MWF seeking new local BFF

So as you may know my favorite friend Katie is moving all the way across the country.  In fact, there are only a few other places she could move domestically that would be further away (maybe Maine or St. Augustine)

Today we went to the beach.  I hope she posts a pic of either the dead non-singing bass we saw or the seaweed grass skirts (since you don't have an iphone you can mms it to me and I can post it) to show how much fun it was.

I soo heart this friend of mine and she had me at "yeah it was a little crazy" when I questioned her about a event in which we had both participated and were afraid to acknowledge its craziness in public.

Actually even prior to that time I remember that at the first playgroup I attended when moving to SB, she used her mad newsreporter skillz to discover everything about me in a short conversation.  It was only about an hour later when I realized that I didn't know anything about her.

See that is Katie's magic.  She asks the most detailed and interesting questions that make your own life seem infinitely more interesting than it actually is.  Some people talk so much you can hardly get a word in edgewise.  With Katie, you continually fall into a trap of being that guy--she asks so many questions that I always walk away wondering how anyone could listen to me talk for that long and still manage to appear interested.

Most amazing is that Katie isn't using this strategy to deflect from her own lack of interestingness.  She has more creativity in her small toe than most people do in their entire beings yet it takes you at least a year to even scratch the surface.   She takes brilliant pictures, she makes the most carefully crafted boutiquey bows worn by children all over, she has a wild sense of humor that you must listen carefully to catch (or read) and btw, her birthday parties are legendary.  If you are a regular reader, you know that she was our FIRST place baker in our dessert contest.  Her recipes are posted over here if you want some scrumptiousness.  There are so many other things to say about her but I don't want to reveal in ten minutes what it took me four years to learn.  Four years and what feels like a lifetime of friendship.

My one consolation is that Katie and I are friends online already--we read and comment on each other's blogs, facebook updates, and email each other links to funny/inappropriate/political shockery.

My other comfort is that she is moving to such a fun place I will be able to hold out for a periodic family vacation visit.

I won't say I am sad for her, only for me and the gigantic hole she is leaving behind.

Anything I forgot about her?

Coast to Coast

I cannot really explain how beautiful the Hudson River Valley is and these pictures do not capture it at all, but trust me when I say that if you are looking for a peaceful, lush green, historical masterpiece of a trip, you should really spend some time in this region.

The Hudson Valley is New York's Loire. Stunning and surprisingly underrated.

So here goes my very picture intensive post... with limited commentary to clarify.

Dinner in Saratoga Springs, forgot pics.

Next up, one of the beautiful Mansions built during the Gilded Age when the Hudson River was one of the financial capitals of the US.

Apparently there are a quite few of these beauties that fell into desrepair and have become the dwelling of the crazy cat lady types. I felt like I was an intruder in a past era in which Mr. Darcy was going to come strolling out of the lake in his skivvies.  Here is the backside of the mansion.

From Smart Remarks Book Club

The  backyard--or at least a very narrow view of it...

From Smart Remarks Book Club

Next up CIA

Grounds were stunning

From Smart Remarks Book Club

And one of their weekend cooking classes:

From Smart Remarks Book Club

I have several, several shots of the flora that I will spare you from viewing but you have to know that this was one of several gorgeous scenes I saw:

From Smart Remarks Book Club

The gardens of the Vanderbilt:

From Smart Remarks Book Club

And I hate to be geeky, but an inspiring visit was to this guy's old romping ground:

From Smart Remarks Book Club

Here was the casa where the Roosevelt's lived:

From Smart Remarks Book Club

FDR as a kid. Age 5. I know.

From Smart Remarks Book Club

Geeky history teacher paraphernalia:

From Smart Remarks Book Club

AND

From Smart Remarks Book Club

More flora... HUNDREDS of varieties of trees, hundreds!

From Smart Remarks Book Club

And while I didn't have Meg, I had this lovely little morsel hanging around for the day:

And wonderful hostess plus doggie:

 

From Smart Remarks Book Club

And of course lots of good food to be eaten in every last place

From Smart Remarks Book Club

This particular piece (espresso cheesecake) was eaten in the historical little town of Woodstock. Which looked like this:

From Smart Remarks Book Club

So... this does not capture the majesty of the Hudson River but hopefully it at least gives you the feeling that it invoked in me last weekend.  I hope that I meet her again one day.

Hudson Valley Tour

What I experienced yesterday:

More of What I Do

Here is a little clip for your viewing pleasure.

Travel bad.  Reform good.

Travelogue

You may be wondering how many days I traveled in a year--July of last year to June of this year including a week projected in June:

93

I know.

Happiness

Moonwalker

Casey, Bridget and I are taking a "Mom and Me" Michael Jackson hip-hop dance class. It is a Thriller to say the least.

Saturday we learned how to do this:

Since then Casey moonwalks everywhere--around the living room, kitchen, hallway, etc. Apparently he has taken to doing this at school as well so when I asked about it, I sucked in my breath ready to hear about how the other kids are making fun of him (he has a track record.) This is how the conversation ensued:

M: So... do kids think that is so cool?
C: Some.
M: Oh do others think it isn't cool?
C: Some kids are like "that is so cheap."
M: So... what did you say to them?
C: I was like "hey at least I have the guts to do it."
M: I LOVE IT! High five, that is my son.

I seriously never expected that to come out of his mouth--we have really struggled with how to fight back against the bullying stuff at school, trying to be more assertive, etc. and it just never occurred to me that one day he would just become more confident.

Thanks MJ, for the great gift of confidence to my 10 year old.