New York Trip Day 1

Last week, Mom, Dad, Grandma-Mona and I went on a fabulous trip to New York City and New Jersey! Here is a day by day account of all the fun!

Thursday, April 16 2009

We woke up this morning at 3:30 AM! But I wasn't one teeny bit tired! :-)

We finished all our little details with the packing, told Lydia and Nathan goodbye, jumped in the van (Me, Mom, and Dad were very excited!), and cranked the van and got ready to take off! Unfortunately, as soon as we cranked the van, it would start up just fine...then die. We tried again, and the same thing happened. So we tried again and again and again and when Dad pushed on the accelerator, it would go. So, we made it to Grandma-Mona's house, right down our street. Instead of driving to the airport in our handicapped van, we switched all the bags into Grandma-Mona's car. THEN, we left! We were on our way to NEW YORK!!

Well, we got about 10 minutes down the road before realizing that we had forgotten a very, very important suitcase! There was no other choice, we had to turn back. Thankfully it was VERY early in the morning and we had barely any traffic. So, we sped down the road at Cullen fast speeds to get back to our house and then to the Lafayette airport on time. I've never seen my mother drive the way she was driving this morning at 4:15 AM....

Thankfully, we made it to the airport in time...barely. We got our boarding passes, checked our luggage, and headed to security. That's where we met some troubles. I made it through without any problems. Mom and Grandma-Mona both had to get their bags searched. And Dad, well he got his hip replaced years ago and something in his artificial hip ALWAYS makes the security things go off. So, they had to search him all over. Meanwhile, I was on the other side of security while there were announcements like "Last call for flight 2008 to Atlanta" being said. I didn't know what to do! I was telling the lady at the counter, "They're right there! They're coming!!"

Well, it all worked out. We made it onto the airplane in the nick of time! Not long after, we took off! I'll admit, I do get a smidge nervous about flying. It was only my 3rd time ever being on an airplane. But, once we got going, I was just in awe of the beauty of everything. At first, it was still really dark outside, so all we could see were tiny lights in big groups where all the cities were. After a little while, though, we started to see the sunrise! It was so pretty! We were flying through the sunrise!

We had a very nice flight. I listened to "Into The Woods" while I read "A Little Bit Wicked" and looked out the window alot. I am simply amazed with the view of the ground from an airplane!

Eventually, we got to the Atlanta airport. I'll admit, I had a small freakout inside when the landing gear came out. It made a huge noise and I thought the airplane was broken. And I was ready for us to go plummeting down to the ground. That's me with my over active, dramatic imagination... We had about a 50 minute layover. The airport in Atlanta is ginormous! There was even a subway like thingy to get you to the correct terminal!

We had a little time to kill...so...

We waited....

Then we got on the other airplane. This time I got to sit next to Dad. We had a fun time eating peanuts, Biscoff cookies, drinking Coke, laughing, looking out the window, and listening to "Defying Gravity" while we were defying gravity!

Eventually, we arrived in Newark, New Jersey. Frank picked us up from the airport and drove us to the hotel. Our hotel was right next to the river that's in between New York and New Jersey. So, we weren't technically staying in New York, but according to Frank, New Jersey is pretty much just another section of New York City. So, we got ourselves settled. Me and Grandma-Mona in one room and Mom and Dad in the other. Luckily, we were RIGHT next door to each other.

We went across the street to a mall to eat lunch. We got some yummy Quiznos. Then we came back to the hotel to just hang out until it was time to head into "The City" (that's what Nony said they all call it when they go into New York City). I was completely exhausted. After getting back from the cast party last night and eating all the sugary yummy foods and with all the excitement of leaving this morning. I didn't fall alseep until almost 12:00, which doesn't sound too bad, until you remember that I got up at 3:30! So, I was very tired. I laid down on the bed in the hotel and it wasn't long at all before I was in a hard, hard sleep. And anyone who knows me well, knows that I'm a very light sleeper, so I was surprised at how well I slept with Grandma-Mona bustling around doing stuff.

When I woke up, it was time to get ready to go! Our plans were to go and show Grandma-Mona and Dad where Nony went to school, then "grab a slice" (another "New York thing" that Nony showed us) and then go to the Lunt-Fontane Theatre to see "The Little Mermaid On Broadway"!!

Soon, Nony got to the hotel, and we were off! We had to teach Grandma-Mona and Dad how to swipe their Metro Cards.

When we emerged from the Subway, we were right in the middle of the hustle and bustle and beauty of Times Square! And New York has a specific smell, that I immediately recognized. My first thought, as I walked up onto the sidewalk from underground was, "Ahhh...It's good to be back!"

We went to see the school and Nony pointed out some of her favorite stores to shop at. Then we went to a pizza place to "grab a slice"! Nony showed us the proper way to eat the giant slices of pizza. Since they're like 2 or 3 slices in one, you fold it in half and that's how you manage to hold it. It was fun. By the way, New York Pizza is very yummy!

After that, we were ready to go to the theatre!!!!!!! On the way, though, we made the terrible discovery that Grandma-Mona's shoes were cutting into her feet! They were even bleeding! When we got there, Mom and Grandma-Mona and Mom went to the bathroom to take care of Grandma-Mona's feet (thankfully we got there early!) and Dad and I went to the gift shop because I wanted to buy myself a shirt and Natalie Sibille wanted one and we were getting a "Dinglehopper Brush" for Lydia.

This is the shirt that Natalie and I got. I love the color of it!

And I thought the "Dinglehopper Hairbrush" was SO cute...and very creative...perfect for Lydia.

The very, very kind people at the Lunt-Fontane Theatre were gracious enough to give Grandma-Mona some band-aids for her feet.

We found our seats, which were actually VERY good seats, much to my excitement! Then we sat and waited for the show to start.

We didn't have to wait too very long before that magic of Theatre began. The lights dimmed, the orchestra began playing the Overture, and the curtain rose! The next hour or so was just amazing. The acting, singing, choreography, costumes, sets, and even the lighting brought us "Under the Sea" and into the world of mermaids and talking fish.

When Act 1 was over, Dad, was nearly speechless. This was his first time seeing a professional theatre performance. All he could say was, "That was awesome! That was....amazing!" I asked one of the ushers if I could take some extra Playbills for some friends and family, and she pointed to a stack of Playbills and said "Sure! Take as many as you want!" I will again mention how nice the people were at the Lunt-Fontane Theatre. I also asked them for an extra bag to put Natalie Sibille's t-shirt in, so she could have a bag of her own. Without a second thought, they just handed one to me! And I asked them where the stage door was, where all of the actors and actresses exited, so we could get autographs and hopefully pictures. They told us right where to go!

During Intermission, Mom took a picture of me in front of the stage!

Here's me, Dad, and Grandma-Mona during Intermission sitting in our awesome seats!!

The second act was just as great as the first. I was thoroughly enjoying myself! Well, actually, that's not quite true. One recurring thought was "I wish that were ME up there! One day....that just HAS to be me up there.....one day..."

During curtain call, Mom and I rushed near the door, so we could hurry out to the stage door. We wanted to be first in line to get autographs and (hopefully!) pictures.

Then we waited....and waited....Mom took a picture of me in front of the door that had a picture of the poster:

But...she kinda missed me because Sierra Boggess, the actress who was the STAR of the show had come out!! I asked her to sign my Playbill and if she could take a picture with me, and she did!! I got to meet the original Broadway Ariel!!

And then, Mom got that picture of me in front of the door... :-)

Next to come out was Tyler Maynard, who played Jetsam, one of Ursala's eels...

Then out came Brian D'Addario. He was the adorable little boy who played Flounder! He was so mature and professional when I talked to him...

Then, Lyndy Franklin, who played Adella, one of Ariel's many sisters came out.

I also got Joe Abraham's, who played Scuttle, autograph, but for some reason, I didn't take a picture with him. I don't know why...

I would've really loved to meet Rogelio Douglas Jr., who played Sebastian, and Faith Prince, who played Ursula, but we had to leave to get Grandma-Mona some shoes that weren't killing her feet. To say I was dissapointed, would be a pretty big understatement...and I was a little imature about it. And I wish I wouldn't have been because I just made the others aggravated with me, and myself more miserable.

Anyway, we got Grandma-Mona outfitted with some bright pink Crocs from the biggest Walgreens I've ever seen. People, the Walgreens had THREE floors!!

We got back to the hotel pretty late. It didn't take us long at all to jump in pajamas and fall fast asleep!

Well, this has been the first installment of a 5 part series of our "New York Trip".

To be continued....