Let's Hear it for New York

I went to New York City this week for work.  It really wasn't a blog-worthy trip but I'm trying to make up for lost time, and the Rangers playoff game is in a rain delay right now so I've got some time to kill.

The building I was at was on Wall Street, and it turns out there is a big protest going on there.  I had heard a little about it but I didn't realize how big it had gotten.  Apparently there are now more than 10,000 protesters marching around.  That made it even more loud and traffic-y than usual.  I am not a big city person, and I couldn't wait to get back home!

But, here are a few pictures I took while I was there.

The New York Stock Exchange:

 Construction of One World Trade Center, aka Freedom Tower, at Ground Zero.

 I really wanted to go to the 9/11 Memorial but there was some type of waiting list through December, and unfortunately there was so much construction going on that you couldn't even see it at all from the streets.

Also, I discovered that no one in New York calls it "Wall Street."  They just call it Wall.  As in, "oh the Hilton, it's on Watters between Wall and Pine."  So play it cool next time you're in NY.

Now for the most exciting part of the trip.... I went through airport security with Stanley Tucci.  I know that's not super impressive but I don't really run into celebrities every day.  Anyway, what's creepier than those TSA body scan machines?  Some creeper taking your picture while you're being scanned.

On the way home I played the SkyMall magazine game that I usually play with Kolby, where you go through the catalog and pick out both the  most ridiculous item and also the most ridiculous item that you would secretly be really satisfied to receive as a gift.  Here were my choices (yes, I played alone and then took pictures.  I'm not proud of it).

Most ridiculous item:

I find several things off-putting and I'm not sure which one is the worst.

1) What is the big difference between before and after?

2)  "100% human hair."

3)  Why not use a real person?  Maybe because they know it is completely unrealistic that the color of this "partial wig" could ever match someone's real hair color when they only offer six color options.

4)  It costs $150

5)  What is it?  How come they never show the actual product?  I'm so confused what it is!

6)  "Hand-sewn for durability."

Most ridiculous item that I would totally use if someone got it for me:

I'm not saying this product isn't completely ridiculous, but I have to say that I would love to "keep the crunch in my breakfast munch."  :)  I think it's a clever idea.  It is probably the biggest cereal bowl I've ever seen, though.  And I think the non-slip grip may be overkill, but the whole thing is overkill so I guess it can't hurt.

So that's the scoop there.  Aren't you glad you stopped by?