The "Not-So-Summer" Summer

I figure it is about time that I update everyone on
the happenings of this "not-so-summer" summer.
I say that because as all of my fellow New Yorkers know,
we've been having some strange weather this year. April
Showers simply turned into June Downpours. Seriously,
it has been raining too much this summer. I won't complain
about the cooler weather and the lack of killer humidity,
but seriously, I need some sunshine in my life.

Anyway, here is a little bit of what has been going
on this summer in NYC...

First, the weekend after Kari left the sad day(s) finally
arrived...we had to vacate our lovely apartment at 2 Gold.

Oh apartment 3203, you were such a wonderful apartment!

The packing and moving began.

Furniture was moved to our temporary
apartment for the summer (thanks Jenn!)

As you can see, Anna was very sad about the move.
Brittany and I are sad we are no longer roommates,
too Anna. We miss our late night clothing parties in
the living room, watching "Presto" a ridiculous amount
of times and never tiring of it, and all the delicious food
we consumed together...mmm ice cream sandwiches!

Brittany actually looks happy about the move?
Just kidding, I guess we had to try and put
on a happy face. Good job Brittany!

As we helped Anna pack, we decorated her
boxes with some nice pictures. The lion, the witch...

...and the wardrobe! I drew that one.

I can see you Anna!

The apartment almost empty.

Wrapping up the cleaning.

Roommates forever!
I sure miss those views too!

About a month after the move was a great day...
No Doubt concert! Boo yeah!

Brittany and I on the LIRR on the way out to Jones Beach.

So we thought we couldn't bring a camera to the venue,
but turns out it was just big professional cameras were banned.
We had to make due with Brittany's cell phone, so not too bad
if you ask me for a 2-3 year old phone!

Anyway, t-shirts were purchased....

...seats were found...

...and sillyness ensued as we waiting for the concert
to begin. Don't I look so excited?

Finally, the opening acts started, including Paramore.
Might I add that it was nice of the rain to stay away that day.
When No Doubt came on, this was about the only
good picture Brittany got. This was their entrance.

Even though we don't have any pictures to show,
the concert really was amazing. No Doubt sure knows
how to put on a good show. We sang along to all their
songs and enjoyed their crazy antics!

The other great thing about the concert? Brittany and I
ended up buying $15 tickets to see The Killers in September!


Onto 4th of July weekend...nothing like Coney Island
to celebrate the day of our independence (well, when you live
in NYC). Brittany had never been, so this needed to be corrected.

Nathan's Famous! Home of the famous Hot Dog Eating
Contest. I spent my 4th of July three years ago watching this,
so we skipped and just wandered around instead.

On the boardwalk.

Brittany and the Wonder Wheel.

Oh, we enjoyed a ride on the Cyclone.

After eating some Nathan's for lunch, we headed home
for a bit before heading out to the westside to watch fireworks.
This year Macy's did the firework show on the Hudson
in honor of the 400th anniversary of its discovery.

We finally found a decent place to watch from and
then waited for the show to start.

These people got arrested for trying to
watch from on top of the scaffolding.

Finally, some fireworks!

Later in July, it was time for Harry Potter!

Brittany and I joined a few friends to go see the
midnight showing opening night. We even got a
little dressed up for the occasion.
(Brittany wore her Dumbledore's Army shirt)

I love Carly's Mad-Eye Moody eye, don't you?!

Daniel got in the spirit too!
He makes a nice Harry Potter.

I know there's been varying opinions, but I really
enjoyed the movie. I should probably go see it again.

Another exciting event in July? My first business trip!
I got to go out to Chicago for some meetings at
Ace Hardware headquarters.

This was my hotel room at the Marriott across the
"street" from the Ace offices.

When I say "street" I mean major highway.

I had to get a picture of me in the hotel room.
That bed was heavenly!

And of course a picture of the Book of Mormon
in the night stand drawer.

Drive into the city for dinner. Thanks Obama for
coming to Chicago that night and causing traffic
everywhere so we didn't have any time to explore
downtown Chicago. Yes, I'm blaming you for it.

View of Lake Michigan as we drove by.

This is where we had dinner that night with
the reps from Pandora (as in the online radio).
The food was delicious!

I really am going to have to go back to Chicago
and actually see some of the city, not just drive
by some of the sites. I didn't even get to see the bean!

And last but not least, this past weekend some
friends gathered to enjoy some karaoke until
the wee hours of the morning (we left at 2:30am
which is later than I'm usually out).

Thanks Krystal for organizing. It was so much fun!

And that has been my "not-so-summer" summer...well, so far.
I've still got a month left and so much to look forward to. :)