One of the first places I seek out in a new city, is the botanic garden.  What I have found over the years, is that not only to these gardens provide an escape from the busy cities that surround them, but that they often times have rich and fascinating histories, stories usually, of one person so fascinated with the natural world that they had dedicated their lives to the planting, the growing and the caring for the wonderful sights they have created.  Such is true of the Royal Botanical Garden of Madrid, El Jardín Botánico.

This garden, is located just aside one of the other locations I seek in a new city, the art museum.  What can be more perfect that having two of my favorite places located just next door to each other?  The famous Prado Museum is the museum on topic, filled with some of the most incredible and inspirational pieces of works from the masters of the art world.  So of course, when I was booking my hotel, I wanted to be set up close enough to walk by these spots every day during my trip.  The Botanical Garden was founded by King Ferdinand the VI, in 1755.  Not only is the garden filled with mature and beautiful growth and visual delights, it serves as an educational institute for the study of botany.

The garden has 2 greenhouses, and 3 sections outside, filled with more than thirty thousand flowers and plants, and fifteen hundred trees.  It is an oasis in a busy city.  The newest of the greenhouses contains plants from three different climate regions, the desert, the temperate and the tropical.  The garden is open every day, from ten in the morning until eight in the evening.  I found myself bouncing back and forth between the garden and the museum, infusing my love for the beauty of the natural world, with my love for the beauty of the artistic mind.  Each time I return to Madrid, this will be my home base, no matter where I choose to roam through the city.

Like New Year’s resolutions, budgets are a nice thought but not so easy to follow through on. And with more people feeling the financial pinch, they are more important than ever. For many establishing a budget sounds like a lot of work, but in 30 min to an hour you can have your very own custom plan for ensuring your financial future and saving yourself a lot of unnecessary stress.
Before you begin your budget you to gather all of your financial paper work. This includes paycheck stubs, bills, and even some old receipts for things like gas and groceries. Once you have everything gathered up you can begin your budget. The first thing you want to is total up your monthly income. Your paycheck, your spouses, any child-support or unemployment checks that you receive should all be included. When that is totaled it is time to move on to your monthly expenses. All rent, utilities, gas, groceries, and any other payments that you make on a monthly basis need to be included to give yourself an accurate picture. Now with both of those numbers in your hands, it is time to compare. If your monthly expenses are more than your monthly income, then you have a problem. Something needs to be trimmed down or cut out to bring your budget into the black. If your income is greater than your expenses than you are on the right track. You can then begin to set money aside for those rainy days or the vacation of a lifetime. Once your budget is done the hard part is sticking to it. Reevaluate it regularly to make sure you are staying on track and update it as things change.
For many their budgets leave them no wiggle room so when unexpected emergency arises they turn to moneymutual.com and other payday loan sources for help. Money Mutual Montel Williams is just one of the many sources that can really help in a bind, although it is always good to plan ahead.
Even though times are tough, a good budget can help you make this year the best.

We went to the East Village that night and had drinks in a hotel bar. The hotel had a Ballroom were Glamour Magazine featured the cast of ‘Gossip Girl’ partied at a while ago. We then rounded off our night with hot dog from a place called St. Marks.
 
The next day, it was finally time for us to take our ‘Sex and the City’ tour! We met the tour bus outside our USA New York hotel called The Plaza and spent the next couple of hours being driven around in a heated bus. We got to see various places were the show was shot, including Steve’s bar, Charlotte’s Gallery, Aidan’s furniture shop, and the Magnolia bakery. While we were at the bakery, we were fortunate enough to get a glimpse of Hugh Jackman with his children at the park across the street! Some of the people on our tour ran over to him to get his autograph, one was almost run down by a Yellow cab. We decided to leave the man alone, not that he was left alone, but we knew we would only gawk at him and not be able to say a word to him.
 
After the marvellous tour, we spent our afternoon wandering around the East Village, there was a street market, so we just chilled and acted all cool. That night, we went out for drinks, then out clubbing. Our first club was in Chelsea and our second club was near Rivington. So much fun was had, we danced our feet off and drank until we were silly.

Our last day, hang-over and all, we managed to grab brunch in the Soho area of the city. Then we found a place to get manicures and pedicures, the shops was fantastic, it has a long row of big luxurious seats for us to sit in while we received our pedicures. We returned to the Plaza and started packing; that was the only thing we really hated doing. New York’s such an amazing place, a crazy place, manic even, but we loved every minute of it!

The Atlanta Hawks were able to pull off a narrow victory over the Phoenix Suns tonight at the Hawks home court at the Phillips Arena in Atlanta. Hawks fans who were in the city specifically for the game had great reason to celebrate as they returned to their rooms at some of the best hotels Atlanta. It was a close game throughout most of it with the Suns achieving the highest lead in the second quarter. Ultimately the third quarter went to the Hawks with the fourth quarter’s final score coming down to the very last second. While this is typically the case in a basketball game, meaning the final score is decided in the last second, the winner of this game was determined with only three seconds left to play.

The Hawks rallied to come back against the Suns’ early lead and held on to keep the game within a ten point range, with either team taking the lead. Ultimately it came down to one missed free throw by the Suns’ Amare Stoudemire and one incredible three point shot by the Hawks’ Jamal Crawford. They were able to create that victory and come from a four-point deficit in the final ten seconds of the game. This sort of outcome is rare, though it is also a great reminder of that anything can happen with ten seconds on the clock. Steve Nash is the Phoenix point guard that nailed two free throws with ten seconds left to create the four-point lead and it looked at that point like it would be a Suns win. The crowd remained active and loud throughout the game and proved to be a supportive element of the victory celebration. Crawford had just a second to make his decision on whether he could take the three point shot to win the game or hope to create a two point game tying situation. Without hesitation, and from a couple of steps behind the three point line, he lobbed the ball and against the odds as well as the clock it sunk into the basket.

It’s been hard to talk about, because I get a little emotional, and I don’t always like to let people know my feelings.  I like to think that my feelings are better kept to myself, where I can sort of look them over and decide how I’m going to dress them up.  When I really get dressed up, however, I like to check out www.bestrestaurantsmanhattan.com to see where the hottest places are to eat, because let’s face it, if I’m going to go to the trouble to tuck things in, it better be somewhere special.  But feeling, that’s a whole different issue, and I have issues with the issue, so I guess I am conflicted about this.

The truth of the matter is that Bruce Springsteen stepped on my girlfriend.  In reality, she doesn’t care, and didn’t at the time.  She told me that she thought it was just an accident.  That she was walking in one direction and he was walking another, and they kind of were in front of each other, and doing that weird dance that people do when their bodies are trying to continue to move, but their heads tell them that there is a large person in front of you.  She was rather tall, but he was rather wide, wider than her, anyway, and if I remember correctly, he was wearing really big boots.

They may have been the engineer boots with the strap, or the ones with the harness, I’m not sure.  But I know he nailed her foot with his heel, although she said he barely grazed her shoe. This moment reminded me that life is just not fair.  Years later, much longer than our relationship ever lasted, I still wonder if he didn’t get between us to break us up.  She said that the was the only time she’d been close to him, and had not even listened to his music, ever.  But I know the truth.  I listen to the songs, and I know that when he sings about Mary on the porch, he’s singing about her.  And the barefoot girl sitting on the car is also her, because I imagine in his dreams he wishes she weren’t wearing shoes so he could step on her feet and get in the way of our love just because he can.

What those in the United States name court tennis is actually real tennis, much like soccer in the US is known as football in the United Kingdom.  Real came from the term royal because that was what it referred to.  It was a favorite sport among those in royalty who loved to get good tennis scores as much as the peasants who played too.  Court tennis, or indoors tennis was actually the only kind of tennis there was for a while.  Lawn tennis didn’t come to be for a while the history of the sport.  It was also called jeu de paume, which roughly translated is “hand game.”  However, it soon proved to popular, at least for those in the church.  Monks had originally invented the sport, but because it proved too popularity for them that should have praying and chanting and doing other pious duties, it was banned for them to play the sport.

The initial and official (because there are records for it) court indoors was created by Charles V of France for the Lourve.  The name eventually came be because players would often be told to hold or “tenez” because they would be receiving serve very shortly.  Tennis is simply an English version of a French word, and though unproven this is most likely the best explanation we have for where the origins of the word lie.

Tennis, in addition to the change made to the name, the court, the environment, the racquet, the ball, and so on faced class changes too.  Because it was such a royal game, the nobles did not want the peasantry in on the fun.  It become a another way for the nobility to separate themselves for those in the lower classes.

Famous royals known for their love of tennis include great sportsman Henry V of England, who only stopped playing and hunting altogether because of an injury to his leg that prevented him from enjoying his favorite pastimes anymore.

And although not a royal, she certainly is as famous as one: Margot of Hanault came to the Paris courts in the 1500s to do battle with other players, being one the first ever well known tennis players in the sport.  She would take on anyone, using it as a way to gamble and make a bit of money for herself.  The tennis courts have seen a lot throughout the years, from royalty to monks, from men to women: it is the place of a rich and varied history that those in the upcoming Australian Open will be playing upon.

It was Wednesday night when we arrived in New York City. We hailed a car from Penn Station and ran into a small disagreement with our driver. He wasn’t a taxi driver, but a town car service. We asked if he would charge taxi cab rates and he told us he would. But, when we arrived at our destination, he tried to rip us off for $150! My husband and I, both refused to pay him. I even when so far to stop a few locals to ask them if we were correct that he was ripping us off. They all agreed saying we should only be charged $50 max for a 40 minute ride from Penn Station. I guess he thought we were ignorant tourist, but he soon learned he was wrong. It did cost us $75 though, cause he wouldn’t pop his trunk open for us to retrieve our luggage, until we agreed on that fare.

Moving on, we were staying at one of the better NY hotels in the Tribeca area, which was not too far from Ground Zero. Our accommodation were luxurious, better than expected. After we settled in and calmed down from our incident, we ventured out for a bit and found a nice pub called Reade Pub and Grill. We downed a few cocktails and had a few snacks before we headed back to our accommodations for a good night’s sleep.

We woke up early and headed out for a tour of the city. It was snowing, which my husband and I are really enjoying. We found our way to a subway and stopped at the Times Square station. We decided to purchase tickets to the Gray Line tour, which will take us for 2 days on 3 separate tours. Even though it was snowing, wet and cold, we made the best of it. The first tour took us from Times Square to Ground Zero and we got off to do some walking. We stopped at a deli to have some lunch. We toured for the entire day, taking the Staten Island Ferry to Ellis Island and see the Statue of Liberty and then we walked to Pier 17. Then we caught the tour bus back to Times Square were it was becoming quite busy and full of people getting ready for the New Years Eve festivities. There were crowds everywhere and the New York City Police were out in full force.

We ended back at the pub we were at last night, we thought this would be a nice warm place to bring in the New Years. The pub began to get very crowded also and there was a great musician playing. We danced, drank and sang the night away. It was so fun. We kissed at Midnight and both wish the best for this coming new year.

I had a lay over once, in the Singapore Changi Airport.  It was a layover that promised, something that all layovers promise, a couple of hours of nothing to do.  But that promise was broken, as in this airport there is much to do.  People are coming to the Changi Airport in Singapore, just to pass the time, just to experience all that this international airport has to offer.  What happened to me there was the the beginning of quest, to go to every Butterfly garden in every city I was in, at any given moment.  Yes, this airport has a butterfly garden, a calming and peaceful respite from the hours spent in lines, waiting for luggage, and cramped up in small spaces for long periods of time.

When I landed in Florida, and found my room in one of the luxury hotels, Fort Lauderdale became my oyster…my oyster that I knew, I just knew contained a pearl there somewhere inside.  Do I like beaches?  For sure.  But not in the usual sense.  I like them on cold winter nights and during the middle of really great summer storm.  My pearl in this oyster was to find a butterfly garden, and that I did.  It is called Butterfly World, and it is a place wherein you can walk through clouds, through thousands of butterflies that seem just as interested you, as you are in them.

This park is the largest of its kind in the world.  The planners, the researchers, the entomologists and Ronald Boender spent years constructing the exactly right habitat for butterflies to flourish.  The park opened in the spring of 1988 and includes not only the butterfly gardens but a farm, aviaries, botanic gardens and a research center.  The center was responsible for a campaign to “bring back the butterflies” which not only celebrated these delicate creatures, but sent out pamphlets and information regarding environmental conditions, plant guides and the way in which everything is connected…in all geographical locations and climates.  In my search for the best of the best, I found this park in Fort Lauderdale by accident.  I am hoping that soon, my best of the best clam chowder quest, will so easily and spontaneously be accomplished.  However, that particular quest has gone on for at least 15 years, so we shall see…

Well, now a days there is a lot of emphasis put on being green. You know, the movement to try to not pollute the world with our human creations. The will to keep as many trees and plants growing in our cities and forests as we can. Now that the environment is changing and the seasons are shifting, we feel as humans we may have contributed to it. Even if we are not causing the ozone layer to dwindle we are still getting sick by our own industrial waste. The plants and trees are the kidney and liver of the world. We need them to keep our water, soil and air clean. So going green is important and it can be fun too.

The city of Philadelphia PA is a major city in the U.S. that take some pride in always trying to keep the balance between human creation and nature. There were some early regulations placed on settlers even in 1690. William Penn was the first European settler to claim this land and as he sold off plots to new comers he made some requirements. Yes, for every five acres that farmers cleared there needed to be one acre of trees saved. Benjamin Franklin being so great was also an environmentalist. He wanted to make sure the city stayed clean of waste. He was the first to propose scheduled waste collection as well as regulating water pollution.

To experience a real display of green ideas visit the Fairmount Park in the city. It is the largest and oldest parks in the United States. The park was built up on both sides of the river so it would protect the water from industrial waste. The whole park is a little over 9,000 acres and there is a section of it that was the site of the Centennial Exposition of 1876. The University of Pennsylvania created the Biopond in 1897 as a botanical garden. It is really a forest with seemingly endless trees and plants. It is filled with many creatures and can be found near Hamilton Walk at 38th street. There are plenty of nice rooms and hospitality found at the near by hotel. Philadelphia has been a green city all along.

One of the most popular seasonal events to attend occurs every year in the month of December throughout many, if not most of the cities across the nation. In fact attending a production of this particular show at least once on a person’s lifetime is almost considered mandatory and it is extremely common for it to be an annual ritual for many people and families. The production being described is, of course, Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. This production remains one of the most loved and produced of the Swiftrank category ballets in the world.

The fairy tale ballet is also one of the most famous in the world and it takes place in two acts. It is acknowledged as being composed between the years of 1891 and 1892. The ballet was commissioned by Ivan Vsevolozhsky, the Director of the Imperial Theatres. The story was adapted by Alexandre Dumas and was based on the original tale of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman. Hoffman’s original story was a great deal more elaborate than the economized version for the ballet, which is often the case when adapting already existing works to other genres, such as dramatic works for the opera or ballet, even musical theatre in the contemporary world.

Tchaikovsky’s original musical composition was a suite intended for concert and it was an immediate success. The entire ballet as is now performed did not reach its state of popularity and annual tradition until sometime in the 1950s. One of the most popular musical pieces from the ballet is the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, which is also one of the most famous uses of the musical instrument known as the celesta. Some of the more recognized characters from the ballet are the Mouse king, the Nutcracker, the Harlequin and of course Clara and Fritz, to name but a few.