Living in NY: Top 5

It's been about a month now, and so far, here are the five things I've come to appreciate most about NY. Keep in mind, these are things specific to New York, not necessarily things I'd get living in any big city.

1.  Seeing family! Being closer to this side of the family has been awesome. I've had to chance to meet so much family I'd never even met before, and seen lots of other family who I hadn't seen in years. For the 4th of July, we had a big BBQ slash going away party for my cousin Ricky who's joining the Marines. I saw my Uncle Mike for the first time in 11 years. I met his son Michael for the first time ever! I saw my grandma for the first time in about two years. My grandma and two of her three living sisters were together for the first time in about 40 years! People were in tears when all the family started showing up. It was awesome.

2.  Live Yankee games. I can't explain how disappointed I am that I will never see a game in The House That Ruth Built. Nonetheless, tripping into NYC to wander the city, then catching a game with Andy, was amazing. The stadium is beautiful, there's no such thing as a bad seat, and I was in freakin' Yankee Stadium! I can't wait to go back for my next game (maybe a playoff series if I'm still here...)

3.  Every Yankee game is broadcast. On the West Coast, the only time I see the Yankees play is if it's against the Mariners, maybe against the Angels, or during the playoffs. Sometimes a Yankee-Red Sox or Yankee-Met game would make it on TV, but not all of them. Out here, every game they play all season is on network TV. Which means I get to come home after work and regardless of day or time or opponent, a Yankee game is almost always on.

4.  New York accents. I love 'em. And everyone here has one. That's all.

5.  Driving. Nobody calls me an aggressive driver, nobody gets pissed off and tailgates me when I cut back and forth. My driving fits right in on Long Island, and I like driving however the heck I want, while everyone else does the same.