new york city AGAIN

This was a wonderful weekend to travel to New York City.  My husband and I had a wedding to go to on Saturday evening.  We arrived at out Hotel around 3:00pm, and we were told our room wasn’t available. (here is the back story on the hotel…We have stayed at the same hotel for the last 15 years.  It is on the East side in the 60′s on Park Avenue.  The location is in walking distance of everything…we were there last month and had really bad service.  I’m not one to complain, but they sent us a questionnaire, and I just told them what I experienced.  Needless to say, they offered us an upgrade to a one bedroom suite on our next stay…that just happened to be this weekend).  I of course immediately rolled my eyes, here we go again….I guess the front desk person looked at out record and went to get the manager…he immediately apologized and upgraded us to the Presidential Suite…this was going to be great. Our room was on the 18th floor, bedroom, dining room , office, kitchen, living room, and the piece de resistance…a balcony that wrapped around the whole place.  What a great start to our weekend.

We changed our clothes and made our way towards 66th street to find a wedding gift and visit a friend from home…Both missions accomplished, a vintage martini shaker for the bridge and groom (second marriage) and a quick tour of our friends digs.

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The wedding was beautiful and understated, in an old private club, housed in an old brownstone. The night was over early and we opted to walk home…but, how could I, I had on high heels.  I told my husband, you should walk in my shoes.  He quickly pulled off his shoes and gave them to me, I put them on and we walked back to our hotel.  Me wearing his shoes in stocking feet, my shoes in hand.  Back to the hotel, almost safe and sound…Talking on the phone and negotiation curbs with bigs shoes on, resulted in a face plant and 2 scratched knees. A couple of band-aids and I was good to go.

Sunday morning, breakfast, MOMA, macaroons and a visit with my mother-in-law…what a great trip…Take a look a the pictures!

cartier the VIDEO

click here

I have gotten a numerous amount of emails from Cartier requesting me to visit their website, for their new ad campaign.   Today I actually did.  I was amazed by the video that they produced.  I really enjoyed watching the behind the scenes footage.  It is in french with subtitles.  The cinema-photography is amazing…click on the picture for a direct link to the Cartier website.

Enjoy

lions and tigers and PICTURES…….

Today for my 365 photography project I had the letter “G”.  I was determined for it to be a gorilla.  I could go the Zoo. We live near the Franklin Park Zoo. (The zoo that was used in the movie The Zookeeper, starring Kevin James)

My husband and daughter were going to see The Descendents.   I had already seen it (and loved it) so, I was going to do my own thing.  I thought, what a great opportunity. I could see the animals and take as many pictures as I wanted to.  Lately, my family hasn’t been that patient, when it comes to me taking pictures.  Usually I say…just one more picture..then I  look up and see them way ahead of me…I stash my camera, and hurry to catch up.

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I spent the bulk of my day at the indoor Gorilla enclosure that is also home to many tropical species.

The animals are all photogenic…enjoy the slide show.   I used the gorilla’s back for my 356 project.

Today was a great day.  I didn’t have anyone telling me to hurry up….I also did’t have anyone to share my pictures with either.  I’ll keep this in mind, on our next family & camera outing!

the versatile blogger AWARD

Today after I posted my picture for my 365 project, I did what I have done for the past 179 days.

I started to read the blogs I follow.  First on my list was  Fun & Fabulousness.

I was delighted to see that Elisa had been nominated for The Versatile Blogger award.

She is a Mom (just like me), retired flight attendant (not like me), who writes about everyday things (like me) and adds photographs too.

As I continued to read her post I was surprised to see that she had nominated me.  Thank you Elisa for adding me to your list!

When I started this blog I had no idea where it would take me…I have learned interesting things and met new people…who also happen to blog….

The Versatile Blogger Award!

The rules of  the Versatile Blogger Award are:

1. Add the Versatile Award photo on a blog post

2. Thank the award-giver and link back to them in your post.

3. Share 7 things about myself.

4. Pass the award along to 15 favorite bloggers.

5. Contact the chosen bloggers to let them know about the award.

Here are Seven things about ME

1.  I love taking photographs

2.  I love to cook.

3.  I have a weekly Mah Jongg game.

4.  I am married (24 delightful years in June) have 2 wonderful children.

5.  I have 2 dogs (poodles)…

6.  I am an Overseer at the MSPCA-Angell (local Animal Hospital)

7.  I sing spontaneously in public…all the time…

anything highlighted in yellow can be clicked on.

Here are my nominees for The Versatile Blogger Award:

georgiejessielove

Sarah takes Pictures

Dr Rayya’s Online Veterinary Journal  

into mind

Conceptual Art

SKEdazzels

shootabout

nickexposed

prettypictures

MirandaWieczorekblog

project365bykennethtodd

whatipic

philipvergeylenphotography

unleashcreativity

joshidanielphotography

barry the pizza MAKER

I was here today…took some great pictures, CLICK on the pizza box to watch the movie!

click here to watch the MOVIE

golden MOON

With the moon being so low and golden, I couldn’t resist.  These are shot in raw and fine tuned a bit in photoshop…

Both shots were taken with my canon 60d – the one behind the trees was overexposed, so I changed my camera settings..

If you’re interested, I have included the camera settings.

behind the trees

behind the trees

Exposure Mode: Manual exposure
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Time: 2 / 333
FNumber: 5.6
ISO Speed Ratings: 1600
Lens Model: EF-S18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

naked

naked

Exposure Mode: Manual exposure
Exposure Program: Manual
Exposure Time: 1 / 125
FNumber: 8
ISO Speed Ratings: 400
Lens Model: EF-S18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 IS

This year like every year we went to New York on Friday, the day AFTER Thanksgiving.  This year was different. My son now goes to boarding school in New Hampshire, and  brought his roommate with him.  His roommate is from Turkey.

click on this picture to watch the movie (still my favorite building)

Bringing along an International visitor was great!  We got to do things we normally don’t.  Water Taxi to the Statue of Liberty, walk on the Brooklyn Bridge and take in the city from the Top of Rockefeller Center.  My husband and the boys went on the Intrepid and to the museums, while my daughter and I went shopping!  Who could ask for more?

enjoying the MFA

Yesterday we had a wonderful time exploring the new Linde wing which houses the contemporary art collection of the MFA.

I realized I don’t understand contemporary art.   A few words in NEON on the wall, a splash of paint on a canvas, voila ART.

You may like it, or maybe you don’t .. that’s the point.  I think contemporary art is made to a be provocative.

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The renovation of the “old West” wing is beautiful.  I loved being able to see the old buildings, through the new floor to ceiling windows.

They even took out the old escalator and replaced it with a staircase that matches the one in the new American Wing.

I remember when the new West wing opened in 1981.  Riding up the escalator in awe at The Passage of the Delaware  an extra large painting of George Washington (which is back on display in the new American wing).

We sat at the counter in the new cafe, had lunch and people watched.

Fun couple of hours!

“bored watching the EMMY’s”

watching the Emmy’s..

they are a bit boring…..

had some pictures

thought they would

make a fun movie…..

Click on the picture to watch it

“six FLAGS”

Yesterday we went to Six Flags.  Must have been the hottest day of the year, well it felt like it.  No breeze and no shade in sight.

We got  a “flashpass” which allowed us to go to the head of the line.  No waiting, what could be better.

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We started off on Thunderbolt, an old wooden coaster.  This is where I left my stomach, and anxiety at the top of the first drop.  Onto Bizzaro, a bigger, faster modern coaster.  By now I was ready to take on Batman, one of those corkscrew rides.  You’re attached to the top and your feet dangle, lots of fun. Hot and sticky we sought solace in a Jonny Rockets and ate lunch.  The kids went on Mind Eraser, and Cyclone, I sat out on these.  Hot and sticky we were done…back walked back to the car and went home.  A fun day had by all.

If you look closely at the Mind Eraser picture you can see my kids, they are in the second car from the bottom.