Freezing in New York

Hi everyone who may be reading this. Nothing too exciting as happened since my last blog. I do need to correct on thing. In my blog about going home for Christmas, I mentioned that I had dinner with part of my family, well it was my Mom and Dad, Chris, Marcus and Mandi. Marcus and Mandi also went to the movie. I accidentally left them out and I apologize. I don't know how I forgot they were there. I am so sorry!! Love you Mandi!

New Year's Eve
I also forgot to mention in my last blog about New Year's Eve. I had to work New Year's Eve night to make up for taking off Christmas Eve to go home, so I didn't get to go out anywhere. I was fine with that because 1) I don't know anyone and 2) I was exhausted. Well, I put Will to bed and then I was in my room watching Rockin New Years Eve. It was kind of fun watching and to realize it was just a couple miles away. Well, I was just sitting in my bed and heard some really loud noises. It was about 11:45pm or so. I opened my curtains and was amazed by the wonderful display of fireworks right outside my window. I probably could not have had a better view if I was there. The fireworks were coming from Central Park. I was literally laying in my bed, watching these fireworks. It was amazing, I couldn't believe it. Watching the fireworks made up for not being able to go out.

Will and I
Things are getting better between the two of us. He occasionally will run to his mom or get mad at me but he is 4. I think we are really starting to bond. I am really enjoying our time together. This last Monday he didn't have any school and we spent the day out. We went to McDonald's for lunch and then to the huge Toys R Us store in Times Square and then onto FAO Schwartz (which is where Tom Hanks plays the large piano in the movie "Big"). We then went onto the Disney store and got to meet Winne the Pooh and Eeyore. Henry, William's older brother, he is 14 and accompanied us on our fun filled day. He is also going to go to Disney World with us. He is so excited, I think he has the whole trip planned, down to which rides we will ride at which time. Anyway, the day was great. I know things just will continue to get better.

Homesick
I am having fun and enjoying this experience, but I miss my family. I love my job and living in New York and everything that I am learning. But nothing can take the place of your family. I am very fortunate to have cell phones, the internet, and airplanes to stay in touch with my family. Sometimes talking to my family or friends just make me even more homesick but it is nice to know they are still there. I had a bit of a breakdown in front of my boss. I felt so bad, I didn't mean for it to happen. That morning William had told me he hated me. I know he didn't mean it and he was just mad because mom was leaving and I was supposed to take him to school. His mom stood up for me and we all had a nice talk. He was almost late for school but it was a good talk. His mom was supposed to go to a meeting at Henry and Charles' (his older brothers) school but because of his many outbursts she missed the meeting. She ended up taking him to school and when she got home she came and found me and wanted to apologize for his behavior. I have been around kids long enough to not let those things bother me. However, I have been a little emotional, plus I've been homesick and feeling like I wasn't doing a good job with Will and this was sort of the last thing I wanted to hear. Well, as we were talking, I brought up going home for my birthday. I had brought it up before and was just going to go home for my days off but I want to spend a little bit more time at home. She asked me if I was a little homesick and I said yeah just a little. I started tearing up and she asked if everything was ok. I told her it was. She was very sweet and understanding. We talked for awhile. She said she is going to look over the schedule and see what we can do. I think she may be a little worried about me not coming back though. I hope she understands that my little break down had nothing to do with my job here or William's little outburst, I am just homesick. Prior to coming out here, I thought I wouldn't get homesick and everything would be great, boy was I wrong. It is completely new, being in a place where you don't know anyone and nobody really knows you. It is really hard not having a single person that knows anything about you. At least if I was on a mission you would have a companion to spend time with, but on my days off, I usually spend it with myself. On my days off I realize that I rarely say anything the whole two days expect for maybe the phone calls from back home. I sometimes just want to walk up to someone and start a conversation but I know I never will.

Movies & My Days Off
I have met a few people at church. I actually went out for my first time with a couple girls from the ward. We went and watched 27 dresses. It was a good movie, I really enjoyed it. I haven't watched a movie with someone else since going home for Christmas. I am getting used to doing things by myself and now going to dinner and the movies alone don't bother me at all. Since it has been so cold here that past couple of days I really didn't want to do a lot of walking so I ended up at the movie theater a lot. On Monday, like I said I watched 27 Dresses. On Tuesday, I watch Juno (good movie) and Mad Money. They were both good movies and I would recommend them to you. Today I went to the movies for lack of anything else to do and watched Cloverfield. I left early. If you haven't seen it, it is like a home made movie and the filming is all over the place. I was already a little nauseous and the theater was really warm so I was not feeling well. I had to go before I got really sick. I only watched a little bit I wasn't that impressed. If you watched the whole movie, let me know if it was good or not.

I have realized the books are my new best friend and eating companion. On my days off I like to eat out and of course it is by myself so I always have a book and it gives me something to do rather than look around at everyone else and wondering what they are thinking of me sitting by myself. You may think I am a complete loner, and I guess I am in a way but I really don't mind doing things by myself. Of course, I would rather spend time with someone else but I really don't have that option.

I am planning to go to Philadelphia soon. It only cost $60 by bus or $80 by train to get there. I want to go so I can just get out of the city and out of the house for a day or so. I found a great hotel and since it is a very popular time to go it is cheap. I really want to go next week but we will see what happens.

Ironing
I had mentioned in an earlier blog that I have to iron all of William's clothes, well I have started ironing all of my clothes. It is quite addicting and somewhat of a stress reliever. I was so happy because last week I perfected the way to iron a fitted sheet and how to fold it. I was so proud of my self. Try it, it is hard. I never ironed my sheets back home. They would just get wrinkled the first time you slept in them but now I iron my own sheets, pants, all my shirts and even my undershirts.

Well I need to get to bed. I hope all is well with all of you. Keep in touch. Hopefully I will see some of you when I come home. Oh by the way, the following is my address here...

Jeni Rudd
PO Box 593
New York City, NY 10028

Love you all,
Jeni