Butterflies of Brazil at Krohn Conservatory
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Yikes!
* Guess I should have filled up yesterday when it was cheaper {$4.11}.
** Can't wait to drive across the country in eight weeks when gas is $5 a gallon and we have a 1-year-old in the back seat. Awesome.
Monday, May 2, 2011
A Royal Day
The sky was dark and the house was quiet. Rich was awake and downstairs in the kitchen making his daily breakfast of oatmeal. The DVR had been working overtime recording all the earlier proceedings since 3:30 am on two channels! It was eleven o'clock sharp in London, six am in Cincinnati. My eyes were glued to the screen. I was trying to get every detail and fact. The bride was beautiful. Perfect in every way and looked liked a future queen. The dress was elegant and timeless, and I have to add, reminded me a bit of mine. The groom surprised me in his red, but it looked regal and handsome. They do make quite the pair. It is more than outward looks though, its that they truly do love each other. The sweet smiles, the whispered words, they quick glaces all showed their decade long courtship has proven they were meant to be together.
The wedding itself was perfect. The long walk up the red carpeted nave of Westminster Abbey. The green maples that lined the pathway. The glorious music. The bells, oh the bells! Every wedding should have bells ringing like that. The simple, 'I will' and the roar of the crowd that could be heard through the ancient walls. The building itself is magnificent. Those sweeping camera views from above and from below nearly took my breath away. It's architecture at its finest. The guests dressed up to the 9's and all the crazy hats! Derby day just can't quite compare to those stunning Philip Treacy fascinators.
The royal precession was amazing. All the horses, the military men and the carriage. I think every girl deserves a horse drawn carriage on her wedding day.
Then top it all off with two kisses from the balcony! Wills was blushing and Kate gave a good hearty chuckle after the second. It made me grin and wish I was there with the million other people in London taking it all in.
All the pomp, pageantry and traditions that only a royal wedding can bring, but every girl can appreciate and love. I got sucked right in. I didn't watch any pre-wedding things on TV, but I did a bit of my own research on the Internet to brush up my English Royalty knowledge. From Diana's dress, to a look back on King George VI's rise to power, Queen Elizabeth's own wedding and coronation pictures, to a photo gallery of Westminster Abbey, the United Kingdom has quite the history. I ate it all up.
I loved every second of the wedding, watched WAY too much of the pre-wedding broadcast that I conveniently recorded and smiled all day long thinking about the the lovely wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Hopefully a happily ever after will now follow.
Jolly Good!
The wedding itself was perfect. The long walk up the red carpeted nave of Westminster Abbey. The green maples that lined the pathway. The glorious music. The bells, oh the bells! Every wedding should have bells ringing like that. The simple, 'I will' and the roar of the crowd that could be heard through the ancient walls. The building itself is magnificent. Those sweeping camera views from above and from below nearly took my breath away. It's architecture at its finest. The guests dressed up to the 9's and all the crazy hats! Derby day just can't quite compare to those stunning Philip Treacy fascinators.
The royal precession was amazing. All the horses, the military men and the carriage. I think every girl deserves a horse drawn carriage on her wedding day.
Then top it all off with two kisses from the balcony! Wills was blushing and Kate gave a good hearty chuckle after the second. It made me grin and wish I was there with the million other people in London taking it all in.
All the pomp, pageantry and traditions that only a royal wedding can bring, but every girl can appreciate and love. I got sucked right in. I didn't watch any pre-wedding things on TV, but I did a bit of my own research on the Internet to brush up my English Royalty knowledge. From Diana's dress, to a look back on King George VI's rise to power, Queen Elizabeth's own wedding and coronation pictures, to a photo gallery of Westminster Abbey, the United Kingdom has quite the history. I ate it all up.
I loved every second of the wedding, watched WAY too much of the pre-wedding broadcast that I conveniently recorded and smiled all day long thinking about the the lovely wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Hopefully a happily ever after will now follow.
Jolly Good!
* photos via People.com, AP, Huffingtonpost.com and Internet
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Damage and Loss
Historic Flooding Unfolding Along Ohio, Mississippi Rivers
Cincinnati, Ohio has received over a foot of rain in April, which around four times its normal rainfall for the entire month.
Record- or near-record water levels are taxing levees in the region.
The stress on the levees in some locations will not only last days but weeks as the huge rivers such as the Mississippi and Ohio take much longer to fall below flood stage than smaller rivers.
Even if rain were to fall at a normal rate for the remainder of the spring, the consequences of what has already happened in the Midwest will affect way of live, property, agriculture and travel/shipping/navigation for weeks in the region.
-CNN.com
I am starting to forget what bright sunshine feels like and that I have had days where rain has not fallen. Our backyard is a swamp, the rain water has been seeping in under the basement door and running in streams across the floor and into the drain near the washing machine. Soccer and baseball practices and games have been canceled for weeks. There is a sink hole in the parking lot at Kellogg where soccer games are held. Cirque du Soleil's traveling show 'Ovo' is set up at Coney Island which is about ten minutes from our house. The amusement park is located on the banks of the Ohio and their extravagant blue and yellow tents are submerged in 8 feet of water. They refunded all the tickets. The Great Steamboat Race in the Derby celebrations has been nixed and riverboat viewing of Thunder Over Louisville was not allowed because of the swift current and high water. My home for sale in Lexington has water leaking into our basement ceiling.
Sometimes I think we might just float away.
Then last night my heart stopped when I saw the footage from an F-5 tornado barreling through downtown Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It nearly made me cry. What a tremendous and powerful storm ripping a town apart. Suddenly our water woes didn't seem as severe.
I have lived in tornado areas for over a decade and the sound of the sirens always gets my heart pumping. I take the warnings seriously, but have gratefully have been spared any really dangerous tornadoes.
The storms that hit seven states yesterday were enormous and deadly. I have never seen such wide spread damage and loss of life. My heartbreaks for the people affected.
My visiting teacher is from Alabama and I was relived when I talked to her today that her family is fine. Her sister's street was untouched, but the street over was gone. Such a tragedy for those people.
My prayers are with all those hurting and suffering. Weather patterns have been extreme this year and I am grateful for our safety, but pray for those who have not been so lucky.
Cincinnati, Ohio 4/27/11
Cincinnati, Ohio has received over a foot of rain in April, which around four times its normal rainfall for the entire month.
Record- or near-record water levels are taxing levees in the region.
The stress on the levees in some locations will not only last days but weeks as the huge rivers such as the Mississippi and Ohio take much longer to fall below flood stage than smaller rivers.
Even if rain were to fall at a normal rate for the remainder of the spring, the consequences of what has already happened in the Midwest will affect way of live, property, agriculture and travel/shipping/navigation for weeks in the region.
-CNN.com
I am starting to forget what bright sunshine feels like and that I have had days where rain has not fallen. Our backyard is a swamp, the rain water has been seeping in under the basement door and running in streams across the floor and into the drain near the washing machine. Soccer and baseball practices and games have been canceled for weeks. There is a sink hole in the parking lot at Kellogg where soccer games are held. Cirque du Soleil's traveling show 'Ovo' is set up at Coney Island which is about ten minutes from our house. The amusement park is located on the banks of the Ohio and their extravagant blue and yellow tents are submerged in 8 feet of water. They refunded all the tickets. The Great Steamboat Race in the Derby celebrations has been nixed and riverboat viewing of Thunder Over Louisville was not allowed because of the swift current and high water. My home for sale in Lexington has water leaking into our basement ceiling.
Sometimes I think we might just float away.
Then last night my heart stopped when I saw the footage from an F-5 tornado barreling through downtown Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It nearly made me cry. What a tremendous and powerful storm ripping a town apart. Suddenly our water woes didn't seem as severe.
I have lived in tornado areas for over a decade and the sound of the sirens always gets my heart pumping. I take the warnings seriously, but have gratefully have been spared any really dangerous tornadoes.
The storms that hit seven states yesterday were enormous and deadly. I have never seen such wide spread damage and loss of life. My heartbreaks for the people affected.
My visiting teacher is from Alabama and I was relived when I talked to her today that her family is fine. Her sister's street was untouched, but the street over was gone. Such a tragedy for those people.
My prayers are with all those hurting and suffering. Weather patterns have been extreme this year and I am grateful for our safety, but pray for those who have not been so lucky.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama 4/27/11
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Happy Birthday Dad!
(Dad at Outback Steakhouse, sporting the '60' glasses we mailed to him)
Happy #60 Dad!
I won the lottery of life when I was sent to you and Mom. You are brilliant. You are kind and generous. You are oh so funny. You are the world's best OB. You have shown me the beauty of the world and of the stars above. You helped me to dream big and to work hard. You are one of my truest and best friends. You bless my life everyday. I love you Dad. We can't wait to spend the rest of your birthdays with you. Enjoy your special day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)