Missing Dan

Dan's out of town for the week on business. Okay, it's more like a training for his group nationwide. (Still cool, and very "working man" of him!) He comes home tomorrow night. But did I tell you? I'm leaving for California tomorrow morning. Yes, for two weeks in fact. That's three weeks apart. Which equals roughly 5% of our marriage. Sad, right? We think so. 

People just don't come more handsome than this guy.

Forgive the blurry picture. It was his first day of work... and I didn't want to get out of bed. He's such a bread winner! The only bummer thing with his job, this post title may not be too uncommon. Ah, well, guess I'll just have to get to know NYC. Can't complain too much :)

I'm An AUNT!

Introducing...

Levi Galen Strautman

Born September 19, 2011 6:29pm

8lbs 10oz, 20.5 in

Doesn't he look like he has a world of knowledge and things to tell you? I can also see a "please, just don't take my blanket off" type look. I have a little niece and nephew by marriage that I adore, but this is this first one on my side of the fam! Oh my goodness, I can't even describe how much I love him already. And I have only seen pictures! I'm antsy out of my pants to get to California though! Only 4 mores days until he meets his very favorite Aunt in the world!

Until then... nothin but lurve for my lil Levi pants Leevster! 

Central Park

I think one of my favorite things about New York is going to be Central Park.

I made my central park debut the other day, right out with a couple hundred other seasoned runners. It's crazy how many people there were, but I started thinking about what it might be like if Provo (and all those trying to stay fit for the opposite sex) had only one place they could run. It will probably be the same. On a side note, a couple things I noticed:

1. Running weird is not uncommon. Seriously, I was a little baffled at how many people run funny. So then I became self-conscious about how I run. But have you ever tried to watch yourself run? Trust me; if you run strange, you will most definitely look worse trying to figure out if you run strange.

3. I'm in no place to cast a stone, but there is a sizely group of runners that think if they have a healthy cardiovascular system, they are in shape (and look good)...and therefore flaunt it. Actually, I'd rather not see your sagging arm skin, stretched out belly skin, or chicken leg thighs. Either tone it up, or cover it up, I say.

But I digress...

Those aren't the reasons I think I'm going to love Central Park. For all the bad hype it gets in movies...(I'm envisioning Home Alone here) it really is a beautiful park. But what makes it so awe inspiring is how big it is. If you took a forest and a park and combined them, it would be Central Park. Seriously, it's huge; trees everyone, roads running through it, tons of walking paths, random ponds and reservoirs... but it's all manicured...unlike a forest. That's why it looks so cool, I think! It's beautiful, huge, and manicured!

Listen to this, from the Official Central Park website (seriously, check out the site. That alone makes me excited!):

"Conservancy crews care for 250 acres of lawns, 24,000 trees, 150 acres of lakes and streams and 130 acres of woodlands; install hundreds of thousands of plantings annually, including bulbs, shrubs, flowers and trees; maintain 9,000 benches, 26 ballfields and 21 playgrounds; preserve 55 sculptures and monuments, as well as 36 bridges; remove graffiti within 24 hours; collect over 5 million pounds of trash a year; and provide horticultural support to City parks."


Go them!

And I probably don't have to mention the cliche surreality of escaping the concrete jungle into a natural haven in a matter of steps. But I will.

I do plan on spending a lot more time in the park. Maps don't seem to help a ton. On my run, I followed the little loop from my plans and exited when I thought I was close to our block. Turns out I ran too far. After trekking back up (ahem) 34 blocks...I reviewed a map. Either I have no idea where I ran, or else I'm in much better shape than I thought. Unfortunately this wasn't a one time mistake. The other night Dan and I decided to cross the park to the East side to pick up our rental truck for couches. We entered the park on the West side, reviewed several maps on our way, and exited on the very same side... 4 blocks south. Yes... I do think I'll plan on spending more time getting to know Central Park.

Ps... this is the best picture we have of the park right now, from Top of the Rock... oh yeah! See that upper left hand corner area of the park? Yeah, we live there. No, not IN the park... we aren't that poor. Yet.

Nothin' but lurve... from NEW YORK!

Dan Post #4

OK so obviously we aren't the most prolific bloggers in the world.

Here's a quick update (sans pictures) of what's going on in our lives.

We spent 2 weeks in California with Becca's fam and had an amazing time.  Doreen spoiled us as usual.  The days were just packed (that's a C&H reference for those who aren't fans of the greatest comic ever drawn).

We went to Hollywood, danced on the edge of the Hollywood sign, rode the Ferris wheel on Santa Monica Pier, went bowling with Glenn and Becca's Grandpa, and I spent lots of time (but not enough) learning about how cars work from Glenn, the all-knowing guru of everything automotive -- scratch that, he's more like the all-knowing guru of everything.  I got to work on his '67 Coronet that he races in his spare time.  Consider me converted to classic cars.  (I'm still not 100% converted to MOPAR but Becca's working on it.)

We went swimming with the Cristales kids - Becca's cousins.  Never in my life have I seen kids with so much energy and so little fear.  Seriously, all four of them of half human, half fish.  My arms and back were so sore the next day from throwing them and wrestling in the pool that I could hardly lift my arms above my head.  So much fun.

We played Wii with Elizabeth and Chris, went swimming in their neighborhood pool, and ate lots and lots of great food - including all-you-can-eat sushi and Fry-Bread Tacos.  We also got our tails whipped in various games including Michigan Rummy and Monopoly.

Becca did a bunch of stuff without me - wedding showers, baby showers, etc.  I stayed home and watched football, tennis, and Storage Wars.  I'm not a big old films guy but we watched a movie called "Support Your Local Sheriff" with Doreen and Glenn and trust me - it's hilarious.  Although I'm sure it's funnier watching it with Glenn.  Speaking of watching things with Glenn, we watched one scene from Despicable Me at least 6 times one night.  "It was your cousins idea!" - "Whaaaa???"

Did I mention we went to Disneyland?  Well we did and it was incredible.  I haven't been there since I was 8 or so.  The Tower of Terror still scares me to death.  I could spend a paragraph talking about each ride - especially the ones that made my weak stomach almost explode (here's looking at you, Space Mountain).  I was introduced to the ever complex and fascinating underworld of Disney pin trading.  I was blown away by the quality of the shows there - specifically the Aladdin Musical (Broadway quality no joke) and the four man bluegrass band.  Oh, and of course, Becca's uncle, Farley the Fiddler (Gary).  He's worked there for years and basically has the coolest job in the world.

We took a break from Disneyland to go see some of Becca's family friends practice for their bluegrass style band (think Nicklecreek) in Anaheim.  I think that may have been my favorite part of the entire trip.  Fiddle, mandolin, guitar, banjo, and none other than our very own Glenn on the Bass.  Those guys have a talent I'll envy for the rest of my life.  I took a video I'll have to post sometime.

We moved to NYC last week.  It has been crazy.  A big thanks to my friend Matt for moving his stuff with us and splitting the cost.  We shipped our stuff via ABS Shipping in one of their freight trucks which was considerably cheaper - and very easy - for anyone considering a move soon.

Way too much has happened in the last week or so to write with the time I currently have.  We had a fantastic time with my parents and managed to go to a concert, a show, a musical, and a baseball game.  We also went to Jimmy Fallon, visited the sets of various TV shows, and made our debut TV appearances (Fox News baby!)  Also, my mom almost ran into Al Sharpton going into in elevator and had no clue who he was.  Unfortunately they only brushed shoulders.  I would have loved to have seen that exchange.

We ate in the revolving restaurant on the 47th floor of the Marriott Marquis.  We got lost multiple times on the subways.  We saw Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.  We ate breakfast at McDonald's three days in a row in order to use their free internet.  We walked through Harlem to get to Target.  I subsequently banned Becca from ever doing that again.  She's fearless - me, not so much.  She takes the bus from now on.

Our craziest adventure was, hands down, moving an 8 foot bookshelf we bought from Brooklyn to the Bronx.    We took 4 trains and 4 buses to get to Ikea and back (FYI, that's twice as much as needed, we got lost) all while I was carrying a 70 pound 8 foot (boxed) bookshelf and Becca was carrying a 5 foot mirror and ironing board.  Oh, and I didn't mention, it was POURING RAIN the entire time.  By the time we got to our place on Duke Ellington Blvd, Becca and I were sopping wet, the box was falling apart, and my arms were about to fall off.  Getting that thing through the bars of the subway entrance was the hardest (and most comedic) part.  Needless to say, I married the coolest girl in the entire world.

Pheww...  More to come.  I've got to figure out how to get some couches 9 blocks up to our house.  My wife talked me out of carrying them.  Prob'ly a good thing.

Sorry for not updating this more.  I start work on Monday and Becca's already working here and there remotely so no promises it will get better.  We're tryin'!

Dan