Planes, Trains, and Automobiles - Massachusetts

I'm going to try and summarize our trip by state, so hopefully this works out to two parts. Part 1: Massachusetts...

Dad, Mom, Lena, me, and David in our annual scarf photo.

As I mentioned in the last post, we made it to my sister's via Amtrak from Boston (South Station) to Springfield without a hitch. We had a great weekend seeing my sister's place and visiting Northampton, Chicopee, Springfield, Holyoke (where my sis and I were born), and Longmeadow (my first home). Northampton was really charming, and we enjoyed a nice brunch at Sylvester's as well as a big Christmas kickoff shopping weekend in all the shops (20% off weekend). We had a cold but enjoyable walk around the Ashley Reservoir, which was actually partially frozen the morning that we walked it, but beautiful nonetheless. We also had a really nice dinner with my old babysitter, Betsy, and her mom, Ruth. It's been 27 years since they've seen me, so it was a fun reunion for all of us!

Lena, Ruth, Buddy, Betsy, Mom, Dad, David and me.

My sister's birthday is coming up this Thursday (Happy Early Birthday, Lena!), so we went ahead a celebrated while we were all together by having dinner at a great little German restaurant in Chicopee, Munich Haus. We then went back to her place and indulged in a very yummy Truffle cake that we bought at a bakery in downtown Northampton.

Enjoying our wurst and schnitzel at Munich Haus.

Monday morning, we headed to NYC via Amtrak to New Haven and then MTA Metro-North Railroad (a commuter train) into NYC Grand Central Terminal. Our friends Val and Tim picked up a pretty nasty bug on their drive up from Atlanta, so we were advised to stay away from their hotel room initially. Luckily, we were able to stay with our dear friend Cyndi's brother, Ben, in Brooklyn for the first two nights, so other than a little longer commute time to get into the city, our travels were not delayed too much. Thankfully, Val and Tim were able to recuperate somewhat and able to start seeing the sights with us on Tuesday. Stay tuned for more on our NYC adventures in the next post!

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Part 2

Well, we made it through Boston and are now enjoying a great weekend at my sister's place in Chicopee, MA. It is COLD here! We went about 20 mins north yesterday to shop in quaint little Northampton (home of Smith College), and it was supposedly 3 degrees farenheit with wind chill! Brrrrrr! We spend today visiting the neighborhood that my sister and I lived in for the first few years of our lives, which is about 20 minutes SE from here - Longmeadow, MA - and then having dinner with my old babysitter's mom, and maybe even my old babysitter herself and her husband! That would be really cool. I have not seen them since I was 6 years old. Looking forward to another good day, and then we head to NYC in the morning. Please help me pray for snow not rain this coming week, otherwise it will make for some pretty stinky parade-watching. More pictures and stories when I get back next week!

Is your cat plotting to kill you?

Got this from a coworker today, and had a good laugh. If you have a cat, take the quiz and see if your cat is plotting to kill you...

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, Part 1

Calling all trip advisors! This New England tour that I am planning is becoming more and more complicated... I'm trying to get from Boston (MA) to Springfield (MA) to NYC. I think trains will be my friends, and probably a pick-up by my sister in Worcester to get me to her place near Springfield. Anyway, I'll be through all these towns starting next Wednesday through Thanksgiving, so any trip advice or sights to see or restaurant suggestions are appreciated!

My trip has become part work, part pleasure. I've being sent in someone's place to attend the Greenbuild Conference in Boston, which is exciting for me. I haven't been in Boston since I lived in MA, so probably about 5 years old, and even then, the only thing I remember is the Boston's Children's Museum, in all it's glory (at least at 5). Also, the Greenbuild Conference is a gathering of like-minded architects, builders, designers, and vendors with green buildings in mind, and since that's going to be the wave of the future, anything I can learn is a plus. My DS is in Chicopee, and I have not had the opportunity to visit her since she moved there almost 1.5 years ago, so I'll get to see her and my parents, as well as my childhood area, for the first time since age 6. And then of course the finale, NYC. We'll be enjoying the sights there for sure. MoMA is definitely on the list, and a couple of restaurants. And seeing my beloved GT Marching Band in the Macy's parade. Sounds like a whirlwind, I know, but I am really looking forward to it all! Now to figure out how to pack for 11 days of cold weather in my little carry-on suitcase...

Mario CAN Defeat Hunger!

So we didn't win a prize, but I hear we were one of the finalists for Best Use of Labels. We should have won! Anyway, here is Rosser's creation, and we loved it! We used Ronzoni pasta and Melba Snacks boxes for the background sky and cloud, large tomato cans for the brick wall, green beans for the pipe, and various tomato, pork and beans, black eyed peas, and sauerkraut for Mario. This is me with our Team Captain, Becky. Go Mario! He's on display through the 16th, at Underground Atlanta, downstairs near the food court, around the corner from Orange Julius.

Evil Eye

I'm having fun with the new camera. Of course, my first experimental subjects are DK and DH. Here they are with their best evil eye faces!


We are going to the Canstruction Gala tonight, so I'll have photos of our company's piece de resistance up soon. I hope our "Mario CAN defeat hunger" will get a prize - he turned out pretty well! Also, I just realized that Wednesday was my first year blogiversary. Happy Blogiversary to me, and thanks for reading!

New 'do

After getting my hair really chopped at the beginning of September, it finally started feeling like it was growing out all of the sudden this last week! The back had gotten to the point where it was getting longer than the front, jamming into the back of my neck or collar when I tilted my head back (threatening to be a baby mullet), and just getting plain shaggy. So in honor of Election Day (and there being an opening with my stylist), I went in for a haircut this evening. I had originally wanted a graduated bob when I got my hair chopped, but I think Robbi thought it might be too much of a shock since I was already getting about 11 inches chopped, so she tried to be on the conservative side. Well, I have to say that she outdid herself tonight, as I am loving my cut, and hope it stays like this for awhile!

Camera update - just checked tracking and it looks like if all goes well, the camera should be coming to me at work tomorrow!! I am SoooOOOooo excited!!

Nikon D90 ordered!

Woo hoo!! I've made my big purchase for the year, now I just have to wait for it to get here... YAY!!

http://imaging.nikon.com/products/imaging/lineup/digitalcamera/slr/d90/index.htm

Accessories will be welcome for Christmas gifts...