Happy Birthday Dad

I am Laura Ingall's namesake. Well, my name isn't really Laura, so it's more that I like to think of myself as her namesake. But why would anyone openly liken themself to a spoilt young red head? Because Laura Ingall's is the original Daddy's Girl. Any father would be lucky to have a daughter who loves him as much as Laura loves Michael (and he'd be a hard man to love.) That's why like to think of myself as Laura's namesake.
Excluding the time he suggested ordering takeaway for the Independance Day celebrations, my Dad is easy to love. Because he is so cool. Michael Langdon works five jobs and plays the banjo. But my Dad can do more (and he does it without going on about it). I miss him a lot. Its making me too sad just writing this... so I'm going to skip to the fun bit.

My Daddy's Adventures in NYC

1. He introduced planking to New York... he planked on the subway, in the park, on a bench in the street...
2. He dropped a sour candy under my bed. He picked it up along with a handful of dust and ate it. I was rolled up in a ball laughing hysterically for at least five minutes while he coughed up the dust
3. He insisted on carrying my bags when we went shopping. I would pretend to get mad and steal them back so that he could get mad and steal them back back. I'm not sure if he ever figured out that I actually liked him carrying the bags (because I am quite lazy)
4. He finally found the Atari tshirt he has been looking for for years. He was so happy that the next day he was parading around New York in it. Mum stopped him from wearing it again after we were followed for a block by a homeless man trying to talk to Dad about old video games
5. He watched the pile of scary movies I'd been collecting since arriving in New York with me
6. He fixed my handrail even though I said I liked it broken. I admit now, it actually is better not broken. You can actually use it
7. He played Nine Men's Morris with me even though he lost every time
8. He made fun of Tony from Little Italy on the Empire State Building audio tour with me
9. He taught me infinite knowledge on cameras and stuff....
(Mum: Stop reading and listen to your father!
Me: I am!
Mum: Then what is he saying
Lara: Cameras and stuff
Mum: Oh, sorry)
10. We went outlet shopping and he bought hardly anything. Then R took him into a Nike shop just as we were about to leave. He came out with a bag full of goodies. What happened!! ....R gave me some coupons...
11. Given that my Dad is normally quite price concious I took him to Best Buys and said "choose something for your Birthday". He picked some sort of picture editing software (again with the cameras) and I took it to pay. "That will be $9999"... "HUH!!"... Ummm luckily it was a problem with the scanning device and not Dad's expectations!!
12. When I asked for a "story with out any fuss", he promised to make one up, like he did when I was a kid
Dad: "Once upon a time there was a girl... who went walking in the woods....and came across a cottage.... and there were three bears..."
Mum: "PLAGIARISM! Plagiarism!!!"

Dad

Anyway, my point is: I miss you Dad and I love you. Happy Birthday.

A Touch of Australian Culture

Yesterday morning one of my US workmates bounded up to E and I, eager to tell us about his weekend plans to try out a popular Australian past time.

So, what could this be? Vegemite eating... fly swatting... kangaroo riding... koala taming...? No. It was planking.

The first time I heard of planking was on a New York radio show, after the Australian boy died. I didn't really think much of it until my Dad came to visit from Oz, excited to get some shots of himself planking around New York.

Naturally, at first it was humiliating. Wasn't long before I could see the funny side though and started encouraging this (shameful) behaviour.

One afternoon we were in Central Park and I was encouraging my Dad to plank on top of a Waterfall. There was nothing for me to be embarrassed about because we were alone, aside from a group of 12 year old boys with water balloons.

After we got our shot we heard sirens. Our first reaction? "It's the planking police... run!!!"

Of course, it wasn't the planking police... but it was a park ranger... He wasn't after Dad and me though. He called the 12 year old boys over. We couldn't hear much, but we could tell he was scolding them for not being in school. But he didn't let them go. Instead, he called for back up! That's right, back up to deal with a small group of geeky looking adolescent boys. One marked and two unmarked police cars turned up at the scene of the crime.... To deal with kids! Craziness.

Anyway... after this, Dad and I quit planking. Nevertheless I will be interested to see my NY work mate's planking pictures soon!

Empire State Building After Dark

For sometime I have been meaning to go up the Empire State Building, so with my parents visiting from Australia, it was the perfect opportunity.

Wanting to go up after dark, we went for dinner before hand. The plan was to eat at 230 Rooftop Bar - but when we were almost there, Mum suggested we go back to Hawkers (a Malaysian place R discovered, with the best Malaysian food I have had in New York). So, in true Malaysian style, we got off the Subway and turned around and went back the way we had come from. Anything for a good meal.

Once we could eat no more, we were off to the Eiffel... I mean Empire State Building. Despite (or perhaps due to) the late hour, the queues were magnificently long. We queued and we queued and we queued. Then we jumped "online"* and queued some more. To kill the time I tried sleeping while standing upwards... but alas I failed. So I had to settle with listening to the audio tour. It was hilarious. Tony, my tour guide, was an Italian New Yorker whose father had immigrated to New York in 1933. Tony was born in Chelsea, but moved to Little Italy as a child. "See that buildin' over there? That's SoHo. That's where my father used to work."

His over enunciated vowels and thick New York accent  babbled on with (what he admitted to be) hearsay about Manhattan and facts about his childhood. Dad, Mum and I had fun testing each other knowledge on Tony and sharing fun fact's about his life. I especially enjoyed trying to imitate his fabulous accent.

How to Speak Like a Native

When we finally were up at the top our wait was rewarded. The view was spectacular.

\\

Looking down on the city made me realize how small I am. I also saw New York in the way I had imagined it before I came - a huge city, full of life and lights.... but at the same time a tiny island. New York might be a concrete jungle, but in every way it is a beautiful city.

*American slang for "in queue"

Self Workout in the Park

(Note: this post should be dated May 7th 2011)

So I really didn't want to do Self Workout in the Park. I mean, a whole day of working out in Central park? I imagined old school athletics. Uh no. No way. Not for me, not today, not any day. 

The problem is, Noodles can be very persuasive... "Please, we can have Pinkberry afterwards" Dammit, I was sold. 

So Saturday I was up early and ready to go (somewhat reluctantly.) The weather was fantastic for it. I was meeting Noodles at 10:30am to register. 

Sadly, I'm still not a full fledged New Yorker and managed to get lost on my way from the Subway. By the time I arrived the queue was epic. Noodles was already in line and had passed the first security checkpoint.  If I wanted to join her at the front of the queue I was going to have to get past security - The guard tried to stop me from passing, saying: "Excuse me, can't you see this is a security check point?" I replied quickly and firmly with: "Excuse me, can't you see I'm on the phone".... "Sorry Ma'am, go ahead"

Woah... I was in. And it was amazing. Best day ever. The workout was made up of a series of 20 minute classes (Bollywood, Glee Club, Beach themed, Abs, Yoga).

Between each work out there was a five minute break to check out the samples. Picked up lots of freebies and snacks. Yum! 

Afterwards we walked back through Central Park...  

Caught up with Potato and L for dinner and found out they had spent the day trying to sneak into our Self Workout Event ... I guess they don't have my prowess when it comes to passing through security check points (wonder if the trick works at the airport). Noodles and I managed to convince them to come and see a chick flick "Something Borrowed"... Although, we had to lie to Potato and tell him it was "Fast and the Furious". It wasn't great. The best part was in the previews when the advertisement for "Harry Potter" came on and Noodles cried out "Suck it Voldemort!!!" Guess that means we'll be seeing Harry Potter next... 

They're Dancing In the Street

The atmosphere in New York City is wonderfully festive at the moment - as you have probably heard, on Friday the New York Senate voted to legalize same sex marriage.

Wall Street Journal - Gay Marriage Voted In

I wondered through Chelsea this afternoon and the area was in celebration mode. Everybody was out and about. The town was visibly joyful, decorated in rainbow flags. I passed one restaurant where they had erased the specials on their blackboard to write "Love is Love! Congratulations New York." It's fantastic to be apart of a city celebrating such a momentous occasion.

So, on Friday (the day of the big vote) I went to a Florence and the Machine concert, which was held on the open stage in Central Park. Florence was amazing - her voice is unbelievable. She was so good that Pants was moved to the point of tears. (She is also sporting an impressive war wound from "clapping too hard".)

As we left Central park, a loud girl wearing a hat, shouting out "Gay marriage has been legalized in New York - Come on people this is something to celebrate!!"

The crowd of people crossing the street applauded, and with the vibe of the concert still strong, a few of us started to dance. It was brilliant - and of course, my first thought was - "Come on Australia - it's our turn next!"