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I Have Arrived

The weeks of do-nothing and laziness are over. I start work at NBC tomorrow….

So after Cleveland, I trudged on, first to Philadelphia (Pennsylvania is a long state, let me tell you), and then after that to Atlantic City, where I really am glad I got a chance to go gamble and play some craps before starting my new job. I have no idea when I’d get a chance to gamble again (which sounds totally dramatic but it’s not), so it was nice to have a quick stop to do so. But before I get into the Philadelphia and Atlantic City stories, I think I’ll work backwards this time and first put up the pictures of my new digs and the sunset views of Manhattan as experienced from my neighborhood on my first day here. Still can’t believe I’m starting tomorrow. Anyways, my drive out here was very safe and I avoided speeding tickets the entire way. Yay me. It probably helped I was never going more than 10mph over the speed limit the entire time, even in those states with 65mph speed limits (you know who you are, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey!!!).

Here are the pics from my new hood. Enjoy.  (2014 Note:  I’ve also collected all these photos into my Travelogue page for this whole journey)

23 Sept 2007 – West New York (NJ) Pics

23-Sep-2007 11:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
Looking from the kitchen into the living room
Looking from the kitchen into the living room23-Sep-2007 16:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 151
The kitchen in the new apartment
The kitchen in the new apartment23-Sep-2007 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
 
Looking towards my bathroom from the kitchen
Looking towards my bathroom from the kitchen23-Sep-2007 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
23-Sep-2007 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
Looking into my bedroom
Looking into my bedroom23-Sep-2007 16:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
 
My furniture-less bedroom
My furniture-less bedroom23-Sep-2007 16:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
The hallway of the 4th floor - looks like a hotel, right?
The hallway of the 4th floor - looks like a hotel, right?23-Sep-2007 16:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141
My home for the next 16 months
My home for the next 16 months23-Sep-2007 16:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec
 
Very nice place to live, especially having a grocery store downstairs
Very nice place to live, especially having a grocery store downstairs23-Sep-2007 16:29, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec
23-Sep-2007 16:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
The skyline view from our part of the NJ coastline
The skyline view from our part of the NJ coastline23-Sep-2007 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec
 
23-Sep-2007 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
I did end up running along this wonderful pathway
I did end up running along this wonderful pathway23-Sep-2007 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec
23-Sep-2007 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
 

But before I was in Manhattan, I got to have two very cool days! At the beginning and for most of those two days, I was with the illustrious Jenny Robinson in Philadelphia! Cue the fanfare music! It was a lot of fun and it began pretty much as soon as I arrived on Friday night (also coinciding with me having to drive in Philly rush hour traffic on a Friday afternoon – not what I’d call fun). We first got some dinner at an authentic and very non-touristy Philly ‘restaurant’ called Steve’s where I got myself some pretty damn good Philly Cheese Steak. But really, what made it awesome were the true Philly natives who were also there. Seriously – the accents, the body hair, the high-tops, the hairstyles, the clothes…. it was flippin’ awesome. Remember that Jack in the Box commercial where Jack sends a very mild-mannered guy out to Philly to do research on the PCSs and comes back as Mr. Philly wearing high-tops, high hair, and a Philly accent, going “Heyyyy Jackyyyyyy!”. No lie, that’s exactly how it was here too. Awesome. Then we went back downtown to where my hotel was (which was literally in the center of everything – very cool place to be if you have the opportunity to stay in Philly: Holiday Inn Historic District) and walked along South Street, which reminded me mostly of Melrose Avenue in LA. After that, we said our goodnights and I crashed.

The next morning, I woke up and it was freakin’ raining, which was not cool. But fortunately, that didn’t last all damn day and we then met up and started a full day of sightseeing. First we grabbed some breakfast at this high-falutin’ cafe where Jenny made some waiter drop his tray of cups and glasses. She really did. It was all her fault. After that we walked over to the damn Liberty Bell! How awesome was that? We then got our free timed tickets for the Independence Hall (in hindsight, not sure how worth it this was, but still, I can say I was where both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed and adopted) which weren’t for a few hours so we then squeezed in a full circuit of the Big Bus Tour of Philadelphia (much like what there is in London and other big cities). As you’ll see in the pics, this was again a great way to get an idea of the entire city and if you have time, it allows you to plan out other things to see. I didn’t have that time this visit, but I definitely know I’d like to go back and see a lot more of Philadelphia.

It was also great just to see Jenny again! She is definitely one of those friends in which it seems like no time passes when you see them again after a long separation in between. Still as snarky as ever, and I think I’ve refreshed her ‘so to speak’ness so maybe it’ll catch on at her work. Here’s hoping. WTF Joe!!!????

21 Sep 2007 – Philadelphia, Day 1

Pennsylvania welcomes ME
Pennsylvania welcomes ME21-Sep-2007 09:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec
As does the suckass rush hour traffic of Philadelphia on a Friday
As does the suckass rush hour traffic of Philadelphia on a Friday21-Sep-2007 15:26, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
There is the city o' Philly
There is the city o' Philly21-Sep-2007 15:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.2, 9.028mm, 0.002 sec
 
Total paparazzi shot of Jenny
Total paparazzi shot of Jenny21-Sep-2007 17:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 315
21-Sep-2007 17:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 165
The total-Philly site of my authentic cheese steak experience
The total-Philly site of my authentic cheese steak experience21-Sep-2007 18:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 141
 
Spooky cemetery in the middle of the city
Spooky cemetery in the middle of the city21-Sep-2007 18:53, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 1 sec, ISO 200
South Street from the pier part of it
South Street from the pier part of it21-Sep-2007 19:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 200
Demon Jenny
Demon Jenny21-Sep-2007 19:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.8 sec, ISO 200
 
21-Sep-2007 19:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 200
Spooky Sixth Senseish type of street
Spooky Sixth Senseish type of street21-Sep-2007 19:29, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 1 sec, ISO 200
21-Sep-2007 19:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.8 sec, ISO 200
 
21-Sep-2007 19:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 400
 

22 Sep 2007 – Sightseeing Philly with Jenny

22-Sep-2007 08:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.6 sec
Jenny the next day
Jenny the next day22-Sep-2007 08:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec
After breakfast
After breakfast22-Sep-2007 09:00, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.013 sec
 
Taking a pic looking towards the Independence hall area
Taking a pic looking towards the Independence hall area22-Sep-2007 09:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec
There's Independence Hall surrounded by all the rest of Philly
There's Independence Hall surrounded by all the rest of Philly22-Sep-2007 09:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.006 sec
Closer
Closer22-Sep-2007 09:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
 
In front of Independence Hall, along with the Marines who were filming one of their commercials at the time
In front of Independence Hall, along with the Marines who were filming one of their commercials at the time22-Sep-2007 09:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Again
Again22-Sep-2007 09:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec
Marines were there doing something on camera.
Marines were there doing something on camera.22-Sep-2007 09:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
 
IH again
IH again22-Sep-2007 09:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec
Me and the Liberty Bell!
Me and the Liberty Bell!22-Sep-2007 09:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec
22-Sep-2007 09:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.013 sec
 
Cool way to locate it with Independence Hall behind it
Cool way to locate it with Independence Hall behind it22-Sep-2007 09:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec
22-Sep-2007 09:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec
The place where you get your IH tickets - it has a lot of other cool things in there too, including WTF Joe
The place where you get your IH tickets - it has a lot of other cool things in there too, including WTF Joe22-Sep-2007 09:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec
 

Okay, I’m seriously tired now but it was all worth it! I had to get these pictures up now or I’d probably take forever to do so once work starts. It was definitely an amazing adventure driving across this country of ours – it was a part of it that I really wasn’t familiar with so it was cool to see a bunch of new stuff, even if it did all look the same after awhile – corn fields, corn fields, corn fields…. then trees trees trees…. finally Philly and Atlantic City and of course Manhattan and North Jersey broke all that monotony up!

Here’s hoping for a good first day tomorrow!

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