July 4th

This weekend we headed to celebrate Independence Day at Coney Island, along with the rest of Manhattan.

It was a perfect day to get our feet wet at the beach—

I love the beach.

Pat is always striking a pose, knowing at any given moment I can and will take a picture of him.

This little girl and her dad dug a 6 foot hole. Their camera died so they asked me to take some pictures and email them.

Nate + Meri

A picture of me doing what I love.

Pat taking in the crowds of people at the beach. We have never seen anything like it. We could barely even tell if there was any sand because every inch seemed to be taken.

The Parachute Jump at Coney Island.

This ride was closed down in 1968. Riders were belted into a two-person canvas seat hanging below the closed chute, then hoisted to the top, where a release mechanism would drop them, the descent slowed only by the parachute. Too bad it is no longer open, it seems like FUN!

We ended the night watching the Nations Largest Firework Show. However, we couldn't see much because due to the crowds we were dozens of blocks from the Hudson River where all the action was happening. We were thinking about climbing on top of some U-HAULS to get a better view but decided against it.



Regardless if we saw fireworks or not, it was great to be in NYC on the Fourth with the one I love most.

Lazy Friday

Ice cream has become my new favorite snack. I constantly crave it. But not just any ice cream—mint chip ice cream! However, for some reason mint chip is a very hard flavor to find here in Manhattan. Knowing this it makes me want it even MORE.

We had no place to be and no place to go. We spent many hours lazily walking around SOHO and sitting by the river—a day that will be desired in the future.

A Hurricane in NYC

On Friday June 26th a huge storm hit Harlem. We could see it coming and as we were walking home it was as if the natives here could sense its intensity and arrival—they were scattering from the streets before it even started.



Pat and I were a block away from our apartment when it hit. Both of us being from the West Coast get a kick out of the East Coast weather. We got on some rain jackets and enjoyed the intensity of the storm on our balcony.

NYC Gas Stations

The Brox Zoo

This past Saturday, June 27th, our roomies and us went to the Brox Zoo. Being in the city really makes you nature hungry so it was nice to get lost in the "wild" for a little while.



I have not been to a zoo since I was a kid. I don't know why because Pat and I LOVE animals and could sit and watch them for hours. We really enjoyed seeing the exotic animals even though it made us a little sad to see some of them in small living spaces (but after all we ALL have small living spaces in NYC).

Pat after seeing the Tigers.

While I was there I did ask an employee how I could get a job there. As a kid my parents always sad I should be a veterinarian because I loved animals so much but I just couldn't stand to see any animals in pain. I don't know why I didn't go into something where I could work at a ZOO! It seems like such a fun job.