If I can make it here. . .
Hello, from Long Island, New York!
The past week has been dreadfully frightening, saddening, and exciting. I feel emotionally pulled every which way but loose and am left very optomistic about my future.
Amanda helped me move up here about a week ago. We left Indianapolis on a Sunday, hoping to arrive at my friend's (Daniel Laabs) house that same day. Murphy's law had another idea and next thing I know, we are stranded in New Stanton, Penn. with a fried alternator. Of course, it's Sunday and Murphy and his law won't go easy on us. No repair places were open. Luckily Amanda had AAA which towed my defunct car to the closest (and only) repair place in town and then dropped us off at the nearest hotel. With a touch of serendipity, Amanda and I discovered a magical place called Eat and Park. Sound disgusting? It's actually amazing! Take the expediency of Waffle House and combine it with the fine selection of Baker's Square. Piece de la resistance!
Luck was on our side. My car was fixed the next day and Amanda and I reached Stony Brook about 6 hours later. Driving through New York wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Seeing the skyline made my heart race. I never thought I'd be any where near the city (even for a visit)! The drive through Long Island was gorgeous. The northern part of Queens is filled with lush trees and quaint roads. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought we were miles and miles away from the city. Not the same can be said about the south side (Brooklyn), however.
Finally, we arrived at Stony Brook which is about 45 miles up the Island. Stony Brook is a lush, pristine town filled with all the luxuries you'd expect of a suburb filled with whities. The train station is right on campus. Unfortunately, the train ride is about an hour and 45 minutes to downtown Manhattan. But, with a book in hand or a friend along, the time is hardly a concern.
Once I moved in, Amanda and I checked out the big city. I don't want to exhaust your patience so I will just list the highlights. We saw Times Square, lots of buildings, Central Park, Tiffany's, went to the Natural History Museum and ate at the famous Serendipity 3 (better than Eat and Park).
Saying goodbye to Amanda was excrutiatingly difficult. I tried to send her on her way on Thursday evening, but all hell broke loose in Chicago so we had to wait one more night. It was both good and bad to have that last night. Any extra time with Amanda is the best time, but my heart was so heavy from anticipating the inevitable. Finally, she had to leave and I cried more than I've cried before in my life. It was both emotional and physical confirmation that I love her more than anything.
I'll stop there and add another more school related update later. Thanks for reading. Stay classy planet Earth.
The past week has been dreadfully frightening, saddening, and exciting. I feel emotionally pulled every which way but loose and am left very optomistic about my future.
Amanda helped me move up here about a week ago. We left Indianapolis on a Sunday, hoping to arrive at my friend's (Daniel Laabs) house that same day. Murphy's law had another idea and next thing I know, we are stranded in New Stanton, Penn. with a fried alternator. Of course, it's Sunday and Murphy and his law won't go easy on us. No repair places were open. Luckily Amanda had AAA which towed my defunct car to the closest (and only) repair place in town and then dropped us off at the nearest hotel. With a touch of serendipity, Amanda and I discovered a magical place called Eat and Park. Sound disgusting? It's actually amazing! Take the expediency of Waffle House and combine it with the fine selection of Baker's Square. Piece de la resistance!
Luck was on our side. My car was fixed the next day and Amanda and I reached Stony Brook about 6 hours later. Driving through New York wasn't nearly as bad as I thought it would be. Seeing the skyline made my heart race. I never thought I'd be any where near the city (even for a visit)! The drive through Long Island was gorgeous. The northern part of Queens is filled with lush trees and quaint roads. If I hadn't known better, I would have thought we were miles and miles away from the city. Not the same can be said about the south side (Brooklyn), however.
Finally, we arrived at Stony Brook which is about 45 miles up the Island. Stony Brook is a lush, pristine town filled with all the luxuries you'd expect of a suburb filled with whities. The train station is right on campus. Unfortunately, the train ride is about an hour and 45 minutes to downtown Manhattan. But, with a book in hand or a friend along, the time is hardly a concern.
Once I moved in, Amanda and I checked out the big city. I don't want to exhaust your patience so I will just list the highlights. We saw Times Square, lots of buildings, Central Park, Tiffany's, went to the Natural History Museum and ate at the famous Serendipity 3 (better than Eat and Park).
Saying goodbye to Amanda was excrutiatingly difficult. I tried to send her on her way on Thursday evening, but all hell broke loose in Chicago so we had to wait one more night. It was both good and bad to have that last night. Any extra time with Amanda is the best time, but my heart was so heavy from anticipating the inevitable. Finally, she had to leave and I cried more than I've cried before in my life. It was both emotional and physical confirmation that I love her more than anything.
I'll stop there and add another more school related update later. Thanks for reading. Stay classy planet Earth.