to the NYC tomorrow...wish me luck

I will be riding the train into the city tomorrow and exploring from Grand Central Station out. The train station is about a 5 minute walk from the house I am staying at and it is a 30 minute ride into the city. The year of Amanda entails independent things not yet attempted. I think wandering around Manhattan falls in that category. No worries, Mom, I have a map. I'm thinking I'll check out Central Park, 5th Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Chinatown, and we will see where else my little feets take me. I am meeting my friend Teresa (someone I lived in Delta Gamma with that now lives here) after she gets off work and we will be going to happy hour with the DG alumni group from here. Just a coincidence that it will be happening on the same day that I will be there and it should be a fun little time.

I began tutoring today with a very unmotivated 16 year old. Should be interesting if that will be his attitude every time. No complaining here considering I only tutor him approximately 4 hours a week. I think I can power through it.

Yesterday I walked downtown Rye to get some tutoring materials from the library and explore this quaint little town. I at lunch at a fun little cafe' that has a Smores dessert that I will be returning for. Then over to a coffee shop to read my book for an hour or so, followed by some window shopping at out-of-my-price-range-shops and normal shopping (i.e. purchasing) at in-my-price-range boutiques. Todays itinerary was consumed by tutoring, preparing for the next lesson, baking brownies, reading more of my book, and going for a run. I'm thinking I may work out a deal with the future husband to be returning every summer. No future husband in mind, Mom, just thinking of what deals I will be bringing to the table. You know, I'll trade you weekly poker nights for a summer relaxing on the beach of Long Island Sound. I think that's reasonable.

Look for an update on my adventure in the next few days....

no really, I get paid to do this?

Today I went to the private beach/tennis club that this family belongs to and read in the sun for about 4 hours while overlooking the Long Island Sound. It is absolutely beautiful. Sailboats on the horizon, Long Island across the Sound, 85 degree weather, and absolutely no responsiblities. Technically, my job is to tutor a 16 year old with dyslexia to prepare for the upcoming school year and the SATs. However, since he just finished the school year yesterday, I won't start tutoring him until sometime next week. I have researched and gathered all of the materials needed for tutoring so now I am to sit and wait....and tan. I do have a few other duties. Those include: doing the occasional load of dishes, accompanying the 8 year old to the video game store, taking the Golden Retriever puppy outside to play, throwing tennis balls for the German Shepard, and running random errands for the family. Tonight I placed food on the kids' plates after the mom prepared it as she and her husband went to a movie. I am basically needed as an adult body in the house.

I stay on the 4th floor of the house in one of 5 bedrooms on that floor. This family is amazing and much more laid back than I anticipated. They are nothing but gracious and thankful. Their house was built in 1928 and is very nice, to say the least. Tomorrow I will be off the the bookstore and library to get more reading material for my down time....which is quite often.

I will be posting pictures as soon as my USB cable arrives in the mail.

apparently I'm getting paid to do this

  I got in at midnight last night and from that point until now I have unpacked, walked around Rye (which is a very cute town- very old, very quaint, very neighborly...hard to believe it is only 30 minutes from the city), dropped one of the kids off at a birthday party at a private club, played with the dogs, and ordered pizza.  The big crisis of the day was saving the puppy out of the pond.  Apparently it was very dramatic.  His feet and belly got muddy and he was playing with a frog.  One of the little boys couldn't believe that I would pick him up.  They were quite disgusted/impressed that I would touch him.   We apparently will be going to a Mets/Yankees game next Saturday.  More to come soon...

the year of Amanda

Wednesday will be the beginning of my newest adventure. I will be flying to New York City and then journeying onto a small little place called Rye, which is north of the city. A tutor- nanny-puppy-watcher will be my title. This is all the latest development of a little known self-fulfilling prophecy known as "the year of Amanda" which has all intentions of developing into "the life of Amanda." I love to travel, love to meet new people, and love to live life. This 9-week stunt falls under each category. Therefore, I'm off.....