tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36023306491498704822024-03-14T04:02:57.514-07:00kate and geoffKate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.comBlogger371125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-38341308900505531452012-03-27T13:06:00.000-07:002012-03-27T13:06:00.169-07:00Cape Cod Birthdays<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUGtXAET1OKHpfsjWTBFj_1UjlDNkpk4gYtXxYDrFTWiI2RfV3AIhr440CcWpqHDn0QebQ8cTUsCfaKCjgL7skxh_U6MNPlDczwnQXdjwzIgy5n4PU-kEeS42e2LlNIA5xbfkP6iU2AU/s1600/IMG_1104.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUGtXAET1OKHpfsjWTBFj_1UjlDNkpk4gYtXxYDrFTWiI2RfV3AIhr440CcWpqHDn0QebQ8cTUsCfaKCjgL7skxh_U6MNPlDczwnQXdjwzIgy5n4PU-kEeS42e2LlNIA5xbfkP6iU2AU/s640/IMG_1104.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723602245900973634" /></a><br />At the end of February we took a little trip to celebrate a few birthdays. A long weekend at Cape Cod was just the thing for us overworked city-folk. And fortunately the weather cooperated. <br /><br />We drove up from the city with Alison and Michael (and her dog Rupert, of course), Stephen drove down from Boston and Marisa drove up from the city later that evening. Things couldn't have started off better - we opened the fridge to put in a few groceries when we got there and look what awaited us...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4Pt39yNUXUbdIx7VYcavSP17nXzTJ71_76xMjxuPBSjVRSvf4FQMc9bXyBsmJAVxkMcKuNd0eG_fqDd_P84n2vqBVegfxJqRVDWXwHWrKeetVxL_twtFJOyEBok70-QAHiFCozsqO_I/s1600/IMG_1092.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG4Pt39yNUXUbdIx7VYcavSP17nXzTJ71_76xMjxuPBSjVRSvf4FQMc9bXyBsmJAVxkMcKuNd0eG_fqDd_P84n2vqBVegfxJqRVDWXwHWrKeetVxL_twtFJOyEBok70-QAHiFCozsqO_I/s640/IMG_1092.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723602233671650530" /></a><br />Mom and Dad had been there a few days before we arrived and my wonderful mother, knowing how rest-starved we all were and how in need of a little R&R with our friends, left us 3 bottles of prosecco for celebratory purposes. It was The Best.<br /><br />Friday night we just ordered pizza, had some wine and relaxed. I think we all went to bed pretty early. Saturday was coffee and toast and magazines and conversation in the living room for a few hours and then we went downtown to the Impudent Oyster for a fantastic late lunch. We strolled through downtown, popping into various shops, I swung by and got my bangs trimmed while the rest of the crew checked out some antique shops and bought some fudge and as the day drew to a close, we picked up lobsters for dinner. Lobster, corn and <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/raw-tuscan-kale-salad-recipe.html">my favorite kale salad</a> was a pretty killer dinner.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeGChAXX-4slD9jCZLHEkPytIZ_UhXhnLEFVDBhjHsyCM2qAIyvf82gEbUOJjGeADC2eftdQmA09PHUWE4Nm_ImdVMlx4xKO5RJcsj-SFOyLodoEcyL0sl_RymXgtGvwFH2j6_cD4xXg/s1600/IMG_1101.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIeGChAXX-4slD9jCZLHEkPytIZ_UhXhnLEFVDBhjHsyCM2qAIyvf82gEbUOJjGeADC2eftdQmA09PHUWE4Nm_ImdVMlx4xKO5RJcsj-SFOyLodoEcyL0sl_RymXgtGvwFH2j6_cD4xXg/s640/IMG_1101.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723601402621192690" /></a><br />Sunday morning was a repeat of Saturday (with the coffee and the talking and the loveliness and whatnot) and then we headed to Hardings Beach for a walk.<br /><br />(L-R) Alison, Geoff, Marisa, Michael (hidden behind Marisa) and Stephen<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTIRTut8vKFfMzaRKNlR_gYk0dxrvtDZFnpz041ti8CwRp_LBgt-QT2wuHaxflqLCWcg55wlQAYWopF2wojBNYDXXpvZcIFnq37KW-xtKAxeUmKMcG-E-_7qcmMs5qJ1_Oc0J4OpU9k8/s1600/IMG_1106.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTIRTut8vKFfMzaRKNlR_gYk0dxrvtDZFnpz041ti8CwRp_LBgt-QT2wuHaxflqLCWcg55wlQAYWopF2wojBNYDXXpvZcIFnq37KW-xtKAxeUmKMcG-E-_7qcmMs5qJ1_Oc0J4OpU9k8/s640/IMG_1106.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723601392823986210" /></a><br />The Birthday kids...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRMwGtoFX__-Ob6BHhfsdurd0CDiSPI4dk86Qb-Kfu4xjfLW7kWqAwc0op32trmiivE_zuyw1fgxOSaA4xQR8mnVkA7MPIOR7zUAoD7hTszlzWZuM1jp-jYzLkYoVewuObxD9EMXSjak/s1600/IMG_1116.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtRMwGtoFX__-Ob6BHhfsdurd0CDiSPI4dk86Qb-Kfu4xjfLW7kWqAwc0op32trmiivE_zuyw1fgxOSaA4xQR8mnVkA7MPIOR7zUAoD7hTszlzWZuM1jp-jYzLkYoVewuObxD9EMXSjak/s640/IMG_1116.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723601379627891874" /></a><br />Two of my oldest dearest friends from my early NYC days...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxRj6Up8N4ikuFy6MZhmdpFzxR6TypC34qgdrgGIeSmsk-sud65XF0YvcYU2lPZbzrVjtJ_pB3XVBmpGwHlZ9GEiHiyzuKYRdksptHKk8Y2SUylwjeoRzmKmX4_W4KIM1UIimncxXrlQ/s1600/IMG_1119.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQxRj6Up8N4ikuFy6MZhmdpFzxR6TypC34qgdrgGIeSmsk-sud65XF0YvcYU2lPZbzrVjtJ_pB3XVBmpGwHlZ9GEiHiyzuKYRdksptHKk8Y2SUylwjeoRzmKmX4_W4KIM1UIimncxXrlQ/s640/IMG_1119.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723601372564115506" /></a><br />Rupert had quite the adventure at the beach. This is clearly not a water dog. But he had a great time.<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/39122755?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0&color=c9ff23" width="640" height="360" frameborder="0" webkitAllowFullScreen mozallowfullscreen allowFullScreen></iframe><br /><br />Then we headed back to the house for a late brunch, as we were all starving. Alison set a lovely table (shocking, I know)...<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzYZaMSvDL2EWdC6263HtOrooIAKbciwfLmoT4mUAM1NTRic_TPDPsVwRu8HsXJRE0r_zuF1CSyuU2h93ou_1mvM321xz6flPc5qslEhvRH65G4pdw1Olp7lY03GoCPpSLWDZFEODqlQ/s1600/IMG_1120.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrzYZaMSvDL2EWdC6263HtOrooIAKbciwfLmoT4mUAM1NTRic_TPDPsVwRu8HsXJRE0r_zuF1CSyuU2h93ou_1mvM321xz6flPc5qslEhvRH65G4pdw1Olp7lY03GoCPpSLWDZFEODqlQ/s640/IMG_1120.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723600239065793074" /></a><br />We kind of made brunch up. I'd planned to make a whole wheat orzo salad at some point in the weekend, and ended up making it for brunch. Very easy - Whole wheat orzo with grape tomatoes, peccorino Romano cheese, lemon and arugula. I made up the ratios of everything and just kept adding things until I liked it. Stephen topped each plate with two poached eggs, because he is a kitchen wizard. And Alison made an orange & grapefruit salad with a little lime zest. Add some mimosas (OJ + that amazing prosecco -thanks mom!) and it was one fantastic brunch.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5joD8Fi4cgLOLhIh4Mj6z_sfIKH5VaL46wJ5mk4JokQR1TCfUFy8QUdh1PjdDYJtcVApWunhQHaunw4StrlOSG2X6qo6HuriTwpQgb5RRr0qFqCcTkGBUDp4YS760ObZ9vRq5qhwbAo/s1600/IMG_1123.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5joD8Fi4cgLOLhIh4Mj6z_sfIKH5VaL46wJ5mk4JokQR1TCfUFy8QUdh1PjdDYJtcVApWunhQHaunw4StrlOSG2X6qo6HuriTwpQgb5RRr0qFqCcTkGBUDp4YS760ObZ9vRq5qhwbAo/s640/IMG_1123.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723600227964549218" /></a><br />*sigh* I love traveling with other foodies.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv5K_P_hp4U_e8kAgm5ZHfrh4Tc7jdmEIsuR-Zs6DQlhDbdGibUCvR1GLtU_ACZaIEbmCa_Ki3e2IRea8Ro-ayJbTAS5UQ6TvON4dSUmD8hFbBaK-_2kCdMpuIsWEsKPvaZsMNUex8KE/s1600/IMG_1124.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLv5K_P_hp4U_e8kAgm5ZHfrh4Tc7jdmEIsuR-Zs6DQlhDbdGibUCvR1GLtU_ACZaIEbmCa_Ki3e2IRea8Ro-ayJbTAS5UQ6TvON4dSUmD8hFbBaK-_2kCdMpuIsWEsKPvaZsMNUex8KE/s640/IMG_1124.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723600223250192418" /></a><br />And no, Alison and Stephen weren't on their phones during brunch - they were photographing their creations. Obviously.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3d2JVDPDWfgAT8eroUqNqIqVAFGAy-WrIguAg6GSkRggnLuQGwFcT3AH_W34GAsgkXonyqIiDFTT5-6Y2Dyo0a1Fi9Brsnahas7KUvsZyC2rJ8iltaE40MsJkSX-ZZS28orDetwyoDqk/s1600/IMG_1127.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3d2JVDPDWfgAT8eroUqNqIqVAFGAy-WrIguAg6GSkRggnLuQGwFcT3AH_W34GAsgkXonyqIiDFTT5-6Y2Dyo0a1Fi9Brsnahas7KUvsZyC2rJ8iltaE40MsJkSX-ZZS28orDetwyoDqk/s640/IMG_1127.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723600206409411538" /></a><br />After brunch I can't remember what we did. There may have been naps and showers and a bit of Downton Abbey watching and general down time. Michael's friends Jason and Jasmine made their way up to join us for the evening and once they arrived, we watched <span style="font-style:italic;">Chocolat </span>before dinner. One of my favorite movies. Alison had promised Michael she'd make him a pie for his birthday - and make one she did. I believe this was a sage apple pie? Or a carmel apple pie? Or a caramel sage apple pie. Whatever it was, it was beyond delicious.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B61NtMMwoUr4w4klMdXyXrB3Nse6BALt4jcm0eDpKJN_MdvgjvwFNbmg5gmFFduLp7Bv68fhhs7siCJDzOpWWkx-mYcdYZ78e-h3HF4BeFXuKVQNJa6BSaOrsqpCNvUy7blE8wLmSaI/s1600/IMG_1131.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7B61NtMMwoUr4w4klMdXyXrB3Nse6BALt4jcm0eDpKJN_MdvgjvwFNbmg5gmFFduLp7Bv68fhhs7siCJDzOpWWkx-mYcdYZ78e-h3HF4BeFXuKVQNJa6BSaOrsqpCNvUy7blE8wLmSaI/s640/IMG_1131.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723627541963394594" /></a><br />And Stephen made Alison a KILLER Guiness Chocolate Cake for her birthday. I think this even had a hint of orange in it somehow, which was beyond amazing. Alison promptly decorated it herself with things she found around the kitchen. She's resourceful, that one. (please forgive the horrendous lighting)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMklsy_Acr3R9jd57L5Q7UtkfF64eMwGDD6yL-apGvWBN-4PA6k1k4f5Vd4FsC8zbaarU6u0JhH9OhcvxY07xZflZWy5Q8TpaV27OdulMjy0h5KyT8bTneTc0MHJHn8bLHslXbN11eB8/s1600/IMG_1138.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQMklsy_Acr3R9jd57L5Q7UtkfF64eMwGDD6yL-apGvWBN-4PA6k1k4f5Vd4FsC8zbaarU6u0JhH9OhcvxY07xZflZWy5Q8TpaV27OdulMjy0h5KyT8bTneTc0MHJHn8bLHslXbN11eB8/s640/IMG_1138.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723627531707815906" /></a><br />The birthday boy & girl<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJEYsORvXckD7mm9avYnn9rVR_83YZJ0sdGHPRgnZ8hZozpdFIS4fQs6gl2FbsLxBmIFDbPYAhV9dOPxXellyLqOUEIMIRCExOkTr6p36a0O9kyhIj5NO4maGebYhJnxG5psuuyavJGk/s1600/IMG_1143.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoJEYsORvXckD7mm9avYnn9rVR_83YZJ0sdGHPRgnZ8hZozpdFIS4fQs6gl2FbsLxBmIFDbPYAhV9dOPxXellyLqOUEIMIRCExOkTr6p36a0O9kyhIj5NO4maGebYhJnxG5psuuyavJGk/s640/IMG_1143.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723678172897404562" /></a><br />'Twas a lovely, lovely time. Lets do it again, please.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLyntqWwErvJYGEJiIxURn7DfghEdJDng5zmnYpHefrv_UAWgTM8in0ECGul1i05woLNCxD6KvB4pPiEfNHhBiDNxdZUhN6CXRGhyphenhyphenctTNVSqsexeo4paHPc-Qa5ZhbJaAd3cG8rFzJLU/s1600/IMG_1145.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVLyntqWwErvJYGEJiIxURn7DfghEdJDng5zmnYpHefrv_UAWgTM8in0ECGul1i05woLNCxD6KvB4pPiEfNHhBiDNxdZUhN6CXRGhyphenhyphenctTNVSqsexeo4paHPc-Qa5ZhbJaAd3cG8rFzJLU/s640/IMG_1145.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723627158176634386" /></a>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-18547634415457806732012-03-25T16:05:00.000-07:002012-03-24T21:09:44.674-07:00I'm a Jet Setter<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IGLbI1ho5-ULyqjZsm7UHNM0Jnqe0AX7YPCspXG16yngEhyphenhyphencPkj896mPZLcl15Km0OQoTlv8LkmjAAEs01f5xPtr0Y2YtQrSCLa0zMUbRlFlhI9XvxVrGahSSMNLE_DnqhCojiObN-I/s1600/IMG_1067.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IGLbI1ho5-ULyqjZsm7UHNM0Jnqe0AX7YPCspXG16yngEhyphenhyphencPkj896mPZLcl15Km0OQoTlv8LkmjAAEs01f5xPtr0Y2YtQrSCLa0zMUbRlFlhI9XvxVrGahSSMNLE_DnqhCojiObN-I/s640/IMG_1067.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723566239923261762" /></a><br />I was asked to teach a few audition masterclasses in various cities around the country, which meant I got to travel to places I'd never been before. This winter it was Salt Lake City and Las Vegas. The trips were super fast and I mostly only had a couple hours to explore the highlights between my arrival and my class but it was still fun to wander.<br /><br />Salt Lake was pretty cool. I stayed at the Peery Hotel, which is the only hotel on the historic register in Utah. It was apparently THE place to see and be seen in back in the 1920s and definitely has the old mining/railroad businessman feel to it while still being updated to modern life. That's one of my favorite combos - history + modern conveniences.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiR9if-Wdg0ifxBGjR3VdOzNStO75XCzK16bvex68FBymd13vhmk4umGH43lr5tlzbQO9BfwzdJ0O8Y-uYEO4GRvWDHXo8FEFE7PhVOAxlqD8qu6M2ix4yNvMiKXxOnHmeYAXHGH3Zajk/s1600/IMG_1066.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiR9if-Wdg0ifxBGjR3VdOzNStO75XCzK16bvex68FBymd13vhmk4umGH43lr5tlzbQO9BfwzdJ0O8Y-uYEO4GRvWDHXo8FEFE7PhVOAxlqD8qu6M2ix4yNvMiKXxOnHmeYAXHGH3Zajk/s640/IMG_1066.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723566228947221810" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJPF0YINIXhg0m2_QXCl_Yb4Ht23NFsr-y2YvWAN4iFRpcIaUTHWghPGtNhyYYjCtGx0QdYuu6qd07gnm0LrP6g7LnkIDMorT-c5JgvsBvR4MbDvkOQsfGJhyphenhyphen09wZqc05AOpV0LVwbR4/s1600/IMG_1068.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgJPF0YINIXhg0m2_QXCl_Yb4Ht23NFsr-y2YvWAN4iFRpcIaUTHWghPGtNhyYYjCtGx0QdYuu6qd07gnm0LrP6g7LnkIDMorT-c5JgvsBvR4MbDvkOQsfGJhyphenhyphen09wZqc05AOpV0LVwbR4/s640/IMG_1068.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723569308098057810" /></a><br />That kind of seemed to be a theme in downtown SLC - brand new buildings sat right next to buildings that felt like they'd been there for 100 years and hadn't changed much. Kind of cool. Like these old buildings - they were surrounded by newer brick structures.<br /> <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLyYrQmaeN4xqKbprFuZSfBUSNl57yJ9bElEBLhdzwlODa_9hgyrJNoUIw5xlDWbBG87vUPBjp3YVYK3ur2lZIxDrNNbPiSzjH8VWfedzF_ScccZkzKpjrg19VN2G0odXseJflfMAGQ0/s1600/IMG_1069.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvLyYrQmaeN4xqKbprFuZSfBUSNl57yJ9bElEBLhdzwlODa_9hgyrJNoUIw5xlDWbBG87vUPBjp3YVYK3ur2lZIxDrNNbPiSzjH8VWfedzF_ScccZkzKpjrg19VN2G0odXseJflfMAGQ0/s640/IMG_1069.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723566502517506322" /></a><br />The thing that struck me about the downtown area was that you were in the middle of the city, but if you looked down pretty much any street, oh, look, there'd just be some huge snow capped mountains. No big deal, just the Rocky Mountains there in pain view. I couldn't get over it - to have mountains so close to the city. Very cool to this east coast girl. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEUfcwCvsJoeFvmKQs_0ZHysBwTnUUx_h3UpwNyCrQs1_WRXrC0bdc73hUAGcuhiBQW1TC-EQpPhiAPt8Z4zBAxuwk9NlDufJvkKhcz2JQqWlnFUR9rUDe5_n0wT47RuAkUduL_3dBKM/s1600/IMG_1077.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEUfcwCvsJoeFvmKQs_0ZHysBwTnUUx_h3UpwNyCrQs1_WRXrC0bdc73hUAGcuhiBQW1TC-EQpPhiAPt8Z4zBAxuwk9NlDufJvkKhcz2JQqWlnFUR9rUDe5_n0wT47RuAkUduL_3dBKM/s640/IMG_1077.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723566519368189154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKxVt6LUqaL9YOijM1WDJmefXns30FPPWCQQL-JHtyGynj7snlv7CgpnXqg9CH14vHncnUIVrjOB0TQcJ8F-eCo6pYGJ6Vl6bj4Ac-bRyDIjfY_sXtp0X8ouijaufw6Rd0-mTwXw2vzk/s1600/IMG_1090.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggKxVt6LUqaL9YOijM1WDJmefXns30FPPWCQQL-JHtyGynj7snlv7CgpnXqg9CH14vHncnUIVrjOB0TQcJ8F-eCo6pYGJ6Vl6bj4Ac-bRyDIjfY_sXtp0X8ouijaufw6Rd0-mTwXw2vzk/s640/IMG_1090.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723567088269399266" /></a><br />There was also a cool tram that ran right down the middle of the streets. Way cooler than a bus.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzPJx4eca5WersdYKnmmTi9kUTkxkWYk0kycFNr7BZ2UjJlo6OyIvTOiJMqhlVGm0n0Ltt1euVgI51Ohx52-WmoBaik63yDvm0deHR07ircRZlx7mCpH1hSzec6sXSIMTMFDvgs4cx9I/s1600/IMG_1075.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXzPJx4eca5WersdYKnmmTi9kUTkxkWYk0kycFNr7BZ2UjJlo6OyIvTOiJMqhlVGm0n0Ltt1euVgI51Ohx52-WmoBaik63yDvm0deHR07ircRZlx7mCpH1hSzec6sXSIMTMFDvgs4cx9I/s640/IMG_1075.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723566508709526082" /></a><br />I didn't have much time downtown, and my friend <a href="http://mormoninmanhattan.blogspot.com/">Natalie</a>, who is from the area, had actually recommended a bunch of fun options to check out including a place that had a super famous dessert apparently, but I couldn't make it everywhere and I knew I wanted to see Temple Square.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0atvxPFjpcSWULC9jr4P2aGmr-7EY2Ngq-jqwlm5Ojn8zLdg-ExdOrT4wSo1rrOnQm7PHjIG69B3vQs7gQmdrLlxD3LgE26wTcRPA387f2AJqzeuzK4xtFVUsav9VpbJAeIcwipmw2hc/s1600/IMG_1089.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0atvxPFjpcSWULC9jr4P2aGmr-7EY2Ngq-jqwlm5Ojn8zLdg-ExdOrT4wSo1rrOnQm7PHjIG69B3vQs7gQmdrLlxD3LgE26wTcRPA387f2AJqzeuzK4xtFVUsav9VpbJAeIcwipmw2hc/s640/IMG_1089.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723567102216026338" /></a><br />After passing by the good ole Joseph Smith Memorial Building...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCtOZLmMFLCAR7zIXrpTV8LDWqj2ZKByrf2Lhr7LptAcjBbLGdUqrHH_cslg8F4QRA4-kcUlLTL9B1zeDS7JDKciW7HIqNsHBpRLrSlOYHk2Erh9FRr6qtghY2uFUyTvkB9A8s8WDwJ4/s1600/IMG_1076.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZCtOZLmMFLCAR7zIXrpTV8LDWqj2ZKByrf2Lhr7LptAcjBbLGdUqrHH_cslg8F4QRA4-kcUlLTL9B1zeDS7JDKciW7HIqNsHBpRLrSlOYHk2Erh9FRr6qtghY2uFUyTvkB9A8s8WDwJ4/s640/IMG_1076.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723567672644499218" /></a><br />And my good friend, Brigham Young (little <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://bookofmormonbroadway.com/">Book of Mormon</a></span> lyric reference there for ya)...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOR-Ue0iMS5CekiGCs3afIG0dCdIKzEIpgBSLshf78bWAlyM8688QOQNVNJwHfjwKO5DUomw50K6iYhgTIqU589_o7wi5DINglqaasT6idWoK61iRvh4NVt1a-AHbeRbD1hY6COzYbqI/s1600/IMG_1079.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDOR-Ue0iMS5CekiGCs3afIG0dCdIKzEIpgBSLshf78bWAlyM8688QOQNVNJwHfjwKO5DUomw50K6iYhgTIqU589_o7wi5DINglqaasT6idWoK61iRvh4NVt1a-AHbeRbD1hY6COzYbqI/s640/IMG_1079.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723567666858326722" /></a><br />I found myself staring up at the Temple - pretty beautiful architecture....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQw_Gg70o0Nd-l-Nbxy0C1VXtOytU_1aM0TffFko71iL7U5ARbfx2UUUI87KMyfuXuj6OKdBJvlw2m2oa8cq-7Gkdc3CnDUT6jhv3AHvgh6nJAIcoMB9FLUxWqxThDtrnJMM8QyiXV1DI/s1600/IMG_1081.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQw_Gg70o0Nd-l-Nbxy0C1VXtOytU_1aM0TffFko71iL7U5ARbfx2UUUI87KMyfuXuj6OKdBJvlw2m2oa8cq-7Gkdc3CnDUT6jhv3AHvgh6nJAIcoMB9FLUxWqxThDtrnJMM8QyiXV1DI/s640/IMG_1081.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723567681447714306" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHKbqz-i5uOHSJIpSE8UGzSXEExTeK39BtYcX_PQXwNGzA2j3bEm_Bnou3X5QhNIvo75rhXZWYbO0JFbDB59bF5wLladFNP68RIOWlL48gEMOEy2mKma22PpdzIM0X9D2V5Tj1MNbIhY/s1600/IMG_1082.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoHKbqz-i5uOHSJIpSE8UGzSXEExTeK39BtYcX_PQXwNGzA2j3bEm_Bnou3X5QhNIvo75rhXZWYbO0JFbDB59bF5wLladFNP68RIOWlL48gEMOEy2mKma22PpdzIM0X9D2V5Tj1MNbIhY/s640/IMG_1082.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723576366111524850" /></a><br />And the Angel Moroni on top.. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9LieyJ5q3rea6wnIH_D2mX4yuzeyxyHI04bwocakZwWIquOjCgfSq6SRyng9hrSID5QzoP_AHh3valC8ca07qu01z3WOe_DlJuF9t5GXK28L0Ewgj-iCOK_4uBeY2nN8N-cKtS-QtG4/s1600/IMG_1085.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm9LieyJ5q3rea6wnIH_D2mX4yuzeyxyHI04bwocakZwWIquOjCgfSq6SRyng9hrSID5QzoP_AHh3valC8ca07qu01z3WOe_DlJuF9t5GXK28L0Ewgj-iCOK_4uBeY2nN8N-cKtS-QtG4/s640/IMG_1085.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723567112803899714" /></a><br />I also went briefly into the Tabernacle, which was open and is (obviously) where the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings. I will say, there was something about it that creeped me out a little - I think largely because I was in there by myself and it was eerily quiet, and I have a little bit of a "omigosh, I'm breaking the rules!" complex, so I scooted out pretty quickly. But it was still cool to see. And I bet the acoustics in there are AWESOME. <br /><br />I feel it's almost insulting to say I've learned more about the Mormon religion from the Broadway musical, which I work on, but I have. And because I work on that show, it was extra cool to see the center of the Mormon Faith, even though it's not my own. I know there's more to SLC than the Mormon religion and I would've liked to have seen more of those parts too. But after my big adventure downtown and at Temple Square, I had about 90 minutes before my class and I was starving - so after many attempts to locate the cool restaurants Natalie recommended, I finally gave up 'cause my boots that day were not exactly made for walking and I had a lovely scallop and spinach salad and a glass of sauvignon blanc at the bar Macaroni Grill right next to my hotel. It was kind of heaven, if less adventurous than I originally intended.<br /><br />A few weeks later, and just for something COMPLETELY different, I was off to Sin City.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnubRUhFaVyav3c4PMJ90wMObxTT3CO-MSOs1cMOa87xwELoiezByli0CjJo-URk0mtJJS7SE2nLcwuR8i_la5cZN4PgsTiaTYJmAyk0v-QFcEmc8wuECBZ_Z0mNhXsGAjNnFUblmbiJI/s1600/IMG_1287.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnubRUhFaVyav3c4PMJ90wMObxTT3CO-MSOs1cMOa87xwELoiezByli0CjJo-URk0mtJJS7SE2nLcwuR8i_la5cZN4PgsTiaTYJmAyk0v-QFcEmc8wuECBZ_Z0mNhXsGAjNnFUblmbiJI/s640/IMG_1287.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723566216020143618" /></a><br />I mean, they start you off the moment you step off the plane. Didn't realize there would be slot machines in the airport, but it makes sense...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLGsyuIX7tgozvfmmQydkIS1alKheRGSD6Lz5539KvngK2yxr23ZAtMsRuqCCJiDdSNMvw_Y-HxlxCaiglvppsFk8coUtz68ofcnbP5f8ovpwwHdP9uvfMESvxUJzLFnpyrZtw5Bec0M/s1600/IMG_1286.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLLGsyuIX7tgozvfmmQydkIS1alKheRGSD6Lz5539KvngK2yxr23ZAtMsRuqCCJiDdSNMvw_Y-HxlxCaiglvppsFk8coUtz68ofcnbP5f8ovpwwHdP9uvfMESvxUJzLFnpyrZtw5Bec0M/s640/IMG_1286.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723582296968935410" /></a><br />Vegas virgin that I was, I thought it was super clever that the airport shuttle tickets looked like poker chips. Oh Vegas, you're know how to be cool...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvGRDIbpEW8WMbW43HG8o_gB0TiU4It8KFIaZxAeqY5uwPnxMLDE_qt_j_YbVIz6GOTRTuOMV_oXBpIqsbPaIOk95OCHdA4BcIOQW4iEzLQ9V0pScmZ_pQRAzTpObK_RxNRKWg1031no/s1600/IMG_1289.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsvGRDIbpEW8WMbW43HG8o_gB0TiU4It8KFIaZxAeqY5uwPnxMLDE_qt_j_YbVIz6GOTRTuOMV_oXBpIqsbPaIOk95OCHdA4BcIOQW4iEzLQ9V0pScmZ_pQRAzTpObK_RxNRKWg1031no/s640/IMG_1289.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723582291253826402" /></a><br />I stayed at the Luxor hotel, which kind of has an Egyptian thing going on. It looks like this from the outside:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZE69chHQQHXJspTqMbpA4Di3BC0rHBEEro4UpcvJWiKEQcPlQuZv0ZtLT47NF_HbCIknEBspJeVS2Zvls-sywTax_0XxqX6TPALzSHuc9GZNImV1yRLcE1kyThbTJFbVacIYWRGxMjg/s1600/IMG_1309.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZE69chHQQHXJspTqMbpA4Di3BC0rHBEEro4UpcvJWiKEQcPlQuZv0ZtLT47NF_HbCIknEBspJeVS2Zvls-sywTax_0XxqX6TPALzSHuc9GZNImV1yRLcE1kyThbTJFbVacIYWRGxMjg/s640/IMG_1309.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723585618738143154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiN_4wADVQ5IDl6M1uvW2GFWlNs29Cu9RkXH41GrvFRPD_XoS0iOUZdSh1Oc0wwyxDhXEelxkX81_6kHiaJRWulVe2Fz6Guyifp4bKaF3YqFUylKmWT_3NrWCpEanMEzX-HSjcPCb_jc/s1600/IMG_1302.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjiN_4wADVQ5IDl6M1uvW2GFWlNs29Cu9RkXH41GrvFRPD_XoS0iOUZdSh1Oc0wwyxDhXEelxkX81_6kHiaJRWulVe2Fz6Guyifp4bKaF3YqFUylKmWT_3NrWCpEanMEzX-HSjcPCb_jc/s640/IMG_1302.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723582268571145890" /></a><br />And like this from the inside of that pyramid - I'm standing on the hallway to my room on the 21st floor, looking down. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr2z_t2hvJvf5Lh8Krce5dbDAPXvXpTthNVmsMheV2HzB1zmWzoIghP-YV_dhEIo7rpmGuxoqqdZSCFUpW5yh2RG261kkX0aTqrRkGXElPl3zaIhCvD6Jvyet7WdmywZZPYYbtZRFWZk/s1600/IMG_1293.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr2z_t2hvJvf5Lh8Krce5dbDAPXvXpTthNVmsMheV2HzB1zmWzoIghP-YV_dhEIo7rpmGuxoqqdZSCFUpW5yh2RG261kkX0aTqrRkGXElPl3zaIhCvD6Jvyet7WdmywZZPYYbtZRFWZk/s640/IMG_1293.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723582279386345346" /></a><br />Crazy right? This was the window in my room...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6_Q9gstXPW7PVGi1J0x272dod_Ig5MhW5M3je_2Ej3nStsyg4oUlXkzyQ5mRKaJc5TNC45wYi-IYyYQPznVOWsVr0ewDxwvORIngeloyIuosXv1NLfS3FduZLTj0ZuSqjZSJzcWGhVc/s1600/IMG_1294.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr6_Q9gstXPW7PVGi1J0x272dod_Ig5MhW5M3je_2Ej3nStsyg4oUlXkzyQ5mRKaJc5TNC45wYi-IYyYQPznVOWsVr0ewDxwvORIngeloyIuosXv1NLfS3FduZLTj0ZuSqjZSJzcWGhVc/s640/IMG_1294.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723581979938041714" /></a><br />Also, its true about what they say - if you're inside (and really the hotels are so big you can feel like there's no need to go outside) it's dark and kinda feels like night all the time. I had a lunch and wandered around the hotel and casino, contemplated a massage or pedicure and as I approached the spa, I noticed it was near the pool, so I popped outside briefly. It.was.gorgeous.out. And I'd had no idea - I'd been in the hotel for almost 2 hours and had forgotten it was a gorgeous day. So I promptly went up to my room, put on my bathing suit and sat by the pool for an hour. Um, it was pretty great. Especially since it was the beginning of March. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghU4di3yFNGelqikgx6nBmFH8M7PqTox30aLWqIE8Ai4tgc2RMM4uuHVdF7k5kEdAK4b9hW8Vy793wJO9jxyljnv_mNSL7KbnM6ECfwUFTh9d_n5r3NYShkzvLR3euojQt1jJx9MAIvU/s1600/IMG_1304.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhghU4di3yFNGelqikgx6nBmFH8M7PqTox30aLWqIE8Ai4tgc2RMM4uuHVdF7k5kEdAK4b9hW8Vy793wJO9jxyljnv_mNSL7KbnM6ECfwUFTh9d_n5r3NYShkzvLR3euojQt1jJx9MAIvU/s640/IMG_1304.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723581963240903922" /></a><br />I attempted to gamble a bit, since I never have and it felt like a "when in Rome" sort of thing. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61v4UlSQcoCW8wO7WmSc_1fIbdqgusbnayBT9Vxg7J3CpsFRLklDQwl9HW_hRJCdtzXv7ChFGh56BLGoFAu1vbHMpF36epKbzZ2PYf3DbjpkQdcwIT0HH-C1wg3tJRHjht__P1FLfEag/s1600/IMG_1300.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj61v4UlSQcoCW8wO7WmSc_1fIbdqgusbnayBT9Vxg7J3CpsFRLklDQwl9HW_hRJCdtzXv7ChFGh56BLGoFAu1vbHMpF36epKbzZ2PYf3DbjpkQdcwIT0HH-C1wg3tJRHjht__P1FLfEag/s640/IMG_1300.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723581972192905522" /></a><br />But mostly, I wasn't into it. I tried to play a few slot machines and mostly I just put my money in and then nothing happened. I only tried twice, but both times, I put my money in, the wheel spun like once or twice and then it was over. Not worth it. So then I figured i could play blackjack 'cause I can count to 21, but those tables were intimidating. It was all very fast with lots of hand signals and I didn't want to piss anyone off by not knowing what I was doing, so then I just wandered around and watched a bit and that was plenty fun for me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs8xKSRvu2VYt_dDP0HZ9p1GhRujdBmk1kBxlRzgH698qnsVYxWXC9F26K_D0gFdvlDsSjmndvTlyeCh8oNw8bJLpTM2AxWVQAvMBWDxYKw1lqb02im88B5jzqgtmfNy0NxJCUhcFsp4/s1600/IMG_1344.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDs8xKSRvu2VYt_dDP0HZ9p1GhRujdBmk1kBxlRzgH698qnsVYxWXC9F26K_D0gFdvlDsSjmndvTlyeCh8oNw8bJLpTM2AxWVQAvMBWDxYKw1lqb02im88B5jzqgtmfNy0NxJCUhcFsp4/s640/IMG_1344.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723586397423614114" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FNVDWwrcPgiwMW7ta8m1MMCoiVZfG4cBvsbuRhGiW9dgl1gH4vYTPPSM7Pv3FMS8fyt_2qlaBAkHyMxSefxWxmWUogFxeEhRbDPbCec6SmHsnECbiMj1MZufSmoC6Fduczd-9bw-ISc/s1600/IMG_1345.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FNVDWwrcPgiwMW7ta8m1MMCoiVZfG4cBvsbuRhGiW9dgl1gH4vYTPPSM7Pv3FMS8fyt_2qlaBAkHyMxSefxWxmWUogFxeEhRbDPbCec6SmHsnECbiMj1MZufSmoC6Fduczd-9bw-ISc/s640/IMG_1345.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723586381028155010" /></a><br /><br />I also spotted this T-shirt in a gift shop that made me laugh out loud. This may be offensive to some, but I thought it was a riot. I was tempted to buy one for Geoff. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5GtEzUcagJB_nqqUjleWV9zOpQCP8hsPnYSy1jO43msUTeXcE44EW2NjcEjVYUwYBPy09maX4amXTaoSPGTbLhBp2yKjDXDxCisSUQlqhqmTa-QUKcSV72pqnjjWugHobMbCjTdjDc8/s1600/IMG_1312.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv5GtEzUcagJB_nqqUjleWV9zOpQCP8hsPnYSy1jO43msUTeXcE44EW2NjcEjVYUwYBPy09maX4amXTaoSPGTbLhBp2yKjDXDxCisSUQlqhqmTa-QUKcSV72pqnjjWugHobMbCjTdjDc8/s640/IMG_1312.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723593606340357394" /></a><br />Then after my class I got a mini tour of The Strip. Which was pretty fun. Some of these pictures are lousy out the car window but it was fun nonetheless.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e1NJdUljMBLiFbCnkpf-BMMT3Slf0h7jCCGUyHZ55BCrninX6NePpJ8g099v_5usmN6r97APVbhoXWyke6R6j3epQHBvd-7pi9gb_8lhuL062tyVGtdmXQBhxk852hDFNq-VgzGTCNM/s1600/IMG_1331.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7e1NJdUljMBLiFbCnkpf-BMMT3Slf0h7jCCGUyHZ55BCrninX6NePpJ8g099v_5usmN6r97APVbhoXWyke6R6j3epQHBvd-7pi9gb_8lhuL062tyVGtdmXQBhxk852hDFNq-VgzGTCNM/s640/IMG_1331.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723586060694719010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_2kxh3LzlpWC9GYbRS_YHMH5n_WxOkczCse1rgqqBdPyBOwzNVN42fjaI32L8426oU1Pto8nESDeMs2K5KZDq1AT_L8ZZxOIeSkzcVFw6fX3voUf_5s-ZBYldPHPX04dYYk9PA0nW9M/s1600/IMG_1337.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn_2kxh3LzlpWC9GYbRS_YHMH5n_WxOkczCse1rgqqBdPyBOwzNVN42fjaI32L8426oU1Pto8nESDeMs2K5KZDq1AT_L8ZZxOIeSkzcVFw6fX3voUf_5s-ZBYldPHPX04dYYk9PA0nW9M/s640/IMG_1337.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723586052588168002" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoP9kX0pZ2aenH6PaOLfXPOEVTzCOmyhDKAxzP4iO-_gGd9dGO7ik4N62Ve3Kze1x2oCf1eBYJELUo9H1nKEGO5RCsQGqG6eJM04RxId4GeJyFFrEeUPz_IIhmGILI7T-o7ohFhIPhAA/s1600/IMG_1334.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuoP9kX0pZ2aenH6PaOLfXPOEVTzCOmyhDKAxzP4iO-_gGd9dGO7ik4N62Ve3Kze1x2oCf1eBYJELUo9H1nKEGO5RCsQGqG6eJM04RxId4GeJyFFrEeUPz_IIhmGILI7T-o7ohFhIPhAA/s640/IMG_1334.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723586031691395698" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f0icg4GMqTEEzPEpazKpMLQ07602wneJF4PMkUjPNSRJFu0-ucTQjbQeK00E1LGMfq3lKoHxy57UlGoZHAM3A5G_hyq0C4tzkO0IHdC8TyXYKcD-LAl2YSJEeUBTCA898aKanRw4v5Q/s1600/IMG_1329.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3f0icg4GMqTEEzPEpazKpMLQ07602wneJF4PMkUjPNSRJFu0-ucTQjbQeK00E1LGMfq3lKoHxy57UlGoZHAM3A5G_hyq0C4tzkO0IHdC8TyXYKcD-LAl2YSJEeUBTCA898aKanRw4v5Q/s640/IMG_1329.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723585642184773202" /></a><br />Vegas was fun, though it wasn't as fun to do on my own. I really wished Geoff had been there and also thought it could potentially be a fun girls weekend place, but only because the pool was so great and sitting around a pool with cocktails and girl talk is my idea of a good time. But they have pools and cocktails a lot of places. Was glad to experience it though!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC59U6BxJx6phkLkFzdetA2v5EbhW7I9w74ElKwrDO2XEHWVR8x_U11UM1UomifuqIW58VxXiGvrxiqcFdQ6-B3dtvc8UkkXpfNKsl1AUG-nNQOsIUHfj1216uwTMc1s4xutGOoyp-1p0/s1600/IMG_1308.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC59U6BxJx6phkLkFzdetA2v5EbhW7I9w74ElKwrDO2XEHWVR8x_U11UM1UomifuqIW58VxXiGvrxiqcFdQ6-B3dtvc8UkkXpfNKsl1AUG-nNQOsIUHfj1216uwTMc1s4xutGOoyp-1p0/s640/IMG_1308.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723585627857829682" /></a>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-7948402154096601752012-03-23T15:02:00.000-07:002012-03-24T12:44:34.572-07:00Everything-But-The-Kitchen-Sink UpdateIt's spring somehow. Already. I am unprepared. I was supposed to be skinnier by the time short sleeve weather rolled around. And I just bought a gorgeous chunky teal infinity scarf on sale at Nordstrom a few weeks ago that I love and have barely been able to wear. But I've decided not to care, because the breeze coming in my window today is beyond lovely. And we've walked to Panera for lunch twice this week, which I love. So. Take that, jiggly arms. Life is too short to worry about you.<br /><br />It's been busy as per usual and April and May will likely kick my butt too, so I figured I'd pause a bit today for an update. What I've missed telling you about:<br /><br />1) I've gone to Salt Lake City and Vegas in the last month for work. I'd never been either place and both were fun to see - there's another post coming about that.<br />2) We managed a quick trip to Cape Cod with some friends in February - post coming about that too<br />3) Our nieces had birthdays in February and they had a "critter party" where an animal wrangler brought things like turtles and lizards and a chinchilla (which is super soft) and the hugest snake I've ever seen in real life, whose name was Junior.<br />4) We set a date in August for a <a href="http://kateplusgeoff.blogspot.com/2010/08/barn-girls-take-dc.html">Barn Girls </a>reunion and that will be great fun.<br />5) I purchased a pair of "jeggings" - and while I hate their name, they have absolutely changed my life.<br />6) Our friends had their first baby. His name is Judah and I am way overdue for a visit. He's 3 weeks old almost and is already wearing clothes for a 6 month old. He's huge and awesome and I miss him.<br />7) Did a fun photoshoot with Ms Alison for her business. Post coming about that too. In theory. That's the third additional post I've promised - don't want to get ahead of myself.<br />8) Am finally learning Lightroom (a photo editing program that all the legit photographers use). It's pretty rad.<br />9) A friend who works at Coach hooked me up with a 65% off deal at an employee sale and my new bag makes me feel WAY fancier than I am. Plus, a fabulous bag like that will obviously pull focus away any potentially jiggly arms.<br />10) "Jiggly" is almost as terrible a word as "jeggings".<br /><br />I'm basically taking the small sliver of time I've had on my hands lately and have been trying to enjoy my life. Hence my absence here. I loved walking down 45th Street the other night on my way to the theatre. It was spring, my iPod was giving me a great soundtrack, and I was all on my own to soak it in. Made me love this city.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPEXu220xkcWQyJ4FzAW2sdFzudbOiBoT-o6Xje7sbPwht4fOpyD3vsMerH9YPNBdelBK8_Vrv4Dev24BNT9EkmRo2_pqeKPfSpd7wjxkM1lI3AiDKjtOfaIRa_1JcnTsrZAFVHKF4eI/s1600/Bway.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPEXu220xkcWQyJ4FzAW2sdFzudbOiBoT-o6Xje7sbPwht4fOpyD3vsMerH9YPNBdelBK8_Vrv4Dev24BNT9EkmRo2_pqeKPfSpd7wjxkM1lI3AiDKjtOfaIRa_1JcnTsrZAFVHKF4eI/s640/Bway.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5723500088380891010" /></a>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-41441418513753015072012-02-06T15:37:00.001-08:002012-02-07T11:26:57.125-08:00Monday Subway Art<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVmB4HB23bxiOmaK_CW9E1c5KNv1_apiAjImmp9XwlQVKMJ-x2cRMojH7-0IotU_AnKAi_yMthNY0M7X1iqUqjyDBYG4B0BTHvWgZlgMuy25vz6b_Ydgo3qOO39xLPZdWUcse71R987w/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVmB4HB23bxiOmaK_CW9E1c5KNv1_apiAjImmp9XwlQVKMJ-x2cRMojH7-0IotU_AnKAi_yMthNY0M7X1iqUqjyDBYG4B0BTHvWgZlgMuy25vz6b_Ydgo3qOO39xLPZdWUcse71R987w/s640/photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5706473239471759138" /></a><br />Saw this as a banner on the downtown N train today and loved it. This is just half of the banner. Artists' name is <a href="http://www.sophieblackall.blogspot.com/">Sophie Blackall</a> and she hit it dead on. Have absolutely seen every one of these people on the subway-and probably all in the same car. From the musician with the giant upright bass and the kid looking out the window to the blue haired, knitting Willamsburg-er, the teenage couple making out and the woman with the ginormous plant. <br /><br />New York: Life happens on the subway. Love it. <br /><br />Well, love it in art form at least. <br /><br />- Posted from my iPhone<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Broadway,,United%20States%4040.737168%2C-73.990241&z=10'>Broadway,,United States</a></p>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-33535226455254994572012-01-28T15:48:00.000-08:002012-01-28T16:49:19.517-08:002012 So Far -It's been busy. Shocking, I know. And I'm so bored of writing that sentence that I almost can't stand it.<br /><br />What you've missed in January - <br /><br />Geoff had a birthday. Couldn't quite top <a href="http://kateplusgeoff.blogspot.com/2011/01/happy-birthday-i-got-you-this.html">last year</a>, but I surprised him with tickets to <a href="http://www.warhorseonbroadway.com/">War Horse</a>, and we had dinner at <a href="http://www.danielnyc.com/barboulud.html">Bar Baloud</a>, which was pretty great. And this Chocolate-Mocha-Crazy-Awesome-Did-They-Put-Crack-In This-Thing? cake was pretty amazing too.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZNU23p6p07wk3JohRnxbjYgP28n4CL8fKwrE-VnQeDRzSli9Dq6JRhLEDfckit7tP0thCdHeRlpZKRoJQb2ZsHwLYMh6XQW_C_gLjiXmKh29WLycF06hWv08tY0aKfdiXa7VkMVaknU/s1600/photo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggZNU23p6p07wk3JohRnxbjYgP28n4CL8fKwrE-VnQeDRzSli9Dq6JRhLEDfckit7tP0thCdHeRlpZKRoJQb2ZsHwLYMh6XQW_C_gLjiXmKh29WLycF06hWv08tY0aKfdiXa7VkMVaknU/s640/photo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702839322401519394" /></a><br />We took photos of a BRAND NEW BABY for some friends and he was pretty killer. Somehow I left without actually holding him once, which seems epically wrong, but he was working suuuuuuper hard at his photo shoot and I didn't want to interfere.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXZQbIzX0woDLWer9tZDGOFoRY5Iyyz02cP_oCk2ttEvjB8HcduWlEnqhbNs0dFVGQwRZrFIR7-bnwmQneE1KWYPFQeNaLHkUBxiAJaCFpnKM9zXB8oZ8j6881FDlU4cfw6lBDWUZsPA/s1600/_MG_5553.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuXZQbIzX0woDLWer9tZDGOFoRY5Iyyz02cP_oCk2ttEvjB8HcduWlEnqhbNs0dFVGQwRZrFIR7-bnwmQneE1KWYPFQeNaLHkUBxiAJaCFpnKM9zXB8oZ8j6881FDlU4cfw6lBDWUZsPA/s640/_MG_5553.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702840256578893250" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9uyUKkqt2o1QE2OwaFo0x7qTjM6ZHPBgoDafiKZjcK0N5wl1tkpnaAI4HHnQnZVHTBJO5_yKGGCW1ZcVBJVVZeGTwtel81IAsp3_eiKT8XhzvMHWSJTkVUCJ4xRBEvbtWcQv9ZW1-S0/s1600/_MG_5612.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm9uyUKkqt2o1QE2OwaFo0x7qTjM6ZHPBgoDafiKZjcK0N5wl1tkpnaAI4HHnQnZVHTBJO5_yKGGCW1ZcVBJVVZeGTwtel81IAsp3_eiKT8XhzvMHWSJTkVUCJ4xRBEvbtWcQv9ZW1-S0/s640/_MG_5612.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702839319251558834" /></a><br />I made Tomatillo Salsa on a whim for the first time. I previously had not really been able to understand a Tomatillo (like how I don't understand Twitter, or health care deductibles). But it was super easy and pretty dang good, even if I did smell like garlic for days.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaNs4L_5m9CnrnykXlmQo-QDgit6ndiEfAV_OXTSWKUGyxReDHzB_CB9twApTnyU-TE0wOsj2L8yQINNDDW6nb0qxkxKMZ4vMz3-LEV2Ul7ZsM1xJIi7uHcb_Mg98uGSQbdf4mR2tPz0/s1600/Tomatillo.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbaNs4L_5m9CnrnykXlmQo-QDgit6ndiEfAV_OXTSWKUGyxReDHzB_CB9twApTnyU-TE0wOsj2L8yQINNDDW6nb0qxkxKMZ4vMz3-LEV2Ul7ZsM1xJIi7uHcb_Mg98uGSQbdf4mR2tPz0/s640/Tomatillo.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5702842782767287250" /></a><br />We made plans with friends for a long weekend away in February and I CANNOT WAIT.<br /><br />I got offered two new casting jobs, which I'm trying to figure out if I can take on.<br /><br />Geoff is booking weddings like it's going out of style and it's shaping up to be a busy summer. And it's only January. Yipes.<br /><br />We keep saying that one day soon we'll get to a pause in all the madness and actually be able to take a bit of our lives back. I'm hoping that's true. I've made it through a big push at work and there might be a minor pause in the next couple weeks where we can take stock of things and start to prioritize a bit. It was supposed to start today but Geoff got sidelined by food poisoning last night and is in no position at the moment to Discuss The Future.<br /><br />I hate politics. All the Republican Primaries and debates have been reminding me just how much. It's not just the Republicans either - I'd hate it just as much if we were sitting through the Democrats do the same thing. And I'm sorry but the political commentators are the worst of the bunch. JUST STOP TALKING ABOUT IT AND ANALYZING IT AND LET PEOPLE <span style="font-weight:bold;">LISTEN TO THE CANDIDATES FOR THEMSELVES</span>, FIGURE OUT WHO IS LYING LESS AND MAKE THEIR CHOICE AND BE DONE WITH IT! JUST.PLEASE.STOP.TALKING-YOU'RE ONLY MAKING IT WORSE. <br /><br />Whew. Interesting. Didn't really know all that was in there.<br /><br />I wonder if I'm kind of over the whole blogging thing. I honestly can't think of anything to say these days and I'm barely taking any photos and there's definitely no time. I guess we'll see, but my apathy seems to be ever-increasing.<br /><br />And most brutally, for the last 6 weeks I've been following the journey of a <a href="http://getwellpk.blogspot.com/">college friend</a> who just last night lost his battle with Central Nervous System Lymphoma, leaving behind his wife and 2 year old daughter. I haven't seen or spoken to him since college and have never met his wife and daughter but I've been a bit haunted by it, I must confess. It's sobering. And it puts a lot of things into perspective.<br /><br />So for now, I'm grateful to be in a cozy apartment with a glass of wine and finally a little spare moment to think through some things about life. I guess I'd like to say I'm ready to Take Charge and Make Changes and Kick Some Ass and Take Some Names. But at the moment, I'm just pondering many things. I've not had too many spare moments to do that in the last few months/years. So it's pondering for now. Maybe the ass-kicking part will come later.Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-71038014524502111992011-12-30T09:00:00.000-08:002012-01-03T16:58:27.637-08:002011<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNKPMdeJFg_rFFoTqQOcKpySuuL7HM2-Jgn04aHtIBc3aBJfQPDVu3E6BSqq-cEUV7ndDUdrZK6zmvKGvYen4NgMcFK4U5tyd-GNZZxsuDqT_mdn7aap_4YhTIMJrf0WP7KYKbkbuaIs/s1600/323WMain.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNKPMdeJFg_rFFoTqQOcKpySuuL7HM2-Jgn04aHtIBc3aBJfQPDVu3E6BSqq-cEUV7ndDUdrZK6zmvKGvYen4NgMcFK4U5tyd-GNZZxsuDqT_mdn7aap_4YhTIMJrf0WP7KYKbkbuaIs/s400/323WMain.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5691967707928166530" /></a>This has certainly been a year that was light in the blogging department. As I was glancing back through my posts from this year (and it didn't take me long to do so), every other one started with me marveling at how absent I'd been. Hopefully next year will be different. January may be dicey on that front, but I will do my best. <br /><br />2011 was a big year for us. We went to London & Paris, we shot a ton of weddings, I quit my job and started working for myself and was surprised to find that my freelance casting work consumed nearly all my time this fall. We went far too long without seeing my family (10 months!) and I vow that will never happen again. My parents rescued a dog from the side of the highway and even before I met him, I knew we wouldn't be able to imagine our family without him. I only wish he could come live at my house. Friends got pregnant, got engaged, moved across the country, adopted kids, bought their first house, <a href="http://butterpluslove.com/">started their own business</a> and we've been blessed to feel a part of it all - either directly, or through photo shoots or via love & support over email and phone calls.<br /><br />2012 is upon us and I hope to actually spend more time doing <a href="http://kateplusgeoff.blogspot.com/2011/07/change-is-gon-come.html">all the things I wanted to do</a> this fall when we began Phase 1 of the next stage in our lives. Phase 1 was quitting my job. At the moment there seem to be a minimum of 2 other Phases TBA with unknown timelines. The picture above is of my grandparent's house in Georgia, where my dad and his brothers grew up. I love this house. And if it could be relocated to the NYC Metro Area, that would certainly speed up the timeline on at least one of those other Phases. And I <span style="font-style:italic;">really </span>should tell you about the <a href="http://www.usctrojans.com/">USC</a> string bikini top given to me by my mother at Christmas in hopes of "inspiring" us to inch closer to the Phase that will include grandchildren for her. You were right, Mom. Geoff says Extra Small <span style="font-style:italic;">IS</span> the perfect size for me. :-)<br /><br />But in the meantime, we're enjoying Phase 1. And soon it will hopefully include more blogging, cooking, photography, time with friends and family and just generally getting my creative mojo back.<br /><br />Happy New Year to All!<br /><br />PS - I forgot the most momentus occurrence of all of this month! We got our first actual Christmas Tree. Not a wreath, not a bush, but a full on (ok, half sized) Christmas Tree. I cannot tell you how happy it made me on a daily basis. I am practically a grown up, despite the horrendous iPhone picture.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2XkQseUxHTojqoR-JBv9tl7qu724S4Xlqk_G7iEdQbWiBpWz9CF0Sr08VbEhd01iTIBrU5ZeBxCpARyREe1GZdlyG37k592vmWqbs-UJntCBLRaTXvzRgETsOkluS7iE9JUKDXOMWUQ/s1600/XmasTree.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl2XkQseUxHTojqoR-JBv9tl7qu724S4Xlqk_G7iEdQbWiBpWz9CF0Sr08VbEhd01iTIBrU5ZeBxCpARyREe1GZdlyG37k592vmWqbs-UJntCBLRaTXvzRgETsOkluS7iE9JUKDXOMWUQ/s640/XmasTree.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693574552288395826" /></a>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-36225297831860988832011-11-13T14:08:00.000-08:002011-11-13T14:08:00.397-08:00Old Friends<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8Sj2gxX429esl8xrfB7eQ2_JYLHBC_1ODZ5EBBLHE2y5gsxHwrBMs8813afn1GSALimkhi8mcug2z53dF8V-H09MoEoqCzoJNAOOwKLzz-VMVmDNr6-AxKIITf1_oaRCrG8c0I-dXAQ/s1600/_MG_4216.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic8Sj2gxX429esl8xrfB7eQ2_JYLHBC_1ODZ5EBBLHE2y5gsxHwrBMs8813afn1GSALimkhi8mcug2z53dF8V-H09MoEoqCzoJNAOOwKLzz-VMVmDNr6-AxKIITf1_oaRCrG8c0I-dXAQ/s640/_MG_4216.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674560742921349858" /></a><br />On Friday I had the chance to briefly see one of my oldest college friends. Mary and I met very early on freshman year and I remember thinking then how sweet and how pretty she was. And on Friday, (as with every time we get together) it was confirmed that both those things haven't changed a bit. She was in town for a quick trip without her two kids to see her siblings, who live in NYC and we were able to meet for coffee. I'd last seen her almost a year and half ago at <a href="http://kateplusgeoff.blogspot.com/2010/08/barn-girls-take-dc.html">the last Barn House reunion</a>. In those pictures she was still pregnant with Issac, her second son, who is now - (obviously) nearly a year and a half. Crazy. Man, there is just something about people who have known you for a long time. And even though our lives are so different and she lives far away, it literally felt like we'd seen each other last week. How does that happen?? It's a mystery I'll never quite understand. Those special people who you can pick right up with like no time has passed. I love it.<br /><br />Here we are on my roof, pretending to be models.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZhMeOXvFjKzxn9I0-8pnGYSdJHpRqRcVOrIowI3Xs1tvq8fZWu6LMlxJVjYfmCllqGmq_pIJkj6PxWaQ0-PLhxx9RN5YgnVRJCvIbFNFS94DIZB0VoRLb8aNXCHtda8AVEPmykfAfQg/s1600/_MG_4240.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZhMeOXvFjKzxn9I0-8pnGYSdJHpRqRcVOrIowI3Xs1tvq8fZWu6LMlxJVjYfmCllqGmq_pIJkj6PxWaQ0-PLhxx9RN5YgnVRJCvIbFNFS94DIZB0VoRLb8aNXCHtda8AVEPmykfAfQg/s640/_MG_4240.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674560749611718162" /></a><br />Mary, it was so great seeing you! I'm so grateful for you! Barn girls, who's jealous??!Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-37242516410141336332011-11-09T11:02:00.000-08:002011-11-13T11:40:00.467-08:00Fall from My WindowBenefit #13 of Retirement:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPMQOeAlkd6mPCiU8tHu6S9UDy_dlZVEjdAfoL666iTdXIb5FH5qJHvvyn3dtTPJUPojnD8vjuuC6mxSxGBcDSgxKlUVyMpsVxQ5HojRfDl-OlXrPqNwWbUWdkhN7CpwUwKAIOCd8i7g/s1600/_MG_4206_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguPMQOeAlkd6mPCiU8tHu6S9UDy_dlZVEjdAfoL666iTdXIb5FH5qJHvvyn3dtTPJUPojnD8vjuuC6mxSxGBcDSgxKlUVyMpsVxQ5HojRfDl-OlXrPqNwWbUWdkhN7CpwUwKAIOCd8i7g/s640/_MG_4206_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674566011800970706" /></a><br />I love the fall.<br /><br />I particularly love fall when you can watch it from your window while you work.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6s_gPX-evtm7g6G6PjWVCISS6SmnTdHubQoGi-1CWR5CP02_wNXaTPnetrKyo5TEChkvWhLhSKdxTXjPqBJDhQtzeJVleoahElkQf2HKorbtjT3iC3_-4-BmPYVYtZtTa8hpQwWuSi8/s1600/_MG_4207.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-6s_gPX-evtm7g6G6PjWVCISS6SmnTdHubQoGi-1CWR5CP02_wNXaTPnetrKyo5TEChkvWhLhSKdxTXjPqBJDhQtzeJVleoahElkQf2HKorbtjT3iC3_-4-BmPYVYtZtTa8hpQwWuSi8/s640/_MG_4207.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5674565837400642546" /></a>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-23734267464207896932011-10-10T16:17:00.001-07:002011-10-10T16:30:34.093-07:00What Retirement?As you may have noticed - I haven't been blogging. Because despite my "retirement", I have been working like a crazy person. I thought I'd have a moment to take it easy, get adjusted, blog, make dinner every night, see friends and just... re-calibrate a bit. But instead, I added a fourth freelance casting job to the three I already had lined up and had to turn down 3 more. So I've been working. All.the.time. How is it that you can leave a job to work for yourself and claim back some of your own life, and be even busier than before? I was on the phone with an agent friend last week who started his own business two years ago about this very conundrum. He said, "If you're anything like me, once you work for yourself, you work all the time and drink a lot more." Not too far off.<br /><br />But on the other hand, its a good thing. Who knows what it'll be like in 6 months, but for the moment, having to turn work down is better than not having any at all. So I will take it.<br /><br />But I would like to be here more. And the good news is, you haven't missed much in my life, cause I've just been working. And so has Geoff. Luckily wedding season is starting to slow down a bit and not having a wedding every weekend has made this past month liveable. Now if I could just find time to de-clutter and reorganize my apartment, I know life would be even more liveable. *sigh*. Baby steps.<br /><br />Bear with me. I'll be back soon (I hope).Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-33077267367329010322011-09-06T11:40:00.000-07:002011-09-06T14:29:09.208-07:00Retirement - Day OneToday marks the beginning of the rest of my life. In the last 10 days I have had my last day of work at my old job, shot 2 weddings, weathered a hurricane, driven 7 hours round trip to a baby shower in one day, assisted in a baby possum rescue operation, visited with our nieces and nephew, had a few days on Cape Cod for some R&R and purchased a juicer. And today is my first day working from home. With 6 wedding shoots, a trip to Detroit and 3 freelance casting jobs on the books for September, "retirement" (as my mom likes to call it) isn't looking too different from my old life - at least on paper. But it FEELS a lot different so far. And that makes all the difference.<br /><br />And last night I painted my nails purple in celebration. And despite the fact that they would admittedly look better if I'd had a third grader do them, retirement is officially WAY fun so far.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk21RtWIyzubAmouFlZ-uQ82EZ7q08KvluMM8wFhWOEmkIh4EgKaY2smbmjZzbJXp0aWBVqPW94PH6DKPHa75tZ2JoaqNo3nuDI22ouXrorXoge8qOAKJQba0lIGXZyAETbjHqlm7IOk/s1600/photo-7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNk21RtWIyzubAmouFlZ-uQ82EZ7q08KvluMM8wFhWOEmkIh4EgKaY2smbmjZzbJXp0aWBVqPW94PH6DKPHa75tZ2JoaqNo3nuDI22ouXrorXoge8qOAKJQba0lIGXZyAETbjHqlm7IOk/s640/photo-7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5649352132587958546" /></a><br /><br />Oh - interested in that animal rescue story I mentioned? Quite the adventure at Cape Cod this week when my brother arrived for the weekend, went to use the restroom in the small cottage that doesn't always get used and discovered a wet baby possum staring up at him from the toilet. Partial footage of the rescue mission below. Also, there are starting to be an excess of weird animals stories on this blog. I'm wondering if I should just bite the bullet and re-title this site - "Unexpected Nature!"<br /><br /><iframe width="560" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dIkPGWlGwug" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-46537217350760292372011-08-01T14:11:00.000-07:002011-08-01T14:11:00.984-07:0024 Hours in Beantown<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz54sVIDnDPPsdWufUN5FxPG6v6ljo-echXFrbL_4mw1O_fNvD4D2VWFCt-CKyOBzQEsokKFdaqeEKgNtRkyvOcJA0f851G8EHpP7BsMiC53yWKqpyjHw1Y3sidk9xWj1Cyp7yKjD5TWY/s1600/BostonGrate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz54sVIDnDPPsdWufUN5FxPG6v6ljo-echXFrbL_4mw1O_fNvD4D2VWFCt-CKyOBzQEsokKFdaqeEKgNtRkyvOcJA0f851G8EHpP7BsMiC53yWKqpyjHw1Y3sidk9xWj1Cyp7yKjD5TWY/s640/BostonGrate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355104147786290" /></a><br />I went up to Boston in June for a very spur of the moment visit - to see my brother briefly and to attend my friend Stephen's photography exhibit. It was a whirlwind trip for sure. Alison and I drove up late Friday night - got in after midnight and crashed. Saturday morning was coffee with my brother on his front stoop while we watched all the Bruins fan pass by on their way to the Stanley Cup Parade. Oh, didn't I mention that I happened to be in Boston on that particular day? The Bruin fans were out in FULL force and it made for some great photography and people watching. We walked down to see the parade too. <br /><br />It.Was.Awesome.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroPPTscyg2yVUP9KV8MQQiG43XR0PmV8TWG9dzIl_oJg3w1WvOX2ty0Ci9N0bfCzW7r6cOUXqUNRIN_0rG6UqGbwZU25iiUy3MHL9avYmKT6Z6j_ri7_E-JWRX6RFVbKbwjL3zBSEiMs/s1600/BostonBruinsCrowdTP.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhroPPTscyg2yVUP9KV8MQQiG43XR0PmV8TWG9dzIl_oJg3w1WvOX2ty0Ci9N0bfCzW7r6cOUXqUNRIN_0rG6UqGbwZU25iiUy3MHL9avYmKT6Z6j_ri7_E-JWRX6RFVbKbwjL3zBSEiMs/s640/BostonBruinsCrowdTP.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626354632571795234" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN8aCZJDj0-ya3l2ALp7mtUB4QDbxT-j4OPsYo_KW9yO68DgT7zBBmnywdPYyf_e_jhJytoFi_HVu5O8UCvx_omzDiP3dzMY7QOXYwJiQ2zUelo_ykxq2Lh5srWJtg6W5rkftKSNiqHQ/s1600/BostonBruinsHeadKid.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFN8aCZJDj0-ya3l2ALp7mtUB4QDbxT-j4OPsYo_KW9yO68DgT7zBBmnywdPYyf_e_jhJytoFi_HVu5O8UCvx_omzDiP3dzMY7QOXYwJiQ2zUelo_ykxq2Lh5srWJtg6W5rkftKSNiqHQ/s640/BostonBruinsHeadKid.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626354650658766690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPHcnLfsSCE0ZXWSnEa0Uh1UExP6PW4v2y8fEU6DwmZQsLVIEEbKVWvhyphenhyphenxzT2ExZX1Ys6HL3U33c03w1ORHgmtrOEVPjYyXJBL8tOO3VGonLMwCuZCd_zyEMdT9Hj9Z4STp79bAGoBLI/s1600/BostonBelieveNBostonFlag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand; 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDPHcnLfsSCE0ZXWSnEa0Uh1UExP6PW4v2y8fEU6DwmZQsLVIEEbKVWvhyphenhyphenxzT2ExZX1Ys6HL3U33c03w1ORHgmtrOEVPjYyXJBL8tOO3VGonLMwCuZCd_zyEMdT9Hj9Z4STp79bAGoBLI/s640/BostonBelieveNBostonFlag.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626354639898919746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxXI2b8Y_pXYr5zZA8lWUNCb4Y-dNpV81FensjJG9FI1btCBd-tbApZu_LNcDiXpeNwDvRDpl5BEl4QrWKEluxAI50Vdrno2XbHi5KXzMSF5lWGLMtVwun1vtOjMiBS9jJxvcowg6weU/s1600/BostonHigh5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoxXI2b8Y_pXYr5zZA8lWUNCb4Y-dNpV81FensjJG9FI1btCBd-tbApZu_LNcDiXpeNwDvRDpl5BEl4QrWKEluxAI50Vdrno2XbHi5KXzMSF5lWGLMtVwun1vtOjMiBS9jJxvcowg6weU/s640/BostonHigh5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626354917746935330" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6HQrp-m5dgl2NPQ5xNfZkynqWl-wgwhizXR1OK26wINs1tHdRgkrko13XFSdptpToTCIRfxRsSfVDzS-Gj4fERptX_swghYMdrz386hHHXx-mT2OWhoRry9F9ix6V7YHRl_lViJKfJU/s1600/bostonThankYou.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD6HQrp-m5dgl2NPQ5xNfZkynqWl-wgwhizXR1OK26wINs1tHdRgkrko13XFSdptpToTCIRfxRsSfVDzS-Gj4fERptX_swghYMdrz386hHHXx-mT2OWhoRry9F9ix6V7YHRl_lViJKfJU/s640/bostonThankYou.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631852669870029282" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3LjDg-FYocbI7riKsvqjIHStDmXaIC2-xy0VfP7LCx0Um3_YD3dCl2G3QltzeFyPXVdwqGOMrvacc1q_9BZrxGV0WTTGrCjnFvcBX43XUwNvdPUIbg2HPCHS3U6pXTI9m789J4At5y4/s1600/BostonTownies.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz3LjDg-FYocbI7riKsvqjIHStDmXaIC2-xy0VfP7LCx0Um3_YD3dCl2G3QltzeFyPXVdwqGOMrvacc1q_9BZrxGV0WTTGrCjnFvcBX43XUwNvdPUIbg2HPCHS3U6pXTI9m789J4At5y4/s640/BostonTownies.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355090912125714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopFIA7rDaJxxFYoxcOQ347Z1KVGVi1S1KzLUJCMh31vQOo2ak87SKAGd-FdhLzTV-EZzo3Knmvw0vlGAfAN3b4MY99F9AiBAM3KeVOQfvGLd3i4djvm6TnFuzqvSgRyVCXFgX0VzRhcA/s1600/bostonDoll.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiopFIA7rDaJxxFYoxcOQ347Z1KVGVi1S1KzLUJCMh31vQOo2ak87SKAGd-FdhLzTV-EZzo3Knmvw0vlGAfAN3b4MY99F9AiBAM3KeVOQfvGLd3i4djvm6TnFuzqvSgRyVCXFgX0VzRhcA/s640/bostonDoll.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631852654965768306" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnXXlqCHDWmqY8IbS-q8Pp8A3Oirv8FZ4yekY93hVzyC266W9B-FlRK29UZg0ysixafbJ3FvWj7b5UHdaEqBfmGFLFRMPAyNFWjxQdg_nAndvfsOlMQAha1S5HnIvq8Hh5PTA4ypMd-0/s1600/BostonStanleyCup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWnXXlqCHDWmqY8IbS-q8Pp8A3Oirv8FZ4yekY93hVzyC266W9B-FlRK29UZg0ysixafbJ3FvWj7b5UHdaEqBfmGFLFRMPAyNFWjxQdg_nAndvfsOlMQAha1S5HnIvq8Hh5PTA4ypMd-0/s640/BostonStanleyCup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626354940285328338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDYUupz3db7EHe4ZYLPRSH7dhXS_ggTjEIQg9tsKc_B6boY1PQu4KbBolQG7R64_eqTQty5-LCSnjggQcpM3fJDOXB1byepuUHwQpYT-aCCRq9F2O-2SbU89Z7q-eGg40lIcyDDfDt9U/s1600/BostonBruinsKidThumpsup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwDYUupz3db7EHe4ZYLPRSH7dhXS_ggTjEIQg9tsKc_B6boY1PQu4KbBolQG7R64_eqTQty5-LCSnjggQcpM3fJDOXB1byepuUHwQpYT-aCCRq9F2O-2SbU89Z7q-eGg40lIcyDDfDt9U/s640/BostonBruinsKidThumpsup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626354656135245298" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_At4rIwgoXc_HpzHQPeIvMMgHoyKacZTChnf3HqTa7_8oz-lVUrG6EyFL3MPVVLU2TCebZ7KBvE6u_jfyv1XZMQS1gbZlA18vAWudyP_wzGO-0ZXLYCD2zDEGv-eJz8FoOwEw82Pxw-s/s1600/BostonParadeConfetti.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_At4rIwgoXc_HpzHQPeIvMMgHoyKacZTChnf3HqTa7_8oz-lVUrG6EyFL3MPVVLU2TCebZ7KBvE6u_jfyv1XZMQS1gbZlA18vAWudyP_wzGO-0ZXLYCD2zDEGv-eJz8FoOwEw82Pxw-s/s640/BostonParadeConfetti.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626354930172057010" /></a><br />After the parade and a much needed lunch, Clay and I walked through Charlestown for a mini-photo shoot. I wont confess to you how long ago I gave Clay the "present" of some of my photography to frame and hang in his apartment. He requested shots of Boston and I finally made it up here to take some shots.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0ejQ2SJJCJqDTMDZjds5T0zMk9gCo6SJuXfxZgLGazJ7BWr0zrEsz8xPGmDybH-vMKpFgp57VpQHwmBdmDUgt11cMH1JsD_wdw542kEoyHRDbr8zhWbTmnwIXFNyL-_VQVh50FFyDfw/s1600/bostonWindowtops.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0ejQ2SJJCJqDTMDZjds5T0zMk9gCo6SJuXfxZgLGazJ7BWr0zrEsz8xPGmDybH-vMKpFgp57VpQHwmBdmDUgt11cMH1JsD_wdw542kEoyHRDbr8zhWbTmnwIXFNyL-_VQVh50FFyDfw/s640/bostonWindowtops.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631852678699351634" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCOWOmqxt_RFOUKOWzZwzklWFCqI7yYeaVb_feUE65YdNv1MHAfe1SOAfYeyAmIfj5Pvl_5q7uWQ-4iaGGryAPXgGgQ-ZSoCc0nLWLVCo0KU384eX6Gg8AF53NxCt13jaOXljXU1Qg10/s1600/BostonTangerino.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvCOWOmqxt_RFOUKOWzZwzklWFCqI7yYeaVb_feUE65YdNv1MHAfe1SOAfYeyAmIfj5Pvl_5q7uWQ-4iaGGryAPXgGgQ-ZSoCc0nLWLVCo0KU384eX6Gg8AF53NxCt13jaOXljXU1Qg10/s640/BostonTangerino.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631852667041545922" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA_CMfGb0QxGoUbf2IygmCjVhs-D6GdY02dCN9xafoIkTYzRyCBiA6xOldIMLghKJDLinXaU1SKIsyQwR8LhAja0XvGdt_JrawfstjWpfVm0X32ewasYrRVS5X3TlVvMvOjyeV6nODEk/s1600/bostonfence.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMA_CMfGb0QxGoUbf2IygmCjVhs-D6GdY02dCN9xafoIkTYzRyCBiA6xOldIMLghKJDLinXaU1SKIsyQwR8LhAja0XvGdt_JrawfstjWpfVm0X32ewasYrRVS5X3TlVvMvOjyeV6nODEk/s640/bostonfence.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5631852656746053218" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYLAWQ-dMICd7r-6KY0Vgyh_-bm0U4Hdwk_2sUoYKT2KFtYG-oY7tqe_jiiJ7s0Kpo1xzIQ3UjQcHImi-BnIIJ_9iPWLhmAdkgZrYGdpBlQkSAJ1geOexZo8mArzeb-LxZV1b365v0w0/s1600/BostonDoor65.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYLAWQ-dMICd7r-6KY0Vgyh_-bm0U4Hdwk_2sUoYKT2KFtYG-oY7tqe_jiiJ7s0Kpo1xzIQ3UjQcHImi-BnIIJ_9iPWLhmAdkgZrYGdpBlQkSAJ1geOexZo8mArzeb-LxZV1b365v0w0/s640/BostonDoor65.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355562584408418" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4LX-n0rm8j3fp4CW0-fxK6ADQFH4VhuEEERBTS49Q96O_Q-P569a7OMGk6sqhU3KwlW14MlI7mNKwXhs4YxSlJMXHRaYtSJd3DX2m80oyjCPBHktndHj3jnmev4Sb5BSMYSNTwN3YY0/s1600/BostonBridge.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn4LX-n0rm8j3fp4CW0-fxK6ADQFH4VhuEEERBTS49Q96O_Q-P569a7OMGk6sqhU3KwlW14MlI7mNKwXhs4YxSlJMXHRaYtSJd3DX2m80oyjCPBHktndHj3jnmev4Sb5BSMYSNTwN3YY0/s640/BostonBridge.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355542961581794" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-yEqeusPxTK22G0tbOKbj2BEY-w5RoKspA_ydiWv1fzHWJtnUgASGtaJZzC87oUI3-8fTG2d3fGrjGZYN819nXQMBbxL1oI-WznTI6qc0WSRu8iIAiZc0tOR8DbMZgUouxXWo4uBFEI/s1600/BostonCTown.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh-yEqeusPxTK22G0tbOKbj2BEY-w5RoKspA_ydiWv1fzHWJtnUgASGtaJZzC87oUI3-8fTG2d3fGrjGZYN819nXQMBbxL1oI-WznTI6qc0WSRu8iIAiZc0tOR8DbMZgUouxXWo4uBFEI/s640/BostonCTown.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355555134488466" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEozTtbjn7WdIJqB0V_4S2wwxLiHLDqd0MJVlsIxO9oy4dLAE37UIMo68pjBaduRTj1dN_8V5CAsPZm70h5ZXM4dqtRAIpHNfgHKE3anFaApEfYAW57YvU8HZZelzYWl88S2D_DMVscU/s1600/BostonWindowboxflag.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSEozTtbjn7WdIJqB0V_4S2wwxLiHLDqd0MJVlsIxO9oy4dLAE37UIMo68pjBaduRTj1dN_8V5CAsPZm70h5ZXM4dqtRAIpHNfgHKE3anFaApEfYAW57YvU8HZZelzYWl88S2D_DMVscU/s640/BostonWindowboxflag.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355914906373810" /></a><br />Bunker Hill<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8lCo0KTym3tABHbIYHxU1cAY_QHlERbACyk4DQ8Ps7NmQ-UTZsMISR-Qt3vW9X-rGhlCtDgR1t6GU6FmMmLNVd1CIxMVpYyDoAQgm9FJCPAaWgjsvrvKNQkOm9VafjkxPc5f7etv2Lk/s1600/bostonMassGate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8lCo0KTym3tABHbIYHxU1cAY_QHlERbACyk4DQ8Ps7NmQ-UTZsMISR-Qt3vW9X-rGhlCtDgR1t6GU6FmMmLNVd1CIxMVpYyDoAQgm9FJCPAaWgjsvrvKNQkOm9VafjkxPc5f7etv2Lk/s640/bostonMassGate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635988686461864562" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZcaeGH5Yq5kBjufnRMA39I6vNViEyuCsEkaf66C4OrXZkBOIsaHx3YZGX102p9sB-Wb5XX-_aDnF3Ci-l36EtmVvp0DsXRtYRmq3wPfLqo_4-kBMDSESzPZrm4ygmPf3EZ02igA8Du8/s1600/bostonStatue.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQZcaeGH5Yq5kBjufnRMA39I6vNViEyuCsEkaf66C4OrXZkBOIsaHx3YZGX102p9sB-Wb5XX-_aDnF3Ci-l36EtmVvp0DsXRtYRmq3wPfLqo_4-kBMDSESzPZrm4ygmPf3EZ02igA8Du8/s640/bostonStatue.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635988692529460306" /></a><br />An old bootscraper on someone's front step. Pretty cool.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfDshHu1ihftandmpXzsqjhq9ARs-WfeVkUz4dQv-22xR0tJG3Akt_GgBH5X7DI1sBMUegnIQ7BsWr8yrXbbusQhzJOO9D2KN0V3E6qFpkcaS8YvDBfEt2XK-6U70LKaFNJgqGXtxCHc/s1600/BostonBootscraper.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfDshHu1ihftandmpXzsqjhq9ARs-WfeVkUz4dQv-22xR0tJG3Akt_GgBH5X7DI1sBMUegnIQ7BsWr8yrXbbusQhzJOO9D2KN0V3E6qFpkcaS8YvDBfEt2XK-6U70LKaFNJgqGXtxCHc/s640/BostonBootscraper.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355537002582770" /></a><br />One of the most historic bars in the country. It's been around since 1780 and George Washington and Paul Revere have had beers here. I dig it.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZ16qjVAr3Pw_BtF6VeU3fiGum-UEWFl_jhyphenhyphen7VOldZrDlWiKbXsN9NG4mO5sUKNB9Va70HJZ3GJLU87YPxEzRSoa_T4M5zpb_rkJo5ZGT4O8cyuYcqgQMSug882fQh97z4PskXFOVxTE/s1600/bostonWarrenTavern.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWZ16qjVAr3Pw_BtF6VeU3fiGum-UEWFl_jhyphenhyphen7VOldZrDlWiKbXsN9NG4mO5sUKNB9Va70HJZ3GJLU87YPxEzRSoa_T4M5zpb_rkJo5ZGT4O8cyuYcqgQMSug882fQh97z4PskXFOVxTE/s640/bostonWarrenTavern.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355907513716306" /></a><br />Part of the Freedom Trail runs through Charlestown<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFS3-ZARQpy5HbKtkZWCZcXiuviOBc8RPVwUb6mjr0vEO4Vz79FUkXX1kjHieY7keadRFlVmSvS_5qzz8GE0wzDgi7WL0t36vpnq35RIhbVK9wy87fPvpwaU6jXba-Tmc_-YWM0MrnnE/s1600/BostonFreedomTrail.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFS3-ZARQpy5HbKtkZWCZcXiuviOBc8RPVwUb6mjr0vEO4Vz79FUkXX1kjHieY7keadRFlVmSvS_5qzz8GE0wzDgi7WL0t36vpnq35RIhbVK9wy87fPvpwaU6jXba-Tmc_-YWM0MrnnE/s640/BostonFreedomTrail.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355892675916722" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lfVgxc4RhVj-aMHvyKxFHj-90NznIa_JRKLSoGYLEMsJRRMIGUZ7yvXsaCb7lhyWO4RfqjjzzbWDO-TuD5vmZ3t2i0tWF0Lph0qgEqUwHK9TEQo-2f3kvUjN1LDOlk7sH47cNPBxLIk/s1600/BostonLamp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2lfVgxc4RhVj-aMHvyKxFHj-90NznIa_JRKLSoGYLEMsJRRMIGUZ7yvXsaCb7lhyWO4RfqjjzzbWDO-TuD5vmZ3t2i0tWF0Lph0qgEqUwHK9TEQo-2f3kvUjN1LDOlk7sH47cNPBxLIk/s640/BostonLamp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626355897331724898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmpofDgC-dTyHyt5DeogoWnHzhKHQPJNxX5C0rYVjMAPKf_WKhT4ztZxz9RSBZ9Hbdb_-1vxpCxk3e4ATWvVN_gAJoiKVzXp1Tl2g7sZI2q9Iw24DQYHfr6RN8pMRw0p-uxRtI1kasN4/s1600/BostonDoor86.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQmpofDgC-dTyHyt5DeogoWnHzhKHQPJNxX5C0rYVjMAPKf_WKhT4ztZxz9RSBZ9Hbdb_-1vxpCxk3e4ATWvVN_gAJoiKVzXp1Tl2g7sZI2q9Iw24DQYHfr6RN8pMRw0p-uxRtI1kasN4/s640/BostonDoor86.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626364294339332290" /></a><br />Then it was off to the South End for Stephen's photography and art exhibit. Stephen started a <a href="http://www.congomedicalrelief.org/Congo_Medical_Relief/AboutUs.html">non-profit</a> for medical relief to the Congo and this was a fundraiser, selling photographs he took while he was over there and paintings that were donated by local artists. <br /><br />Alison put together quite the spread.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceKQA5jxd8R1HzyDoYKGvmAOMWZijKzsbX96_uDcrVuTzcPYS6tIixoEyRzW7VqvaTrwae7-8iha9AQcNPN7Wfo0T1bgC4PTqgG9zOqIu8w_ogBIo7X5pXyq8HX6ZoLL49jEvdluHazY/s1600/Bostoncheeses.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceKQA5jxd8R1HzyDoYKGvmAOMWZijKzsbX96_uDcrVuTzcPYS6tIixoEyRzW7VqvaTrwae7-8iha9AQcNPN7Wfo0T1bgC4PTqgG9zOqIu8w_ogBIo7X5pXyq8HX6ZoLL49jEvdluHazY/s640/Bostoncheeses.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626363356542771426" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvxFNygGUv9Boxgu44d615DFIItw4h7-hKPlu6VBxGQpYHzLRiT1RPKQlMhuMnUYDo2Tg_UM-iHTwVrfVYfHq0VHKA1zr6tnhq39BF4tozRJc6KK3tOJ0gr9OyOLTXHLM6JnCoxNWtOQ/s1600/BostonGouda.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvxFNygGUv9Boxgu44d615DFIItw4h7-hKPlu6VBxGQpYHzLRiT1RPKQlMhuMnUYDo2Tg_UM-iHTwVrfVYfHq0VHKA1zr6tnhq39BF4tozRJc6KK3tOJ0gr9OyOLTXHLM6JnCoxNWtOQ/s640/BostonGouda.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626364307514452514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zo8gfvmdmWpXmFVoCHAW0MxT4G-0D0foDbMj3ruoKTOXnLiHBnai5-XajVWYxOQ1NAdaIK7RZnz8Iccga23jd7Zhhyphenhyphenwx8mNhnJJc54_EPk0SjU9oqCnz79l6oJyHjWbRQd3ASdpgXs0/s1600/BostonExhibit+spread.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2zo8gfvmdmWpXmFVoCHAW0MxT4G-0D0foDbMj3ruoKTOXnLiHBnai5-XajVWYxOQ1NAdaIK7RZnz8Iccga23jd7Zhhyphenhyphenwx8mNhnJJc54_EPk0SjU9oqCnz79l6oJyHjWbRQd3ASdpgXs0/s640/BostonExhibit+spread.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626364304901842338" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqUOvIRPo5rWFEl09N50jy0YW0M1ExoJuWOiPLluWoafnEut1AS3jSkbNMCBMWY5XLJpyMR1JLS79A2bF83maIl_kmcoxs2piv6P0pgXTEyPVX9HQrPRemf6gnSG9n-wXKz1_MkToc0s/s1600/BostonPretzels.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiqUOvIRPo5rWFEl09N50jy0YW0M1ExoJuWOiPLluWoafnEut1AS3jSkbNMCBMWY5XLJpyMR1JLS79A2bF83maIl_kmcoxs2piv6P0pgXTEyPVX9HQrPRemf6gnSG9n-wXKz1_MkToc0s/s640/BostonPretzels.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365797354009698" /></a><br />Artisinal beer was donated - super fun!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAwVObEQE8KJahlubWObbrY5EvPLJOB0KOa7kyro2yybA0rJACxSz-7QtHVZe4tiNILlMWYKufHBEfPawpq_Bs_jBGIJbL44_P66nUi4DOSf7f7rLAYkC_weVlbB0mKlUbp0A572qpS4/s1600/BostonBeer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXAwVObEQE8KJahlubWObbrY5EvPLJOB0KOa7kyro2yybA0rJACxSz-7QtHVZe4tiNILlMWYKufHBEfPawpq_Bs_jBGIJbL44_P66nUi4DOSf7f7rLAYkC_weVlbB0mKlUbp0A572qpS4/s640/BostonBeer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626363346424758866" /></a><br />Clay got very into the art discussion.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP2vwwsiiu3CZDVF2qsUPnflps0ITM7cDEeDo6RA0RtFaBd2ZhoIt7VoKkyCD5JjFWM-Qr5qnl57v3JOQLLQ56PGJGs84Qrr75ZCOuhtT9fHQmlh6p8RGjwOI-l7i9JjOtUwy1nxxrP4/s1600/BostonClayTalksArt.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVP2vwwsiiu3CZDVF2qsUPnflps0ITM7cDEeDo6RA0RtFaBd2ZhoIt7VoKkyCD5JjFWM-Qr5qnl57v3JOQLLQ56PGJGs84Qrr75ZCOuhtT9fHQmlh6p8RGjwOI-l7i9JjOtUwy1nxxrP4/s640/BostonClayTalksArt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626363369931151522" /></a><br />Alison's Gingerbread Mustache Cookies were the hit of the party<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon5knsYztejIoN4f0ue_0gpNAhvvTPbgFFZBnmhmZbQZpzLzUf24HtJeEAKm1Eet4rt3Sz06mlYC_ljCQ1vV9jNHHBZ9REKdjzzpCwrSFbxts43JDncxKJa8J9tQj1Faxjxs8jkOY29g/s1600/bostonmustachesplate.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjon5knsYztejIoN4f0ue_0gpNAhvvTPbgFFZBnmhmZbQZpzLzUf24HtJeEAKm1Eet4rt3Sz06mlYC_ljCQ1vV9jNHHBZ9REKdjzzpCwrSFbxts43JDncxKJa8J9tQj1Faxjxs8jkOY29g/s640/bostonmustachesplate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635985028073365170" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjZTdMZxhc_AdhvAwQZgOYrG6nLK8jtzB3KpDnaNWl2jKxSnssRpbrMujV8mu-dcVDOZqvI5HIE3tZssX6XZVL8__ZUl5stE4S7ZRN7HQQ4xhPyerBFR1EUJJ3E3UAj2moUCvR1UT15o/s1600/bostonmustachephotos.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjZTdMZxhc_AdhvAwQZgOYrG6nLK8jtzB3KpDnaNWl2jKxSnssRpbrMujV8mu-dcVDOZqvI5HIE3tZssX6XZVL8__ZUl5stE4S7ZRN7HQQ4xhPyerBFR1EUJJ3E3UAj2moUCvR1UT15o/s640/bostonmustachephotos.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635985031737700898" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2p-tHBQVHp9hfw6pwOYX5g26jqstOFf6OYShrFu4Xc-CnRQrNDj1zsV9OQvWzd0sVkGFPsOStwEN3ARjIQ39gD_5NyMN6tZDTki74g0ijNBdv7iqK3E5zevVn8SqEV4rmCr7o4Lbto4/s1600/BostonClayMoustache.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2p-tHBQVHp9hfw6pwOYX5g26jqstOFf6OYShrFu4Xc-CnRQrNDj1zsV9OQvWzd0sVkGFPsOStwEN3ARjIQ39gD_5NyMN6tZDTki74g0ijNBdv7iqK3E5zevVn8SqEV4rmCr7o4Lbto4/s640/BostonClayMoustache.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626363358366919474" /></a><br />'Twas quite the well-attended event...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAz9LcOPurXuaKxk72q7n_xp0Z4yfF8i-fRi50QnWHQOyWe7pvwJAr9DIMDvQQH4-cjEXd4Hydk4Gm-eiJibSTSBV1ABNJQIOIcnX_TK6uS-S0rngfIy8TJyc-E1NuIsn-oePPQ-VWRw/s1600/bostonartcrowd.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOAz9LcOPurXuaKxk72q7n_xp0Z4yfF8i-fRi50QnWHQOyWe7pvwJAr9DIMDvQQH4-cjEXd4Hydk4Gm-eiJibSTSBV1ABNJQIOIcnX_TK6uS-S0rngfIy8TJyc-E1NuIsn-oePPQ-VWRw/s640/bostonartcrowd.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635985908248362402" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u5Bt1Q0xuCtV0V9XxDFnWkPx8vgoXOc3SXpLPcz1Ge8P1wL9La_IvGOKZdsCN5_HDv886PTpxhz_gsF-udgQ0EvmrsJBfJlweTm4pb-q5Utb7ExSuaLDTd6AJJnYrsHUBAiDJKW4Lek/s1600/BostonPicViewer2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8u5Bt1Q0xuCtV0V9XxDFnWkPx8vgoXOc3SXpLPcz1Ge8P1wL9La_IvGOKZdsCN5_HDv886PTpxhz_gsF-udgQ0EvmrsJBfJlweTm4pb-q5Utb7ExSuaLDTd6AJJnYrsHUBAiDJKW4Lek/s640/BostonPicViewer2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626364327690180962" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91ZrBtQJIN6c4jNg_8a56nVwauZ_sGmIR0eAqRxZeugNUAsWDYi8g4mVWieYk5usGSJzsKFQeZ8MWDuOB-7QUqQMVfo6Go-qITRdSfpZdtYRS3TV9Odq7rJN8oN3R9lBUxN0YSQOPkz8/s1600/bostonartviewer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91ZrBtQJIN6c4jNg_8a56nVwauZ_sGmIR0eAqRxZeugNUAsWDYi8g4mVWieYk5usGSJzsKFQeZ8MWDuOB-7QUqQMVfo6Go-qITRdSfpZdtYRS3TV9Odq7rJN8oN3R9lBUxN0YSQOPkz8/s640/bostonartviewer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635986658601275474" /></a><br />The artist himself...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9pC4axZ7vC9moZ0V5DVIJ7IkRAf7z9zu69AxBSe6d0B5yXq0oHBjN07n1xsWwGQYSxlZSJZz3I5jTK9S0aB26a1dMUpcjdpl_cHB_jxXgdTIL0_TRzPIC9LKfki_hdHx_6UINzpZJds/s1600/BostonStephen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS9pC4axZ7vC9moZ0V5DVIJ7IkRAf7z9zu69AxBSe6d0B5yXq0oHBjN07n1xsWwGQYSxlZSJZz3I5jTK9S0aB26a1dMUpcjdpl_cHB_jxXgdTIL0_TRzPIC9LKfki_hdHx_6UINzpZJds/s640/BostonStephen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365808180556562" /></a><br />With his handmade pocket square, naturally<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElnC9m4GJhCASTJi35D2qRoAukbgcU-x1l7hZScWxL7IlvOCGIhYCF9vDA4XqYqUMFSgsvtyhi1l4xYnBwxsxRuMif1l9yi8I5B48iLzTPThQ4TK3eHiWnVGdXl09XY6Itc2m-tLVTes/s1600/BostonPocketSquare.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgElnC9m4GJhCASTJi35D2qRoAukbgcU-x1l7hZScWxL7IlvOCGIhYCF9vDA4XqYqUMFSgsvtyhi1l4xYnBwxsxRuMif1l9yi8I5B48iLzTPThQ4TK3eHiWnVGdXl09XY6Itc2m-tLVTes/s640/BostonPocketSquare.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5626365792858978466" /></a><br />My brother and I<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ax1D4cX3raqXa1hZch0tGvKiDb0FbcQU6wFM0O3HHSWf37lNMPz-FoDcmIsXkLBFQS4-QSDnnDvbQtsfSz36qkp30nN_b50x39-JTLYOvO4Th_T_KtqK5aFZIKGKJl7gbfFBrsIZ6x4/s1600/bostonClay%2526me.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5ax1D4cX3raqXa1hZch0tGvKiDb0FbcQU6wFM0O3HHSWf37lNMPz-FoDcmIsXkLBFQS4-QSDnnDvbQtsfSz36qkp30nN_b50x39-JTLYOvO4Th_T_KtqK5aFZIKGKJl7gbfFBrsIZ6x4/s640/bostonClay%2526me.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5635985913516656738" /></a><br />All in all, I had a wonderful (if whirlwind) trip to Boston. I was on an 8am bus back to NYC the next morning to teach a class, but I was SO glad I went. Hopefully my new life will allow for many more fun trips like this....Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-59401576550027641202011-07-25T14:40:00.000-07:002011-07-25T15:38:00.418-07:00A Change is Gon' Come<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tReXEYfyymDAcapHfAfhQOJxhyphenhyphenFyVIK0lz9IWr0PIjN8nOuLkbKJ_oKnZVhvqYZtjHIdopXE060NYcWyafRnJxWRFXyuCLvPLYnggNBpFQp-ZTsRgYJzksRooEvtZU-rqOHDghG8tUs/s1600/gretzky.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8tReXEYfyymDAcapHfAfhQOJxhyphenhyphenFyVIK0lz9IWr0PIjN8nOuLkbKJ_oKnZVhvqYZtjHIdopXE060NYcWyafRnJxWRFXyuCLvPLYnggNBpFQp-ZTsRgYJzksRooEvtZU-rqOHDghG8tUs/s640/gretzky.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633414719218521826" /></a><br />I've never been one who embraces change easily. Call me a control freak. Call me a creature of habit. Both statements have truth in them. Alison and I used to semi-joke about whichever one of us took the biggest risk could wear the Risk Takers Crown (similar to a Burger King crown, naturally). Well, I'm wearing it now. Though I will say that as the years have passed, I've gotten a little better at it. I'm a bit more open. Or just a bit wiser about how inevitable change is in life.<br /><br />The day after my birthday this year, I had plans to go to the theatre with my boss, as per usual on any random weeknight. We had time to grab dinner beforehand, so we sat down, ordered, and then he looked at me and said, "Kate? What are you doing with your life?" I don't know when I have been more grateful that someone asked me a really hard question. <br /><br />You see, I've been toying with leaving my job for about a year now. I've just been too scared to do it. As much as much as I love what I do, I've had to put other things that I want in life on hold to do it. And I know I can't put those things on hold forever. I don't want to. I'd dreamed of working on Broadway since I was a kid and that hasn't changed. But it's not all I've ever wanted. I want to be able to see my family more than twice a year. I'd like to see and spend time with my husband besides when we're falling asleep or shooting a wedding. I want to be available to be the kind of friend I'd like to be, instead of one who is never available to come to anything important in your life because she's always working. I want time to write, to take photographs, to take a vacation. And someday, I want time to be a mom. I know I couldn't keep this particular job and have a child. I don't make enough to cover the cost of childcare if I were to keep working and even if I did, I don't think I'd want to keep working these kind of hours anyway at that point. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuu80I72e2lsZ1R1gsZv_9SgJT528SPce8NFj2k5_lrzrDkglcsnyZJ61uvvYXj0IGHiwB6kclzouvJPRxldpFiXl5TA7mxsTIgTU7yAmy7Hmx8E3Gtsont4NPUsNd79owBkFVupIZzA/s1600/comfort+zone.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633411747878942866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuu80I72e2lsZ1R1gsZv_9SgJT528SPce8NFj2k5_lrzrDkglcsnyZJ61uvvYXj0IGHiwB6kclzouvJPRxldpFiXl5TA7mxsTIgTU7yAmy7Hmx8E3Gtsont4NPUsNd79owBkFVupIZzA/s640/comfort+zone.jpg" /></a><br />So, change was imminent. But I was scared. Because it was looking like the way to get to all the other things I want in life (at least for the short term) was to switch to working for myself and working with Geoff. I've always been a fan of a steady paycheck, and in my head that has always meant a 9 to 5 job. I've pretty much colored inside the lines my whole life and the idea of this initially felt like someone was scribbling ALL OVER THE PAGE. What if I regret leaving? What if I am never as happy as I was when I worked on Broadway every day? What if we can't afford it? What if I can never get a job casting again? What if no one understands why I'd leave a "dream" job? Or what if everyone thinks I'm an idiot for leaving a job with health insurance (or any job for that matter) in a less than stable economy? What if, what if, what if??? There were about 1000 what-ifs. And then Geoff said to me one day, "You spend so much time thinking about what you will lose and absolutely no time thinking about what you will gain." That was a great perspective. And so stinkin' true. And something I still remind myself of on the days that I freak out about the future. Geoff was also smart enough to point out that all we are really changing is that <em>we</em> will be in control of our schedule and it is wide open to do with what we want.<br /><br />So a month from today I will leave my full time job. Instead, I will work nearly full time with Geoff in his business and still work in casting on a freelance basis - as much or as little as I want and/or as we need. I know there are people who will still hire me to do that, even if I'm not doing it under the umbrella of a theatre company. We will shoot more weddings and now have the staff to shoot more corporate work too. I may start taking on more paid photography gigs, just to see if I like it. If nothing else, I'd be interested to see what it's like to edit photos in a more normal way, instead of between 11pm-1am on a weeknight after I get home from the theatre. So it's a huge change. And its risky. But we do hope to have a family in the not too distant future and if things are going to be tight financially, I'd rather struggle through that when there is still just the two of us to worry about. We may have to cut back on things, and I'm sure there will be ups and downs and adjustments to make, but ultimately...? I'm finding that I'm actually super excited about it. Even more than I thought I'd be. I'm ready for my new life. And I no longer feel like I'm leaving my old one behind. Things are just...shifting. They will be more on my terms. And I feel like a weight has been lifted. The people who've been told this news so far say that they can tell a noticeable difference in me already. Not that a lady should tell her age, but those of you that read this already know that I will be 35 in less than a year. And this month marks the 10 year anniversary of when I moved to NYC. It goes FAST, ya'll. It flies, in fact. And I don't want to feel like life is passing me by anymore. So even though it took me a year to work up the courage and an unexpected (but much needed) kick in the pants from my boss to get me there, I'm finally ready for this change. Now, as soon as I post this and it's out in the world for everyone to see, I'm sure I'll have a mild panic attack and spend a small(ish) amount of time curled up in the fetal position on my bed this evening. I've taken so long to write about this for that very reason. But for the most part, I'm surprised to find that all I can see these days is the "what I will gain" part. And I kind of feel like life is just beginning. *Deep Breath* Leap of faith, here we come.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdrPyZ09AO3Sd4pNwtXX5WRO3GPCaM0CbUfSjUcdQLRXrtPPcDtUCa6vmdoq1qg5sUEhXc8jCoRDvSzIIQVrINVNgyMDaJoGRG048M31jmnoCqRlgeb7a_g5mOvYhUeZjqWot6xECKps/s1600/aud+chair"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; DISPLAY: block; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633407601869489026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdrPyZ09AO3Sd4pNwtXX5WRO3GPCaM0CbUfSjUcdQLRXrtPPcDtUCa6vmdoq1qg5sUEhXc8jCoRDvSzIIQVrINVNgyMDaJoGRG048M31jmnoCqRlgeb7a_g5mOvYhUeZjqWot6xECKps/s640/aud+chair" /></a>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-22828480481127443322011-07-02T16:46:00.001-07:002011-07-02T16:46:05.047-07:00Just Say Yes<br /><br /><center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/103613794655152753803/KateAndGeoff04?authkey=Gv1sRgCK7L1cbX_q-9bA#5624905479229127858'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibQyK_BgpChCm-tsb5WXhNIv2T1zh8znkuPWm8_7HBGtgsH7MwfMsAQgIaWXS2FJPuP3CKh3qCe05CF-5NX2S1lA7DsGAWfu5aK2vYTqs6FikIHpR-1Ya6i7w99eqzX7gKgQuU7zHchPU/s288/11.jpg' border='0' width='210' height='281' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />To frozen mint lemonade<br />To bike rides through Brooklyn<br />To impromptu lunches with friends<br />To iced coffee and bagels for breakfast on a park bench while you dream about the future<br />To scoring big at the Ann Taylor Loft 40% off sale<br />To 80 degree weather without the humidity <br />To afternoon naps<br />To quality time<br />To sun on your face<br />To enjoying all this before the 4 day weekend is even half over.<br /><br /><br />- Posted from my iPhone<br /><p class='blogpress_location'>Location:<a href='http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Sunnyside,%20United%20States%4040.744963%2C-73.917910&z=10'>Sunnyside, United States</a></p>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-48418632946449499302011-06-16T15:33:00.001-07:002011-06-16T15:44:33.804-07:00Something Prettier<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzYOF2rOdyfMuV4Z8Ow_iXBQB-OlvEzLVFbw2otewDb2e0Uh-tKgkjDcveRSIDYO_T7Qb_mwLG2yQi5O1_SbqfYj7Q1pfLomcY6WiGJ0CuV9eobE7xmmdIW1DNFL4_Ci9hAaxyWK83ls/s1600/DC-Butterfly.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzYOF2rOdyfMuV4Z8Ow_iXBQB-OlvEzLVFbw2otewDb2e0Uh-tKgkjDcveRSIDYO_T7Qb_mwLG2yQi5O1_SbqfYj7Q1pfLomcY6WiGJ0CuV9eobE7xmmdIW1DNFL4_Ci9hAaxyWK83ls/s640/DC-Butterfly.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618949799952182002" /></a><br />Just so you dont have to be subjected to the graphic nature of those hawk pictures. Butterflies are prettier.<br /><br />Also, I just saw my friend Becca last night who stopped in NYC on her way back to Austin from a week in Ireland. We went out to dinner with Alison and Sarah for a 6 course tasting menu I had a voucher for at <a href="http://elsewherenyc.wordpress.com/">Elsewhere</a> and didn't get home until nearly 1am. On a Wednesday. We laughed, we cried, we hiccuped and we made great friends with the waiter when he brought us complimentary salted chocolate goat cheese truffles. Girls nights are the best. <br /><br />Happy Thursday.Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-41668982704548043272011-06-14T15:21:00.000-07:002011-06-14T22:10:39.371-07:00Nature: NYC StyleLet it not be said that us New Yorkers don't get exposed enough to nature. True, we do have to travel to Central Park in order to see more than 300 square feet of grass all in one place. And in an average day, the only flowers you see are the ones for sale at a bodega. If you're lucky, you walk down a street that has trees planted in intervals along the sidewalk, which is lovely, except for the way the roots of those trees push against the concrete and create mountains and valleys in the sidewalk that you can twist an ankle on in far less than a New York minute. Dogs and cats are about as wild as it gets animal-wise. (And yes, I have seen a cat on a leash). No deer passing through to eat your garden. Mostly because your garden is on your fire escape 6 flights up. Well, I suppose there are pigeons of course. And they are wild in their way. Particularly if you've watched them nearly fly directly into you as they attempt to make a dramatic exit from eating the last of that bagel that someone dropped while crossing the street. And yes, let us not forget <a href="http://kateplusgeoff.blogspot.com/2008/10/unexpected-guest.html">The Great Squirrel Episode of '08</a>. But beyond that, this is a man-made urban jungle, not a natural one. Concrete, smoke stacks, sky scrapers, cars, bridges, iron, steel and brick. <br /><br />So imagine Geoff's surprise, when he gets up from his desk this afternoon and walks past this guy, hanging out on top of our living room air conditioning unit.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN136_gGwYWx2LujXuVwxqyhg1FLBzbLn8SuBEye5vnuQK5LS8CnzKpbMUpFcRbm8cT0ifUm9m_ZJd5rwwkVjTEacBvPlIePDnm7XBBNsgU6Ti9XG2SnwJyvuAdvlYKy8l7rpeEwmFQpQ/s1600/_DSC0242.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN136_gGwYWx2LujXuVwxqyhg1FLBzbLn8SuBEye5vnuQK5LS8CnzKpbMUpFcRbm8cT0ifUm9m_ZJd5rwwkVjTEacBvPlIePDnm7XBBNsgU6Ti9XG2SnwJyvuAdvlYKy8l7rpeEwmFQpQ/s640/_DSC0242.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618303439060588546" /></a><br />Yes. That is a hawk. And yes, he is ginormous. To give you perspective, that is a pigeon he's having for lunch. Can you believe how HUGE he is? I mean, he's nearly 2 feet long from beak to tail feathers at this angle below. I can't get over it. I'm sorry to the queasy, please forgive the carnage. But that sure is nature, isn't it? See, we get plenty of nature. Plenty. As Geoff said, this guy was just really going after that pigeon. Just eating him like it wasn't even wrong.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcUmqpO69tNXILUh2wHFvvrWvH8PG9z48G12hX_vxOIFvtMclBS7HUh5CHKCRubZIHzV_iX_ffAqMifAOLM4OiW5rG2wYis8SYpZv15LpF16UnCdDGLhuD497HchJ-QLy0yCNo9koC0g/s1600/_DSC0232.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkcUmqpO69tNXILUh2wHFvvrWvH8PG9z48G12hX_vxOIFvtMclBS7HUh5CHKCRubZIHzV_iX_ffAqMifAOLM4OiW5rG2wYis8SYpZv15LpF16UnCdDGLhuD497HchJ-QLy0yCNo9koC0g/s640/_DSC0232.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618303439449627986" /></a><br />I like how he's clearly judging Geoff in this picture. "Ex<span style="font-style:italic;">CUS</span>e me? Pointing? Really? Oh please, One does not POINT."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfKmVKQ7vS6rozHSIkwz3O6RK7nhPZlmiTN7K1kUFHtlNQ5hkVXBzlETVI6RPHRgx3erT7kl4esK1FmpeWQoBVFFKCBLrr4yH7b_N-zULnNVGvcugogcW434Vvh5NHaW3SgCrM319nFk/s1600/_DSC0246.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdfKmVKQ7vS6rozHSIkwz3O6RK7nhPZlmiTN7K1kUFHtlNQ5hkVXBzlETVI6RPHRgx3erT7kl4esK1FmpeWQoBVFFKCBLrr4yH7b_N-zULnNVGvcugogcW434Vvh5NHaW3SgCrM319nFk/s640/_DSC0246.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618306955017308562" /></a><br />And here, clearly contemplating Geoff's finger for dessert. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MJvMkc2KhmUUBRik897zb8AlcKW3mdppcs5FqSq75ph9rj5ZNyScutt5rNF1j25VUQhub4qP8AY5RrlhjTcNsEXHWm-ZaXzUgMVhASsEshAGVz00YoncvI7PqtKkhOgODDzDgrM6PFI/s1600/_DSC0256.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1MJvMkc2KhmUUBRik897zb8AlcKW3mdppcs5FqSq75ph9rj5ZNyScutt5rNF1j25VUQhub4qP8AY5RrlhjTcNsEXHWm-ZaXzUgMVhASsEshAGVz00YoncvI7PqtKkhOgODDzDgrM6PFI/s640/_DSC0256.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618307778643342146" /></a><br />I think he kind of looks like a muppet. Except for the blood and guts part, of course.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9R_k-QYlzWKrHQvJiEW5DXK4rjHO1xyloh9MIdL0FYZMNzBpZqN0BFYuceBeh9Fn5EZc1O5LkHkKJcfOaIuOVruFgyoAB9eKYZU8p9btuTZlzZw6a2Z4YwccXeK7K9tqZ02vVtLhHz8/s1600/_DSC0254.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn9R_k-QYlzWKrHQvJiEW5DXK4rjHO1xyloh9MIdL0FYZMNzBpZqN0BFYuceBeh9Fn5EZc1O5LkHkKJcfOaIuOVruFgyoAB9eKYZU8p9btuTZlzZw6a2Z4YwccXeK7K9tqZ02vVtLhHz8/s640/_DSC0254.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5618303428164121778" /></a>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-4012095504250286022011-06-09T08:01:00.000-07:002011-06-09T08:51:22.113-07:00In Comes Company<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_09U-gwn8xQbLaTUfIDe3Py_b62gOyV64VwvwmA1S7ZPUQSNTk7CPdPwKl8TQ4REi4WOc8KVp0oj41xaSl8BCgHWx48T-RFq3gbbsaVLtESjNUPD0UlOVaGeIzPApnud_jrlL3S2K8lg/s1600/CompanyFilm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_09U-gwn8xQbLaTUfIDe3Py_b62gOyV64VwvwmA1S7ZPUQSNTk7CPdPwKl8TQ4REi4WOc8KVp0oj41xaSl8BCgHWx48T-RFq3gbbsaVLtESjNUPD0UlOVaGeIzPApnud_jrlL3S2K8lg/s640/CompanyFilm.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5616236919542878818" /></a><br />Last night we went to the film premire of <a href="http://nyphil.org/concertsTicks/companyonscreen.cfm">COMPANY</a>, which I cast for the NY Philharmonic. Some of you may remember me mentioning in <a href="http://kateplusgeoff.blogspot.com/2011/04/is-this-my-real-life.html">this post</a> that in addition to the 4 live performances in NYC April, it was filmed and will be showing at movie theatres across the country in June. So whether you live in Austin TX, Boston MA, Denver CO, Statesboro GA, Richmond VA, Louisville KY, Honolulu HI, NYC, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Arkansas, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Alaska or nearly any other state across the country, you too can see it. It's also being shown in Canada. The performances are great, and besides, Stephen Colbert and Martha Plimpton have a wrestling match right there on stage and what is better than that?? <a href="http://www.screenvision.com/s/showing/Company/">Click here</a> to find out when it's playing near you. It's playing in most theatres June 15, 16, 19 and 20, but there are a few places with other date options I think. Plus, if you do go, thrill of all thrills, you can see my little name right there in the credits. It's small, but it's there. Note to self: Get an agent and get better billing next time so my parents don't have to squint to see my name.<br /><br />AND, you can also see the cast perform one of the numbers from the show live on the <a href="http://www.tonyawards.com/en_US/index.html">Tony Awards</a> this Sunday June 12th at 8pm on CBS. Think Stephen Colbert, Neil Patrick Harris and Jon Cryer in a kick line. I know, not to be missed, right? Set your DVRs for Sunday and book your tickets to the movie now!Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-38413470967167588892011-06-01T12:04:00.000-07:002011-06-01T12:15:43.099-07:00I Am Not Lost<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEMFXOjNH7eUj4UtLA1A2iOJY7CJ9qRcUF5nQOTjA9vvQQ2HSIU0oXzMJ6Ifo61Kg4QulqDeLQkN6ZH34GvvQSjuJzQDFVAuseIdX1b4A-Vs-SXMDFBYHCS5H1RdU32nKnLWFZuTTzmk/s1600/MemTrees.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCEMFXOjNH7eUj4UtLA1A2iOJY7CJ9qRcUF5nQOTjA9vvQQ2HSIU0oXzMJ6Ifo61Kg4QulqDeLQkN6ZH34GvvQSjuJzQDFVAuseIdX1b4A-Vs-SXMDFBYHCS5H1RdU32nKnLWFZuTTzmk/s640/MemTrees.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613330204418342962" /></a><br />I am here. I am alive. I have been absent far too long. For good reason, but still. It has been beyond busy. And much has been afoot. And it's June 1. Which means, wedding season is officially underway and life is about to get even crazier.<br /><br />But I just wanted to say I'm here. I've not forgotten this place. I want to spend more time here. And there is much to tell you. It needs to wait another week or so, since this week is super nuts and I really want to have time to write about it and really do it justice. So be patient. And I will fill you in on all you've missed. <br /><br />Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend!Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-69980465590634978072011-04-19T09:14:00.000-07:002011-04-18T11:12:23.230-07:00It's An IssueIf you are easily distracted or can get sucked into the internet for hours on end reading and looking at a variety of fascinating and creative things, do yourself a favor and stop reading now.<br /><br />Seriously.<br /><br />OK, consider yourselves warned. What happens next is your own dang fault. <br /><br />I'm not kidding.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveQp2NbCd1XxoFK2tSG9ACXffUcu0MQsDJM_5bbO-Yx0giCrAqmflGoo6sgh4w7TAbkEVoMUBPihYMT3dsFd088FOkmvIjxZPSs3L5YyeioJ672Y6H2Njk-JVLcTcDEvcDe61ROvEsXA/s1600/Pinterest2.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgveQp2NbCd1XxoFK2tSG9ACXffUcu0MQsDJM_5bbO-Yx0giCrAqmflGoo6sgh4w7TAbkEVoMUBPihYMT3dsFd088FOkmvIjxZPSs3L5YyeioJ672Y6H2Njk-JVLcTcDEvcDe61ROvEsXA/s640/Pinterest2.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596987930565369586" /></a><br />Have you heard of a little website called <a href="http://pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>? If you haven't - be prepared to spend about the next 6 hours straight on it. It's a site where you can pull and collect images from the internet that inspire you for whatever reason, and store them all on a "board" of your making. All in one place. Home ideas, recipes, fashion, art, photography, DIY projects, pets you want, places you love, vacations you want to take, things you want to try someday, you name it. Anything you want, basically. Oh yeah, and you can look through everyone else's boards too. Yeah. there goes your whole weekend.<br /><br />You have to email Pinterest to request an account and they will email you in a week or two with an invite to join. I found it through that darn Sherry at <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com">younghouselove</a>. Darn her. And through her blog I found this <a href="http://www.beyond-snapshots.com/blog/2011/02/23/we-%E2%99%A5-pinterest/">link</a>, which allowed me to join right away (scroll to the bottom of that post for the direct invite). Don't know if that link will still work. You kinda should hope it doesn't if you have any hope of every doing anything else again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pzH6qTT9poq7uSggbo0vUyGtPOHnCjDVue3Ylnqi0acakqJDtz7D_NGf2WOYkZUuTQCz_tb5VAQ_kEVuPro74zS_S4Xo941RkocLW8ZHr9KhNi_UK5gDiySSw2T0n2jMOtsIm7IiJuA/s1600/Pinterest3.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pzH6qTT9poq7uSggbo0vUyGtPOHnCjDVue3Ylnqi0acakqJDtz7D_NGf2WOYkZUuTQCz_tb5VAQ_kEVuPro74zS_S4Xo941RkocLW8ZHr9KhNi_UK5gDiySSw2T0n2jMOtsIm7IiJuA/s640/Pinterest3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5596985476565197122" /></a><br />Happy Pinteresting!Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-42213713934951926482011-04-13T14:36:00.000-07:002011-04-16T16:36:40.889-07:00Is This My Real Life?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjh7yvbNPTgWAjQN0o-zs5-j5d2YO3GwgpbBnEZbYInR_KE_p5BEst_-L8YXlitEmw5C97oFARnLIa-zPAsSI3iMY5sGa3hTPbBOiMhF24bUrT0TD8zMJUj6Ifut93Q0vee3hYYZPSuE/s1600/SS.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjh7yvbNPTgWAjQN0o-zs5-j5d2YO3GwgpbBnEZbYInR_KE_p5BEst_-L8YXlitEmw5C97oFARnLIa-zPAsSI3iMY5sGa3hTPbBOiMhF24bUrT0TD8zMJUj6Ifut93Q0vee3hYYZPSuE/s400/SS.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592962680468304514" /></a> I live in New York. I work in the theatre. And so it follows that as a child, I was a special kind. Not more special than your average child, but just a certain kind of special. The story goes that when I was little, my parents would sometimes ask me to sing a little song or recite a poem when family or friends were around. I would promptly do so. And when I finished my performance, I would look at them all and say, "You clap." See? That kind of special. There is an audio tape of me making my Barbie dance and perform acrobatics on her roller skates as I narrated the entire thing in song - for some reason to the tune of "The Chicken Dance". In middle school I performed "routines" on the swingset behind our house, usually to "Livin' on a Prayer" blasting from my pink boombox. It seems my musical tastes were also a certain kind of special in those days. I performed soooooo many "numbers" in my bedroom. I started with songs from "Annie" when I was younger (although strangely I was most drawn to Ms. Hannigan's songs, even then. Hm.) and by the end of high school I had worked my way through <span style="font-style:italic;">Les Mis</span> to <span style="font-style:italic;">The Secret Garden </span>to <span style="font-style:italic;">RENT</span> and everything I could find in between. In high school I was in, (or wanted to be in) every music and theatre related thing there was. I was even voted "most likely to sing on Broadway" in my graduating class. Now, it was not a very large school with about 7-10 theatre geeks total - so it wasn't a huge achievement or anything, This is the same school that gave me the Physics award. And if you know me at all, you know I'm the last person who should win something math or science related. It was just known that musical theatre was what I was into/obsessed with. I majored in music in college, listened to every Broadway cast recording I could get my hand on, and read plays and musicals left and right. <br /><br />In 8th grade, I went to see the local high school's production of Stephen Sondheim's <span style="font-style:italic;">Into the Woods</span>, and it captured my heart and my imagination in a way I will never forget. It has been cemented as my favorite show ever since. As has Sondheim as my favorite musical theatre composer. My first big part in high school was as Philia in <span style="font-style:italic;">A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum</span>. I wasn't particularly good, but I was one of a very few who semi-had the soprano notes. My senior year of college I fought tooth and nail for a part in <span style="font-style:italic;">A Little Night Music</span> and for some reason, even managed to beat out the school's star belter for the part of Petra. Determination, man. Well, that and a professor who believed in the value of educational casting (meaning, casting me in the part, as I'd learn more from it than she would have, since she'd played parts like this twice a year for 4 years). So Sondheim is a true favorite. His lyrics are the most emotionally intelligent out there - something I've realized even more as I've gotten older. Now all someone has to do is sing "Move On" from <span style="font-style:italic;">Sunday in the Park with George</span> or "No One Has Ever Loved Me" from <span style="font-style:italic;">Passion</span>, and they can easily turn me into a puddle on the floor.<br /><br />I remember when I first saw him in person. It was when I first started working at my current job, and I was volunteering at a gala where he was being honored. I've never been the kind of person who wants to meet famous people when I see them. I'm content to just watch them talk to other people and be in the same place as they are. So I think I may've gotten to shake his hand briefly (my co-worker had been put in charge of making sure he was taken care of throughout the evening) and then I was happy to just watch him interact with the other Broadway greats in the room. It was pretty amazing just to be in the same space as he was. If you'd told my teenage self that that would ever happen, it would've been something I could've only dreamed of. <br /><br />Then last season, I happened to be seated in front of him at the first preview of <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sondheim_on_Sondheim">Sondheim on Sondheim</a></span>, a retrospective of his work featuring both his well and lesser known songs, stories of his life intercut with interviews with the man himself. At the point in the show where (in a videotaped interview) he shares a fairly brutal thing that his mother once wrote to him in a letter ("My greatest regret was giving you birth"), I had an overwhelming urge to turn around and hug him. I almost had to physically restrain myself. I wanted to be his friend. So much it nearly made me cry. Another unbelievable moment that my musical theatre-obsessed younger self would've nearly passed out over.<br /><br />Cut to last weekend. I had the opportunity to cast the concert version of Stephen Sondheim's <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/gallery/new-york-philharmonics-company-176599">COMPANY</span> for the New York Philharmonic</a>, which had only 4 performances over a weekend. The director, Lonny Price, has always been incredibly kind in asking me to cast things for him. This was the biggest thing yet. I didn't really realize it at the time, while we were in the trenches of it this winter, trying to get various stars (it was partially a benefit after all) to join the cast. But last week, I went to the dress rehearsal on a Thursday afternoon, and there, again, I was in the same room as Stephen Sondheim. This time, attending a rehearsal of one of <span style="font-weight:bold;">his </span>shows that <span style="font-weight:bold;">I</span> was a part of. He was just there, reading the New York Times and waiting for the rehearsal to begin. It was overwhelming. And a feeling I never want to forget. Now, after 10 years in NYC, I'm as jaded as the next New Yorker. I don't really think twice if I pass Laura Linney on the street or see Ethan Hawke at an opening. And like most people, all I can usually see is the parts of my job that drive me nuts. But this was one of those moments where I truly can't believe I get to be a very small part of the Broadway community. Seeing Stephen Sondheim waiting to watch a cast that I put together? Even this jaded New Yorker has to admit...it's humbling. And kind of amazing. And something that would've made my 15 year old self absolutely pee her pants. That being the case, can you imagine how I handled actually seeing the dang thing performed the next day? Lets just say, it was emotionally overwhelming. Which really took me by surprise, I have to say. I've worked on a lot of Broadway shows. But this was different. I just felt so blessed. I kept thinking back to my younger self. If you had told me then that I would be doing what I do for a living, let alone, being a part of something created by a composer whose work has made such an impact on my life, I never would've believed it. Not in 100 years. Probably would've passed out and peed my pants at the same time. So I'm truly, truly grateful.<br /><br />For those that are interested, the show was filmed and will be <a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118035432">shown</a> at movie theatres across the country starting June 15. I'm sure I'll cry all over again.Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-43420733427295750962011-04-06T08:28:00.000-07:002011-04-06T09:02:17.289-07:00The Things We Don't KnowA Facebook friend posted this today and I thought it was really interesting. For those of you who have seen <a href="http://www.foodincmovie.com/">Food Inc</a>, some of this will not be new information. But there were some interesting things here that I hadn't known or hadn't remembered. It's worth a watch if you've got 15 min or so. <br /><br /><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="640" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rixyrCNVVGA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Pretty fascinating and certainly sobering. And I think she's got a realistic approach in how to do something about it. I think at some point in her talk she says something like, "you can't make The Perfect the enemy of The Good". Meaning, just because you can't create a perfect food supply system or eat 100% organic or do everything right to protect your family from the scarily unhealthy GMOs and processed foods and all the other crazy stuff that's out there, you can do <em>something</em>. Or a few somethings. And that is so much better than nothing. <br /><br />More about Robyn, her book and her ideas about what to do at her site, <a href="http://www.robynobrien.com/default.htm">here</a>.Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-20450054618127400872011-03-28T11:22:00.001-07:002011-04-06T08:20:35.509-07:00A Weekend<center><a href='https://picasaweb.google.com/103613794655152753803/KateAndGeoff04?authkey=Gv1sRgCK7L1cbX_q-9bA#5589197882832201442'><img src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7O4vht5DAiOch6xTfj30VO9L3s8euaiei9eJ2bX5Tlc1hvxHFlqXbkl1ZOqRGpnE5fXH0Qx6vBsbfabw6qFZC7K_XbN4XIONwbM8B0MHWsApWNiYbXl0meJkUH82vYaT6oq9RAhfBVX4/s460/10.jpg' border='0' width='400' height='300' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />We had one. Finally. <br /><br />And it involved:<br /><br />- A home store bonanza (mostly for fun, though we did have a Williams Sonoma gift card to use). Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn and W&S - not a bad way to spend a Saturday.<br />- A late lunch at a lovely Italian wine bar on the upper east side <br />- Cleaning wax out of the living room rug (there was a candle that went rogue) while watching <a href="http://www.stylebyemilyhenderson.com/">Emily Henderson </a> just <em>bring it</em> every time on <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/secrets-from-a-stylist/show/index.html">Secrets from a Stylist</a>. She's a amazing and I want to be her friend. I'm considering moving to LA to work with as part of her team. Not that she's made that offer. But I'm still considering it.<br />- The making of gluten free brownies (from a mix) and a <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/baked-farro-risotto-recipe.html">baked farro risotto </a>with my favorite kale salad (thank you <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/">101cookbooks.com </a>for both).<br /><br />I love a weekend. There should be more of them.<br /><br />- Posted from my iPhone<br />Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-36096952411528058482011-03-24T12:37:00.000-07:002011-06-14T21:28:16.487-07:00What happened?I've been absent. Ya'll, I don't understand how March is almost over. Just like I don't understand how it was 75 degrees a few days ago and then last night it snowed.<br /><br />It has been busy. Obviously. Work was madness for a couple weeks there and I continue to have something every night and never seem to be able to get home before 11pm. And I have kinda lost my mojo. I have so much to say and yet nothing to say. But I am alive. Which is something.<br /><br />And tonight I'm going to the opening night of this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApHnibrPXDFZzNWsWU3PDG4kiG98cQCIaopDF9T0G0bQNsN1UVTRTnTdRpyacwqJgsUn2oAK0E3bRqHS-W6mhEw7JmNrVPfJg7t72WY8twvaUxRM860ic5BDrmd3eP5R0OXw1vdgwhvQ/s1600/bom-full-art-no-billing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 397px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApHnibrPXDFZzNWsWU3PDG4kiG98cQCIaopDF9T0G0bQNsN1UVTRTnTdRpyacwqJgsUn2oAK0E3bRqHS-W6mhEw7JmNrVPfJg7t72WY8twvaUxRM860ic5BDrmd3eP5R0OXw1vdgwhvQ/s400/bom-full-art-no-billing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5587735116218260498" /></a><br />For those that don't know, it's a Broadway musical. Written by the creators of South Park. Cast by one of my co-workers. I am fully prepared to be completely offended and simultaneously laugh my head off. I'm super excited.<br /><br />Happy Thursday to all!Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-10871954764150745402011-03-06T15:03:00.000-08:002011-03-06T17:25:26.710-08:00Everybody Loves A ParadeToday was a rainy Sunday. One of my favorite kinds. Work this week has been a nightmare and it seems next week will be the same. So I was ready for a little fun and distraction while I could get it. We ventured out this afternoon to the annual neighborhood All Inclusive St. Patricks Day Parade (always held two weeks early). And Geoff decided to bring along his camera and test out a new funky gadget. This was the result. Forgive the grade school editing, this was obviously slapped together in 5 minutes. For my part, I'm trying to forgive him for filming me with a wide angle lens.<br /><br />Happy Rainy Sunday to all!<br /><br />Enjoy!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/20720359?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" width="700" height="394" frameborder="0"></iframe>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-82598785030106684032011-02-25T21:33:00.000-08:002011-02-26T08:18:33.849-08:00Three Day Weekend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLitz2jWFFISpZmT8uYvSMXfq8Lgz9Jh8YrY220fpe5dTWM9XWSJclm-41Cji4xh8QH0lTwkHfIP8jfbO5kSL8jUz_9tXHdvyfkumvV-pQQWgi2xz5WQWfhTh4-V2ZsQKdnlfTqC1KF4/s1600/_DSC0512.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBLitz2jWFFISpZmT8uYvSMXfq8Lgz9Jh8YrY220fpe5dTWM9XWSJclm-41Cji4xh8QH0lTwkHfIP8jfbO5kSL8jUz_9tXHdvyfkumvV-pQQWgi2xz5WQWfhTh4-V2ZsQKdnlfTqC1KF4/s640/_DSC0512.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576206819797706562" /></a><br />We had one last weekend. And I'm only now getting around to writing about it. It was great to have 3 days off. We stayed home for most of it and I cooked a great deal. Which was super fun.<br /><br />It all started with a project. We finally had the guys show up to fix our ceiling in the foyer. All those snow storms meant we had a leak which turned into a mini "the sky is falling" moment, when parts of the ceiling fell in from the weight of all the water. And then it kept snowing, so it was always wet at they couldn't fix it. Or at least that's the reason I gave myself for why it took so long to come back and fix it. So Saturday morning we had to empty the contents of our front hall closet, because there was water damage in there too and definitely a mold situation. Now, like most city dwellers, our front hall closet is our major storage area in the apartment. It serves as Geoff's closet, a coat closet, tool shed, Christmas decoration storage, home for luggage and and all Geoff's film gear. So cleaning it out is an undertaking. But we did. And they fixed it. Probably not to <a href="http://www.hgtv.com/holmes-on-homes/show/index.html">Holmes on Homes</a> standard, but there is no longer a gaping hole in my ceiling. There is however, still half the contents of this closet lined up against a wall in the living room, as there has been no time to put it all back yet. I guess that's what this weekend is for.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliS4FY9ju2CHISvffb7rTkUkPZqT8JlChDnld97_DK2acYqslGrN-F2a1EO6XGvCxyfvt8BrgEXFOsq9Ak9wOSKDjcHDHn1mZLroZ5jxr3JptwnKVc2Opv7lr50ZNjkI8u9kFzp6e60k/s1600/_DSC0445.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiliS4FY9ju2CHISvffb7rTkUkPZqT8JlChDnld97_DK2acYqslGrN-F2a1EO6XGvCxyfvt8BrgEXFOsq9Ak9wOSKDjcHDHn1mZLroZ5jxr3JptwnKVc2Opv7lr50ZNjkI8u9kFzp6e60k/s640/_DSC0445.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576198581190601682" /></a><br />I promise my living room doesn't always look like this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpsL7ZC5AJCD5Dk-oKyE799PzWXSqu0WvitpeWmBYwJU1kN-raDpQhmkdKrwbQqjrboTZsHWH3JXt_Io8ZUznLQxwqkn5j9mdED4-kVMZCpS25qPM_qikPRC-KxhxpirBWeR4pP9_tLY/s1600/_DSC0455.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvpsL7ZC5AJCD5Dk-oKyE799PzWXSqu0WvitpeWmBYwJU1kN-raDpQhmkdKrwbQqjrboTZsHWH3JXt_Io8ZUznLQxwqkn5j9mdED4-kVMZCpS25qPM_qikPRC-KxhxpirBWeR4pP9_tLY/s640/_DSC0455.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576200199050726034" /></a><br />But while they were doing that, I was doing this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBYj-vUR84xRpgu3mh71VVfnTLb-YqosMgHOaSF8W2PAqO_SgkSXxe22VNAYgMRNugdjl4j4uLUoMRA67PXSsalZGaGhvLB-4iy1zUDJw_ag_TSHlTTs7nqtHl5IrVdmzCYgHzXAtANI/s1600/_DSC0440.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBYj-vUR84xRpgu3mh71VVfnTLb-YqosMgHOaSF8W2PAqO_SgkSXxe22VNAYgMRNugdjl4j4uLUoMRA67PXSsalZGaGhvLB-4iy1zUDJw_ag_TSHlTTs7nqtHl5IrVdmzCYgHzXAtANI/s640/_DSC0440.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576198561746657170" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW2uAim4WvM-YNiSgaoOtGiUFB74J71SmIlPXsu5oQyjTQmIYtaNCWwuO8uVs9jOsPBfqI6JNTB3LozJpbFPz2IkJEPOppEh48ZxI2g-EhN7OOb1Eekl5PrzYqTcunrDTXu3thLcTfo4/s1600/_DSC0444.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRW2uAim4WvM-YNiSgaoOtGiUFB74J71SmIlPXsu5oQyjTQmIYtaNCWwuO8uVs9jOsPBfqI6JNTB3LozJpbFPz2IkJEPOppEh48ZxI2g-EhN7OOb1Eekl5PrzYqTcunrDTXu3thLcTfo4/s640/_DSC0444.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576198570046884466" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfLl62I3AQep9gx1YvdP12UbqSefouvM94wMEB_2E-7k-hwdAaFWAOOu8plabWEVGgNibaDt3Rg1fbYje8UtrZT9SLaW9eRno8lDNzypEOudYvgauwpDhqjOVvcoS9WfJkMdZ-XV-qTc/s1600/_DSC0451.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWfLl62I3AQep9gx1YvdP12UbqSefouvM94wMEB_2E-7k-hwdAaFWAOOu8plabWEVGgNibaDt3Rg1fbYje8UtrZT9SLaW9eRno8lDNzypEOudYvgauwpDhqjOVvcoS9WfJkMdZ-XV-qTc/s640/_DSC0451.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576200191376618722" /></a><br />Breakfast time was lovely. Blogging and recipe searching and coffee with toast and jam. Yes please. In pulling all the stuff out of the closet, a few boxes had gotten wet. They were boxes full of old letters, my journals from high school and college, old playbills, photos etc. It was kinda really fun to look through them as I set them up on the kitchen table to dry out in the sun. Some of you should recognize some of these things....<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpHvrwTTeTpURN25n7ofSIx60X8AO7Mp7svOXd3Tucdi4nXIpVqr8RzxoZFrpKAQOuWtrZp7nVOrtra3Fz7Jvk3PbibJ6pZY_UScHAWg27R5iy32B8fiQa8Juvq2q2EchzjIzQYHWobk/s1600/_DSC0458.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSpHvrwTTeTpURN25n7ofSIx60X8AO7Mp7svOXd3Tucdi4nXIpVqr8RzxoZFrpKAQOuWtrZp7nVOrtra3Fz7Jvk3PbibJ6pZY_UScHAWg27R5iy32B8fiQa8Juvq2q2EchzjIzQYHWobk/s640/_DSC0458.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576200201785161794" /></a><br />A letter from my dad when I was 6. We were living in England and he must've been away for training because there were references to "I know you're being such a big help to your mommy and being a good girl". I hope I was, if mom was holding down the fort with 2 kids in a foreign country. Mom, I hope I wasn't a brat. At least not all the time. I loved finding this again. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWchGRYQZ075XN42rM5rVEqurwSql8QMb6IdHFlyG_OZcSua68EU0DuN00U5ksdzF7YdWkOcqKIVMEqvwKs91XGe0UTYyxvwElcMCqn1h111i0gunv6T4uKOmlS9rjsRDDN69mMk5BZo/s1600/_DSC0459.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfWchGRYQZ075XN42rM5rVEqurwSql8QMb6IdHFlyG_OZcSua68EU0DuN00U5ksdzF7YdWkOcqKIVMEqvwKs91XGe0UTYyxvwElcMCqn1h111i0gunv6T4uKOmlS9rjsRDDN69mMk5BZo/s640/_DSC0459.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576201562336938066" /></a><br />Journals, a picture from my baptism, the playbill from a very *special* (and by that I mean bad) production of Sweet Charity I was in after college and good old middle school class photos. Nothin' like 'em. is there? I actually still remember nearly everyone's first and last name. Possibly because I am now friends with at least half of them on Facebook.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZX6d8LsU3LEvp_vec0J90Lh_OIlmoE591qYKlE5bPVCWQKzD80iPJvS2c0x0gOWNU_6xGBRZPBZsyDeIWZGlh7A_bCgMCV0LNA07UJci2IgifNlYMr_J7gBTevZsyRjZz-nGvNH_ghg/s1600/_DSC0462.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghZX6d8LsU3LEvp_vec0J90Lh_OIlmoE591qYKlE5bPVCWQKzD80iPJvS2c0x0gOWNU_6xGBRZPBZsyDeIWZGlh7A_bCgMCV0LNA07UJci2IgifNlYMr_J7gBTevZsyRjZz-nGvNH_ghg/s640/_DSC0462.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576201564022284818" /></a><br />When we were kids my brother and I both had one of these cases with our names on them. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFTwM_Ihcwfewy1r3y7lowj0c7FE6JtB00RBhm-buR-Le-KCrh5oy5Cu1Nj5EulVuEODc1RXUYXz7PdySQNK4S2w3mk1OwSgxlzVfJqevFAdBjUVvxVnzZeTZCxWBI12i3a2k_z0xTeA/s1600/_DSC0470.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYFTwM_Ihcwfewy1r3y7lowj0c7FE6JtB00RBhm-buR-Le-KCrh5oy5Cu1Nj5EulVuEODc1RXUYXz7PdySQNK4S2w3mk1OwSgxlzVfJqevFAdBjUVvxVnzZeTZCxWBI12i3a2k_z0xTeA/s640/_DSC0470.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576201568635944066" /></a><br />They were for holding your cassette tape collection. When I opened it, there were mostly tapes from All-County Chorus and other such middle school adventures. But there was definitely my old favorites in there too - a Jan and Dean "Surfin' Hits" that I played all the time for some reason, a mix tape that just says "Oldies" and the original cast album of <span style="font-style:italic;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worzel_Gummidge">Worzel Gumidge</a></span>, a 1981 British musical about a scarecrow who comes to life. Or at least I assume that's what it's about. I never actually saw the show, I just listened to the tape, so I was never quite sure of the whole story. I played that tape so often that i wore out some of the songs from fast forwarding to my favorites and then rewinding them and playing them over again. Just like my Annie tape. Gosh. Remember TAPES? Remember having to rewind and fast forward to get to your favorite song? Please. That seems like the dark ages.<br /><br />I also found a note written from a friend after my senior recital in college. All music majors had to give a recital their senior year, and in mine, my last number was "Paris Original" from <span style="font-style:italic;">How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying</span>. It's a song about a girl who shows up at a party hoping to make the guy fall in love with her, only to find that there are multiple other girls at the party wearing the same dress. So I hauled 3 of my friends up on stage with me, having all bought the same cheap black dress at Deb or Express or some such place, and pulled off the number to great applause. After the recital my parents threw a little punch and dessert party at the <a href="http://kateplusgeoff.blogspot.com/2009/01/barn-house-reunion.html">Barn House</a>, where I lived, and Mom left these little booklets out for my friends to write a note to me if they wanted.<br /><br />This particular note that I found was written by my friend EJ. He later went on to marry my friend and fellow Barn girl<a href="http://fogartys.blogspot.com/"> Ali </a>and they have 3 amazing boys. Now, for most of college, EJ was a little quiet. He was a really nice guy, hung out with the boys mostly and (at least in my experience) didn't seem as.....tuned in (for lack of a better way to describe it) to cultivating friendships with girls. After he and Ali started dating however, it was like a switch had been thrown. We all talked about how thoughtful he was, how he'd come over to see Ali and would just sit down and talk to the rest of us about our days, how we were doing. He seemed to really care about us and want to know us better. Not that he didn't like us before, but he became intentional about it, and interested in us because we were important to Ali. And it wasn't a "Oh, I've got to hang out with her friends so she'll like me more and think I'm a good guy" It was just a natural, genuine thing. Ah, the love of a good woman.<br /><br />This is the note he wrote me.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrzN_HRLRfHULxXPA6sqxFoOz7r76nFudPMPu9MmUdLTNuh5ILqyZgcIerh0dCLzRLyG4IlvGDNOFngCdShfCZ0gzLm9hZiIDqXf_JkYsSMi_Jh-mwPF0jrKLIpX4W3wSgkTpy6wFMbs/s1600/_DSC0469.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZrzN_HRLRfHULxXPA6sqxFoOz7r76nFudPMPu9MmUdLTNuh5ILqyZgcIerh0dCLzRLyG4IlvGDNOFngCdShfCZ0gzLm9hZiIDqXf_JkYsSMi_Jh-mwPF0jrKLIpX4W3wSgkTpy6wFMbs/s640/_DSC0469.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576203051954111410" /></a><br />"Kate - Great job on your singing thing. It was truly one of the best performances I have ever seen. Love, EJ. PS-You definitely looked the best in that dress."<br /><br />First of all, it's just awesome. On a number of levels. And so "EJ" of him. My "singing thing". Amazing. Now, keep in mind, I was up on that stage with three gorgeous, skinny women. Having always been just a little heavier or curvier than most of my friends and certainly more so than 95% of performers at my school, a compliment about how I looked in comparison with the" pretty people", was one of the kindest things he could've said to my little 21 year old self. He won me over for life. :-) <br /><br />As my memories dried out in the sun, I cooked. And grocery shopped.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkozJQxrur1JDBieWqaC_1BCwpYRiB92ZwI1BH6nKxuPfUYYBTHIQwuBnvKQR1vBO-d4u3lU0lsXIsEzQlM3JsOXlsBRWoWY6iII021u-JGQ-DDKmSBLbWbbsdqb2rpy7GFC1HP06N4w/s1600/_DSC0476.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkozJQxrur1JDBieWqaC_1BCwpYRiB92ZwI1BH6nKxuPfUYYBTHIQwuBnvKQR1vBO-d4u3lU0lsXIsEzQlM3JsOXlsBRWoWY6iII021u-JGQ-DDKmSBLbWbbsdqb2rpy7GFC1HP06N4w/s640/_DSC0476.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576203053334278898" /></a><br />I came home from grocery shopping intent on cleaning out the fridge, but then I realized it was after 3pm and I hadn't eaten lunch. So, on a whim, I made a <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Quinoa-Risotto-with-Mushrooms-and-Thyme-356690">Quinoa "Risotto" with Mushroom and Thyme</a> - which happened to just be the latest recipe I had saved on my phone from Epicurious and I happened to have all the ingredients. It was surprisingly quick and pretty darn good! Not as creamy as an actual risotto, but I don't mind that.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oA6-NVKDnr3tDJ6vzRMDML2Ykfw00MlLmspuz4ZDOOAZ5Sy-V9agQTdkpNTBZ354PvNhlnfBiktQSLcBQ8aRpsAytOqcSPmkP8Jo1uB-nkBK6aXn_4dbKzMgeVe6mjpM66zTVJGYMyw/s1600/_DSC0480.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8oA6-NVKDnr3tDJ6vzRMDML2Ykfw00MlLmspuz4ZDOOAZ5Sy-V9agQTdkpNTBZ354PvNhlnfBiktQSLcBQ8aRpsAytOqcSPmkP8Jo1uB-nkBK6aXn_4dbKzMgeVe6mjpM66zTVJGYMyw/s640/_DSC0480.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576203061321837154" /></a><br />For dinner I also made my homemade salsa and a mexican salad. The salsa I've been making for years and I don't really have a recipe. I just make up the proportions as I go. Chopped tomatoes, about half a jalepeno, a shallot, some lime juice, cilantro and salt and pepper.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmD4OIc671wTVw3hWIlc-tKyvAHh2oaejHLNurngejOu8bmcWIx0oy61JVm9RXryDSVJHxmUv_sm52VAMLW2JyyihkMURvjrWjF23cICGaAVe39YbRDNI3sOxCieLkp_xv3OPvY9Iug8/s1600/_DSC0483.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmD4OIc671wTVw3hWIlc-tKyvAHh2oaejHLNurngejOu8bmcWIx0oy61JVm9RXryDSVJHxmUv_sm52VAMLW2JyyihkMURvjrWjF23cICGaAVe39YbRDNI3sOxCieLkp_xv3OPvY9Iug8/s640/_DSC0483.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576204297828123474" /></a><br />Just what my countertop looks like when cooking is in progress. And I know I've said it before, but this is my only actual countertop space that came with the apartment. Immediately to the left of that bowl of salsa is the sink. Who is jealous? Butcher blocks are my friend.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYS3IONLsDbAOouYsJJ5L8EcxyzijQKXLQz4-WrzdujOPFXQuRZ0B1Yf8NfZxA3iG4IVNMfVXhitf2MpUZgt2yms-ga98G2CF2A5pXDlARlNj2dt2vpfWrBSKGbn_uHWZy865FpPAdjPE/s1600/_DSC0486.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYS3IONLsDbAOouYsJJ5L8EcxyzijQKXLQz4-WrzdujOPFXQuRZ0B1Yf8NfZxA3iG4IVNMfVXhitf2MpUZgt2yms-ga98G2CF2A5pXDlARlNj2dt2vpfWrBSKGbn_uHWZy865FpPAdjPE/s640/_DSC0486.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576204304005219938" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Mexican-Chopped-Salad-with-Honey-Lime-Dressing-230154">Mexican salad</a> with honey lime dressing. I didn't have corn, bell pepper or jicama and it was still good. And I added avocado. The dressing was just ok. I made it a few nights later with just a <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cilantro-Lime-Vinaigrette-103849">cilantro lime vinaigrette</a> that I liked better.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMr4E6RRsqG64G0Gxd1VbRSXxBOx4qpcV5DMFS3RE0iq-Z5TILGVx94Vf5e0xgVEHU3oSespxE_8YBXHyqNdFmmiG1ukLiv60nyA5lDWtZeqSBs_t5_A5hHmwRGSqHxyGP9ooPszbgug/s1600/_DSC0490.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIMr4E6RRsqG64G0Gxd1VbRSXxBOx4qpcV5DMFS3RE0iq-Z5TILGVx94Vf5e0xgVEHU3oSespxE_8YBXHyqNdFmmiG1ukLiv60nyA5lDWtZeqSBs_t5_A5hHmwRGSqHxyGP9ooPszbgug/s640/_DSC0490.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576204309696196514" /></a><br />And we made <a href="http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/nikkis-healthy-cookies-recipe.html">these </a>amazing cookies for dessert. I even whipped them up on the coffee table while we were watching a movie. They have no flour, butter, eggs or added sugar at all. And they are amazing. Bananas, almond meal (just grind almonds in a blender or coffee grinder) and coconut oil hold them together. Add oats, shredded unsweetened coconut and dark chocolate or chocolate chips.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExsKxOp6jnwkTxH6psLCbY-BDWU-pEPuTRrq0RRletuJUbp1MpXQDOjEM8yeGowFxHXbKFv8zRpjaejZjwKH09O7FNqbzRPAlx6H0-BGUO7H5F2Ed6bKYWz3zGEPj7rGaDNHjSkhPNDM/s1600/_DSC0492.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExsKxOp6jnwkTxH6psLCbY-BDWU-pEPuTRrq0RRletuJUbp1MpXQDOjEM8yeGowFxHXbKFv8zRpjaejZjwKH09O7FNqbzRPAlx6H0-BGUO7H5F2Ed6bKYWz3zGEPj7rGaDNHjSkhPNDM/s640/_DSC0492.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576206810413047778" /></a><br />I also made <a href="http://">Banana Blueberry muffins</a> (pictured at top of this post - with skim milk and a combo of whole wheat and buckwheat flour) and a <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Brown-Butter-Soda-Bread-233910">Brown Butter Soda bread</a> with rosemary and black pepper (also with whole wheat flour). The rosemary and the black pepper made it really good. And Alison and her beau and her dog Rupert came over on Monday night for a VERY impromptu dinner party, where we made my kale salad and a mushroom pasta that I now can't find the recipe for. I have pictures of all that, but my camera is being fussy. But a good time and good food was had by all.<br /><br />Could someone see about making 3 day weekend happen more often?Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3602330649149870482.post-13716509837979674842011-02-22T09:19:00.000-08:002011-02-26T06:23:43.962-08:00Paris - Part 2<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJw4Lk3f4Wg5gDcD78Rqh2BTfH5xR6q7LqCPgNBgtfcHT-1f0xXQGGS2sFNUo0Td3GEf0d4imc9byPKH3oT6cxfAtGEA6Z04r7Ifn-j8IBpKOTm4c3vd-weeYNplgbBOFZ7vrokbVvpI/s1600/_DSC0133.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrJw4Lk3f4Wg5gDcD78Rqh2BTfH5xR6q7LqCPgNBgtfcHT-1f0xXQGGS2sFNUo0Td3GEf0d4imc9byPKH3oT6cxfAtGEA6Z04r7Ifn-j8IBpKOTm4c3vd-weeYNplgbBOFZ7vrokbVvpI/s640/_DSC0133.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576239844068704034" /></a><br /><strong>DAY 2:</strong> Monmarte & Sacre Cur, the Moulin Rouge, the Lapin Agile, several cafes, more wandering, a parfumerie, the Louvre just as it was closing and a wonderful dinner at a little pizza place just a few doors down from our hotel. Truth be told, we have come to call Monmarte our Waterloo. We may or may not have gotten into a wee bit of a disagreement and I may or may not have cried on the streets of Paris. Everyone should do it once, right? But it led to some really good conversations, so all was not lost. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_KfSTD092CPVdJKlN3wdVrHUSxF8JJWq-VMoimjlaWucHXF81YgXEgKrXbv77yaLM2d_VCWUryGsgZKH0s3zRHyouw8KYaBYdy_uiM9rPDi4-bue40dScN7DDBW16dMm9EEChcN2qLU/s1600/_DSC0119.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_KfSTD092CPVdJKlN3wdVrHUSxF8JJWq-VMoimjlaWucHXF81YgXEgKrXbv77yaLM2d_VCWUryGsgZKH0s3zRHyouw8KYaBYdy_uiM9rPDi4-bue40dScN7DDBW16dMm9EEChcN2qLU/s640/_DSC0119.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576239850951465410" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-rX00HJtnE7bXPl-OC3zwMjaNAw1hMi_wBXV-oYM9xqmuAtZXK49niS_Lia7OAANrR4l-n_4__sEi8uFju56pwE8tm-R8PCyAivjD6EJbDVNq516kZ_kKMoot9jbpCOV2zEgYwjaakY/s1600/ParisPaints.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz-rX00HJtnE7bXPl-OC3zwMjaNAw1hMi_wBXV-oYM9xqmuAtZXK49niS_Lia7OAANrR4l-n_4__sEi8uFju56pwE8tm-R8PCyAivjD6EJbDVNq516kZ_kKMoot9jbpCOV2zEgYwjaakY/s640/ParisPaints.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569914261973682850" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1l8GL-oAvsW4gvBxQydET5xwz4Iudijh6uGPz9SWWKzunZWQklpFQ_rqUuHOEaRiuNFirnu6zh-XoFSi4QaJwon48UI6QRPJaAz_2s0N0gmU7JaDuqlGElEa-uGs43Kp0eZyZVgWPjI/s1600/parisArtist.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ1l8GL-oAvsW4gvBxQydET5xwz4Iudijh6uGPz9SWWKzunZWQklpFQ_rqUuHOEaRiuNFirnu6zh-XoFSi4QaJwon48UI6QRPJaAz_2s0N0gmU7JaDuqlGElEa-uGs43Kp0eZyZVgWPjI/s640/parisArtist.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569914256057630850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz27EZxtYTWKfbVmNnnhkVyD9SMyGm4C1ombKqCu7szIcOTWXsKQsxOvirHuQVYSix94SI_WhokqNctRB0cv4_wtGVpOE0zQhUlm5axBDCNKMqB8CPZR0Lx3K-3BnBarlrL0QVexSBabc/s1600/_DSC0153.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz27EZxtYTWKfbVmNnnhkVyD9SMyGm4C1ombKqCu7szIcOTWXsKQsxOvirHuQVYSix94SI_WhokqNctRB0cv4_wtGVpOE0zQhUlm5axBDCNKMqB8CPZR0Lx3K-3BnBarlrL0QVexSBabc/s640/_DSC0153.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576239854549967490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wkXc27i1nmSLxOwyQdPJ8l5JXagARTgbIfIloF7Jbf79S45Ix2RKTsfBe8_35kvUhyphenhyphenZz_rj_ouapN8hS0GRDiPUNRcEbwxzasjJ3kUsX1qrF-L_jpnMVd8-8qZ0cdvcN8N6ZsnhZRZk/s1600/ParisVins%2526Liqs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wkXc27i1nmSLxOwyQdPJ8l5JXagARTgbIfIloF7Jbf79S45Ix2RKTsfBe8_35kvUhyphenhyphenZz_rj_ouapN8hS0GRDiPUNRcEbwxzasjJ3kUsX1qrF-L_jpnMVd8-8qZ0cdvcN8N6ZsnhZRZk/s640/ParisVins%2526Liqs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569981191403452658" /></a><br />I've decided Hal Holbrook would play this guy in the movie about his life. Either that or it actually IS Hal Holbrook.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8NZx2oMpx4LWiybbPMLPnh8qHNx_blit6oVLj2CMi_8Y_bqQcBeGleBFvg6KAsqueYaDDf-ZoV1hxyDnrNiI35VJ6bQYeN-QeMMofW0hXYUP8bXnJ40RGkbeewuuSPZyGChD1gIZCQ0/s1600/_DSC0191.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8NZx2oMpx4LWiybbPMLPnh8qHNx_blit6oVLj2CMi_8Y_bqQcBeGleBFvg6KAsqueYaDDf-ZoV1hxyDnrNiI35VJ6bQYeN-QeMMofW0hXYUP8bXnJ40RGkbeewuuSPZyGChD1gIZCQ0/s640/_DSC0191.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576243916144807618" /></a><br />Actual Moulin Rouge <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBUaHyNDg1ReN8J7A_cLCzmSn_kOBNbd5wAzjJbaKnfWBep6JlGpMH9PosG8_4lhHlgoKpcxSE0qNZae-VIzOrxl6Gtcg2MUu0xDEwO-KmcM6LXOBvKiA9d8NpoUzjNTQUNQpeoG8-fA/s1600/_DSC0238.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcBUaHyNDg1ReN8J7A_cLCzmSn_kOBNbd5wAzjJbaKnfWBep6JlGpMH9PosG8_4lhHlgoKpcxSE0qNZae-VIzOrxl6Gtcg2MUu0xDEwO-KmcM6LXOBvKiA9d8NpoUzjNTQUNQpeoG8-fA/s640/_DSC0238.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576243921404578354" /></a><br />The Louvre<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXQsqjz3JzMo1pJrUM637qZ-G8y0PIG4-mT5YFQznCi7vUrvB_Q4YYc2UzCAhoVoMItviaMBbwkxmI3lqC1qXJKjdeURO8RY9S0rgmdabgpeqXGebPJMYk3bbfG3uZDTvp9qmV48Aj5U/s1600/ParisLouvreNight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdXQsqjz3JzMo1pJrUM637qZ-G8y0PIG4-mT5YFQznCi7vUrvB_Q4YYc2UzCAhoVoMItviaMBbwkxmI3lqC1qXJKjdeURO8RY9S0rgmdabgpeqXGebPJMYk3bbfG3uZDTvp9qmV48Aj5U/s640/ParisLouvreNight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573589026049418530" /></a><br /><strong>DAY 3:</strong> Freeeeeeeeeeezing. Notre Dame, a stop for a warming cup of cafe in a cafe, wandering over near the Latin Quarter, an attempt to buy Geoff some gloves, but they broke after about 15 minutes, more photography, AMAZING french onion soup to warm me for lunch, a brief stroll through Luxembourg Gardens, a brief tour through The Musee d'Orsay (where we both fell for the same Degas painting), a frigid wait in the cold for a taxi, a nap at the hotel, a dinner at the corner bistro after being turned away from a reccommended restaurant, a late night crepe and a walk down the rue de Clare. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK8ykUZ7xgl4V-fQmpmhyphenhyphenpnwueQbQ0k2A_LSuOfq6ZfPl-ov7mG8yQNBICuOUATCkbK97D6AAVSt4RBzDFasGsdwe70m6bbopiGgjZs5yQLVgr6VbwK8cNrbM-E6vpJIdk6mPUIJn_gk/s1600/ParisNotreDAme.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK8ykUZ7xgl4V-fQmpmhyphenhyphenpnwueQbQ0k2A_LSuOfq6ZfPl-ov7mG8yQNBICuOUATCkbK97D6AAVSt4RBzDFasGsdwe70m6bbopiGgjZs5yQLVgr6VbwK8cNrbM-E6vpJIdk6mPUIJn_gk/s640/ParisNotreDAme.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573602131405650738" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGIf78MsMFBX3BsMoCfwptJpIZ8FURofE13lUbQjMHNyatvF3QGqeIPLPpwcun-zNa-otSmeQjas-Nz8GWKCEjvs_LX_GssadFogV02du_-UC_AlCebjlpexMAJDY8XZV47gtM07toXA/s1600/_DSC0294.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPGIf78MsMFBX3BsMoCfwptJpIZ8FURofE13lUbQjMHNyatvF3QGqeIPLPpwcun-zNa-otSmeQjas-Nz8GWKCEjvs_LX_GssadFogV02du_-UC_AlCebjlpexMAJDY8XZV47gtM07toXA/s640/_DSC0294.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576247698902978370" /></a><br />I was really taken with the statue of Jesus at the altar inside Notre Dame. I took about 47 pictures of him. You couldn't really see him directly from the front but I thought it was beautiful and there was something about it that really spoke to me. I know it's weird to talk him up and then show you a shot from behind the altar, but, again, angles of him were limited.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJYE4sLH87huLmYQziTkZKNhR3iAXvKMfpwRdnjFh53qYo5viTaFc00_qXjK-U3do5fVP72xnxYJ2tupeupPPf4kYwP0ustqt0u5G3QgjwFhx3nUyypjAwmTyDgLRhtsUaPzRgk8SoV0/s1600/ParisNotreDAmeJesus2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdJYE4sLH87huLmYQziTkZKNhR3iAXvKMfpwRdnjFh53qYo5viTaFc00_qXjK-U3do5fVP72xnxYJ2tupeupPPf4kYwP0ustqt0u5G3QgjwFhx3nUyypjAwmTyDgLRhtsUaPzRgk8SoV0/s640/ParisNotreDAmeJesus2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573602145188925538" /></a><br />Reeeeaaallly ready for my soup now, please.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6DceF9zPaMKorlPKrAAutrw95Sr6ZQs0SpAwoAwqsRlWnTYdZbn2eZlOLUloNx7BK5S0Nu2gw8XV2FTlXKJzLU0O9bT9u-E0g07vcFDrtexNBI1uwiOPyL2b2Br9IaUNt5GAbPgzOXg/s1600/ParisKateCOldLunch.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6DceF9zPaMKorlPKrAAutrw95Sr6ZQs0SpAwoAwqsRlWnTYdZbn2eZlOLUloNx7BK5S0Nu2gw8XV2FTlXKJzLU0O9bT9u-E0g07vcFDrtexNBI1uwiOPyL2b2Br9IaUNt5GAbPgzOXg/s640/ParisKateCOldLunch.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569912955100131506" /></a><br />Luxembourg Garden<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrzO1aKusQ9ARrsty4XUfd1Sa71wH4mTJmZVw0gs-dtTUxiRBJ-Bm5pZPaqnJJUMnB3vPoi_w6JmBdnsP9wrab5vMK1OH1UpylBfTIvJRDEBKhzTeCgbfpoTZQCw1BciCO327Zy5JV94/s1600/ParisLuxemborg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrzO1aKusQ9ARrsty4XUfd1Sa71wH4mTJmZVw0gs-dtTUxiRBJ-Bm5pZPaqnJJUMnB3vPoi_w6JmBdnsP9wrab5vMK1OH1UpylBfTIvJRDEBKhzTeCgbfpoTZQCw1BciCO327Zy5JV94/s640/ParisLuxemborg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569912958177026594" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJE6Vn1ndR3YGbo-3HD8COJF5O42bWbiEZC_30Mtm4U-rznjchYVEIwLJcMx1LdogEfan7uZ-OfGNr-GFPwfy4HUtsx-4ruRzxL-LhHSlVHp3H85FiXjxWzzPl3hnjmQ8loH8g3icJv4/s1600/_DSC0354.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkJE6Vn1ndR3YGbo-3HD8COJF5O42bWbiEZC_30Mtm4U-rznjchYVEIwLJcMx1LdogEfan7uZ-OfGNr-GFPwfy4HUtsx-4ruRzxL-LhHSlVHp3H85FiXjxWzzPl3hnjmQ8loH8g3icJv4/s640/_DSC0354.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576247704718505906" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV4POZcR374XtO0RITORfPUVe4WBbFAcvFTwts53LYRdXhjmQsyr1IfwEFvQ_ZHNsKVy-0wzlxNd5t2ys8PwrtEMzLMJkGB9NjnCXcTuby6sksZbo08RRRfLv0DDViH4MUgcW7Rpy0cs/s1600/ParisLuxRedCoatlady.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigV4POZcR374XtO0RITORfPUVe4WBbFAcvFTwts53LYRdXhjmQsyr1IfwEFvQ_ZHNsKVy-0wzlxNd5t2ys8PwrtEMzLMJkGB9NjnCXcTuby6sksZbo08RRRfLv0DDViH4MUgcW7Rpy0cs/s640/ParisLuxRedCoatlady.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573589034510427570" /></a><br />Latin Quarter - or thereabouts. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4lUEgpP6biqbbW6BI7GJxdoH0ZA6ysXiHNj-ICSScULBImWB_pHj3thbhtNNLGRqhPXNNbEDxsBNuCri6TWVoM6K7ttCAj2ii7wMoYjmZnBoMIA7xGkmqDA3conE7uDP5OmcR1cDJc4/s1600/_DSC0333.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc4lUEgpP6biqbbW6BI7GJxdoH0ZA6ysXiHNj-ICSScULBImWB_pHj3thbhtNNLGRqhPXNNbEDxsBNuCri6TWVoM6K7ttCAj2ii7wMoYjmZnBoMIA7xGkmqDA3conE7uDP5OmcR1cDJc4/s640/_DSC0333.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576247700982573394" /></a><br />How amazingly Parisien is she?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzMdaXBWYkbwPU93ydhMGn9_pggFSMwuXr5Xzmv55a-zJWw61T3kIMdXNQxPWsObyuRJVoKNcmpm78wxR1VUC4V1wfBfWTsuKQ35O5WlHgewKYWL2pAluU-ENMOHflR6pEBWOCZESH0E/s1600/parisFurCoatLady.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPzMdaXBWYkbwPU93ydhMGn9_pggFSMwuXr5Xzmv55a-zJWw61T3kIMdXNQxPWsObyuRJVoKNcmpm78wxR1VUC4V1wfBfWTsuKQ35O5WlHgewKYWL2pAluU-ENMOHflR6pEBWOCZESH0E/s640/parisFurCoatLady.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576669504373957490" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwowLqJDrLVAwe5al_gShX4LAGG9veE_9Fbm6UNxbmnfYdGlwIslfNn7isWITmA9cOd9YxwTsCbpIrkjONFL7eJ6gPx6cHdDkC5gc9PNtMqB6spdLnOqqNBJIlnstfaBvSLmzlR7tv2p8/s1600/ParisStorefront.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwowLqJDrLVAwe5al_gShX4LAGG9veE_9Fbm6UNxbmnfYdGlwIslfNn7isWITmA9cOd9YxwTsCbpIrkjONFL7eJ6gPx6cHdDkC5gc9PNtMqB6spdLnOqqNBJIlnstfaBvSLmzlR7tv2p8/s640/ParisStorefront.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576669502112910962" /></a><br />Musee d'Orsay<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaOYD_N8Vehw-0LVP7ZFhSCu_Ih3yPOSuJWLq5Q_-RzLlcwGeTFY_JWvrZ7vKduAJjw0MgPYe77T1Dy1nFA8GaID7LXy-YAAdiNn9e4Bpsneapq6_Bt5-AkMqaU4kGIqSE4kYwYuFiXU/s1600/ParisOrsayInside.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaOYD_N8Vehw-0LVP7ZFhSCu_Ih3yPOSuJWLq5Q_-RzLlcwGeTFY_JWvrZ7vKduAJjw0MgPYe77T1Dy1nFA8GaID7LXy-YAAdiNn9e4Bpsneapq6_Bt5-AkMqaU4kGIqSE4kYwYuFiXU/s640/ParisOrsayInside.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576669194717377938" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8v_4_ABhDpjpCMXkEgZ3ghy-dgiHp7o36G9cAXMvLW_Eem1yoMyudqiSTebg-lRBrr7UMTM6fP-37kOBPCpQOEUYES6tGj8eAo0Ur_E0MARwv8qqavYp3Bm6NXPdieBANUUuRlk8vnE/s1600/parisOrsayHorse.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii8v_4_ABhDpjpCMXkEgZ3ghy-dgiHp7o36G9cAXMvLW_Eem1yoMyudqiSTebg-lRBrr7UMTM6fP-37kOBPCpQOEUYES6tGj8eAo0Ur_E0MARwv8qqavYp3Bm6NXPdieBANUUuRlk8vnE/s640/parisOrsayHorse.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5576669195705724834" /></a><br />All in all, Paris was pretty gorgeous. Even with the cold and the grey. We would love to go back. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHekrDUtRnsckbrJN2KrnM3jMm-q31rHjgNZDceKC0HJh_jgWZDhyphenhyphenGcB60SqAbyPYqCd36Vv83RiozQK63GDcbwr5axLyCC21rBYEX-gES4eYYw76TFTxGs1Ssm8U4bLFWV4IfX-dRWeg/s1600/ParisSienneNight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHekrDUtRnsckbrJN2KrnM3jMm-q31rHjgNZDceKC0HJh_jgWZDhyphenhyphenGcB60SqAbyPYqCd36Vv83RiozQK63GDcbwr5axLyCC21rBYEX-gES4eYYw76TFTxGs1Ssm8U4bLFWV4IfX-dRWeg/s640/ParisSienneNight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569981184463027090" /></a>Kate and Geoffhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13356007632664655245noreply@blogger.com2