Can I Keep It?

The Eiffel Tower

Okay, so that night, Nay and I got out into the city and went to see the Eiffel Tower , er Empire State Building. I do not know why I called that building that, but every time I opened my mouth to say it, Eiffel Tower came out.  It got to be so common that Nay Nay started acting as if that were the actual name. Oy.

Part of the CityPASS will let you go to the Empire State Building twice in one day, daylight and dark.  We had so much we wanted to do that we opted for the night views only.  And it was stunning.  A bright sprinkling of color awash for miles around us.

The other thing about the pass is that it upgrades you to the express elevators.  No trudging up nineteen bazillion steps!  Zoom!  Right to the top to see this:

We stayed up laughing until two thirty in the morning.  Draggin ourselves up at nine to go to the Metropolotain Museum. 

It was soooo very crowded.  Nay decided to photo bomb as many family protratis as she could.  I knew when she grabbed my arm, to put my face next to hers and smile.

Despite everybody taking pictures of the work right in front of signs asking them not to, I was a good girl and did not whip out my camera.  But ohhhhh! We saw so many lovely paintings and sculptures.  We had lunch right next to Rodin's The Burghers of Calais.  There were just so many mavelous delights at every turn, I had trouble focusing on the one in front of me.  It was definite ADHD for me that day.  I believe all either of us did was grunt, "Look! LOOK!" to the other for hours.

And at some point, we stepped inside Grand Central Station, but I can't remember if we were coming or going, so I'll just insert it here.  Why not.

We spent the evening on the balcony with nibblies and drinks and rested up for the marathon the next day!

 

 

Things I'm Doing on My Summer Vacation

Week before last, my friend, Nay Nay, whom I have not seen in like, ten years (!) texted me to see if I were up for a girls weekend in NYC.  And I said, "YES!"

 

Her stepson nad his pretty wife were off to Russia visiting her relatives. Their cat, Bella, had recently had intestinal surgery and needed some special care while they were away.  For a free apartment in the City?  I'd be delighted!

Beautiful Bella resting peacefully in bed.  Seems she had been refusing food, throwing up, and had generalized pouting disorder.  At home?  She was fine.  Never lost her dinner.  Ate like a truck driver.  Napped like she was a champion.

This big guy is Finnegan.  He, however, groomed so much that he had a hairball.  On my bed. Nice.  The two of them fought over who got to sleep on my bed and my luggage.  At least it was his turn for the bed and not my suitcase.  Small miracles abound, people.  We take them where they are given.

After eating lunch and picking up Bella at the vet, Nay and I went to the store and bought some supplies.  Okay. Two stores.  One of them may or may not have sold adult libations.

On our way home,we got caught in the rain.  Sadly, we had no pina coladas.

 

But we made up for it on the balcony when we got back to the apartment.  Which, by the way, had fabulous views of Manhattan. We could see the Chrystler building and the Empire State building from just about every window view.

 

 The next morning, we took a stroll on the Long Island City East River Walkway.  Beautiful.

And took the ferry across the East River to 34th street.  And we. Walked. Across. Manhattan. To catch a cruise to visit Lady Liberty on the Hudson!

At the cruise line, we bought a city pass so we couold cram in as many touristy things as we could in the four short days we were in the Big Apple.  As many times as I have been to NYC, I had never done anything touristy. In my twenties, my first husband and I went all the time, but it was always to a party or to hang out with friends in a bar. In my thirties and forties, it was always a work destination.  Zali saw New York maybe five times himself.  He knew all the best places to pee at the Javitz Center.  And his favorite restaurant was Blossom.  A vegan restaurant in the Bronx.  Vegan. Yes. Not even kidding.

 

Me and the lady.

After the cruise, we walked the HighLine.  It's a long walking park that the city converted from an old raised railway, no longer used.  Now it is a beautiful garden.  We stopped at the Chelsea Markets fro a nosh and i had the best soft shell crab sandwich of my life.  And I am an afficianado of the soft shell crab.

The Gehry and Nouvelle buildings.  Both are award winners.  Obviously.

But I'll leave it here.  More tomorrow! 

 

 

Just got back...

From the River House in Gatlinberg for Thanksgiving.

 

One of my favorite places on the planet.

And it snowed!

Before and After

Before the ceremony, Hud and I checked in to the gorgeous Romeo and Julliet Suite at the Peabody.

And they brought us strawberries and champagne!

Hud took me to lunch at Rizzo's downtown.  It was divine.

Blackened catfish eggs benedict.  Because you just should.

Then it was a quick trip back to the Peabody to change and hop into our carriage for a leisurely ride down to Tom Lee Park to meet our friends for the exchange of our vows.

Of course we chose the carriage with the most dogs and the sassiest horse.  Meet dapper Diesel.

Diesel was a commedian.  He took his time to get places.  In fact when the driver swatted him and told him to go faster, Diesel would clippity clop for about a foot and a half.  Then he would turn around and snort, like, "Yeah, buddy.  Like THAT'S gonna' happen."  Hud and I didn't care.  The unexpected part of the trip down to the river were all the smiling people, waving and wishing us congratulations.

When we arrived and dismounted, the driver stopped to offer Diesel a drink from his water bucket.  Diesel cut his eyes and smashed his snout into the bucket, spewing water everywhere!  And then he threw his head back, bared his teeth in a wide grin and laughed and laughed and laughed.  "Tip your waiters and waitresses, folks!  I'll be here all week!" The driver exclaimed that he always did that.  And I said, "Of course he does.  It's funny!"

Afterward the beautiful ceremony, we all made our way back to the Peabody to our suite.  What I hadn't shown you before is that the rooms are on two levels with a narrow winding staircase that leads to the living space.

The ceiling were about twenty five feet tall.  It was stunning.  I had brought our wedding albums.  Hey, with twenty-seven photographers at the first event, we have a couple of books and a huge photo box of prints from our wedding.  It was,um, well documented.

I put my incredible bouquet by Rachel's in a vase and started to cut the cake we had our friend, Joel of Manna, make for the occassion.

Well, tried to cut the cake.  Unfortunately, the table was cut as low as my dress, so Hud had to do it!

We talked and laughed and ate Joel's Chocolate Dulche de Leche confection that tastes like a dream and comfort, sprinkled in unicorn sneezes and happiness. Our lovely friend, Tracey arrived just in time for the treat.

When everyone left, Hud took me to a wonderful dinner at Chez Phillipe.  After that, it's none of your business!  Let's just say that we had the best day ever.

*wink*

 

 

I'd Do It All Over Again

This past month was a whirlwind of activites with my life rushing over me at such a swift pace that it took my breath away.  In cleaning up the house, fixing broken bits of it, packing up some of the clutter and brick-a-brack like Hud's Stanhope collection and my fourteen sets of dishware, it happened.  We fell in love with the house.  Hud and I and our menage a trois love affair with Schyterbolle is hot and heavy again.  We're just not quite ready to break up with her.  In doing so, I gave up most of my studio to make an apartment.  Hud called Rhodes and as luck would have it, a returning foreign exchange student called two days later needing immediate occupancy. She's happily ensconced in her new home and I can get on with my ninety thousand unfinished projects.

Whew.

In the midst of it all, we did find time to celebrate this special occassion.

 

Hud and I renewed our vows in a small ceremony down by the Mississippi River.  There were only seven of us present.  Hud's best man from our wedding, Calvin and his wife, Jamie, the original photographer at our wedding sixteen years ago, Keith and his wife, Donna, the two of us and our dear friend, Bob, who officiated the event.

We chose well in Bob.  He had some lovely things to say about us and our marriage.  Everyone was in tears.

 Hud said the most wonderful heartfelt things to me.  Everyone was in tears.

 And then it was my turn.  I retrieved my vows from my bosom.  Everyone laughed.  Hey.  Don't judge.  There weren't any pockets in that dress!  I managed to choke out my words for Hud.

That's Calvin, Donna, Hud, Me, Bob and Jamie  with the Mississippi River Bridge and Big Muddy in the background.

And here we are with our longtime friends, Donna and Keith.

October 4, 2013 was just as special as that same day, sixteen years ago.

 

Happy Birthday to You

Happy birthday, Evie!

You've been gone two years and ten days now.  I've missed you every single minute. I read some of our old letters today.  The ones so long that we made up commercial breaks and drew cartoons in. I miss you telling me about swim meets and what the kids were being funny about and dinner parties and begging me to go on The Amazing Race.

Evelyn always had a death wish for me.  At least that's what I always joked to her.  She took me skiing - I ran into the lodge. She took me to the beach - I was in the water with a shark inches from me. She drove me home from a mountain trip - we nearly froze to death because the heater in Dennis, her car, went out.  It was always something.  Mostly due to my clumsiness.  A trait she found comical.  I was the center of some of her best stories.  

Evelyn's life was an adventure. She always found the most wonderful things for her family to do.

 And my one regret in life is that I did not go on that adventure to The Amazing Race with you.  I probably would have broken my leg, but we would have had a hilarious story out of it.

Love you, sweet mischievous spirit,

Angela

Evelyn at sixteen, stopping by my house before heading off to work at Roy Rogers.  Heeee.

Whew

The last couple of weeks Hud and I have been social butterflies.  Good thing he has a five day weekend coming up.  I need a rest. 

We photographed the Rhodes College graduation for one.  Went to a wedding at the Metals Museum for another.

The river is very high from all of the snow run off up north.  It's racing so fast that the barges going downstream disappeared in  a matter of minutes, while the ones travelling upstream?  Are probably still fighting the current six days later.

We went to a Gatsby Party, which was grand fun.  And my Art Deco jewelry got to go out for the evening, which it adored. Art Deco jewelry loves a good party.

Our friends, the Flowers.  Hud has known Calvin since they were babies, like sixty years.  Not being hyperbolic, even.  For reals.

We're having the house refinanced.  Zali and Simone were not impressed.  They had to go to jail for a few hours while the appraiser was here.

Muhzer! Wee are ze stressed owt!

I should have put Simone in her Thundershirt. Hud and I did Paws for a Cause a couple of weekends ago and I gave in and bought her one to ease her anxiety.  Two years ago, without warning, Simone became petrified of thunderstorms.  The slightest rumble would cause her to shake so terribly that I was afraid she'd rattle her teeth out of her head.  When I discovered her hiding behind the toilet after I got out of the shower, I knew that I had to try something.  And you know what?

EffingFunderCanBiteMe.GrowlAtSomebodyElse,AshullSky.

It works!  

The Thundershirt doesn't completely put her at ease, but during yesterday's storms, she merely panted a few times.  No shaking!  Simone even managed a nap during a particularly strong line of storms.  I may get one for Boudreaux.  Zoe didn't teach him how to catch a ball like an Olympian, but she did transfer her fear of the vacuum cleaner.

And we went to bunch and lunches with a variety of friends.  That's about enough, isn't it?

Well, there is this:

A baby Fig Parrot.  From Zooborns.com.

You are welcome.

Thanksgiving Love

This  is who I had Thanksgiving with this year.

There is a rumor that the room was filled with 27 people and the world's cutest baby.  I wouldn't know. I only had eyes for Zoey.

Who the heck photoshopped in that man with Zoey?  

Oh, yeah.  I guess we ate something.  We were in the gorgeous mountains in Gatlinburg at the home of my college room mate or something.  Stayed at their River House right on the water or something.  Drank a bunch of moonshine downtown or something.  Did I get any pictures of those? I don't remember.

I miss you, Zoey.  Sigh.

Art Assistants

One of my dearest friends in the whole world sent me a photograph of her newest studio assistants...

I think I hate her now.

Happy Birthday

Sunday was your birthday.  You would have turned fifty.  Happy birthday, Ev.

I thought about you all day.  You know, I still have your texts on my phone.  If I use my best magical thinking, I can pretend you're still here when I read them.  The first texts I ever got.  They're at the top, so sometimes I scroll and run into them.  A warm, sweet surprise. So happy birthday, Evie.

And hey.  I miss you.