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Friday, December 18, 2009
Monday, December 07, 2009
'tis the season
i realize i still have some updating to do on my recent adventure, but that is going to take a little bit of time, and i don't want to hold myself up too much.
so! i have friends, i have friends!
okay, so i know it sounds strange, but after two years in california, i finally feel like i am making friends! okay, okay, i know that probably needs clarifying. obviously, i have had friends here, but they have been pretty limited in number. i've developed a lot of acquaintances, for sure, but friends are a whole other category. friends are people that you can call when you want to see a movie, grab a bite to eat, or need an airport pickup at midnight at lax the night before thanksgiving. acquaintances are people you recognize and enjoy conversing with at church or fhe, but you never graduate to the random phone call invites. you with me?
i can honestly say that for the past two years i can count the total number of 'friends' i've made (not counting the one i had prior to my california arrival) on one hand. one from my first job here, two from my current job here, one from my ward, and one of my roommates. i adore every one of these people, and they have been wonderful additions to my life. in fact, i don't know that i would have successfully weathered the last two years, frought with change and challenge, without the support of my family and these few people. the only thing that's missing from this particular group of friends however, is a y chromosome.
historically i've been someone who has had at least the same quantity of male friends as female, if not more. there is balance in that. men provide different perspectives and different kinds of encouragement and friendship, and i have felt the absence deeply. i've even made a conscious effort at times to remedy the situation, but those efforts have consistently been thwarted by a strange singles culture in which, if you are friendly to a person of the opposite sex, they assume you want to marry them. this has one of two possible catastrophic results. the first is that they make this assumption and are excited about it, leading them to make unwanted romantic gestures. the other is that they have no romantic interest in you and don't want to risk leading you on, so they shut down and avoid you.
neither, as you might imagine, are conducive for developing a strictly platonic friendship, which is why it has taken me more than two years to begin developing friendships with some of the local single mormon boys. and it probably would have taken longer were it not for my roommate.
my roommate, you see, loves to play hostess (a desire i lost long ago thanks to spending my days planning things for other people and getting paid for it). she enjoys and participates in all types of social activities, but she seems to especially like having people in her home, where she can share her love of and talent for good food and good company.
we've been in our new home (yes, i call it a home, not a house) since april, but between my travel and her need to resolve some challenges in other areas of her life, it's been a quiet home. ...well, as quiet as three girls and three dogs can be, anyway.
when fall hit, however, i was traveling a bit less and she began feeling more settled. the gastronomic result was a halloween dinner at our place. it was the first of many future gatherings, and we both really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with people on a more personal level, in an environment better suited to actually getting to know someone. i felt the seeds then of some potential friendships beginning to take root. those friendships have continued to develop, thanks to other gatherings, and my actually having been in town for a decent stretch.
last night, heather hosted her annual christmas dinner - something she enjoys doing to kick-off the season, and we had about 15 people join us to partake in a feast fit for kings. for me, it almost felt like a thanksgiving do-over, since i spent my turkey day solo working on pics from my recent adventures.
my friend jesse drove down from santa barbara and was a welcome addition to the group.
we were also joined by scott, a long-time friend of heather's who recently moved from the dc area, and with whom, as you might suspect, i was able to play the 'who do you know, how did you get here?' game.
i was also pleasantly surprised that despite being sick, brandon (someone i'd consider a 'new' friend) came to help us celebrate, which, as has been typical, resulted in some depthful and engaging conversation. i'm currently trying to make him my new bff, and so far, he's playing along!
so! i have friends, i have friends!
okay, so i know it sounds strange, but after two years in california, i finally feel like i am making friends! okay, okay, i know that probably needs clarifying. obviously, i have had friends here, but they have been pretty limited in number. i've developed a lot of acquaintances, for sure, but friends are a whole other category. friends are people that you can call when you want to see a movie, grab a bite to eat, or need an airport pickup at midnight at lax the night before thanksgiving. acquaintances are people you recognize and enjoy conversing with at church or fhe, but you never graduate to the random phone call invites. you with me?
jami, the friend who picked me up from lax at midnight on the night before thanksgiving
our christmas tree
neither, as you might imagine, are conducive for developing a strictly platonic friendship, which is why it has taken me more than two years to begin developing friendships with some of the local single mormon boys. and it probably would have taken longer were it not for my roommate.
my roommate, heather, and i
we've been in our new home (yes, i call it a home, not a house) since april, but between my travel and her need to resolve some challenges in other areas of her life, it's been a quiet home. ...well, as quiet as three girls and three dogs can be, anyway.
when fall hit, however, i was traveling a bit less and she began feeling more settled. the gastronomic result was a halloween dinner at our place. it was the first of many future gatherings, and we both really enjoyed the opportunity to interact with people on a more personal level, in an environment better suited to actually getting to know someone. i felt the seeds then of some potential friendships beginning to take root. those friendships have continued to develop, thanks to other gatherings, and my actually having been in town for a decent stretch.
xmas dinner
my friend jesse drove down from santa barbara and was a welcome addition to the group.
jesse and i
laura, scott, and i
me and brandon
we had turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, etc., etc. and it was delicious (well, the turkey and stuffing were -i'm not a potato or yam girl). our living room was lit with candles and the glow of the christmas tree, and filled with friends, both old and new. after dinner, we played games and watched the first presidency christmas devotional. it was all pretty perfect.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
and we're off!
greetings from germany!
yesterday was one of the smoothest travel experiences i've ever encountered. i can attribute that partly to my over-researching tendencies, partly to my new gold status on american, and partly to sheer luck.
when jenny dropped me off at the airport, i headed straight for the first class ticket counter - one of the gold status perks. i checked my two bags and headed to the security line, also the first class lane, and breezed through. when the plane boarded, i was thrilled to discover that the flight was empty, and i took advantage of the row to myself to catch some zzz's during the 3 1/2 hour duration.
we touched down in chicago on time, and, miraculously, my flight from chicago to frankfurt also departed on time! not only that, but it seemed my luck would hold, as the flight was again, nearly empty. i again had a row to myself, and between that and the benadryl, i slept for most of the 8 hour journey.
my arrival in frankfurt was the most frought with potential disaster. i don't speak a lick of german, and i had to figure out how to get to the train station and take the right train to bamberg, where arika would be picking me up.
i can't tell you how i stressed about this beforehand. stressed and researched. i had copies of the airport map with me, as well as step by step directions i found on some random school group's reunion blog to get me to the right place. and as a result of that research and the german country in general, it all transpired beautifully.
when the plane touched down, the 'welcome' sign on the building visible from the tarmac said simply 'welcome to frankfurt,' and i knew then that i would be just fine.
i breezed through passport control (a new 'germany' stamp added!) and customs, both of my suitcases had arrived no worse for the wear, and i was able to follow the signs in german AND english to the train station, without difficulty. i stopped at the deutsche bahn ticket office to confirm that my pre-purchased online ticket was all i needed, and as the agent was already speaking english to the customer in front of me, i didn't even have to whip out the 'sprechen zie english?' card.
the agent confirmed that i was good to go, complimented my new manicure, and i settled in to wait for my train. it arrived promptly, as i understand german trains typically do, i boarded without incident and only minor awkwardness as i tried to maneuver my two suitcases to the luggage rack.
now, lest anyone think to themselves "she took two suitcases? she's only gone for a week!" i'll explain. first and foremost, i could. you can take two bags on international flights without cost. secondly, winter coats and sweaters take up a lot of space. and lastly, i actually needed a second bag (a hiking backpack i borrowed from the d family) for my mid-trip hiatus in venice, as i didn't want to worry about rolling a bag through cobblestone streets.
i spent an hour on the 'fast train' before arriving at wurzburg, where i would change to a regional train for the rest of the journey. also not sure what to expect of this transfer, and knowing i had only 5 minutes to make it, i was pleasantly surprised to be able to deboard the ice, walk across the 15 foot wide platform and board the regionalbahnof. i was also relieved to alight the train on the car reserved for handicap, bicycles, and strollers, as it was completely open space with seats that folded down as needed. what that meant is that i did not have to maneuver my two suitcases uncomfortably down narrow aisles.
at that point i counted my journey a success. since, from here on out, all travel will be car and plane, i felt like i had safely, and dare i say it, easily, made it through the most difficult part of the journey!
arika and her toddler, annabeth, greeted me at the bamberg train station and we wandered for a bit before landing on a place, recommended by her neighbor, for dinner.
it was very german, and not in touristy way. the tables were wooden, as were the seats lining the walls, and the place was tiny, but warm and cozy. no judgement here please, but i ordered the 'chicken snacks and fries.' don't worry, i won't leave without triyng schnitzel and brat, but i'll admit, i need to work up to it a bit. and despite being the most american choice on the menu it was very good!
after dinner we made for arika's new bmw, hit the autobahn, and headed to her home in lupburg - about an hour and a half from bamberg.
i was surprised (as was she, i understand) to see just how much space she and her husband ended up with. one of the perks of his being an officer i suppose, but the house has a lot of room, and i enjoyed the large guest bedroom last night. until 4am, when i woke up and couldn't go back to sleep:) - hence the blogging.
we have a big day today, so i'm hoping that 5 hours will be enough to get me through. and by this time tomorrow i'll be on my way to munich airport, ready to board my flight to venice, where i'll meet deb and we'll spend the next three days exploring the island!
yesterday was one of the smoothest travel experiences i've ever encountered. i can attribute that partly to my over-researching tendencies, partly to my new gold status on american, and partly to sheer luck.
when jenny dropped me off at the airport, i headed straight for the first class ticket counter - one of the gold status perks. i checked my two bags and headed to the security line, also the first class lane, and breezed through. when the plane boarded, i was thrilled to discover that the flight was empty, and i took advantage of the row to myself to catch some zzz's during the 3 1/2 hour duration.
we touched down in chicago on time, and, miraculously, my flight from chicago to frankfurt also departed on time! not only that, but it seemed my luck would hold, as the flight was again, nearly empty. i again had a row to myself, and between that and the benadryl, i slept for most of the 8 hour journey.
my arrival in frankfurt was the most frought with potential disaster. i don't speak a lick of german, and i had to figure out how to get to the train station and take the right train to bamberg, where arika would be picking me up.
i can't tell you how i stressed about this beforehand. stressed and researched. i had copies of the airport map with me, as well as step by step directions i found on some random school group's reunion blog to get me to the right place. and as a result of that research and the german country in general, it all transpired beautifully.
when the plane touched down, the 'welcome' sign on the building visible from the tarmac said simply 'welcome to frankfurt,' and i knew then that i would be just fine.
i breezed through passport control (a new 'germany' stamp added!) and customs, both of my suitcases had arrived no worse for the wear, and i was able to follow the signs in german AND english to the train station, without difficulty. i stopped at the deutsche bahn ticket office to confirm that my pre-purchased online ticket was all i needed, and as the agent was already speaking english to the customer in front of me, i didn't even have to whip out the 'sprechen zie english?' card.
the agent confirmed that i was good to go, complimented my new manicure, and i settled in to wait for my train. it arrived promptly, as i understand german trains typically do, i boarded without incident and only minor awkwardness as i tried to maneuver my two suitcases to the luggage rack.
now, lest anyone think to themselves "she took two suitcases? she's only gone for a week!" i'll explain. first and foremost, i could. you can take two bags on international flights without cost. secondly, winter coats and sweaters take up a lot of space. and lastly, i actually needed a second bag (a hiking backpack i borrowed from the d family) for my mid-trip hiatus in venice, as i didn't want to worry about rolling a bag through cobblestone streets.
i spent an hour on the 'fast train' before arriving at wurzburg, where i would change to a regional train for the rest of the journey. also not sure what to expect of this transfer, and knowing i had only 5 minutes to make it, i was pleasantly surprised to be able to deboard the ice, walk across the 15 foot wide platform and board the regionalbahnof. i was also relieved to alight the train on the car reserved for handicap, bicycles, and strollers, as it was completely open space with seats that folded down as needed. what that meant is that i did not have to maneuver my two suitcases uncomfortably down narrow aisles.
at that point i counted my journey a success. since, from here on out, all travel will be car and plane, i felt like i had safely, and dare i say it, easily, made it through the most difficult part of the journey!
arika and her toddler, annabeth, greeted me at the bamberg train station and we wandered for a bit before landing on a place, recommended by her neighbor, for dinner.
it was very german, and not in touristy way. the tables were wooden, as were the seats lining the walls, and the place was tiny, but warm and cozy. no judgement here please, but i ordered the 'chicken snacks and fries.' don't worry, i won't leave without triyng schnitzel and brat, but i'll admit, i need to work up to it a bit. and despite being the most american choice on the menu it was very good!
after dinner we made for arika's new bmw, hit the autobahn, and headed to her home in lupburg - about an hour and a half from bamberg.
i was surprised (as was she, i understand) to see just how much space she and her husband ended up with. one of the perks of his being an officer i suppose, but the house has a lot of room, and i enjoyed the large guest bedroom last night. until 4am, when i woke up and couldn't go back to sleep:) - hence the blogging.
we have a big day today, so i'm hoping that 5 hours will be enough to get me through. and by this time tomorrow i'll be on my way to munich airport, ready to board my flight to venice, where i'll meet deb and we'll spend the next three days exploring the island!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
thank you, matt hampsey
my dad tipped me off a few months ago that you could send emails to national park service sites requesting they send cancellation stamps. since then, i've been randomly contacting some of the sites i've visited, and for whatever reason, was not able to get stamps for.
today i got an envelope with the following items enclosed:
usually i get the stamp, but this time i got the stamp, the site guide, and a postcard from matt hampsey, a helpful national park service employee. i <3 the nps and their helpful employees!
today i got an envelope with the following items enclosed:
usually i get the stamp, but this time i got the stamp, the site guide, and a postcard from matt hampsey, a helpful national park service employee. i <3 the nps and their helpful employees!
Friday, November 06, 2009
happy october new year!
alright, alright, i realize that it's november (how'd THAT happen?!) but i've been thinking about this post since september and just didn't quite make it to the posting stage in time.
october, you see, has become my own personal new year's. a time for reflection, reconnection, and resolutions. two years ago in october i moved to california and life changed more drastically than in any of my previous 31 years. october has had its share of other mile markers, so it seems like a good jumping off point for self-evaluation.
you may remember that last year at this time, i posted about some of the things i'd seen, done, and participated in in the prior year. well, it's that time again. this year's list seems different, but it's probably due mostly to the varied locations in which some of these things occurred:) i've categorized the highlights ('cuz i'm anal like that):
athletics
baseball - multiple angels games, including alcs game 6 in NY and two mariners games at safeco field (may and july)
basketball - cousin spencer comes to town with the utah jazz to play against the la clippers
hockey - oh i enjoy the mighty ducks!
soccer - i finally get to see david beckham play, and he scores two goals, winning the game (just for me)
horse racing - breeders cup
arts & culture
emerson home (and grave)
experience music project
hawthorne's grave
huntington library (while deb is visiting)
joshua radin at house of blues (i finally get to see this favorite live!)
louisa may alcott home (and grave)
sheryl crow at the shrm conference
thoreau's grave
walden pond
church sites
adam-ondi-ahman
boston temple
far west
haun's mill
independence visitors center
liberty jail
cities visited (outside california)
baltimore
boston...and again
cedar city
chicago
kansas city
national harbor
new orleans
new york...and again
orlando
phoenix...and again
portland
salt lake city
salem
san antonio
seattle...and again
vegas...and again
milestones and big stuff
got a dog!
moved three times
celebrated two years of living california (october 12)
marked the one year anniversary of my current job (october 20)
national parks (system)
arches national park, utah
boston national historical park, massachusetts
brown vs. board of education, kansas
bunker hill national monument, massachusetts
burney falls, california (not a part of the park system, but worth noting!)
canyonlands national park, utah
crater lake national park, oregon
fort vancouver national historic site, washington
harry s. truman national historic site, missouri
klondike gold rush national historical park, washington
lassen volcanic national park, california
lewis and clark national historic trail, washington
minuteman national historical park, massachusetts
new orleans jazz national historical park, louisiana
salem maritime national historic site, washington
san antonio missions national historical park, texas
sante fe national historic trail, missouri
saugus iron works national historic site, massachusetts
sequoia and kings canyon national park, california
trail of tears national historic trail, missouri
zions national park, utah
worth a mention
airboat tour in the louisiana swampland
balboa boat parade
cheers
christmas in naples (california)
freedom trail
gum wall (seattle)
mission san juan capistrano
monarch butterfly migration
pbr comes to town
space needle
willis tower (formerly sears tower)
whale watching at dana point
so there you have it. it's been a busy year. i didn't get to check many things off my 'hot list' this year, but i saw and did so many things i could have never foreseen. here's hoping for more of the same in the upcoming year...wih maybe just a bit more time in my own bed!
october, you see, has become my own personal new year's. a time for reflection, reconnection, and resolutions. two years ago in october i moved to california and life changed more drastically than in any of my previous 31 years. october has had its share of other mile markers, so it seems like a good jumping off point for self-evaluation.
you may remember that last year at this time, i posted about some of the things i'd seen, done, and participated in in the prior year. well, it's that time again. this year's list seems different, but it's probably due mostly to the varied locations in which some of these things occurred:) i've categorized the highlights ('cuz i'm anal like that):
athletics
baseball - multiple angels games, including alcs game 6 in NY and two mariners games at safeco field (may and july)
basketball - cousin spencer comes to town with the utah jazz to play against the la clippers
hockey - oh i enjoy the mighty ducks!
soccer - i finally get to see david beckham play, and he scores two goals, winning the game (just for me)
horse racing - breeders cup
arts & culture
emerson home (and grave)
experience music project
hawthorne's grave
huntington library (while deb is visiting)
joshua radin at house of blues (i finally get to see this favorite live!)
louisa may alcott home (and grave)
sheryl crow at the shrm conference
thoreau's grave
walden pond
church sites
adam-ondi-ahman
boston temple
far west
haun's mill
independence visitors center
liberty jail
cities visited (outside california)
baltimore
boston...and again
cedar city
chicago
kansas city
national harbor
new orleans
new york...and again
orlando
phoenix...and again
portland
salt lake city
salem
san antonio
seattle...and again
vegas...and again
milestones and big stuff
got a dog!
moved three times
celebrated two years of living california (october 12)
marked the one year anniversary of my current job (october 20)
national parks (system)
arches national park, utah
boston national historical park, massachusetts
brown vs. board of education, kansas
bunker hill national monument, massachusetts
burney falls, california (not a part of the park system, but worth noting!)
canyonlands national park, utah
crater lake national park, oregon
fort vancouver national historic site, washington
harry s. truman national historic site, missouri
klondike gold rush national historical park, washington
lassen volcanic national park, california
lewis and clark national historic trail, washington
minuteman national historical park, massachusetts
new orleans jazz national historical park, louisiana
salem maritime national historic site, washington
san antonio missions national historical park, texas
sante fe national historic trail, missouri
saugus iron works national historic site, massachusetts
sequoia and kings canyon national park, california
trail of tears national historic trail, missouri
zions national park, utah
worth a mention
airboat tour in the louisiana swampland
balboa boat parade
cheers
christmas in naples (california)
freedom trail
gum wall (seattle)
mission san juan capistrano
monarch butterfly migration
pbr comes to town
space needle
willis tower (formerly sears tower)
whale watching at dana point
so there you have it. it's been a busy year. i didn't get to check many things off my 'hot list' this year, but i saw and did so many things i could have never foreseen. here's hoping for more of the same in the upcoming year...wih maybe just a bit more time in my own bed!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
puppy love
i know, i know, you've all being sitting around for the last six months thinking to yourself 'didn't tara get a dog?' or 'man, how could tara have possibly gotten a dog, she's gone all the time!' or 'does tara STILL have a dog?'
the answer is yes, and boy did i totally score when it came to getting one!
thanks to my great roommate and our great situation (the house and two doggie roommates - not the travel), cordy is absolutely thriving. i 've gotten so much joy from watching her come out of her shell as she settles in to her new life. she's a happy-go-lucky, tail-wagging (the fastest you've ever seen), scavenger of a thing who is full of personality and constantly making me smile. she's also a really good dog. aside from her affinity for stealing heather's dinners if left within jumping range, she's well-behaved, generally pretty quiet (unless the neighbors dog wanders over to say hello) and stays out of trouble. she even lets me bathe her and clip her nails without a fight!
it continues to amaze me that despite my intense travel schedule, she still somehow knows i'm 'mom'. i'll be honest, i don't really understand it. in the last six months she's spent A LOT more time with my roommates (we have a temporary third roommate at the moment) than she has with me. she's clearly bonded with them, but when i'm home, she wants nothing more than to be close. initially it manifests as a seizure inducing butt-shaking one-foot hopping happy dance, but then she settles in to just wanting a snuggle or a belly rub. if only i had that same effect on men ;)
all in all, she has been a great addition to my little family of, well, of one, and we're getting on swimmingly. now you can all go on to wondering about more important things :D
the answer is yes, and boy did i totally score when it came to getting one!
thanks to my great roommate and our great situation (the house and two doggie roommates - not the travel), cordy is absolutely thriving. i 've gotten so much joy from watching her come out of her shell as she settles in to her new life. she's a happy-go-lucky, tail-wagging (the fastest you've ever seen), scavenger of a thing who is full of personality and constantly making me smile. she's also a really good dog. aside from her affinity for stealing heather's dinners if left within jumping range, she's well-behaved, generally pretty quiet (unless the neighbors dog wanders over to say hello) and stays out of trouble. she even lets me bathe her and clip her nails without a fight!
it continues to amaze me that despite my intense travel schedule, she still somehow knows i'm 'mom'. i'll be honest, i don't really understand it. in the last six months she's spent A LOT more time with my roommates (we have a temporary third roommate at the moment) than she has with me. she's clearly bonded with them, but when i'm home, she wants nothing more than to be close. initially it manifests as a seizure inducing butt-shaking one-foot hopping happy dance, but then she settles in to just wanting a snuggle or a belly rub. if only i had that same effect on men ;)
all in all, she has been a great addition to my little family of, well, of one, and we're getting on swimmingly. now you can all go on to wondering about more important things :D
new york: the fun stuff
the highlight reel:
rain (i'll explain why later)
in central park, the day before the walk
deb takes us (her friends justin, jennifer, and i) to a delicious dinner at blt prime. i had the largest (12 oz.) and most scrumptious filet i've ever had! couple that with a yummy chocolate torte for dessert and it was divine.
my department, sans boss, at belvedere castle
more rain
deb and i go to see the compahnia de danca, a modern dance performance, at city center. the performance was excellent - particularly the first numbers in each act. we spent the remainder of the night trying to decide on a favorite but ultimately determined that it was too much like comparing apples to bowling balls.
deb and i arriving at yankee stadium
deb gets tickets for us to attend the yankees v. angels, game 6, american league championship series the following night....and here is where the rain comes in. deb is a yankees fan, and me, an angels one. i had floated the idea of getting tickets to a game, but because deb already had tickets for the dance performance on Saturday night (game 6), the only hope was that the angels would win, forcing a game 7 so that we could go. as much as i enjoy the angels, i was doubtful they would make it through to one more game. and then it rained. and rained some more. and kept raining. and game 6 was postponed, making it possible for us to get tickets and go. have i ever mentioned how blessed i am in my friendships? not JUST my friendships of course, but they certainly took center stage this weekend.
the view from our seats
deb and i enjoy an amazing brunch at markt. i had the chocolate chip pancakes with chocolate syrup and definitely made the right indulgent choice!
deb and i end up in soho for a little shopping. somehow i always end up in soho perusing the street vendor stalls. as usual i found a couple of truly amazing pieces (necklaces which will most certainly be making an appearance on the blog), and haggled the vendor down to a price i was happy with. i also scored a couple of new hats for my european adventure next month.
a snack break
deb and i at yankee stadium. despite the ultimate outcome (the angels loss) i have to say that being at a yankees postseason game is an experience. the stadium is beuatiful, we had great seats, and it was a good (close) game up until the last inning. yankee fans did not disappoint. they were loud, obnoxious, and emotionally charged. and i loved every minute of it.
tamara and i, saying 'until next time!'
and lastly, tamara and i enjoying lunch at eatery for our 'first date'. after literally years of developing an online friendship, suffused with bits and pieces from our mutual acquaintances, our lunch felt more like reconnecting with an old friend than meeting one for the first time. as tamara will be moving to the la area in december, i'm looking forward to developing the friendship even further!
as usual, my trip to new york was a unique one full of great friends, great food, fun times and lots of laughs! and i owe it all to my job;)
rain (i'll explain why later)
in central park, the day before the walkdeb takes us (her friends justin, jennifer, and i) to a delicious dinner at blt prime. i had the largest (12 oz.) and most scrumptious filet i've ever had! couple that with a yummy chocolate torte for dessert and it was divine.
my department, sans boss, at belvedere castlemore rain
deb and i go to see the compahnia de danca, a modern dance performance, at city center. the performance was excellent - particularly the first numbers in each act. we spent the remainder of the night trying to decide on a favorite but ultimately determined that it was too much like comparing apples to bowling balls.
deb and i arriving at yankee stadiumdeb gets tickets for us to attend the yankees v. angels, game 6, american league championship series the following night....and here is where the rain comes in. deb is a yankees fan, and me, an angels one. i had floated the idea of getting tickets to a game, but because deb already had tickets for the dance performance on Saturday night (game 6), the only hope was that the angels would win, forcing a game 7 so that we could go. as much as i enjoy the angels, i was doubtful they would make it through to one more game. and then it rained. and rained some more. and kept raining. and game 6 was postponed, making it possible for us to get tickets and go. have i ever mentioned how blessed i am in my friendships? not JUST my friendships of course, but they certainly took center stage this weekend.
the view from our seatsdeb and i enjoy an amazing brunch at markt. i had the chocolate chip pancakes with chocolate syrup and definitely made the right indulgent choice!
deb and i end up in soho for a little shopping. somehow i always end up in soho perusing the street vendor stalls. as usual i found a couple of truly amazing pieces (necklaces which will most certainly be making an appearance on the blog), and haggled the vendor down to a price i was happy with. i also scored a couple of new hats for my european adventure next month.
a snack breakdeb and i at yankee stadium. despite the ultimate outcome (the angels loss) i have to say that being at a yankees postseason game is an experience. the stadium is beuatiful, we had great seats, and it was a good (close) game up until the last inning. yankee fans did not disappoint. they were loud, obnoxious, and emotionally charged. and i loved every minute of it.
tamara and i, saying 'until next time!'as usual, my trip to new york was a unique one full of great friends, great food, fun times and lots of laughs! and i owe it all to my job;)
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Friday, October 23, 2009
a city of firsts
despite the many, many, MANY times i've been to new york, there is always something i see or do for the first time.
today, i rode the subway by myself.
the new york subway, as many of you know, is not like other subways. i've ridden subways in countries with languages i didn't understand, and yet the ny system has always been soooo much more intimidating,
ok, technically i wasn't by myself, as i was with a couple of co-workers, but it was the first time i've ever ridden the subway without someone who knew where we were going. this time i had to figure it out for my little group, and we didn't get lost once!
today, i rode the subway by myself.
the new york subway, as many of you know, is not like other subways. i've ridden subways in countries with languages i didn't understand, and yet the ny system has always been soooo much more intimidating,
ok, technically i wasn't by myself, as i was with a couple of co-workers, but it was the first time i've ever ridden the subway without someone who knew where we were going. this time i had to figure it out for my little group, and we didn't get lost once!
worth every penny, part 2
spencer played most of the second quarter, roughly 12 minutes, with 5 points, and we couldn't get enough! i'm grateful for the close seats as they allowed some good shots, even on the little camera (i think i need to name my cameras - any suggestions?).
this great photo was taken by rachel :)
towards the end of the game a 'celebrity' entered the arena. we knew it was a celebrity by the way the girls in the section next to us reacted. but for the life of me, i could not figure out who it was! lakers games tend to draw celebrities, so i actually expected we might see someone. what i did not expect is that i would not recognize one if i saw 'em.
when the jazz game ended we had some time before heading out to meet spencer at his hotel. i continued to be stymied by the 'celebrity' but i suspected that once i found out who it was i would want to smack myself for not having figured it out. when the 'celebrity' decided to use our aisle as an exit for a food or bathroom run, i decided to take a picture, just in case.
the aforementioned girls went nuts, and when he had passed, brad asked them (for me) who the guy was. they responded 'he's on the hills' and i couldn't believe i hadn't recognized frankie, probably two feet away from me! the hills, for those not in the know, is an mtv 'reality' show i've been watching since when it was laguna beach. this was a guy i was pretty familiar with!
what i forgot, and was later reminded of, is that my 6'8" nba playing cousin is a HUGE closet fan of the show. he was extrememly disappointed to learn later of frankie's attendance stating (dejectedly) that he would have gone over and said hello.
after the game we stayed to watch the lakers tip off and really mostly to see kobe play for a bit. but we had a prior engagement, so we didn't stay for too long.
we headed to the ritz carlton to pick up spencer for some grub. when we arrived the valet told us we could park and wait 'behind the mustang.' i should mention, the mustang was probably the grubbiest car there and it was brand new.
mick called spencer's cell to tell him we'd arrived, but much to my relief, he didn't answer. you see, i wanted an excuse to go in. i figured some of the players might be hanging around...and they were.
okur was sitting in one of the lobby chairs waiting for some teammates to head out for dinner. he kept giving me that look that goes something like "does she know who i am? is this a groupie stalker girl?' he was joined by a few other players giving me similar looks, and i was waiting for spencer's arrival in the lobby to prove that no, i was not a groupie stalker girl, but rather, one of the cool kids who hangs out with nba players.
i was so disappointed when they all headed outside to grab a cab before spencer had made it down:( i would forever be groupie stalker girl (and by forever, i mean the 2 seconds before they forgot i existed). BUT, it turns out i'd have my moment yet.
they were still waiting for the taxi when spence and i headed out. i slithered between 3 or 4 6'8"-ish guys (hello, can anyone say, fantasy!?) excusing myself as a did so. spencer, following behind wished his teammates a good night, and the air palapably changed as we could both sense jaws dropping.
you see, my cousin, who is not only a good little mormon boy, is also married. and his teammates were watching him leave the hotel with a girl. spencer picked up on it quickly as he turned around, walking backwards, arms in air, yelling to his teammates "she's my COUSIN!". almost as amusing, we were getting a lot of 'yeah, sure's' as i told them it had been fun to watch them play, while trying to fight the sly smirk that seemed intent on taking over my face. as we approached the minivan where the rest of the fam was waiting, i think they finally started to believe that i might actually be his cousin.
the fact that i was and still am sooo amused by this scene is probably indicative that i do actually have a tiny little groupie/stalker side. oh well.
we took a vote in the van and headed to ihop for dinner! we were joined there by cousins of spencer's on his other side, and had some great catching up! it was fun to hear about his experience, his hopes, and his expectations. what really struck me is that he had clearly made a peace with not knowing what the future would hold, and maintaining a sense of gratitude and wonder at the journey so far.
have i mentioned before that i love my family? i seriously think i have one of the coolest families around, immediate AND extended. i am reminded of this regularly when i spend time with the donahooligans, and having a chance to catch up with spencer just reminded me again. as if i ever forget!
sadly, we learned that spencer was cut on wednesday. though not a surprise, i think we were all hoping he would beat the odds and fulfill this lifelong dream. nevertheless, he is one of those people who deserves nothing but good things, and i'm sure they will come his way!
this great photo was taken by rachel :)when the jazz game ended we had some time before heading out to meet spencer at his hotel. i continued to be stymied by the 'celebrity' but i suspected that once i found out who it was i would want to smack myself for not having figured it out. when the 'celebrity' decided to use our aisle as an exit for a food or bathroom run, i decided to take a picture, just in case.
the aforementioned girls went nuts, and when he had passed, brad asked them (for me) who the guy was. they responded 'he's on the hills' and i couldn't believe i hadn't recognized frankie, probably two feet away from me! the hills, for those not in the know, is an mtv 'reality' show i've been watching since when it was laguna beach. this was a guy i was pretty familiar with!
what i forgot, and was later reminded of, is that my 6'8" nba playing cousin is a HUGE closet fan of the show. he was extrememly disappointed to learn later of frankie's attendance stating (dejectedly) that he would have gone over and said hello.
after the game we stayed to watch the lakers tip off and really mostly to see kobe play for a bit. but we had a prior engagement, so we didn't stay for too long.
we headed to the ritz carlton to pick up spencer for some grub. when we arrived the valet told us we could park and wait 'behind the mustang.' i should mention, the mustang was probably the grubbiest car there and it was brand new.
mick called spencer's cell to tell him we'd arrived, but much to my relief, he didn't answer. you see, i wanted an excuse to go in. i figured some of the players might be hanging around...and they were.
okur was sitting in one of the lobby chairs waiting for some teammates to head out for dinner. he kept giving me that look that goes something like "does she know who i am? is this a groupie stalker girl?' he was joined by a few other players giving me similar looks, and i was waiting for spencer's arrival in the lobby to prove that no, i was not a groupie stalker girl, but rather, one of the cool kids who hangs out with nba players.
i was so disappointed when they all headed outside to grab a cab before spencer had made it down:( i would forever be groupie stalker girl (and by forever, i mean the 2 seconds before they forgot i existed). BUT, it turns out i'd have my moment yet.
they were still waiting for the taxi when spence and i headed out. i slithered between 3 or 4 6'8"-ish guys (hello, can anyone say, fantasy!?) excusing myself as a did so. spencer, following behind wished his teammates a good night, and the air palapably changed as we could both sense jaws dropping.
you see, my cousin, who is not only a good little mormon boy, is also married. and his teammates were watching him leave the hotel with a girl. spencer picked up on it quickly as he turned around, walking backwards, arms in air, yelling to his teammates "she's my COUSIN!". almost as amusing, we were getting a lot of 'yeah, sure's' as i told them it had been fun to watch them play, while trying to fight the sly smirk that seemed intent on taking over my face. as we approached the minivan where the rest of the fam was waiting, i think they finally started to believe that i might actually be his cousin.
the fact that i was and still am sooo amused by this scene is probably indicative that i do actually have a tiny little groupie/stalker side. oh well.
we took a vote in the van and headed to ihop for dinner! we were joined there by cousins of spencer's on his other side, and had some great catching up! it was fun to hear about his experience, his hopes, and his expectations. what really struck me is that he had clearly made a peace with not knowing what the future would hold, and maintaining a sense of gratitude and wonder at the journey so far.
have i mentioned before that i love my family? i seriously think i have one of the coolest families around, immediate AND extended. i am reminded of this regularly when i spend time with the donahooligans, and having a chance to catch up with spencer just reminded me again. as if i ever forget!
sadly, we learned that spencer was cut on wednesday. though not a surprise, i think we were all hoping he would beat the odds and fulfill this lifelong dream. nevertheless, he is one of those people who deserves nothing but good things, and i'm sure they will come his way!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
worth every penny, part 1
there was some excitement in socal last week. it started building early in the week, when it looked like my cousin spencer might be coming to town with the utah jazz to play the los angeles clippers.
as the week went on, hopes continued to rise and on friday, i got the news that he WOULD in fact be coming. there was a chance he might be able to get tickets for myself and the donahooligans, but we wouldn't know until game day, and possibly very late.
we decided to go ahead and purchase tickets-we just couldn't miss it! a couple hours before the game i got word from spencer that he wasn't able to get the tix, so it was a gamble rewarded.
we got to the staples center very early. SO early that most of our happy little group had to kill some time while i was picking up my tickets, waiting for the doors to open.
just as rach and i finally entered the arena, about 40 minutes before the game, i got another text from spencer saying that he'd gotten a couple of tickets. we headed back outside to wait at will call* for the jazz to drop off their tickets, at which point, we grabbed the two, and worked our way back inside.
*sidenote: THIS conversation made me feel like the coolest person ever:
me: have the jazz dropped off their tickets yet?
will call agent: um, i don't know, are you EXPECTING tickets
me: yes (thinking, DUH)
will call agent: okay, i'll check.
will call agent: here you go, they just barely dropped them off
me: thanks
i know it doesn't SEEM that dramatic, but trust me, it totally was.
about 15 minutes later, we got another text from spencer saying that he'd gotten a couple MORE tickets, so we all decided to head down. all told we ended up with 6 tickets in the lower sections (there were 7 of us).
but, what had been an obstacle before turned in to a blessing. the jazz/clippers game was the first of a double-header and would be followed by a laker game. the tickets were good for both games, so that meant that getting tickets through 'traditional' means was a non-option, and i had to resort to those resell ticket sites.
because all those ticket holders were laker fans however, the arena was dead empty for the first game. so empty we could hear what the players were saying to each other on the court. so empty that when we cheered for spencer's entry in the game, the volume was deafening (and probably embarrassing). truly i've never seen a sporting event so poorly attended and i even felt a little bad for the clippers!
we were able to sneak our extra person in and all of us ended up with really good seats...jen, nic, rach, and i were in the 8th row of the bottom section. i'll probably never have seats like that for anything ever again!
needless to say, it was soo exciting and moving to see spencer take the floor for warm ups. the jazz wrung a lot of tears from me back in the malone, stockton, hornacek days. they were a team that i invested body and soul into, and had my heart broken over and over and over. i know people sometimes have difficulty understanding obsessive fandom, and i don't know that i can explain it rationally, i just know that for several years, i was so connected to the success of a sports team that any given day could be elevated or destroyed based on the outcome of a game.
when i left utah, i left my obsession behind. partly because the team was changing so much and partly because it is very difficult to follow a non-local sports team, and even more so then. that fire needs fuel, and when you're on the other side of the country with little to no broadcast access, it's easier to let sanity take control again:)
so as you might imagine, seeing spencer play with the utah jazz held a lot of meaning for me.
as the week went on, hopes continued to rise and on friday, i got the news that he WOULD in fact be coming. there was a chance he might be able to get tickets for myself and the donahooligans, but we wouldn't know until game day, and possibly very late.
we decided to go ahead and purchase tickets-we just couldn't miss it! a couple hours before the game i got word from spencer that he wasn't able to get the tix, so it was a gamble rewarded.
we got to the staples center very early. SO early that most of our happy little group had to kill some time while i was picking up my tickets, waiting for the doors to open.
just as rach and i finally entered the arena, about 40 minutes before the game, i got another text from spencer saying that he'd gotten a couple of tickets. we headed back outside to wait at will call* for the jazz to drop off their tickets, at which point, we grabbed the two, and worked our way back inside.
*sidenote: THIS conversation made me feel like the coolest person ever:
me: have the jazz dropped off their tickets yet?
will call agent: um, i don't know, are you EXPECTING tickets
me: yes (thinking, DUH)
will call agent: okay, i'll check.
will call agent: here you go, they just barely dropped them off
me: thanks
i know it doesn't SEEM that dramatic, but trust me, it totally was.
about 15 minutes later, we got another text from spencer saying that he'd gotten a couple MORE tickets, so we all decided to head down. all told we ended up with 6 tickets in the lower sections (there were 7 of us).
but, what had been an obstacle before turned in to a blessing. the jazz/clippers game was the first of a double-header and would be followed by a laker game. the tickets were good for both games, so that meant that getting tickets through 'traditional' means was a non-option, and i had to resort to those resell ticket sites.
because all those ticket holders were laker fans however, the arena was dead empty for the first game. so empty we could hear what the players were saying to each other on the court. so empty that when we cheered for spencer's entry in the game, the volume was deafening (and probably embarrassing). truly i've never seen a sporting event so poorly attended and i even felt a little bad for the clippers!
we were able to sneak our extra person in and all of us ended up with really good seats...jen, nic, rach, and i were in the 8th row of the bottom section. i'll probably never have seats like that for anything ever again!
needless to say, it was soo exciting and moving to see spencer take the floor for warm ups. the jazz wrung a lot of tears from me back in the malone, stockton, hornacek days. they were a team that i invested body and soul into, and had my heart broken over and over and over. i know people sometimes have difficulty understanding obsessive fandom, and i don't know that i can explain it rationally, i just know that for several years, i was so connected to the success of a sports team that any given day could be elevated or destroyed based on the outcome of a game.
when i left utah, i left my obsession behind. partly because the team was changing so much and partly because it is very difficult to follow a non-local sports team, and even more so then. that fire needs fuel, and when you're on the other side of the country with little to no broadcast access, it's easier to let sanity take control again:)
so as you might imagine, seeing spencer play with the utah jazz held a lot of meaning for me.
.....continued in part 2......
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
autumn abundance
i am so grateful! i got to see massachusetts in the fall.
my only disappointment is that thanks mostly to the terrible awful no good very bad (seriously nightmarish) traffic in eastern massachusetts, i didn't get to spend any time in salem, other than my quick stop to pick up a national park stamp. aside from that however, it was an absolutely fantastic couple of days, with my sightseeing centered largely in the concord area.
i got to reflect on walden pond, literally and figuratively, taking in the incredible beauty and variation in the turning leaves.
after walden pond, i headed back to the city to have dinner with my co-workers, and wouldn't you know, i happened to notice a big gold statue off the freeway and had to inestigate further. lo and behold, it was exactly as i suspected - the boston temple!
my only disappointment is that thanks mostly to the terrible awful no good very bad (seriously nightmarish) traffic in eastern massachusetts, i didn't get to spend any time in salem, other than my quick stop to pick up a national park stamp. aside from that however, it was an absolutely fantastic couple of days, with my sightseeing centered largely in the concord area.
i got to reflect on walden pond, literally and figuratively, taking in the incredible beauty and variation in the turning leaves.
after walden pond, i headed back to the city to have dinner with my co-workers, and wouldn't you know, i happened to notice a big gold statue off the freeway and had to inestigate further. lo and behold, it was exactly as i suspected - the boston temple!
can you conceive a better pairing to inspire awe and gratitude, than walden pond and the temple?!
the following day, i got to visit louisa may alcott's orchard house, and it was an absolute highlight.
little women was written here, and i learned just how much of the book was based on her life. i also appreciated that aside from the rugs and wall coverings, 95% of the furnishings, art, trinkets, etc. were original. i can't tell you how many 'recreations' i've seen in my life, so to see the melodian 'beth' played, and 'amy's' artwork hanging on, or directly drawn/painted on the walls, was quite special.
last but not least, i finally had a question answered that i've asked myself for years. what was up with the professor?!
the following day, i got to visit louisa may alcott's orchard house, and it was an absolute highlight.
little women was written here, and i learned just how much of the book was based on her life. i also appreciated that aside from the rugs and wall coverings, 95% of the furnishings, art, trinkets, etc. were original. i can't tell you how many 'recreations' i've seen in my life, so to see the melodian 'beth' played, and 'amy's' artwork hanging on, or directly drawn/painted on the walls, was quite special.
last but not least, i finally had a question answered that i've asked myself for years. what was up with the professor?!
well, apparently little women was written in two parts. louisa may absolutely did not want jo to marry, but rather to remain a strong, independent woman. however, after the first part was published, she received overwhelming feedback requesting the next part of jo's story - her marriage. as a way of satisfying her readers, she created the professor character, but because it was so incongruous with the rest of the story, she felt that she was having the last laugh afterall.
so now i understand why the professor never made sense:)
and after leaving the alcott home, i also understood for the first time that alcott and thoreau and emerson and hawthorne were true contemporaries. i had never envisioned them in the same timeline or social circles before, so hearing that thoreau attended jo's sister's wedding jarred a little reality into me. what a rich literary history that time and place has!
after the alcott home, i stopped by emerson's. the story about this house is actually quite endearing.
following the emerson home, it was on to sleepy hollow cemetery. this was another high highlight.
i enjoy cemeteries to begin with, but one with a name like 'sleepy hollow' is bound to be excellent.
what was most excellent about it was author's ridge - where the alcott, hawthorne, emerson, and thoreau plots are literally adjacent to and across the sidewalk from one another. in addition to the close proximity, i was so impressed with how unassuming and accessible each of the graves were.
no barriers or fences, in fact i was literally standing on the graves of emerson and thoreau to get my self-portraits, taken, of course, with absolute respect and appropriate humility.
emerson's was the largest of the bunch, a giante slab of granite serving as the headstone. thoreau, hawthorne, and alcott however, had tiny little headstones no different from those of the rest of their families.
at thoreau's headstone, preceding visitors have left pine cones and stones in homage to the transcendentalist nature lover.
before making my way to the airport to head home, i also made a stop at minuteman national historic park to wander across the old north bridge and visit the old manse.
the old manse was built by ralph waldo's grandfather and served as a witness to 'the shot heard round the world'. it was a hotbed of activity during concord's political and literary revolutions, and also served as nathaniel hawthorne's home for a time.
though it was a short visit, i was able to deeply enjoy both the natural beauty of massachusetts in the fall, and some wonderful historic sites.
so now i understand why the professor never made sense:)
and after leaving the alcott home, i also understood for the first time that alcott and thoreau and emerson and hawthorne were true contemporaries. i had never envisioned them in the same timeline or social circles before, so hearing that thoreau attended jo's sister's wedding jarred a little reality into me. what a rich literary history that time and place has!
after the alcott home, i stopped by emerson's. the story about this house is actually quite endearing.
On July 24, 1872, the house caught fire and was heavily damaged. Luckily there was no serious injury, all of the Emersons escaped, and Emerson's papers were not lost.
Without consulting Emerson, his neighbors took up a collection to pay for repairs. This allowed Emerson to journey to Europe and to Egypt—as he had always dreamed of doing—while repairs were being made. In 1873 the Emersons returned to live in the house, surprised by a town-wide celebration of the event.
following the emerson home, it was on to sleepy hollow cemetery. this was another high highlight.
i enjoy cemeteries to begin with, but one with a name like 'sleepy hollow' is bound to be excellent.
what was most excellent about it was author's ridge - where the alcott, hawthorne, emerson, and thoreau plots are literally adjacent to and across the sidewalk from one another. in addition to the close proximity, i was so impressed with how unassuming and accessible each of the graves were.
no barriers or fences, in fact i was literally standing on the graves of emerson and thoreau to get my self-portraits, taken, of course, with absolute respect and appropriate humility.
emerson's was the largest of the bunch, a giante slab of granite serving as the headstone. thoreau, hawthorne, and alcott however, had tiny little headstones no different from those of the rest of their families.
at thoreau's headstone, preceding visitors have left pine cones and stones in homage to the transcendentalist nature lover.
before making my way to the airport to head home, i also made a stop at minuteman national historic park to wander across the old north bridge and visit the old manse.
the old manse was built by ralph waldo's grandfather and served as a witness to 'the shot heard round the world'. it was a hotbed of activity during concord's political and literary revolutions, and also served as nathaniel hawthorne's home for a time.
though it was a short visit, i was able to deeply enjoy both the natural beauty of massachusetts in the fall, and some wonderful historic sites.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
coolest thing ever?
maybe not EVER, but seeing my cousin on the utah jazz roster has got to rank pretty high
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
new england fall
for as long as i can remember, i've wanted to visit new england in the fall. by all accounts, the changing of the leaves is spectacular. today, i'm getting my wish, and it's a gift from my boss.
just a couple of weeks ago i realized i was very close to getting gold status on american airlines. there are a slew of benefits, the highlights of which are the 25% increase on my frequent flyer miles, not having to pay to check bags, being able to check in at first class/priority access lines. it's not a stretch to say that this is going to revolutionize my travel in the coming year.
the problem was, that most of my events for the rest of the year are local. the one 'far' trip had already been booked on jetblue (direct flight, comfy seats, satellite tv, etc.), so i was going to be out of luck.
my boss, understanding what a difference obtaining elite status would be, asked if there was another trip i could take that i could justify. there was. one that was already on the radar, but that didn't NEED to take place until february. it's also a trip that he should take with me, but we couldn't find days for the rest of the year that we would both be available. so he told me to go ahead and go solo.
and i am. the other bonus of this trip is that it was significantly cheaper for me to stay an extra day. and because of the airport and meeting locations, i have to rent a car. what that means is that i will actually get to see some of the landscape outside of boston proper...walden pond, louisa may alcott's 'little women' home, and salem, to name a few. as you might imagine, i'm quite excited.
i thought i might be going a little early for good foliage, but according to yankeefoliage.com (yes, there is a map for new england foliage!), the leaves, while not yet at peak, are turning.
should be a great trip!
just a couple of weeks ago i realized i was very close to getting gold status on american airlines. there are a slew of benefits, the highlights of which are the 25% increase on my frequent flyer miles, not having to pay to check bags, being able to check in at first class/priority access lines. it's not a stretch to say that this is going to revolutionize my travel in the coming year.
the problem was, that most of my events for the rest of the year are local. the one 'far' trip had already been booked on jetblue (direct flight, comfy seats, satellite tv, etc.), so i was going to be out of luck.
my boss, understanding what a difference obtaining elite status would be, asked if there was another trip i could take that i could justify. there was. one that was already on the radar, but that didn't NEED to take place until february. it's also a trip that he should take with me, but we couldn't find days for the rest of the year that we would both be available. so he told me to go ahead and go solo.
and i am. the other bonus of this trip is that it was significantly cheaper for me to stay an extra day. and because of the airport and meeting locations, i have to rent a car. what that means is that i will actually get to see some of the landscape outside of boston proper...walden pond, louisa may alcott's 'little women' home, and salem, to name a few. as you might imagine, i'm quite excited.
i thought i might be going a little early for good foliage, but according to yankeefoliage.com (yes, there is a map for new england foliage!), the leaves, while not yet at peak, are turning.
should be a great trip!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
project city date update
well, san antonio was kind of a bust. unless of course you count the girl who drove three hours to see me. but, since it was a pretty short turn around, i will not let it deter me. the update is that there is a new city...boston!
i'll be in boston from October 7-9, although the 8th is the only viable night to meet that special boston someone. as such, i'm not including it on the official list, but if you know a great single guy in boston (or have friends that might) send them my way!
i'll be in boston from October 7-9, although the 8th is the only viable night to meet that special boston someone. as such, i'm not including it on the official list, but if you know a great single guy in boston (or have friends that might) send them my way!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
san antonio
san antonio is another of my favorite us cities. the first three days were cold and rainy, if you can believe it, but the sun finally came out in time for anne's arrival. recently having moved to houston, she made the three hour drive to come spend some time with me.
my hotel was on the river walk, with the balcony overlooking the river below. it made for an easy two block walk to the alamo, the first stop for our day together.
we didn't spend too much time there as we wanted to get on a river tour before it got too hot and too crowded.
this is my second time doing the tour, and although i was annoyed that the price went up from $2 to $8.25 in two years, it's still in an enjoyable trip. best of all, it lets you see a large portion of the river walk without having to walk at all. for someone who clocks an average of 5 to 12 walking miles per day at these conferences (which i know thanks to the little pedometer gift i got from the show staff) extra walking is not on the top of my to do list. a nice scenic boat ride is more my speed!
we learned about the history of the river, saw some interesting buildings, and took a lot of photos.
after the river ride, it was time for another passport stamp. although anne admitte that she had been dreading this one, she agreed to take me to the san antonio missions national historic park. i myself did not know what to expect, but as i've often found, the national park organization is full of unexpected wonders. this was one such case.
we went to the main mission (there are 4 or 5 included), the san jose mission, and it was absolutely spectacular! anne was also pleasantly surprised, commeting 'who needs the alamo?!'
it was a super hot day, at least for me, since my de-adjustment to humidity, but despite the sweat dripping into my eyes (literally), there were to many great photos that seemed to be taking themselves.
after wandering around the grounds for a good amount of time, we made the next stop a nostalgic one. right around the corner from the mission was a sonic. since anne and i used to drive for an hour+ just to get sonic in virginia, this almost seemed to easy.
but on the principle of having to work for it...on the second attempt at taking the above photo without the weird arms crossed thing we both did for some reason, our awkward position prevailed and my rt. 44 strawberry limeade became a rt. 22 strawberry limeade, right before part of my shake ended up in out of the cup and in the footwell. it was pure comedy of errors.
it was back to the ranch at that point for a little more work, then a yummy dinner at a yummy steakhouse before calling it a night!
since i had to work the next day, anne and i said goodbye that morning and she headed home to houston while i wrapped up the conference, and headed home myself the next day.
i actually get to be home for almost an entire month now and i couldn't be more excited.
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