I've been gone...we just returned from a vacation to New York City over the 4th of July, and I'm taking time out from a relatively busy day to post a quick update.

When I say New York City, I mean Manhattan. We did get into Brooklyn on a bus tour, but it was one of those double decker buses, one that only has a top deck - the lower area is not available for passenger seating. That particular day (Friday) it was pretty hot and sunny, and we got stuck in traffic on Atlantic Avenue. Heat stroke was a real concern; my older boy started to look sort of lethargic and pale, and my younger son was just miserable from the heat, wanting to know when it was over. Couldn't concentrate on anything the guide said because we were so worried about the kids, so I raised my hand, told him that we had to get off before my boy passed out from the heat. That was the end of our tour, and about a half hour later we grabbed a cab and headed back to Manhattan.

Manhattan is big enough, though. I've never been to NYC, so I didn't know what to expect. I'm a frequent visitor to Chicago, though, and thought that was a big city. Manhattan is like taking Chicago and multiplying it by 4 (at least). The buildings just keep going and going.

But it's a fun city to visit. We wandered around Central Park, shopped at FAO Schwartz and Toys R Us, took in a Broadway musical, toured the Upper and Lower parts of Manhattan, went on a fireworks cruise (that was a waste of time and money), went to the top of the Empire State Building, and toured Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. I'd love to get back sometime, sooner than later. I'd like to visit the museums and explore some of the neighborhoods in more depth.

Hopefully I will get to write a few more blog entries this month. I have some topics to write about now, what with the visit to NYC and some books I've read recently. Till then...