Hey, am I first?

Your voice is totally not what I expected. Although now that I've heard it, I don't remember what I expected.

I am calling in stinky to work tomorrow.

I can't tell you how glad I am that you lived!

ALMOST FIRST!!

My dad used to own a 37-foot sailboat, and we used to go on multiday trips on it. I was a teenager at the time. Now you will no doubt recall that it's been a while since I was a teenager (one Pig up on you), but believe me when I say that I have no intention of taking a multiday trip on anything smaller than the Love Boat ever again. Not that I would do that, either, had I my druthers. Floating around on a boat for several days just does not sound to me like a good time. (Do not speak to me of drinks: I once read a murder mystery wherein the victim would be slipped a mickey on getting on the boat and then dropped overboard once it was out at sea.)

However, your parents are so damn cute I cannot stand it and I would totally get on a boat with them, especially if I could see land at all times.

As a matter of fact, I was already thinking your parents are so damn cute I can't stand it when you said that. You come by your cuteness honestly! :)

My computer is telling me (I have NO IDEA why) that I have to go to YouTube to watch the video, so I'm going to do that right now. So glad you had fun in New York!

It's so good to see you being a Crazy Tourist again! And your Dad? Though very handsome? Has such a skeptical expression on his face in most ot those photos. Were you attempting to coerce him into doing something he was not comfortable with?

Well, if they keep you focused on Paris...then you won't be paying any attention to the Waco/Ruby Ridge-like scenario that is about to go down in New Hampshire. I really hope they don't kill those people for not paying their taxes. http://www.wptz.com/news/13460557/detail.html

Love your accent.
Since I'm from LI, NY I have no accent.

OMG - I have actually CALLED IN STINKY!! There was a small baby, projectile vomiting . . . but I called the boss and said, "Boss man, I'm calling in stinky." His reply? "OOOOKay, will you shower before we see you tomorrow?" He's an okay guy, my boss.

I have GOT to get me one of those tee shirts!

And yet you spend hours watching "Deadliest Catch." Hee heee heee!

My stepfather had a boat when we were living in Florida. He took all of us out to where you could see land if you could see over the waves. He then proceeded to teach me how to swim by throwing me overboard! Yikes - to this day all I can do is sit by the side of the pool and look cute.

You have to come back to NYC soon, because you need an opportunity to explore beyond Times Square and midtown -- you have to walk around the residential neighborhoods where people live and go grocery shopping and have breakfast at the local coffee shop and exercise their dogs in the park. The pace of life is much more relaxed and leisurely and folks actually know their neighbors, so if you go out on an errand, you'll end up having several conversations along the way and back. It's not overwhelming at all and you'll get a feel for why so many of us love it here and choose to make it our home!

I know that when one comes to NYC that to miss the major attractions is unthinkable (I still enjoy playing guide when I have out-of-town guests), but that's what the next visits are for -- a chance to see some of the rest of the city! I guarantee that you will have a great time.

Oh.My.Gosh! I'm crying at the organe life vest story. That is beyond funny and well into hilarious territory.

NYC is a marvelous town. If you're FROM there. If you're not, it can be terrifying.

a lifevest once saved my life.

i am pro-vest as a result. it's amazing how many people will jump in the river yet they don't know how to swim.

that would be the ORANGE life vest story.

Gah.

Where was Lucky Bear? Is he gone - is he still around?

Oh, wow. I can not do the boat thing. Or deep water of any kind. Really if it is deeper than my waist or I cannot see what is in it, I will not go in the water. More importantly, I will not go NEAR the water. I have been unceremoniously thrown in before, after repeatedly stating "I am horrendously scared of deep water." I applaud how brave you are, can I send you some Purell?

Hey, the Paris story is important - it's a complete overhaul of our entire prison system wherein all prisoners will now be housed in their own umpty-zillion square foot mansions complete with pool, staff and paparazzi. Oh, and you SO know she's going to be having parties for the next 40 days since she can't get out to the bars.

Actually, the thing I'm most surprised about is why anyone is surprised. Like she was ever going to actually serve real time. Riiiiggghhht.

Oh, and loved the boat story, but you forgot the best excuse for not having to get on a boat - seasickness. I love boats, but can't get on 'em due to the terribly unfortunate results (and that's WITHOUT the alcohol).

KJ

I'm not sure the directions thing is exclusively a southern thing--I'm from NJ (the very north-west corner, where we have bears and state parks and the Water Gap), and I grew up telling people to "turn left by the farm with the white cows." Because, you see, all the other farms in that area have brown cows, and it's far easier to see the cows than the unlit street signs.

Never lose that accent! Glad you liked NYC--but you must come back! Go to the original Juniors in Brooklyn, see beautiful,quiet neighborhoods in the village, etc. etc. It's so much more than Times Square!

Thank you! For making me laugh on a day where I was certain I would not, could not, even manage a smile. Thankyouthankyouthankyou!

I am with Stella--come back and see the other side of NYC. I came 10 years ago and it was love at first sight! Never left, despite the first interaction with a NYer, a little old man who thought I was staring at him and asked "What are you looking at?" and he called me the C word.

When my sister and I took the cruise out to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island we rode on the enclosed portion of the boat because it was cold. But I located the Adult Flotation Devices and made sure that we were near an exit.

Just in case.

My sister made mock but if the boat had gone down I would have been able to 1) Secure two Flotation Devices and 2) Get my sister and self into the Flotation Devices and off the boat so that we would not drown or burn up with the boat.

I have watched WAY too many boat disaster documentaries on PBS and the History Channel. Boats explode, they run into each other, they sink. Boats = Danger.

After two weeks of nothing but OMG! There's whales up our river! taking over my local news, I'm fine with Paris and her weakened mental state. Mostly because it's not really news when you think about it. /bitch

Ya'll are so cute. Your dad looks like he's a very good sport. ;^) Love the tee-shirt and the story. After crossing the channel in a ferry, I vowed no more boats. Life's too short and I don't swim.

As far as I can tell from the worldwide news coverage of the Paris Hilton JAIL CRISIS, she wouldn't eat the jail's beanie-weenie or whatever carb-fat special combo they were serving and for that reason they let her go home. Don't know why they don't let everyone go for the same reason, but I think the real reason was that she had to get on the innernets and catch up on your New York adventures.

Your dad looks a little, um, tense in these pictures compared to the happy, relaxed guy we saw when they visited Los Angeles... I'm wondering if that crowds/boats/drowning feeling is genetic.

No wonder you almost hated New York! You spent all of your time in Times Square and Midtown!! Of course you have to see it b/c it was your first time, but no real New Yorkers spend time there. There are many more sane neighborhoods that aren't scary. Really, Times Square is not at all representative of the rest of the city. Next time you're here, check out the other neighborhoods in Manhattan. Or, better yet, have a New Yorker (like me) show you around!

I am so with you on NYC. I left there after my so-called vacation so harried. I was worn out, stressed out, peopled out. Too too much. I just wanted to retreat to my calm little suburb and not come out for many many days. Those days being quite wine filled in the meantime. I was so concerned for the children and pets that grow up in the city. Where do they play? What if they snuck out at night? Oh, too much. I am getting worked up just remembering.

Judith -- same here. I came at the age of 20, having grown up and graduated from college in the midwest. Now it's 24 years later, and it still hasn't lost its appeal.

I will have you know that while we may be insane and there are far, far too many of us. We New Yorkers have something you Californians are having a bit of a shortage of...water. The city just raised the rates on our water because it seems we don't use enough of it for them to make enough money to pay their bills! Our reservoirs are currently at 97% and yes we do have a little icon on the NYC web page that tells us that.

We gloat a lot too;)

It's a crying shame the judge didn't put her in jail forthwith with the general population when she was found guilty of violation of probation - money does NOT make you a worthwhile human being. And to think we wonder why people are so self-centered...

Love the boat story and the photos of your folks. Your mom looks so easy going while your dad, as had been said before, looks so skeptical of whatever you're trying to talk him into.

What with the U-tube? I have to go there? ok, ok, if you say so :)

You know, it would really be good for the environment if everyone would quit with the showering all the time! Every other day is plenty, yo.

What a great photo of your mom and dad in front of the statue on your return trip. Glad to hear you had a great time!

I went on a cruise once, and during the lifeboat drill I noticed that the crew member helping us to our appointed station was... the Magician from the previous night's stage show. I wondered if our boat was going to be really really small and he was going to fold us all into it. hee

I ALWAYS read the safety info first when I get on a plane. I plan which exit I will head for. I make sure I know how to open them all. One time a man in an exit row was half drunk and joking about how he was too buzzed to read the safety info. I pressed the stewardess call button and made a big fuss until they moved him out of the exit row and put sober, card-reading me in. Safety First.

Fianna -- don't worry about the kids and pets -- they are having a great time here! Most people live within walking distance of parks and playgrounds. I am half a block from Riverside Park, one of the largest in the five boroughs, and I don't have to mow the grass or weed the flower gardens!

As far as pets go, my vet husband is convinced that city dogs have great lives as they get to socialize in groups all the time, which is how dogs like it -- not living lives of isolation in a fenced-in backyard without a pack of friends.

My daughters frequently say "we don't ever want to move out of the city!" If my dogs could talk, they'd probably voice something similar.

Great pictures!

I didn't have any options on where we stayed, it was planned by the company. But I'm sure there are many spectacular areas of the city and all -- I just really liked the boat cruise because you could see the city from a whole nother vantage point, and it was really beautiful.

I do have to say it was about as far from what I am used to as possible. I know people love that city with the same fervor that I love Los Angeles. All I will say is as soon as I got home I hugged my Jeep, my awesome bucket of a Jeep, because Lord did I miss it :)

Oh! How jealous I am! I would looooove to go to NYC!

Well, if it makes you feel any better, every boat is required to have a life vest for every passenger, so you are within your rights to ask about them (and even wear one, if you're so inclined. Heck -- bring your own and you'll never have to ask again! ;-)

HA! I'm really enjoying this New York TRIP! It's great!
I just got back from Italy, and I realized while reading your account that while I maybe (almost) a Laurie Perry in name, I don't not live up to the standards.
You see, I go out of my way to jump on boats, planes and anything that moves in a fast and dangerous manner.
In fact, I actively choose to sit in the front seat of an Italian Alpha Romeo taxi in Rome because I was sure it would be fun.
And it was.
Oh yes!
And deliciously scary.
What a rush!

Laurie, you are too funny!
And you sound just like I thought you would. So apparently I have thought about your voice in my head. That should tell you something about me.
I need that lovely NewYorkers tee! LOL!
I also do many many self portraits, but I ain't as cute as you!

I can't believe I forgot to mention the Paris debacle. I logged on for a quick peek at work and was bombarded by herherher!
I once called in naked to work...

I almost spit the spinach salad out when the orange life vest came into play. It will most certainly take some effort on my part to not send you a spare from the cabin....heaven knows what else this could inspire me too.

I was in NYC last week too...but from Monday through Friday and not for the book thing, but for a convention held by the organization I work for. We had it at the Marriott and stayed in the Marriott and I'm thinking you stayed in the Marriott too! I wish I had thought to look for you because I knew you were planning to come to NY and one of my friends was even meeting a friend over at the bookshow after we finished the convention on Friday. We could have talked southerner to southerner (I'm from NC). We ate at Junior's too (had the cheeseburger, but only fries, no onion rings because while they taste good going in, they are uncomfortable...ummmm...coming out). Anyway. We also ate at Carmines...just a half block from the Marriott and we ate at "The View" the rotating restaurant on the roof and the buffet was pretty good (although the dessert buffet was even better). And I loved the glass elevators and felt cheated when I had to ride in one of the "inside" elevators. Oh...and I met BD Wong...the guy who used to be the priest on Oz and he's on some law and order show now. He's cute in person and oh-so-nice. He brought his mother with him...no handlers! Weren't the beds great? So soft!

Hey Laurie,

First off let me just tell you that I really do love you, but not in a stalker kind of way. I look forward to your daily installments, and I go into severe withdrawal when I can't read them.

I have to tell you that I just admire the heck out of you Laurie ! You have shared your ups and down's with us, your adoring fans, with humor and grace and honesty. I had to chuckle when I read what you wrote about the Yarn Harlot, I would say the same for you-living your life so honestly, being so Laurie-ish, how could we but adore you ??

You have inspired me to get my butt in gear and get to the yarn shop ( where I met the world famous Mihaela Manitiu) and buy some lovely yarn for yet another scarf. You have also inspired me to live my life more fully, and to try to see the humor in life, whenever I can. Your spirit shines thru in your writing Laurie, and I know that if I am ever lucky enough to meet you, you will feel like an old friend. Old as in we've known each other forever, not old in age- since I am older than you I can say that ;).

Never doubt that all of us who follow your blog are rooting for you, and rejoicing in every one of your victories !! I can't wait to get your book, and if you ever get to Michigan I will drive to your book sighing, even if it's up in Copper Harbor :).

I talk about you and the blog so much that now everyone that knows me, knows all about Crazy Aunt Purl ! At first my husband was a bit overwhelmed by all that I was telling him, but I have caught him reading your blog when I have gotten up to use the WC. Now he understands and loves to look at all your photo's....

So, again, thank you so much for sharing yourself with us all, life would be much duller without your lovely self in it ! Bravo for you and all you've accomplished in the last 2 years.

Love from Beth Ann in Michigan

P.S. when we were in NYC 2 years ago I really wanted to see the SoL, but I could not get myself on the boat-so good for you ! It didn't help that one of the comuter boats had capsized the night before, and 2 people died. There is a good reason I don't like boats, I too think I may have been aboard the Titanic in another lifetime...

P.S.S.- Gypsy, Buddha, Ti Gra and Simmone send their love to you and your kits =^..^=

Ah Southerners and directions. I remember years ago when I was living in Nashville, the Nashville Scene did their annual "You're So Nashville If..." contest and the winning entry was "You're so Nashville if you can give directions to anywhere in middle Tennessee using only Krispy Kremes and Shoney's as landmarks."

You know - "Oh you're trying to get to Vandy? Well, you go down here to that new Krispy Kreme with the drive through adn go striaght past and keep going till you get to that Shoney's and turn right. Now a mile or so up you will see a shopping center that used to have a Krispy Kreme in it till that new one opened up and then a few blocks fown you will see a bunch of college-y buildings. It's there. But on the left." Frankly I think the directions would be better if the place was included that used to be the Kenny Rogers Roasters/Sub Shop/old trailer place across from the place that used to sell Suzuki Samurai's in the 80s before that whole rolling over thing. But the Indian place behind there and two places back isn't totally heinous (for Nashville)

Laurie, if you fall into the Hudson River, you don't have to worry about drowning so much as poisoning.

The first time I went to NYC, I got off the bus with my 2 girls and headed for a gift shop. I knew we were in Times Square and nothing else. Bought a map and away we went. We had a really good time.

And luckily, my children saw nothing wrong about going to a strange city and not having the foggiest idea where we were.

I love NYC!

Calling in stinky sounds fun!

i about died laughing with the orange life jacket story. your are an amazing writer! thanks for sharing.

Hey, that's my bank (blue canopies) in the picture of your folks on the bus! And the little building on the left is where I got off the subway for 10 years to go to work.

Really - the next time you come to NYC, let some New Yorkers show you around. On your book tour make sure you can get to the Point on Saturday afternoon for the "other stitch n bitch" that takes place during the week.

Yeah. What Beth Ann said. Love you, old friend.

Can I please - just tell you that I think you are fantastic! You make me laugh at my crap job - University o Crap!!! Try not to be too stinky - but I think baking soda helps with that ;) LOL

Oh dear. Ohdearohdearohdear. You live in L-freakin-A, girlfriend! Certainly NYC is a piece of cake for you by now. Oh. I guess you just proved it is. ;)

OMG, I am laughing so hard at work that I have tears running down my face and people are looking at me funny. My best friend says you write like I talk! I LOVE your blog. I can hardly wait to read your new book! Regards from Minnesota, Land of 10,000 lakes and pretty small boats!

Your parents are adorable! I love their matching outfits.

Loving every minute of your great adventure!!
Have you seen the cover of the June 11 & 18 New Yorker Magazine?? You must take a look. I think someone was watching you!
Looking forward to the book.
You just have the most amazing way with words.
Thank you!!

Well, first, let me just say that you look FABULOUS! And I love all the pics of your family, and that you love being with them so much. You just look so happy, like a weight has been lifted and I'm HAPPY for you!

In that picture of just your folks, and your dad is leaning to his right, is he goosing your mom under the table? Because that's what I thought.

I was in Ft. Lauderdale fishing with my brother-in-law in '92 and the boat fell into a hole in the ocean. We turned around and called it a day, figuring we might not get lucky enough to live through that twice in the same day.

Same brother-in-law almost got us hit by one of those cruise liners.

But still, I go fishing with him.

Laurie, you are positively GLOWING.

Oh, and the video isn't working for me. How do I find it on youtube? [It's telling me something about the owner forbidding it to be embedded!]

Ugh... I tried to warn you to stay away from Times Square. That's like walking up and down Hollywood Boulevard near the Chinese Theater and saying you "visited" Los Angeles. The only time Times Square was fun was years back when it was filled with hookers and porno theaters. Now you just meet other tourists. Next time, I'll give you my mother's phone number so she can take you around.

But everyone loves the Circle Line boat trip!

Can you see why I didn't want to raise my kids there???? I do miss NYC a lot, though. Life in the 'burbs can get BORING!

I'm so glad you had such a great time!!! Did you get to do any shopping??

Laurie, you nutter-butter! You're adorable and fun and I'm SO glad you finally had a fun boat experience. Your parents are absolutely adorable, too! Keep posting videos-- it's so fun to hear your voice!

Stay not stinky. ;)

There's a Junior's in Times Square?!? I have been away too long.

A friend got me your book and it saved me during my godawful layover in Dallas. Except I read the whole thing already and didn't save any for later! Wasn't that wasteful?!?

Laurie,
I am so happy everything went well with your nyc trip. Southern girls aren't allowed to call in stinky are they? I love reading your blog, it makes my day.
Jacki
PS
I need one of those WTF mugs...doesn't everyone? Pooh on Paris.

You said that you went to Junior's, but did you have the CHEESECAKE???? It's unbelievable (and i have the recipe if you want it!)

Laurie,

I went to the Statue of Liberty when I was 14 years old. This was back when you were allowed to go up inside of the crown - so I did. Boy do people (and boats) look very very tiny when you are looking out the windows of that crown!

Linda in VA

I'm the same way about safety, but not on boats - in clubs. Yup, I check out the exits, look for sprinklers and extinguishers and everything. I once made friends leave a crowded club that was mostly wood trimmed inside - it had been a Stuart Andersens - because it wasn't sprinklered.

NYC is just a serious of small self-contained towns. Next time, you gotta get out of Times Square and enjoy the neighborhoods.

Your parents are beyond cute! And they're so polite. After meeting and chatting with them, they thanked me for coming on by.

you my friend are a dork ;)

and in a couple of weeks i'm going on a cruise. in a big boat!

but you would like this boat. they have antibacterial gel stuff dispensers everywhere!

Oh-ho, that ferry to Catalina Island needs to be listed on a National To-Be-Avoided List or something.
Me, age 15. Early morning ferry from Catalina back to the mainland.
One blueberry muffin from the snackbar inside the cabin.
Rough waters rocking the boat.
Me turning green.
Cute Boy by railing.
*Blech*
My dad giving the Cute Boy some cold hard cash to replace his shoes.
Me dying of embarassment and mortification and seasickness and begging for a burial at sea.

And that's my Catalina story.

I love your (accidental?) misspelling of that French phrase. It should be "faites attention". I like your way better, though, since "fête" means party or celebration.

And, had my family been on that boat with you, you can be pretty sure you would have been teased mercilessly by at least one person faking an attempt to throw you overboard (possibly more than once). Then, to add to it, it's highly likely that my dad would have pointed at you (or other passengers) and done a crazy high pitch laugh just to get everyone looking at you (you know, in case they hadn't noticed you in the florescent life jacket).

Your post about the things you did and didn't like about New York seems as good an occasion as any for me to say what an (unexpectedly) good time I had in Los Angeles in April and May... and a good part of that was because of the welcome I got from the West Hollywood Stitch-n-Bitch crowd.... Thank you all so much!

You should not ever, ever, ever ride the Maid of the Mist at Niagara Falls. For most people, it is fun but thrilling in a scary way. Given your description of the Catalina trip, I think you are not "most people." Oh, and sure you can see land the whole time. But the whorling vortex of water and the nasty cliff faces make swimming to safety a pretty funny notion.

did you have cheesecake at Junior's, I hope?

Aunt Purl....your crazy!

Crazy Funny!

Ha!

1. You are adorable and so is your voice. I want to give you a hug.

2. Boats are dangerous but cars are worse. But I'm glad you managed to get on a boat and feel safe-ish.

3. I love your parents. <3

I agree with many of the NY'ers that posted here. I was born in Manhattan, moved away but lived there for a good part of my 20s. It's definitely crowded and crazy, but the rest of the city is less so than midtown. My guess being in midtown and TS is that a lot of what you saw was other tourists and people in town for business. I used to work at 44th and Broadway and it was mayhem on a daily basis getting to and from work.

I would never move back there (too expensive and stressful a place to raise a child) but it's a super place to visit. If you can ever be convinced to go back, make sure someone who lives there or who has lived there takes you around for a day so you get to see some of the other parts. It's really an amazing place.

You were only a few hours away from Vermit? And you didn't visit? It would have proven a safe haven from the big city.

Seriously, next time you have to do the Museum of Natural History. It rocks hard! (And many moons ago I saw John Lennon there with a preteen Sean)

Your parents are super adorable! I looooove your sunglasses....

And I am really glad that you had a good time. I also really want to go back to NYC now! It's been years....

Hi Laurie! *waving madly*

I know I'm totally going to sound like a stalker here, but I just wanted to tell you how much I love your blog.

I only discovered you about a week ago, but I've made it my mission to read through your entire archives... I'm up to September 2005 already! LOL.

You're such an inspiring, hilarious, real, likeable girl and I'm so glad I found your blog.

Please give your four babies scritchies from me! I love hearing about all their adventures, too :o)

Take care!

xoxo

My sister's mortally terrified of birds. Honestly, being mortally terrified of boats makes a lot more sense. And I'm totally with you on the "too many people" thing in NYC.

It is just Los Angeles that saw fit to make Paris breaking news. They didn't do that here in Oregon.

Oh, and the tourist tours? I call them the geek tour and they are absolute must for me when I get to a new city. It orients me to everything and I don't spend the rest of the trip going, "That building looks familiar. I think it must be important."

Your voice is so cute! It was neat to see NY (It's been a while since I've been) and your other videos were cool too. :)

ditto what vicky said (above)
Manhattan (and central Manhattan at that) just just small bit of NYC.
you might have seen a bit of Queens (if you had the good sence to take a plane to NYC (and not NJ) but airports and highways aren't very indicative of queens.. (nor is the view of the nacropolis that visitors are always treated to!)

I can totally relate to 1) scoping out the exits (the prepared are the ones who live, after all) and 2) weird Southern instructions. We once visited a church out in the country when we were camping in the mountains of North Carolina. The directions were, I kid you not, "Turn right at the convenience store, then go down the *good* road until you come to the red school bus that used to be a chicken coop. Or still is. I'm not sure. Turn right there, then proceed up..."

We still refer to that church as the one "on the good road".

Yeah, I'm sick of the "Paris interrupts the world" routine, too. I am also really sad to see that if you're white, wealthy, female, and Hilton in the world, you don't go to jail for driving drunk (and having the immediate possibility of killing someone), but if you're a black male from the ghetto and you drive drunk, you'll be in the slammer a long time. I'm bummed....I was actually so naive as to think race no longer always mattered in America. I guess Paris isn't the only one who's stupid....the fact that I ever thought justice was blind tells me who the truly stupid one is here...

On a more positive note, I'm glad you lived, too! Keep posting--

Cara

I'm just shaking my head and smiling hugely as I read your post. (As usual.) But, fete attencion!
It's so adorable that you love your parents who are also so adorable and that you post pictures of them (and Aunt Pam) on your blog. It's *inneresting* that some commenters have said your Mom looks so easy going while your Dad looks *skeptical*???. As someone about the same age as your parents, I always get the opposite. Everyone thinks my cute bearded husband of 40 years looks so laid back, and I look *mad*. Chalk it up to the very expressive wrinkle/furrow I have betwenn my brows. LOL

Paris was breaking news in Australia too. Why would anyone be interested in a spoiled little rich waste of oxygen? Our news is littered with Paris stories just about every day. Stupid!

I nearly wept with laughter over that t shirt, well done for stopping the guy and taking a pic!

And it was great to hear your voice... you sound just like I thought you would.. lovely twang.

So, this is my first comment...your NY exploits cracked me up. Also, out of curiosity, have you ever
watched Firefly? You would like it, I think.

And not only does it annoy me that Paris is getting more airtime than actual things that matter, it really annoys me that they couldn't be bothered keeping her in jail, she got let out early(after five days) because she wouldn't stop crying and she was refusing to eat. Yeah, you know, that didn't work for me when I was FIVE, let alone 26.

Oh, good lord in heaven...my mother gives directions exactly like your example. And lately I worry that I may be doing the same thing...

When my cousin came to visit from Puerto Rico and he and his wife went to Times Square for the first time, they kept asking where did all the people come from. To me, the crowds are part of the excitement. I don't even notice them. But I guess that's what happens when you grow up in that environment. I always tell people that there is more to New York than Manhattan. There are the beaches, and wineries of Long Island, not to mention the beautiful parks and lakes upstate. I know there are many beautiful cities and towns, but feel very lucky that I live here and I couldn't imagine living any where else.
I'm glad y'all had a good time and I hope you venture out this way again.

You...coming from LA...think New YORK is big and crowded? Whoooah. I think it's too fabulous that your folks got to share that with you, and yes, it's easy to see where your Cute came from. I'm very partial to Handsome Bearded Guys myself, since getting me one of my own. Oh, and regarding Paris? Grievous....what *I* think is, all mention of her should be absolutely absent for 45 days. Don't refer to her, don't show her picture....what she needs is a proper SHUNNING. 100% zip/nada/zero/nothing Shunning. (I also think drunk drivers should be locked up for the safety of the citizenry by wherever they live. Permanently.) so there it is.

Whoo hoo! I will definately have to send today's story onto my big sister in SC. A couple of years ago we were in the middle of the Indian Ocean (well, 10 miles off the coast of Kenya) in a small, very wobbly fishing boat (yes, we paid for this thrill) and the weather was a tad rough and cloudy and the waves rolled alot - and then we saw a "whale-shark" (that is what the boat man said it was). Well, all the way out to the underwater preserve where we were headed to snorkel, my sweet southern sister was clinging onto the side of the boat, (in her orange life vest), planning where she was going to swim to if the boat should sort of, um, sink...she had a running commentary going about which sand bar, rock, atoll, etc. she'd head for. She also figured out the fact that the seat cushions would "probably" float. Thanks for the memory, Laurie! I think my sister would have preferred the East River!

(By the way, she didn't snorkel in the Indian Ocean, but I did)!!!

I just want to let you know I really enjoy reading your blog! You have inspired me to knit hats because yours look so cute! However, apparently I am ill prepared for such a thing, because my hat turned out to be big enough for something far larger than the average head, or even the bigger-than-average head. Or even bigger than that. And I have no idea what I've done wrong LOL. Swatch. Done. Guage measure. Done. Head measure. Done. Math (ew). Done. Cast on Head inches x spi and we've got a tent folks! I'm giving up for the night and will give it another shot tomorrow. But mostly I just wanted to say hi and that I enjoy your blog. Which I've said twice now. :)

Even here in Germany there seems nothing more important than Paris Hilton. Heck, who cares about G8?

I can sympathize with the sensory overload thing in Times Square. I can't even go into department stores at Christmas without hyperventilating.

As for Ms Hilton I have no sympathy at all. Why do people pay attention to her anyway?

I loved the boat tour in NY. I do believe that it and the bus tours were the only time I took my camera out on the street. You need to pay attention too much the rest of the time to be snapping away!

I'm from a small county in the UK called Cornwall (if you look at a map of Britain its the small sticky out bit right down the bottom). My folks are Cornish born and bred and my mum hates cities, they are purely country folk. They would hardly ever come and visit me when I lived 'up country' in Manchester or Liverpool. Well at the end of last year they went to New York with a group of friends and my mum loved it. Got a text from her from Times Square (still can't really picture my mum stood in Times Square) and she thought it was fantastic with all the people, lights, noise. She also said that the people were so friendly (especially when they found out my folks were English - well Cornish really but you have to be from down here to understand the difference!). I plan to visit at some point but think I would also have 'too many people' issues!

Your voice is exactly what I thought it would be! Loved the pictures! Glad you had a fun trip with Faith. It reminded me of my travels through Europe with my friends...seems like a 100 years ago now, but thanks for bringing back the memories.

You haven't mentioned your pepers and other garden marvels in a while...have they been sacrificed for the daily shower!?

CAP...I am spewing coffee everywhere while reading your recount of the Catalina Flyer trip. I read your blog everyday and I think you are one of the funniest women I've come across. I really think you should be writing for sitcoms...Have a great weekend...Lulu

remeber there is always the Staten Island ferry. You can then pretend to be from Working Girl with Melanie Griffin. Only another southerner can appreciate those type of directions. That is truly lost on these northerners. Best wishes with your book.

Your parents are so huggable.

That guy in the Tshirt? He works at my pharmacy! Tiny tiny world.

Come back sometime, and we'll all show you the -ahem- quieter side of NY!

I've always wanted to ask to wear a life vest on ferries & big boats (to beat the rush when the boat sinks)but I never had the nerve. Love it!

Ok, you drive in LA traffic everyday and NY was crowded to you?!!?
Also, watching your video, the very last second you see a guy handing out flyers. Now THAT is NY!! And love the guy's shirt. NYC may be a bit ruff and gruff, but you gotta love the straightforwardness of it all.
And how cute do your parents look?!? And the one of you and your daddy? That needs to be your desktop pic.

Ya'll know, yer parents ARE just too damn cute! And, in the first picture of them (in which Papa Purl has on a black and white striped shirt) does anyone else but me see his striking resemblance to Willie Nelson??? Fer sure, there's more than one "celebrity" in the Perry family!

Laurie, nice pictures - you did a great job of packing in a lot of touring! I finished your book last night and I loved it. Many pages are turned down towards the end so I can remember your wise words about being ok with where/who one is. Your passage on what you want in your next relationship was especially thought-provoking and is making me do some (uncomfortable) thinking about my own situation. Good for the long run, hard in the short run, but always worth it. Yeah, so thanks for making me uncomfortable HaHa!

I love Juniors! I've been to that location in Manhattan three times. Did any of you try the devil's food cheesecake? If not you have to go back (or order online).
I'm with you on the boat thing. Your parents look like the nicest people.

Dude. That's so hilarious. Unless you've been there, no one really understands that in order to get to South Padre Island, you drive. Drive onto the ferry. Drive onto the beach. Park your car on the beach.

People don't get this. What, pulling up to the shores of the Gulf of Mexico in your car doesn't make sense? Come on. Sure it does.

Heck...sometimes I go to work stinky just to pay them back for dumping boring stuff on me.

Btw, your folks are adoooorable! Your mom is a doll and your dad is what I believe you'd call a "silver fox". :)

I love your travel updates!

I haven't heard anything about PHilton on the Canadian news, though maybe I've just blocked it out. But I went to CBC.ca and in fact they do have the occasional article, just not prominently displayed (thank you, CBC).

Cool! I hope you get to see the other bits of NYC someday, just to balance things out (oh, and have a really good time, too).

My bestest friend (Lyda, who lives now in Orange County) used to live in Corpus Christi and I bet your mention of South Padre is making her nostalgic (I love South Padre). I lived near Houston and we drove to Galveston (Island)on a regular basis! I also went to Catalina as a child, but I was ignorant of boat-scariness and just had a really good time.

I love your pictures and I need to get me one of them shirts that that guy had on. I also wouldn't mind getting me one of them guys that that shirt was on but anyways..I'm glad you survived too and I agree with the first commenter. When I read your blog I always imagined this deeper voiced twangy ladies voice like a woman I knew from when I lived in Alabama but after hearing your voice I realized that your actual voice suits you better than the one in my head...Does that make any sense at all?

My boyfriend is from New York and he blabs to me all the time about how awsome everything is there and how Boring utah is in comparison....I laugh at him and tell him Utah is boring compaired to everywhere....unless your into the plural marriage thing i guess.... Just kidding!!!

But I was thinking that in some of the pictures your dad looks like Paul Sr. on the OCC.
Your parents are so cute! just squish there cheeks because they are so cute.

I heart you and your crazy. And NY.

It is so strange to hear your voice! Not at all what I expected! You did say you were southern and I don't know why but when I read your posts I do not hear any southern twang it in, but damn, I love it! Thanks for sharing that with us!

In Denver you would think Paris Hilton would be a story about the Paris Hiton being blown up instead of a spoiled kid be hauled off to eat her just desserts.

Laurie,

My Mom was born and raised in NYC. I still have a HUGE Italian family back there, and it's fun to visit! But not just Times Square and Midtown, girl! I agree with the other commenters telling you to get out into some of the other neighborhoods. It's much more serene and slower-paced, and I love it

ALSO - - I absolutely HATE boats,and HATE being on the water. But the Circle Line Ferry cruise? LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! Can't wait to go again! :-)

Glad you had a good trip, Laurie!

Oh please don't judge NYC by Times Square. It's just a big old corporate playground now--not New York at all. Real New Yorkers miss the hookers, the winos and the crazy people!

The next time you come (and there will definitely be a next time when your book is number one on the bestseller list), put the word out ahead of time and I'll send you some fun leads. You need to go to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx and Prospect Park and Katz's Delicatessen (where you can sit at the Meg Ryan table from When Harry Met Sally) and Chinatown and for cocktails at the Met and to the clock at the zoo in Central Park and Arturo's for pizza and so so many more places that are welcoming and lovely. Once you get outside Times Square, New Yorkers are really really nice and friendly.

And I can't believe no one told you the number 1 rule of coming to NYC for the first time--don't forget that the streets go in number order--you can't get lost that way.

Oh--and I totally forgot about Jacques Torres for hot chocolate and the Cyclone at Coney Island (I am terrified of roller coasters but I love the Cyclone) and to see the peacocks at St. John the Divine. So many cool places!

*sigh* Aussies know all about drought and shorter showers.

Welcome to our world :(

You are fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family :)

Totally understanding the no boat thing. I have gone out on small boats, on the lake, to fish. But I have seen Titanic too many times to ever want to go "cruising".
Glad you lived to tell the tale.
And can I just say, the YouTubage is awesome.
:)

Oh Laurie, don't feel bad about the life jacket. After all, you were on a BOAT and that's the appropriate attire for the safety minded. I once saw a woman put on a life jacket in her CAR to drive across a bridge! Granted, it was a long bridge, but still...

Bossy refused to listen to any of the Breaking Paris Hilton news stories and so Bossy doesn't even know what in heaven is going on and she doesn't even care! Well, maybe a little: Bossy will be right back - she's off for a crash course on yesterday's Paris reports!

Pat, I declared many blogposts ago (having to do with Granny Purl's blanket) that I think Papa Purl looks awfully much like Willie Nelson, and that is a very big compliment from me.

Maybe it's a Southern Cancer thing. Because my mom? She doesn't really do boats either. Or bridges.

That's awesome! Anyway, you are in a beautiful countries, unlike mine. :)

Your dad is, ummm, hunky!

next time you go to new york? get out of times square. it's hellish. go explore soho and the village and central park and you'll see what an amazingly fabulous city it really is.

I'm a northerner displaced to the south, and I certainly understand that southern directions thing. My wife was once told to use "the place where the black cemetery used to be" as a landmark. It might have worked if we hadn't recently moved there.
With time, I have begun to do the same thing. "...And then you turn left when you get to the tree where Mr. Mullinax sued the city for cutting the branch that overhung the street."

I can't believe you were only a half hour away from me and I couldn't get there to see you! Aaahh! Stupid job!

And speaking of touristy, at least you didn't buy one of those Statue of Liberty hats. (You didn't, did you?)

I like this post!
U've got talent I think, keep going

NYC is proudly "nutty," but it is not "giant." The City of Los Angeles (498 sq mi) swallows up an area 22 times larger than Manhattan aka New York County (23 sq mi). Los Angeles County (4,084 sq mi) is a whopping 178 times larger than New York County, and still 13 times larger than all five of NYC's counties combined (322 sq mi). Imagine squishing all of Los Angeles County (including the Valley), its people, cats, homes, businesses, everything, into an area 1/13th its current size. Giant? Uh-uh. NYC is like LA in a zip file: all the fun stuff, at a fraction of the KB (and a fraction of the global warming per person). I love LA, but next time, let us show you why the real NYC (not the tourist version) is even better.

Anchorage covers more square mileage than any other US city. That's a Trivial Pursuit secret weapon factoid for you.

Don't be afraid of the boats. Don't be afraid of the germs - you're bigger than they are! Don't be afraid of being single - you have thousands of friends and a few ravening fans.

Love the cats.

Keep smiling big for the camera. Beautiful smile.

Well, Southerners are the best people in the whole wide world! Everyone knows that!! Alabama is now bone dry. I am attending girl scout camp with my daughters this week and in one of the sessions, my six year old was given the helpful water conserving advice of: if it's yellow, let it mellow, if it's brown, flush it down!!

Laurie - I love your post.

But are you not the one who loves "Deadliest Catch"? and "The Perfect Storm"?

"I have never seen anything like this in my whole life."

Check out the Navy Shower (and you don't have to do it on a boat ;o) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Navy_shower

Or for the really hard core - you can bathe with a bucket...

"Though the shower may be more fashionable and convenient, bathing with a bucket is truly a great way to save water.

With a shower, you lose count of how much water you are using. Besides, the new swanky showers spew out at least 40 to 60 litres a minute!

In comparison, one bucket holds between 15 and 20 litres of water. Thus, you can control the amount of water you usee."

See, you don't have to call in stinky!

Wow you look so tan and beautiful in those pictures!!!