Sunday, August 24, 2014

40


Eric turned 40 this weekend and even though he's not big on birthdays, I wanted to make it extra special for him.  We're both so happy that friends and family were able to make it over to help us celebrate.

There was no shortage of food, alcohol, love, or laughter.  It is an evening Eric won't soon forget, I'm sure.  Thank you to everyone who came out and made his day special.

And Eric, welcome to your 4th decade! 

 
Cheeses


Party Room



I put up baby pictures of Eric...this one is my favorite


Eric and Clare


40


Mac and Cheese from Bobby Q's - best stuff ever!


Meat and Taters






Brenda, Rita, Daniel, and Crosby






Eric got several REI gift cards...perfect gift!
Handsome Devil...the wine, I mean.  ;0)
Beer candle from Aunt Rita and Uncle Paul
A bottle of scotch from Tony and Kelly
Beer packed in Depends!  Good one Karen and Rob!
Italian beer glasses from Karen and Rob

Eric, Daniel, and Bret
The cake!  Thanks Caketini...for making it so quickly and delivering it!


 "At the age of 20, we don't care what the world thinks of us; at 30, we worry about what it is thinking of us; at 40, we discover that it wasn't thinking of us at all."



Sunday, August 10, 2014

A Bit of Family and a Bit of Tucson

  
This weekend Eric and I went to Tucson and spent some time with his awesome family.  The people were great, the food was delicious, the surroundings were beautiful.

Family

New BFF's Savannah and Alex




Bruce, Paul, and Crosby

Christian and Courtney...the younger generation

Saguaro National Park




Margot and sleepy Savannah

Crosby

Clouds! 
Brian setting up the ball

Dan with the throw

Raindrops in the desert
Ball races...fun times!

Cheating??! 



Savannah was so afraid of Cy at first...then she overcame her fear!

Sierra, our little reader
Looking up

A sky full of clouds



"The family is one of natures masterpieces."
~George Santayana

Sunday, August 3, 2014

Meet Me In...New York City!

Last weekend was the first of 3 trips where I'm meeting up with friends.  And what a way to start the tour!  Not only was it in New York City, but it was with GREAT friends from all over...1 couple from Texas, 5 people from Indianapolis, and 2 couples living in the city itself!  And we painted the town red!  Or at least a deep shade of pink!

The trip started out with just Eric and me on the SoHo hotel rooftop at sunset.



Later we walked to a wonderful Italian restaurant for dinner and then ended up at a little bar near the hotel.




The following day, while awaiting the rest of the crew to arrive, Eric and I walked to Wall Street, saw the 911 memorial and Freedom Tower, and had lunch at Battery Park.

The powerful Freedom Tower


Inside St. Paul's Chapel


Strong police presence all around lower Manhattan


Looking up at Freedom Tower
Words or pictures cannot express the overwhelming feeling brought on by these two giant holes in the Earth.  Footprints of where the twin towers stood.  Reminders of what we lost.



911 Memorial


My squirrel friend at Battery Park!


Trinity Church and a red umbrella


Eric with the Hudson River and Liberty Island behind him

Me in my sailboat dress with a sailboat behind me!  Oh...and Lady Liberty!

NYC birds bathing in the drinking fountain

USA Splash

'Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!'

Stone Street
 And then...they arrived!  And the real party began!!

Yoshi, Shellie, Brian, Brittany, Lisa, Eric, Tomo, George, Mike, Amber, Robert, and Dan...photo by bartender Brandon

Who farted?!

Obligatory New Zealand Pose (not sure why Dan's is upside down!)

The following day a few of us hopped on a New York City tour bus and rode on the top of the bus around the city...taking it all in and taking it easy on our feet!


A glimpse of Times Square

Didn't make it in this trip...but next time for sure!

The iconic Flatiron Building

My mothership!


Anthony Bourdain's restaurant

Joie de Vivre in Zucotti Park

American Merchant Mariners Memorial in the Hudson River near Battery Park

Lady Liberty...more vibrant than I imagined!

Liberty Island

Lisa, Amber, Eric, and Robert on the non-party boat  :0(

View of Manhattan from the Hudson River...near where Capt. Sully crash-landed his plane (can you imagine?!)   

And the architecture within this city is not lost on me...I find something new and unique each time I visit...even if it's really something old.

Old building with a pop of color


Built to honor the survivors of the Titanic

Funky!

Love the gargoyle-type figure hanging out

More color

This was an outdoor bar

Of course, Times Square

Reflections of buildings

The Dakota...where John and Yoko lived and where he was shot and killed


A beautiful Imagine display in Strawberry Fields, Central Park


And then there are the people of this wonderful, vibrant, challenging, enticing, exuberant, city:

The Grandmother

The Lonely

The Lost

The Dog Lover

The Construction Worker
And, of course, The Subway, which is it's own character in this city



We had an outstanding dinner at La Bernardin which was sort of our "excuse" to go; but really, the reason was to spend time with one another, to explore this city with one another, and to strengthen friendships. 

I would be remiss not to mention the lovely gentlemen I met through Tomo...her dear uncle, Yoshi, and his friend, George.  I hope to share cocktails with them again soon!  And if you meet George, please don't try to take his cosmo before he's finished!

Thank you dear friends, and dear New York City, for a wonderful visit. 


"One can't paint New York as it is, but rather as it is felt." 
~Georgia O'Keeffe

"Each friend represents a world in us, a world not born until they arrive, and it is only by this meeting that a new world is born."
~Anais Nin