More park, more rain, more red boots

Okay people, okay. I know. I KNOW. I have posted about the same thing over and over lately.

"So the other morning I was walking through the park and it was rainy and my, look at those flowers and blossoms! Yay, spring! Here are some pictures!"

But this is my life, people! I do the same things every day. This is all I've got to show! What do you want from me?!

I haven't posted for a few days so here you go. More iPhone pictures. More spring in the park. New blossoms. GIANT puddles. And heck, until something thrilling happens around here, I guess this is what you get. Welcome to my life. Yippee!!!

Rainy days and Mondays

They don't get me down.
This rainy Monday started out with a misty walk in the park.




Friendly new buds on the trees.




Spotted some happy tulips (yes, these really were tulips... I think) just off 5th Avenue.




And how could a day not be great when it ends with a Shack burger and an Upper West Slide? The secret to no line at the Shack is going in the middle of a downpour. It was a fun FHE date.



Happy Monday!

First day of Spring

What a beautiful day it was! The high was 73. We started out with a 4 mile run through Central Park (training for the Half in Boston is on!). Afterward, we set out for a hard-earned Shack burger, only to discover what should've been obvious:


Of course the line was horrendously long. Everyone in New York seemed to be out today, and the Shack seems like the perfect place to grab some food to take to the park.

We skipped the 45 minute wait, grabbed take-out at Harry's Burritos and headed to the park.


There were so. many. people. in the park today! It was nuts! We found a semi-secluded spot in the Ramble to enjoy our lunch in the sun.













Loving the flowers and blue skies. I could get used to this.

Lunch in the park

Each day I can't wait for 1:00 to roll around. I grab my lunch and head for the park to enjoy the sunshine. It has been just gorgeous. 70 degrees and sunny! Today I found a nice spot on a hill with a good view. I soaked up some Vitamin D while listening to live jazz being played by some street performers below. It was perfect!

This week I started running home from work to train for our race. It's about 3.2 miles door to door, and running home ends up taking the same amount of time as riding the subway! It's perfect. And I've run new paths I've never been on before. So between walks in the morning, lunch in the park and running home, I've been spending a lot of time outside in the park. It is definitely my favorite place in the city.

Crocuses

You were right! They are indeed crocuses. It's quite obvious now. Aren't they pretty?

Another sign of spring: March Madness is in full swing. I entered an office pool and am currently in first place, thankyouverymuch! Don't worry, I will go down in the second or third round. This always happens to me. Gotta love March Madness! This afternoon everyone in the clinic was glued to the TV's, jumping around and cheering. So fun.

I guess I just can't help myself.

Here is yet another post with pictures in Central Park. It looks different every day! And, I brought the camera this time. The city is covered in over a foot of snow, and the park was absolutely gorgeous this morning. In the snow, it really takes on an almost magical quality.

I've always loved how the edge of Central Park makes this hulking wall that seems to separate it from the city.


This is why you need boots. Plus it just feels good to stomp through 6 inch deep puddles with them.










Snow up to the tops of my boots! Now that is deep!






Obviously I can't help myself.
(Although, isn't it amazing to see what 24 hours of snowfall can do?)

And yes, I was 45 minutes late to work. :) Don't worry, we didn't see patients today, and I called first to make sure it was okay. It was a relaxed day, the doc ordered us pizza from Patsy's, and we got off at 4:45. What a great day!

Tonight, Klane has a scout campout. Yes, even in the storm! Before you get too worried, let me tell you that the plan is to spend the first half of the night with pizza, multiple TVs and Playstations at the church. (Nice city campout, guys.) Later they'll build snowcaves and camp in someone's backyard. Apparently. ;)

Joy all around

I've had a lot of joy in my heart lately. True, honest, can't help but smile, squeal and jump around, hug someone tight as you can, thank God for your blessings type of joy.

Joy in homemaking; in folded laundry, clean floors and freshly baked bread.

Joy in my husband; in simple things like waking up next to him, in stolen kisses on commercial breaks, in welcome-home hugs.

Joy in embracing my divine role as a woman, and therefore a wife and (future) mother.

Joy in my faith, in the direction and hope it brings to our life.

Joy in my family and appreciating where I've come from.

Joy in simple things, like the giant, fat, puffy snowflakes falling on my face this morning. In breathing the morning air. In having the park almost all to myself. In quiet. In God's beautiful creations for his children. In feeling God's love for me confirmed through his Spirit as I tip my head back and feel the snowflakes on my face.

This morning in the park was nothing less than breathtaking. I smiled all the way to work. Didn't even mind that my knees were wet by the time I got there. I wish you could see the snowflakes. (If I had brought my camera, I could've frozen them in the air and you could see how huge they were! I would've also had a wet camera and been a little late to work.) I can't wait to see what this storm ends up unloading on the city. It's supposed to keep snowing all weekend! Life is good, people. Life is good.

Misty morning in the park

This week's NYC forecast? Rain and lots of it! Although it's more difficult to get outside when it's raining, I'm loving it. Rain feels like spring. I love being outside after it rains. Everything smells and feels and looks so fresh. It makes me think of the green leaves and flowers and grass this rain is going to bring in just a few weeks. Plus I get to wear my cherry red rain boots, which is always a plus.

Lately I've been walking through the park instead of riding the train to get across town to work. It has been so nice to be outside in the morning air. I wish I was dedicated enough to lug my heavy camera everywhere with me, but I just won't do that every day. It's unfortunate, because especially on a nice morning like today, there are always moments where I see something beautiful and imagine the great picture I could take of it if I had the right camera. Like the water droplets clinging to the branches this morning that were so gorgeous! I took a mental snapshot so I wouldn't forget it. Anyway, here are some cell phone pictures, once again!

Misty city skyline above Sheep's Meadow


I know it's been photographed hundreds of times,
but once again, I bring you The Mall


Rockin the red rainboots and the iPod cord
(John Mayer's Battle Studies got me to work this morning in a great mood)


This lovely winding path takes me through the Central Park Zoo
before popping out of the park onto 5th Avenue