New York City 2009 - Thursday

Still no pictures...will try to plug them in later. Just so that I don't forget what we did today - here goes:

1. Went down to the lower east side to tour the Merchant's House Museum - a row house built in 1832, lived in by very wealthy people and their house servants. It was furnished in original furnishings by the family who lived there for 100 years. Walked around the area quite a bit.

2. Went to Gus' Pickles and then to The Pickle Guys. (We like TPG the best).

3. Took the M103 bus to the Staten Island Ferry and boated on past the Statue of Liberty.

4. Walked up Bdwy, visited the cemetary (1779) at Trinity Church, walked up to Ground Zero and took the E train to Columbus Circle and bought really good steaks at Whole Paycheck, (I mean Whole Foods....haha).

New York City 2009

We arrived Friday night at Bookie's after a short (one hour) delay at JFK. Planes were backed up due to storms (Hurricane Bill) and we had to wait to be able to approach the gate. We were lucky because we could have been diverted overnight. We had a nice visit with Bookie and she baked cookies with H/R. Around 3:00 the next day we took a taxi into the city. After our usual FF and orange juice (coffee for me) downstairs we walked around the city - first Central Park then down to Rockefeller Center, over to Broadway, sat on the chairs on the recently "closed to traffic" Broadway....nice.
Monday
Then had a late supper in the apt., watched tv and went to bed.

Day 3 - really our first full day in the city. Sunday. We went up to the north part of Central Park. Walked through the conservatory gardens, then sat and watched an African/Caribbean/South American band, lots of dancing....up by Harlem Meer (lake). Very interesting, I'd never been here before. Saw the old (Blockhouse) Fort from the war of 1812.

Then did a supermarket stop for supplies, made a pasta dinner and watched the 2nd show of the 3rd season of Mad Men.

Day 4 - Monday. Took the Duck tour and that was fun! Then a late lunch down in Chinatown. Went to Green Bo - they have all types of dumplings, we had two - both steamed. Very good. It's fun down there - looking in the fish markets and the unusual produce offered on the street stands. Very crowded.

Day 5 - Tuesday. Joel went off to meet with his photog peeps so the girls and I took off on our own. Went to South Street Seaport to get 1/2 price tix for Wednesday matinee......The Marvelous Wonderettes (Be Marvelous!!!!!). Then walked on over to Wall Street - saw the Federal Building where Geo. Wash. was inaugurated as our first pres.....saw the stock exchange, all around where I used to work at 2 Bdwy.....Battery Park. It got really hot so we took the subway home and just kicked back for the rest of the day. What a luxury not to have to squeeze too much in to a few days, since we are here for a nice amount of time. No pictures - will add those later.

Day 6 - Wednesday. Saw the Wonderettes....it was a lot better than I thought it would be. H/R were full of smiles, and laughing. A very cute and fun. Sort of a cross between "Grease" and "The Lawrence Welk Show". Saw the Naked Cowboy - what a thrill (not).....I'm sure he had on spanx under his tighty whities. Saw a free preview of "Memphis" outside of the Shubert Theater - opening in September. Walked home via 9th Ave.....wow! That is quite a happening spot now...Hell's Kitchen is very nice now, lots of restaurants and sidewalk cafes. Maybe we will try a place. Back to the apt., H/R are really doing a great job keeping up with their homework. Oh, lunch at Junior's....I had the iceberg wedge with blue cheese, tomato and bacon (in honor of Mad Men).

Michael Jackson died yesterday.

This is the way I will remember him.

September 19, 1993....Yarkon Park, Tel Aviv. 80,000 people attended

Dan Hotel, Tel Aviv

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang - We Loved YOU!

We went to see the show at Gammage yesterday. The tickets were a birthday present for Hannah and Rachel from Aunt Ellen, Uncle Randy and Chris. I had s0-s0 expectations, having not been a fan of the movie. But the show was absolutely terrific. Great dancing and the sets were so creative. The car "drove" across the stage passing other cars, people, runners, etc. who all moved backwards across the stage so that the car looked like it was advancing forward when in fact it was staying in place.

When the tide came in, and they were being flooded, a big floatation device kept them "afloat". Then when they drove off the edge of a cliff, the entire back end of the car lifted so it looked like they were falling off the cliff. But Chitty Chitty opened her wings and they flew off to safety.

It was really fun and we all had a great time. Thanks again Jacoby's for a wonderful present for Hannah and Rachel (and me too).

Happy Father's Day Joel!

Happy Father's Day Joel!!!
We love you!

Tomato and Goat Cheese Tart a la Barefoot Contessa

So I had Tivo'd Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) yesterday and watched as she made these lovely tarts using frozen puff pastry. Here they are assembled and ready to go in the oven.

The assembled ingredients - sauteed onions and garlic, goat cheese and tomatoes. It looked so good on her show and easy to make so I thought I'd give it a try. Ina cooks for her husband, Jeffrey, who always manages to show up just as the food is done. Jeffrey likes everything Ina makes and he decided the tart was, "Amazing." Ina looks on adoringly. Joel thought they were "really good" and I looked on adoringly too.

You have to roll out the pastry dough and "dock" the sheets so they don't rise up (or puff up). I felt very food network worthy as I docked the dough just like Ina did.

Note to Joel: I need help on how to take better photos of closeups such as these.

Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest

Eric the Red (with red headband) was the winner.

"Man is the most intelligent of animals....and the most silly." ....Diogenes

Why put all five toes in your mouth? Because you can.

Or maybe one at a time is good too....

Give me five!

This hurts just watching them.

Dragon Boat Festival

Cherry and Blueberry

This was back in March, 2009

We went to the Festival. Lots of these boats with teams of about 20 and then the drummer and lead. Walked all around the lake from Mill Avenue to Scottsdale Road then along the north side of the lake, crossing the lake back at Mill.

Pink Flamingos

Well, there was one little pink Flamenco dancer, see - on the left there. We went to the library to see the Flamenco dancers. It was ok. Just ok. Didn't know it was to showcase how the little kids were doing in the school. But it was still interesting. Learned a few "must knows" about the art/history of Flamenco. Like these facts:

1. Originated around 300 years ago in Spain.

2. If you see castinets - it's not Flamenco. Then it is considered Spanish Folk Dancing.

3. The dancer doesn't dance to the music, the musicians play to the dancers. (????)

4. Roots are from Gypsies and North Africa

5. I don't like it......H/R didn't either.

Only one missing - Willi Wonka

Ethel, Candy Factory Supervisor and Lucy

Rachel, Hannah and Jordon at the Cerrita Candy Factory in Glendale.

We went on the "tour" of the chocolate candy factory today. It was more fun for me because the episode of the "I Love Lucy " show titled: "Job Switching", which originally aired in 1952 is an all time favorite of Lucy fans and those of us who have manufacturing backgrounds.

Our own tour of the gift shop was fun too.....

They have Polar Bears in Arizona?????

Well, maybe just this little one.

Supposedly the second largest Polar Bear to have ever been shot as the sign proudly boasted. We almost walked right by it too without noticing it....I know, I know (doh!). This one was found in the back of an antiques shop in downtown Glendale.

The Beach

One year ago we were on our vacation in France and since then we have enjoyed many terrific memories of that really fantastic trip.

In about three weeks we will go to Oceanside, California for the whole month of July. Here are photos from our 2nd floor terrace at the condo we are renting:
















I am really looking forward to having that private terrace over the beach. At high tide the water comes right up to those rocks. What you can't see is that there is a private sandy area just in front of the rocks where the deck, outdoor shower and bbq area is located.

If you click on either picture you can see the enlarged view. In the first picture you can see the Oceanside Pier on the far right of the picture.

Dinos Alive - in 3D

We went to see Dinosaurs Alive in 3D today at the Imax Theater. All I can say is, "Wow!"

We really liked it. The 3D was so much more "in depth" than the 3D in the movie, "Up". Sometimes you felt like the dino was going to land in your lap, we kept reaching out to touch the image. It was fun.

"Twilight" update: I think they are about to finish it. Then we will see the movie. I'm really looking forward to seeing it with them after all of us having read the book. Should be fun.

**New "Twilight" update***
At about 10:30, Hannah finished and 15 minutes later Rachel finished. They read it in under 3 days. Then we had a book discussion and that was enjoyable for me since I have read the book too. So now we can see the movie. Good job girls!

Great Report Cards

Well, well, well.....looks like we have two straight A fourth graders!! Congratulations H/R! Your hard work and diligence shows.

You are really great kids!!

I Never Thought my Daughters would ask ME to turn the Volume Down

Well, after several years of trying to not become the TV Nazi by being overly strict with regards to tv watching, H/R have asked ME to lower the volume because they are reading. I feel I need to clarify - THEY are chastising ME regarding the tv because THEY are reading......Not the other way around!!! Haha....who would have ever thought.

So if you're wondering what it is that they are reading that has them at it today for over 5 hours already it's the first book in the Twilight series, in fact the title is "Twilight", by Stephanie Meyers.

I told them that they could see the movie only if they read the book so we bought two copies yesterday and they haven't put them down. I don't even think the motivation is the movie, I think they are really enjoying the book.

We've been enjoying (sort of) summer break which I describe as time where we get to do some fun things interspersed with longer moments of boredom. So I am very happy that reading is filling in those moments.