30 Rock

At some point during the painfully protracted renovations of our home in 2005, Heather and I vacated our bedroom and set up camp in the lounge. I can't remember why this became expedient, only that for a few weeks we broke a rule we have kept since our wedding: to keep the TV out of our bedroom.

Despite going against principle, we enjoyed the destressing effect of lying in bed and watching TV every night. It was during this period that we became firm favourites of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien". Conan's off beat sense of humour and other characteristics (and the obvious common surname) have placed him in a branch of my family tree. (although I can't back that up with paperwork)

In time we grew to enjoy watching Jay Leno and discovered the extent of the entire NBC family of programs. One of the more successful series is Tina Fey's "30 Rock" which is a reference to Rockeller Centre, the central feature of the animated intro to the Conan O'Brien show. The Late Night studio and the Saturday Night Live studio is in Rockefeller centre. It is the Mecca of classic American humour!

Rockefeller Centre is walking distance from Times Square. I didn't care about how tired Timothy was, or how my shoulders felt like mince-meat from being Caleigh's public transport all day, we were going! Here are two pics of Christmas decor en route.

As we walked alongside the famous skyscraper we stumbled upon the NBC studio gift shop where I picked up some memorablia. I resisted spending $30 on a "I need more Cowbell" cowbell. Besides it didn't sound like a real cowbell. It sounded tinny. It has to sound right!

Outside again, the Rockefeller Centre Precinct was so busy, I became convinced that Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes were using the ice rink! Using my height to peer over everyone else I discovered that the mob was simply a lot of tourists. The famous Christmas tree is positioned in front of the Rockefeller Centre. Check it out.