn’t effect our flight out and HOME.

It’s been a great trip and I am really glad we came. It’s a heck of a way to celebrate a tenth wedding anniversary and I have always wanted to visit NYC, the place that so many of our favorite movies and television shows have taken place. Tomorrow morning we plan on trying the Today show first thing but my sister told me it is on only from 7-8 AM tomorrow because of the Rose Parade. We then will go up and walk around Central Park since we have only been along one edge so far. We have a car coming at 2:30 to take us to the airport (we are not messing around with a shuttle this time) and our flight out of Newark is around 5:30. We have another car meeting us at SeaTac to get us home in time for Sophia’s late night walk. I can’t wait to see my dog again! (I am so in love with my little pup girl!!)

I better sign off soon so I can focus on watching the ball drop on LIVE television. What a change, I get to see if before all you folks on the West coast! Hah!

Happy New Year!! Have a great 2008!

PS The funniest advertising sign I saw on this trip was for the New York Sports Club. It said, “If your snow angel looks more like a crop circle, call us and we can help”. Hilarious!!