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December 21, 2009 - 7:28 p.m.
"christmas spectacular" or "blizzard of 2009"

Hey Journal!

I got home at 3am last night, and decided that was too late to write an entry! What a crazy day! Almost everything that could have gone wrong went wrong today, and yet, we still managed to have a great time!

We got up around 9:30 and checked out the snow. Lots! We got over 20 inches!! It was crazy. Definitely one of the biggest snow storms we've had in years! This is the kind I always wanted in High School and college (but never got)! Dan went outside and started to shovel out his car. It was quite a job, and he was out there for almost two hours, and did a really good job on his car. Then we went over to my car, and Dan cleared a path to the door, and I got in and just drove it out! It got stuck in the middle of the driveway, but was brushed it off, and Dan pushed, and eventually we got it turned the right way, and I drove over to the shopping center across the street and just parked it there!

Now, the whole time this was going on, we were coordinating what to do about the city. The original plan was to go early and spend the whole day in the city. Of course, that got all messed up with the snow. The trains were still running... although it wasn't on any kind of schedule. The original plan was to go from Ronkonkoma at about 11:00. Then things kept changing. Steve was going to take the PJ train, we were going to take Smithtown, Scott had no way to get to Ronkonkoma, lots of issues to overcome.

Dan was coming back in, and slipped on the ice, and put his hand out to break his fall.. and in the process he really really hurt his thumb, and thought he broke it. He had broken his thumb before, and said it felt just like this, and that it was swelling up. He could barely move it without being in excruciating pain! He didn't want to go to the emergency room today, though, so we planned to get a splint or something from CVS, and then wait and see if it got any better.

Finally at about 2:00 we got moving!! We went and picked up Scott, and Steve was going to meet us at Ronkonkoma. I was really surprised how bad the roads were. 454 was completely covered, as were most of the littler roads. Even most of the expressway was really bad! They only had two of the lanes cleared, and the rightmost lane was just a big pile of snow! Then as we got closer to the station, the Expressway was much better... BUT we passed a bunch of cars that had gotten stuck in the snow on the expressway, and then on Patchogue-Holbrook Road!

We got to the train station, found a spot, and made our way over to the other side. I went to the bathroom, and Dan and Scott bought tickets. A train pulled in just after that, and it was headed for Penn. The man at the info window said it was leaving in about 30 minutes, which would have been perfect!

We went to Dunkin Donuts, got a snack, and then got on the train. We were still waiting for Steve, so we didn't get a seat, we were just standing at the door hoping he would make it.

After only 15 minutes, they were saying they had the clearance to go... and Scott ran up the front to ask them to wait for just a few more minutes. They weren't really into that. He came back, and we were discussing.... when the doors started to shut! Scott was on the platform, and we were in the train! I tried to keep the door open, but it wouldn't move.. it just kept closing!! Scott ran away, to go see if they would wait just a few seconds more, and we saw Steve driving around in the lot looking for a spot! We sat there for like 5 minutes with the doors closed, and saw Steve find a spot, and get out of the car, and THEN the train started to move! He got up to the platform, as we passed him. It was like a scene from a movie.

So, off to the city we went... and the next train from Ronkonkoma to Penn didn't leave for two more hours.

We got to the city, and figured we'd hang around by the station till Scott and Steve arrived. We were going to go to Macy's, but as we got closer, we noticed there were tons of fire trucks and police... and noone was going inside. They had evacuated the store. So I checked on my iPhone, and apparently there was a fire on the escalator, and they had to get everyone out! Such craziness! lol

Then Scott and Steve called to say their train was stuck and not moving because a car was stuck on the tracks! Ridiculous!

So we walked to Times Square, had something to eat, and then started to head over to Rockefeller Center. On the way, we passed a news setup, and they were getting ready to broadcast. I called my mom and told her to watch on TV, and then I noticed that they had a TV on the side of the building, and I could see it too! Dan got behind them, and was waving furiously, and jumping up and down! It was great. He was really clear and right there in the background. There was a guy there trying to block him, and he kept standing in front of Dan to keep him from being seen, but ever time he moved, Dan just moved over the other way again! It was funny. My mom saw, and she loved it! They were reporting on the snow and all in the city, and were talking to some girls who had shopping bags.

We hung out by the tree, took some pics, and just enjoyed.

At 7:30... We went to Radio City Music Hall for the Christmas show! It started at 8, and we got in, got settled and went to our seats. At about 8:00 on the DOT Scott and Steve arrived there, and were just in time!

It was a really fun show! I loved the little mice, and the soldiers. Santa was a little weird. It was a really cool show, though... and the live nativity scene was really really cool. CAMELS and SHEEP! Ahhhh!

I had never been to the show before, so it was an especially fun experience!

When it got out, we took pictures outside by the tree, and then by the big lights, and Christmas balls! Then we walked trough Times Square, and went to dinner at Dallas BBQ!

We had a fun time there... Dan and Steve got the "Naughty or Nice" drink... and our waitress Giselle was WILD! She was just funny and crazy and cool. After our meal, we asked her to be in a picture with us, and she was very excited to! It's a great one! She gave us her e-mail address to send her the pic! haha

After dinner, we went to Toys R Us which is now open 24 hours till Christmas!

We made our way back to Penn Station, looked at the Macy's windows, and then got some water, and waited for the train. We took the 1:15ish train, and it wasn't very crowded. We got on, and I covered myself with Dan's jacket, and fell asleep for most of the ride. I think I was out from Jamaica to Brentwood.

When I woke up, the train was sparking like crazy...out the window it kept lighting up like lightening!

After all the craziness, the snow, the sludge, and the setbacks... we made it and had a great time! It was a really Christmas-y feeling being in the city with all the snow, and the lights, and all! It was definitely an adventure!

We got back to Ronkonkoma, and Steve and Scott headed to the north parking lot, and we headed to our parking lot!

We got home around 3:15 and I had some farina, and got right to bed! I had work at 9am, and had to get up at a little before 8! It was brutal... but I made it through the day! Now I think I NEED to get to sleep! I'm very very exhausted!

I'll be back later (or tomorrow) with another update about today, Monday!

Until tomorrow...

Goodnight. :)