New York, part I

Dear friends, as some of you may know, Matthew and I recently returned from a trip to New York. We saved our pennies for close to a year to travel to the big city and visit my dear friend Sam. Sam used to live in Bellingham, but moved away one year ago to be a big-shot television producer. 

I'd like to share our trip in a series of posts. I'm pretty rusty with the blogging so bear with me. 

I wish I could caption this photo with the "Chariots of Fire" theme music

Ceci did not sleep a wink on the redeye to JFK. We endured six hours of whining, giggling, and being kicked in the stomach. Nightmare. I gave her so many bottles in a desperate attempt to make her sleep that we were changing diapers nonstop. And yes, I still give my almost-two-year -old a bottle. She has a drinking problem and I'm an enabler.  

We were zombies that first day. We literally had no sleep till Brooklyn. Here we are at Dumbo park, between the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges. It's a beautiful place. Lots of boats and people to stare at. It was hotter than Hades all day and into the evening. Above you will see authentic New York Pizza. Delicious. 

Here is Sam, Ceci, and Sam's niece Adeline. 

Exhausted family photo. Ceci looks stunned. When I look at this picture I realize I inherited my face and the tendency to either blink or squint in every photo from my Mom. 

to be continued...

Savannah Crush

Hello all. The Satorialist was in Savannah a few weeks ago, and as much as I admire his amazing eye for person-on-the street fashion I found myself ignoring his subjects and instead devouring the background of every picture for familiar places. I have a serious crush on Savannah. Matthew's parents have a house nearby, so we've been lucky enough to spend some time there in the last few years.
There are so many things to like about Savannah. Its quirky beauty is the most obvious. Savannah is beautiful but none too clean, too hot, and full of eccentric people. It's kind of like snooty Charleston's funky cousin. The restored historic district stretches for miles, and you can lose yourself for within it for days.

You see what I mean? Dreamy. 

Other things I like about Savannah- The BBQ, this restaurant where I gorged myself on a potted foie gras terrine, and the Savannah College of Art and Design. 

A word about SCAD. The presence of an art college injects some youthful vigor into what could be a stuffy old Southern City, and the art in the student shop is kick-ass. 

I've become infatuated with SCAD alumnus Stephanie Howard. It's difficult to get the full effect of her art from the website, but she makes expansive and meticulous pen and ink drawings on paper. She draws a lot of beauty queens, and uses cultural imagery that doesn't make sense to me as a stranger to the South, but I like the way it makes me feel, and that's how I know I like art. 

One last thing I like about Savannah- my maiden name pops up everywhere. I saw it on street signs, engraved onto tombs in the cemetery, and on local Bed and Breakfasts. I imagine my ancestors smeared themselves all over that part of the South before moving on to be debauched and disease-riddled in other parts of the U.S.A. Ah, the beauty of being a French American!

Escape

Today is a dreary, dismal day here in Washington. Here's a little pick-me-up.

Wow, I feel better. You?