Christmas Details - 2013

We're enjoying a relaxing, quiet Christmas Eve here at home.  We've been really fortunate to spend many of the past christmases with our family these past few years.  This year finds us quietly at home.  Merry Christmas to you all, may you enjoy the time you have with your friends and family this holiday.

Five Years

Christmas tree decorating - 1985

I know I've used this photo on this blog before, but I love it and it's perfect for this time of year.  Five years has passed since dad passed away.  I'm less sad now than before, but still miss him a great deal!  I'm glad to have these happy memories of him though....

Our Christmas Tree - 2013

It's amazing to see our godson's wonder at the sight of the tree before him.


Ethan was a little apprehensive when he first walked in, and then took Felipe's hand to bring him over to the tree with him.  They had a nice time exploring the colors and the ornaments that were on the tree.






Taking a closer look...


...and just a little touch...

Perpetual Fascination with the Sky

I'll never get over my love of looking at the sky...

Chess Benches at Central Park

"Why do you do it...?"

I've been asked this question on more than one occasion.  At three A.M. in an emergency department, with a survivor who's there after facing a life altering trauma, sometimes alone.  But SAVI advocates are there so they don't have to be alone. So they have someone there on their side, explaining the services available to them, helping them process the experience and being an emotional support.  The SAVI mission is dedicated to validating, healing and empowering survivors and their supporters to lead safe, healthy lives through advocacy, free and confidential counseling, and public education.

"During 2004-2006, an estimated 105,187 females and 6,526 males aged 10-24 years received medical care in U.S. emergency departments as a result of non-fatal injuries sustained from a sexual assault."  CDC MMWR

Why do I do it?  I do it because one needn't face an ER on their own after experiencing a sexual assault or intimate partner violence.  I do it because it happens so often, that each of one of us knows at least one person who has survived such violence - whether you know it has happened or not.  I am not excluded from this statistic.  It is widely known that 1 in 5 women will experience/have experienced sexual assault in their lifetime.  I joined SAVI in the fall of 2007 so that I could be a part of the healing community, to work for a more positive experience in a person's life.  But I'm only one of hundreds of advocates from our program, and many more in programs around the nation and the world.  I am not writing here for accolades, not for doing something that I feel is right and just in the service to others.  I am writing today, because tonight is the annual benefit for SAVI.  

I was pleased to be asked to join the Friends of SAVI committee earlier this year, to help with the benefit that they plan to raise money for SAVI each November.  I will go tonight to celebrate the service that SAVI fulfills in my community, and to celebrate the people that make that happen.  I cannot wait to see the room, crowded with SAVI supporters - because with them, and with the people that volunteer their time and their hearts, that is what makes this organization so special.

We may be far from eliminating sexual violence, and intimate partner violence.  But we will continue to work each call, each day, each month, each year to help empower survivors.

If you are interested in helping SAVI, learn about volunteering with SAVI here, or how to donate here.

If you have been the victim of a sexual assault, or intimate partner violence in New York City:

• Victim Services 24-Hour Hotline 212-577-7777
• NYC Police Department Special Victims 24-Hour Report Line 646-610-7273
• NYC Domestic Violence 24-Hour Hotline 800-621-4673

Day and Night in Central Park

A Beautiful Morning in the Park

Turns into a Beautiful Night...

Skyline by the Sheep's Meadow - looking west.


A crescent moon, with Venus close below.


Some quiet benches along the poets walk.

It's Good to Live it Again

Not much needs to be said here, the landscape speaks for itself.  It's that wonderful time of year, where the colors start to peek through, the air cools down, and the moon at night seems to shine brighter.  We've arrived, to autumn in New York...

Aaron Curry Sculptures - Melt to Earth

A kind of "self-portrait" silhouette in one of the sculptures.

Last weekend I noticed some sculptures had been placed in the Lincoln Center plaza, around the fountain and I snapped a few photos.  I happened to be walking by again this evening and took a closer look.  The sculptures are by a Californian artist by the name of Aaron Curry.  The New York Times wrote an interesting article about the exhibition (here).







I took a few photos last saturday as well, although they are a bit busier, as I didn't have my 50mm lens with me that day.  I like how colorful they are and how they really stand out against the lines of the architecture for the Lincoln Center buildings.

Autumn in New York

Autumn is just starting and we are being graced by some exceptionally nice weather.  It was a beautiful walk through Central Park this afternoon.  Can't wait to see the rest of this fall, and hope you are enjoying it as much as I am!

Also - this is my 400th post!  Crazy time!

Escriba - An amazing chocolate shop in Barcelona

While walking down La Rambla (yes, I kind of convinced my poor family in Barcelona to brave the touristy areas just so I could go back), we found this terrific, historied chocalatier - Escriba.  This shop has been in operation since 1906, and you could tell by the beautiful details of the shop itself.






I had a really delicious hot chocolate with violet.  Anyone who knows me, knows my affinity for violet flavored confections, and this did not disappoint!


King cakes for the upcoming Three Kinds Day.


A confectionary window display.

Escriba
Carrer de Rambla de las Flors 83
08001 Barelona
Tel: 93.301.60.27

Familia de Barcelona

While Bruno is much bigger now at 9 months old, he was a tiny tiny one at one month!  Bruno was just out of the hospital a few days before we left to come back, and so I had some photographing to catch up on (since we had much more time with his brother Eric).







Can't wait to see Bruno and Eric again in a few weeks...they are just the cutest nephews one could ask for!  Here are a couple of more recent photos of the two of them (courtesy of my mother-in-law):




Just look at those smiles!

Barcelona - Gothic Details

So many great details.  How many faces are looking over you when you walk through the streets of the Gothic part of town?


Long shadows at the end of our long walk.  I love this city!