Last stop Grand Central Terminal

I will start this post with a massive sigh.

I think I have taken this New York thing too literally, here I am awake after 2am again - it's the Adam that never sleeps, not the city! No idea what it's all about, and I swear it's not the litre of Mountain Dew and sugary goodness that is responsible.

So a quick recap on yesterday, as I said in my last post, a quiet day really, I did a little souvenir shopping then got organised to head off to see Spring Awakening again. This time from seats on the stage, which was kind of cool, it added a different perspective and I got to see some of the technical elements of the show. I also got bashed a couple of times by the microphone stand as they threw it aside on their way off the stage in the dark. There are some really talented performers on Broadway though. Often times I think we associate true talent with the level of celebrity someone has that normally comes from the screen. Hunter Parrish has done four seasons of a popular show in the US and rates performing on Broadway more challenging. Interesting... he needn't be concerned, he was brilliant, again.

I was walking back past the comedy club just in time for the 10.30 show so I went in for that before heading home. Truly the most awful ever. I resented drinking the two drink minimum because it meant I would have to tip them, for an awful show.

I got to sleep quite late and then almost slept in for my breakfast appointment with Prof Goldsmith. Fortunately after a very rushed trip to the Grand Hyatt (WOW by the way) he was also running late. The poor guy was in a right state of affairs, having been held up in his previous appointment, having his wallet stolen and having to borrow $2 for the fair to get downtown to meet me! Any way, we caught up for coffee and some NY Cheesecake which was awesome. Whilst we only got to chat briefly as we both had to head off before mid day, it was nice catching up, I only wish we had done so earlier in my trip.

Then it was the moment I had been least waiting for - check out and come to the airport. After stuffing my bags to the point of bursting, i jumped in a cab and came to the airport hotel I am in right now. After a dinner of disgustingly cheesy NY pizza i tried to get off to sleep, freaking out about having to be up at 6 to get to the airport early enough for my flight to Chicago.

About an hour ago I thought I would do the web check in thing to save some time and drama in the morning... and in a true demonstration of United Airlines complete and unmitigated incompetence, I found my flight had been cancelled! So now I'm booked in for a later flight which means a sleep in, but it also means that right now I could still be in the little wine/piano bar I found last night, enjoying my last night in this magic city. Oh well, my pokey little room will do.

All up, despite any of my rambling in the last ten posts, and in case it is not obvious, this is the best money (multiplied by 1.442, thanks George W.) I have ever spent. I am already trying to work out when the next best time to come to New York would be. I imagine it is after a substantial lottery win, but never-the-less.

My Chicago trip is going to be fairly full on, Jen has planned an action packed Red Cross schedule for me. I'm a little relieved about that actually, two weeks off work completely (almost) has been great for me but I have realised how much I also need to work. I need a vehicle to express my passion for doing stuff and although I needed a break, I equally need to get back to being productive. There is an enormous sense of satisfaction for me in doing things that matter and seeing Broadway shows over and over doesn't quite cut it! Having said that, I did elude to a need to be a bit more balanced about things in an earlier post and I still agree with that. In all senses a bit of calm and balance won't kill me overall.

If you have been reading along over the last fortnight, I want to say thanks for sticking it out with me. On reflection, I think this trip has been more eye opening for me than I have been able to document. Every kids first international journey is life changing, I got here late, but I think in so many ways it has still had the impact it would have if I was fresh out of school. Being somewhere unfamiliar, on my own, so far from all of my comforts can only have added something to the way I see the world.

As it turns out this blog has been more a way for me to keep a personal record of my trip than it has been to keep you up to speed on anything exciting or interesting about New York. I hope you haven't minded being too exposed to the inner workings of me.

Much love,
Adam