Dinner in Central Park

A Blogging Hat Trick!

I've been excited to edit and post these pictures for almost a week now. Last Thursday night, my very sweet and romantic husband took me to dinner in Central Park. We ate at the Boathouse Restaurant, which is right on the edge of a small lake in Central Park, and overlooks such a beautiful scene - trees, water, ducks, rocks, gondolas, turtles and fish, etc. If it weren't for the high-rises just off in the distance, you'd never realize you are right in the center of Manhattan! New York is such an amazing town and I was ready with camera in hand at every opportunity - which caused more than a few natives to ask where we were visiting from.* Ralph gave our standard answer: 'We're from here, but my wife can't leave home without the camera'. HA! I honestly couldn't care less if I look like a tourist. :) Anyway, we had a great time out and really appreciated a romantic evening with just the two of us. (Thanks Mema for babysitting!)

Clock in Grand Central Station




The view from our table






The sunset from our table


After dinner, we took a walk through the park. We stumbled upon movie cameras, bright lights and a full cast & crew. We thought we had stumbled upon a movie set in the middle of Central Park, but it turned out it was just a commercial for Sleepy's Mattresses.


The gorgeous Plaza Hotel, currently under renovations.


On 5th Avenue, where they film the CBS Early Show.


Mecca, for the photographer/graphic designer. (The Apple Store)


Self-portrait in the window of Dior. There is some fiiiine shopping in this part of town...


A pup in the window of the Coach store.


Mecca, #2. Yuuuuuhhhhmmmmminess on wheels.


An art exhibition, made entirely from tin foil! SO COOL!!

*I never know how to answer this question, considering that in the last 10 years I have lived in the D.C. area, western Maryland, northern Virginia, Delaware, and now New York. And I spent my first 7 years in Pennsylvania. I don't know where the heck I'm from, really. But my standard answer is a simple "D.C."

UConn & Aunt Laura's Birthday

Blogging two days in a row! You just can't stop me! I'm on a roll!

Just trying to catch up with the blogging - still some great stuff to come! Does everyone else feel as busy as I've felt lately? Wasn't it just August a few days ago? And now Ralph tells me a week from today that it will be October already? Whaaa?

Anyway, back a few weeks ago, we went up to visit Jake's Aunt Laura (aka my sister-in-law, aka Ralph's sister, aka Sis, etc) for her 19th birthday. She is in her sophomore year at the University of Connecticut which is about 2 hours north of here. The campus was beautiful and the weather was perfect and we all had a great time. (Miss ya sis! Come home so we can go to Katzy's again!)



The campus is HUGE!


Jake took a short nap in the stroller.


Laura and her roommates


I LOVE this series I caught of the birthday girl and her proud mama. They looked so cute and luckily I was able to quickly grab my camera and my portrait lens before anyone ran off or got distracted (or noticed me shooting and became aware of the camera).


Jake gets a little love from the ladies...




Jake literally went from table to table in the student union to dance for everybody. This table full of co-eds found Jake particularly amusing... I'm really gonna have my hands full with this kid :)

A day at the Nature Center

I'm sooooo behind on blogging! I have so much to post, so many great pictures, so much going on! Which may be why I am behind on blogging, huh?

Well, for starters, here is a set of pictures from when I took Jake to the Greenburg Nature Center on one of our "Workless Wednesdays" (which sometimes end up being Workless Tuesdays, or Workless Thursdays, depending on what my work schedule allows). This was one of the last days in August, and as you can see, it was pretty darn hot out!



Jake got to pet a ferret!


In all of the spots that trees had to have been cut down, they still used them in creative fun ways!


Jake got to pet a real-live baby chick!



But he seemed to be more interested in picking up sticks and acorns...


I was pretty impressed with these adorable guys here...


And Jake really enjoyed playing on the old stump of this humongous tree....

I don't think we're in Delaware anymore...

Three REAL scenarios that happened to me in the last week, to fully make me aware that we're not living in Delaware anymore:

1. I'm in one of the Scarsdale salad places I like to frequent when I hear the following exchange:
Helpful Hippy Highschooler: "Hey, did anyone drop their keys?"
Well-dressed middle-age 'Lady Who Lunches', with alarm in her voice: "Does it say LEXUS?!"
Helpful Hippy Highschooler, examining keys: "It says.... Ford?"
Well-dressed middle-age 'Lady Who Lunches', disinterested: "Oh."
Everyone quickly turns back to their salads and the NY Times.

2. I make appointments for Jake and I at the local doctor's office in 'downtown' Scarsdale:
Doctor's Office Co-pay: $10.00
(Mandatory) Valet Parking for 1.5 hours including SUV surcharge: $8.00
What the heck???? Parking fees now rival quality medical care??? I sure as heck know the guy who parked my car didn't have a degree from Johns Hopkins.

3. Within a one mile stretch today (in nearby Greenwich, CT), I saw not ONE, but TWO Ferrari 550 Maranellos. For anyone who isn't familiar, this is a car that cost more than our house in Delaware. It has a top speed of 199 mph. It is also the one car that literally makes me weak in the knees upon seeing it. Jake heard gutteral noises coming from me when we drove past the first one (a convertible); by the time we saw the second one, he must have thought his mother was having a seizure.

Jake Vs The Spoon

I recently unpacked another box for my office and found my first digital camera! The thing is pretty awful for taking pictures, but it turns out it can still record video and sound. So, here is a video we recorded this morning in the kitchen of Jake trying to eat pureed peaches (baby food really) with a spoon. (5 mins long)

BBQ with Ralph's friends

We went to a BBQ over the weekend with some of Ralph's friends from high school. It's nice living so close to where Ralph grew up, because we have a nice group of people to hang out with again, and don't have to re-make friends after moving. Luckily, I adore Ralph's friends and their awesome wives and girlfriends.

We took Jake along and - shocker! - he was the life of the party... I elected not to bring my camera, but luckily the lovely hostess, Stacey, sent us these pictures.

Here is Jake on the swing with Ellen and Cory. If Ellen looks familiar, it's because she was a child star. Really! 25 bonus points if you can name one of the two very famous movies Ellen was in in the 80's. Hint: Ralph quotes one of them all the time, and it stars Chevy Chase...hmm....





Ellen, trying to get Jake to do the "WOOOOO!" sound on the swing.


Jake strutting his stuff...


Our Lil' P.I.T (Pervert in Training) cozies up to Stacey and Jen. Apparently Jake is a leg man....


He gladly posed like this over and over....


Jake and Ralphie enjoy the yummy BBQ goodness. I even cooked - no, REALLY!! :)


Our friend Henriette with her sleepy new son Christian.


And here is adorable Christian again, with his daddy Jeff.


I tried to help Jake fend off a pack of wild Golden Retrievers hell-bent on stealing food from toddlers. (tee hee)

Ocean City Maryland, Summer 07, part deux

Here are the pics that I wasn't able to post last time... enjoy!

Jake with Grandpa


Jake with Grandma


Jake eating a chocolate-covered strawberry on the Boardwalk (he wanted my Dolle's Caramel Corn, but it wasn't baby-safe)


Candy Kitchen, which can be found about every 2 and a half feet in Ocean City...


Ralph and Jake-a-boops (and Mister Squishy)


I love people-watching on the Boardwalk. Why, here's Homer Simpson, playing the accordian on the Boardwalk. No, really.


Last but not least.... as much as I complained about having to eat at a place called "The House of Chipped Beef" - I actually have to admit it was one of the better breakfasts we had in Ocean City. The food is fast, affordable and good. And the assortment of hats on the walls gives you plenty to look at while you are waiting.