Love is in the Air

Oh to be young and in love...and broke! Moving to a BIG city was not cheap for a couple who got married three days earlier.

1.5 years later, 1 failing economy, 1 big Swensen Photography sale=Finally being able to afford our wedding pictures!

It was such a fun stroll down memory lane. Looking through our pictures made me fall in love with our wedding, my dress, and especially my husband even more.

I hope you enjoy some of the pics. And, don't be shy...if you want to see more I am more than HAPPY to show them off.

Stolen Leftovers

I present Exhibit A . . . that my leftovers were stolen. Lovingly prepared by H. Safe and sound in the office refrigerator. Gone at lunch time. The kicker: the thief apparently washed the container and put it back in my lunch bag with the apple, string cheese and granola bar which were left untouched. Either this thief has a heart after all, or he doesn't share my affinity for snacks.

Evidence found, I felt a range of emotions:

• Anger (not too much though, I'm pretty even keel)
• Laughter (you kidding me? what is this the modern version of "leave the gun, take the cannoli?")
• Ick (someone had touched my stuff)
• Pride (to be the victim of my first real life Office-esque moment--half expected Kevin and Creed to pop around the corner and tell me I'd been punk'd)

Oddly enough, the leftovers I made went untouched today. Guess this thief knows good cookin' when he sees it.

The Votes Are In

H's running poll has closed. Great voter turnout. Thanks everyone.

The overwhelming majority were for a 5k. I'm likin' it. Turns out H is already signed up for the Revlon 5k Run/Walk on May 2. Call it a coincidence, I call it fate. Now she just has to circle the "run" part of Run/Walk. So, to help encourage her, how 'bout donating a little money? H has a $50 (hey, times are tough) fundraising goal to go with her 5k participation.

Click here to donate. It's for a great cause. C'mon, you know you want to.

Sun and Fun

Well folks, I am happy to report that we FINALLY have some sun in NYC. We spent a GLORIOUS day out soaking up the vitamin D. It's been too long. We've missed the sun. I'm so happy to be reunited with warmth and UVRays.

We started the morning off with a two, yes TWO mile run! I know it sounds silly, but I am quite proud of myself. I have a great little coach!

Next, we went to the city to try a new place for brunch. There is nothing that makes me happy like brunch. Or saying I am going to brunch. It just sounds so grown up! We went to a little cafe called Maison 247 which has a French flair to it: we tried beignets (lil deep fried french yummies) and had a really great meal.

We then took off to the foreign land of Brooklyn. Jed planned a little day out at the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens. He knows that I love gardening (or at least the idea beings that we live in a concrete jungle) and believe me, this was a garden to the extreme. Gorgeous flowers, cherry blossoms, koi fish ponds. Soaking up the rays, sitting on a bench, people watching to the fullest. Couldn't ask for more.

We went back to the mainland for a little shopping with hopes to catch "Into the Heights" on Broadway, but ended up coming back to our little abode in Queens. We were both SO tired...give
us a break, we haven't had a full day out in a LONG while.

All in all, it was a perfect day.

Enjoy the pic from my "bud"ding photographer (pun intended)

Idol Thoughts

When it comes to American Idol, people usually love it or hate it. If you're in the "hate it" crew (shame on you), save yourself and stop reading now. If you're in the "love it" crew (you beautiful souls) but are unfamiliar with "Idol Thoughts" you might wanna poke around here for a minute to get up to speed, then buckle up and enjoy the ride.

Let's get down to business. Thoughts for the week:

1. It was not a good week, this could get ugly.
2. Can someone tell me what in the world Quentin Tarantino has to do with pop music? If you wanna know how to make it look like you cut some dude's head off with just the right blood splatter, while making it all look like the world's craziest acid trip, yeah, I'd ask QT for his advice, but when it comes to connecting with a lyric, not sure he's the man for the job.
3. I just can't get behind Allison. She's technically good, but socially disastrous.
4. If the judges are mean to Matty G. one more time I'm gonna crawl through the T.V. screen and take Paula's pills away. Let's see how mean they are when Paula's in the fetal position on the table.
5. Speaking of the judges, I love that they break them up into teams and they still almost go over. "And the Oscar goes to--but first, before we do that, let me tell you about the time I was nominated for an Oscar (cue the music) . . . what? we're out of time?"
6. Adam Adam Adam. I think he's actually getting weirder. Just like the show itself turns out.
   

Run-On Sentences

Watch yourself. H has hit the big time. 1.5 miles today. That's a lifetime distance record folks. My main man Lao Tzu once said, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." Maybe a journey of approximately 26 miles for H begins with 1.5 miles??? What do you think? Should she do it? See poll to the right if you wanna rock the vote.

In either case, I'm really proud of her.

Photo Op

Good Friday for me became even, uh, good-er, when I found out that I didn't have to work. I decided to take advantage of the day off and snap a few pics of one of my favorite buildings in Queens--5 Pointz. Essentially, it's an entire building covered in graffiti (click to learn more). I dig it. It was a ton of fun to take pictures of all the work, and I had no idea the kind of stuff that was there until I was actually up next to it. Even saw a few of the artists in action--major bonus.

Hope you enjoy a small sampling.

Run-On Sentences

Today was the first day of the rest of Heather's life . . . as a runner.

First run deets (thanks to our friends at Nike+):

• Distance: 1.26 miles
• Duration: 9'39"
• Average pace: 7'37" per mile

I'm so proud of her for taking on this new challenge, and so happy to have a perma-running partner.

10 things that made me happy this week

1. Our updated blog...Jed gave us a much needed face-lift
2. Eating good old fashioned BBQ at BlueSmoke with a friend we haven't seen in TOO long
3. Matt Girard NOT being in the bottom 3 of American Idol
4. Getting the laundry done before the rain, while I could still carry it, and having all three of the cheap, coveted machines available
5. Getting advice from the "plant lady" (the lady who waters our plants at work...creative nickname, right?) on how to nurse our money tree back to life
6. Having cookies for dinner on Friday night
7. Learning some great make up tips and enjoying my calling in church
8. Jed making the bed in the morning while I am running late for work...he knows how I hate leaving the house without the bed made
9. Getting compliments at my new job saying that I am learning quickly
10. Seeing Hosea from Top Chef at a cooking seminar at Madison Square Park

3 NYC moments
1. The rain. When it rains, it pours here. Pants soaked to the knees, rain hitting you at all sides, umbrellas holding on to form for dear life. Just not a fun place for people who walk for their commute. We joke that there is no reason for rain here...there is nothing to water besides people and sidewalks.
2. Seeing a lady getting her suitcase from the back of the airport shuttle, the driver assuming she was gone, get backed-up over...luckily she was fine and got up yelling and screaming at the driver.
3. A lady in the laundry-mat with 3 small kids, leaves the laundry-mat, then come back moments later with treats for herself (not willing to share with the kids) and lotto tickets for the two "older girls" of maybe 10 and 12 years old.

Gotta love this place!