lunchtime cruise on NY Harbor.

[Briar Rose 7457]

our department "picnic" -- the company gave us box lunches and sent us on a boat ride.

we left from Wall Street at around 12:30, sailed up the East River, past the South Street Seaport, past the Brooklyn Bridge, the Manhattan Bridge and the Williamsburgh Bridge. Turned around, sailed around Battery Park and up the Hudson, past the World Financial Center/Ground Zero, up to chelsea. turned again, and headed out to the Harbor, passed Ellis Island and over to Liberty Island. the boat stopped right in front of the Statue of Liberty. we sang "G-d Bless America" and headed back to Wall Street.

I am amazed at how many of my colleagues live in or around the city and have no clue which bridge is the Williamsburgh and which is the Manhattan!

we did a NYC trivia game, and I got all but one question right (the one I missed? it asked the date on which our company was listed on the stock exchange.)

 

[joeokw]

I remebered when I chaporoned my ds's 3rd grade class on a boat ride around New York harbor.. We went right next to the Statue of Liberty, under the East River Bridges, and of course I was in awe of the New york skyline. Even though I was raised in the Tri- State area , work in Manhattan. That feeling of awe , now haunts me.. Because when I remembered how magificent the WTCwas , standing so tall over the water... .. and feeling so proud to be a New Yorker.. and feeling so safe that day.. and now our parish lost 8 people and I lost my neighbor down the street.. It know hurts me to see the skyline.. and feel that this can happen again.

 

[nativetxn]

That sounds so neat! Is this your company's version of a company picnic? Sounds like it was a lot of fun

 

[stevets]

Originally posted by joeokw
I remebered when I chaporoned my ds's 3rd grade class on a boat ride around New York harbor.. We went right next to the Statue of Liberty, under the East River Bridges, and of course I was in awe of the New york skyline. Even though I was raised in the Tri- State area , work in Manhattan. That feeling of awe , now haunts me.. Because when I remembered how magificent the WTCwas , standing so tall over the water... .. and feeling so proud to be a New Yorker.. and feeling so safe that day.. and now our parish lost 8 people and I lost my neighbor down the street.. It know hurts me to see the skyline.. and feel that this can happen again.

Yes it can happen again because we are not facing up to the fact that Islam is a danger to our way of life as surely as Nazism was during WWII and Communism was during the Cold War. We will begin to be safe from terrorism the day we realize that Islam must be destroyed.

 

[Steve H.]

Taking this thread a little too seriously, steve??

 

[stevets]

Joeokw's words got to me. I take the destruction of the WTC, the worst attack this country ever faced, pretty seriously...what can I tell ya.

 

[wvjules]

Wow stevets, you want to wipe out a whole religion? That's a bit drastic, isnt it?

 

[Pin Wizard]

I WANT TO GO!! That reminds me of the time our Economics teacher, Dr. Shenton, took us to Wall Street, Fulton Fishmarket, and the World Trade Center. That's one of the most memorable days I've ever had!!!

 

[stevets]

Originally posted by wvjules
Wow stevets, you want to wipe out a whole religion? That's a bit drastic, isnt it?

Only because it's evil...we wiped out Nazism didn't we?

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

thanks for hijacking my thread steve.

we went past Ground Zero, you know, and it was rather emotional. I didn't work for the company on 9/11, but a lot of my colleagues did. since our offices are just a few blocks from Ground Zero, many of my co workers were evacuated from our offices after the towers came down.

but Joe, even tinged with sadness, I couldn't help but feel proud of our city and joy at the sight of our skyline.

 

[fklhou]

BR

It sounds like a fun trip. I hope that you are enjoying your new job.

 

[Briar Rose 7457]

thanks, fklhou. I'm back in corporate America, no more law firm politics, no more billable hour madness, and I couldn't be happier. caught myself writing down my "billables" this afternoon after a phone call and laughed out loud.