Cousin Connor and a Can Factory

Hello Everyone!

So this week has been a little bit of a busy one!!  My cousin Connor came to visit from Sequim, Washington (that's right near Forks, for all you vampire fans out there ;)) and it was his first time in NYC so I had to be an extra good tour guide.  Connor and I haven't spent much time together in the last 17 years of his life because his family moved up to WA right after he was born, but we had an absolute blast roaming around the city together!  Because he is 17 and slightly indecisive and sometimes quite silent and also claims to not be a "touristy person," we spent a lot of time conversing like this:

Me: Hey Conman, so what do you think you want to do today?

Connor: Uhhhh, I don't know

Me: OK, well, what can I make you for breakfast and I think I'll pack us lunches too, what do you feel like?

Connor: Uhhh, I don't know...doesn't matter

Me:  OK, well is there anything you want to see or do in the Big Apple so you can go back home and brag to all your friends that you got to miss 5 days of school to come to NYC and see and do all this cool stuff?

Connor: Uhh, yeah, sure

That's pretty much the gist of it....don't get me wrong, he is a super intelligent and funny and witty and interesting little cuzzie and I love him dearly, he just wasn't too big on talking and planning out our day, which to a type A, control freak, planner person like me was just a little crazy!  But, we had a fabulous time taking in the sites in a non-touristy kind of way.  I took him down to Wall Street to check out the outside of the stock exchange (no more tours since the market crash) and man-handle the nether-regions of the Bull.  We also took the Staten Island ferry to SI and back so we could get a good view and photo op of Lady Liberty (for those who don't know, it's a great and FREE way to see the Statue!).  We spent some time parkouring in Central Park, took a walk over the Brooklyn Bridge and even went to the Museum of Natural History and the NY Public Library (which I had never been to before!!). Oh, and we also went to one of my favorite treat spots in the whole city....Magnolia Bakery! Every time someone visits NYC, we always take them to Magnolia....it's a great excuse to go and eat tasty cupcakes, it would just be downright rude to deny my guests the pleasure!

 

Here is me trying to get a pic of the two of us on the SI Ferry with my phone....only slightly successful

 

Here's Conman and Lady Liberty herself....I swear she looked much bigger in person!
  

Lovey and Boo (Connor and me....my family is full of nicknames, this is what we called each other all weekend, I don't think he called me 'Holly' once) on the Brooklyn Bridge

 Conman ready to dig into those cupcakes!

Me in front of one of the lions at the New York Public Library

 Maggie Lu and Conman had quite a bit of bonding time....she's actually really sad now that he is gone...come back to NYC Lovey!

 Me and Matt hanging at Liberty State Park in NJ waiting for Connor to get off his Ellis Island/Liberty Island tour with his new GFs ;-)

There's Connor and his entourage of 16 year old girls....I had to take it from super far away so that I wasn't the embarrassing older cuzzie....isn't the sky amazing...and look at that view!!

 

Here is a very crude video of Connor and I and our Parkour endeavours.  He's pretty amazing and I'm...well, not. ;-)  Sorry the video is so choppy and piecemeal, but I think it adds to the excitement of it! Please note my signature "dismount," that's about my only claim to fame in this video.

So, another thing that Connor got to experience in NYC (well actually in New Jersey) was Matt and I BUYING A CONDO!!!!!  Yup, I said it....we are officially homeowners AND we're moving to JERSEY!!!  This is our BIG news, if you didn't already guess that or maybe you already knew because I kind of have a big mouth and was telling a bunch of people before I really was supposed to tell people, but that's OK, because now I can officially tell people and we are so excited and overwhelmed and stunned and thrilled and stressed (only because of all the paperwork and the process in general)!!!  The building is called Canco Lofts and it is a gut renovation of an old can factory...The American Can Company (hence my post title).  We looked at it back in June and were seriously considering it, but things didn't work out and so we decided to put our house hunt on hold for a bit.  Then, last Friday (yes, only a week ago) we got an email from them telling us that the two-bedroom duplex prices had dropped significantly and so we made an appt that day and Conman, Matt and I drove to Jersey to take a look and next thing I knew we were signing paperwork and writing checks and getting CANCO t-shirts and taking pics of our new place! Whew...so, it's been a whirlwind to say the least!  It took me a minute to realize that I would be moving out of Manhattan and therefore leaving NYC (technically) but I am a true NYer at heart (and by blood....thanks Grandma and Papa!), plus, I'll still be in the city every day and I'll just be across the Hudson River!!  Anyway, here are some pics for you to peruse and enjoy!  And start making your plans now, because we are definitely going to have a waitlist to stay in that fabulous guest room.....all are welcome anytime, so come visit us!!!

 Our new Kitchen

 Master Bedroom

 Walk-in closet!!! Yes!!!

 Guest Room

 Living Room

Stairway

 Real stairs....no chintzy spiral staircase in this duplex!

 Our 14' windows!

 Downstairs bathroom

Master Bathroom

So, that's all for now (I know that was a mouthful!).  Our anniversary is in two days, so I should have another fun update after the weekend!  And, we have a show coming up on October 2nd, so if you want to come and support me and Vissi, that would be magnificent!!

Til next time my lovelies....

xoxo