Thanks, Uncle Kevin!

This morning I received an email from Kevin saying that he had done a little "digital magic" to my photos from the post below. So cool!

Mail

On Friday I got something in the mail from Kellyn that said...

I was trying to think of an adequate response, and I got an idea on Friday night. So on Saturday afternoon I headed to Times Square to take these pictures...

They did not turn out as good as I wanted (I would have liked more of Times Square in the picture). However, 1) it was kind of odd taking a picture like that and 2) it started pouring right after I took the last picture. I sent them to Kellyn and said I did get something in the mail from you (she had texted me earlier in the day to see if I received anything) and the answer is...

She got it. I was going off the below picture with the pose. This is Kellyn at Lake Tahoe in 1990 - I do not know why she was posing like that, but we have always referred to this as the "Yes" picture.

The wedding date is November 7, 2009.

Brooke's Visit to NYC

Brooke, Kyle's girlfriend, spent the weekend of June 5-7 with me in NYC. She was working in upstate NY the week before and after. On Saturday, we were ALL OVER the city. We started the morning by going to H&H Bagels, then we went to South Street Seaport to the TKTS booth. We wanted to see Rock of Ages, but when we got to the window to buy the tickets that show only had limited view seats left. So, we chose Guys and Dolls instead.

We then walked out to the pier to see the Brooklyn Bridge.

Then it was to Wall Street. George Washington took the oath of office right by where the NYSE is now located - we each got a picture with George.

Then we walked by the Bull - there are no Bears :)

From there we went to Battery Park and the Statue of Liberty. Then it was to Union Square for lunch and then to the West Village for Magnolia Cupcakes. Then to 5th Ave - Tiffany was one of our stops and then we walked through Central Park back to my apartment.

We had about a half hour or so to relax at the apartment before we met Jenn in Times Square for dinner and the show. We just went to Better Burger for dinner - I love their soy burger and everything there is organic.

We saw Guys and Dolls at the Nederlander Theater - we all really liked it!

After the show we were dead tired and slept in Sunday morning. We went to this little cafe for breakfast, and then spent a few hours in the park (Central Park, that is).

This is Belvedere Castle.

That was the end of that weekend. I am getting ready for more visitors now - my mom and dad come on Tuesday for the 4th of July.

Happy Father's Day, Dad!

Dad - Happy Father's Day. I wish I could be in AZ today, but you and Mom will be in NYC in a week and a half. Thanks for all your help with my NYC apartment this year. Have a great day. I love you. Kristin

Mackinac Island - Michigan Vacation - 1988

Lake Tahoe - Krause House - 1992ish

Chicago - 1994

Grand Canyon - 1998

Our first trip to NYC - 2002

Canada Cruise - 2003

Alaska Cruise - 2005 (P.S. Grandma, when are we doing another one of these???)

NYC Vacation - Christmas 2007

***Hope you enjoyed your Father's Day present - you will just have to listen to a little Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons today!

Soho, Lower East Side and Washington Square Park

On the last Saturday night in May, Jenn and I met up for a little exploring of NYC. We first had dinner at a restaurant in Soho, The Delicatessen. We shared a salad and grilled vegetables and hummus. We sat on the patio - the weather was so nice.

After dinner we walked to the Lower East Side to Babycakes. This is a vegan cupcake place that we had been to before - their cupcakes are so good!


After getting cupcakes, we decided to walk towards Washington Square Park. On our way there, we we saw these different looking flowers in a museum. The door to the museum was open, and this guy came out riding a Razor, so I asked him if I could run inside and take a picture. I got the picture, but everyone in that museum was very odd. We left quickly.


Before we got to Washington Square Park, we stopped for iced tea at the Tea Spot. They have fresh tea leaves and they brew your tea after you order - it was yummy!


We then sat in Washington Square Park watching the sites, eating our cupcakes and drinking tea and pondering life. I am so glad Jenn lives in this crazy city with me.

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!

Because I Love Her

Sam was due for her annual vet check-up and shots last month.  I have also noticed that she has been coughing more than normal (she has always coughed since I have had her, and the vet has always said that it was allergies) so I decided I should take her in.  I took her in a couple of weeks ago, and the vet said that her cough was probably due to asthma.  She said that the normal course of treatment was an inhaler, but that the medicine was costly.  I was thinking to myself, 1) there is NO WAY Sam would ever allow me to put a mask on her face for the inhaler and 2) that's a lot of money.  The other suggestion the vet had was to put her on prednisone.  I shot that idea down immediately given how much I HATE prednisone.  The final suggestion was that I could have an x-ray done of her lungs to try to diagnose it that way.

Tonight I took her for x-rays - they said she sat perfectly still for the x-ray - amazing - and there were some small areas of concern on her lungs.  The vet said it looks like an infection, but that cat's with asthma are more prone to infection.  Sam also has bad teeth and gum disease (teeth cleaning is next on her list to have done) so the vet said that could also be contributing to her cough.  The plan is to put her on an antibiotic for 5 days and see how she does and then we will go from there. 

Most people probably think I am crazy for doing this much for a cat, but I love her and she is worth it - even though she hisses at me half the time :)

This picture was taken a couple of months ago when I was traveling back and forth to Atlanta - she loves sitting on suitcases.

Last Graduation Post

On Saturday afternoon, we had a graduation open house for Mom.  Except for this time, unlike the rest of them, we held it at Grandma Hazel's.  We left a note on the door of our house as plenty of people mentioned that they were coming to our house on Saturday (even though we included a map and directions to my grandma's in the invitation).  Grandma did all the cleaning, so all we had to do was decorate and get food. 

Kellyn and I went over to my grandma's around 10am on Saturday morning to decorate, and my parents went to Costco to get food.  Grandma was terrified that we were not going to be ready by 3pm, but I think we surprised her at how quick we got everything together.  Lots of friends came to celebrate and Mom had a good time.

Mr. and Mrs. Crowell, Mrs. Lidman and Noreen - they are neighbors from 66th Street

Shane, David, Beth and Lesley - all cousins

Brett, Colleen, Alex, Leila, Brittany and Grandma Lois

Bob, Bill, Kathryn, Rob and Lois - friends from church

Grandma Lois and Leila - Leila's great grandma

Dad, Colby and Randy

Kellyn and I

After the party I had a 9pm flight back to NYC.  

Mom's College of Education Graduation

Mom and the Grandma's - they did not sit with the rest of the group during the ceremony and they missed my mom's name being called and her walking across the stage.  We even went up and told them to be ready when she was getting close.  After the ceremony, they said "Did they even call Janis's name?"  

Mom with her mom and brothers

Mom and Dad

The four of us - Kyle was being sworn in as a Peace Corp volunteer that same day.  He has that documented on his blog, Honduras Happenings.

Congrats, MOM!!!  You finished!

Dinner after the ceremony at Sam's Cafe at the Biltmore

Dad's favorite part of dinner - the white chocolate tamales