Payson Day Trip - August

Today I drove up to Payson to spend the day with some of my favorites, the Bengerts. We hung out in the cool(er) weather and picked (and ate) a bunch of blackberries.

Jason took us for a "splash and dash" ride around the neighborhood.

This is the creek right in front of their cabin.

Jason and Michael with Jason's real-life tractor.

So many blackberries!

Lauren and I had made our way into the blackberry bush - they have so many thorns.

Molly was the basket holder...although I think she also ate a lot of them too, as you can tell from her face.

Such a great day trip to be able to drive 1.5 hours north and lose 20 degrees off the temperature. Next time will plan further ahead and stay the night.

Christmas Trip to AZ

I was in AZ for Christmas from December 17th-29th. It was a nice long trip home - although my trips there always go by too fast. Here are some highlights...

Colby and Otis. Since I was home for a good length of time, I brought Otis and Sam with me.

Dinner with the Greens. Kellyn and I had them over for dinner at her house. Such a good night of catching up.

Caitlin and Kellyn.

Aaryn, Nikki and I.

I visited with Mikele one night. No pictures with her, but I did get one with Miles and Kate.

I drove the Grandma's around Scottsdale/Phoenix one night to look at Christmas lights.

Cruzer, Mom and Kellyn came too.

I had brunch with Jaime and Blake at La Grande Orange.

I took the cats outside every once in a while - they don't get to sit outside in NYC so I figured some fresh air and sun would be good for them.

I had dinner with Scott, Julie and Brady at True Foods at Scottsdale Quarter. We attempted to go to Railroad Park to ride the train but the line was way too long.

Dinner with Montana and Aubrey at True Foods at the Biltmore.

And dinner at True Foods with Lauren followed by a "slumber party" since Jason was out of town.

Axis Radius

After the ASU game, we all went home and changed out of our maroon and gold so we could go to Axis for the rest of the night (really, it was early the next morning). None of us had been out in a LONG time, and the only reason we were going was because it was Aaron Cuoco's last night of dee jaying at Axis. Better known as DJ Swerv, Aaron had been the DJ at Axis for the last 10 years. When we were in college, Axis was our favorite place to go because Aaron would put us on the list so we wouldn't have to pay cover.

Lauren and I before leaving my parents' house. On my first night of going dancing back in 2001, Lauren brought me some clothes to borrow because I didn't have any "clubbing clothes" which back then consisted of a nice shirt and black pants - no jeans, they had to be black pants :) When I stopped going out dancing a lot a few years ago, jeans was what people wore. Now, the girls where cocktail dresses.

Lauren, Me, Kelly and Jenn.

We got glowsticks. I thought this was a cool picture of Lauren and Jason.

Jenn and DJ Swerv.

Paul and Aaron.

We stayed until 2am and closed down the place. Definitely the end of an era...I don't think I will ever go to Axis again. Lots of good memories though and fun nights of dancing with the Ukazu group. Thanks Aaron for always getting us on the VIP list!

"You Look Like Alumni"

We went to an ASU football game.

No, we did not take Kellyn's puppy, Cruzer with us. He just wanted to be in the picture.

On our way into the game, we bought water from a vendor outside the stadium and our conversation went something like this:

Water Boy: Are you alumni?

Kelly: Yes, do I look like an alumni? We don't look like students?

Water Boy: No, you look like alumni.

Me: Do I look like an alumni? (I know, alumnus is the correct term.)

Water Boy: You look like a teacher. (At least he didn't say professor.)

Do we really look like alumni?

Maybe because we didn't cut our shirts and tie them down the side.

Oh well, we still had a good time watching some football in the desert. And I don't mind looking like alumni with this group of friends. We did go to Axis Radius after the game so that's gotta count for something, right? :)

Memorial Day Weekend 2009

This Memorial Day I stayed in NYC and had a weekend of various visitors.  On Saturday, my friend Gary from KPMG was in the City for the weekend with his wife.  I met up with Gary on Saturday afternoon, and I took him to KPMG's offices and then we went to Blockheads for lunch.  I also took him on my Lower Manhattan tour (Battery Park, Statue of Liberty, Ground Zero and Wall St.

On Saturday night, Jason and Lauren arrived and we got sushi for dinner.  Sunday morning we went to Glacier Bakery and got breakfast and took it to Carl Schurz Park and ate by the East River.

We then walked to Central Park for a while.

Sunday night Jason and Lauren had a wedding to go to.  Monday morning Lauren and I had breakfast (H&H Bagels) in Central Park and then Jason and Lauren were off to the airport for their trip to Italy.

Self portrait in Central Park

On Monday afternoon, I met up with a group from Trinity Grace for a Memorial Day picnic on the Great Lawn in Central Park.  

It was a good weekend and I wish I had a 3-day weekend every week!

Oops...

As I was loading pictures onto my computer tonight, I realized that I had forgotten to post Jason and Lauren's weekend visit here at the end of January.  In mid-January, Lauren mentioned that she would possibly be here for work, and if so, did I mind if she stayed the weekend with me.  Of course I didn't mind (especially considering the NUMEROUS times I stayed with here when she lived in the City)!  She did end up making a trip here for work, and Jason found a cheap flight, so he decided to come as well.

On Friday night, we went to Blue Water Grill in Union Square for dinner.  It happened to be Restaurant Week in NYC and J & L invited some of their other NYC friends to dinner.

Ata, Me and Lauren at dinner - Ata lives here but knows Lauren from high school.  NYC Restaurant Week happens twice a year, and during that time participating restaurants have a moderately priced Prix Fixe menu.  I did not even know about Restaurant Week, and I will be participating again in the future.  After dinner, we all went bowling (I can't remember the name of the bowling alley, all I know is that it is in Union Square).

On Saturday, I had to work, and J & L went to their house that they own in New Jersey.  Saturday night, we met up again with some of their friends for dinner at Tony's Di Napoli.  I had been to the Tony's in Times Square before (with Lauren and again with my family).  There is also a Tony's a couple of blocks from my apartment, and this is the one that we went to.  The sangria was a hit, as well as the ice cream sundae.

Sunday we walked around for a while.  Lauren at Pets on Lex with a jack russell - this is the pet store where they adopted their jack, Rooke.  He was a cutie and hopefully he is in a good home.

Doing some shopping at Ann Taylor Loft on Madison Ave.

This fire hydrant had broken and the water looked as though it had frozen in mid-air.  The picture doesn't really do it justice - it was much neater in person.

We had a fun weekend and I think Lauren is coming back in June!  I love having visitors :)

Greasewood Flat - Lauren's BD

Yesterday was Lauren's BD - she joined me in the "28" club. We headed up to Greasewood Flat to celebrate her birthday. Greasewood Flat is an outdoor steakhouse with live music. It was the perfect weather to go - cool enough that it was nice to sit by the fire but not too cold. I had a grilled cheese sandwich for dinner - it was Fat Kid Friday. Normally I would have ordered the chicken breast but since I am not eating chicken anymore (more to come on that later this week) I went with the grilled cheese.

W had tried to bring in stuff to make s'mores, but I guess they have changed their rules because they told us that we could not bring it in. After dinner we sat by the fire while the guys played some horseshoe. On our way home we also stopped at The Gelato Spot.

Lauren & Jason (her husband)

My face is still a little fat from the meds

Paul and Jason having cigars

Getting a picture of Lindsay's boots

Group pic - Paul (Lauren's friend), Me, Lindsay (Lauren's sister), Ryan (Lindsay's fiancee), Lauren, Jason

It was a fun night and it is so nice having Lauren back in AZ :)