Holidays in New Jersey

Well, December has certainly been busy.  My company had a blow-out party in Las Vegas for all the employees - tuxedos and ballgowns!  I looked amazing in a slinky navy blue number.  Then I had to use up 7 vacation days before the end of the year, so I just took a day here and a day there which got the rest of my moving, unpacking, and sorting under completely control.  The apartment is done, finished, and livable.  Still a couple pieces of small furniture (end table, small chair, desk chairs, etc.) to get/replace but most is completely finished.  Everything fit perfectly!!  It was like this apartment was just waiting for me.  And did I mention there are five lovely restaurants in walking distance and dozens just a short drive away.

Christmas was spent with my friend's daughter - as we do every year between one daughter or the other.  Each of them have two children similar to your ages, so I have a sense of how "grown up" you are based on how grown up they are.  And what you can do and how you must talk.  I know you will read these when you are actually GROWN up, at least I hope you do.  The whole idea is to keep talking to you both and someday you will find this site when you search the internet for your name (because EVERYBODY searches for their name!!)

I don't see many pictures of you anymore because your mom and dad don't post them on Facebook.  Maybe there is another site, but I haven't found it.  Meanwhile, Grandpa Nick posts your Halloween photos, so I have those and look at them all the time.

Well, have to get ready to go to Florida for the New Year, we leave tomorrow for eight days.  I DO love the fireworks.

I HATE TRUMP!!  And I'm going to be proved right that he was a terrible terrible choice for president.

But I love YOU TWO

Grandma Nici

Moving Day (redux)

I did it!!  I found a fantastic huge 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom apartment in Bloomfield, NJ right near a train station, a grocery store, a post office, a drug store, a dry cleaner.....all the important stuff you need in walking distance.  There is parking for my car, a laundry in the building, a lovely garden, and a balcony!!  I moved in  yesterday and now will spend the next week unpacking!

I won't have a bed until next weekend, but that is ok - my friend has a blow-up bed I will use.  There is also no cable, but I can "borrow" internet and watch on my phone....not that I'll have time with everything that needs to be done.  Oh, and did I mention the four huge double closets?

There is a place for everything.  I am keeping a very small storage locker because I want to have the second bedroom available for guests or, perhaps in the future, a roommate.  With 2 bathrooms it makes it easy to have a roommate if needed.  There is also a place for my piano and I'm going to start playing again.  It has been WAY too long.

Opera season is underway - AIDA is this weekend - one I always love.  We saw Nathan Lane in "Front Page" two weeks ago, and "Les Dangerous Liaisons" before that with Janet McTeer and Liev Schreiber.  The reviews were mixed, but I loved the show and thought the characters did a nice "slithery" job, which is what they are supposed to do!

Well, it's back to unpacking and figuring out how to get to work tomorrow on the train.  The adventures continue.

All my love

Grandma Nici

Moving Again!

Well, I was right.  Living together was not the best idea.  We disagree about so many basic things - especially politics right now (he is a BIG supporter of Trump, me, not so much).  I've started packing up my things again...seems they were only unboxed for about 2 weeks, really, and out as much as possible looking for a new apartment.

I had wanted to go back to Jersey City - it's right on good transportation and I can afford to live on my own.  It is too expensive in New York.  Unfortunately, all the apartments that look good on paper are awful in person!  Amazing how the realtors take such good pictures which aren't very real!

So perhaps I will go a little further afield.  My friend went out a little further and the rents are less and the neighborhoods are fantastic.  There is one about a half mile from his place that looks like it might be a good option.  Right on the train.  I have to find the time to go see it.

Have been doing a lot of Broadway shows in recent months.  I don't think I can ever move away from New York unless it is to somewhere that has an active theater scene.  Broadway, Lincoln Center opera and ballet, Off-Broadway fun stuff, lots of restaurants.  How I love it.

And I love YOU TWO

Grandma Nici

Italy

Oh my.  Italy was so amazing.  I know you have both been there, but going as an adult is just incredible.  We were in Rome, Florence and Venice - traveling between the cities by train.  I don't suppose I can possibly describe all the sights I saw.  We mostly did walking tours of the city, the churches and the museums, using private guides so we could ask all the questions we wanted.  We were so lucky to get great guides who were very knowledgeable.  There wasn't a single question they didn't know the answer to!!  My friend made sure the trip was first class, which was wonderful.  I have a feeling it may be the last really big trip I will ever make.  They aren't something I can afford on my own.  But who knows - maybe an inexpensive flight to Paris or Athens, stay at a pensione, or bed n breakfast somewhere and just take in the sights.  I could spend an entire day just in the Louvre museum.

Everything from the Highland Avenue house has been moved to New Jersey, the city of Glen Ridge.  I am living in New York with my friend, and going to Glen Ridge on weekends to start sorting, storing, and putting things away.  I must leave room for all of his stuff too - so I have thrown out, given away, or donated to charity an awful lot of stuff.  I sold all my tools and machines, my lawn furniture, dishes, glasses, pots n' pans, camping goods (yes, I had a tent, sleeping bags, and camp cots!).  I left my bed at Highland Avenue as I needed a new one anyway.  We will get one that suits us both I suspect, as I don't care much for his either!

I invested the money from the sale and am much closer to reaching my goal of being able to stop working sometime in the next couple of years.  I have so much I want to do.

I love you both very much my dearest ones.

Grandma Nici

SOLD!

The house where Taylor grew up is no more.  I sold it to a lovely Chinese couple who wanted to make it their own, and raise their own children.  It was a lot of work getting it ready but it sold in one day.  Since I had already promised to do certain things, I did them, but I think I got a better price because of it.  I closed on August 17, but I have 30 days to move because my friend and I are going to Italy and the new place isn't ready yet.

My friend decided we should move into his new place in New Jersey together.  He has arranged for a lot of work to be done on it while we are in Italy - painting, cleaning, closet remodel, etc.  He has been trying to sell his condo in New York City for a year, and maybe having somewhere to move TO will give him impetus to get it done.  Meanwhile, until he is ready to move I will move my belongings into that new apartment and live with him in NYC.    We will see how it works.  Although I've spent over half my time at his place the last five years, I've lived alone for a long time and not sure I want someone telling me what I can do and where I can go and who my friends can be.  Sometimes being a grown-up means actually being grown up and making your own choices.

I'm almost completely packed, at least, so it is just a case of finishing some painting and cleaning the whole house thoroughly after we return from our trip.  We leave for Italy on the 25th which is extremely exciting for me.  I've never been and am so looking forward to it.

I love you my dearest children

Grandma Nici

The Hammers are Hammering

WOW!!  Lots of work going on in the house.  The whole porch was full of stuff from Home Depot, and is almost empty now.  New doors are up, new sinks are in, new countertops are finished.  The carpets are being cleaned today because the walls are all painted.  Just the cleaning up needs to be finished.  Mostly everything is packed - I still need to pack part of my house but it is coming together.


My friend bought a place a little further out in New Jersey, and that's where we are going to put all of my things.  It's a good temporary stopping place until, and if, we decide to move to Florida full time.  I don't think either of us really wants to do that.  We want to be able to be in New York part-time and this gives us the chance to do it.  It's just a one-bedroom, but I think everything will fit.  Both it, and my house, will close on the 17th of August.  I won't be moving until the middle of September, so it is close.


But - better news - we are going to Italy starting August 25, coming back September 6.  That will be the trip of a lifetime for me.  I've never been there and it's on my Bucket List (the list of things you want to do before you die).  Rome, Florence, and Venice.  I am so very excited.  I will leave a post of pictures after I get back and you will be able to see what I saw.


Meanwhile, I have a few boxes still to pack.....


Love and smoochy kisses,


Grandma Nici

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TAYLOR

I was there when you were born my darling boy.  I watched you take your first breath and spent the next four years watching you grow up.  I have so many pictures, I will give them to you.

I love you my beautiful child


Grandma Nici