Happy Birthday Brian!

Brian turned 36 today! The celebrating started on Sunday with a meal and a gift. I told him that he could choose anything he wanted for dinner, and rather than going to a restaurant, he chose my cheesy potato casserole and meatloaf. I gave him a gift certificate for briefcase.com. He needed to get rid of his old case for three reasons: 1)It has his previous company's name on it 2) He started a new job on Monday and needed a new one and 3) Aidan vomited on it - enough said! Today his office suprised him with a cake at lunch and this evening I arrived home with some balloons and an ice cream cake from Baskin Robbins.


Brian with his gift certificate (it says "This certificate entitles you to a brand spanking new briefcase (minus the cat vomit)".


Meatloaf and Potato Casserole Dinner


The candle was really cool - it played Happy Birthday over and over and over and over...you get the picture.


Making his wish...

Happy Birthday Aidan & Quinn!

Since we don't have children, the cats are considered our babies. Aidan and Quinn turned 4 on September 29th. They got a treat of soft food and couldn't have been happier - if only humans could be that easy!


So happy!

No Room in the Inn

Brian and I decided to make the upstairs of our home more convenient and 'user-friendly' for us. Our guest bedroom was rarely used and was jam packed with a king size bed, a bedside table, a treadmill, a soloflex, a glider, and a keyboard. The bed and table are now gone and a loveseat has replaced them. There is now plenty of room for us to work out in there, and as we all know, we need it!

In addition to the guestroom conversion, my home office is now in the loft area and Brian has the 3rd bedroom/office all to himself. We eventually want to convert the attic space into his office, but this is a solution until we can afford to have the conversion done. I love my new loft space and I think Brian is going to enjoy having that room all to himself.


Workout Room


New Loft Office

Sushi & Photography

Brian and I attended the closing night of a friend's gallery showing at the Kettle Art Gallery in Deep Ellum. The show's title was "A Decade of Texas Music Photography by Jason Janik" and all of the proceeds went to benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

We started the night at Deep Sushi with the Janik's and their friends and family. I had to have the Ahi Tower, which I order every time - yes, it's that good! After stuffing ourselves on sushi and dessert we walked over to the art gallery and viewed Jason's work. He's so super talented that it's hard to describe just how good he is. Check out his website at www.janikphoto.com (Brian redesigned it for the showing).


The Group at Deep Sushi


Jason & Julie Janik


The Ahi Tower (Look at the mischievious grin on Brian's face!)


Gallery Showing

New York - 1st Anniversary Trip

Brian and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary in New York City. We were there for 4 days and had a FABULOUS time! I've posted a ton of pictures below and have thrown in my comments throughout.


Times Square


Times Square


Radio City Music Hall


Rockefeller Center


Madison Square Garden


The infamous "Naked Cowboy" (He's not really naked, thank goodness!)


Late Show Studio


We visited the Sardis bar and had a couple of drinks after seeing "Wicked" on Broadway. Sardis is famous for being a popular spot for movie stars many years ago.


Grant's Tomb


Guggenheim Museum


The Met


Main Entrance to Central Park

WICKED

I fell in love with the musical "Wicked" about 3 years ago when I saw it performed in Dallas. I've now seen it 3 times and when it shows in San Antonio next year I will be there! I created a Bucket List after watching the movie with the same name. For anyone who doesn't know what a bucket list is, it's a list of things that you want to do before you die. Seeing Wicked on Broadway was #2 on my list and I am proud to say that I've scratched off my first bucket list item. We bought tickets to "Behind the Emerald Curtain", which is a behind-the-scenes look at "Wicked". Before the event started, we were able to walk around the display floor that had costumes of previous cast members, props, etc. It was hosted by 2 cast members of Wicked who took us through the entire process of a broadway production. I was able to get pictures and autographs of both cast members before we left. I think going to this helped in getting Brian more interested in seeing Wicked, which I was happy about. The following pictures are mostly of me at the Behind the Emerald Curtain and in front of the theatre.


Idina Menzel's Costume (Idina was the original cast member who played Elphaba - the Wicked Witch of the West).


Original Cast Member Sean McCourt


Cast Member Tony Galde


Wicked Poster


My best "OH MY" impression (see sign above me)


In the theatre before the show

I can't even describe how awesome the show was and even Brian liked it. I caught him in a moment of weakness and asked if he'd be willing to see another Broadway show, which he agreed to! The other show that we went to was Monty Python's "Spamalot" starring Drew Lache (winner of Dancing with the Stars) and Stephen Collins (of 7th Heaven fame). The show was hillarious and I've already ordered the soundtrack!


Waiting to go in the theatre...

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING


Look at how tall it is!


At the top


Incredible


Can you see the Statue of Liberty on the right?

We couldn't go to New York without visiting the site of the World Trade Center and St. Paul's Chapel that is located across the street from the site. It's not escaped my notice that I post these New York photos on the 7th anniversary of this tragedy.


The sign says it all


Memorial Alter in St. Paul's Chapel


A fire rescue uniform worn during the search and rescue efforts


Lots of construction on the site

Our last night in New York was also our anniversary. We went on a fabulous dinner cruise aboard the Bateaux New York. Brian reserved a private table for us and had roses and champagne waiting when we arrived. We cruised the harbor and were able to see the Statue of Liberty and the "Waterfalls", which were real waterfalls created by an artist and shown along the harbor. I took pictures, but they were so dark that I couldn't post them on here. There are a couple of dark pictures on here, but hopefully you'll be able to see them.








New York skyline behind us


The amazing skyline - so awesome in person!


The Statue of Liberty