New Year's Eve at Times Square

Happy New Year, everyone!!
I hope everyone has wonderful year on 2012!!

Last night I could be at the party just in front of Times Square.
I had pass to go into 43rd street so it only took there 5 minutes from Port Authority station.
When I told my friends about going to Times Square everyone said "Are you crazy??" but it was not that bad!! I was so lucky to get the pass:)
And just 10 minutes before we went out and see what was happening in Times Square.
The view was perfect and I couldn't believe that I was there!!!
Thank you so much for my friend who invited me there!! This was amazing experience in my life!!!
And I could the best moment for starting the new year 2012 in New York!!

This is the moment of new year. I couldn't see anything!!

2 seconds later, I could see :)

The Little House Shop

When I was in PA I went to this shop.
The Little House Shop
http://www.littlehouseshop.com/index2.htm
It was really cute shop and there were so many interesting things.
When you are looking for some gifts, this is the best place to go!!!
I wish there is one in NY too!!!

Actually many people say this word to me!!

"You're that old?!!!!"

Christmas in Philadelphia 2011

I had great Christmas this year.
I worked until Christmas eve afternoon and I went to Philadelphia by Bolt bus.
It only took 2 hours from NY and costs $25 for round trip!!
When I got there it was already 6pm but a good friend of my family picked me up and I joined her family Christmas. She was host sister of my mom when they were around 20 years old. And this was the third time to join their Christmas for me and now I feel they are my American family.
That night we went to church for Christmas math. I went to Catholic school in Japan so we sang Christmas songs so many times. So I was so excited to sing these Christmas songs. But when we sang Hallelujah I forgot mezzo part and I sang all the parts mixed... Maybe I did the same last year so for next year I have to practice it and remember the mezzo part again:) After that we had nice Christmas eve dinner and decorated the tree.
The Christmas day we made Apple pie and pumpkin pie. (I just helped her though) And had wonderful Christmas dinner with their family.
In Japan Christmas is for more couple thing than family thing. Maybe because we have new year for family. But after I moved here I feel how much Christmas is important for families. And fortunately I could join to this wonderful family's Christmas again. What a lucky I am to have such a family:)
Thank you so much, family "W"!!!

"She Loves Me" at the Heights Players

Last night my friend Stefanie and Niko took me to the show "She Loves Me".
It was at the Heights Players in Brooklyn Heights.
http://www.heightsplayers.org/hphome.html
It was small old church so if you didn't know it is the venue of musical, you never know that was the venue!!
Before they opened the venue, I went to restroom and there were many actresses changing their costumes and preparing for the show!! It was so fun to see them that much close.
When the venue was opened, we went to the basement of church and we seated chairs with numbers.
My seat was just behind of the table and chairs for the show. That was really interesting.
I think there were around 90 audiences and tickets were seemed like sold out.
When the show started, the band was just next to us and the actors and actresses were singing just in front of us. And they were so good. I've never seen and heard performance that much close in my life.
This made me goosebumps many times.
And the show was so fun too. When it started I didn't notice but it looked like original play of the movie "You got mail" (Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan).
I really liked this movie so I was so excited when I noticed this is the original one!!
After the show when we left the venue, it was so cold outside but this experience made me so warm.
I enjoyed so much!!
If you have chance to come to Brooklyn and you like musical, you should try there!!
I heard they've been playing there so long and every time they have different shows.
And I don't think there is another place that can see the show that much close here!!
I like Broadway too but this is totally different experience and it can be as good as Broadway or better???
Just for you information, ticket was just $20!!

This was interesting!! They put this note on their entrance!!