Thanksgiving 2009 - Part 2

So here we started, with the table set and ready for guests. I did a few preparations in the morning - cutting the celery and onion for the stuffing, preparing the green bean casserole, and making the mashed potatoes. The turkey went in to the oven at 1:30pm. I think I need a new food thermometer though - because every year when I put it in the turkey it never registers hot enough! at 6:30pm, the turkey was still reading at only 160 degrees (not the 180 you are supposed to have). Yet it had been in the oven for five hours (should have been plenty for an 11 lb turkey) and the juices were running clear! I took it out anyway and it was plenty done (although not dry!).

The food ready to go!


Ready to carve the turkey :D





And the group photos:




It was a wonderful night. I ate WAY too much, to which all of our friends can attest. And I was able to celebrate how thankful I am for all of our friends and for my family, and for all the other wonderful things I have in my life.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Pies from our first time hosting Thanksgiving - 2006

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our family and friends! It surprises me how quickly it came this year, but I will enjoy it. Thanksgiving is, as I often say, my favorite holiday. It's a wonderful day that you can spend time with your family and friends, eat good food, enjoy a few games (we prefer board games, but football if you please!). There's no obligation or worry over gifts - we all know it's coming though!

Today we're hosting our closest friends, our New York City family, for dinner. It's a smaller gathering than years past, but I'm looking forward to it with as much excitement (and a little less preparation!).

Look for pictures from this years Thanksgiving tonight or tomorrow!

Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera

On Wednesday night Felipe took me to the Metropolitan Opera to see their production of Puccini's Turandot as my anniversary gift. I had not yet been to the Met to see an opera, although I have wanted to go since I arrived in New York City four and a half years ago. The story of Turandot takes place in Peking China, and it about a princess that declares any suitor must answer three riddles correctly in order to take her as a bride. If the suitors don't answer correctly, then they must die by execution. Turandot is "challenged" by a new suitor Calàf, who answers the three riddles correctly. Turandot, still not wanting to belong to or be conquered by any man becomes upset and the Calàf offers her one riddle - find out his name by dawn and he will willingly be executed, but if she cannot find out his name then they will marry. Turandot then wildly tries to find out his name through intimidation and threats to her subjects, only to be persuaded by his love to marry him in the end.

The story was nice, and I really enjoyed the minor parts of Ping, Pang and Pong who were her three ministers. Their characters tried wildly to persuade Calàf to leave and to give up his pursuit of Turandot. Their costumes were beautiful and colorful (I'm sorry I can't find any links to photos on the internet...all of them were from different productions). The sets were also amazing, very very elaborate and consuming the entire stage. If only they allowed photography during the show ;)

In addition to the production being beautiful, the Metropolitan Opera house if full of amazingly opulent details. Of course when you walk in you are greeted by an enormous Swarovsky chandelier, the style of which is repeated through out the House.

This one was in the main entrance to the Opera House.

Felipe took a photo of me with the chandelier in the background

It really looks like fire works or sparklers. Really brilliant!

Then there was the inside of the theater (completed in 1966) - full of gold leafing and beautiful woodwork, and more crystal lights.






Here is a photo of the last scene, from the New York Times review of the show


I can't wait to get back for another opera!

I just can't stay away...

We met Nicole and Sammi for lunch today and afterward we walked around the park. I just cannot stay away from this place! It is so beautiful this time of year (well really every time of year!).

Natural Fireworks, this picture is one of my favorites...


I like that you can see a man chatting on his phone atop this bridge...


My wonderful company for this beautiful walk.

Dexter and the Squirrel

Tonight I had a nice time over at Nicole's apartment - I went by after work and we ordered some yummy Lili and Loo's chinese (delicious!). I took a couple of photos of the dogs with my new camera - but the lighting is pretty low and the dogs move quickly! This was the best shot I could get of dexter, he has such a cute face. Bailey was super quick...every photo I have of her, she looks like a ghost.

Nicole showed me one of their new favorite toys - a squirrel that they have enjoyed so much it's lost an eye.

As we sat there, poor Mr. Squirrel lost his other eye. Sure is cute though!

My apologies for the blurry quality of the photos...we're working on that!

Real Estate Evolution...

The New York Times featured a really nice interactive gallery today about the evolution of real estate in New York City. Definitely worth checking out. It's nice to take a peek into the past to see what the city looked like in bygone days. We spend so much time around the city that buildings start to disappear into the everyday ordinary static. Crazy to think how things can change.

A Poppy to remember by...

Poppies are flowers that are used to memorialize those that have passed away. Yesterday I received my ring that I had designed and had made in memory of my dad, and found it fitting to post it today to also recognize veterans day. Poppies of course are the universal symbol for the fallen soldiers, from the poem about Flander's Fields. My dad never fought in a war, but it's a good day to remember all of those who have passed before us. The end the ring is not exactly as I planned in the beginning...I originally wanted to have a ring with enameling, but had to change it because they were unable to do enameling with the stone setting.

The final product is a redesign from my first idea, it's meant to look a bit like a poppy (as referenced before) and the stone is a spressartine garnet - garnet being my dad's birthstone. Maya and Wayne at No Rules Jewelry in Wisconsin did a terrific job in making the ring for me, and I am sure I will enjoy wearing it for years to come. It's one last gift from my dad that I can pass on to my children, and something beautiful to remember him by.

Silhouette

Sylvain is back in town for a few days. It's been a year since he and Laurence have moved back to Paris. We've been lucky enough to have her visit several times, but this is his first visit back since leaving.

We did a little bit of shopping this evening, and walked through the newly redone Lincoln Center Plaza with the new fountain. I am excited for them to be done with the construction around the Lincoln Center. I pass by it every day on my way to work.

In a couple of weeks I'll be going to see the Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House. For my anniversary gift, Felipe got us tickets to go see Turandot, Puccini's last opera. I'm very excited about this - as I have not yet been to the opera in the four years I've lived here.

Going back to Sylvain's visit...I am looking forward to catching up and doing a bit of shopping with him! Send good vibes our way though, because poor Felipe has gotten a bit sick and won't be able to join us.

Stripes and Shapes

I started out this morning with a bright and clear sunny sky. As I stood at the bus stop, the sun gave a striking light.


This evening I went to Hayko's for rug weaving and saw a beautiful kilim that he had rolled up. I am totally in love with the brilliant colors and the shapes of this rug.

New York City Marathon 2009

Jackson Kotut Kipkoech, finished 11th with a time of 2:15:10, that's a 5:10/mile pace!

Felipe and I went over to Central Park today to cheer on the marathoners...so much fun! We stopped at Mile 26 (just feet from the end!) around the 2 1/2 hour mark.

When we arrived, there were still just the pros coming one or two at a time. Very inspiring, however my favorite is when the larger masses come through. I love cheering people on, and especially so when they have their names on their shirt. We were there for just under two hours and I clapped so hard I got a bruise on my hand and cheered so loud I just about lost my voice!

It was totally worth it! I cannot help but be impressed with their strength and determination.


(Ulrich Schoelzhorn, 2:48:39, placed 328 and Teodoro Almendral, 2:48:55, placed 337)


(The man in the center - really pushing it is Andrea Pistilli. He finished! 2:55:07, placed 615)

Mr. Bunny (Kevin Scelfo, 2:58:28, placed at 850)



(Frank Gradinger, 2:59:03, placed 915)

Mr. Incredible! (Karl Leitz, 3:06:23, placed 1484)


Minnie (Tetsutomo, Iizuka, 3:08:43, placed 1681)


Winnie the Pooh (Charlotte Eccles, 3:13:33, placed 2221)


Congratulations to all those that finished the Marathon - truly amazing! (For those of you with names and photos on this blog - I looked you up on the Marathon results page by your number - if you want the photo, just leave a comment for me and I'd be more than happy to send it to you!)


An interesting addition - I read a piece in the New York Times about a man who did a "marathon" around his block...worth the read!