It's a Polar Vortex

The big winter storm hit New York last week. Of course, it wasn't as bad as the constant news coverage made out but temperatures did drop to minus double figures at one point and there were a couple of really cold days. One day of snow gave us a few inches on the ground but it was all but gone a few days later.

Did get out for a good run through the park though, that's what the snow is for!

The bike lane

Saturday snow

Friday night we had our soccer playoffs. It was a bit frosty around the pitch and cold on your throat while breathing but good for running about trying to keep warm!

Unfortunately we got beat on penalties in the semi-final.

Then we had escaped so far but the city got a few inches of snow on Saturday.

I went for a late afternoon run in Prospect Park. The lake was mostly frozen and it was great to run in the snow, I love that.

Of course we had a show that night, Queens of the Stone Age at the Barclays Centre. We can take the bus from the bottom of our road right to the venue but it meant standing in a light blizzard for 20 minutes as the bus times were way out probably due to road conditions.

Outside the Barlcays

But it was really good. I love the new album although the crowd seemed very sedate compared to our last visit there to see Pearl Jam.

Then I worked Sunday but because it is soooo busy at work on Saturday/Sunday they provided pizza, sandwiches and crisps for all the staff. Not healthy but it takes a lot of will power not to have a slice... or two.

Winter update

Lots of small news items over the last few weeks.

I got my Permanent Resident Card (green card) a few days after the interview and acceptance letter arrived.

Just as the weather was getting a lot colder, Heather found a little kitten sitting shivering at the top of our street. So the whole "Don't be mad, but...." was the start of the first conversation we had later that day.
Rue is 50% cute and loveable and 50% a pain in the ass, running, jumping and biting everything. It took a couple of weeks for the other two cats to get anywhere near her or let her go anywhere near them. Slightly better now, she's just trying to play!
 

Yup, she did that.

Awww, but she's so cute

Like a small monkey on my back

Sleeping on my computer

Awww, look. They get along now... for the moment

Then we had Thanksgiving on the 28th November. It's a mega holiday here, especially on the food and shopping front. To me, an outsider, it's like Christmas without the presents.

We did the whole food thing. No turkey though, we went for a stuffed pork loin instead. I was on my own with the brussel sprouts though.

Then while I was in the mood, I stocked up on a couple of pre-Christmas goodies from the British store and another impulse buy.

Last week we had our works Christmas Party. As well as a tonne of mostly homemade food the budget was mainly blown on a large bouncy assault course castle. Not recommended AFTER you've just eaten all that food.

The cake house - 24 hours later

As of now, it's a little below zero and the snow has finally started falling!

Marathon Sunday

This morning we jogged down three avenues and walked along 4th Avenue in Brooklyn to watch the NYC Marathon.

It was about 8 degrees outside and there was a cold breeze so it got really cold for spectating but was generally good for running. Once we started a run back it was fine but I did have to take one of the free Dunkin' Donuts hats they were handing out as I was freezing.

Got real close to the elites as they sped past.

Then we wandered further up 4th Avenue. There was really good crowd support out between 5 and 6 miles and for runners who like to get involved with the crowd there were plenty of kids to high-5.

There were so many people with either their names on their tops or running in national colours, tonnes of French kit, lots of Swedes, Italians, a few Poles and a lot of Mexicans & South Americans getting their Spanish speaking support from this generally latino area.

Run a marathon? Never say never.

Good news

On Monday I finally had my final interview with a view to getting a green card. I say me, but it was really the both of us and it was actually more Heather that got asked a few more relationship specific questions whereas I was just really asked the yes/no list of questions such as have I ever been involved in genocide, a member of the communist party, polygamy, etc.

He didn't even really take all the paperwork we were asked to bring, just a few photos and checked our marriage certificate and passports.

Within a couple of days I got a letter welcoming me to the USA and was told I should get the card within 3 weeks.

Of course, he asked why we were unable to attend the original interview date on July 30th. Heather was sitting her bar exams which he took as a good reason!
So we also heard this week that she had passed!! So double good news for us.

3 for 1 on Banksy

The Banksy doing something everyday in October around New York thing just happened to be 3 blocks from work and was a dusk to midnight thing so I popped over to see it on Sunday night after work.

It was a giant grim reaper in a bumper car with some disco lights, smoke machine all while Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear The Reaper" played.... loudly.
The neighbours had complained about the noise and crowds so it was only on for the weekend.

They just happened to have the Waterfall Truck and also the Sirens of the Lambs there too so I got to see all three! It was reasonably busy with people coming and going and also parking on the main road to jump out and see them.

The truck

Inside the rear of the truck

The animal one just puts a smile on everyone's face despite the fact it's supposed to be making a point about fresh farm meats (on the truck door), the cuteness of the animals and the way they are transported.... to your plate.

Gig-tastic

We had the last round of concert visits for a little while.

Last Friday and Saturday we hit up the (reasonably) local Barclays Centre to see our favourites, Pearl Jam! They have been one of both Heather and my favourite bands since they came on the scene around twenty three years ago (nearly to the day) and were one of the factors in us getting together as we mentioned our shared love of them.

We entered the fan club draw for both nights of tickets and were lucky enough to "win" for both nights.
As they are well known for playing different sets each night we were lucky to hear around 66 songs over the course of Friday and Saturday night with only about 10 repeated, mainly stuff from their new album. Nearly three hours shows with no opening band starting at 8.30pm. Excellent.

The best bit was when their large lights descended form the ceiling and they started pushing a few out and then carrying on playing but dodging them as they swung back towards the stage, then Eddie got all angry and climbed up on one and started swinging on it, out over the crowd.

The fan club seats are selected in order of how long you have been in the fan club so for Friday (Heather's) we were in the floor seats and for Saturday we were in the lower bowl for mine.
We got great and different views for both nights which was neat. You could tell the surrounding crowd on the floor were a bit more old school fans than the following days!

The following week I got to visit two new venues for us, Hammerstein Ballroom for Franz Ferdinand on Tuesday and a blast form my past at the Roseland Ballroom to see Simple Minds.

Franz Ferdinand were excellent. The seats were old theatre venue so the view was good but the leg room was about half that of an economy airline! The sound was soooo loud but they were really good.

They finished the set with this amazing drum foursome. 

Simple Minds were a little disappointing if I'm honest. I think the time to see them was probably about twenty five years ago! An old pale white crowd for sure, ha ha.