Post # 301

That's right! This is my 301st post to the blog. True I've been posting since 2004, but still, 301 posts - pretty sweet!

I have to share the following photo from our trip to NYC. Once we made it to the "Top of the Rock" (literally, to the very top of 30 Rockefeller Center, 70th floor), we were greeted by a nice woman with a camera who wanted to take our picture. Knowing that we wouldn't want to spent $10+ for a photo, I quickly turned to Paul and kissed him for our fun photo... it's so nice they put them online so I can share with you here:

Wishing this was a real update....

...but I just don't have time!

It's been too long! I've got so much to update!

NYC was amazing - we had such a great time; I wish we had gone sooner (and more often). I had some of the best sushi EVER and had a blast walking around Central Park, 5th Ave, 42nd Street and seeing Manhattan from the water. WOW. I've got at least 300 pictures - only 144 uploaded thus far - so many I want to share here. So little time [sigh].


Last weekend I took a little roadtrip to Salisbury, NC, to celebrate my good friend Becky-lu. She's getting married in FIVE WEEKS! We spent the weekend talking, shopping, eating, talking, laughing, talking, a little sleeping, some TV watching, talking and eating. Shea-lynn was the greatest hostess (thanks girl!). What more can a girl ask for? Not to mention the fun limo ride through Charlotte with a stop at a posh Cafe and finally dancing the night away.

Let's play a game - where are we?

Since we're still DINKs* and able to jet set for the weekend (as in, we decided to get the heck out of 'dodge Thursday night at 8pm, booked airline tickets at 9pm and left Raleigh on Friday evening) we decided to take a trip. Where do you think we are?

Alrighty - here's your clues:

East coast

Quick flight with JetBlue (which totally rocks!)

Great sushi

Lots of people, cabs and smells (lots are ewwwwww!)

Has an awesome vibe

....

Ok, here's a few visual clues

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....



....



....


(after sushi & sake - YUM!)

....

Figured it out yet? :)

Aaaaaand of course, I had to include a "weather picture." Here's a shot of today's afternoon storm blowing in from our nice 34th floor apartment view.


*DINKs = double income no kids

Oh yeah, summer's here

Top 5 reasons summer is here:


1. I have to use the a/c in the car at 6:30am

2. I've seen half a dozen lightning bugs and Japanese beetles are eating my roses

3. Super scary thunderstorms out of nowhere with thunder that rattles the wall for at least 15 seconds... (this was from Tropical Storm Barry on Sunday)



4. My commute is noticeably faster - I got to work in less than 30 minutes today (YAY! SCHOOL IS OUT! NO BUSES! OR CARPOOL MOMS!)

5. The garden is prospering - check it out:
My favroite flower this summer: Dianthus



TOMATOES! We've got green tomatoes in all kinds of varieties (grape, roma, heirloom, early girl, patio and cherry)!!!


Mmmm, and basil to go with it!

Cute little peppers (although these may be fiery little boogers)

4 years ago today...

We were getting married! Despite the rain, missing guests and all the other things that make weddings stressful, it was a beautiful, fun and memorable day! I still can't believe that was 4, F-O-U-R years ago.

I think this calls for photos to remember the day :)

Rehearsal, it was sunny, warm and not too hot (at this point I had NO IDEA it was forecast to rain the next day, ignorance is bliss, no?)


Just before the ceremony in the 'brides room' - laughing it up with the bridesmaids and parents (despite the madness taking place downstairs, which I was amazingly unaware of - I even dressed myself completely alone!)


Ceremony shots - dad giving me away (he did a great job moving my veil!)


The kiss! We're now Mr. and Mrs.


Cutting the wedding cake (before I had icing on my nose...)


Watch out!


Thankfully, Paul didn't get too carried away :)


The whole wedding party (on the front porch in the misty haze from the rain)


Our (1st) departure from the festivities. Side note - you may find a deal on "sparklers" at Big Lots, but more than likely, they'll be "smokers" not "sparklers."


Our real exit


*P-I love you, hope you can make it home tonight!*

Weekend picture update

Ok, so time has passed and thus I need to do a quick update with our recent weekend trips. I wanted to get these up sooner, but life has been crazy and well, that's enough reason for the delay! I've also got more photos and videos that need to be downloaded, so you may see another update with a similar topic :)

First - the Joint Services Open House Air Show (Andrews AFB, May 19th)

The Memphis Belle was on static display, we were amazed at the 'rustic' interior (I would be terrified to be in it!)




Check it out - the "flying lawn mower" We didn't see it fly, but hey, it was cool!


USAF Heritage Flight (A-10, Mustang, F-15, ?)


The amazing F-22 Raptor after its demonstration (video to be posted)


Thunderbirds in flight (more photos later...)



Memorial Day weekend in the NC Mountains
A morning spent on the Blue Ridge Parkway is always a great morning.

Blooming mountain laurel

More blooms


Parkway tunnel - north of Mt. Mitchell


Ahhh, the beautiful Blue Ridge mountains


Mountain stream below Craggy (US Forest Service Road)


Wild flame azalea and butterfly


Quick self portrait at an overlook


After dinner we ate at the great Barley's Taproom we took the Old US 70 down Old Fort Mountain (replaced by I-40) where we watched the train wind its way through the mountains. Yes, we followed a train for at least 10 miles... it was great, simple fun! (we have video... but I'll spare you!) Hopefully, one day there will be passenger service to Western NC and we can take this route!


Looks like the locals have fun watching the train too (these were ALL OVER the ground near the tracks above - shotgun shells for those who ain't from the country)

(I felt a little nervous being out in the woods with these all over the ground and no one (?) around for miles...)

Miniature horses near the train tracks


After dinner yummy treats in Marion - Paul had a chocolate shake and I had a chocolate malt. Very yummy! And apparently very popular (Paul's first visit although he lived within a few miles of this place growing up)




The next day we took another "quick trip" on the Parkway from Marion to Asheville.
We love the Parkway!


Paul with the truck and his bikes (got a few double takes from passing cyclists on the Parkway - he had been there the day before, crazy man!)


Rhododendron blooming (although not yet at Craggy Gardens - one thing I've always wanted to see)


Wild strawberries (just before we ate them! so sweeeeeeet)




Visiting the Alma Mater - recent class gifts were installed. The clock (2000) and seal (1999).