In the past year, I moved twice (once to Tampa with Peter) and once to Lakeland with Sean (and Peter). We have been exploring Tampa and Lakeland and west central Florida, and because of that we have not missed making any big trips much. But we are ready too travel again. North Carolina by train (inspired by Susan) and the Dragon Con in Atlanta.
Once the animals pass, I have three long road trips I want to do!
And we still have a Viking credit to use up. And we both want to go to the UK.
I have been attempting to:
Years ago Sean suggested we could start a reality show about us, and it’d be named Too Smart By Half ‘cause we’re smart. But not always.
It has remained an inside joke for 30 years.
But now I’m gonna make it happen — on YouTube. Today was inspired by idea of visiting haunted locations around Tampa, which could be a fun day trip. And we joked about filming ourselves, like someone did in a goofy and scary movie. But ours would not be scary. Then we riffed back on our whole lives and adventures.
Too Smart By Half: Cindy & Sean’s Mostly Undramatic Adventures
A rudimentary plan is now in my To Do list app. So I think we’ll do it. A goofy project. And a nice way to stay in touch with friends. Already looking forward to guests on our show!
Day 261
Random number:502
hotel living
Hotel living for two days? Yes please!
No cat to pester me with her cute fuzzy face and incessant demands for food. No adult child to gently guide. No housework. No obligations other than enjoying time with my husband. Maybe a couple bike rides and a drink with a salted rim next to a lake…
We probably can’t and don’t want to fully love to another country — at least not without the kids.
But if Sean and I are retired or semi retired and there’s no grandbabies yet to fuss over and we’re still healthy… we should consider a month or two in certain countries.
I would propose
I’m not keen on Asia or Central America …
My wishlist of American cities to see that I’ve never been to:
My wishlist of American cities to explore again/more:
American cities I have travel plans currently:
Things i like about my house:
Things I don’t like about my house:
AND:
While I was working remotely in Florida for clients in Texas, my watch buzzed. It gave me a message that the pacemaker in my heart sent a transmission to my doctor via my phone.
Technology is kinda cool sometimes.
I woke up late. Kept resting my tired feet. Finished packing. Forgot to meditate despite having plenty of time.
Walked over to NY Public Library, sorry I didn’t get there sooner. Gorgeous building, lovely community space, a temple to learning and literacy. Saw a Gutenberg bible and Charles Dickens’ writing desk. Saw a copy of Mary Wollenscroft’s book and books by James Baldwin. And I confess, hit the massive and very nicely curated gift shop.
Then got my bag, got a taxi, went to airport. Paid for Delta Plus — shouldn’t have bothered as the plane was 25% or more empty! Watched movie: A Complete Unknown about Bob Dylan. Interesting.
Home to my boys, cat, dog, TV shows, my bed. Missed out walking with Sean.
Slow to rise. Slept in… to all of 7:45, but I kept resting until 10! My legs were grateful. Another announcement about testing the fire alarms, but I figured what will be, will be. Never did hear any alarms; glad I didn’t hustle.
I packed up dirty clothes and miscellaneous, meditated, ate apple pie for breakfast, showered, carefully packed my little bag for a day of adventures. Created this crazy but comfy outfit. Remembered sunscreen!
My dawdling means a couple things won’t get seen today but that’s okay.
Before leaving, I got a text from Phyllis about our photo together. And I realized I hadn’t posted it myself. So that turned into a long post on FB:
Yesterday’s walking finally dirtied up my far-too-white sneakers. I finally on day 3 bought some sunscreen (reminder, Cindy, the rest of the world has sunshine too, not just Florida!).
A photo I forgot to post yesterday is me and Phyllis Jo Kubey EA on a subway to Brooklyn with the map behind us. Phyllis and I originally met on Twitter, bonded over taxes and a silly walking game called Pikmin, met in NYC last year for lunch, and hung out at a conference in Chicago last summer.
She’s a great companion for adventures in her hometown, and one of the most gregarious members of our TaxTwitter/@TaxRetreat group.
And she eased my anxiety about the NYC subway. I wasn’t scared of it, just aware that ticketing and figuring out where to go can be a little anxiety-producing. But NYC has made it insanely easy for a one-ride purchase — just tap your credit card at the turnstile. That’s it! No tokens (I’m old!) or cards to buy (a la Washington DC about 13 years ago). Phyllis took care of what line and what stop so easy breezy travel day for me.
Having just said all that: I’ll take the subway to the Met today! Way cheaper than Ubering.
… and so I took the subway. Paying was easy. Took me a minute to figure out which lines and that I needed a shuttle (a very short train line) to Grand Central Station. I *almost* got on a train going the wrong way, but I figured it out.
more cool art in subway: 
Walked to museum, found a building with stunning doors.
Saw the Sargent in Paris exhibit which was fantastic.
then discovered a cafe in the museum that I hadn’t found before: overlooking the entrance hall. The sushi isn’t as good as I remember (ate it obsessively the last two years). The atmosphere is cool and resting is nice.
next up: Rembrandt, contemporary stuff on roof, Casper Friedrich exhibit, and the Met store!
saw Rembrandts, my old pals.
Went to rooftop for some contemporary artist. Supposedly “sound sculptures” but they made no noise. And were uninteresting to look at. But the views were magnificent.
Saw Casper Friedrich. It was nice. But underwhelming after the Sargents. Caught an uber back because the subway was a longer walk and took longer since it was rush hour. I still missed the happy hour at hotel. Oh well.
Times Square was NUTSO tonight, cause there’s a fight — like a planned televised fight, not a riot fight — happening, so roads and a piece of Times Square are closed and there’s no crowd control and it’s crazy. I was stuck in a crowd moving up the sidewalk, hemmed in by fencing. and getting tighter and tighter and then total gridlock. And I started to panic so I turned around. As I made my way back through the crowd, I heard others (now behind me)saying it was closed and to turn back. But literally no one listened to them or me. 🤷🏼♀️
I made it back to 43rd finally, went all the way around the block. And am now having a lovely rummy drink at Sardis…. Like 100 feet around the corner from where I’d been stuck. Whew.
*deep breaths*
A $19 drink + tip — Tipsy Mermaid — is a better deal than what it costs for a drink at the theater. Which I’ve happily done at my last two shows. But I wanted to go to Sardis, across the street from Broadhurst Theater.
Saw Boop! Soooo… I don’t read up a ton on broadway shows that I’m seeing. Or I forget what I read in recommendations. I like the surprise! I’d heard good things about Boop. And I *guessed* it was about the real woman who inspired Betty Boop. …
But … no.
It is about the cartoon Betty Boop who turns real.
And the cast … is very very very white. It is cute. The lead actress is *phenomenal*! But the show? Not real deep. I am entertained. But it’s not cutting edge, and it’s not gonna be memorable.
But the star? Jasmine Amy Rogers… she’s gonna be a star. She was best thing about the show Boop! A well deserved Tony nod for her.
Times Square was still chaos. But I’d promised myself chocolates or ice cream. Max Brenner was very expensive and … eh. So I went for ice cream at Van Leeuwens.
and listened to the Hum of Times Square one more time.
Gave a very sweet self-described homeless man $20.
And good night!
It’s 54° so it’s dang cold on a bike. Luckily I have a great sweatshirt from John Proctor Is The Villain.
I left the hotel at 7:35 am (with less than 6 hours sleep) and it was 53°, wearing a cardigan. I realized while I was comfortable then, once I was on a bike, it might be much chillier. I thought maybe I was being a wimp but then I saw people all around me wearing serious jackets. So back up to the 17th floor for my new sweatshirt.
And I’m so glad I did!
Lovely morning. Busy park — lotsa joggers, bikers, and dogs. I’m posting now from the north side of the park — furthest I’ve been in the park. Now for the west side!
I’m enjoying the hills — cause I’m on a e-bike!
I rode the subway with Phyllis’ help. But ticketing is super easy. For a one ride ticket, you just tap your credit card at the turnstile — that’s it! But with Phyllis I didn’t have to worry about choosing the right train and paying attention to stops. Low anxiety subway! Got to see cool art in subway stations.
Later: I’m EXHAUSTED. I was feeling dumb for being heavier than ever and very out of shape.
But then I remembered I only had 6 hours of sleep (my own fault staying up too late). Then I biked entirety of Central Park. Then walked entirety of Brooklyn Botanical Gardens with Phyllis Jo Kubey EA.
I earned being tired.
Whew!
So that’s my summary of the day. Here’s lotsa lotsa lotsa flower photos from the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The only reason I didn’t take more was often I’d think: a camera will not catch how amazing this is. Or how good many of them smelled.
Resting in dim hotel room for a few hours with naps. Don’t know what my evening plans are.
