To Realize

My friend Meg sent this to me. Really hits home this time of year, when we are so busy trying to do everything. Spend a quiet few moments and enjoy!


To realize
The value of a sister/brother
Ask someone
Who doesn't have one.

To realize
The value of ten years:
Ask a newly
Divorced couple.

To realize
The value of four years:
Ask a graduate.

To realize
The value of one year:
Ask a student who
Has failed a final exam.

To realize
The value of nine months:
Ask a mother who gave birth to a stillborn.

To realize
The value of one month:
Ask a mother
Who has given birth to
A premature baby.

To realize
The value of one week:
Ask an editor of a weekly newspaper.

To realize
The value of one minute:
Ask a person
Who has missed the a train, bus or plane.

To realize
The value of one-second:
Ask a person
Who has survived an accident.

Time waits for no one.
Treasure every moment you have.

You will treasure it even more when
You can share it with someone special.

To realize the value of a friend or family member:
LOSE ONE.


Remember.....
Hold on tight to the ones you love!

Week 11 EP365

Here there and everywhere...and I'm 20% of the way through the year already!!!!!

Day 70 December 11, 2009
6 Geese 'A......Swimming???



Day 71 December 12, 2009
Drinking Games



Day 72 December 13, 2009
Southern Classic



Day 73 December 14, 2009
Foggy Start



Day 74 December 15, 2009
Who Needs A Truck?



Day 75 December 16, 2009
Silk Stocking Street



Day 76 December 17, 2009
Muddy Water

Random Thoughts

Thanks, Lori G., for these bits of inspiration.........

1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.
3. I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
4. There is great need for a sarcasm font.
5. How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
6. Was learning cursive really necessary?
7. Map Quest really needs to start their directions on #5. I'm pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
8. Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
9. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
10. Bad decisions make good stories.
11. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.
12. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blu-Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.
13. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
14. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this -- ever..
15. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Dang it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
16. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
17. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
18. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
19. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night, more kisses begin with Bud Lights than Kay.
20. Wouldn't it make your life a whole lot more fulfilling knowing you worked to live and not lived to work!

PC SEASONS GREETINGS

Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, my best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. I also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2010, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere . Also, this wish is made without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wish.

Week 10 EP365

The week went by fast!! Here's week 10 of EP365!!!!

Day 63 December 4, 2009
Another Friday Breakfast



Day 64 December 5, 2009
Future Amber



Day 65 December 6, 2009
Hangin' With Troy



(Alix's boyfriend is out of the hospital..he had the flu and got pneumonia...)

Day 66 December 7, 2009
Lamby Ears



Day 67 December 8, 2009
Karen's Tree



Day 68 December 9, 2009
She Didn't Cross the Road



Day 69 December 10, 2009
Anticipation

Week 9 EP365

Enjoy!!!!

Day 56 November 27, 2009
Friday Night Lights



Day 57 November 28, 2009
Perspective



Day 58 November 29, 2009
Basil Jungle



Day 59 November 30, 2009
Workin' On The Railroad



Dav 60 December 1, 2009
Another Walmart Victim



Day 61 December 2, 2009
Beer Drinker's Paradise



Day 62 December 3, 2009
Chilly Cherub

Home Again

It was weird having our final day in New York on a Tuesday.

Once more, the jackhammers had us curious.



I have never noticed this rooftop garden across the street before this year.



We loaded up and headed downtown for some more retail therapy before lunch at Balthazar.




This remains, after 10 (TEN????) years of traveling to New York with Cynthia and Minnett one of our favorites. Especially dessert--this year, caramelized banana ricotta tart with banana ice cream.



Flowers are always so beautiful at Balthazar.





Everthing went smoothly until Tommy turned to go into the Holland Tunnel...which was when I realized that the rest of the gang was flying out of Newark, and not out of LaGuardia with me. A few fast frantic phone calls later, and I found myself happily headed to Queens and LaGuardia (the cab ride was $90--glad someone else paid the bill!)

It was already dark when we boarded the plane and headed toward the runway. The lights were beautiful.



Glad they remind pilots of these certain things...



I realized almost too late that we were flying directly over Times Square, and I only got a blurred shot (it's the big blob of lights...)



But it was a severe clear night and the lights were amazing.





Yep, it was nearly 1am when I got home, but what a GREAT trip it was!

New York City Shopping and Fun

Our "Shop 'Til You Drop" day was Monday this year...and we had lots of fun!

We would have slept in, but couldn't as it was a work day..with accompanying noise.







We walked back from Bloomingdale's passing the newly restored and renovated Plaza Hotel.



Beloved Eloise is still there.



Cartier's already was wearing its bow.



The Christmas Tree at Rockefeller was "in process"



but skaters were practicing on the ice rink below...





Details abound in Rockefeller Center.





And then it was off to Les Halles!!!!! Chef Anthony Bourdain (who is one of my inspirations as a cook) wasn't there, but it was okay---it's still so glorious- the PERFECT bistro food made even better by 50% Wine Mondays. There is nothing more fabulous for a Monday than two bottles of wine at lunch.



"Shop 'Til You Drop" Day traditionally ends with the Cinamyn cocktail party, and this year ws no exception....





and then a delicious Greek-inspired dinner at Avra.

Good food, good bargains, good friends. Can't beat that combination.

New York City II- High Line and Jane Marx!

Sunday morning in New York means meeting with our friend Jane Marx, the most fabulous tour guide in the world.






This year she took us to see High Line Park. Truly Exceptional!













Dena was having fun.



















From the High Line, we could see the remnants of the old shipping piers.











Down on the street, we passed a charming detail on the lampposts.



As were the fireescapes of the old buildings in the area.



The afternoon matinee was Bye Bye Birdie.... and then dinner at

SPICE MARKET!!! Jean-Georges Vongerichten has done it again!!! Oh my Gawd! That food was simply amazing...so good that I bought the cookbook!!!

We were all happy!!!