New York 2

Tracie and I in the lobby at the "Broadway Dance Center." Tracie and her dance co. took dance classes here. Wow, what a belly full of Ellie!

A billboard advertising "Wicked."

This is such a funny story. This is Kathrin's second time in NYC and last time she came, she saw the Broadway musical "Wicked," and loved it. She really wanted to go again but they were all sold out. We were at the Wicked theatre the night before so she could buy some wicked stuff from the gift shop, and she started talking to the lady behind the counter and found out that the next morning we could come back and enter the "Wicked lottery" 2 hours before the show started. The wicked lottery is when you put your name in a hat and whomever gets there name drawn gets to buy 2 front row tickets for a ridiculously good price (I think it was $25 ?). Kathrin, Jeanette, and myself went to go enter this lottery, and we waited around to see if we won. They started to draw the names and we were very nervous, hoping we would get it. They called every one's names that won (I think it was 12 people?). We were pretty bummed when none of our names got called, but we decided to hang around anyway "just in case." I guess one of the girls that got called said she didn't want it, because her friend won some already. Someone else got called and they weren't there, and the last person only wanted one ticket. So, they called one more name..................Kathrin Paul. The funniest part was that this picture is a reenactment of what kathrin was doing when we waiting to see if the last name called was one of ours. She was soooo excited. When she got up there to get the two tickets, she found out that she only got one. She is so nice and offered it to me, since I had never been before. I couldn't take such an important ticket from someone who was soooo excited and in love with wicked. I was so happy for her that she got to go, especially because she got to be on the front row!

This was already an exciting day, but there is more. When we were walking to the wicked theatre, we passed another theatre that was right next to it. there were allot people gathering in and outside this theatre to buy tickets for some other Broadway show. I passed this blonde lady and took a double take, a few more steps and I realized who I had seen. Mary Stuart Masterson! You know, from "Benny and Joon" and "Fried Green Tomatoes." I pulled kathrin and Jeanette aside and said "Did you see who that was? Mary Stuart Masterson!" I couldn't believe it, she just looked like a regular person, chatting with some friends and her date. I knew this was my only chance to talk to her, so I tryed to think of some excuse I could use to do so. One problem, I am pretty dang shy. Sometimes I feel embarrassed to talk the the cashier at the grocery store, let alone a movie star. I thought about that for one second and decided "Who Cares?" I asked Kathrin and Jeanette if either of them were brave enough to come with me to ask for an autograph. They both said "No, they weren't." I decided to go anyway. By this time Mary and her date had gone in the the theater and I thought I might have missed my chance. I went threw the doors and diagonally from me there she stood still chatting with her date. I marched forward directly to her and touched her arm. "Excuse me, I am a HUGE fan of yours" she said "Thank You", than I said "Can I have your autograph?" And I just smiled with my huge pregnant belly and thought, the worst she can say is , no. She smiled at me and said "Sure, whats your name?" I said "April," she said "That very fitting for this time of year (it was April)", with a smile I might add. She scribbled on the paper I had given her and handed it back. I thanked her and went on my way (seeing Jeanette had followed me in to get a picture), so proud of myself for being brave. I couldn't believe how sweet and real she was. What a good day.

This is in times square. It was crazy busy and just as cool as I had imagined it.

I have to say it again, I love NY!