10 things I love about you NYC

I would have to say that New York and I had a love/hate relationship. Coming from Ohio there were a thousand new experiences that I had in NYC, and I am thankful for every opportunity, every friend, and every new place I got to experience. It is one of those things that you will NEVER forget, living in the big city. There were things I know I whined about constantly, and things that I found myself wondering how I ever lived without. The things are whined about were mostly new things or processes I had to get used to i.e. walking to work with hundreds of my closest friends, driving like a taxi driver...

The things I will miss most are the things that now I am wishing I could expereince just one more time...

1. Cupcakes

O Buttercup Bakery. It is yuor fault I have these mini-love handles. I just don't think I can go a whole lifetime without another one of your candy colored sprinkly cuppy cakes... After a long hard day, nothing goes down sweeter than.... well, a bunch of sugar. Magnolia and Crumbs are great, but my favorite will always be you...

2. Food availability

Where else can you get sushi/thai/pizza/pub food/groceries in a block radius. I don't know how my neighborhood did it, but it was easy to never have spoiled groceries. After getting home from work, I would just decide what I wanted to make/eat, and either go get take out (or incredibly convenient delivery), or head to the grocery store to get just what I needed. A lot of times this could be accomplished in commercial-break quickness. And it's not like these carry out places were "Okay" They were great! If you every are in the Turtle Bay/Midtown East neighborhood, check out my favorites. Tenzan for sushi. Thai 51 for thai and BYOB. Krunch for pizza, and any of the pubs right there for pub food. I heart cheeseburger sliders... and beer. I can't forget my favorite corner store on 2nd and 50th for strange and wonderful mix and match beer, o, and the GREAT wine store right across the street. Did I mention cupcakes? :)

3. The possibility of seeing a celebrity

I know we all think we are too good for celebrity sightings, BUT deep in our hearts we secretly wish to see Jennifer Aniston or Donald Trump walking down the street getting coffee. No place in the world are celebrities so frequently seen. AND you may just get to see a movie in production. I looked for the "Sex and the City" movie everywhere. I mean I was a Carrie Bradshaw for a year! :)

4. Living with two amazing girls

I miss you Lizbeth and Lyssa... I can be honest and say that I was scared to go from living by myself to living with two girls, but it was a BLAST! I have never watched so much reality television, or been so excited about bagels! I can't wait for you to come and visit. Did I mention I have windows here!?!

5. running in Central Park

There is nothing quite like working on your fitness in Central Park. It's like an adventure, and PT all wrapped into one. Sometimes it was like a scavenger hunt searching for all of the historic monumnets and sites. One time I got hit by a bicyclists. But everytime it was a great workout, and not like any other place I have every been. Check out Bethesda Fountain and the boathouse... What a great area!

6. kareoke

"Pa pa pa poker face. Pa pa poker face", I have had many fun evenings at Top Tunes on 53rd and 2nd, and I am not ashamed to say that it was always me, my friends, and the American Idol contestants of the neighborhood. Thank you Top Tunes for lowering my self-esteem, and giving us all something to laugh at :)

7. the subway

I never in a million years thought I would miss the NY subway... until I rode the Metro. Yes, the MEtro is impecibly clean, and I will never see someone eating an entire McDonald's breakfast on public transportation thanks to the Metro police, but there is just something about the NY subway. It is so accessible. Stops are everywhere, and you do not have to worry about a conductore texting/ taking naps on the job... I find it very ironic that I wouldn't ride the subway for a week when I first moved there because I was so scared, and now it has made my top 10 things I miss about NYC.

8. pedestrian code

PEDESTRIANS RULE! No matter how wrong you are about walking across the street in NYC, you have the right of way. It's like an attitude with some pedestrains. Get out of my way taxi cab! And if you don't get out of my way, I will walk right over you! lol

9. shopping

I could literally come home from work, and change shoes, and walk to every store I wanted to go to within a 10 block radius. No driving. No hassle with mall maps. No mall rats. No food courts. It makes my wallet cry just thinking about it!

10. Army PA

I miss my office. I worked with some of best people in Public Affairs in that office, and I had a blast!! I got to meet famous people, had field passes to NY sporting events, stood in the middle of Times Square on New Year's Eve and told the Soldier's story everyday!

DC will be great, but I'll always have a little piece of my heart reserved for NYC.