Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Random things
How cool was it that Michigan came back to beat Wisconsin? Down 19-0 at halftime, the Wolverines scored 27 points in the second half. Wisconsin scored a touchdown with 13 seconds left in the fourth quarter. They needed a two point conversion to tie the game. When a pass was caught in the end zone, I was upset. The game was tied and I didn't think Michigan could win in overtime. Luckily a flag was thrown. Wisconsin was flagged for having an ineligible receiver in the end zone. The Badgers were backed up and had to retry. On the second try, the ball was overthrown and Michigan held on to win the game 27-25. Next week Illinois come to Ann Arbor. I hope Michigan will have a better start to that game. They can't come from behind every week.
It has been over a week since I twisted my ankle running. The swelling has gone down and sometimes it can be a bit stiff. Otherwise it looks and feels like it will be fine. I have been running on it. Inside. On my treadmill. And with my ankle brace. This week when we go to Mackinac Island, I will test my ankle on the road. I know the road around the island is nice and flat. Not many low spots to run into.
There are 19 days left until I run the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Half Marathon. I'm getting a bit nervous for it. Twisting my ankle a week ago hasn't helped. I missed days of running. Days that I could have been running long. While up on the island this week, my plan is to run a day of 8-10 miles. As for the other days, I'll see how I feel. I'm worried that I haven't put in too many long runs even though I have been training for almost a year. I keep thinking will I be able to run 13.1 miles? Will I make it to the bridge before the cutoff time? Only time will tell.
So much TV to watch. Last night was the season premieres for Dexter and Family Guy. Also last night was a new episode of Mad Men. This afternoon, I need to squeeze in 2.5 hours of TV, a run, possibly a nap and a soccer game. If I'm going to accomplish that, I need to get started.
It has been over a week since I twisted my ankle running. The swelling has gone down and sometimes it can be a bit stiff. Otherwise it looks and feels like it will be fine. I have been running on it. Inside. On my treadmill. And with my ankle brace. This week when we go to Mackinac Island, I will test my ankle on the road. I know the road around the island is nice and flat. Not many low spots to run into.
There are 19 days left until I run the Detroit Free Press/Flagstar Half Marathon. I'm getting a bit nervous for it. Twisting my ankle a week ago hasn't helped. I missed days of running. Days that I could have been running long. While up on the island this week, my plan is to run a day of 8-10 miles. As for the other days, I'll see how I feel. I'm worried that I haven't put in too many long runs even though I have been training for almost a year. I keep thinking will I be able to run 13.1 miles? Will I make it to the bridge before the cutoff time? Only time will tell.
So much TV to watch. Last night was the season premieres for Dexter and Family Guy. Also last night was a new episode of Mad Men. This afternoon, I need to squeeze in 2.5 hours of TV, a run, possibly a nap and a soccer game. If I'm going to accomplish that, I need to get started.
Books read in 2008
A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Currently Reading: Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
Up Next: Library trip
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Currently Reading: Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
Up Next: Library trip
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Ballet
I will be doing something fun for myself this afternoon. I will be going to a dance studio in town to photograph ballet after a year hiatus. I never wanted to give up photographing it, but work would usually get in the way. With high school sports games being held later in the evening, I can photograph an early ballet class. I'm so excited!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Trip details
Monday - I ran three miles in the morning around the neighborhood surrounding where I was staying. While on my run I noticed some streets the sidewalks stopped near the end of the blocks. The sidewalks that I did run on, some were very uneven. I had to watch every step so I wouldn't trip. After showering and breakfast, my husband's uncle drove us to Newark, New Jersey. We boarded the PATH train and it took us right into the city. While looking for Madame Tussauds, that is where we needed to get our bus tour tickets, we saw a woman walking in Times Square with an outfit that was bad. She was wearing a white shirt and pant. The shirt and pants looked like tissue paper because it was see through. To top everything off she was wearing a dark bra and panties. Not a good look.
Once we got our tickets, we took the downtown tour. Points of interest on this tour was Times Square, Macy's, Empire State Building, SoHo, Chinatown, World Trade Center, Wall Street and others. At different points around the tour, you could hop on and off the bus. My husband and I got off at the Empire State Building. After waiting in lines for 40-50 minutes, going through the metal detector, we finally made it up to the 86th floor - Observation deck. I was taking pictures of the skyline and my husband whispered in my ear, "Psycho". Who, I asked. He said the girl next to me put her Smurf figurine on the ledge and took a picture of it. Sad.
Later that evening, we took the Night Tour. It was 2.5 hours long and we got to see the Manhattan Skyline from Brooklyn, Chinatown, SoHo, Empire State Building, Little Italy and Times Square. What bothered me the most on the night tour was riding across Manhattan Bridge. I'm not afraid of going across bridges, but when you're sitting in the outside seat on a double-decker bus going 40 mph on a bridge where you can't see the guardrails, its a bit freaky. I tried not to look down. But I we did see some spectacular views from the bus. In Brooklyn, the bus drove by a basektball court. The tour guide said pick up basketball games are played there 24/7. Some of the other tourists on the bus were taking photos of the guys playing basketball. One of the people on the basketball court got out his camera and took a photo of us tourists on the bus. It was funny. I didn't understand why people were taking pictures of guys playing basketball in Brooklyn.
Tuesday - I decided not to run because my right calf hurt. After breakfast we were driven to Newark to board the PATH train to New York City. Our first stop was to our hotel, Hotel Mela, to drop off our suitcase and to check in. We wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty. We hopped on the subway. During the ride there, I noticed on the wall of the subway car that if you wanted to get dropped off at Battery Park to go to Staten Island or the Statue, you have to be in the first five cars. Unfortunately we weren't. We were in the next to last car. We got off at the next stop to wait for another train to pick us up. The next train didn't come by for 15 minutes. We arrived at Battery Park and walked to pick up tickets to go to the Statue of Liberty. Tickets, more lines and more metal detectors were waiting for us before we boarded the ferry. At these metal detectors, we had to take off our belts, put in all necklaces, loose change, wallets, bags into totes. Over on the island, my husband really wanted to go into the base of the statue. Where the line was to go into the base, signs said that you needed to get your base tickets a week in advance. We didn't know about it. My husband was disappointed.
After the seeing Lady Liberty, we got on the tour bus to go on the Brooklyn Tour. The tour was 1.5 hours, or so it should have been. Traffic was bad. We went on the tour around 3:00 p.m. So the time we get over to Brooklyn, school is getting out. Bueses and cars were all over. During the tour, a man and woman were sitting in front of us. The woman stands up and walks back to the tour guide. She tells him that she wants off the bus. The tour guide was saying that this tour isn't a hop on/hop off. If he dropped them off in Brooklyn, they would have to find their own way back. This lady was just misable on this tour. Ok, we get it. Brooklyn isn't Manhattan. Not too many tall buildings or fancy shopping. Sit down and shut up. Later, she got up again asking the tour guide how much longer it was going to be. He told her after we go back over the Manhattan Bridge, the bus could drop them off somewhere. That is what they exactly did. The couple was dropped off in Chinatown. At 4:30 p.m., we were supposed to be done with the tour. We weren't due to TRAFFIC. It was so bad. I've never seen rush hour traffic so bad. We were sitting on one street for 10-15 minutes. I was so happy when some people on the bus asked to be dropped off at the Waldorf Astoria & Towers. When they got off, we got off the bus as well. We needed to get ready for Wicked.
We walked the couple of blocks, 7 or 8 blocks, to the Gershwin Theatre for the Broadway muscial, Wicked. The shoes I wore were a huge mistake. I have only worn them a couple of times before. They killed my feet and rubbed off some skin on my toes. I loved the musical. My husband liked it too. If it ever comes to Toledo, I will go see it again. I recommended it to everyone. After the show, we walked a painful couple of blocks to Angus McIndoe restaurant. I ordered three drinks. Two of the drinks they didn't carry and one they couldn't make. So I stuck with water. My husband and I had the New York Strip Steak. It was delicious. One of the best I had. Our server was terrible. The bus boy and the server from the next table did a better job of serving us. Our server was too busy flirting with the bartender. She didn't get a very good tip. The bus boy did.
Wednesday - Got up early for our session with PhotoTrek tours. Our photographer took photos of us in Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and SoHo. On the subway during rush hour, it was quiet until some crazy dude started talking loud. He was putting words together like Blue, Ball, Girl, Pants, Government. He would rant then quiet down. At one point I thought he got off the train, but he continued again. A woman who was near him encouraged him to keep talking and maybe one day write a book. OK psycho. The entire time he was talking I was laughing. Our photographer said that he is a New Yorker and has learned to ignore things like that. I thought it was funny. After lunch, we went on the final bus tour of Uptown Treasures & Harlem. While on Bleeker Street, our tour guide said that the bus company made an agreement. They would stay off the microphone on Bleeker Street because it is a quiet street. OK. Why is it quiet? Bleeker Street is lined with bars. Our last stop before leaving Manhattan was Trinity Church and the World Trade Center site.
Thursday - I got up early to run. During my run, I thought to myself how nice it was to run outside without people honking and yelling at me. Just then I stepped in a low spot in the road and twisted my left ankle. I fell hard onto my right knee and laid in the middle of a street. A guy on the sidewalk asked if I was OK. I told him I twisted my ankle. A man in a nice suit was opening his garage door and saw me in his driveway. He asked if I was alright. I said that I twisted my ankle and I wondered if he could give me a ride. He said yes and I climbed into his fancy SUV with leather seats trying not to sweat all over. He dropped me off and I thanked him. I was far from the house. I can't image trying to walk on that.
I iced my ankle and went and bought an ankle brace. It wasn't a tie up one that I like but it made due. After breakfast, I asked to go to a medical store to see if they had the ankle brace I was looking for. They did. The worst part of it was it cost $65. Since my ankle was in bad shape I really didn't feel like doing anything. What we ended up doing for the day was going to a mall, Barnes & Noble and tending to my ankle.
Friday - Iced my ankle and felt sad when I saw others running. I know I have to get back to running. The half marathon is in less then 30 days! We went to Short Hills mall, a very upscale mall, to look around. Didn't buy anything because everything was too expensive. After the mall, I wanted to get back to the house to get off my ankle and read my book about the Supermodel Gia.
Saturday - Eat breakfast with my husband's uncle and drove home. We made it home in 8.5 hours with one stop.
I enjoyed the trip to New York City and New Jersey. I didn't like twisting my ankle, but that sometimes happen. If we go to New York again, I would like to skip all the tourist attractions and walk the neighborhoods. We didn't see too much of anything riding a bus. If you are down walking the sidewalks, you see everything.
Once we got our tickets, we took the downtown tour. Points of interest on this tour was Times Square, Macy's, Empire State Building, SoHo, Chinatown, World Trade Center, Wall Street and others. At different points around the tour, you could hop on and off the bus. My husband and I got off at the Empire State Building. After waiting in lines for 40-50 minutes, going through the metal detector, we finally made it up to the 86th floor - Observation deck. I was taking pictures of the skyline and my husband whispered in my ear, "Psycho". Who, I asked. He said the girl next to me put her Smurf figurine on the ledge and took a picture of it. Sad.
Later that evening, we took the Night Tour. It was 2.5 hours long and we got to see the Manhattan Skyline from Brooklyn, Chinatown, SoHo, Empire State Building, Little Italy and Times Square. What bothered me the most on the night tour was riding across Manhattan Bridge. I'm not afraid of going across bridges, but when you're sitting in the outside seat on a double-decker bus going 40 mph on a bridge where you can't see the guardrails, its a bit freaky. I tried not to look down. But I we did see some spectacular views from the bus. In Brooklyn, the bus drove by a basektball court. The tour guide said pick up basketball games are played there 24/7. Some of the other tourists on the bus were taking photos of the guys playing basketball. One of the people on the basketball court got out his camera and took a photo of us tourists on the bus. It was funny. I didn't understand why people were taking pictures of guys playing basketball in Brooklyn.
Tuesday - I decided not to run because my right calf hurt. After breakfast we were driven to Newark to board the PATH train to New York City. Our first stop was to our hotel, Hotel Mela, to drop off our suitcase and to check in. We wanted to go to the Statue of Liberty. We hopped on the subway. During the ride there, I noticed on the wall of the subway car that if you wanted to get dropped off at Battery Park to go to Staten Island or the Statue, you have to be in the first five cars. Unfortunately we weren't. We were in the next to last car. We got off at the next stop to wait for another train to pick us up. The next train didn't come by for 15 minutes. We arrived at Battery Park and walked to pick up tickets to go to the Statue of Liberty. Tickets, more lines and more metal detectors were waiting for us before we boarded the ferry. At these metal detectors, we had to take off our belts, put in all necklaces, loose change, wallets, bags into totes. Over on the island, my husband really wanted to go into the base of the statue. Where the line was to go into the base, signs said that you needed to get your base tickets a week in advance. We didn't know about it. My husband was disappointed.
After the seeing Lady Liberty, we got on the tour bus to go on the Brooklyn Tour. The tour was 1.5 hours, or so it should have been. Traffic was bad. We went on the tour around 3:00 p.m. So the time we get over to Brooklyn, school is getting out. Bueses and cars were all over. During the tour, a man and woman were sitting in front of us. The woman stands up and walks back to the tour guide. She tells him that she wants off the bus. The tour guide was saying that this tour isn't a hop on/hop off. If he dropped them off in Brooklyn, they would have to find their own way back. This lady was just misable on this tour. Ok, we get it. Brooklyn isn't Manhattan. Not too many tall buildings or fancy shopping. Sit down and shut up. Later, she got up again asking the tour guide how much longer it was going to be. He told her after we go back over the Manhattan Bridge, the bus could drop them off somewhere. That is what they exactly did. The couple was dropped off in Chinatown. At 4:30 p.m., we were supposed to be done with the tour. We weren't due to TRAFFIC. It was so bad. I've never seen rush hour traffic so bad. We were sitting on one street for 10-15 minutes. I was so happy when some people on the bus asked to be dropped off at the Waldorf Astoria & Towers. When they got off, we got off the bus as well. We needed to get ready for Wicked.
We walked the couple of blocks, 7 or 8 blocks, to the Gershwin Theatre for the Broadway muscial, Wicked. The shoes I wore were a huge mistake. I have only worn them a couple of times before. They killed my feet and rubbed off some skin on my toes. I loved the musical. My husband liked it too. If it ever comes to Toledo, I will go see it again. I recommended it to everyone. After the show, we walked a painful couple of blocks to Angus McIndoe restaurant. I ordered three drinks. Two of the drinks they didn't carry and one they couldn't make. So I stuck with water. My husband and I had the New York Strip Steak. It was delicious. One of the best I had. Our server was terrible. The bus boy and the server from the next table did a better job of serving us. Our server was too busy flirting with the bartender. She didn't get a very good tip. The bus boy did.
Wednesday - Got up early for our session with PhotoTrek tours. Our photographer took photos of us in Times Square, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and SoHo. On the subway during rush hour, it was quiet until some crazy dude started talking loud. He was putting words together like Blue, Ball, Girl, Pants, Government. He would rant then quiet down. At one point I thought he got off the train, but he continued again. A woman who was near him encouraged him to keep talking and maybe one day write a book. OK psycho. The entire time he was talking I was laughing. Our photographer said that he is a New Yorker and has learned to ignore things like that. I thought it was funny. After lunch, we went on the final bus tour of Uptown Treasures & Harlem. While on Bleeker Street, our tour guide said that the bus company made an agreement. They would stay off the microphone on Bleeker Street because it is a quiet street. OK. Why is it quiet? Bleeker Street is lined with bars. Our last stop before leaving Manhattan was Trinity Church and the World Trade Center site.
Thursday - I got up early to run. During my run, I thought to myself how nice it was to run outside without people honking and yelling at me. Just then I stepped in a low spot in the road and twisted my left ankle. I fell hard onto my right knee and laid in the middle of a street. A guy on the sidewalk asked if I was OK. I told him I twisted my ankle. A man in a nice suit was opening his garage door and saw me in his driveway. He asked if I was alright. I said that I twisted my ankle and I wondered if he could give me a ride. He said yes and I climbed into his fancy SUV with leather seats trying not to sweat all over. He dropped me off and I thanked him. I was far from the house. I can't image trying to walk on that.
I iced my ankle and went and bought an ankle brace. It wasn't a tie up one that I like but it made due. After breakfast, I asked to go to a medical store to see if they had the ankle brace I was looking for. They did. The worst part of it was it cost $65. Since my ankle was in bad shape I really didn't feel like doing anything. What we ended up doing for the day was going to a mall, Barnes & Noble and tending to my ankle.
Friday - Iced my ankle and felt sad when I saw others running. I know I have to get back to running. The half marathon is in less then 30 days! We went to Short Hills mall, a very upscale mall, to look around. Didn't buy anything because everything was too expensive. After the mall, I wanted to get back to the house to get off my ankle and read my book about the Supermodel Gia.
Saturday - Eat breakfast with my husband's uncle and drove home. We made it home in 8.5 hours with one stop.
I enjoyed the trip to New York City and New Jersey. I didn't like twisting my ankle, but that sometimes happen. If we go to New York again, I would like to skip all the tourist attractions and walk the neighborhoods. We didn't see too much of anything riding a bus. If you are down walking the sidewalks, you see everything.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Central Park
Photo by Marc Samuels, PhotoTrek ToursThis is one of my favorite photos of my husband and me. It was taken under a bridge in Central Park in New York City.
Books read in 2008
I stayed true to form. While on vacation, I bought some books to read. I read a book in just over three days. I'm sure it could have been quicker, if we didn't do things during the day. I finished the book Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia by Stephen Fried somewhere in Pennsylvania. I will do a recap of my trip Monday.
A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Currently Reading: Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Up Next: Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Thing of Beauty: The Tragedy of Supermodel Gia, Stephen Fried
Currently Reading: Moose: A Memoir of Fat Camp, Stephanie Klein
Up Next: Tallulah!: The Life and Times of a Leading Lady, Joel Lobenthal
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Trip details-day one
Day one of vacation started with an 8.5-9 hour trip. Can Pennsylvania BE any bigger? I think we were in that state the longest. The funniest thing that kept me interested and not falling asleep was two idiots in their trucks racing on I-80. It all started when we passed them doing 75 mph. A couple of minutes later, one of the guys in the truck passed us. Next thing you know, the second guy in his POS truck was doing 90 mph to pass us and the other truck. The passing thing went on for 20 or 30 miles. Both trucks took the same exit before hitting New Jersey. Maybe the wanted to continue that on their exit.
When we finally made it, we were just so excited to get out of the truck. I'm so looking forward to getting back in the truck when we come back to Michigan at the end of the week.
When we finally made it, we were just so excited to get out of the truck. I'm so looking forward to getting back in the truck when we come back to Michigan at the end of the week.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
The dress
I mentioned before that I needed a dress for a dinner at the Grand Hotel in October. I found my dress this morning.It was one of the two dresses that I posted photos of in the post link above.
I went with this one. The color is Espresso.
Photo Credit: www.alfredangelo.com
Friday, September 12, 2008
Random things
I was sitting in the stands yesterday before photographing a volleyball game. A family came and sat next to me. I overheard the mother talking talking to her two young daughters:
Mom: "The hot dogs here suck. When this is over, we'll go to 7-11 and get some hot dogs."
Less then five minutes later, the two daughters come back to the stands with a hot dog and hand it to their mom.
Mom: "These hot dogs are good."
Idiot. So did you still go to 7-11 for those hot dogs?
The other night I was flipping through the channels. I stopped on HBO. On September 10, they were showing the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Why? We are still a month and a half away from Halloween. Let us enjoy the fall before that awful snow starts flying.
Project Runway had their fashion show this morning at 9 a.m. Since I've been home, I have been looking at different blogs and websites to see if any photos are posted yet. No photos as of 10:37 a.m. I have been following tomandlorenzo's twitter. I loved their comments about Kenley. "Kenley's up. She look silly in her pink and purple outfit." As you might tell, I'm not a fan of her. I would like to see Leanne or Korto win.
I went to the bridal store this morning after leaving work. It doesn't open until noon. I don't think I will be making it back there today. After I run tomorrow morning, I will be there when the store opens at 10 a.m. If they don't have what I'm looking for, its off to the mall to see what they have.
I have to photograph a football game tonight. It is my final assignment before I'm officially on vacation. The outlook is not so good. It is raining and it is supposed to rain the rest of the night. I see boots, a raincoat, messy notes and plastic bags in my future. The plastic bags are to cover my camera and strobe.
The other day my husband and I went to the store to pick up a few items. While parking the truck, I noticed he ran something over. When I hopped out of the truck, I saw that he ran over a pair of boys underwear. The worst part about it is that they were heavily soiled. It was so gross. I just can't believe people. Is this their thinking on how to handle the situation? Little Johnny made a mess in his pants. Not to worry. We will go buy him a new pair. What to do with the soiled pair? I know, just throw them in the parking lot! Somebody else will clean them up sooner or later. One word: NASTY!
Mom: "The hot dogs here suck. When this is over, we'll go to 7-11 and get some hot dogs."
Less then five minutes later, the two daughters come back to the stands with a hot dog and hand it to their mom.
Mom: "These hot dogs are good."
Idiot. So did you still go to 7-11 for those hot dogs?
The other night I was flipping through the channels. I stopped on HBO. On September 10, they were showing the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Why? We are still a month and a half away from Halloween. Let us enjoy the fall before that awful snow starts flying.
Project Runway had their fashion show this morning at 9 a.m. Since I've been home, I have been looking at different blogs and websites to see if any photos are posted yet. No photos as of 10:37 a.m. I have been following tomandlorenzo's twitter. I loved their comments about Kenley. "Kenley's up. She look silly in her pink and purple outfit." As you might tell, I'm not a fan of her. I would like to see Leanne or Korto win.
I went to the bridal store this morning after leaving work. It doesn't open until noon. I don't think I will be making it back there today. After I run tomorrow morning, I will be there when the store opens at 10 a.m. If they don't have what I'm looking for, its off to the mall to see what they have.
I have to photograph a football game tonight. It is my final assignment before I'm officially on vacation. The outlook is not so good. It is raining and it is supposed to rain the rest of the night. I see boots, a raincoat, messy notes and plastic bags in my future. The plastic bags are to cover my camera and strobe.
The other day my husband and I went to the store to pick up a few items. While parking the truck, I noticed he ran something over. When I hopped out of the truck, I saw that he ran over a pair of boys underwear. The worst part about it is that they were heavily soiled. It was so gross. I just can't believe people. Is this their thinking on how to handle the situation? Little Johnny made a mess in his pants. Not to worry. We will go buy him a new pair. What to do with the soiled pair? I know, just throw them in the parking lot! Somebody else will clean them up sooner or later. One word: NASTY!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Random things
This morning while at work, I was watching a cable news network show video of the planes crashing into the World Trade Center. When the first World Trade Tower collapsed, the song "New York, New York" by Frank Sinatra started playing on my iPod. Freaky.
Laura Novak, an awesome photographer from Delaware will be in New York on September 16 doing portrait sessions. My husband and I have a photo session scheduled on September 17 with PhotoTrek tours. I wish Laura would have posted her upcoming New York trip a month ago (top entry). I would have definitely booked her. Her work is amazing!
My seven year wedding anniversary is Monday. My husband and I will be in New York City on our anniversary. We are planning to sight see and take a tour of the city at night. I'm so bad. I still haven't bought him a card or a gift yet, I've been so busy with work. I have only until Saturday to shop.
In speaking of shopping, I will be swinging a local bridal store Friday to look for a nice dress. I need a dress for my upcoming trip to Mackinac Island. I really want to find something in town. I'm afraid, we won't have any time in the upcoming weeks to make it to Toledo.
Laura Novak, an awesome photographer from Delaware will be in New York on September 16 doing portrait sessions. My husband and I have a photo session scheduled on September 17 with PhotoTrek tours. I wish Laura would have posted her upcoming New York trip a month ago (top entry). I would have definitely booked her. Her work is amazing!
My seven year wedding anniversary is Monday. My husband and I will be in New York City on our anniversary. We are planning to sight see and take a tour of the city at night. I'm so bad. I still haven't bought him a card or a gift yet, I've been so busy with work. I have only until Saturday to shop.
In speaking of shopping, I will be swinging a local bridal store Friday to look for a nice dress. I need a dress for my upcoming trip to Mackinac Island. I really want to find something in town. I'm afraid, we won't have any time in the upcoming weeks to make it to Toledo.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Miles run in 2008
While on our trip next week, my running may be limited. I do plan on taking my GPS with me. Except for one night in New York City, we will be staying with family members in New Jersey. During the mornings while my husband is still sleeping, I plan to run around the neighborhood to keep in shape. I have to keep in shape for that half-marathon coming up soon. The run is in one month and eight days, to be exact. If I only run two or three miles that is fine. It is better then nothing. But I will be doing a lot of walking in the upcoming week.
2004: 210
2005: 238.6
2006: 339.7
2007: 440.2
2008: 702.4
2004: 210
2005: 238.6
2006: 339.7
2007: 440.2
2008: 702.4
Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Books read in 2008
Thank you to the Big Ten Network for showing a soccer game last night. I had the soccer game on but I wasn't paying attention to the TV. I just needed it for background noise. I finished the 992 page Truman book about ten minutes before going to bed. With our trip coming up, I didn't check out any books at the library. Usually when on trips, I always buy a book at a bookstore. My husband gets up later then I do, it gives me something to do besides watch TV.
A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Currently Reading:
Up Next: A trip to a bookstore in NYC
A Simple Act of Murder: November 22, 1963, Mark Fuhrman
Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, David Talbot
Sons and Brothers: The Days of Jack and Bobby Kennedy, Richard D. Mahoney
Marilyn Monroe: The Biography, Donald Spoto
True Grace: The Life and Times of an American Princess, Wendy Leigh
Final Disclosure, David W. Belin
John Wayne: My Life with the Duke, Pilar Wayne
Bombshell: The Life and Death of Jean Harlow, David Stenn
The Lost Life of Eva Braun, Angela Lambert
Harlow: An Intimate Biography, Irving Shulman
His Way, Kitty Kelley
Natalie, Lana Wood
Rita Hayworth, John Kobal
The Fatal Friendship: Marie Antoinette, Count Fersen and the Flight to Varennes, Stanley Loomis
The Other Boleyn Girl, Philippa Gregory
John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, Michael Munn
Robert Kennedy: His Life, Evan Thomas
Grace of Monaco, Steven Englund
Nemesis, Peter Evans
A Royal Duty, Paul Burrell
The Search for Amelia Earhart, Fred Goerner
Seinfeld: The Making of an American Icon, Jerry Oppenheimer
The Day John Died, Christopher Andersen
As Time Goes By: The Life of Ingrid Bergman, Laurence Leamer
Diana's Boys, Christopher Andersen
The Family, Kitty Kelley
Jackie after Jack, Christopher Andersen
Truman, David McCullough
Currently Reading:
Up Next: A trip to a bookstore in NYC
Monday, September 08, 2008
Due date
Its been like a year since I finished reading a book. Actually, the last book I finished was on August 11, it was Jackie after Jack by Christopher Andersen.The book I'm currently reading is Truman by David McCullough. It is an interesting book and I like it. The book spans his entire life. From his boyhood on the farm, to his presidency and his return to civilian life. The problem is it is only 992 pages. Only. The book is due back Tuesday at the library and I have 100 pages to go. I don't know if I will finish it in time. I already renewed it once, I don't think the library will let me renew it a second time. I don't know why not? I don't think people in this city are lining up to read about Harry S. Truman.
So in between lunch, a nap, a soccer game, dinner, and some TV today, I have 100 pages to go. I think it can be accomplished. Later, I'll multi-task while watching TV. Reading and TV, nothing beats that.
Photo Credit: www.wikipedia.org
Friday, September 05, 2008
Dress shopping
In October, my husband and I will be traveling to Mackinac Island. He will be attending a conference and I'm along for the ride.
The conference will be taking place at the Grand Hotel. One of the nights we will be on the island, I'm sure we will be eating dinner in the main dining room. In the evenings, the hotel requires a certain type of dress. "The Grand Hotel experience includes dressing for dinner. Evening wear is required in all areas of the hotel: coat and tie for gentlemen, and dresses or pantsuits for ladies." That is something that I don't have.
Two dresses that caught my eye by Alfred Angelo.
The conference will be taking place at the Grand Hotel. One of the nights we will be on the island, I'm sure we will be eating dinner in the main dining room. In the evenings, the hotel requires a certain type of dress. "The Grand Hotel experience includes dressing for dinner. Evening wear is required in all areas of the hotel: coat and tie for gentlemen, and dresses or pantsuits for ladies." That is something that I don't have.
The last dress I bought was back in 2004, when I was a bridesmaid in my friend's wedding. As you may know, I'm not someone who likes to dress up. I own a couple of skirts, which I only wear for very special occasions like an anniversary dinner. I don't own a pantsuit either. My outfits that I wear to the office consist of polo shirts and pants. At night when I photograph games, its a t-shirt and pants/shorts.
In the month before we leave for the island, my husband and I will be taking a trip down to Toledo, Ohio for me to go dress shopping. I'm hoping to find something that doesn't look like a bridesmaid dress and that I can wear again for those special occasions.
Two dresses that caught my eye by Alfred Angelo.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Random things
I've been at my current full time job for over six years. In those six years, I've been friends with many of my co-workers. Eventually all of them left for a better job. Today I said goodbye to another one. In the newspaper industry, it is a revolving door. People who are good at their job, rarely stay where I work. They move on to bigger and better jobs, sooner or later. The co-worker that left today is moving back to Pennsylvania. Her new job is at a newspaper close to her home. I'm happy for her, but I'm a bit sad. She was usually the first person I talked to in the morning, we would talk about reality TV together, she was fun and organized. Now who will I talk to about Top Model? She will be missed in the newsroom.
In nine days, my husband and I will return to New York City. I'm so excited. Our last trip to New York was in 2002.
Photo Credit: Freefoto.com
Last week, I mentioned that I was covering a football game that was going to be televised. Last night I was flipping through the channels and came across that football game. I watched some of the game. I wanted to how good the coverage was and to see if I could see myself on TV. Before the game started, the end zone camera did a pan of the home team's sideline and stopped the camera on the head coach. Standing behind the head coach was me. During the first half, I saw myself on TV three times. It has been a day since the football game aired. At least no one has said to me, "I saw you on TV last night," like they did back in November.
In nine days, my husband and I will return to New York City. I'm so excited. Our last trip to New York was in 2002.I would have used a photo that I took of the city, but they are all on negatives. And I don't have a film scanner at my house. On this trip, I plan on taking a bunch of photos. More then the couple of rolls that I took back in 2002.
Photo Credit: Freefoto.com
Tuesday, September 02, 2008
Wolverines
I watched parts of the Michigan-Utah football game Saturday. Yes. Michigan lost 25-23. A missed a large chunk of the first half because I was attending church and most of the second half I was working on my computer.
When I came home after church, I turned on the TV and saw that Michigan's starting quarterback Nick Sheridan get pulled for another quarterback in the third quarter. The second quarterback of the game was Steven Threet. Threet attended a school in the county and I photographed many games he played when he was quarterback for Adrian. The announcers said where he was from and that Sheridan and Threet played against each other in high school. I will always remember the last game I saw Threet play in the 2006 districts at Dearborn. It was a very cold and wet night. It rained the entire game and the field was all mud. I was wearing a rain coat and water went down my sleeves and got my sweater wet. My notes for the game were barely readable due to rain. Every time I would write something down, the rain smeared it. All I can say was it was a terrible night to be a photographer, player and fan at that game. Adrian lost to Dearborn 28-7.
Along with Threet, two other players from the county are also on the team: Zach Johnson and Ryan Meyers. I photographed both guys as well playing high school sports. That's neat that three people from this county are on the University of Michigan football team. Usually players from the county don't play Division 1 football. Some people do. Like Kellen Davis. He went to Adrian, played for Michigan State and got drafted by the Chicago Bears.
I don't know how Michigan football will do this year. I don't know who the starting quarterback will be. Who knows if the other players I mentioned will see playing time. If Michigan has down year, they have a down year. Regardless, I will always watch a game and be a fan of University of Michigan athletics.
When I came home after church, I turned on the TV and saw that Michigan's starting quarterback Nick Sheridan get pulled for another quarterback in the third quarter. The second quarterback of the game was Steven Threet. Threet attended a school in the county and I photographed many games he played when he was quarterback for Adrian. The announcers said where he was from and that Sheridan and Threet played against each other in high school. I will always remember the last game I saw Threet play in the 2006 districts at Dearborn. It was a very cold and wet night. It rained the entire game and the field was all mud. I was wearing a rain coat and water went down my sleeves and got my sweater wet. My notes for the game were barely readable due to rain. Every time I would write something down, the rain smeared it. All I can say was it was a terrible night to be a photographer, player and fan at that game. Adrian lost to Dearborn 28-7.
Along with Threet, two other players from the county are also on the team: Zach Johnson and Ryan Meyers. I photographed both guys as well playing high school sports. That's neat that three people from this county are on the University of Michigan football team. Usually players from the county don't play Division 1 football. Some people do. Like Kellen Davis. He went to Adrian, played for Michigan State and got drafted by the Chicago Bears.
I don't know how Michigan football will do this year. I don't know who the starting quarterback will be. Who knows if the other players I mentioned will see playing time. If Michigan has down year, they have a down year. Regardless, I will always watch a game and be a fan of University of Michigan athletics.
Monday, September 01, 2008
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