So here are the latest pictures from the Forest Fire threatening Okanogan. It's less than half a mile from our place but there is a river and road between here and there. It's still pretty freaky though!
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
7.01.2008
6.25.2008
Buffalo Zoo...
Our first day of vacation in Buffalo, NY was spent visitng the Buffalo zoo. It was a lot of fun although slightly sad as they are in the process of renovating and making it a more realistic habitat for the animals. We had a good time. After that we went to Kenmore where my Mom grew up and the went to visit my grandpa's grave. I never got to meet him but he sounds like a neat guy for the most part.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
6.19.2008
And now I feel old...
...and this is why.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Today was my 18 year old niece's high school graduation. She is almost exactly 10 years younger than me. I was in the 5th grade when she was born and it was SO cool to have a baby niece at that age! I was unfortuantely sick the day she was born but I got to stand outside the room and wasn't too upset about it. She was born one day before my grandmother which made it even more special. For a longtime Ash and her Mom would come to our house and spend the night and practically lived there it seemed. I got to feed her and sing to her. Babysitting was like Christmas to me. As she got older I got to take her places alone and we were best buds. Then the unthinkable happened, at least in my world. Ash's Mom met another man and married him which meant Ash would have to move. To Key West. Far away. I was devastated. The summer before she moved we went to Gettysburg for a little vacation and I remember holding her hand and wishing that life didn't suck so much. I was unsure when I would see her again due to family issues and I had no idea how to cope with this. I got to see on holidays and summers but it was never quite the same. So then a few years ago Ash moved in with her Dad (my brother). It hasn't been easy on her, getting to this day, but she made it and I couldn't be more proud of her.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Today was my 18 year old niece's high school graduation. She is almost exactly 10 years younger than me. I was in the 5th grade when she was born and it was SO cool to have a baby niece at that age! I was unfortuantely sick the day she was born but I got to stand outside the room and wasn't too upset about it. She was born one day before my grandmother which made it even more special. For a longtime Ash and her Mom would come to our house and spend the night and practically lived there it seemed. I got to feed her and sing to her. Babysitting was like Christmas to me. As she got older I got to take her places alone and we were best buds. Then the unthinkable happened, at least in my world. Ash's Mom met another man and married him which meant Ash would have to move. To Key West. Far away. I was devastated. The summer before she moved we went to Gettysburg for a little vacation and I remember holding her hand and wishing that life didn't suck so much. I was unsure when I would see her again due to family issues and I had no idea how to cope with this. I got to see on holidays and summers but it was never quite the same. So then a few years ago Ash moved in with her Dad (my brother). It hasn't been easy on her, getting to this day, but she made it and I couldn't be more proud of her.
More food...
Food. There is something everyone should know about me. I'm having an affair. With food. All kinds. I'm non-discriminatory (except for anchovies! GAG ME!). When I go out, I look for restaurants or food shops. I love ethnic food and always have. American food is overrated and overall, not that good. Give me a bowl of Lo Mein or a Pirogi anyday over a piece of pizza.
Not that American food doesn't have it's place. A bar-b-que isn't a bar-b-que without burgers or kosher weenies (must be kosher, non-kosher is YUCKY!). Overall though I feel better if I'm eating Mediterranean or Asian. It seems lighter or something. Granted I feel hungry again sooner but I also have more energy, go figure!
So back to my affair. Some people would spend extra money or their "fun" money on toys, electronics, entertainment, etc. I spend mine on food or food related activities. My fondest family memories are usually involving food, either the eating or making of. When I remember people, I usually remember what we were eating. I love to cook for others not because they can't but because it makes me ethereally (is that even a word?)happy to cook good food for them. Food heals, makes laughter, seals bonds, and distracts.
Todays food highlight was Chinese food at Peking with Mom and Dad. I jumped at the chance to eat REAL Chinese food and not the crap they try and pass off in Omakanogan. I gorged myself on Lo Mein and Beef w/ Broccoli. OH! and egg drop soup....mmmm. It was divine.....*sigh*
Not that American food doesn't have it's place. A bar-b-que isn't a bar-b-que without burgers or kosher weenies (must be kosher, non-kosher is YUCKY!). Overall though I feel better if I'm eating Mediterranean or Asian. It seems lighter or something. Granted I feel hungry again sooner but I also have more energy, go figure!
So back to my affair. Some people would spend extra money or their "fun" money on toys, electronics, entertainment, etc. I spend mine on food or food related activities. My fondest family memories are usually involving food, either the eating or making of. When I remember people, I usually remember what we were eating. I love to cook for others not because they can't but because it makes me ethereally (is that even a word?)happy to cook good food for them. Food heals, makes laughter, seals bonds, and distracts.
Todays food highlight was Chinese food at Peking with Mom and Dad. I jumped at the chance to eat REAL Chinese food and not the crap they try and pass off in Omakanogan. I gorged myself on Lo Mein and Beef w/ Broccoli. OH! and egg drop soup....mmmm. It was divine.....*sigh*
6.18.2008
Bad About Posting....
So I've been really sucky about posting anything after leaving Virginia at Christmas time. I think that in reality I just have more time when I'm at my parents house to blog and work on photos etc. So in an effort to reestablish regular communication with the few that read this and in an attempt to attract more readers I'm going to use this site as more of a travel/vacation blog from here on out. I will from time to time post some comments on current events etc but mostly it will be about adventures far from home...or maybe not so far. Emails will let you know when the site is updated.
Buenas Noches!
Buenas Noches!
Traveling Home....
So for those of you that read this, you may have noticed that I have a thing for travel photos. Not just vacation pictures but photos of the actual act of traveling. I love airports. I have since I was a kid. My Dad traveld a lot when I was little and Mom and I would always watch the planes land until one day we missed my Dad's arrival and he had to find us....we were watching the planes. The latest photos have to do with the interior of the airport vs the exterior.
My beloved stomping grounds....
So I was saddened to hear a few days ago that the both the Old Art Building (where I spent the majority of my 4 years on campus) and the New Art Building (Art Building West that just opened Fall 2006) were in danger of being flooded. Well it actually happened and the damage is nothing short of devastating. I'm deeply saddened by this disaster despite not being in Iowa City for more than 6 years now. A part of me lives in those buildings that are now underwater and possibly destroyed. Below are some of the pictures taken from the Uiowa News Services flickr site.
This is a before and almost after picture. I'll post a new one as the final stage pictures roll in.
Here are some more of both the old and new art buildings and the art museum. Apparently the University had an emergency plan in place where Lloyd's of London sent a team or emergency art movers to assist in moving out pieces and collections. I'm not sure how much was saved or lost at this point.
The Ceramics Building. This is a building that has VERY tall ceilings, kind of loft style. It's almost completly under water.
This is a before and almost after picture. I'll post a new one as the final stage pictures roll in.
Here are some more of both the old and new art buildings and the art museum. Apparently the University had an emergency plan in place where Lloyd's of London sent a team or emergency art movers to assist in moving out pieces and collections. I'm not sure how much was saved or lost at this point.
The Ceramics Building. This is a building that has VERY tall ceilings, kind of loft style. It's almost completly under water.
Gone Fishin'
So today marks the official start of my vacation fun. Dad and I got up at 4:45am to go Fishing out in the Chesapeake Bay/Atlantic Ocean. We've been doing this since I was a little girl and I absolutely LOVE it. I'm truly a beach kid at heart and miss the ocean most out of anything. So we caught about 30 fish that we gave to another fisherman, and caught about another 15-20 more including one skate (like a stingray) that we threw back. The weather couldn't have been more gorgeous and the temperture was not blazing hot or humid for once in history! So 4 hours later this is what we had to show for it....
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Soul Food....
Soul Food exists in many forms to different people. My definition of soul food is literally that, food for the soul or what has nurtured your soul from childhood.
So after fishing today Pop and I went to some of the old haunts in search for soul food. When I was growing up Mom and Pop always took me to Jimmy's Hotdogs for tasty weiners. All beef and juicy smothered in chili, onion, and the best mustard EVER!!! So I can't even begin to imagine the amount of hotdogs I've consumed from this man and the number of cans of Sunkist soda I've drank in my 29 years. Even after moving, we still drive almost 2 hours to eat these hotdogs.
So anyways Jimmy and his wife own and run the place. They are Greek and still speak their native tongue and are active in the community. You also know that when you go in that if you don't speak slowly and with the words from the sparse menu, there is no telling what you will get! This practice was alive and well today when we had to tell the wife 4 times what we wanted and eventhough I ordered a Sunkist as always, I got a coke. Of course I still drank it and didn't complain. That's what you do at Jimmy's.
They've been doing it since my Mom was a kid in the same neighboorhood. Today we found out that in August they will be closing their doors forever. This is a direct result of urban sprawl occuring at a rapid rate in my hometown. I was NOT happy to hear of this closure. Then I looked at Jimmy and his wife and saw how old they are and how happy they are together after sooooo many years and it gave me a sense of peace and I realized that this was in the end a good thing as it will allow them to spend more time with the family etc. It's still sad for all of us though who love our "Jimmy Dogs".
So then after this we decided to go to Yoder's Dairy. While growing up my folks always had fresh, cold milk delivered to the house or we would go and pick it up at the Dairy. Mennonite's owned the Dairy we went to and Mr. Miller was the patriarch of said establishment. Now something you should know about Mr. Miller is he was a VERY Mennonite looking man and he had NO legs! He was terribly sweet and always wanted a hug from me and I got my own small milks in exchange. It wasn't a forced thing but him having no legs did creep me out when I was that young. It wasn't the missing limbs but the way he folded his pants under the stumps that bothered me. Of course I never told anyone this until talking to Mom today. Anywho, the Dairy is now a huge operation and long gone are the days of Mr. Miller and free milk for me. Today I had my first taste of cold, fresh milk out of the glass bottle for the first time in almost 15 years. It was as sweet as I remember and I can't wait to finish off the quart.
So after fishing today Pop and I went to some of the old haunts in search for soul food. When I was growing up Mom and Pop always took me to Jimmy's Hotdogs for tasty weiners. All beef and juicy smothered in chili, onion, and the best mustard EVER!!! So I can't even begin to imagine the amount of hotdogs I've consumed from this man and the number of cans of Sunkist soda I've drank in my 29 years. Even after moving, we still drive almost 2 hours to eat these hotdogs.
So anyways Jimmy and his wife own and run the place. They are Greek and still speak their native tongue and are active in the community. You also know that when you go in that if you don't speak slowly and with the words from the sparse menu, there is no telling what you will get! This practice was alive and well today when we had to tell the wife 4 times what we wanted and eventhough I ordered a Sunkist as always, I got a coke. Of course I still drank it and didn't complain. That's what you do at Jimmy's.
They've been doing it since my Mom was a kid in the same neighboorhood. Today we found out that in August they will be closing their doors forever. This is a direct result of urban sprawl occuring at a rapid rate in my hometown. I was NOT happy to hear of this closure. Then I looked at Jimmy and his wife and saw how old they are and how happy they are together after sooooo many years and it gave me a sense of peace and I realized that this was in the end a good thing as it will allow them to spend more time with the family etc. It's still sad for all of us though who love our "Jimmy Dogs".
So then after this we decided to go to Yoder's Dairy. While growing up my folks always had fresh, cold milk delivered to the house or we would go and pick it up at the Dairy. Mennonite's owned the Dairy we went to and Mr. Miller was the patriarch of said establishment. Now something you should know about Mr. Miller is he was a VERY Mennonite looking man and he had NO legs! He was terribly sweet and always wanted a hug from me and I got my own small milks in exchange. It wasn't a forced thing but him having no legs did creep me out when I was that young. It wasn't the missing limbs but the way he folded his pants under the stumps that bothered me. Of course I never told anyone this until talking to Mom today. Anywho, the Dairy is now a huge operation and long gone are the days of Mr. Miller and free milk for me. Today I had my first taste of cold, fresh milk out of the glass bottle for the first time in almost 15 years. It was as sweet as I remember and I can't wait to finish off the quart.
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