Life as a Dill

The husband at work

A year in pictures

Triumph!  I actually, honestly, cross my heart and hope to die snapped at least one photo each day throughout all of 2010.  No cheating.  Admittedly there were times where I didn’t actually get to upload the photo when I was plain old tired/lazy didn’t have a reliable internet connection, but I did take the photo to save in queue.

At times I was uninspired, snapping photos on my iPhone at the end of the day (example).  Also, once when I was really under the weather I picked up my camera, snapped the shutter release without paying attention to my camera settings (in this case, a very slow shutter speed… somewhere on the order of a minute)… which resulted in this photo.

I will gladly sadly not be continuing the Photo a Day into 2011, but will definitely keep shooting in an attempt to improve my photography prowess.

I leave you with some of my favorites throughout the year.  Happy 2011!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

First day of Spring

The weather was just lovely today, and we all took full advantage of it.  After Denver popped out Taps at a funeral this morning, we decided to take a short trip to the city.

 

We weren't there for long, but we did stop at my favorite chocolate shop in Soho where I indulged in a cardamom iced chocolate and pear danish.  Soooooooo good!!!

 

 

Denver had to be back at West Point for Retreat at 6, so Finnian and I walked around beautiful Trophy Point for a while.

 
It was a lovely day. :)

Family in NYC!

Yesterday afternoon/evening Denver and I met up with my Aunt Julie, Uncle Brook, and cousins Cheyenne & Skye in NYC! They are here for a few days since Cheyenne won an essay contest and gets to have lunch with author Sarah Mlynowski on Monday-- how cool is that?! We had a blast chilling out in their (huge for NYC standards) hotel near Carnegie Hall, eating, and walking around during a perfect summer evening. After meeting up at the hotel (noticing Bobby Flay's Bar Americain right across the street, which really impressed Cheyenne!) we headed over to the famous Carnegie Deli. The place has sandwiches as big as your head, and famous cheesecake that they bring out in the biggest slices I have ever seen. Luckliy we only had a short wait before being seated. We watched huge sandwich after huge sandwich being served around us. Denver and I ended up splitting a beef brisket one, and had trouble finishing it between the two of us! By the end of dinner we were all too full for cheesecake, so some of us settled for a small cup of gelato next door. I got coconut and Cheyenne got caramel. Mmmmmm... After that, we went on a nice walk. Denver served as tour guide, taking us by Carnegie Hall, Rockefeller Center, Trump Tower, Tiffany & Co., the Plaza Hotel, Bergdorf Goodman, and Central Park. After that we were all pooped and went back to the hotel to hang out and tell stories. Before we knew it, it was past 10pm and time for Denver and I to head back up north. Overall the evening was a blast and we're so glad that we were able to meet up!

Going back to the Rachael Ray Show!!!

Last week, I received an email asking if I was interested in getting free tickets to the Rachael Ray show.  I quickly replied, and it looks like we have 2 tickets for a taping in two weeks! I am sooooo excited for this.  As documented in a previous blog post, visiting the Rachael Ray set is a total blast.  I got so lucky last time-- seats in the second row, a bunch of freebies including a PSP (which I later sold on eBay for $225), snack of the day, Josh Groban Christmas performance (even though I am not really a fan), etc. etc.   I got to attend one full taping the last time, and also one partial taping. This time, Denver is going to tag along.  We're planning on arriving very early once again, since tickets are not guaranteed.  I do have a feeling that there will be less people in line for this one since it is not a Christmas taping, but little do I know.  We'll play it on the safe side and take the early train into the city. I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NYC Summer Restaurant Week 2008

I looooooove restaurant week. Twice a year for a two-week period each time, over 200 restaurants in NYC offer specially-priced meals with special menus. This time, Denver and I took the opportunity to dine at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill with our friends Dave and Kelly. It was our third time there, and Dave & Kelly's first. We got to the city at 6:45 for a 7:00 reservation, and lo and behold, there was a parking spot RIGHT IN FRONT of Mesa Grill on Fifth Avenue. And even more crazy, parking was FREE! I don't think we'll ever strike "parking gold" like that ever again. Denver ended up getting Green Pea + Green Chile Soup, while I got Spicy Salmon Tartare to start. His main course was a yummy Chile Relleno, while I got the Blue Corn-Crusted Red Snapper pictured above. It was fabulous! For dessert, Denver ended up getting Warm Cornbread Pudding with Cherry Ice Cream, while I couldn't pass up the Warm Chocolate Coconut Cake with Pineapple Ice Cream. We left with full and happy bellies. This weekend is full of fun-- we're off to see The Dark Knight (in IMAX) tonight. Can't wait since everyone says that it exceeds your expectations. More on that later... :)

Wonderful movie

Denver and I went to the city yesterday afternoon/evening to see a movie I have been wanting to see since I first heard of it more than a year ago: Young @Heart. The movie is a documentary that follows the lives of a group of senior citizens in Northampton, Massachusetts as they prepare for a musical tour: of singing popular music like that of Coldplay, James Brown, Sonic Youth, and others! The movie just opened and is in limited release, but if you are able to see it, I would highly recommend it. You will find yourself laughing hysterically one minute and crying the next. I don't want to give anything else away. BTW: the weather was beautiful yesterday, which made being in the city absolutely wonderful. People were dining on the sidewalks, there were some small leaves/flowers on the trees, and you didn't need a coat when walking around. It was absolutely lovely, and a sign of things to come :)

More pictures from last weekend!

A Day in the City

Yesterday we spent the day in the city-- the big reason for our visit was that Denver was to play a solo with the New York Philharmonic at the Rose Theater in the Time Warner building at Columbus Circle! It went very well for Denver, especially considering the fact that he had major lip surgery last summer and only started to re-learn how to play again in September. It was funny seeing him perform with the trumpet centered on his lips rather than off to the side on this mouth, which is how he had been playing for years! We met up with Rick and Dana Ruth (Rick is our former high school trumpet teacher in Lexington, OH), as well as Denver's parents during the concert. Rebecca Wilt, Denver's friend and piano collaborator, joined Denver for the performance. To celebrate afterwards, we had a wonderful dinner at Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill (I highly recommend the "rough cut" raw tuna nachos, the ancho chile-honey glazed salmon, and the spicy chocolate creme brulee). :) It was a great time! Here is a pic of me and the love of my life after his performance. :)

Rachael Ray Show air date!

Tune in to the Rachael Ray show this Thursday, December 20 to catch the taping that my friend Kelly and I attended! We sat in the second row on the right hand side if you are Rachael facing the audience. I am wearing a brown sweater and Kelly is wearing a blue-green one :) There are only 5 seats in the second row on that side, so we were really close to all of the action!