Quick Whit Loses Her Mind: Driving in NYC!

Hello from New York City! Again, I'm traveling for work, this time to help out at the New York Motor Expo. I've only been here two days, and it's already been full of firsts for me! Please join me on this latest adventure...

Those who know me well know I like to get up and at it--woohoo Morning Person! So when my boss told me to get there any time on Thursday, September 13, I took an 8:26am flight and arrived around 9:30. My kind and considerate boss said for me to check in at the hotel in Jersey City, NJ, first, then she'll call or text when she's ready for me to go into the city. I did as ordered, then hit the ground running... time to go exploring!

First order of business: get a map of Jersey City and Hoboken! I got one from the hotel's front desk and started in that direction. There's a nice river walk that is unfortunately broken up with lots of construction and an entire train station, but for the most part it went right along the Hudson River from Jersey City to Hoboken. Speaking of, Hoboken is just about a mile from where I'm staying, and that happens to be Frank Sinatra's hometown! Next order of business: find his house.

I found it! OK, I stopped at the Old German Bakery first, but it was on the way. =) I wish it had been a museum so I could go in and see some Sinatra keepsakes and memorabilia. I know, I'm such a tourist.

Onward! I'd seen a "castle" on the map, so of course I needed to check that out, too. A castle in New Jersey? Right on the water? Hmmm.... upon further examination when I arrived at the site, I found out it's the Stevens Institute--an engineering school! Someone had a sense of humor. =)

So now I was hungry and I decided to go back to the hotel to wait for my boss' call. On the walk back, I found a fabulous smoothie place called Rejuiceanation. Think about it, laugh. I like it! And just as I was passing by the train station, smoothie nearly consumed, I got my phone call! New York City, here I come! Mary Beth (Mrs. Boss Lady) said to ride the train to 33rd and then take a cab to her office at Manhattan Ford.

Taxi riding in New York City was an experience I don't soon wish to repeat! The guy was one of the most reckless drivers ever, and I was praying the whole time that we'd just make it to the place! Thank Heavens we did. That was by far the scariest thing I've done in a very long time! Anyway, I made it unscathed.

Next up: driving in New York City. In a brand new car. Woohoo! Mary Beth, her friend Debbie, and I all went out to this place called Mahwah (the name of a township in NJ) to drive some cars into the city to get ready for the Motor Expo where I'll be working this week. I got to drive the Ford C-Max, which is a hybrid SUV that Ford is introducing in 2013. My GPS took me a really long way, unfortunately, and at rush hour no less, but I will forever remember my first drive in NYC: new car, crazy cabbies, pedestrians with no fear or respect for laws, cars with no regard for basic traffic laws, drove down Broadway, and it took me an hour and a half! Whew.

We got a few more things squared away for the Motor Expo, but Mary Beth had to wait for another car to get delivered, so we ended up being there until 9:00 or so. I needed to be able to driver her car over to the place where the other car was to be delivered for logistical purposes, so I stayed with her. We went and got a couple of cars washed and got one gassed up, so there was other stuff for us to do while we waited, too. Anyway, she dropped me off at my hotel with the promise to pick me up again at 6:45 the next morning. =)

And that she did! Friday morning was a pretty one. I got some sunrise shots of the Freedom Tower and New York City Skyline, and got some awesome breakfast at a cute little market across the street from my hotel. She and Debbie and I needed to move some more cars and get a few more things accomplished, but as usual, things tended to take longer than anticipated.

Ironically enough, all five of us car movers (MB had a couple other guys come in to move cars as well) piled into a 2012 or 2013 Ford Taurus, and I was seated in the middle back. What's ironic about this is that my dad used to drive a 1992 Ford Taurus. Then Jared, my older brother, drove it. Then I drove it. Then Joel drove it until someone back ended him a few years ago. Oh, the Taurus. Anyway, when we got to the cars, I was instructed to drive the MKZ Hybrid Lincoln back to the car dealership where MB's office is, and boy is it always fun to drive a hybrid! So that was my morning NYC rush hour adventure. This time we took a shortcut so it only took half an hour or so to get back.

Next adventure: Driving in the BRONX! It was definitely a rough area, and that drive to and fromM took nearly two hours, but Debbie and I made it! We needed to drop off one of the MKXes, which is the Lincoln cross-over SUV, for a film shoot (crazy stuff!), so Debbie drive that and I got to drive the MKZ (hybrid) again, this time playing the role of "chase car"! Meaning I followed her out there, then drive us both back to the car dealership.

And then we were finished for the day! It was about 4:00 by the time we got back and got things squared away, and one of the guys drove me over to the NY Waterways Ferry so I could get back over to the New Jersey side. The ferry drops off right behind my hotel, which is super convenient! (There's a Path train station back there, too. Loving the location!) The ferry was by far the most fun thing I've done so far on this trip. It went so fast! We even caught air in the wake of another boat! =)

Whew! And then came Saturday! More car moving, but this time to the World Financial Center, where the twin towers used to be. That's where the Motor Expo is being held, and the work they've done revamping the area is wonderful. It's right on the water, and there's a fabulous view of the Statue of Liberty on one side and the Freedom Tower on the other. We moved a lot of cars, but mostly the whole day was just a lot of hurry up and wait. We got done around 4:00 or so again, so this time I wanted to make sure I got some sight-seeing in.

And what better way to see the sights than from the Empire State Building! It was expensive and not really worth it (WAY too many people and it took forever just to get to the elevators--lots of security lines and stuff), but I'm glad I did it. The pictures turned out well. =)

And then I came back to the hotel and ate and read my book. And I decided to sleep in the MIDDLE of my king-sized bed instead of the left 1/3 like I had been doing the last couple of nights! More to come. Church on the Upper West Side, first day of work, and the worst signage (or lack thereof!) in any rail system ever. The adventures just never stop!

Pictures? You want PICTURES? Here you go!