Sunday, November 25, 2007

Newark Casual Dining

We were eating on the run before the hockey game a few weeks ago so grabbed a quick bite in a Penn Station pizza place. While eating, Bryan looked up and commented on the classiness of the joint ... check it out:

Yummy ... zap! Sizzle!

Thursday, November 22, 2007

A Balmy Thanksgiving

We're enjoying a beautiful, relaxing Thanksgiving day here in the northeast. Toby was enjoying the light breeze and contemplating the great outdoors this morning.

Toby and Don watch football on the sofa together. Oops, did I not get Don in this photo?!
He is in the kitchen cheerfully preparing our Thanksgiving dinner - yum!


The view from the from our driveway. Time to rake the leaves although there are lots still to fall.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our American friends!
(Canadians also celebrate Thanksgiving but a bit earlier - always the 2nd Monday of Oct.)

Monday, November 19, 2007

Meet Toby

We couldn't take it any longer. We missed the pitter patter of little paws.

On Saturday, Carolyn & Don met Toby who was rescued by a very nice couple who use the same Vet as we do. Carolyn knew she wanted Toby the second she saw him.


This little guy is about 10 weeks old. He went from 0 (hiding under everything, as he is in this photo!) to 60 (running everywhere and lying in our laps) in just 24 hours. He's got us! We're hooked.

We are loving this kitten! He is so entertaining! I'm sure I'll be sharing many more kitten photos. Welcome Toby!

Saturday, November 17, 2007

KHS Fashion Show

On Thursday of this past week we had our annual High School fundraiser which is a Fashion Show event where teachers and students model clothing from local stores. There is also a huge basket event where attendees purchase tickets to put into a drawing for each basket they want. The items in the baskets are donated by local stores, businesses and families. We had over 90 baskets plus 15 more items of higher value that had their own separate drawing. Plus we sell raffle tickets and 50-50 tickets. AND you have to pay to get in to the show - yes, you need to bring your wallet!


Our theme this year was 'Colts Corral' and from the photos you can see how they carried the theme through to the tables and runway. It looked great. We produce a program each year to list our models and to highlight and thank all the people who donated items, bought ads and worked on the show. It takes an incredible number of volunteer hours by many, but especially by the dozen or so chairpeople - who are also fun to work with!

The cover of the Program is always done by a high school student. We run a design contest with the help of the graphic arts teacher. Here's a display that my co-chair put together of the winning designs.

I didn't take any photos at the actual event - these were all taken late that afternoon. The show was great with a professional DJ blasting music and moving it all along. Students also attend to watch the show. The highlight is the senior class who get to wear the formal dresses and tuxes - beautiful!

I've heard we exceeded our fundraising goal so the show was a success from many angles.

Saturday, November 10, 2007

White Stuff

Today we woke up to a wet blanket of snow everywhere! Beautiful but surprising. Of course it was all gone by mid-day, but pretty while it lasted. Here's the view out onto our deck ...

... and the view out the front door ...

Our kids have been off school Thur and Fri for the NJ teacher's convention. We spent the days revisiting a couple of campuses, this time focusing on the actual program offered in the area of Bryan's interests. I think we're now done with the visiting. Bryan just needs to finish up the applications - the arduous part being the various essay requirements. I don't envy him and all the other students but its got to be done!

With the early snowfall we're reminded that Thanksgiving (U.S.) is only 1-1/2 weeks away and Christmas is 6+ weeks away. Zoom zoom zoom.

Saturday, November 3, 2007

Cultural Dabblings

Lately I've done a few interesting things culturally, which isn't difficult when you live next to New York City. We get a lot of spill-over into the Arts in New Jersey with some great theater and concerts on this side of the Hudson River too.

Last night we went to the brand new Prudential Center in Newark, NJ enjoying Don's passion - hockey. The arena is nick-named 'The Rock' - see photo. The Leafs were in town to face the Devils and we got tickets through my UWO Alumni group. The new arena is beautiful! Unfortunately there were still a lot of empty seats, a problem not appearing to be fixed by moving the team out of the Meadowlands area. We were content in our section surrounded by Leaf fans, also transplanted Canadians. I love hearing the Canadian anthem again. (Leafs gave it up in the 3rd, losing 3-2.)

A week before I had the great pleasure of seeing the St Petersburg Philharmonic orchestra at the NJPAC (NJ Performing Arts Center) also in Newark. Don opted out of this event (surprise!) and I went with 3 friends. It was FANTASTIC! They had a guest pianist there from Brazil, Nelson Freire. WOW! The conductor is Yuri Temirkanov who was spellbinding to watch. He doesn't use a baton - he 'scoops' sections into the music, points, looks, flutters his fingers - so living the music.

Before that I saw Don Giovanni, an opera by Mozart, at the City Opera at the Lincoln Center. This is the 3rd opera I've seen in my one-a-year dabbling in opera. The 1st was Madame Butterfly at The Met - excellent, 2nd was Barber of Seville at the City Opera - hilarious & fun, and the 3rd, Don Giovanni - I fell asleep. Who can stay awake for 3-1/2 hours of opera all of it set in the nighttime!!! I don't think it is an appropriate opera for an opera newbie. I need fun opera, which many of them are as many operas were composed for the masses way back when. Of course they had to stand ... tougher to fall asleep.

In late Sep I went on a dinner cruise around Manhattan as a guest of one of our agencies at work. The event was very classy, topped off by our own private fireworks display off the east side of Manhattan with the Empire State and Chrysler buidings in the background, and dancing under the stars on the top deck. Weather was perfect. It was really a magical treat!

Before that, probably Spamalot with the kids in Manhattan, or The Drowsy Chaperone with a bunch of friends, or a Jazz Club in the East Village when my UWO friend Carolyn & her husband were in NYC - always something good to attend around here ... you could make it your day and night job ... if you could afford it!