Marley & Me

OK, I never read the book. Always figured I would love it, since I am the world's biggest dog person. And hadn't seen the movie. Until last night.

Truth be told, it's been a bit of a tough week. Geoff has had a ton on his plate for work and is overwhelmed and stressed and therefore I am too. It's been Murphy's Law kind of week. The kind that makes you want to just crawl into your room for at least 24 hours and escape from the world. No long term damage, but just a week that wears you right out emotionally. So last night we decided we wanted a light, feel-good, easy, make you smile kind of movie. We opened a bottle of wine, popped some popcorn, started to wind down and watched Marley & Me.

WHY DID NO ONE WARN ME?!!?
(this is where I should say "spoiler alert" if you haven't seen it, but I'm sorry, you also should be warned)

I'm sorry, but WTF?! Oh sure, there are tons of cute puppy scenes and the first half of the movie is perfectly enjoyable. Not genius cinema, but just want we wanted. The second half, however....is basically like watching Old Yeller. I don't think I have ever cried harder at a movie. Ever. Sobbed, in fact. This is no, "shed a couple of tears at the sweet/moving story about what a dog means to its family". This is "ball your eyes out until they swell up so much you can hardly keep them open". I suppose, technically, I was already in a bit of a burnt out, slightly fragile emotional state from the stupid week we had and therefore susceptible to crying. And I'm a cryer anyway. Big time. But geez louise. Had I known how the movie ended I never would have watched it last night. Not in a million years. I could have probably even have handled The English Patient or Sophie's Choice better.

It was brutal. And yes, my eyes were still puffy this morning. I was going to watch Revolutionary Road tonight (as I've never seen it), but I don't think I'll be up for it. Maybe Love Actually or a nice Bridget Jones' Diary would be a better choice until I'm more fully recovered....

Dreams Really Do Come True

So.....'member all my longing for a chalkboard? I've been looking for one for MONTHS and was contemplating using chalkboard paint to make one up, and even put a little makeshift border around it, just like this. But, then remembering this fiasco we had with painting our kitchen and how difficult these old walls are to deal with, I wasn't sure that would even work.

And then, one day last week, when I was having a bit of a lousy day, I discover that my wonderful husband ordered me one. Used a Pottery Barn gift card we had left over from the wedding and just ordered me one. And it arrived on Monday!


And he was a total rockstar and hung it up. It is absolutely the most difficult one to hang up, cause you have to hang up four things and not just one. Count on me to make things difficult....

But I love it! Look how good it looks in my kitchen!


Kinda think it makes that vintage thing over the butcher block not go as well, but I'm going to leave it there until if/when I find the perfect thing to replace it. And it's maybe a smidge crooked if you look at it hard enough but I don't even care. I love it so much!! Everytime I see it, I love it even more. And love my husband for dealing with the hassles of putting it up. Thanks Geoff!

Another Sunday in the Park

A gorgeous day on Sunday. We shot a wedding on Saturday and that can always wear you right out. So we slept in a little on Sunday and had our normal bagel & coffee in our little neigborhood park and had a great talk. It had been a busy week, so we had not had a single weeknight together. It was good to talk.

Then we hopped on our bikes and headed into the city to meet our friends in Central Park to celebrate my friend Megan's birthday. She has had a year full of tough health stuff, but is ever-positive and is amazing, both in her attitude and spirit. And in her recovery. So we were all about celebrating the end of a hard year and the beginning of a great new one.

We got there and as soon as Raul & Anne showed up with their adorable son David, I got a little shutter happy. Couldn't even help myself.






Amanda also couldn't help herself.


David charms the ladies


Megan & Amanda


Amanda & Marisa


Alison brought her latest knitting project for me to do a mini photo shoot for her blog. How cool is this? Bet you could commission her to make you one....or any number of other amazing knitted things.



Lee & David talk football


There were some kids right next to us playing soccer. I love it when kids squat like this.


Megan - carefree and blowing bubbles


Joel having less luck...


After the park, we headed over to Cilantro on the West Side for some dinner with Alison. While we were waiting for a table, I snapped this shot. I think it's funny that it says "warning" on the back of the chair. Which seems totally appropriate for how babies can be in a high chair.


We had a lovely time. Just great and REAL conversation. Which we all just appreciate so much. And the light was amazing. How stunning is my best friend? Again, I got a little shutter happy. I'll spare you and only share 3...




Yay for summer. And a summer that has yet to be brutally humid. Yay for good friends. Yay for eating outside. Yay for pretty pictures. Yay for margaritas.

Sunday on the Hudson

Last Sunday we met our friends Carrie & Matt for dinner at Hudson River Park for Matt's Birthday. The weather was perfect and it was gorgeous there. Got a couple of good shots.

Bucket o' Beers


The Band


The Crowd






The stupid jet skier who attemped to splash us and clearly needed attention


Michael's friend John who we ran into, who made a lady friend right there and then (which was quite the entertainment....)


'Twas a lovely time.

Nantucket Red - Winding Down

Sunday morning - another gorgeous day. Clay & some of the guys headed off for golf. The rest of us chilled on the deck. Us New Yorkers had decided we were going to enjoy the day and travel back late night to avoid traffic. I was in a little bit of a funk, honestly and needed to get away. So after a little deck time, the three of us (plus Rupert) hopped in the car and headed to Orleans with the idea of lunch out and a little bike ride.

Rupert with his hair in the wind...


We stopped for lunch at The Lobster Pot, a great little seafood place with a huge front deck and picnic tables. Homemade onion rings to share. Alison had inquired about Steamers, but our waiter's description sounded a little scary, so we opted out. Something about a "membrane" put us off. Our waiter was awesome by the way. Classic Cape Cod-er. Probably late 50s, gray hair in a pony tail, skin weathered by the sun and sea air and the classic Cape Cod accent. A few moments later, he came back with a plate full of steamers and sat down at the table with us. "I'm gonna give you a little lesson," he said. "I'll talk you through." So he gave us instructions and it was awesome. And they were good! I'd never been a huge seafood lover. But now....look out! Alison and I even both ordered Lobster Rolls for lunch. Never done that before either. I knew mom would be so proud.

We had a long, leisurely lunch. That and two margaritas cured my funky mood. And also ate up about 2 hours, so we opted to skip the bike ride and head back to the house, as we had secured a boat ride with CLay for the afternoon, just the four of us.

Got back to the house and rested briefly before heading out in the boat. It was so awesome to have Clay to ourselves for an hour. We packed a bottle of wine and some snacks and headed out.

Clay & Alison



Alison


Me lovin' the boat....


Saw a ton of awesome boats....here's the awesomest one (yes, I know that's not a real word).


More super cool boats






Clay & Alison again...



Hooray for the Cape. And for the weekend extravaganza. Wish we could get there more often...

Nantucket Red - The Official Partay Pt 2

After the cookout, we headed to the back yard for a tournament of what I think is called "Polish Horseshoes". Put a beer bottle on top of a stake and in teams of two, you try to knock the other person's beer bottle off with a frisbee. Go ahead and guess how good I am at frisbee.

That's right.

Terrible.

HOWEVER, I did knock the bottle off TWICE before the other team beat us. Which I was extremely proud of.


Kristyn gets "mad"


The game did get a lil' rough. Kristyn needed an ice pack at one point.


Hayley - wanting SO badly to be the one catching the frisbee


Rupert - just rollin' around


Early on in the weekend, Dad said that Rupert reminded him of Albert Einstein. We spent the rest of the weekend calling him "Doc" or "The Doctor".


Mom - scored a point or two herself.


Alison - at first - saying "Help me, I can't do this!"


And then getting fierce and competitive. Which I totally dig about her.


Matt & Sarah keep Hayley calm


Clay - with his game face on


Then the cool hip kids headed out for another night on the town. Geoff, Alison and I stayed in again, sat on the couch for a half hour watching Casino Royale before we all started falling asleep. It was all of 1030pm. So we went to bed.

Only one day left...