New York City

A few days with a great client in Connecticut that I have known for 24 years and then into Manhattan for the weekend with high school buds.

It could not have been better.

Friday night started with four of us at the Metropolitan Museum followed by dinner at a lackluster French restaurant on 86th. Not a sliver of silence was allowed at the table.

It snowed on Saturday, we bundled and went to do it all. Christmas Market at Union Square, the Frick to see the Vermeer show, dinner at Mayville and then a new play that opened Thursday to great reviews. We walked seven miles and talked more than that, getting full mileage out of the time.

Sunday was mass at St. Pat's and breakfast (it was breakfast, lunch and dinner for me--so much food) then met another friend, another Christmas Market before they all left me. I felt the silence. So, I walked to the movie theater where Philomena was showing. The same theater where I saw Romeo and Juliet when I was a teenager. Both of those movies are recommended.

Today the city is sparkling and sunny. No sign of the Saturday whiteness.

Old friends. Love.

Cooking

Surviving the ice storm of 2013 has been achieved.  And, I did it quite well--not really bragging more stating fact. I didn't freak out.  I remembered to turn off the sprinkler system and to wrap the pipe outside.  I stocked up on red wine.  Storm?  Bring it on.  I put a box in the garden for Mama Kitty, the feral mom of Moesly and she did not freeze because she still shows up for her 5:30 snack.

Four inches of ice, nobody going anywhere Friday, Saturday or most of Sunday.  I finally has to see what my Jeep had in it so went out Sunday afternoon.  Just to get out of my garage and driveway I had to put it into 4 wheel low and be careful.  Done.  Ice is not to be screwed with, the roads were a mess.

My flight to Philadelphia on Monday was cancelled so that has lengthened this time at home to almost four weeks.  Sleep, reading, cleaning the multitude of layers on my desk, and obsessive fascination with  five seasons of The Sons Of Anarchy has taken up most of my time.  Mix in there trips to the vet, cooking for eight people on Thanksgiving, a bazillion doctor appointments, and The Sons of Anarchy and that sums it all up and brings us up to date.  Time alone.  Thinking.  Writing.  Add those in too.

Now, tonight,  I am going to cook this recipe with the truffles from Croatia.  Or almost--because I do not have the cheese, or the anchovies or the called for pasta but, hey, directions are just one person's opinion.  And I have my own.

Connecticut tomorrow for two days with my client and then Manhattan.  Ahhh…the luxury and excitement of it.  I will be seeing friends and friends and plays and art.  Sublime.

And there might be more Sons of Anarchy left in the queue.  Gemma--that is who I want to be because she totally kicks ass.

November Hair

Happy Birthday, Grandma Ann

My grandmother--my mom's mom--lived with us most of my life.

How lucky was I to have this kind and gentle woman in my life for so many years?  She was wonderful.  And brought all that Irish with her.

Happy Birthday, Daddy

 I still miss my dad.  He was a character and never passed a golf course he didn't want to play.

He was also a veteran and served in World War II.  

XXOO

Trogir, Coatia

Croatia. A blend of history, present and rebuilding. The war was here 20 years ago and the new is new, the old is old.

Yesterday in driving from Dubrovnik we slide through a slice of Bosnia. Just enough time for a coffee, beer and a pee. Got the stamp in the passport to prove it.

This is Trogir which is an UNESCO city--lovely view outside my window.

On the Way

The adventure trip for 2013 begins with breakfast in Heathrow Airport on the way to Budapest.

Caviar, toast points and champagne. Just totally civil.

This Is Gonna Leave A Mark

These little 'surgeries' are happening too often anymore. Slice and dice and ten stitches later I have a big ass welt on my right arm.

Check yourself often for irregularities on your skin. This one was (love that is WAS) a squamous cell carcinoma. Both my parents had skin cancers so I am primed to have the same. I see my dermatologist every three months now to see what else is growing. Slowly, it is starting to freak me out that I keep having my body cut into and burned.

Then again, I am grateful that I have insurance and this can be taken care of so easily.

Bah.

Oklahoma

The streets roll up pretty early here. Made way for a beautiful sunset.

Life is good.

September Hair

Then and Now-41

Funny to run across this picture now...my hair is almost the same length as it was here--and the same color, thank you very much Nice 'n Easy 110.  That was my HS graduation dress, and here I was wearing it for a bridal shower in Pittsfield, Mass..  Good lord that dress was short.  Not sure about my body language here...think I was just listening.  I still have that charm bracelet.  

And here I am now.  How did time travel from there to here?  I really am amazed by that warp.  This photo was taken a few months ago by a professional photographer for my business website -- hair is longer now.  Letting it go...why not?  I can create what I want this life to be now.

July Hair

Watermelon, Texas Style

 

 

Well, look at that!  I am growing a watermelon.  There is another one but it is a bit deformed so no showcase that one.  I stuck this plant in the bed, threw last year's compost on it and haven't checked in weeks.  A small yelp just might have escaped me when I saw the melon.  Amazement--right out of the ground.

Texas Heat

 

 It is finally getting hot in Texas.  And I love the heat--so this makes me happy, most of the time.  Then there are the times the air conditioning is the best thing every created on this earth--at least until the energy bill comes.

It is the shimmering time of the night and shimmering is a lovely thing.

4th of July

June Hair

Walking Chicago

This is what I pack to walk 40 miles in the Avon Breast Cancer (not the Susan G. Komen) walk.  40 friggin' miles.  Those shoes? They have lots of miles on them with all the training walks that have been done.

I don't like walking 40 miles.  I am in Chicago now, tomorrow and Sunday for this walk.  For the first time (this is my fifth walk) I am alone to do this, pretending that is ok.  I know I will meet 1000's of new friends tomorrow and right now it is just the emotional start of the whole thing.

Thinking of all the women I know that have fought breast cancer keeps me walking in these damn things.  I have to raise $1800 just as an entrance fee and my friends have been loyal and generous.  I set my goal high and have reached it.  The humbling effect of the willingness to give to me year after year is immense and I do not take it for granted.  Every time an email arrives saying 'You Have A Donation"   I am grateful.

This sucks though.  As many survivors that there are,  I do not have my friend Patricia.  Or my colleague Jan.  Or two friends from high school.  I walk to attempt to inch to a cure so others survive--and progress has been made.  

And, tomorrow morning at the crack of too early walkers will be signing names to the balloon obelisk that is there to write messages on--and that is when many cry.  A few minutes later 1000's of amazing people face forward and walk 40 frickin' miles to stop the tears.

Cincinnati

I moved from Cincinnati eleven years ago this weekend--I was ready and ok with moving.  Coming back this weekend I was reminded how beautiful and vibrant a city it is at all times.  There was so much going on--the Taste of Cincinnati was in full swing and fun.  Clubs, restaurants, music, diversity and old friends.  

Glad to be going back Texas, though.  I like the quiet.

Texas Pretty

This is the first week since December that I have not had to get on a plane to fly some place for business.  I am glad to be home, and I am glad to have a vibrant business.  It is all good and very tiring.  It is a nice time to be in Texas right now before the furnace of heat starts.

I do have to get on a plane on Thursday to fly my calico cat up to Cincinnati.  She is going to live with my husband and I think this is a good thing for both of them.  I am going to miss the crazy bitch.

Houston Nice

Outside Boulder, Colorado

Utah. I love you.

April

Oklahoma Morning

I love this morning view from my hotel. There a story there someplace.

Earth City, Missouri

A Wee Bit Of Weather

This is definitely not Texas.  The snow is nice to visit in Tarrytown, New York and lovely to leave.  Looking forward to the Texas warm.

Awesomely Nice Customer Dinner

North Carolina

North Carolina has rolled out a nice cloud bank after the rain this morning.  It is clear and crisp here now.  Boulder to North Carolina--curious pairing.

I flew in early, because, well, there are thrift shops here.  The Assistance League was worth the stop.  They usually are--good clothes, fairly priced and well displayed.  I bought two tops and five CD's, including a Jimmy Buffett that I don't have--how is that possible?   And a bunch of meditation music to try and calm my ragged ass down.

The rental car was not good--first, they had no cars (wtf?) and then I grabbed an SUV that many people had smoked cigars in, many, many times.  Had to take it back and ended up with a Dodge SUV.  Not good on styles of cars so don't know what type except it has a really good sound system in it.  Finally, finally heard Mumford & Sons after reading about them on a lot of blogs.  Yeah, I know I could Google, iTunes or Youtube them but I like to have things appear when they are supposed to appear.

This pulled me in when it played on the radio.  Then, youtube mesmerized me with this and now I am just obsessed.  Listening to Pandora.  It's the words, the rhythmic gentleness and a chord of my celtic river.

Boulder

Maximillion P. Cat

February 5, 1996-February 25, 2013

My heart is broken, my love will last forever.  I hope like hell I will see him again.

Best orange and white cat ever.

February Hair

Still growing my hair out--I am going to see if I can make it about three more inches.  And out this white sweater is going to go.  Not a good look.

California, Santa Barbara Style

It has been one amazing week. New Orleans then Santa Barbara with a 12 hour stop at home in between.

New Orleans, oh yeah

Texas Style Winter

 

 

Tappen Zee Bridge

The first business trip of the year is to Tarrytown, New York--what a charming place.

This time, I am with a colleague and an account executive that I like a lot.  Great way to start the year.

Judie and I drove around as soon as we arrived and hit this view of the Zappen Zee Bridge at sunset.  Sometimes life just works out right.