Day 1 - Two Southern Girls Take The City

Day 1 Wake up - 5:45. Drink coffee. Drive to airport. Cry from time mom and I exit off I-95 to time I hug mama goodbye. Cling to Danielle at security. Board plane immediately before gate closes. Make awkward-middle-seat airplane conversation with Mississippian body builder and native, no-nonsense New Yorker. Allow hands to sweat prefusely for 1 hour, 39 minutes. Plane lands. Drink more coffee. 2 rather small girls and a driver named Alfred struggle with 4 bags - a total of 250 pounds of luggage. Smalltalk with the only Christian/Republican taxi driver in the Northeast. Check into NYU dorms. Singlehandedly lug said luggage up 6 stories. Discover air-conditioner in room is broken. Unload 10 weeks worth of sequined/colorful/heavy clothing. Decorate barren bookshelves with handbags and jewelery. Walk to Bleeker Street and eat first meal of the day - at 3:30PM. Walk back toward dorm. Get lost. Rainstorm. Get caught in rainstorm. Lost in rainstorm. Drenched, lost, running in rainstorm. Return to dorm. Brush tangles from hair. Remerge to the streets of Manhattan with ample rain gear in tow - only to greet heavy, hot sunshine. Walk 2 miles to tourist-laden-New York - leaving same-gender-hand-holding and greeting obese loudmouths wearing white Reboks. Shop. Walk. Get lost. Reluctantly ask for directions. Arrive at Grand Central Station. Ask questions at information desk. Walk away and furrow our brows. Ask more questions at Grand Central Station. Leave in route for TJ Maxx. Get lost. Hail cab #1. Get lost. Buy pillows at TJ Maxx. Hail cab #2. Arrive at dorm with aching feet and giggling hearts. Eat dinner. Collapse. Hit the sack - 10:00PM

(below: view from dorm windows; knick-knacks; Danielle chilling in the room)