July 2, 2009
I love hotels with free WiFi…too bad this one isn’t one of them! Good thing I have my iPhone.
Strangest turn of events…my roomate, who was supposed to be in charge had to go back to Memphis for a funeral. She’ll be returning, but I’ve been totally on my own since I don’t know a soul from the group. I got into San Diego at 12:30 and managed to figure out which shuttle to take to the hotel. The line to check in was an acre long, so I stuck to my plan to check my bags and get to the Zoo while I had a chance.
That place is insane. I will share pictures as soon as I return, though I might have a little trouble whittling them down from 457. I’d love to be able to do it now, but aside from the Internet connection issue, I usually resize the images in Photoshop first to save upload space which I cannot do on the laptop.
I have a morning full of meetings today, but this afternoon I will take a trolley tour of the city that highlights historical locations throughout the city like Balboa Park (the Zoo is there as well as multiple museums), Coronado Beach, Gaslamp Quarter, Little Italy & Seaport Village among others.
I may have to work 12 and 13 hour days the rest of the trip, but already, it’s been worth it. Can’t wait to show you what I’ve seen!
Thank goodness I had the forsight to bring my cable for importing photos from my camera!
June 29, 2009
As I mentioned in a Shoot. Post. Repeat Daily, blog entry, Lucas is a fan of The Exterminators and we recenty met them while in Louisiana visiting Granna and Grandpa (my parents). Lucas got a really cool medallion at the flea market and wowed me with his coolness when selecting the ying-yang symbol as his second bottlecap. It’s so cool watching them grow up into their own little people. Of course we stalked their building on the way back to my parent’s house and snapped a quick photo. That log cabin protected by gargoyles belongs to the Vex Con guys. My newly turned professionally employed brother was there for the weekend too and we had ourselves a pretty good time. Mom and Dad’s backyard was in full bloom and awaiting its photoshoot, of course. It’s nice to just throw everything into the car and bust out of town sometimes.
Filed under Evan, Family, Games, Life, Lucas, Music, Random discoveries, Travel, Uncategorized
Tags: Evan, Family, Lucas, Music, our world, Travel
June 10, 2009
I got to Overton Park to pick up Lucas from Art Camp a bit early and had a minute to poke around with my camera since Evan was at school. Caught this little magnolia blossom. Just love this Southern bloom.
Because of the free 3 month membership, Lucas and I were able to head out to explore our local nature center. We hadn’t gone before because he was just too young to really appreciate it. This summer, it’s a good match even though he complained a bit while walking the trails (we just need to build up his stamina). He grew a little impatient with me taking pictures, but he got over it. I didn’t get carried away with a full-on photo shoot or anything. Here are a few highlights of this little oasis in the city:
“You looking at my baby? I cut you.”
What is this deliciously morose bloom? Does this background qualify as “bokeh?”
There were indoor areas that were very educational too. In one of the buildings you can check out “Discovery boxes” of various themes. We got one about butterflies and got to look through special glasses that show you how butterfly eyes see the world (multiple pictures of everything) as well as see various stages of the metamorphosis.
I thought the two above were quite unique. I loved that while it was in the midst of the city no traffic could be heard.
June 8, 2009
To our surprise Lucas decided to have a Carnival theme for his birthday party this year. Actually, he originally wanted something else (that neither he nor I can remember) but I suggested that it was a little too graphic/adult in nature for many children and he quickly acquiesced. The weather was perfect and though it was a ton of work, it was well worth it. We happened to have a huge tent we could set up and Oriental Trading helped us take care of all the goodies we’d need to decorate and use as giveaways for each game. We painted cardboard boxes and purchased items from the dollar store to have such games as: bucket toss, bean bag toss, clothes pin drop, bowling pin throw, duck match, punching balloons, darts & basketball. We had a little activity where the kids could color their own paddle ball game and get their faces painted. All of this to a festive soundtrack of old school circus calliope tracks. Besides hot dogs in adorable plastic labeled holders, we had other traditional carnival food as well. We had peanuts in the shell, popcorn all bagged up, individually wrapped cotton candy and snow cones. Lucas said it was the best day of his life.
As you can see, Lucas wasn’t the only one having a good time. Looks like Mom, Dad & Evan did too.
Happy Birthday, big boy. We love you so!
June 5, 2009
Summer is so fun because in many ways we are rediscovering our city. The Children’s Museum has had many facelifts since we’ve had a chance to check back and really, Evan is just exploring for the first time anyway! Good thing Lucas had his last day of basketball camp and we could check it out by ourselves. Many things were actually new to me this time around; for instance they had moved the Kroger grocery store to where the outdated body exhibit had been. Good call!
Evan is already ready to return! So fun to have time with him when he doesn’t have to hear “no.”
June 1, 2009
These are three adults that I spend a considerable amount of “proximity time” with. I made that word up just now. These ladies and myself make up 4 of 7 teachers on our hall. Which, I might add, is the very first ever Fine Arts wing or hall I’ve ever been privy to. I have the restroom in the studio and so the ladies come and go throughout the day and we chat while waiting in line or on the way back to class. Of course, the interchanges are always brief, but often funny or otherwise important. I took this at an art show they all participated in this year. I thought it was a nice Portrait of the Artists.
May 5, 2009
Lucas says he doesn’t really want to play soccer next fall; he wants to play basketball. It’s his life, so we’re not going to make him play, but I’ll miss being outside during practices and games (that is, if I can find a basketball program).
May 3, 2009
I finally got an opportunity to visit Grandma since she’s been home. We were all supposed to go, but ironically, Lucas came down with strep throat the day prior. He was broken-hearted he couldn’t come and I missed he and Matt being there, of course, but Evan got to be the center of attention and he needs that so much. We had a ball with the bubble machine, making hamburgers with Grandpa and of course wrestling too.
Grandma’s got a lot of healing left to do (and maybe some plastic surgery), but she has all her limbs and she’s still with us. I heard enough stories about this nasty virus that we were really concerned. Below I am posting a current picture, followed by a shot of her from my phone before ICU and one from after. Scroll no further if graphic details upset you (or your children are on your lap). I think she’s healing remarkably well.
And she hardly complained. I mean, just look at her affect here. She’s just dealing with it as it comes. I want to be more like her.
April 25, 2009
After Lucas’s soccer game this morning we headed over to Depot Square, the Historic District in Arlington. Some of our favorite things about that town are their festivals and community activities that all take place in and around the Depot. Someday I’ll head down there to take pictures just for the sake of taking pictures, but the shots of the building I got in haste will have to do for now.
You can see Evan’s apprehension here, but it didn’t take long for him to be having a great time on the train. For a quick minute before we left, Lucas asked me to take him over to the abandoned gin, where I stumbled upon what I thought to be contraband. I looked it up when I got home and it turns out they have somewhat recently began importing absinthe to The States. Who knew?
