not sure if anyone is actually reading this any more, but at about 11:30 p.m. we left Saugerties for good and drove the two+ hours to the Newark, New Jersey airport. It's about 5 am now and we're just sitting around waiting for the check-in counter to open up. My flight to Salt Lake leaves at 7 and Tony's leaves a few hours later. We're sitting in some not-so-comfortable chairs because we got kicked off of some nice soft carpet because "they needed to clean it" Yeah, they didn't start cleaning it for like two hours. Jerks.
Anyways, thanks everyone for tuning in. This has been one of our few lifelines to the outside world.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Monday, June 11, 2007
Friday, June 8, 2007
Monday, June 4, 2007
I Love NY!!!
Our great weekend in NYC is over and now we are back in Saugerties getting ready to load up all the hundreds of boxes we've prepared over the last week and a half.
NYC is awesome by the way for all of you who have never visited!!! We had a great time and are so excited to go back next weekend!
My most memorable experience actually happened in Chinatown Saturday night. We found this random restaurant and decided to eat there (it was dinner-time). When we walked in, there was this huge stack of fish tanks that were PACKED FULL with fish. One guy had opened up a tank and was taking out some fish with a net and putting them in a bucket. One of the fish managed to get out of the net and proceeded to flop around all over the floor of the restaurant for a good minute and a half before the guy could get it in the bucket...and then we were seated at our table. Needless to say, we didn't order the fish.
We went to church in a building on the north end of Manhattan up past Harlem yesterday and it was really cool. We met up with Lisa, who used to work in the library and is now doing a summer internship in nyc--she says "hi" to everyone in MAD who remembers her.
Anyways, hope you are all doing well!!! Another update is coming soon!
NYC is awesome by the way for all of you who have never visited!!! We had a great time and are so excited to go back next weekend!
My most memorable experience actually happened in Chinatown Saturday night. We found this random restaurant and decided to eat there (it was dinner-time). When we walked in, there was this huge stack of fish tanks that were PACKED FULL with fish. One guy had opened up a tank and was taking out some fish with a net and putting them in a bucket. One of the fish managed to get out of the net and proceeded to flop around all over the floor of the restaurant for a good minute and a half before the guy could get it in the bucket...and then we were seated at our table. Needless to say, we didn't order the fish.
We went to church in a building on the north end of Manhattan up past Harlem yesterday and it was really cool. We met up with Lisa, who used to work in the library and is now doing a summer internship in nyc--she says "hi" to everyone in MAD who remembers her.
Anyways, hope you are all doing well!!! Another update is coming soon!
Friday, June 1, 2007
New York City !!!
We made it !!!
We are in New York City, finally!!!
We worked last saturday, and some extended hours this last week, so we could have this friday (today) off. We're staying at a Marriott (they have a copy of the Book of Mormon in every room!!) in New Jersey.
We went to Times Square today, and also to Little Italy, where we had delicious Italian sandwiches... amazing.
The highlight of the day, though is the following: just when we first arrived today at noon, we decided to go have lunch; we wanted something unique that could not be found anywhere else, something totally local and purely New Yorker... MacDonalds !!!!! Ahem, well, we went and had our meals (which, by the way, cost a few dollars more than we were expecting). As everything in this city seems to be built in inside tall buildings, we went up two floors to the upper level to eat. As is natural, once we were done, we came back down to exit the establishment... and there he rolled... Tony fell down the stairs !!! My right foot popped like you have no idea.
Now, I'm limping as I walk, and it hurts like CRAP !!! My right ankle is swollen, but hasn't turned purple, and I hope it won't. We'll see how it turns out tomorrow morning when I wake up...
But that's not going to impede my having a blast in one of the most important cities in the world, especially after having worked so many hours, lifted so many boxes, and checked so many records...
We're planning to visit the Manhattan Temple tomorrow morning, at 7:30 am, and then go around and visit cool stuff...
I'll keep you all posted on what happens. I promise I will post pictures tomorrow night, so you all can have an idea of how much fun Dan and I are having here, the Coolest city in the world.
BTW, we saw the "Naked Cowboy" today in Times Square... GROSS !!
We are in New York City, finally!!!
We worked last saturday, and some extended hours this last week, so we could have this friday (today) off. We're staying at a Marriott (they have a copy of the Book of Mormon in every room!!) in New Jersey.
We went to Times Square today, and also to Little Italy, where we had delicious Italian sandwiches... amazing.
The highlight of the day, though is the following: just when we first arrived today at noon, we decided to go have lunch; we wanted something unique that could not be found anywhere else, something totally local and purely New Yorker... MacDonalds !!!!! Ahem, well, we went and had our meals (which, by the way, cost a few dollars more than we were expecting). As everything in this city seems to be built in inside tall buildings, we went up two floors to the upper level to eat. As is natural, once we were done, we came back down to exit the establishment... and there he rolled... Tony fell down the stairs !!! My right foot popped like you have no idea.
Now, I'm limping as I walk, and it hurts like CRAP !!! My right ankle is swollen, but hasn't turned purple, and I hope it won't. We'll see how it turns out tomorrow morning when I wake up...
But that's not going to impede my having a blast in one of the most important cities in the world, especially after having worked so many hours, lifted so many boxes, and checked so many records...
We're planning to visit the Manhattan Temple tomorrow morning, at 7:30 am, and then go around and visit cool stuff...
I'll keep you all posted on what happens. I promise I will post pictures tomorrow night, so you all can have an idea of how much fun Dan and I are having here, the Coolest city in the world.
BTW, we saw the "Naked Cowboy" today in Times Square... GROSS !!
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
end of week 1...
Well we've been here an entire week and we're still alive. Tony and I have two more weeks here and David leaves in one.
I must say I have to give mad props to Angela who works in the Harp Archives--she's coming to New York next week just to visit me and Tony!!! (I hear she's going to take a few harp lessons on the side too.) I feel you should all follow Angela's good example and make a trek out to New York some time in the next two weeks and pay us a visit. We will be happy to show you all the cheap local places to eat!!!!
We're halfway done clearing out the HUGE 53-ft container and I think we're working much faster than any of us anticipated so that is good. Working 8+ hours a day in the sun is worth it when we see all the progress we're making and the fact that we'll get Friday off to go play in the city!!! :)
Hope you all are doing well. Don't be shy to drop us a line to tell how much you love and miss us!!!!!
I must say I have to give mad props to Angela who works in the Harp Archives--she's coming to New York next week just to visit me and Tony!!! (I hear she's going to take a few harp lessons on the side too.) I feel you should all follow Angela's good example and make a trek out to New York some time in the next two weeks and pay us a visit. We will be happy to show you all the cheap local places to eat!!!!
We're halfway done clearing out the HUGE 53-ft container and I think we're working much faster than any of us anticipated so that is good. Working 8+ hours a day in the sun is worth it when we see all the progress we're making and the fact that we'll get Friday off to go play in the city!!! :)
Hope you all are doing well. Don't be shy to drop us a line to tell how much you love and miss us!!!!!
Monday, May 28, 2007
More updates...
We went to Church yesterday. There are very nice members around here. Actually, nice members are found everywhere you go!! I’ve been around quite a bit: England, Germany, Slovenia, Greece, California… and New York isn’t an exception for finding nice, loving members.
It is a 20 min ride to get to Church. David got a little bit of motion sickness on the way back... maybe it was because he was riding in the back seat...!
It’s still as hot as heck, you have no idea hot hot it is, seriously.
Everything is running smoothly, so far. No problems of any kind, so far. Ahem… (clears his throat) ahem… you know what I mean, right?? Well, Dan and I are quite impressed. Highly collaborative, generous... anyways, I would’ve never expected it, seriously. I’m extremely impressed!!! Well, cool !! Better that way, of course.
Thanks heavens !!!
Dan and I are actually having fun (working like mules, and sweating like pigs), and are excited about going to the Big Apple, the Temple, the Empire Estate Building, Statue of Liberty, etc.
PS: I love you all. If anybody asks for Tony, remember to answer: “I don’t care!”, ok?
Exception: if it is a (lovely, pretty, single) girl asking for me... tell her that I'll be back on the 18th of June !!!
It is a 20 min ride to get to Church. David got a little bit of motion sickness on the way back... maybe it was because he was riding in the back seat...!
It’s still as hot as heck, you have no idea hot hot it is, seriously.
Everything is running smoothly, so far. No problems of any kind, so far. Ahem… (clears his throat) ahem… you know what I mean, right?? Well, Dan and I are quite impressed. Highly collaborative, generous... anyways, I would’ve never expected it, seriously. I’m extremely impressed!!! Well, cool !! Better that way, of course.
Thanks heavens !!!
Dan and I are actually having fun (working like mules, and sweating like pigs), and are excited about going to the Big Apple, the Temple, the Empire Estate Building, Statue of Liberty, etc.
PS: I love you all. If anybody asks for Tony, remember to answer: “I don’t care!”, ok?
Exception: if it is a (lovely, pretty, single) girl asking for me... tell her that I'll be back on the 18th of June !!!
Sweat...
We didn't really imagine this was going to be hard work... it is !!!
I fit perfectly in my Sunday dress-pants to go to Church, and it's only been three days of work... I hope I can lose my belly-roll by the time we finish !!
Who needs diets when you can sweat the HOLY HECK out of you everyday as you work !?
Awesome !!!
We're doing well. We started working at 6 am today, so we didn't have to face the blistering heat and sunlight by noon...
The trailer is almost 1/3 done. We're actually doing quite well time-wise.
I love and miss you all, take care.
P.S: Annie !!! We're getting Tropicana Orange Juice... it's "Never From Concentrate !!"
I fit perfectly in my Sunday dress-pants to go to Church, and it's only been three days of work... I hope I can lose my belly-roll by the time we finish !!
Who needs diets when you can sweat the HOLY HECK out of you everyday as you work !?
Awesome !!!
We're doing well. We started working at 6 am today, so we didn't have to face the blistering heat and sunlight by noon...
The trailer is almost 1/3 done. We're actually doing quite well time-wise.
I love and miss you all, take care.
P.S: Annie !!! We're getting Tropicana Orange Juice... it's "Never From Concentrate !!"
Saturday, May 26, 2007
the search for church
Tony and I took a few hours this afternoon to go to Kingston ("The Big Town") about twenty minutes away to buy some stuff at Walmart and then to find the nearest church building, which was about an hour-and-a-half long search in and of itself. Mapquest told us to get on Route 32--however, there exist about three Route 32's and even with Tony blurting mapquest directions direct from his computer from the passenger's seat, it still took us forever. Luckily at about 5:00 pm we found the church and there was a nice lady there to tell us what time church was, etc. I love the church and the fact that there are awesome church members EVERYWHERE. Anyways, as we left the church to trace the route between the church and the place where we are staying, we had to drive over a ton of windy, hilly roads. It was like driving on a roller coaster--only it was a highway.
p.s. everyone in Utah--enjoy your arid desert climate. Humidity sucks.
p.s. everyone in Utah--enjoy your arid desert climate. Humidity sucks.
Friday, May 25, 2007
Day Three... PICTURES !!!
Hmmm... well, yes, we missed our flight. There was a 5 car pile-up accident on I-15 North. They re-routed us through Atlanta. Happily, David didn't get mad...
Our plane, which actually took us from Salt Lake City to Atlanta... and ALSO from Atlanta to Newark. When we got off the plane in Atlanta and started walking away from the gate (you know, going through the motions) we realized that it was going to be the same plane that would take us to Newark...
Before...
After... yummy !!Stay tuned, more pictures coming up...
Day three...
OH MY GOSH !!!!!
I HATE BUGS !!!!!
MOSQUITOES, CATERPILLARS, SPIDERS, ANTS, TICKS... MANY, MANY, MUCHO, MUCHO !!!
THEY ARE ALL OVER, AND THEY'RE ANNOYING...
...AND IT'S HOT, QUITE HOT.
AAAWWWGGGHHHHH....
I HATE BUGS !!!!!
MOSQUITOES, CATERPILLARS, SPIDERS, ANTS, TICKS... MANY, MANY, MUCHO, MUCHO !!!
THEY ARE ALL OVER, AND THEY'RE ANNOYING...
...AND IT'S HOT, QUITE HOT.
AAAWWWGGGHHHHH....
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Day two...
Ok, first off: the house is not a shade ! It’s actually nice. WE HAVE SATELLITE TV !!!!! Nicki, you were right, after all it isn’t that bad. It can’t get any better. The only odd thing so far, is that the tap water has a very distinct taste of sulfur… yeah, weird but true. If I had any intestinal worms when I came here, they will probably be the last ones I ever carried, for the rest of my life !
Hmmm… we just heard a noise… kinda like a mouse chewing on the wood in the attic…?? ahem… well…
Anyways, the “guy” is actually very friendly. His “new Yorker” accent cracks me up, I love it !!! I’ll have to give it a try and learn it.
The “trailer” is HUGE. The truth comes out: there might actually be 120,000 records inside the thing, as David said. So, as we pack everything to get it ready for shipping, we have to average about 80 boxes (approx. 70 LPs each) per day. This is about 5,600 to 6,000 LPs per day. This is hard work, you guys. We were literally SWEATING today, the three of us! We were even thinking the possibility of contacting the Mission Office, or the local Elder’s Quorum to get some extra help when the FedEx people come to ship it away.
Gas price: $3,14/gallon (if anybody wondered)
So far, so good, though.
I’ll let Dan add anything I forgot to comment… which will probably be a lot…
Ye people of the MAD, Maddenites, I miss you, I love you all, ok? Don’t be sad, I’ll be back soon…
PS: this thing is taking too much to upload the pictures, so I will try to post them tomorrow...
Hmmm… we just heard a noise… kinda like a mouse chewing on the wood in the attic…?? ahem… well…
Anyways, the “guy” is actually very friendly. His “new Yorker” accent cracks me up, I love it !!! I’ll have to give it a try and learn it.
The “trailer” is HUGE. The truth comes out: there might actually be 120,000 records inside the thing, as David said. So, as we pack everything to get it ready for shipping, we have to average about 80 boxes (approx. 70 LPs each) per day. This is about 5,600 to 6,000 LPs per day. This is hard work, you guys. We were literally SWEATING today, the three of us! We were even thinking the possibility of contacting the Mission Office, or the local Elder’s Quorum to get some extra help when the FedEx people come to ship it away.
Gas price: $3,14/gallon (if anybody wondered)
So far, so good, though.
I’ll let Dan add anything I forgot to comment… which will probably be a lot…
Ye people of the MAD, Maddenites, I miss you, I love you all, ok? Don’t be sad, I’ll be back soon…
PS: this thing is taking too much to upload the pictures, so I will try to post them tomorrow...
Day two #2: I didn't do it !!
So, I wonder how in the world could I have been "snoring really loud" if I DIDN'T SLEEP AT ALL !!!!!
Let me blame the others: David was snoring in B flat minor, and Dan did in G# Major (sometimes, though)
I could barely sleep about 2 or 3 hours last night.... maybe less...
Anyhow, I'm clearing out my reputation: I may snore sometimes (who doesn't) but as for last night, I don't snore while I'm awake !!
More updates coming up... stay tuned !
Let me blame the others: David was snoring in B flat minor, and Dan did in G# Major (sometimes, though)
I could barely sleep about 2 or 3 hours last night.... maybe less...
Anyhow, I'm clearing out my reputation: I may snore sometimes (who doesn't) but as for last night, I don't snore while I'm awake !!
More updates coming up... stay tuned !
Day Two #1: the arrival
At about 10:30 Tony and I flew in to the Newark airport and David met us at baggage claim and then we went and rented the car. We're driving a silver mini-van with leather seats...I honestly don't remember what model it is.
Anyways, we get out to the parking lot to pick up the car and David looks at me and says "You're driving. I'm too tired." *GULP* So yes, I got to drive in New York City and it was just as terrifying as everybody says it is. On top of that, the roads and exits are not very well marked at all and my co-pilots weren't always giving me the most timely driving directions (for which I might forgive them). After two hours of driving and still managing never to leave the state of New Jersey we pulled up to a Holiday Inn and checked in for the night.
Tony was snoring really loud. He says its because "he's sick." Poor kid. Oh well, atleast the continental breakfast has been really good.
Today we will be driving up to Saugerties. Hopefully days #2-21 will be a little less crazy.
Anyways, we get out to the parking lot to pick up the car and David looks at me and says "You're driving. I'm too tired." *GULP* So yes, I got to drive in New York City and it was just as terrifying as everybody says it is. On top of that, the roads and exits are not very well marked at all and my co-pilots weren't always giving me the most timely driving directions (for which I might forgive them). After two hours of driving and still managing never to leave the state of New Jersey we pulled up to a Holiday Inn and checked in for the night.
Tony was snoring really loud. He says its because "he's sick." Poor kid. Oh well, atleast the continental breakfast has been really good.
Today we will be driving up to Saugerties. Hopefully days #2-21 will be a little less crazy.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Day one #2
Ok, we missed the flight!!
There was a 5 car pile-up on I15 North, by Thanksgiving Point.
We arrived too late, and they re-routed the flight. We're going to go through Atlanta now. The funny thing is that David did get to the airport on time, and he's now on his way... he gets there at 6:45 pm... and we will get there at 10:20 pm; yeah!, he will have to wait for us for about 3 hours...
Please, you all, take care of my babies, the records !!!
And remember, if anyone asks for Tony... you answer "I don't care"
There was a 5 car pile-up on I15 North, by Thanksgiving Point.
We arrived too late, and they re-routed the flight. We're going to go through Atlanta now. The funny thing is that David did get to the airport on time, and he's now on his way... he gets there at 6:45 pm... and we will get there at 10:20 pm; yeah!, he will have to wait for us for about 3 hours...
Please, you all, take care of my babies, the records !!!
And remember, if anyone asks for Tony... you answer "I don't care"
Day one #1
So, here we are, finally going to New York City, to pick up the One-Hundred-Million Record Collection thing… and guess what?? We’re stuck in traffic by Thanks Giving Point and it’s 9:05 am… the flight departs at 10:16
Let me make a recount…
We’re going to be staying at “somebody’s” house. Hopefully there will be a laundry room, a toilet… some services…? We don’t exactly know what to expect, but one thing is for sure: we’re saving some pennies by doing so… do you wonder what I think about it…? I would rather stay at a hotel, I think. I hope we’re not staying at some sort of Barn, shade… or something…
Update: we’re back at 75 Mph ! and it’s 9:25… we gotta hurry up !! Andrew Snow is giving us a ride to the airport
Well, so yesterday, I found out the the per diem money wouldn’t get to us until UFTER WE CAME BACK FROM THE TRIP !! What the heck !!! Dan and I flipped; we have no money to spend. So we talked to David, then to Janet… and then I went down to the budget office on the second floor, and talked to a very nice lady, who helped us. We’re going to get the money ($$$) at the end of this week! Or what does the budgeting office think? We are students… we have no money!!!
I was very upset, because we should’ve been told about this way ahead of time, so as to be able to work things out. Rule # 1 for College Environments: Never assume students have money. They don’t !
Oh, by the way, I got a wireless Internet Card. BYU provided us with one, but it wouldn’t fir in our Mac Book Pros. So I had to work things out on my very own. I purchased one… sad story. When I was doing the purchase, the guy first told me a wrong amount… so I had to pay more. Now, because I had to pay more than I had been told in the first place, I had to “split” thea amount between two bank cards. Well, the nice thing is that… THE GUY TOTALLY MESSED UP THE TRANSACTION !!! He ended up taking the whole amount from one of the two cards I gave him. So, right there, immediately, me Zion’s Bank account went to - $60 (That’s MINUS $60 !!!) That’s going to cost me about $35 in overdraft fees. Krap !!! I will have to “fight” that money, because t was their mess up, not mine, and at the end the bank doesn’t care what the situation was, they just apply the fee. Leeches !! Blood suckers !!! But I got the internet card, we’re going to be connected while in there. That was probably my biggest concern.
9:42 am… T minus 30 min. We’re late, not there yet… I hope we make it.
Let me make a recount…
We’re going to be staying at “somebody’s” house. Hopefully there will be a laundry room, a toilet… some services…? We don’t exactly know what to expect, but one thing is for sure: we’re saving some pennies by doing so… do you wonder what I think about it…? I would rather stay at a hotel, I think. I hope we’re not staying at some sort of Barn, shade… or something…
Update: we’re back at 75 Mph ! and it’s 9:25… we gotta hurry up !! Andrew Snow is giving us a ride to the airport
Well, so yesterday, I found out the the per diem money wouldn’t get to us until UFTER WE CAME BACK FROM THE TRIP !! What the heck !!! Dan and I flipped; we have no money to spend. So we talked to David, then to Janet… and then I went down to the budget office on the second floor, and talked to a very nice lady, who helped us. We’re going to get the money ($$$) at the end of this week! Or what does the budgeting office think? We are students… we have no money!!!
I was very upset, because we should’ve been told about this way ahead of time, so as to be able to work things out. Rule # 1 for College Environments: Never assume students have money. They don’t !
Oh, by the way, I got a wireless Internet Card. BYU provided us with one, but it wouldn’t fir in our Mac Book Pros. So I had to work things out on my very own. I purchased one… sad story. When I was doing the purchase, the guy first told me a wrong amount… so I had to pay more. Now, because I had to pay more than I had been told in the first place, I had to “split” thea amount between two bank cards. Well, the nice thing is that… THE GUY TOTALLY MESSED UP THE TRANSACTION !!! He ended up taking the whole amount from one of the two cards I gave him. So, right there, immediately, me Zion’s Bank account went to - $60 (That’s MINUS $60 !!!) That’s going to cost me about $35 in overdraft fees. Krap !!! I will have to “fight” that money, because t was their mess up, not mine, and at the end the bank doesn’t care what the situation was, they just apply the fee. Leeches !! Blood suckers !!! But I got the internet card, we’re going to be connected while in there. That was probably my biggest concern.
9:42 am… T minus 30 min. We’re late, not there yet… I hope we make it.
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