Christmas Eve in NYC

As is our NJ custom, we spent Christmas Eve in the city. It was a perfect day - not too cold. Our first stop was the new NHL store on Ave. of the Americas! We expected more but it was just a retail store. In contrast, the NBA store on 5th has memorabilia everywhere, interactive displays, screens - just more fun. Nothing to do in the NHL store but purchase over-priced hoodies and jersies. After a late lunch, we walked around Rockefeller Center, saw the tree along with a trillion others - all taking pictures! Then walked along 5th Ave with the shoppers, enjoyed the decorations and excitement in the air.

Here are a few pics:

From Rte 3 in NJ looking across to NYC

Entering the Lincoln Tunnel

Don beside his fav team's jersey in the NHL Store on 6th & 46th

Bryan, Don & Carolyn in front of the beautiful tree at Rockefeller Center

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas day yesterday. Ours was quiet and just right.

And in Star-Ledger News today ...

Kinnelon's hockey team noted as one of 5 public school teams "to watch" in the state according to the Star-Ledger today.

We're all looking forward to a fun season!

Go Colts!

Santa on Sunday

Santa himself came whirring past our home on Sunday. I was a little slow with the point and click, but I think thats him between the trees standing just behind the front cab! GREAT shot! Ho ho ho.

eGreetings of all kinds

I've been elfed several times this season and have enjoyed every dancing elf no matter how many times I get it. Here are the Chenoweth's dancing around:

You too can be a dancing elf: www.elfyourself.com

Here's another fun greeting, just received from Nancy, try it:

Warm holiday wishes from Rail Europe

Hope you're all enjoying the season and keep the greetings and cards coming!

December

December 1 and 2.

25 days till Christmas. First high school hockey game of the season. First Christmas party. First batch of Christmas cookies baked (short bread, of course). First gift boxes shipped away to Canada. Time to get the festive decorations out. Time to look forward to cards and letters from friends and family.

Hanging around the house with fireplace roaring and everyone safe at home. Warm and content.

The start of a great month!

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!

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.)

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!

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.

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.

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!

Lucky to have Lucky

Our beautiful cat, Lucky, was attacked by a large animal last Wednesday night and killed. My neighbor saw the animal and thinks it was a mountain lion, which I've read may be returning to NJ. The NJ Wildlife told me it was likely a coyote. "No way!" says my neighbor. Either way, when Don went running to get Lucky, he was already gone. My neighbor's headlights had scared the animal away and it was she and her daughter who recognized Lucky. Very traumatic for them too as they were his prime catsitters. We are grateful to them for spotting Lucky and telling us right away, and also for their concern. (Article on mountain lions in NJ.)

It is so nice that so many people in our neighborhood have said how sorry they are to hear about Lucky. Many have their own Lucky stories as he visited many porches and backyards. Most remember him as sitting on our front step. People would say, "Oh you live in the house with the black cat on the step." Yes, we lived in Lucky's house! We've heard how people on their walks always looked for him as they walked past our house.

He often slept at the foot of our bed or always somewhere where he had a good view of the household comings and goings.

Here he is waiting to be seen and let inside. In fact the hardest thing these last few days is walking past the front door and looking for him, expecting that he's there waiting to come in.

Carolyn and Lucky were very close. He tolerated all kinds of lovin's from her! And spent most of his time in her room. He was born in Maryland around June 1, 1998. We got him just after Carolyn's 6th Birthday. He was the last of his litter - not sure if he started out as the runt, but he grew to be a very healthy 15-1/2 lb cat!

He was definitely an outdoor boy though and quite the hunter taking out many a poor little chipmunk. I've also seen him chase after a racoon and leap at our neighbor's beautiful dog, Buttercup, when she encroached on his territory one day.

Here he is rubbing my legs. He was always rubbing past us. Whenever I was out gardening, he'd get himself in between me and whatever part of the garden I was trying to work on. He ran across our deck last summer before the paint had dried and left cute little Lucky pawprints on the stairs.

Thanks to all of you who have called, emailed, or stopped by to give us your sympathies. I really didn't think it'd be so hard to lose a pet. Our handsome Luckykins, Luckster, Lucks, Lucky.

Facebook: Not for over 40 crowd?

More on Facebook for the over 40 crowd versus under 18 crowd here. It is fun to discuss ... and add 'friends'! Feel free to invite me to be your friend. Lol.

Facebook

I am obviously not the target market for Facebook because I don't get it. If I want to talk to you, I'll either phone, email or, if you're on msn, I might IM you. I can leave a message or send a text if calling. I can attach all kinds of info and photos or enclose links if email. Ditto with IM. I can even expound on minute details of my life in this blog. (Which is fun for me, if not my reader(s)!)

Now I have a Facebook account and I get 'invited' to be 'friends' with other people just like I got invites to be on LinkedIn. I've checked out a few friends' profiles, added a map, sent 'gifts' ... so far its not fun. Is this an age thing or am I not getting it?!

Final Kitchen Photos

It has taken me a long time to take a few final kitchen shots mostly because there's always so much going on in there. Below are a couple of shots at nighttime before we had picked out lighting by the windows and the electrician had made his final visit, and a few from this morning. We are really enjoying our new kitchen - so glad we bumped out and got the extra space!

Visitors and feedback welcome.

Happy Anniversary to us!

I should note that today is our 22nd wedding anniversary!

If I had a chance to do it all over again, there's not a thing I'd do differently. xoxo

"Old" Friends from The Hat

This is one of my oldest friends, Colleen, pictured here with one of her very cute granddaughters. I met Colleen back in grade 1, I think, in Medicine Hat when she moved into the yellow house across the street from us. We have stayed in touch off and on since then, even after we moved back to Toronto and she later moved to various places within B.C., now living on Vancouver Island. (Can you tell her background is Irish!?!) The last time we saw each other in person was in 1980 in the Okanagan, where she had her first child. I was still at Western then. Different paths but still we've managed to cross into each other's lives a few times along the way.

From my days in "The Hat" I have kept in touch with 3 girlfriends - still, after all these years. Colleen is one. Then there's Maureen who I keep in touch with less often but whenever we talk, we talk! She is my very first friend - apparently we were friends at 2, calling each other "Baby!" And the other is Marleen who I have seen the most. She went to UBC in Vancouver and has stayed there in a great home not far from the beach. It has been easiest to stay in touch with Marleen because I used to go to Vancouver on business with AT&T, and we vacationed out there a few times. We have always enjoyed getting together.

Our communication has changed from strictly letter writing, to the occasional phone call, to the occasional email. Face-to-face is rare unfortunately. I have great memories of my childhood in Medicine Hat and so nice to know I can still keep in touch with that time through these 3 good "old" friends.

Funny thing is that years later, while working at Ontario Place one summer, I met another Colleen. One day we found out, quite by accident, that we both lived in Medicine Hat, Alberta at the same time! We learned that our parents knew of each other though various "dos" (as my mom would say) - I think we'd say PARTIES! Colleen has remained a good friend too even though we have both moved many times ... and you think its tough keeping track of me!

The Medicine Hat chapter of my life will always be a part of me. Thanks girlfriends!

Crazy Time of Year

Back to school is always a crazy time of year for many reasons. The usual, plus hockey starts up and the Student Directory that I create is due and a few other things that I have volunteered for - all that I enjoy doing but most within the Sep to Nov timeframe. As well, all other groups start up again for the 4 of us. Its great to see friends again and to get going on new objectives, but tough to leave behind the leisure days of summer.

Sony work continues to be fun and busy. I am with a fun, entrepreneurial group (and I'm not just saying that - none of them know of this blog, to my knowledge!) Sony is always doing interesting things at the office, such as a book sale, Rita's promoting their desserts, and this week, an employee appreciation day. The appreciation day also included a fundraiser for MS where Sony provided amazing items for raffle prizes. I won a Bravia Home Theater System!!! It is very cool! Bryan set it up in the basement last night and we were blown away!

So much is going on ... thankfully, no complaints. When I worked at the "other company", working from home allowed me more time to post to my blog and entertain myself in many unproductive activities (including laundry). The work was interesting, just not enough of it. So here I am actually busy at work and loving it.

But the blogging suffers. Alas.

A Walk in the Park

Last Monday Marian and I went for a walk in the park - Central Park. It is huge and its beautiful. I've wandered into the south end many times, but never got further than the zoo which was with Vicki & John back in 2002. We also did a horse & buggy ride then, so I've done that too, thanks to Vicki. Also tried to see the saffron curtains thing (forgetting the artistic name) but we couldn't find parking. We did see it from the car if that counts - not the same experience as walking through I don't think.

It was time to make Central Park our one and only destination. Here's a photo journal of our stroll:

Bethesda Fountain & Terrace

We started at the south end, walked up to the Carosel and the Dairy, then up The Mall to the amazing Bethesda Fountain. Many of these areas were familiar from movies. From there we walked up to Boathouse, then around the Boat Pond where we saw two famous sculptures - one a tribute to Hans Christain Anderson and the other of Alice in Wonderland with all the characters around her.

The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir

From there we walked north, around the Metropolitan Art Museum and around the Reservoir. Wow! From the top of the Lake we headed into the Conservatory Gardens - what a peaceful haven within the city! So much to look at - it was gorgeous.

Sculpture Gardens in the Conservatory Garden

We had a misty day but the rain held off making it very pleasant for walking. We decided to stop for lunch at the Boathouse, so as we sat under the canopy, sipped our wine and looked out over the pond, it started to rain. It was perfect. The rain stopped as we left the Boathouse and walked back out of the park via the Strawberry Fields exit - a memorial to John Lennon that is nearest the Dakota building. Boo hoo.

Strawberry Fields Forever mosaic

We still didn't walk to the very top of the Park but we came close. We walked from 64th to 105th streets, and the park goes all the way up to 110th street I think. We should have walked the extra few blocks but we were hungry!

Where to next time Marian?

Its a miracle!

After gradually losing 'a little' hair over the past few decades, Don miraculously grew long tresses that now give him that sexy hippie look! And it looks oh-so-natural.

A weekend of friends

Over the Ontario Civic Holiday weekend (long weekend in early August) we co-hosted the annual Nestle Golf/Shopping tournament with our friends who live in Mahwah. It used to just be a golf tournament but I think we had more shoppers than golfers this time.

This group consists mostly of ex-Nestle people who all worked together several years ago when we were all young and you could still have lots of fun working for a corporation! (The good old days!) Don used to work with this group and over the years we've met stayed in touch in many ways and in many locations. One couple was our neighbor in Thornhill at one time, so we also got to catch-up on some "neighbourhood" (Cdn spelling!) news. This golfing group has been meeting for over 10 years now, I think, rotating the hosting duties. Since moving to the US we've haven't been attending but it was sooo great to see everyone again!!!

The weekend started out with a delicious welcoming party at Craig & Linda's, followed by golf & shopping the next day, with swimming, dinner and the awards ceremony at our place finishing up that day. The next day was a day of NYC touring for some, more shopping for some, and more beach time for others. This day was topped off with a farewell dinner at Carmine's on 44th.

It was a perfect weekend. Thanks to all for coming to NJ!

Check out the slideshow of all the photos I grabbed here. (Roll your mouse over the photos as they scroll by for captions. Click 'Back' if you want to get back to this blog.)

Back Blogged

I am way back logged on my blogging. Its been a busy summer with wonderful visitors, finishing touches to the kitchen and changing jobs.

I already blogged about our first visitors - my friend Sue from high school - and our next set of visitors was H&B, aka my parents. They came for a few days in July. It was great to see them again. Aren't they looking great?!

Here we are enjoying a little vino around the new island. We also celebrated my Dad's 83rd birthday a week early.

It was the week after their visit that I started my new job with Sony Electronics. So far so good - a nice welcoming group, interesting work, and lots to do! As I mentioned I look forward to my commute so I can enjoy audio books. So far, I've listened to Freakonomics and History of Love. Both good - the latter a must-read for those who like a great story and excellent writing.

Next blog, the Nestle Canada golf/shopping weekend ...

Blog notes

My birthday was last week and I received many wonderful notes and cards. Check out what my fellow blogger Denise did here. Very creative, party on. Thanks to all!

I update this blog and forget about it. Then friends catch me offguard. Such as ... it is kind of freaky when I meet people now that I haven’t seen for awhile and their first words are: “You hit a bear?!”

Busy Weekend for One

This weekend was wonderfully quiet and busy. It started out with Carolyn's birthday party - about 15 kids were here on Friday night. Then, with Don & Bryan in Quebec for the weekend and Carolyn on her usual sleep-in-then-go-out-with-friends routine, I had the house to myself.

I used the time to carry "kitchen" boxes up from the basement and to get the new kitchen organized again. I also got caught up on some much needed gardening, which I love to do. And of course, I picked up our reserved copy of Harry Potter.

I often have the house to myself but then I'm usually working. That is about to change. Tomorrow I embark on a new adventure - a job where I work in an office as opposed to the past many, many years where I have worked steadily from my home office (or wah - work at home - as we say).

My new job is in marketing working three days per week. My contract at my previous job was renewed but for the "absolute last time." When this new opportunity came up - a part time job with substance - I leapt at it. I haven't had a first day in an office in many years! I've got an audio book all ready to go for the drive to/from work. Wish me luck! Bring it on.

Close Encounter with the Queen

Recently I was mentioning for some reason that we saw the Queen when we were in London in 2005. After waiting outside Buckingham Palace in record hot temps for a couple of hours, she whizzed by in her open carriage. If she weren't wearing a colorful outfit, we'd never have spotted her. I was standing with a family of women representing 3 or 4 generations, who said they come into London to line up along the Mall to see her all the time. One had seen the Queen 17 times. They love her.

This weekend was the 60th anniversary of VE Day and veterans had been invited to London to have tea with the Queen and participate in other events. This was also just 2 days after the July 7th subway bombings.

So here we are with our up close and personal encounter with the Queen. Still, it was exciting!

A Weekend with Sue

Sue and her two beautiful daughters were our first visitors this summer and our first visitors since our renovation began. Joe, the plumber, had our sink and dishwasher working by about 4 pm on Friday afternoon, and Sue arrived about an hour later. Perfect timing!

Sue is a friend from good ole Applewood Heights Secondary School. Having last seen each other in 2003, and before that in 1985 or so, we got along as if we were still back in high school (without the zits). As Sue pointed out, this was fun to be meeting again with our own kids who are now in high school, and now we're our moms! (She IS a lot like I remember June, her mom!) Actually Sue and I first met in grade 5.

Here are a few pics from our great weekend together, spent mostly in NYC, ending each day back in NJ:

Day 49 - Backsplashes & Smiles

I'm smiling the most, behind my camera, as I admire my new kitchen. We're really loving it.

Ate dinner at the island tonight and admired our view out the windows. I've added some basic things to cabinets (aka cupboards) but not too much because still some finishing touches required.

Pictured here are the granite guy, Kevin, from Kennedy Tile & Marble in Jersey City - scared me at first (!) but a very nice guy who does great work with his two assistants - and Anthony who has done the lion's share of our kitchen bump-out, and installation, and coordinated the other trades. His assistant, Jose, has been excellent too.

Not pictured are the two Joes that do plumbing and electric (maybe I can snap a pic of them tomorrow when they connect our sink and cooktop) and the master designer Ron from GPS in Morris Plains.

Day 48 - Countertops

We have countertops! And I like them! They are not in completely because of a slight delay with the backsplashes, which we will have tomorrow between 10 and 11. A few things were dismantled in order to make room for the granite so you'll see some moldings are down, and cardboard is on floor. That cardboard cut-out on the window sill is a template for the exhaust fan over the cooktop.

The dishwasher, microwave and bev fridge went in today too. We just need the plumber to come along tomorrow or Friday to hook up sink and dishwasher and then we're just down to smaller finishes. Yahoo!

We're going to be ready for you Sue! (Sue, a friend from high school, arrives at 4pm on Friday with her girls for the weekend - looking forward to it!)

15 Candles Today

Carolyn is 15 today, a very auspicious day - 07/07/07.
We think we've lived a charmed life ever since she arrived 15 years ago!

We love you Carolyn!!!

Dragonfly closeup

This big dragonfly guy decided to join me with my morning coffee a few weeks ago. My camera is not great at closeups but I thought this was pretty good.

We are all discombobulated around here today with July 4th being a mid-week day off. Weather has been cooler than usual for this time of year. The fireworks display at the beach was beautiful once again, but this year we were wrapped in blankets.

Other news: We are still without a working kitchen. My contract was renewed for another 5 weeks. My brother and his family are in Thailand and Hong Kong on vacation. My daughter turns 15 on Saturday.