Showing posts with label bride. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bride. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY!!!


HAPPY 10TH ANNIVERSARY!!!
YAY!  How is it possible that so much and so little time has passed?  It doesn't seem like it was that long ago that we were on the dance floor celebrating our wedding.  Yet, it's amazing that it's only been 10 years since we moved from Chicago, got awesome jobs, bought a house, adopted a silly mutt, and so much more.  And while so much has changed (like my Coronavirus Mutton Chops), the most important things have not; I love you, Megan and I look forward to the next 10 years with you!


Megan showing how she would pose if we were on our planned 2nd honeymoon in Hyères, France right now.  Oh well... 

Life is what you make of it.  We don't need money or things to have fun; just each other.  To commemorate our trip to Belgium we had not-so-Belgian waffles for breakfast.  I'll admit Maison Dandoy (https://maisondandoy.com/in Brussels were slightly better...


After a relaxing morning and a brief walk along Lake Ontario, we had a "Spanish picnic" in honor of our vacation to Mallorca/Barcelona in Durand Eastman Park.


Faisão Wines (https://enoport.pt/) overlooking Lake Ontario from the allegedly haunted "White Lady's Castle."  The myth is a mother haunts the old foundations of a mansion where her daughter went forever missing.  But, the foundations are a ruin of a former hotel.  So...


Tapas, my love?  Another inspiration from our trip to Spain.  But, with an Irish-America twist of loaded potato skins.  Buen provecho and Taitneamh a bhaint as do chuid béile


Green onions are different from leeks.  My wife informs me I was lied to by the produce staff.


Reminds me of our visit to L'Affaire Est Ketchup (https://www.facebook.com/pg/laffaireest.ketchup) in Québec, Canada.



Another Belgian treat.  This time it's waterzooi and french fries (I know, mayo instead of ketchup is more authentic (Welcome to life during Coronavirus).  The restaurant in Bruges/Brugge, Belgium doubled as an antique store.  We had a hearty meal before an evening trying a myriad of Belgian beers in a fairy tale of a city.


Why is coronavirus turning me into Ted Nugent?  Is Covid-19 a variant of Cat Scratch Fever?


Celebrating 10 years together with a 10 year old tawny port wine from Taylor Fladgate (https://www.taylor.pt/us).  On our honeymoon in Porto, Portugal we toured their facilities and sampled their wine.  It was an estate up on a hill overlooking the city across the Douro River.  We had the tasting room with the parachute ceiling all to ourselves.


Cheer to the 10 years we've been married and cheers to the many more years of happiness we have to look forward to!

Thursday, March 19, 2020

Love In The Time Of Coronavirus

OFF TO CELEBRATE KATIE AND DANIELS WEDDING!  

Quick stop in Peekskill, NY to get a headstart on our trip.  So, we spend the evening  at the Birdsall House (http://birdsallhouse.net/), The Quiet Man Public House (http://thequietmanpublichouse.com/) and Gleason's (http://www.gleasonspeekskill.com/)

Here's a surprise.  The Inn On the Hudson (https://innonthehudson.com) really lives up to it's name.  But, the location is a blessing and a curse.  While it does have a wonderful view, the noise is pretty obnoxious.  Much worse than our hotel in NYC.  There's a highway and a railroad just below this view.  And, for some reason, the train blows it's whistle all night long.  As the Blues Brothers said:  

Jake: How often does the train go by? 
Elwood: So often you won't even notice it.

Looking west on the Hudson River

Looking south on the Hudson River

FIRST DRINKS OF 2020 ON THE PATIO! 

WE'RE COMING KATIE AND DANIEL!  Taking the Metro-North train (http://www.mta.info/mnr) into the city.  


With a train and construction site, still quieter than Peekskill...  Also had a white noise machine.

It's incredible how many new buildings are being constructed or recently finished.  Not what I expected at all.

View of Manhattan looking north from Gantry Plaza State Park (https://parks.ny.gov/parks/gantryplaza/details.aspx)

View of United Nations Headquarters (https://visit.un.org/) on Manhattan looking west from Gantry Plaza State Park

View of Manhattan looking southwest from Gantry Plaza State Park 

Whoops...  Extreme close up

There we go

Buildings piled on buildings piled on more buildings.

NYC grocery stores still have groceries.  So, Katie had a fun improvised bridal shower with everyone's favorite snacks.

Katie, Vern, and Cotton

Welcome to Long Island City.

My 5 year old nephew Nolan would love all the little emergency vehicles in NYC.  Real life Paw Patrol.

Quite a spread at Sek'end Sun (https://www.sekendsun.com/) in Astoria.  Also, what I've learned from this trip is Daniel and Katie have a sixth sense for knowing when a camera is about to click.

The amazing couple



Passing through Times Square on our way to a birthday brunch with Marisa.  Only my 2nd time here, but much less crowded than the 1st time on a chilly February night at 11pm or so. 

View from Greenpoint Loft (https://www.greenpointloft.com/) in Brooklyn.  This place deserves the most stars, kudos, karma, etc.  In the middle of a pandemic with new restrictions, CDC recommendations, a rapidly changing guest list, panic shoppers, and countless other issues; they put on a fun wedding and reception.  Their level of professionalism was outstanding.

A bit of future inspiration


The view toward the East River

Dolled up before getting messed up on the dance floor

A few icons in the skyline.

Social distancing doesn't mean you can't dance.

We were at table 4, which means we get to see Daniel and Katie photos at age 4.

 Did people even have fun at weddings before photobooths?



Finally I get to be in a B-movie about a giant Chiweenie


KATIE, VERN, AND DANIEL ARE NOW A FAMILY!

Katie and Daniel, Thank you for inviting us to your wedding.  YAY!  YOU'RE MARRIED!  And that's the most important thing.  While almost nothing went according to plan, it was a lot of fun.  And you will get lots of bonus karma points for grace under pressure.  At the very least, if the apocalypse does happen someday, we hope the same group of people will be together because we'll go out with style.  You two deserve only the best.  CONGRATS!!!  

The party is over and on our way back home passing through Grand Central Station (https://www.grandcentralterminal.com/)

Seriously?  We need some leadership to put a "steady hand on the wheel" because this panic shopping is getting out of control.  We went to 8 different stores and none of them had bread, toilet paper, Pepto Bismol, and countless other products.  We just wanted to get a few things for the house and all that was available was frozen pizza, pasta, and mac and cheese.  

Why are people hoarding toilet paper?

Also, why are people hoarding everything else?

Scout doesn't know it yet, but she's going to love Megan's new routine.  The Coronavirus closed Megan's office for at least 2 weeks.  So, she'll be working from home.  So, we had to improvise a new office space for her.

That's it from Coronavirus in-home isolation.  Stay safe out there.  Remember to cough into your elbow, don't touch your face, practice social-distancing, and wash your hands.  We'll get through this together.

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