NYC 2005

Birds Eye View

Friday afternoon we arrived and from the plane I could see that it was going to be a nice day...

First New York Taxi Ride - Matt, Lindsey, Amstaff Mom

This was my first time to ride in a Cab, I took this picture from the front seat where I sat. My knees shins were killing me though because the front see was so far forward and the driver kept braking so hard my shins kept slamming into the glove box.

Hephzibah House StairWell

We stayed in Manhattan in the very old and very nice Hephzibah House. Here Frances, Joseph and Matt are going down the winding stairway that went up 5 floors.

Calvin Clark

Calvin works as a minister and volunteers at McFadden Boys Ranch with my parents.

The Runway

I took this pic because it looks like the gals are walking a runway. Leah is up close, then Amstaff Mom and Nancy is in the background.

Matt, Lindsey, and Nancy

Outside of where we were staying - this street looks like something right out of the Cosby Show.

Caleb, Leah, and Ashley

Leah and Caleb got engaged on the trip! Congratulations!

Lenny's

We ate at this New York Style Deli and had the best sandwiches. The first day I had a hot ham and cheese sandwich that had Russian dressing and coleslaw on it - it was delicious.

Caleb and Amstaff Mom

Everyone is happy when they are at Lenny's

Luke Zimmerman

Loves to eat this boy does - he got a chicken parmesan hero and so the last day I had to go back and get one - it was guuuuuud!

Joseph and Lindsey

Still at Lenny's!

Odd Art

There was some odd artwork in Lenny's and so I took some pictures of it.

What are those?

See what I mean.

B-Boys - Break Dancing on Roids

The new dance craze that has swept the nation. These dudes rocked the subways and impressed us all with their smooth moves.

Juniors

This restaurant had the best New York Style Cheesecake - big fresh strawberries galore. I am upset that this picture isn't clearer, but at least you can see that everyone was all smiles. (They were with me so of course they were all smiles!)

New York Style Cheesecake!

Decadently Delicious

All Gone

I almost licked the plate!

Brooklyn Bridge

Impressive and super fun to walk across the middle where there is a bridge for bikers and walkers.

Empire State Building

Yep, that is the Empire State building. The wind was blowing and the bridge was moving and so I couldn't get a clear shot. But that red, white and blue building that looks like it has a bomb pop on top, is the ESB.

Lindsey and Lauren

Crazies

Jeremy and Mr. Blake - I don't think they expected me to take a picture, they were mocking the girls.

Eddo and Amstaff Mom

Once again I look like a giant! I never really think of myself as being huge, but in pictures I see it clearly. Mom should have named me Goliath

George and Mrs. Blake

George was our tour guide and he also worked for New Temple Baptist Brooklyn. He was very "New Yorker" with his "Youse Guys" and his "Forget About It's" - he was great and patient and showed us around and we truly would have been lost without him.

Lauren, George, and Mrs. Blake

Matt and Lindsey

This couple also got engaged - in Central Park - two couples on one trip getting engaged - love was in the air.

Luke

This piece of art was really fun. I climbed on it like King Kong and then later I saw a sign that said, "Do Not Climb" and I felt like a big dumb gorilla.

Monks?

These guys were dressed in full Monk gear and I thought they looked cool and so I took a picture.

Statue of Liberty Line

The line to get to Ellis Island was really, really long, but it moved rather quickly.

Soldier Monument

We were pressed for time and so I never went and checked out this monument - even though now I realize I could have walked over while we were waiting in line.

Fish Face

Lindsey was such a goof ball! But her and Matt were a delight to be around.

Grandma Nifty?

Interesting graffiti on the walls - you may have to enlarge to see it clearly.

Random Shot

Lindsey is always being such a goofball... look at that pose.

Massage Train

I really needed a massage but they made me take this picture...

Naculla?

More graffiti, but this time it is more discernable

Rescue Me

I don't know if this piece of art had a name or not, but I though that it was monstrously cool. Check out the birds though, they were using this monument as their own personal dumping grounds.

Jamaican Street Performer

Anyone know the name of that thing he is playing? I don't know what it is, but when we arrived he was playing Axle F on it and it was cool.

Ferry

Matt jumped into this picture. I was trying to get a shot of everyone crowding to get on the boat.

Crazy Girl

Lindsey was super excited to see the Statue of Liberty

Ferry Ride

I think I must have told one of my hilarious Knock-Knock jokes right before this pic. We are on the ferry at this point heading over to Ellis and Staten Islands.

Joseph and Amstaff Mom

They both tried to dress as Ninja's (Neenjah to some)

Obey the Rules

For some reason when it comes to obeying the rules, my integrity bar is really high. Even Amstaff Mom thought it was funny that people were totally ignoring the keep off signage.

New York

A view from the boat

Catbird Seat

Not only did this guy ignore the sign, he then decided to stand up and take pictures! I was a little envious though because he had the perfect view with no people obstructions. Even with my height people were in the way.

The Stature of Liberty

I have to say, I was EXTREMELY UNDERWHELMED!!! My whole life I thought the Statue of Liberty was 5-10 times bigger than this! I thought she was the size of a skyscraper! She always looked so big in pictures and movies. She was still beautiful.

Lodging

When people arrived on Staten and Ellis Islands, they were often times kept for days while they were evaluated for illness and disease. These are some of the hospitals and lodges where they were kept.

Did you see Hitch?

This is the records building and a museum of where they kept a lot of the historical data about people coming from all over to come to America. It was very interesting.

Amstaff Mom and Joseph

Lots of luggage... one quote from a man who worked in Admissions "I could tell where people came from by the types of bags and baskets that they brought with them." I paraphrased of course.

Registration

Here is where people lined up to be allowed into the country.

Neat Shot

Registration room still. I like how the reflection completes the circle.

Medical Exam

People were marked with letters by doctors so that they would know if they had been examined or not. This was a small chart of some of those letters.

Literacy Tests

You can't read this card, but literacy tests were given to people and this one was in Russian and English. All of the literacy test cards were Bible verses.

Telegram

Western Union - I often forget about how old this company is, but before they were sending money, they were sending telegrams, I wonder what they were doing before that?

Money, Money, Money

Donuts!

Now this is something I could relate to.

Immigrants

I always think it is neat to see old photographs. It is amazing how people have changed over the years. Look at women like Lucille Ball and that lady that played Samantha on Bewitched - women don't look like them anymore and it's not just the change in hair style and make-up, it is the overall facial structure.

Crazy Eyes

I think this is one of Lindsey's relatives, he took crazy eye photos.

Photo Shoot!

Here they are setting up my photo shoot. I did various poses that apparently were very sexy - lots of people lined up to watch.

More Setup

Here they have the white board to help with lighting.

Amstaff Mom

Central Park was wonderful, If I ever go back to NYC I plan to just stay in Central Park the entire time.

Woosa

I meditated. I can barely sit Indian style so I was proud of myself for pulling off this Zen pose.

Orange on Orange

I love the fall colors here and the tranquility that this picture possesses

New York City

A view from the park

Shadow

This picture is one of my favorites. I love the reflection of the tree and the light

Romeo and Juliet

The Great Lawn

Castle

White Man Working Out

Chinese Food

We ate Chinese the night before we came home. It was sooo good. Food always tastes better when you are starving and after you have walked about 8 miles.

Joseph, Eddo, Amstaff Mom

Cental Park pic!

Breakfast Cookies

Joe Bruner, my best friend, would approve of eating chocolate chip cookies for breakfast - especially if you are on a trip.

Strawberry Cheesecake

Amstaff Mom wanted to split a piece with me - Split a piece? Yeah Right!

Stained Glass Windows

Amstaff Mom took most of these last pictures where I am in them. This one is from within New Temple Baptist where we worked.

I Entertain

I think one of my spiritual gifts is entertainment - I can't help but showing off my danceability whenever I am asked - and sometimes when I am not.

Life Imitates Art

Yep, that is me up there - I was totally blinded by the lights.

Chillin - Eddo and Matt

It was a little chilly.

How May I Help You?

Uncle Ralphie and I - I was helping him with the computer.

Smoothie

You might have already seen this one, but here it is again.

Fast Friends

I took this with my arm extended - we are having fun!

Kodak Moment

We asked an English man to take our picture.

Fireman Sal

We stopped by Ground Zero. This is the firestation that was the first to respond to 911.

We are Gap Models

I wanted to take a picture where we looked like we were on a model shoot. I think we pulled it off.

One More

Go Mavs!

That is a Dirk Nowitzki jersey there in the window

The Cross

This has been in numerous photos, it is a cross that was left standing after the World Trade Center crumbled.

Kid Performers

These kids danced so well that I thought they were better than the guys in red and black - they said, "Knock, Knock" we replied "Who's There?" "Phillip" "Phillip Who?" "Phillup this Bucket!" Ha Ha!