NYC budget tips,humor from Col.(my hubby),my fun plans for the next 2wks.

These tips are for if you are traveling by car to New York City.

1.Visit a local travel office ex.(AAA) to get maps and directions,or print them off the internet.

1. If traveling by car make sure the people you have traveling with you know how to read maps and navigate directions.Or and this isnt that budget friendly,but purchase a GPS system if your car or cell phone doesn't come equipped with one.Trust me on this one its real important. See my NYC blog on my 2nd NYC hero "Tommy"of 04/04/08

3.Shop around for the best hotel deals.

4.Purchase theater tickets in advance. Telecharge.com has some good deals.

5.Once you arrive in NYC walk or take the subway everywhere. From the hotel we had stayed at it was 2.00 a person to ride into Manhattan. Cabs ranged 38.00-40.00 from where our hotel was.

6.The Staton Island Ferry ride is free.

7.If you decide to eat at Sardi's,order the club sandwich to go. Take it outside somewhere and split it

with the 3 or 4 other people you are with. Iol! Its plenty of food. We opted to eat in and order 3 meals plus it was cold back in March!

1. This is only if its in your budget. Get a package deal through a travel agency for either,plane or train and skip the car ride all together,or look into a bus tour.

Back when I went to NYC I got hotel info from people off this website. It proved useful because the AAA office , when checking for hotels in my price range,kept coming up with rooms with "shared bathrooms"This blew the AAA agents mind!

I thought these tips might be useful for anyone who might be going to NY for Clays second run in Spamalot. I won't be going this time. I think more local people from the NY,New Jersey, and Conneticut area will go.

I have to stay close to home. Col's health has taken a down turn.

Back in May when that economic stimulus check came,I told Col. I had 3 things I wanted to do with it. The first thing he said to me was,"YOU CANT GO TO NEW YORK."LOL! again see my blog of 04/04/08 about getting lost. I told him I had no intention of going to NY. I planned on getting a new loveseat for the house. He was ok with something he could sit on.

In June of this year my mother in law came to visit. We were at the back yard pool at Nikki's house and talking about the New York trip. I told her, her son told me "I'M NOT ALLOWED TO GO TO NEW YORK."! LOL. She said let me know the next time you want to go on a trip like that and Ill go with you. I got mom on my side.lol. NIkki wants to return to New York to go Shopping. I just want to go up in the Statue of Liberty. I have been to NYC twice in my life. Once in 1979 with a college theater group,and the end of March this year. My goal of the last trip,besides the theater shows,was to go up in the Empire State Building and The Statue of Liberty. I didnt get to do either of those back in '79. We did do the Empire state building this time but ran out of time for the Statue of Liberty.

Just so you all know.Col has no control over how I spend money, Im the one that supports us,so if I really wanted to go on a trip I could. His health issues are the only thing holding me back now.

For those of you that may be going to NYC to see Clay in Spamalot ,I hope this was somewhat helpful and have a wonderful time!

" MY Fun Plans" August 25th Im planning to leave directly after work at the prison to go to a meet and greet for "Bailey Hanks"the new Elle Woods. The're having a welcome home for her and M&G at the Anderson Civic Center in Anderson,SC her hometown. Admissions free. limited items are being sold. I live in Northern Greenville county,so its just closer to leave from work. I get off at 6pm and the M&G is from 7-9.

September 5 Menopause the Musical out loud. JK and I are going to see this play at the peace center. When I heard the title on the radio I thought that sounds funny! I have got to go see it. Its a comedy with 60's and 70's music and proceeds go to ovarian cancer. I think the ladies here close to this stage in life or past it might appreciate the humor of the title.lol

Lastly, these plans arent quite set yet. I wont know definately until tomorrow. Aug,30 or 31 Col's band may have a gig at the Southeast Balloon fest. They are trying to get into a battle of the bands contest. If this happens,I will be the band videographer. Ill update this when I know if its a go or not. IUPDATE Festival gig a no go. They got the news Saturday night. At least they were considered up until then. The band has applied to several fall festivals so maybe they'll play somewhere in October. We have a new video camera I want to try out on them,so I hope they get into one of the festivals.

"Always look on the bright side of life"

reneti