The weeks of do-nothing and laziness are over. I start work at NBC tomorrow….
So after Cleveland, I trudged on, first to Philadelphia (Pennsylvania is a long state, let me tell you), and then after that to Atlantic City, where I really am glad I got a chance to go gamble and play some craps before starting my new job. I have no idea when I’d get a chance to gamble again (which sounds totally dramatic but it’s not), so it was nice to have a quick stop to do so. But before I get into the Philadelphia and Atlantic City stories, I think I’ll work backwards this time and first put up the pictures of my new digs and the sunset views of Manhattan as experienced from my neighborhood on my first day here. Still can’t believe I’m starting tomorrow. Anyways, my drive out here was very safe and I avoided speeding tickets the entire way. Yay me. It probably helped I was never going more than 10mph over the speed limit the entire time, even in those states with 65mph speed limits (you know who you are, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey!!!).
Here are the pics from my new hood. Enjoy. Â (2014 Note: Â I’ve also collected all these photos into my Travelogue page for this whole journey)
23 Sept 2007 – West New York (NJ) Pics

23-Sep-2007 11:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

Looking from the kitchen into the living room
23-Sep-2007 16:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 151

The kitchen in the new apartment
23-Sep-2007 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

Looking towards my bathroom from the kitchen
23-Sep-2007 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

23-Sep-2007 16:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

Looking into my bedroom
23-Sep-2007 16:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

My furniture-less bedroom
23-Sep-2007 16:11, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

The hallway of the 4th floor - looks like a hotel, right?
23-Sep-2007 16:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 141

My home for the next 16 months
23-Sep-2007 16:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec

Very nice place to live, especially having a grocery store downstairs
23-Sep-2007 16:29, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:30, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

The skyline view from our part of the NJ coastline
23-Sep-2007 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

I did end up running along this wonderful pathway
23-Sep-2007 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Signs of West New York's previous life as a dock city
23-Sep-2007 16:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:36, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

The gorgeous view of 2007 NYC from our apartment's shoreline
23-Sep-2007 16:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:39, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:41, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

23-Sep-2007 16:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 130

23-Sep-2007 16:45, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec
But before I was in Manhattan, I got to have two very cool days! At the beginning and for most of those two days, I was with the illustrious Jenny Robinson in Philadelphia! Cue the fanfare music! It was a lot of fun and it began pretty much as soon as I arrived on Friday night (also coinciding with me having to drive in Philly rush hour traffic on a Friday afternoon – not what I’d call fun). We first got some dinner at an authentic and very non-touristy Philly ‘restaurant’ called Steve’s where I got myself some pretty damn good Philly Cheese Steak. But really, what made it awesome were the true Philly natives who were also there. Seriously – the accents, the body hair, the high-tops, the hairstyles, the clothes…. it was flippin’ awesome. Remember that Jack in the Box commercial where Jack sends a very mild-mannered guy out to Philly to do research on the PCSs and comes back as Mr. Philly wearing high-tops, high hair, and a Philly accent, going “Heyyyy Jackyyyyyy!”. No lie, that’s exactly how it was here too. Awesome. Then we went back downtown to where my hotel was (which was literally in the center of everything – very cool place to be if you have the opportunity to stay in Philly: Holiday Inn Historic District) and walked along South Street, which reminded me mostly of Melrose Avenue in LA. After that, we said our goodnights and I crashed.
The next morning, I woke up and it was freakin’ raining, which was not cool. But fortunately, that didn’t last all damn day and we then met up and started a full day of sightseeing. First we grabbed some breakfast at this high-falutin’ cafe where Jenny made some waiter drop his tray of cups and glasses. She really did. It was all her fault. After that we walked over to the damn Liberty Bell! How awesome was that? We then got our free timed tickets for the Independence Hall (in hindsight, not sure how worth it this was, but still, I can say I was where both the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed and adopted) which weren’t for a few hours so we then squeezed in a full circuit of the Big Bus Tour of Philadelphia (much like what there is in London and other big cities). As you’ll see in the pics, this was again a great way to get an idea of the entire city and if you have time, it allows you to plan out other things to see. I didn’t have that time this visit, but I definitely know I’d like to go back and see a lot more of Philadelphia.
It was also great just to see Jenny again! She is definitely one of those friends in which it seems like no time passes when you see them again after a long separation in between. Still as snarky as ever, and I think I’ve refreshed her ‘so to speak’ness so maybe it’ll catch on at her work. Here’s hoping. WTF Joe!!!????
21 Sep 2007 – Philadelphia, Day 1

Pennsylvania welcomes ME
21-Sep-2007 09:38, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

As does the suckass rush hour traffic of Philadelphia on a Friday
21-Sep-2007 15:26, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

There is the city o' Philly
21-Sep-2007 15:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.2, 9.028mm, 0.002 sec

Total paparazzi shot of Jenny
21-Sep-2007 17:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 315

21-Sep-2007 17:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec, ISO 165

The total-Philly site of my authentic cheese steak experience
21-Sep-2007 18:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec, ISO 141

Spooky cemetery in the middle of the city
21-Sep-2007 18:53, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 1 sec, ISO 200

South Street from the pier part of it
21-Sep-2007 19:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.25 sec, ISO 200

Demon Jenny
21-Sep-2007 19:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.8 sec, ISO 200

21-Sep-2007 19:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.5 sec, ISO 200

Spooky Sixth Senseish type of street
21-Sep-2007 19:29, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 1 sec, ISO 200

21-Sep-2007 19:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.8 sec, ISO 200

21-Sep-2007 19:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.4 sec, ISO 400
22 Sep 2007 – Sightseeing Philly with Jenny

22-Sep-2007 08:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.6 sec

Jenny the next day
22-Sep-2007 08:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

After breakfast
22-Sep-2007 09:00, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.013 sec

Taking a pic looking towards the Independence hall area
22-Sep-2007 09:07, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

There's Independence Hall surrounded by all the rest of Philly
22-Sep-2007 09:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.006 sec

Closer
22-Sep-2007 09:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

In front of Independence Hall, along with the Marines who were filming one of their commercials at the time
22-Sep-2007 09:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Again
22-Sep-2007 09:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Marines were there doing something on camera.
22-Sep-2007 09:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

IH again
22-Sep-2007 09:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

Me and the Liberty Bell!
22-Sep-2007 09:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

22-Sep-2007 09:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.013 sec

Cool way to locate it with Independence Hall behind it
22-Sep-2007 09:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

22-Sep-2007 09:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

The place where you get your IH tickets - it has a lot of other cool things in there too, including WTF Joe
22-Sep-2007 09:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec

Standard Jenny
22-Sep-2007 09:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

'Normal' Jenny
22-Sep-2007 09:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

Me
22-Sep-2007 10:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Pointing while waiting for the bus to go
22-Sep-2007 10:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

There's our Big Bus tour guide
22-Sep-2007 10:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

The Philadelphia U.S. Mint, for you coin collectors out there
22-Sep-2007 10:12, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

The Benjamin Franklin bridge
22-Sep-2007 10:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.004 sec

The Betsy Ross House - or is it?
22-Sep-2007 10:16, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:19, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Looking towards downtown Philly
22-Sep-2007 10:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.005 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:21, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.002 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:22, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:23, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:25, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.01 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:25, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.008 sec

The Comcast building
22-Sep-2007 10:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

This is City Hall, the biggest in the country. William Penn's statue is atop the tower.
22-Sep-2007 10:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Skyscrapers and City Hall
22-Sep-2007 10:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 10.487mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.002 sec

Again
22-Sep-2007 10:34, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Approaching the Museum of Art which also has...
22-Sep-2007 10:46, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.017 sec

....the Rocky Steps!!!
22-Sep-2007 10:49, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.008 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:50, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.005 sec

From the Museum Of Art is a boulevard that leads directly back to City hall. Kinda like Philly's Champs Elysees
22-Sep-2007 10:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 3.5, 12.523mm, 0.003 sec

Philadelphia in my head
22-Sep-2007 10:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 10.0, 12.523mm, 0.013 sec

Once more with feeling
22-Sep-2007 10:51, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:53, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:54, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:56, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:57, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:58, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

22-Sep-2007 10:59, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:02, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:03, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:04, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

Jenny and the Case of the Blustery Knotted Hair
22-Sep-2007 11:04, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

The Big Bus takes you everywhere. See how far we are from the city now.
22-Sep-2007 11:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.008 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.004 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.005 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:05, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.5, 18.776mm, 0.005 sec

At the zoo, you can go up in a tethered hot air balloon for an allegedly awesome view.
22-Sep-2007 11:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Being on the top of the bus is potentially lethal. The trees are quite low.
22-Sep-2007 11:06, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Evidenced by Jenny's duck-and-cover
22-Sep-2007 11:09, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Philly, its highways and its railways
22-Sep-2007 11:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:10, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.005 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:12, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:13, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

The Franklin Institute
22-Sep-2007 11:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 9.0, 10.487mm, 0.005 sec

Currently home to the King Tut exhibit (but it does NOT have the famous mask there - WTF Joe?)
22-Sep-2007 11:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 9.028mm, 0.008 sec

Further along the 'Champs Elysees' and here's a nice fountain
22-Sep-2007 11:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

There's City Hall
22-Sep-2007 11:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.002 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:15, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.9, 23.1mm, 0.002 sec

Again
22-Sep-2007 11:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Finally sunnier! And here's one of the oldest hospitals - they used to do surgery in the sunroom on top because it was before electricity.
22-Sep-2007 11:28, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

The Benjamin Franklin Suspension Bridge
22-Sep-2007 11:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:37, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

22-Sep-2007 11:40, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Independence hall again now that it was time to go inside
22-Sep-2007 11:56, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.002 sec

Inside Independence Hall and where the Constitution was signed
22-Sep-2007 12:14, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec

In both this room and the next lots of historical stuff happened
22-Sep-2007 12:20, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec

22-Sep-2007 12:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

Me and the Tower
22-Sep-2007 12:31, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

22-Sep-2007 12:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

Tower and pretty sky
22-Sep-2007 12:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.004 sec

22-Sep-2007 12:35, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.003 sec

Jenny is being cute
22-Sep-2007 12:55, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.017 sec

Driving on Ben Franklin bridge
22-Sep-2007 13:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

22-Sep-2007 13:18, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

Welcome to Atlantic City... always turned on???? WTF Joe? Howza 'bout a STS?
22-Sep-2007 14:12, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 8.0, 7.7mm, 0.006 sec

My Atlantic City hotel - the Trump Marina Casino Hotel - very nice!
22-Sep-2007 14:17, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 4.0, 15.599mm, 0.002 sec

22-Sep-2007 21:32, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec

22-Sep-2007 21:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.017 sec

22-Sep-2007 21:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.2 sec

22-Sep-2007 21:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.125 sec

22-Sep-2007 21:33, Canon Canon PowerShot SD900, 2.8, 7.7mm, 0.8 sec
Okay, I’m seriously tired now but it was all worth it! I had to get these pictures up now or I’d probably take forever to do so once work starts. It was definitely an amazing adventure driving across this country of ours – it was a part of it that I really wasn’t familiar with so it was cool to see a bunch of new stuff, even if it did all look the same after awhile – corn fields, corn fields, corn fields…. then trees trees trees…. finally Philly and Atlantic City and of course Manhattan and North Jersey broke all that monotony up!
Here’s hoping for a good first day tomorrow!