Gennaro's New York

The Gayla Pink Apple

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Gennaro's

Gennaro's New York

 

 Gennaro's is a local spot for some excellent Italian food - and our landlady had talked about taking us to this restaurant since day one - she said she wanted to introduce Blair to them.  She dines here often and it was obvious she is a regular by the greeting she received from everyone.  They all knew she had guests with her too - we were treated extremely well.  Of course, I think being with someone who goes there at least every Monday night, if not more than once a week, you could expect to be greeted exceptionally.  As we were leaving, I overheard the lady at the next table say, "see you next Monday!"  GdeL didn't lead us astray because the food was fantastic and very reasonable.  It was obvious by the clientele this is a local place because everyone seem to know each other and - well - you could just tell by the way they looked.  No tourists in Gennaro's, tonight anyway.

 

I love dining at places where mostly locals go and I thought it was so sweet how the staff doted over our sweet 90 year old landlady.  She could recite the menu from memory and she talked with the waiter as if he were family.  How are the children?  He apologized for not having shaved yet (we were there early) and pulled his electric razor out of his pocket.  GdeL said she noticed that! LOL.  He left and told us that when he came back he would look like a different person. Sure enough, he came back with a clean shaven face!  Cute huh?  How many people go into a restaurant and talk with the waiter about whether or not he has shaved yet that day?  He knew her favorites.  She told him she wanted to order the kale salad so we could taste it.  He brought the salad out on three separate plates.  I love things like that - I love it when you are treated with such kindness.  I'm going to try and make the kale salad at home - it was spectacular!

 

A lady at the next table - who obvously knew GdeL - asked how we knew each other.  All three of us looked at each other with a big smile and somewhat puzzled look on our faces because we didn't really know how to answer that.  The lady said "obviously it's a long story."  GdeL said, "well, it's a good one." 

 

I'm confident Blair can go to Gennaro's on her own and - although she may not be able to chat with the guy about whether or not he shaved before work - I'm sure she will be greeted with a very warm welcome - like a local! 

 

Buon Appetito,

Gayla





 

 



 

 



A Slob Blog

The Gayla Pink Apple

 

A Slob Blog 

I feel somewhat of a slob and I am not sure I should feel that way!  Hmmmmmm....No, I am not a slob - actually the opposite.  But, for some reason :) an adorable and lovely 90 year old New York City lady can go circles around me.  I mean seriously, this lady has more lunch and dinner appointments in a week than I have in six months.  I am a little jealous.  She still works and goes and goes and goes!  I think it is FANTASTIC!  But, secretly - internally - just a teeny tiny bit - I feel like a slob.  I can sleep late - not GdeL, she doesn't sleep late (I'll call this lady GdeL since I don't want to give her full name in a public blog post.)  I can nap in the afternoons - seldom does GdeL nap. 

She has her coffee made in her cute french coffee press before I can get my coffee in mine.  She even grinds the coffee beans for both of us.   Yes, I am a french press coffee gal but stopped using it a few years back when the kcup and Keurig machines became the thing.   Plus, I hate emptying the coffee grounds from a french press.  I make a huge mess cleaning the thing - not GdeL, she can empty hers using a little strainer and not make a mess at all.

GdeL is up and has her hair and make up finished and I'm still walking around in my cami and pj bottoms.  She can go to the market and run errands and back before I get off the toilet.  She can take the bus downtown to a business meeting and lunch and get back and I'm still in the den drinking coffee and looking at facebook and blogging!  I go nap and when I get up she is refreshed, and having another meeting in the parlor with a glass of wine, and an hour or two later she is out the door to dinner. 

 

GdeL's phone rings off the wall.  My phone seldom rings.  And, I carry that iphone around with me like someone might need me pronto - well that is true - I carry it just in case my child needs me - but you get my point.  GdeL has her cell phone but honestly she is too busy to mess with it.  Her phone even rings at night after I'm in bed.  She has more phone messages on her answering machine than my machine can hold, I think!  She can fly through listening to them and quickly hit the delete button or take down notes on which calls are important or not.  She even has an ipad (I don't) but heavens she most definitely doesn't sit still long enough to tap and scroll on an ipad screen and when she does it is not going to be devoted to tapping and scrolling.  She will be reading or listening to music.  To say she is one of a kind is an understatement. I will say she always stops and takes the time to sit and visit with me, in spite of her busy schedule, and I have loved every minute. 

  

Indeed this adorable and lovely 90 year old NYC lady can go circles around me - but in my defense - she has lived here since she was about 7 years old!!!  I think I'm entitled to do whatever I want  - don't you? 

This Slob (Not) Smiles,
Gayla

 




Dogs, Dogs, & More Dogs + Soapy Bubbles & Cheers

The Gayla Pink Apple

 

Dogs, Dogs, and More Dogs

Soapy Bubbles

Cheers!

Dogs, Dogs, and More Dogs --- Why does everyone own a dog in NYC?  Everywhere you walk there are people and their dogs.  Their dogs pee and poop right there in front of you on the sidewalk.  Yes, most owners pick up the poop but still no wonder the wind smells like pee.  Dried dog pee is everywhere you step.   I am serious -  It seems like 8 out of 10 people walking have a dog on a leash.  Part of me feels sorry for the dogs – they don’t know what they are missing not having grass to walk on or a nice back yard.  Man’s Best Friend – literally!

Soapy Bubbles --- Laundry is in the basement of the apartment building.  Not a big deal, but must share a little laugh.  Monday was laundry day for us.  There were four washing machines in the room and two were being used.  We used the other two.  Being somewhat untrusting I decide not to leave the machines unattended. I sat down to wait and chat as the washers took our clothing from dirty to clean.  There was a water drinking fountain at the end of the room.  You know, one of those drinking fountains we used to see in school where you bend over and turn it on and put your mouth in the water as it shoots up.  All of a sudden soapy bubbles start coming up from the drain of the water fountain.  Our eyes widened and we look at each other and start laughing.  I really wanted to take a picture of it but didn’t have my iphone with me.  Dang it!  Oh well, no big deal, everyone has seen bubbles coming out of the drain of a water fountain, right?  It gets better….all of a sudden this young asian boy – guessing in his late 20’s – walks in and bends over the drinking fountain and gets a drink of water.  Yes, the bubbles are still there and he works hard to tilt his chin as not to get bubbles on his chin.  HE MUST HAVE BEEN VERY VERY THIRSTY!  I indeed believe he left with soapy bubbles on his chin!   Good Gracious!!! 

A trip back to Boston to move into the correct storage unit was on the ‘to do’ list this week.  Surprisingly, the storage facility had the correct unit this time.  Wonder why?  All of a sudden the climate control 10 x 10 unit was available - a week after we showed up with movers and a moving truck and were told no such unit – even though we had a written confirmation in hand!  I am curious if my call to the home office where we were told the unit should have been available because their records indicate there were several cc 10x10 units empty.  I was also told they would be following up to find out what went wrong.  I didn’t question or comment – took the unit – and B & G Movers moved all of the furniture without help from others.  It fit perfectly and we’re happy!  Happy about the way the things fit, but not happy that their error cost me two airfares from NYC to Boston, a hotel for one night in Boston, a rental car to get back to the storage place and two taxi fares at $60 each in NYC to get back and forth to the airport.  All in all their error costs me a lot which should have never happened in the first place.  That’s life isn’t it? 

Yesterday’s agenda was a run in Central Park around the reservoir and today it’s a pedicure – Apple Spa!  Fitting name isn’t it!  I agree!  Big difference in visiting NYC and seeing the famous sights, Broadway plays, and fine dining than living in NYC and trying to navigate as a resident in a neighborhood.  Thank goodness for our sweet landlady who tells us exactly what we need to know.   I’m making plans for return to LR soon.  I’m confident Blair will be taken care of – she already loves her landlady and I'm confident the landlady will love Blair.  I told the lady tonight that she would need to fill in for me the 28^th because it was Blair’s birthday.  She smiled and said one son birthday was Sept 24^th; the other son Sept. 26^th, and Blair Sept 28^th.  How cool!!! 

It’s time for Champagne… celebrate our nice accommodations with a wonderful lady with a bottle of champagne!  Cheers!  It’s been a good week!  Yes, it’s a ‘gayla’ of a time!

My Heart Smiles,

Gayla

The Big Pink Apple

 

Hello New York

The Big Apple

 

The Big Pink Apple

 

Susan G Komen 5K - Central Park - New York City

September 9, 2012 

WOW!  How do I even start this blog.  Honored and privileged beyond words to have run the Susan G Komen 5K in Central Park, New York City, today.



Blair and I ran this event today with great pride and joy and I am at a loss for words to describe how I felt.  As a victim of breast cancer in 2005 and today as a breast cancer survivor, I have worked hard in an attempt to stay active for my health and well being which in part includes running. 

I ran my first 5K last year ( October 2011 ) which was the Susan G Komen Arkansas 5K after training with the SGKomen Foundation Arkansas Affiliate at War Memorial Stadium last year.  Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever believed at age 56 I would actually run a quarter of a mile much less a 5K (3.1 miles). 

NYC Central Park Race for the Cure

Emotions are high and over power me during any SGKomen event as I think of the thousands of women who are victims of breast cancer - some losing their battle - while others survive.  Today, participating in the Susan G Komen 5K in Central Park in New York was just an over the top experience for me.

My Tears of Joy Flow - My Soul Grateful - I was given a second chance at living so I live each day trying to live life instead of just exist.  Some days I'm successful, other days not.  But regardless of which day it is, I'm lucky for the opportunity to do either.  This morning was one of living life in the sweetest way for me - it took my breath away!

My Heart Sings and Smiles,
Gayla

Hallelujah - NYC Housing Acquired!

The Gayla Pink Apple

NYC Housing Acquired 

Hallelujah
Prayers Answered - Thank You, Lord

 

 

HOUSING ACQUIRED!!!!!!!!!!  Finally a full nights sleep with no waking up with my heart racing and my stomach churning and my mind fretting of  panic - fear - tears!  A night of peace with a big sigh of relief. 

 

Blair will be staying with a wonderful lady in a clean and nice place!  I do not wear my faith on my sleeve, so to speak, but THANK YOU, LORD.  This person does not rent room/s in her home.  She has opened her home to Blair after being told by complete strangers to us - yet someone she knew - about Blair.  I'm grateful beyond words!  I feel there is God behind all this and that there is real meaning in Blair meeting and staying with this warm and kind lady.

 
I am not going to share the details of this because of security and safety and this being a public blog. I will say that the first day here we walked into a hell of a mess - and ended up in a room that was difficult to live in - but at least off the street. We made the best of it and I ended up enjoying the lady who scrambled at the last minute to clear out a spot for us in her home.  However, it was not a solution, it was merely getting us off the street.  It is a great relief and comfort to have found a nice clean place for Blair with a wonderful lady and I am welcomed as well. 
 

My Heart Smiles Again,

Gayla

 

 



New York Continues! Week One

The Gayla Pink Apple

New York Continues - Week 1

 

 

My time in NYC continues...I'm ready to go home but can't do it just yet.  I've got to go back to Boston and move Blair's belongings into a different storage unit. 

 

The past few days have been nice due to the two Sybert women just making the best of the situation.  Getting acquainted with the transportation system - location of NYU -- and a couple other places Blair will be going to frequently.  For me, honestly, just being with my daughter is time treasured.  I know my days are limited to have this kind of one-on-one time with her. 

 

One of the first things on the "to do" list was checking out a running route in Central Park.   At first, I wasn't so impressed but must take into consideration my frame of mind during the first few days here in NYC.  They were not pleasant, in any way, so with everything going wrong, I was saying to myself "what is so special about this place"  -  it's not nearly as nice as Boston Public Garden or Boston Common.  Just a bunch of ridiculously looking people with dogs peeing and pooping everywhere, rudeness, and crooks or cons at every turn.  At least Boston Public Garden has beautiful plantings and flowers and gorgeous bridges and water, etc.  Will admit that a few days later I have softened my opinion somewhat on Central Park...if for no other reason than it is so famous etc. and it really is very pretty.  So, I take back my unkind thoughts on Central Park.  Let me be honest, I saw Central Park years ago when I was in NYC, so not my first time in this beautiful park or NYC.  So far, I feel  NYC is great to visit, but is not or rather would not be great for me to live. But, Central Park?  It is beautiful!

 

Walking in the neighborhood around Central Park and I noticed a lot of psychologist and psychiatrist offices.  Thought to myself that they could definitely make a living here because everyone seems to be nuts - in my opinion anyway. 

To change my frame of mind and share a more positive opinion - the food is fabulous here.  Whether a fine dining restaurant, corner diner, even street food - it all tastes good!  Why?  I have no idea.  Maybe so much walking and find myself starving so anything taste good?  But, I don't really think that.  I truly think just wonderful places to eat.  We attached ourselves to this one little corner diner and find ourselves going there daily.  The food is very good - prices as reasonable as possible for NYC -  we look like bums.  We look like bums because we are living out of our luggage and our clothes are wrinkled and crumbled and I am alternating between two outfits. 

We are sleeping in a room in a lady's row house who has a preschool type business. She is actually a nice woman.  Her son is a musician and she invited us to go with her to hear his band play.  She was meeting relatives who were visiting from London as well as other relatives who also live in NYC.   We had a great evening and enjoyed them.  Although she is a nice woman - it has been a difficult living arrangement - we have a bedroom and bathroom but no closet, kitchen or living area.   So, our entire week, almost every moment 24/7 has been spent searching for housing.

Our "STUFF" !!!  Well, you know it takes a lot of stuff to live somewhere for 5/6 months.  Shipping boxes from Boston to NYC seemed the be the easiest solution.  That allowed us to travel without so many bags.  Our things were shipped to the address where we thought Blair would be staying the entire stay!  After that housing went awry we are "out of there" but our belongings are headed there and we fear subject to disaster.  Things start to look up - the boxes arrived safely and the doormen agreed to help us find a place to store them for the week. 

Blair is taking a class not associated with NYU which is held a few blocks from 5th Avenue - so I managed to tag along and found myself, in a tiny bit of heaven, walking up and down 5th Avenue and pretending I was rich and could buy anything I wanted!  LOL Well, I'm not rich, but sometimes I do splurge and buy what I want.  So, I bought - yes - a Christmas ornament. That's not really a splurge but it is what I wanted.  I'll splurge later!   I found myself needing to find a place to sit and rest  - whew - walking and shopping is hard work.  I ended up in St Patrick's Cathedral and enjoyed a nice long peaceful rest and I bought an ornament there too!

My accent, yes, the southern accent.  Yelp, EVERYONE wants to know where I am from???? Interestingly though, they almost always comment that it is only my accent, not Blair.  I often got the same comment when I would visit Boston.  And, another thing, just because everyone asks about the accent doesn't mean they like it/you!

Pretzel time,
Gayla



 

 

 

 

  

Well, Hello New York

 The Gayla Pink Apple

 

Hello New York 

Manhattan Move In 

 

Blair and I made it to New York and arrived safely to the Manhattan flat.  Interesting, to say the least.  The lady who owns or rents the flat  is a very sweet and lovely lady - she grew up in England - so you can imagine her accent.  Seems she is a British chaplain, so we've been told. Blair met her in person a couple weeks ago and found her delightful.  The place less than desirable but doable - afterall - this is New York!

 

The search for an apartment was a huge challenge in itself.  We spent 24/7 for weeks and weeks searching and searching - networking - calling - checking craigslist - sublet.com - etc.   We were subject to scam after scam.  I'll share one experience.  Basically, the guy gave us an address and told us to drive by to see the exterior of the apartment and then he would send us pictures of the interior.  We map googled the address and saw the apartment was above a business.  I called the business and chatted with the employee who confirmed there was indeed an apartment above.  The landlord  then wanted an application form and deposit - of course, he was out of the country on business - so this had to be done via email.  After back and forth with him, we asked to make an appointment to view the apartment and we would bring the application form and deposit with us.  He replied with explanation of his travel and how many others were wanting the apartment - time was critical so we needed to get the application form and deposit submitted immediately or were subject to losing the apartment.  We told him we would not go any further until we viewed the apartment.  That was the end of the communication with that one.

 

We posted on sublet.com and when you do that you include a brief description of what you're looking for and a couple sentences about you as a tenant.  We posted something like "short term lease (6 month max) moving from Boston and doing grad work at NYU - neat - organized - non smoker and not a party girl."  A realtor - repeat a realtor - aren't they considered professionals?  Anyway, a realtor replied by email with "one year lease Party Girl"    My reply:  "Thank you asshole"    Realtor replied:  "no need for the potty mouth"     My reply: "You're correct but no need for your sarcastic comment either"   Realtor:  "Peace."  Interesting to me that a professional thought it was necessary to reply to that.  Perhaps I was a little too bold, but, then again, maybe not.  There are many more stories to share, but think I've made my point.  Blair took the bus into New York on several occasions to see apartments - rather rooms in aptartments and to meet the potential landlords. 

 
So, we arrive and are informed by this lovely British lady that I cannot stay in the room with Blair - although the bed is big enough and the room is fairly large - because that would be too many in the bathroom!  She tells me she has a friend down the street who has agreed to let me stay with her.  I admit I immediately thought this nice lady wasn't so nice afterall.  I'm thinking, ok, what she wants is more money, right?  However, if that were the case I think she would have had no problem telling me she needed me to pay more.  So, I have no choice to believe that my showering there for a few weeks would be too many using the bath.  I do not know how many people are staying in the apt.  However, she tells us she has friends from Texas in for the weekend (hmmmm - I'm thinking, well, isn't that too many in the bathroom?)  The place is so dark you can't see to walk down the hallway.  The place is a pig sty and we are frankly shocked at the condition that these people are living.  But, this is New York! right?  Yes, of course, this is just New York!!!!!!! 

Blair and I take a walk around the neighborhood - we actually like the area. While eating lunch this "lovely British lady" texts me and gives me her friend's address.  She adds a comment in the text that normally she would have no problem with my staying but her landlord is being difficult.  I'm thinking hmmmm, ok, well, which is it - too many in the bath or your landlord.  I don't think it's either, I think she wants more money and expects me to say I'll compensate you for the difficulty I may cause.  But, I'm not going to do that!  A couple weeks ago when Blair met this lovely British lady (ha) and told her I would be with her the "lovely British lady" didn't seem to mind at all.  But, upon arrival she has the courage to smile to my face and call me "love" and put me on the street.  Oh wait, no, she didn't put me on the street, she found me a room down the street.  So, she is a 'lovely lady' afterall! 

Actually, she is indeed a lovely lady to many just not to me - not right now anyway.  So we go meet the lady down the street.  I do not have the strength to explain the details except to say Blair and I are both staying for now with the 'lovely British lady's friend down the street."  And moved all of our things.  Whew, I am so glad that I won't be causing the lovely British chaplain difficulty with her landlord and am really very glad I won't be causing a traffic jam in the bathroom of her pig sty - oh I mean her huge Manhattan flat!

Just when I thought things could not get worse, THEY DID!  So, our first day in New York is exactly what I think of New York!  The pitts!  I hate this place and cannot for the life of me see how anyone would want to live here.  For now, we do not having housing - just a place for a couple weeks while we search frantically for a place to put our stuff! 

Oh, this lovely British lady / chaplain!  Wonder if God told her to kick us in the teeth upon arrival to her nasty pee smelling abode and smile to my face, call me love, invite me to dinner?  Well, I don't know about you but my God doesn't tell me to do that to anyone.  But, I'm pretty sure she prayed for us last night as we left her with her lovely smile and without my money. 

Praying "MY GOD" gives me strength to survive! 

 

Excitement with Tad Bit of Anxiety,

Gayla

P.S.  I took pictures of this fabulous Manhattan flat but considering this is a public blog think smart not to post them.