tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53804648159511403382024-03-13T02:43:04.883-07:00ViaggiTarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.comBlogger49125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-80315390526802496672009-08-27T18:28:00.012-07:002009-09-07T08:08:20.590-07:00Boston!<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">The day after I got home from DC this summer, Team Duckweed was reunited, as Kristi came to NYC to visit. (I'd like to think she was coming to visit me, but most people just come to visit the city in which I happen to live. I guess I'll take what I can get!)<br /><br />While Kristi was here, we did LOTS of stuff, including walking across the Brooklyn Bridge (of course), visiting the Rockefeller Center (looking for Tina Fey, of course), buying Italian cookies in Brooklyn, venturing through (and surviving) Coney Island, and taking a trip to Boston to visit our Roman roommate, Sandra. Here are some of the highlights in, of course, pictures:<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw34rvo7dR2knmp1fuSgCgdtL0NQpEza3eDf-lYrKGEXcKIr84wFqZo1Jgx_x00WKOhIxZWOiwePxiNM7Qz-DlpvjZGT-6NNjOw2uGJG8S349vbKOa3APHWdMlXXld6amdrto5Pgnx47_y/s1600-h/IMG_2021.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw34rvo7dR2knmp1fuSgCgdtL0NQpEza3eDf-lYrKGEXcKIr84wFqZo1Jgx_x00WKOhIxZWOiwePxiNM7Qz-DlpvjZGT-6NNjOw2uGJG8S349vbKOa3APHWdMlXXld6amdrto5Pgnx47_y/s200/IMG_2021.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374826707552590466" border="0" /></a>Lower Manhattan from the top of the Rockefeller Center.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-p1DFSLmc07rlHcZrMB1p2xZovDjHWNXznN_rzw5yAL_qRIhELJtyTw277Q6slC2VlTYFNFNyR48N8jhELAiLwvKboAvVwmgXnfngG49Hq-tIhm_pNdL1efYUZYxwePA5bxEH84W4hvP/s1600-h/IMG_2012.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2-p1DFSLmc07rlHcZrMB1p2xZovDjHWNXznN_rzw5yAL_qRIhELJtyTw277Q6slC2VlTYFNFNyR48N8jhELAiLwvKboAvVwmgXnfngG49Hq-tIhm_pNdL1efYUZYxwePA5bxEH84W4hvP/s200/IMG_2012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374826703128825474" border="0" /></a>Tall buildings.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKtrwdRSRgZ-7WU3gAuBhey-WCq_PQDdAomOL1wuMhLscSCJY-W-J9Vcf7YpwPA5YlUlsWFFjai39B9mUMsgT3CSFNJxB6Yyjc0IbUdLRTC6llu4TwmhRHs8OfDEU0T12oa5vNyAdESXW/s1600-h/IMG_2009.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjKtrwdRSRgZ-7WU3gAuBhey-WCq_PQDdAomOL1wuMhLscSCJY-W-J9Vcf7YpwPA5YlUlsWFFjai39B9mUMsgT3CSFNJxB6Yyjc0IbUdLRTC6llu4TwmhRHs8OfDEU0T12oa5vNyAdESXW/s200/IMG_2009.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374826693296011314" border="0" /></a>Central Park and the Upper East Side<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyv7_wnF5LACotBl-B3Wx3biZUBWEm0-Y29yZtoLeg96v2SkH_iOk2uftkjJsao3jDbFo8yDNnZJWLehVM6fciNqVZYgsnnPDWgLt3atrqVzvX_VB_J6e5Yk3ID_8FGjNBtGNBPheLgS-/s1600-h/IMG_2020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyv7_wnF5LACotBl-B3Wx3biZUBWEm0-Y29yZtoLeg96v2SkH_iOk2uftkjJsao3jDbFo8yDNnZJWLehVM6fciNqVZYgsnnPDWgLt3atrqVzvX_VB_J6e5Yk3ID_8FGjNBtGNBPheLgS-/s200/IMG_2020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374826685526194754" border="0" /></a><br />That's my hood! If you follow my finger down, you'd pretty much hit my apartment building.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAISbbwUCZM6OEel6lIWprQIZWXlHi-AG5G6zSZYl4a7f9tvc56nIB9VlUK0zCeeH4RRAKOfhFAb_YsUTZ9hVd8A-K4fzcEdkwBdANfay4zNscDbPBiBLJokdwIM07Z-xoVF4JR4VEbyf6/s1600-h/IMG_2022.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAISbbwUCZM6OEel6lIWprQIZWXlHi-AG5G6zSZYl4a7f9tvc56nIB9VlUK0zCeeH4RRAKOfhFAb_YsUTZ9hVd8A-K4fzcEdkwBdANfay4zNscDbPBiBLJokdwIM07Z-xoVF4JR4VEbyf6/s200/IMG_2022.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378726487662361874" border="0" /></a>I love how the Rockefeller Center is pretty much in the middle of Manhattan, and from the top of it, you can see the very tip of the island. Here's lower Manhattan. That really big building is the Empire State Building, which, by the way, is visible for at least 30 minutes into Jersey (to the west) or the Bronx (to the north). Crazy!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUHB5BwDAxZ_jJjxvuwmYiG8u8lSNYEz_JqdIliAlpSh3WPbSV7nQUXyplzQnRlS70t1wywWC9Q7H_tvAiBlCUO4RIaLqdCV8eGkX0wg5s5nmNWDs1t9yc10SJPKzebA2Ea0MafmNYBJ1/s1600-h/IMG_5534.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUHB5BwDAxZ_jJjxvuwmYiG8u8lSNYEz_JqdIliAlpSh3WPbSV7nQUXyplzQnRlS70t1wywWC9Q7H_tvAiBlCUO4RIaLqdCV8eGkX0wg5s5nmNWDs1t9yc10SJPKzebA2Ea0MafmNYBJ1/s200/IMG_5534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378726502033267538" border="0" /></a>Here's Kristi on the Brooklyn Bridge. I think I've said it before, but if you ever come visit me, I WILL bring you here. Bee-yoo-ti-ful.<br /><br />OUR TRIP TO BOSTON:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEwkrZTDrxADeDqg4Bzb9_837KdOpkRxct3raizdTBmkDjFKFWtRuxnA1Fn2jnE34MGMcYbshYtRyigBgnRDThnUUhVmex4nK14jCcgklA3le4cwNhAS4BBPSfG88qvwDe0BZUR8OEYI9/s1600-h/IMG_1915.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdEwkrZTDrxADeDqg4Bzb9_837KdOpkRxct3raizdTBmkDjFKFWtRuxnA1Fn2jnE34MGMcYbshYtRyigBgnRDThnUUhVmex4nK14jCcgklA3le4cwNhAS4BBPSfG88qvwDe0BZUR8OEYI9/s200/IMG_1915.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378726509305758498" border="0" /></a>When we got off the bus in Boston, our first endeavor was to gain a few IQ points, so we headed to good ol' Harvard University. I still feel smarter because of this trip. The campus was very beautiful, and very old-looking. This is one of the main gates that, I think, led into a square near a library.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXKHDkKVvyoPmvB8nwfjIgXeftjCBgW3_40A4k6dlT9iZqyXV0dDykqFPKg3zWV5qoezrHtrWxOYNutFK5KSAXSrqHk7D24OtOsaY6SZryg_rxh5l7jr_jRj-W_z7yuF-H6vcvl9JPX47/s1600-h/IMG_1918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXKHDkKVvyoPmvB8nwfjIgXeftjCBgW3_40A4k6dlT9iZqyXV0dDykqFPKg3zWV5qoezrHtrWxOYNutFK5KSAXSrqHk7D24OtOsaY6SZryg_rxh5l7jr_jRj-W_z7yuF-H6vcvl9JPX47/s200/IMG_1918.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378726524643688530" border="0" /></a>After searching for almost an hour for a sign that said Harvard, we finally gave up, and took a picture inside the subway at the Harvard stop. We figured that Harvard is too cool to have a sign declaring it as Harvard. When you go to Harvard, I guess you already KNOW it's Harvard. It needs no signage! (But don't I look smart?!)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXv-RRhKW9MEwoYcI-Z7gHjLPTOJWUZVAhQdjiVUhi1KLvSEb_vouQ-nIwal1oaQMDa2RFTXPJLQgWyXFfrEiDP6lBDD1GyD0w8mNRym2PT3UaXdtEa0zdHmYWAZESLP5OuC5EOSKGYTu/s1600-h/IMG_1927.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXv-RRhKW9MEwoYcI-Z7gHjLPTOJWUZVAhQdjiVUhi1KLvSEb_vouQ-nIwal1oaQMDa2RFTXPJLQgWyXFfrEiDP6lBDD1GyD0w8mNRym2PT3UaXdtEa0zdHmYWAZESLP5OuC5EOSKGYTu/s200/IMG_1927.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378726532176075186" border="0" /></a>A view of downtown Boston from the Wharf.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbN7MbtuTQuIK3pGvfVYcZmdD3Xu0XTxvxy-v920ua4FfCDZUCYttDKWh0ggdvbPM-aZL_1lYtKlxv_TRfQw1so7E7PvSSkPKc-b7I3Up2gwQENyDf5R5gjmE_PqTt9NIGuh5GXZZQ2EJC/s1600-h/IMG_1928.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbN7MbtuTQuIK3pGvfVYcZmdD3Xu0XTxvxy-v920ua4FfCDZUCYttDKWh0ggdvbPM-aZL_1lYtKlxv_TRfQw1so7E7PvSSkPKc-b7I3Up2gwQENyDf5R5gjmE_PqTt9NIGuh5GXZZQ2EJC/s200/IMG_1928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378734281576909714" border="0" /></a>Break-dancing on the Wharf.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjUgdBvJPFMmdhTIz1VGA9jSAS85DC5yl2iWM3zGOON-Czk6yRZQaHruSCCZGoKIH3bILFiL01y-dlYWpqkRKa1wCXOeJadJxRAlCWmVmVuRLvHT1HynXTut7xrm_k0Swhhs7KNGV2bL4/s1600-h/IMG_1929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjUgdBvJPFMmdhTIz1VGA9jSAS85DC5yl2iWM3zGOON-Czk6yRZQaHruSCCZGoKIH3bILFiL01y-dlYWpqkRKa1wCXOeJadJxRAlCWmVmVuRLvHT1HynXTut7xrm_k0Swhhs7KNGV2bL4/s200/IMG_1929.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378734287891305554" border="0" /></a>Taking a rest after a tiring session of break-dancing.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx8tsDL6K6drnHOK-C3YtWd9vCQTYN3vu8P53sQ6CKKA0UxTZ-xQBveIAUb5fdPqk6h5f6Cea1Uc1B2aBDTWiZqR1PtUVieCoB9jCZ1NobVjzT2tslHshCyaUZTcm6jNvj_BtJnTC1zvn/s1600-h/IMG_1940.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitx8tsDL6K6drnHOK-C3YtWd9vCQTYN3vu8P53sQ6CKKA0UxTZ-xQBveIAUb5fdPqk6h5f6Cea1Uc1B2aBDTWiZqR1PtUVieCoB9jCZ1NobVjzT2tslHshCyaUZTcm6jNvj_BtJnTC1zvn/s200/IMG_1940.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378735970293232546" border="0" /></a>I thought this ad was really funny. And I thought that Dad would appreciate it.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBidR3PqtMgwzvMYYWsc7Sdzpf2UjhGDqfu9vKVEWN36pL_9xgJueHr6yQcbgPGnFYc_qtUwwYfLEZFOD9YHCQ5k9CyI6sCpbfP4f_pky3XlU7woh78kOCbVJZn4odGHvWEqdyHMtG3Og/s1600-h/IMG_1942.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieBidR3PqtMgwzvMYYWsc7Sdzpf2UjhGDqfu9vKVEWN36pL_9xgJueHr6yQcbgPGnFYc_qtUwwYfLEZFOD9YHCQ5k9CyI6sCpbfP4f_pky3XlU7woh78kOCbVJZn4odGHvWEqdyHMtG3Og/s200/IMG_1942.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378735982123912290" border="0" /></a>One of the main streets for shopping in Boston.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Efrfcx_GH4y6VzoQUWBHkPvDMKuUrJ7fjbyegrKH828k3guoy2umh4OaGFt_6VYSxAmHQimYx5h0RVvB1aiHN6044foNQpzUVfobL88VF3iEKDg_b_SFAvJdQWpVaLfaMWlDueLJlaj/s1600-h/IMG_1947.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU0Efrfcx_GH4y6VzoQUWBHkPvDMKuUrJ7fjbyegrKH828k3guoy2umh4OaGFt_6VYSxAmHQimYx5h0RVvB1aiHN6044foNQpzUVfobL88VF3iEKDg_b_SFAvJdQWpVaLfaMWlDueLJlaj/s200/IMG_1947.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378737142975444082" border="0" /></a>A sign outside of Fenway Park right off the freeway. I thought Dad would appreciate this one, too.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw0ELHRAUankiCTXCeOymPdURViLnrEmwdL0H3ZNZTNz8XP2Thi5tw9mCusGb14OHD1NVzKEM3xCPoUQtwFxOXV9yRb98X7BMR3dr5VjosxpROsA-HzK06PCpPlGdZR68I6o0VpTqeDXn/s1600-h/IMG_1948.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGw0ELHRAUankiCTXCeOymPdURViLnrEmwdL0H3ZNZTNz8XP2Thi5tw9mCusGb14OHD1NVzKEM3xCPoUQtwFxOXV9yRb98X7BMR3dr5VjosxpROsA-HzK06PCpPlGdZR68I6o0VpTqeDXn/s200/IMG_1948.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378737154302498882" border="0" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84JCFQMy1wcTLeoV8RLeVyGGV_PUamn7WB_59OdCAWRRDFJKcV0jB1Zvq1bpKXfgxQnYJItfvtJs1iJxatN16kiTUA8TmxRGmfW-1QV9iUke6-6lMsVfhrwuvFToCE0vVoiIinUhe0uBb/s1600-h/IMG_1959.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84JCFQMy1wcTLeoV8RLeVyGGV_PUamn7WB_59OdCAWRRDFJKcV0jB1Zvq1bpKXfgxQnYJItfvtJs1iJxatN16kiTUA8TmxRGmfW-1QV9iUke6-6lMsVfhrwuvFToCE0vVoiIinUhe0uBb/s200/IMG_1959.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378738101155486082" border="0" /></a>A statue of George Washington in the Boston Common.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYkOkwoISbTOvQh-z2xcwq7W0Ok6fFGdEgSYYH3nIGN-E-G2C7n4rwu573pMZ8wvTdrz4omFqVeAeRaqnnYtrEEPM-syFeuHm-WO6MKVOMp2vIoRzfaDTTfrRYMlELbOki9nNh34vOGub/s1600-h/IMG_1973.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYkOkwoISbTOvQh-z2xcwq7W0Ok6fFGdEgSYYH3nIGN-E-G2C7n4rwu573pMZ8wvTdrz4omFqVeAeRaqnnYtrEEPM-syFeuHm-WO6MKVOMp2vIoRzfaDTTfrRYMlELbOki9nNh34vOGub/s200/IMG_1973.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378738111138080002" border="0" /></a>More break-dancing in the Boston Common.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8oM5LNBlc8GZR00MdadU3k9OoQI7B_3Ps91oz1tMrenmLLk0KVBcFuE3hLtZAFxG1qcYrZdtTs9OkE3PZLbrBapwel33b6KrkUH5bFol07cpXCJv2XTU_F122IihFypSqFtYAKqXuaoh/s1600-h/IMG_1975.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8oM5LNBlc8GZR00MdadU3k9OoQI7B_3Ps91oz1tMrenmLLk0KVBcFuE3hLtZAFxG1qcYrZdtTs9OkE3PZLbrBapwel33b6KrkUH5bFol07cpXCJv2XTU_F122IihFypSqFtYAKqXuaoh/s200/IMG_1975.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378740031688141250" border="0" /></a>The outside of the Cheers bar, where everybody knows your name.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyluwywxKGRtxY4w1Qe_vslXu033fC-2kpx_Sdb5BZ-kAX48X5qk-UHW69FZi0z67e3XY_wNfX6-yr_4bI1o-_J2zaFUnRTCy04ym7IIdKgj37CgPDsnx4Eww7zKEiFK8HjobHPSblmCj/s1600-h/IMG_1978.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUyluwywxKGRtxY4w1Qe_vslXu033fC-2kpx_Sdb5BZ-kAX48X5qk-UHW69FZi0z67e3XY_wNfX6-yr_4bI1o-_J2zaFUnRTCy04ym7IIdKgj37CgPDsnx4Eww7zKEiFK8HjobHPSblmCj/s200/IMG_1978.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378740039890416898" border="0" /></a>Taking a nap in the Boston Common after spending too much time in the place where everybody knew my name.<br /><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3BErdHDsVXXOIqFDVK-QuRGJ3cT0tNW4snU5p8NCFDiozY31I0ROgeB1h79ISryEQzPFj_AMDMk8k4QrhTM_MdYIQ8B8C7CaXu45gzaNwArVkh0YCEXAF1qPw85JVWo48FpfLirbdrwZ/s1600-h/IMG_1994.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip3BErdHDsVXXOIqFDVK-QuRGJ3cT0tNW4snU5p8NCFDiozY31I0ROgeB1h79ISryEQzPFj_AMDMk8k4QrhTM_MdYIQ8B8C7CaXu45gzaNwArVkh0YCEXAF1qPw85JVWo48FpfLirbdrwZ/s200/IMG_1994.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378740048191225010" border="0" /></a>MODEL SHOT! After spending all of that time at Harvard, Kristi and I were much too thoughtful for our own good.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-92187424489503979782009-08-27T18:09:00.004-07:002009-08-27T18:25:28.751-07:00Sorry!It's funny how I've had all this spare time over summer vacation and yet did not post ANYTHING before now... now that school begins in just two mere weeks. (Eep!) Over the next couple of days I will try to give a very quick capture of the last few summer months.<br /><br />School ended with a bang on June 26. My students ended the year with an average of 1.17 years growth in reading, which made me monumentally happy. Math, however, I don't really want to talk about ...<br /><br />To kick off the summer I met mom in Washington, DC, for the fourth of July. We ate some amazing food, saw some amazing fireworks and overall had a really great time. Here are some of the highlights:<br /><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUTW_0IFKWOAHAytCIhclEx9cX_LEYGwz3aMwpr7WfCUiZB3qwh7Y67cgOdEmU2zffij1XTRdb_yEPKyJ9c-aEKbFAjkvKHlsTDV-izqQvc5UtXg4ovj3tetfv7Kisa0f_FJzpXJgZSRP/s1600-h/IMG_5472.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJUTW_0IFKWOAHAytCIhclEx9cX_LEYGwz3aMwpr7WfCUiZB3qwh7Y67cgOdEmU2zffij1XTRdb_yEPKyJ9c-aEKbFAjkvKHlsTDV-izqQvc5UtXg4ovj3tetfv7Kisa0f_FJzpXJgZSRP/s200/IMG_5472.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374818057713916114" border="0" /></a>The Watergate Hotel<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsBeYnZ_BSOU39Y-AskANT2nrUoz44d5zbUiujVWxrH8k5o3KY1YN2Z2O17BxoZUkWLjmvXTnmSK8hHHpQcYqP9yEwEhLHtEWdpjEm2PzOYSuPWCHhYc62qmeS-xr09Vq-7U3mqAhCtcp/s1600-h/IMG_5463.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvsBeYnZ_BSOU39Y-AskANT2nrUoz44d5zbUiujVWxrH8k5o3KY1YN2Z2O17BxoZUkWLjmvXTnmSK8hHHpQcYqP9yEwEhLHtEWdpjEm2PzOYSuPWCHhYc62qmeS-xr09Vq-7U3mqAhCtcp/s200/IMG_5463.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374817249736493122" border="0" /></a>Arlington National Cemetery<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_cYYi3clEFWVYd-tpNDFyAmq5WjULFUHJRoYiy2UlQ381tWoj7Fz9XZsvqPGlJ8RC6XL9hfhQ6gJiKnlaQmdoAidxVEu50YEDooBFRjHibOVmRx27VA5D3dYc3RH7DP6r_CbxBEEFcNi/s1600-h/IMG_5449.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB_cYYi3clEFWVYd-tpNDFyAmq5WjULFUHJRoYiy2UlQ381tWoj7Fz9XZsvqPGlJ8RC6XL9hfhQ6gJiKnlaQmdoAidxVEu50YEDooBFRjHibOVmRx27VA5D3dYc3RH7DP6r_CbxBEEFcNi/s200/IMG_5449.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374817243606326354" border="0" /></a>Washington Monument<br /><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNmkLXJGmlULnenVNWyzGP9s5dFheyg6eBxi7vSG6tbVCPoz8xvZS1q_47aUjOQNK182rKzTOGIjla3Ad_M2EpYxgWgQsIcSKpkjj-0DMaX2qg5LHyDENGoCqyeqgcoz77_z6eI2yJDXI/s1600-h/IMG_5446.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSNmkLXJGmlULnenVNWyzGP9s5dFheyg6eBxi7vSG6tbVCPoz8xvZS1q_47aUjOQNK182rKzTOGIjla3Ad_M2EpYxgWgQsIcSKpkjj-0DMaX2qg5LHyDENGoCqyeqgcoz77_z6eI2yJDXI/s200/IMG_5446.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374817236497209890" border="0" /></a>Mom at the White House right before we dined with Barack and Michelle<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQb1mMIxn4gmLlTFQ0qZ6Z6tJ60tpvLd8heGJ2fnjTq8RoV3cYV4aVRoXBjZKQztosFaBPKvceos0rpJnAE9gNHttrCNsovf5QjtlqPOfRhHO9WVnnF7vF9uJh0OZKtHCDOqR0McvRY_Z/s1600-h/IMG_5440.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQb1mMIxn4gmLlTFQ0qZ6Z6tJ60tpvLd8heGJ2fnjTq8RoV3cYV4aVRoXBjZKQztosFaBPKvceos0rpJnAE9gNHttrCNsovf5QjtlqPOfRhHO9WVnnF7vF9uJh0OZKtHCDOqR0McvRY_Z/s200/IMG_5440.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374817228375924194" border="0" /></a>MEAT!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGRHqu46NB-7KxeGIk8tfKtY5UnLOPKKBw-VSWt6SirIQ87rFjPRoaTiQhv-1vRYiXmce-DLvrkcNrKcrdGVkuJ-wgHcsAR08iCXXSBsnGuLYkqCcW3FFdPNi03SLZrbrhUomZDaMRpxV/s1600-h/IMG_5428.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkGRHqu46NB-7KxeGIk8tfKtY5UnLOPKKBw-VSWt6SirIQ87rFjPRoaTiQhv-1vRYiXmce-DLvrkcNrKcrdGVkuJ-wgHcsAR08iCXXSBsnGuLYkqCcW3FFdPNi03SLZrbrhUomZDaMRpxV/s200/IMG_5428.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374817220760712210" border="0" /></a>Capitol Building<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7fF6SIt0dx9NY81TIAwkJwZEtzcpm0CYIYxML_Yzecg2xUFTLQ3KQ8jsZNNibPGBuIbZ7yijy419Xi1ST7GpXWQsyBSTPiaew7VgIEm2DXAH_lIx-_1R_arHzPhi6qImkrzeb-PE3uJ0/s1600-h/IMG_5476.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB7fF6SIt0dx9NY81TIAwkJwZEtzcpm0CYIYxML_Yzecg2xUFTLQ3KQ8jsZNNibPGBuIbZ7yijy419Xi1ST7GpXWQsyBSTPiaew7VgIEm2DXAH_lIx-_1R_arHzPhi6qImkrzeb-PE3uJ0/s200/IMG_5476.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374818061399534962" border="0" /></a>Mom, I think there's something in your teeth!<br /></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-40825042957282694582009-05-18T14:16:00.009-07:002009-05-30T16:27:21.566-07:00Washington DC, Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, VAThis post is long overdue, I know, but I have had zero time lately for posting. But here I am, FINALLY. On May 15, 16 and 17, the fourth and fifth grades from my school took a very poorly planned field trip to Washington DC, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown and Baltimore, Maryland. Yes, folks, that was MY students on a WEEKEND-long field trip. Oye!<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRZFoY9_7Q8QE-A9IlOJFFniUG8SRS7N0ge0DB8v862k-VBd0kfzrF7SuoxzBRREFx6ERA29e-foV8VUy5ik4RKa0BNT8lR-FPV85WbDawE5JZxJ1BidejgwhR8ZP89njMKurVsq_H2Af/s1600-h/IMG_5237.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRZFoY9_7Q8QE-A9IlOJFFniUG8SRS7N0ge0DB8v862k-VBd0kfzrF7SuoxzBRREFx6ERA29e-foV8VUy5ik4RKa0BNT8lR-FPV85WbDawE5JZxJ1BidejgwhR8ZP89njMKurVsq_H2Af/s200/IMG_5237.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337479567435499858" border="0" /></a>Luckily, I only took seven of my students (though it should've been six). Here's (L-R) Luis, Darilis, Daniel, Jesslyn, Steven, Davita and Naomy in front of the White House, Day 1.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj265zXLiIrA6sGYPwUkYApOC6lASNj06E91JGqEJX1rlZ1wBOmTkyINHrXEku__0u2vDSZfk0QBOHYly8mVDMoX4xq04g_t-pMJnFwuZOmshyWFuckiNgt42xgdlwrIZk8c-I5ZZ8HzP8N/s1600-h/IMG_5245.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj265zXLiIrA6sGYPwUkYApOC6lASNj06E91JGqEJX1rlZ1wBOmTkyINHrXEku__0u2vDSZfk0QBOHYly8mVDMoX4xq04g_t-pMJnFwuZOmshyWFuckiNgt42xgdlwrIZk8c-I5ZZ8HzP8N/s200/IMG_5245.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337479571072693746" border="0" /></a>The students were much more interested in a Sri-Lakan protest than the White House.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLCCb5OpkA8QyvbmFhEt9MqFe3eXVFc7Ug4i1GO6fDD-1A6deMiMqJxMyvp-sKKQ1YKGvG1DYVxv-hvLat0vdkcfEgYY4kxm4Hlti76D7JnhwQnjTSRW0qn0SiM7cKEucvv7fOMm4iwFA/s1600-h/IMG_5262.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLCCb5OpkA8QyvbmFhEt9MqFe3eXVFc7Ug4i1GO6fDD-1A6deMiMqJxMyvp-sKKQ1YKGvG1DYVxv-hvLat0vdkcfEgYY4kxm4Hlti76D7JnhwQnjTSRW0qn0SiM7cKEucvv7fOMm4iwFA/s200/IMG_5262.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337479578797951458" border="0" /></a>Luis got on a Martin Luther King, Jr., kick while at the Lincoln Memorial. He pointed out to me (I wouldn't have known) where MLK gave the famous I have a dream speech, then he stood there and continued to recite the parts of the speech that he knew. He was so good that several Japanese tourists took his photo.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMdpVM2M7E2-uXw792fymiYPYg8G1XUmZq0KUWJnSOAdcl3GlN7SBTRjltVXaP1RM5qtOT04lJ0CXu1ogJyIrvVyJS5EfNO8Q92028cmy3pFFvlcUE_HCHDUNSbf3GKlgd38jierIC4Sk/s1600-h/IMG_5265.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOMdpVM2M7E2-uXw792fymiYPYg8G1XUmZq0KUWJnSOAdcl3GlN7SBTRjltVXaP1RM5qtOT04lJ0CXu1ogJyIrvVyJS5EfNO8Q92028cmy3pFFvlcUE_HCHDUNSbf3GKlgd38jierIC4Sk/s200/IMG_5265.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337479581690150178" border="0" /></a>Reciting "I have a dream..." in front of the Reflection Pool at the Washington Monument.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhANNVHAs0l72GhlBGzNFC9w4q-h2PlMGaZU4yxSEy4KkUrUZoMAPFN_zEV8UmJh-Ok5_oPl5lvl1Dy6diaDieIfaSnHcZi06FMLIXNC1bboZOsPOGswpRL4Cp6FTUuYp52STH3QYnN2Fx/s1600-h/IMG_5278.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhANNVHAs0l72GhlBGzNFC9w4q-h2PlMGaZU4yxSEy4KkUrUZoMAPFN_zEV8UmJh-Ok5_oPl5lvl1Dy6diaDieIfaSnHcZi06FMLIXNC1bboZOsPOGswpRL4Cp6FTUuYp52STH3QYnN2Fx/s200/IMG_5278.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341754575849741394" border="0" /></a>Floating in outer space at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpp5SkNqfuehDEfIPvpIQxyrFd6DVW8ZOgUBOnmStqJRSpIxC8n6Y0sOcgWt-ipi6_E-wZZ0Gg8DaeY_Lr9AIfVMUIBrF-QM4Y2AstUD9Z1w3C7Wc8UKo_bC52aCJKtRFYP1m5DI1_YjI/s1600-h/IMG_5293.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirpp5SkNqfuehDEfIPvpIQxyrFd6DVW8ZOgUBOnmStqJRSpIxC8n6Y0sOcgWt-ipi6_E-wZZ0Gg8DaeY_Lr9AIfVMUIBrF-QM4Y2AstUD9Z1w3C7Wc8UKo_bC52aCJKtRFYP1m5DI1_YjI/s200/IMG_5293.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337479573420910754" border="0" /></a>We stopped for dinner on our way to Richmond, Virginia, at this place that let the kids get out and run around. Here are some of the girls feeding some ducks. It was quite beautiful - right on the Potomac River between DC and Virginia.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRF3FLnygjlNqzZKovjJXJtcyX2dz2eZnl7wKy9MplrvHR0LPsV7__zHrQffDS0gtyGMOnIocDva7W12LAzvUxoAlMAWSykAynxP5JMwyKkVodxJll0F8Cn7FHcuK9dwc07z3LAX1ClYg/s1600-h/IMG_5304.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBRF3FLnygjlNqzZKovjJXJtcyX2dz2eZnl7wKy9MplrvHR0LPsV7__zHrQffDS0gtyGMOnIocDva7W12LAzvUxoAlMAWSykAynxP5JMwyKkVodxJll0F8Cn7FHcuK9dwc07z3LAX1ClYg/s200/IMG_5304.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341754584378437426" border="0" /></a>Day 2 at Colonial Williamsburg. This place ROCKED. I liked it way more than any of the kids, though, who stayed up all night in the hotel (some making calls to 911 - oye!). Needless to say, they were not happy walking around for 5 hours in the Virginian heat and humidity.<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM9pG6jFSx7_z3CloizRhN4Vu02ljRMbzRNu-9Nl04tcCSY-Khgn1IjONEE38B7GzsULmm31kabW8ZXr0wos-m6gUxMscxdhASfl1nJ8UukMueDusZYYJIx00gHbG6BVccaxEcsbrrfiC/s1600-h/IMG_5306.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtM9pG6jFSx7_z3CloizRhN4Vu02ljRMbzRNu-9Nl04tcCSY-Khgn1IjONEE38B7GzsULmm31kabW8ZXr0wos-m6gUxMscxdhASfl1nJ8UukMueDusZYYJIx00gHbG6BVccaxEcsbrrfiC/s200/IMG_5306.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341754592034219874" border="0" /></a>The jail at Williamsburg. <br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ac-IoE5KkMMcXUPGce1qXgqoOiUcax_tBWU3HABqXqc1MdZ6GBHVB0upLuWm9yDMvsn2g4uF1kYnX9mSy-v9JvHqUNZcxwKxcNi05E67-_kkuclzbeBMK541T14m-b68xyA14m7pk6Bd/s1600-h/IMG_5309.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Ac-IoE5KkMMcXUPGce1qXgqoOiUcax_tBWU3HABqXqc1MdZ6GBHVB0upLuWm9yDMvsn2g4uF1kYnX9mSy-v9JvHqUNZcxwKxcNi05E67-_kkuclzbeBMK541T14m-b68xyA14m7pk6Bd/s200/IMG_5309.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341754597150449202" border="0" /></a>Naomy, locked up in the prison cell (which had no air for the hot summers and no insulation for the freezing winters. quite a terrible place to end up, if you ask me)<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir703x-tQnDD8IPkhcAZE0aI9_tj2REpmafmUFmta9pFr8IKBrquua-angGJ7upXyFZjHTjC57s-rwglDg843ov1gwmSnNGibH2Ngn6C3qJMde9b_9UNCLPeBqqG6WBZZ5CK6o2GQEbK5H/s1600-h/IMG_5318.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir703x-tQnDD8IPkhcAZE0aI9_tj2REpmafmUFmta9pFr8IKBrquua-angGJ7upXyFZjHTjC57s-rwglDg843ov1gwmSnNGibH2Ngn6C3qJMde9b_9UNCLPeBqqG6WBZZ5CK6o2GQEbK5H/s200/IMG_5318.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341754601061792242" border="0" /></a>Our tour guide taught the boys to bow and the girls to curtsy. It was kind of adorable.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vBEkZJB68zN3G1oD8jszpXzIhfNBbFCwxUHfQaOkqb0egMeFN1wfxcOi5LruL-kmzsPqoZDeMLOZ-Jae74bHPDoxGK_hDjiaF02-Z8YdJsc6Wihuj6pc0WnlQcNSayfabmLLnvvVUxRN/s1600-h/IMG_5334.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0vBEkZJB68zN3G1oD8jszpXzIhfNBbFCwxUHfQaOkqb0egMeFN1wfxcOi5LruL-kmzsPqoZDeMLOZ-Jae74bHPDoxGK_hDjiaF02-Z8YdJsc6Wihuj6pc0WnlQcNSayfabmLLnvvVUxRN/s200/IMG_5334.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341756321408693058" border="0" /></a>After Colonial Williamsburg we stopped for lunch then headed to the Jamestown Settlement, which was totally cool. We had a very awesome tour guide who let us touch everything. Suh-weet! Here's Darilis pestling some herbs for our dinner. :o)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00K7qWkQFt5aiHPrq3uAWUomxZwI4UKjuyuX5IEOHmP3a5vBlqTQo29d18KMQmL-1TeGuJvZ00esHfuoyzH3ARN4k_UxIQJHAElYuUFKnoK3jzHPnXR9mHe6IbYZ1e6LRj6Y8WMMvJRzA/s1600-h/IMG_5337.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00K7qWkQFt5aiHPrq3uAWUomxZwI4UKjuyuX5IEOHmP3a5vBlqTQo29d18KMQmL-1TeGuJvZ00esHfuoyzH3ARN4k_UxIQJHAElYuUFKnoK3jzHPnXR9mHe6IbYZ1e6LRj6Y8WMMvJRzA/s200/IMG_5337.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341756326213383090" border="0" /></a>Some of the kid around the camp fire. Unfortunately (or fortunately) this was NOT where we had dinner.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPfwIKAW_TmBqec7O87E5HroMu80SCHwBj2G0bGgyoDDPm0aB1LEfw6Ugobl8rbc9mV_ww34AeqhGycunjQ1etbE_JTs6Wez3e8GJ60x3lW3Y19CfgVz-Xd5ngqopKkOJQSKLZY5xcFjW/s1600-h/IMG_5343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifPfwIKAW_TmBqec7O87E5HroMu80SCHwBj2G0bGgyoDDPm0aB1LEfw6Ugobl8rbc9mV_ww34AeqhGycunjQ1etbE_JTs6Wez3e8GJ60x3lW3Y19CfgVz-Xd5ngqopKkOJQSKLZY5xcFjW/s200/IMG_5343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341756328222083362" border="0" /></a>Steven smelling some Powatan Indian leather clothing.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0s85u62DHUVDAD601lJahax_w8txxSAnSptSlzvjAPxWb8yDVIr7aNz1l2f_7t4ZYkoe__rQM3QjXTfjvFM1XOCEQ2jSSaiVrXi88m0iAgOZAAaVx7kjOE02pOqvGSjkYTCkdYE-wxmx/s1600-h/IMG_5346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0s85u62DHUVDAD601lJahax_w8txxSAnSptSlzvjAPxWb8yDVIr7aNz1l2f_7t4ZYkoe__rQM3QjXTfjvFM1XOCEQ2jSSaiVrXi88m0iAgOZAAaVx7kjOE02pOqvGSjkYTCkdYE-wxmx/s200/IMG_5346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341756334902144434" border="0" /></a>Some of the kids (and Mr. O) on a replica of a boat the first settlers came across in. In that tiny room, 50 men and boys lived (with no way to use the restroom other than chamber pots) for 3 whole months. And we thought our 5-hour bus ride there was long!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzACfOJYS3FeE3pQwv9ExvexZG78k_cREaOdAkbdFjSM1tFPYsHC3s3BeY0tnWRFK747SRkgsyWUtQSfg9taih2tTwDaQ6Wd6Sa_j3tpqgaEjBRwt2Fx8WHrB9PfqFmkXpthIp8-2u5Xn/s1600-h/IMG_5353.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzACfOJYS3FeE3pQwv9ExvexZG78k_cREaOdAkbdFjSM1tFPYsHC3s3BeY0tnWRFK747SRkgsyWUtQSfg9taih2tTwDaQ6Wd6Sa_j3tpqgaEjBRwt2Fx8WHrB9PfqFmkXpthIp8-2u5Xn/s200/IMG_5353.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5341756343013634562" border="0" /></a>Mine and O'Grady's kids in a Powatan canoe at the end of the day. This place was so cool (Williamsburg, too) that Mr. O and I are planning a trip back ... without all the kids!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />The next day we went to Baltimore, MD, to go to the National Aquarium, which was VERY cool. I haven't uploaded my pictures of that, though. I'll try to get to it soon.<br /><br />Overall, I wish I could say the trip was awesome and uneventful, but that would be a lie. It would've been a great trip under different circumstances, but as it was, it was quite exhausting and slightly annoying. There were some highlights, though, including Luis's MLK obsession, checking in on rooms in the hotel on Night 2 (one of the fifth grade teachers, Mr. Wells, made quite the ordeal of busting into kids rooms who were still awake at 1 in the morning ... I ended up rolling on the floor in the hallway laughing so hard I nearly cried) and, of course, spending time with some of my favorite kids.<br /><br />What's Next: There are only four more weeks of school! I never thought the teachers looked forward to the summer as much as students, but I have NEVER been this excited for a vacation. I am also spending a lot of time reflecting on the good and bad things that happened this year, and really looking forward to starting with a clean slate next year!<br /></div></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-33670389595052741812009-05-12T17:39:00.002-07:002009-05-12T17:40:06.383-07:00Final stretch!32 more days until the end of school! (Though 27 REAL days, excluding field trips and in-house work days)Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-35073257218976895972009-05-02T15:08:00.000-07:002009-05-02T12:08:24.274-07:00To Baltimore!So my school organizes some crazy field trips. But probably the craziest field trip we've taken this year (and will ever take again) occurred last Friday, when the entire fourth grade went to Baltimore, Maryland to see the (drum roll, please ...) Great Blacks Wax Museum.<br /><br />Now, I don't say this is crazy because we went to a wax museum. Or that we went to Baltimore. I'm just saying ... what is the point of paying for a charter bus to take a bunch of kids on an eight-hour bus ride through four states to see a wax museum, when we have Madam Tussaud's downtown, about a half-hour bus ride away?<br /><br />Oye...<br /><br />But even after the rambunctiousness and the three students who threw up on the bus (gross), it was overall a pretty fun, though still unnecessary, trip.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxU4UCv2kDpz5fnqavC_dDFnS-RJsqPrBxMNnrKIJiIknWlEafQOuErzqn3rXw8ZToUAyFuYP9mRst1fUevxAoP0EC7KfFp2qv8X5b7GnQhHLoBidx00Z502B5x804wshyiMNGMTYNv0B/s1600-h/IMG_5188.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxU4UCv2kDpz5fnqavC_dDFnS-RJsqPrBxMNnrKIJiIknWlEafQOuErzqn3rXw8ZToUAyFuYP9mRst1fUevxAoP0EC7KfFp2qv8X5b7GnQhHLoBidx00Z502B5x804wshyiMNGMTYNv0B/s200/IMG_5188.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331303209084061202" border="0" /></a>Oh my gosh, it's Barack Obama!!! In wax, anyway.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvh-DOX-yEe_nEoubhTqNl70UQS4BFPphemsJofefPr23Yxu_5-btw6a2mGaZUUb52YANYYMEKw-PYYaorlJM2BatuYKg8z2s9ciJsRz_UTIwxihsalX3LO-DblK5vn5knNArrRQ2SwS4/s1600-h/IMG_5191.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvh-DOX-yEe_nEoubhTqNl70UQS4BFPphemsJofefPr23Yxu_5-btw6a2mGaZUUb52YANYYMEKw-PYYaorlJM2BatuYKg8z2s9ciJsRz_UTIwxihsalX3LO-DblK5vn5knNArrRQ2SwS4/s200/IMG_5191.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331303202762841218" border="0" /></a>My kids (Steven, Jesslyn, Darilis, Daniel, Luis and Heriberto) pretending to be mummies.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwn4gLDCH6iSpbLXWkDIvfkRdFpgZqW7pCYaXJJzbbqfIY7HIgJeHlDX8NSMAnTtPuu6-ek0KJDV7fW25u6pGBtM2Dv5jQRk7YgWzWUfwtZodU6LjA1bF6NlXU9Or01pfMZKc_WQkcJl0/s1600-h/IMG_5196.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUwn4gLDCH6iSpbLXWkDIvfkRdFpgZqW7pCYaXJJzbbqfIY7HIgJeHlDX8NSMAnTtPuu6-ek0KJDV7fW25u6pGBtM2Dv5jQRk7YgWzWUfwtZodU6LjA1bF6NlXU9Or01pfMZKc_WQkcJl0/s200/IMG_5196.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331303198058456146" border="0" /></a>Darilis and Jesslyn, saying: "Reading is COOL!"<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW0v1ST_liCrOk57bf46FetxeJl9zrFyaqAttDGLv5hRYJv8cdvftSBQfW1kbViZMuuH9H9g2YoEtcGA2ud3ZD3NW5y1BhQ6nAn5KUAPq1_oiHMYx_zw9INVGvZPAnVlNGYJ2MSavVQLI/s1600-h/IMG_5198.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsW0v1ST_liCrOk57bf46FetxeJl9zrFyaqAttDGLv5hRYJv8cdvftSBQfW1kbViZMuuH9H9g2YoEtcGA2ud3ZD3NW5y1BhQ6nAn5KUAPq1_oiHMYx_zw9INVGvZPAnVlNGYJ2MSavVQLI/s200/IMG_5198.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331303194386966466" border="0" /></a>Once I finally got the kids to start reading the signs, instead of just looking at the wax and moving on, they learned a thing or two. This photo was taken right after Luis, Daniel and Heriberto learned that George Washington Carver invented peanut butter. All three of them turned to the wax figure at once and said, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!"<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwmYsNPsw0KMUpmUIliC8iIpNIQ7R1p1Rrj0BSuaP0_nCZS-IEhMuutu1CMTpTGJZVNcy4BsDoF7pu6S-5XbycEfpH70W2nD5sW8Lxu2DEpLDjw4ywRha4BEW8QMhGaYIfXQIh1pDIb6D/s1600-h/IMG_5210.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxwmYsNPsw0KMUpmUIliC8iIpNIQ7R1p1Rrj0BSuaP0_nCZS-IEhMuutu1CMTpTGJZVNcy4BsDoF7pu6S-5XbycEfpH70W2nD5sW8Lxu2DEpLDjw4ywRha4BEW8QMhGaYIfXQIh1pDIb6D/s200/IMG_5210.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331302377505429330" border="0" /></a>Bad idea: feed a bus full of kids at an all-you-can-eat buffet then tell them to get back on a bus for four hours. How do you expect them to NOT throw up?<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4hX-xJCotRimnItYUyYKDKzMMnL7an1EQxULVK6dM_MUGIffXIEqEhTk1KaXdRMzxqdzb5nqAzrlYabdO8g5ay0I8GXSdu8PrUq3XMQO0n4kWxrNxW2h6wInmaQCGaaM5Iilg8KiIsP_/s1600-h/IMG_5218.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf4hX-xJCotRimnItYUyYKDKzMMnL7an1EQxULVK6dM_MUGIffXIEqEhTk1KaXdRMzxqdzb5nqAzrlYabdO8g5ay0I8GXSdu8PrUq3XMQO0n4kWxrNxW2h6wInmaQCGaaM5Iilg8KiIsP_/s200/IMG_5218.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331302398060412418" border="0" /></a>Before we headed back to NYC, we stopped by the Baltimore harbor, which was very nice. Here, the kids were trying to feed ducks candy from their pockets. Oye ...<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-If7I6OgrqHZ_0vRGDGPdYrghHrv0xGDECbLO5-9sBVLufFBfucjybAVWsM-tBRIMAza7GH4x4-34zds8TjB1ulKhU86J0Fztxu0KcO47yNgl5zQjgnDGFENin_P3qCY-vlTVjx5ibHn/s1600-h/IMG_5213.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW-If7I6OgrqHZ_0vRGDGPdYrghHrv0xGDECbLO5-9sBVLufFBfucjybAVWsM-tBRIMAza7GH4x4-34zds8TjB1ulKhU86J0Fztxu0KcO47yNgl5zQjgnDGFENin_P3qCY-vlTVjx5ibHn/s200/IMG_5213.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331302387412362770" border="0" /></a>Darilis pretending to be Barack Obama giving a speech.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu56pssgqCFaX5819XOO4_PDzYBm4m4Hi1b0w7F7lsc9Vp7ntDRZzJN0ipZ4JnZ5WgIJIKfnoer5ILG2bqJnuUOnetB82wSNkZMqbHrJqZ7SbBHPZBUZBPdkurWSOlsDu9gQIWmA1X-Tia/s1600-h/IMG_5212.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu56pssgqCFaX5819XOO4_PDzYBm4m4Hi1b0w7F7lsc9Vp7ntDRZzJN0ipZ4JnZ5WgIJIKfnoer5ILG2bqJnuUOnetB82wSNkZMqbHrJqZ7SbBHPZBUZBPdkurWSOlsDu9gQIWmA1X-Tia/s200/IMG_5212.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331302383072432738" border="0" /></a>My kids! Well, half of them, anyway. L-R: Steven, Daniel, Khristian, Luis, Heriberto, Jesslyn, Darilis, Kimberly, Naomy.Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-33229668999770051272009-05-02T14:44:00.000-07:002009-05-02T11:44:08.415-07:00Spring Break ... finally!From April 9 to April 19, the most wonderful thing happened: spring break! To celebrate my freedom from responsibility, I spent six days chilling with Robby in the deeeeeeeep south of Alabama, where we ate fried pickles at Hooters, conquered some Native Americans, chased tornadoes and watched the confederate flags fly.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM9DewKVS5rMSnFz6K4wy_e8YnYdO_PjCBptilA0LIT2SYiDlMM8vF6AdKCoh-aSHGzTKhfW5aIOPfH2l6loNF2_kzN7qwhnal7wCrRHoRofTtf4fGyON4koGdGCvEyb6YQ3xms4UhLPV/s1600-h/IMG_5148.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdM9DewKVS5rMSnFz6K4wy_e8YnYdO_PjCBptilA0LIT2SYiDlMM8vF6AdKCoh-aSHGzTKhfW5aIOPfH2l6loNF2_kzN7qwhnal7wCrRHoRofTtf4fGyON4koGdGCvEyb6YQ3xms4UhLPV/s200/IMG_5148.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328724902867839026" border="0" /></a>The very first thing I saw in Alabama. A yellow pickup truck titled "BAMA." I thought it was appropriate.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1bcfHZ9oZz7pjcxfVXlGnJEwmLfGeQVX2dUSoG2QrdnrDNWqzQ7irGdDx8jSqBVKqPZRqug3mwvlb0OKV4sWDUR3rj6pkja2rnyWqs9WByONT6TuvfyQXqxRRwzE84lItL_eYw2aPT7V/s1600-h/IMG_5158.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc1bcfHZ9oZz7pjcxfVXlGnJEwmLfGeQVX2dUSoG2QrdnrDNWqzQ7irGdDx8jSqBVKqPZRqug3mwvlb0OKV4sWDUR3rj6pkja2rnyWqs9WByONT6TuvfyQXqxRRwzE84lItL_eYw2aPT7V/s200/IMG_5158.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328724907967827250" border="0" /></a>Robby, pre-haircut.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8vojAyC7FJqUAc3LJyKinULxN91auYoq7Fd8kru8iexc-n3Wb_iLjhfTLmoGYaPAhVojP6-WRfFVbFTMBQqrdXcHSPd1bBkB7q4UATcLltmLoDYHTfVbfJ8b1XdFak9H5azKbdiRpEkC/s1600-h/IMG_5149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx8vojAyC7FJqUAc3LJyKinULxN91auYoq7Fd8kru8iexc-n3Wb_iLjhfTLmoGYaPAhVojP6-WRfFVbFTMBQqrdXcHSPd1bBkB7q4UATcLltmLoDYHTfVbfJ8b1XdFak9H5azKbdiRpEkC/s200/IMG_5149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328724904109377554" border="0" /></a>I really liked the use of Zs and no Es.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ-11WAWGPrQCe1Y2EbWQAX3Zxk7sB7XjaRGgdRUlbjJL8ioYM-WG_IfIoP3jNG6Ls4BrIUMRZh703Pa_2z_gk0ERukOVX2yuFLe9fLdDayi3hJqMLvDRfX1mpUZwsUs-B3li4yzMtkKS/s1600-h/IMG_5165.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfJ-11WAWGPrQCe1Y2EbWQAX3Zxk7sB7XjaRGgdRUlbjJL8ioYM-WG_IfIoP3jNG6Ls4BrIUMRZh703Pa_2z_gk0ERukOVX2yuFLe9fLdDayi3hJqMLvDRfX1mpUZwsUs-B3li4yzMtkKS/s200/IMG_5165.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328724919208836738" border="0" /></a>Turns out Helen Keller was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama, where Robby lives. Of course we had to visit her birth place! Robby claims there is a sign that says, "Helen Keller Birthplace: Come See What She Couldn't." AWESOME.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWfQTS0uP7Bbs0fxOWTAX63awSjqceaYCYQ_WVwnb8kdrHklG5_ra0HpW7B0UJ6_SLjdegSmYUzUTPiQCIWvrQyapmN-A9YFy7uZgkeqYKXyMRMHMPhlJjiUftlkBggS-HLQmM0LOeK6K/s1600-h/IMG_5166.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXWfQTS0uP7Bbs0fxOWTAX63awSjqceaYCYQ_WVwnb8kdrHklG5_ra0HpW7B0UJ6_SLjdegSmYUzUTPiQCIWvrQyapmN-A9YFy7uZgkeqYKXyMRMHMPhlJjiUftlkBggS-HLQmM0LOeK6K/s200/IMG_5166.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328726284489546226" border="0" /></a>Right across from HK's birthplace is the Tuscumbia Art Museum! I didn't know they even had art in Alabama!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJqrQWT7osD-VSp4d0UMQscVvZX-bTY_Xtw7i3TMN6bvbCfLfPqJtvYva-APJmprPQ_7olt_KmEZVh-hF2eSHsG-_o5U19c44sixKpHUjpplI4tHqCAerd24_4b73BrIChk683pnspY9Q/s1600-h/IMG_5175.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcJqrQWT7osD-VSp4d0UMQscVvZX-bTY_Xtw7i3TMN6bvbCfLfPqJtvYva-APJmprPQ_7olt_KmEZVh-hF2eSHsG-_o5U19c44sixKpHUjpplI4tHqCAerd24_4b73BrIChk683pnspY9Q/s200/IMG_5175.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328727916880885858" border="0" /></a><span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>After exhausting ourselves at the extensive art museum, we took a ride to the park, where we conquered this Native American carved from wood:<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFtLy-jucS8s_tA0Jvq366h1XyQBkKNXFpFd1I8MA3UYFvjawbGFb29A7W5AHVVeL4vnq35UTTQGGAr2utnIoRep-3CHnS3L4L5O-eDQXFCQUbPXnlh7EfNNiALBZyvozzXk1zzX3WT32/s1600-h/IMG_5171.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRFtLy-jucS8s_tA0Jvq366h1XyQBkKNXFpFd1I8MA3UYFvjawbGFb29A7W5AHVVeL4vnq35UTTQGGAr2utnIoRep-3CHnS3L4L5O-eDQXFCQUbPXnlh7EfNNiALBZyvozzXk1zzX3WT32/s200/IMG_5171.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328726297813753474" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">But then we heard word that there was a TORNADO WARNING nearby. So we jumped in the car and went in search of the twister!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_K0tjMBVn0zwLki891x52pXNS7WGtHo8TnEDueFtxdXEHn5sU23D7uG4HYnX6mBqcuU5WLdG26mSWBK4ZpBMkal4-3BWvpXLbeO7hyiGF1gP6iMGZyPO3CvveOwvjbRmEOT2Q4YJShfh/s1600-h/IMG_5180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl_K0tjMBVn0zwLki891x52pXNS7WGtHo8TnEDueFtxdXEHn5sU23D7uG4HYnX6mBqcuU5WLdG26mSWBK4ZpBMkal4-3BWvpXLbeO7hyiGF1gP6iMGZyPO3CvveOwvjbRmEOT2Q4YJShfh/s200/IMG_5180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328727917650109554" border="0" /></a>The streets turned Tornado-ey very soon, but, unfortunately, we didn't see any. We did find some cows, though.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Probably the most interesting part of Alabama, to me, was the prevalence of so many confederate flags ... like, here, on this car:<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6pMBaoF7tLzdexBLWs3ZC11JDeVBMnAw2-aKd-3Velc1c_4oi1LBf1etkkLg1WEOtn7YyfVmFN-IsJUm9_UDhLMo0tGbYhyphenhyphendssthHBMqouKl_pDXWOvGidUrT8KMSom6EGZRJI3cttYS/s1600-h/IMG_5184.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS6pMBaoF7tLzdexBLWs3ZC11JDeVBMnAw2-aKd-3Velc1c_4oi1LBf1etkkLg1WEOtn7YyfVmFN-IsJUm9_UDhLMo0tGbYhyphenhyphendssthHBMqouKl_pDXWOvGidUrT8KMSom6EGZRJI3cttYS/s200/IMG_5184.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328727909627111266" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And here, a flag flying:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eVL-r32TRuXBcXhX7I3x2-wVl3doll8BDU8q5t2yWclQFDplKu9FoxUjYPnN2Phh5PKh2CYg_s1fHpgIjglVtbUQ2-D-4fh_050UMs_ga2EUYTsltmdakuMglZQvu0kLC2nAq7xTjB2x/s1600-h/IMG_5182.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_eVL-r32TRuXBcXhX7I3x2-wVl3doll8BDU8q5t2yWclQFDplKu9FoxUjYPnN2Phh5PKh2CYg_s1fHpgIjglVtbUQ2-D-4fh_050UMs_ga2EUYTsltmdakuMglZQvu0kLC2nAq7xTjB2x/s200/IMG_5182.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328727907802904546" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">And here, on a sign in the park:<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqo_QqlaLBeuUpkWL01o3eXsOt0FtllBz5n6p2LMxL2P-3oKg2hzQdQkBIk7uas4uf_LMKZoHen8ao4qTFhwoGaq947sic5XZKxpXJOav_CzdXDH-AaABpKHLoKLwswLXw__2TBC87-GQW/s1600-h/IMG_5172.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqo_QqlaLBeuUpkWL01o3eXsOt0FtllBz5n6p2LMxL2P-3oKg2hzQdQkBIk7uas4uf_LMKZoHen8ao4qTFhwoGaq947sic5XZKxpXJOav_CzdXDH-AaABpKHLoKLwswLXw__2TBC87-GQW/s200/IMG_5172.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328726302500117170" border="0" /></a>It was about this time that I started asking myself, "Where <span style="font-style: italic;">AM </span>I?"<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEFcXrJZXsw7mivhTpPnZlRdIqHjHg35Zo_8ymJeBPYuPZAfL33P28bHZRw0gOQT8PfEf1muee299awDhL1z8bu6IZ073KA5Q3qsU_mTLKYMR1c1pXgBcvgWQLH7O-dnCq7TiQhbd4sAu/s1600-h/IMG_5185.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfEFcXrJZXsw7mivhTpPnZlRdIqHjHg35Zo_8ymJeBPYuPZAfL33P28bHZRw0gOQT8PfEf1muee299awDhL1z8bu6IZ073KA5Q3qsU_mTLKYMR1c1pXgBcvgWQLH7O-dnCq7TiQhbd4sAu/s200/IMG_5185.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328724914464034610" border="0" /></a>Here's one last picture of Robby (post-haircut) making Rob-burgers. Man, I miss those Wickles!<br /><br /><br /><br />Since I got home, and spring break ended, I haven't been up to much, except work and grad school work. We took a class field trip to Baltimore last week, so expect pictures of that sometime soon.<br /><br />Coming up, I only have eight more weeks of school before summer (wahoo!). And in a couple of weeks, all of the fourth and fifth grade are taking a weekend trip to Washington, D.C., and Colonial Williamsburg and Jamestown, Virginia. I think I'm more excited than the kids are!Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-91222233455082006212009-04-06T19:50:00.003-07:002009-04-06T20:06:23.903-07:00Spring is (sometimes) here!The past week has been quite excellent, and here's why:<br /><br />1. My meanie-faced assistant principal actually (almost sort of) complimented me. He said my class doesn't look as bad as it used to. SHABAM!<br /><br />2. There's a bar in Brooklyn that has indoor bocce ball. Suhweet!<br /><br />3. K-Mart at Astor Place SELLS bocce ball sets. And it turns out Morningside Park is an excellent place to play. (Although I maintain that Rome's Circo Massimo has to be the best place on earth for the bocce.)<br /><br />4. Two more school days until Spring Break. Alabama, here I come! (Never though I would say that.)<br /><br />5. It's kind of almost feeling like spring. In between days of downpour and chills, there have been several absolutely beautiful, mid-50s days, perfect for bocce, parks and even a little outdoor napping.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TiOc_RfKXjspHC5OlKJdWbI8O_bmZfAgLThAAC57pdI7UZu5__rxh5f4-7uXGbHnIXmhIO1fRN0ii1Caypaaq6iFXxS1cH0Yh57ECHjO_NuzUQN7ggaYKvs2GeDZiv1uOHQcvV1Xgt28/s1600-h/IMG_5124.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5TiOc_RfKXjspHC5OlKJdWbI8O_bmZfAgLThAAC57pdI7UZu5__rxh5f4-7uXGbHnIXmhIO1fRN0ii1Caypaaq6iFXxS1cH0Yh57ECHjO_NuzUQN7ggaYKvs2GeDZiv1uOHQcvV1Xgt28/s200/IMG_5124.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321779495174425186" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8p2AjLsrSky6eSQXjCCTT94Ak9_YrG-GRm-gZGJddsbcROC6Rb2p_8c2quGDPmNg1jemDk9bfXA9UmQ7mm-Sa1qePRfQFlq4wKqiFjgTY-4yzDIbghrw6tj4WHs12Tz0q1JBa2rtoQ-n/s1600-h/IMG_5121.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8p2AjLsrSky6eSQXjCCTT94Ak9_YrG-GRm-gZGJddsbcROC6Rb2p_8c2quGDPmNg1jemDk9bfXA9UmQ7mm-Sa1qePRfQFlq4wKqiFjgTY-4yzDIbghrw6tj4WHs12Tz0q1JBa2rtoQ-n/s200/IMG_5121.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321779490189429298" border="0" /></a>Spring is almost sprung!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7p3BtCIdMO_6kk5TxnhUqWW0ZerAn6XcDtorD_AllHU_bv-NwyPkg6DIGG8gcZBglQETs3SrqUec2nKAdJPogP_jMjzTTulQA5fniWRBM_l0HikqsE-_5EJoE5jE1dM5JidkRiAwg0kZ/s1600-h/IMG_5108.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL7p3BtCIdMO_6kk5TxnhUqWW0ZerAn6XcDtorD_AllHU_bv-NwyPkg6DIGG8gcZBglQETs3SrqUec2nKAdJPogP_jMjzTTulQA5fniWRBM_l0HikqsE-_5EJoE5jE1dM5JidkRiAwg0kZ/s200/IMG_5108.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321779489662988194" border="0" /></a>Morningside Park from atop the hill near Columbia University. That grassy area is where Dakota and I played a rigorous game of Bocce. (I won, by the way! Not that that is what is important ... )<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wet8zGOkXjJuZJYobBmFh5zfI2BwssuwLNoH-eb3g6TSzo2OvWyPh6N76_rRqi_buBT6X5Xyn-j-ZSq9aYssfFnpgIQ7JYapYEg9uTRxDxcc0lmOz7SQchzEu0LTA6bHdWE01d94DXLf/s1600-h/IMG_5102.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7wet8zGOkXjJuZJYobBmFh5zfI2BwssuwLNoH-eb3g6TSzo2OvWyPh6N76_rRqi_buBT6X5Xyn-j-ZSq9aYssfFnpgIQ7JYapYEg9uTRxDxcc0lmOz7SQchzEu0LTA6bHdWE01d94DXLf/s200/IMG_5102.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321779481513822834" border="0" /></a>Morningside park from the bottom of the hill. Nice day!<br /></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-59025927980192999992009-03-21T12:29:00.000-07:002009-04-06T20:07:42.912-07:00March Madness ... Only, without the BasketballsMarch has, so far, been a very good (and very productive) month.<br /><br />At school, our State Math tests have come and gone. I think most of my kids did a pretty good job. Things, in general, are starting to look up. We've finally gotten to where we can walk in a straight (and mostly quiet) line in the hallway, and there hasn't been a real fight in my class in more than two weeks. Exciting! On two different occasions, different teachers have commented to me that they've noticed a change in my class. That feels really good.<br /><br />In life, things have been looking up, as well. The weather has started getting warmer (meaning lows in the 30s instead of highs), and daylight has been lasting a little longer. It's about time.<br /><br />Here's a review (in photographs) of the last couple of weeks, from most recent to ... least recent.<br /><br /><br />I had a very New York weekend, because on Friday I went to my first show on Broadway (I saw a very strange play starring Susan Sarandon, Geoffrey Rush, and the sherriff from "Roswell") and on Saturday I went to the New Museum on Bowery, just south of Houston. Unfortunately, I didn't get any pictures of the play (though that is a quite funny story). However, the museum did allow the chance for some cool photographs.<br /><br />There were some pretty interesting exhibits, but the best part was the rooftop view. This was a much different view of Manhattan, because it's in the south part of the city. Most of the time, when you get "the view," it's of midtown, where all the tall buildings (Chrysler and Empire State, etc.) are. So the view from the top of the New Museum was unique in that sense.<br /><br /><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTJs9MsT8SlJkChmb1QYkd9UO89ET_nsB3SMh6JgInzfBO7PHbmyyj773HwszJjvghQv5P2FSsBRfDUFFc8jb3d5OSAWG5NOw1HfDQBtStyjZgz289NLwA3g0N24AooJKTy7OJA_Ty8xg/s1600-h/IMG_5096.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316492612199890258" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 150px; cursor: pointer; height: 200px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDTJs9MsT8SlJkChmb1QYkd9UO89ET_nsB3SMh6JgInzfBO7PHbmyyj773HwszJjvghQv5P2FSsBRfDUFFc8jb3d5OSAWG5NOw1HfDQBtStyjZgz289NLwA3g0N24AooJKTy7OJA_Ty8xg/s200/IMG_5096.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">The view of Bowery, looking toward Houston. </p><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqC_aLfOj9qEr8BfW7A4_4NIOJzC-ZBEP3XvgKXtgw861WAqlzv-a7LiLoR2ryXXYXcqBgvaDsI0F14Kob1gXWxgWypB0iNNA08nigUDKbcVB7hMltICHnuYpje9gGm_D23Cr7jFsJQydt/s1600-h/IMG_5078.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316492599521807842" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqC_aLfOj9qEr8BfW7A4_4NIOJzC-ZBEP3XvgKXtgw861WAqlzv-a7LiLoR2ryXXYXcqBgvaDsI0F14Kob1gXWxgWypB0iNNA08nigUDKbcVB7hMltICHnuYpje9gGm_D23Cr7jFsJQydt/s200/IMG_5078.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">That's me, looking to the north. You can see both the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building in that shot. (They are the two tallest ones to the right of my head.)</p><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJZGEolUIvLtIVUmlLYD8ZN5YlMNPPSf_EWXZRXlvAcetOgBQS3bn1ksUVtadK5R7F0I-3m7mWOnFjXIR6S_8eJm4piLlAxSa6-H3E6ukSipqqXTWsejy2mSFSUc_jOOqYxP4VhIOsXs-/s1600-h/IMG_5093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316492602181670978" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyJZGEolUIvLtIVUmlLYD8ZN5YlMNPPSf_EWXZRXlvAcetOgBQS3bn1ksUVtadK5R7F0I-3m7mWOnFjXIR6S_8eJm4piLlAxSa6-H3E6ukSipqqXTWsejy2mSFSUc_jOOqYxP4VhIOsXs-/s200/IMG_5093.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">My good friend, Dakota, with a view toward the south end of Manhattan (the Financial District and whatnot). </p><p align="left">Saturday afternoon I got quite a different view of Manhattan once again. This time, from across the East River. After visiting a delicious cheese shop in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, we walked to this nice park right on the bank of the river. </p><p align="left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wiVkMNyIDl6UYMOPF8LfLRrQ8h5CpPQEq7Z6S3zaZj9cZ5VfzJ65O_7Y4T9ZztVBpoaCPMS7DiHJYkhHCPoLTQpf5BTJSf9784JGq4qru44FxuhxWOwhKhjSWvWDSlaSuivZeTB8m-tM/s1600-h/IMG_5099.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316492625153236738" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0wiVkMNyIDl6UYMOPF8LfLRrQ8h5CpPQEq7Z6S3zaZj9cZ5VfzJ65O_7Y4T9ZztVBpoaCPMS7DiHJYkhHCPoLTQpf5BTJSf9784JGq4qru44FxuhxWOwhKhjSWvWDSlaSuivZeTB8m-tM/s200/IMG_5099.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Nice view. </p><p align="left"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUYv8Ul_gS8hQq8kb7bi8JjtscXkbnQEcOr1jWZ_YEju9w8YgvkY99IPOnIDDWabeFg_RuJL4RjtMys6ZOLzgyuS3HJQFLNrrWCzC2rs1obWCrIglyfG3PBXuQeOLdbELKD1hCXT994aZ/s1600-h/IMG_5100.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316492631224753090" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUYv8Ul_gS8hQq8kb7bi8JjtscXkbnQEcOr1jWZ_YEju9w8YgvkY99IPOnIDDWabeFg_RuJL4RjtMys6ZOLzgyuS3HJQFLNrrWCzC2rs1obWCrIglyfG3PBXuQeOLdbELKD1hCXT994aZ/s200/IMG_5100.JPG" border="0" /></a> Delicious picnic! The cheese shop even had my all-time FAVORITE Italian Ringo cookies. Yum!!<br /><br />On Tuesday this week, I took time away from school preparation to celebrate St. Patrick's Day the best way I knew how: at the bar. I didn't feel too guilty about it, though, because it worked out just perfectly that we had a field trip to Randall's Island on Wednesday. Fate, or excellent planning? I have no clue, but I was quite glad. </p><p align="left"><br /></p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6N1d3L0hF15z4gKBYo6Vj1r2UA3NgN3yy4c-MwI3V3Picos9IZ9xG6FZ_A8Q787WUSLHIHh81mNvKr28aitt85P_b9FMKnz1UWmXADQGifo9wY3CIW76w-VRwLtDsu62nk-TzvGDQbKR/s1600-h/IMG_5028.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316491494691978642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn6N1d3L0hF15z4gKBYo6Vj1r2UA3NgN3yy4c-MwI3V3Picos9IZ9xG6FZ_A8Q787WUSLHIHh81mNvKr28aitt85P_b9FMKnz1UWmXADQGifo9wY3CIW76w-VRwLtDsu62nk-TzvGDQbKR/s200/IMG_5028.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Perhaps the best part of St. Patrick's Day was that Becca and I got to wear our matching green shoes. And we made a green shoe dance on the subway. Here is our green shoe-leaf clover.</p><p> </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ0TA43SaTiYaEiR49PH6sQnhKj_Y5vhos-eGaWHEEP4uDWQVQUdSwzVP1mbMLWmKmJ6WvIG08-AXCYkTWYveXCkR8TAR0PMjxi373Gkh2kHUUflJTA8VdX6csE0wtFENxj9rENp3GVkd/s1600-h/IMG_5032.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316491507087440050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZ0TA43SaTiYaEiR49PH6sQnhKj_Y5vhos-eGaWHEEP4uDWQVQUdSwzVP1mbMLWmKmJ6WvIG08-AXCYkTWYveXCkR8TAR0PMjxi373Gkh2kHUUflJTA8VdX6csE0wtFENxj9rENp3GVkd/s200/IMG_5032.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">We started with dinner at this great Japanese food place, where you get to make your own cotton candy for dessert. Here's Becca trying her hardest, to no avail. </p><p align="center"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jfKrg-XGf5ZWuWyuJfgWQWmnxu4RUV-Vz1k2tWw7m840ZzSdSH1ZRu1bZIoyZ6YTG2oA_JJQojR-xrgLNEC3S_NMKpL6djXV_Vh2uBod4ogwzN9xOD-U8VDwd1ul1_OVyfP88GmrOf0w/s1600-h/IMG_5033.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316491508624946962" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jfKrg-XGf5ZWuWyuJfgWQWmnxu4RUV-Vz1k2tWw7m840ZzSdSH1ZRu1bZIoyZ6YTG2oA_JJQojR-xrgLNEC3S_NMKpL6djXV_Vh2uBod4ogwzN9xOD-U8VDwd1ul1_OVyfP88GmrOf0w/s200/IMG_5033.JPG" border="0" /></a></p><p align="center">Dakota eating my cotton candy, because I am the cotton candy-making queen. </p><p><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSa8G1AlB7e3GwNxAbGSqbNJraoDKIIt9JzG1RzzCAQ5FRyjfIwYhy_gn7lpzhKOFcl7GpTx-KJz5Ark3Z2m2gWge7LYuzgXc2kfaxmfEW9EolFECFbrcIvhXPV57h8Zj2wCMOq5CF89h/s1600-h/IMG_5069.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316491513083339874" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 200px; cursor: pointer; height: 150px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSa8G1AlB7e3GwNxAbGSqbNJraoDKIIt9JzG1RzzCAQ5FRyjfIwYhy_gn7lpzhKOFcl7GpTx-KJz5Ark3Z2m2gWge7LYuzgXc2kfaxmfEW9EolFECFbrcIvhXPV57h8Zj2wCMOq5CF89h/s200/IMG_5069.JPG" border="0" /></a> The night ended at a Karaoke bar in the East Village. Here's Bryan, Courtney and Becca swaying along to Dakota's rendition of "Piano Man." If you ever want to see video of mine and Becca's duet of "Part of Your World" from the Little Mermaid, then you're out of luck! 'Cause that video is C-L-A-S-S-I-F-I-E-D.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></p>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-40943358547127608492009-03-02T04:28:00.001-07:002009-03-02T04:29:26.576-07:00Today is the best day of my lifeSNOW DAY!!!<br /><br />The first one that NYC has had in 5 years. AWESOME!Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-56927960330689981792009-03-01T13:06:00.004-07:002009-03-01T14:00:39.863-07:00The rest of vacation and beyondMid-Winter break has come and gone, and I'm now back into the flow of school. Our State Math tests are coming up this week, so my school-themed dreams (nightmares?) are back in gear full time. <br /><br />So, of course, rather than continue preparing for this week at school, I'm taking time out to reminisce. Here is a low-down of my last few days of vacation, which I never posted about. <br /><br />I stayed in Massachusetts with my dear roommate Becca through Wednesday, when I headed back to the city to "get some work done." That morning, though, we went for a hike through the woods around the lodge. It was extremely beautiful, albeit a little chilly. But it was a very nice end to a short vacation of doing absolutely nothing. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkxJEwFouB_WCSf_ryY-5hR74a0oYr_PP6JlPxNJvUMXoNQH2mOwCbF9JhPnd9fWHGBSvGDo9wwLKj4EW2Xa5D_VpA7wHBeEPMK0MMkZ-4NPTttjL8grWY-ooNJEuEMW_NOaoLQYEWx1G/s1600-h/IMG_5007.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkxJEwFouB_WCSf_ryY-5hR74a0oYr_PP6JlPxNJvUMXoNQH2mOwCbF9JhPnd9fWHGBSvGDo9wwLKj4EW2Xa5D_VpA7wHBeEPMK0MMkZ-4NPTttjL8grWY-ooNJEuEMW_NOaoLQYEWx1G/s200/IMG_5007.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308316303763566994" border="0" /></a>A little water fall at the top of a creek.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlgjvB5IwsyaEw-PYBloIUmRui3zWZaTT5j8j815BtC3Qmnmxjj7JSLTDjpYuFcSS2kgstJlkZ2J4zHcF5CLZ8hqrHU0DnN-RXg8vLypqEnGGIr7rrUKooJON0yhqJplnlnqsRO27kiGQ/s1600-h/IMG_5002.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlgjvB5IwsyaEw-PYBloIUmRui3zWZaTT5j8j815BtC3Qmnmxjj7JSLTDjpYuFcSS2kgstJlkZ2J4zHcF5CLZ8hqrHU0DnN-RXg8vLypqEnGGIr7rrUKooJON0yhqJplnlnqsRO27kiGQ/s200/IMG_5002.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308316287479212034" border="0" /></a>My attempt at a snow angel. Something seems to have gone terribly wrong (especially with my hands!)<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uRu__C6f7dxYdCFM-V9GfNIB3SIIUGqr5mXsyVzWIULmuUvyNUtfvDPzcvK8D6ZzmFx9ziqZRB_RAfigCtT7zWaBkj-s859OQ3iKIwCKtbvnjTSrvGs-5nXPWIXba3qXlCVIn_RBWXUQ/s1600-h/IMG_4996.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_uRu__C6f7dxYdCFM-V9GfNIB3SIIUGqr5mXsyVzWIULmuUvyNUtfvDPzcvK8D6ZzmFx9ziqZRB_RAfigCtT7zWaBkj-s859OQ3iKIwCKtbvnjTSrvGs-5nXPWIXba3qXlCVIn_RBWXUQ/s200/IMG_4996.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308316244989657090" border="0" /></a>Along our walk, I spotted a fallen tree branch over a section of the extremely cold, partially frozen creek. So, of course, I say to Becca, "Hey, you should go sit in the middle of that tree." She surprised me by actually saying yes. <br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH-91ErXpW37sfA_4mpPyLeStMMv_B5D8bBF-3B1rb_WNFKMjwLEuzW5Cfhvq4wL7LEVBPCNRvXisFonHkt1Mv8JV6J6xsS-AcsQt-2AWXlIUmU9NInLWOkMMocdTq3jGcrX-a1a9BYJd/s1600-h/IMG_4988.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnH-91ErXpW37sfA_4mpPyLeStMMv_B5D8bBF-3B1rb_WNFKMjwLEuzW5Cfhvq4wL7LEVBPCNRvXisFonHkt1Mv8JV6J6xsS-AcsQt-2AWXlIUmU9NInLWOkMMocdTq3jGcrX-a1a9BYJd/s200/IMG_4988.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308316239183551858" border="0" /></a>Lovely!</div><br />After returning to the city Wednesday and trying to do some work on Thursday, I was ready to leave again. So come Friday morning, I went on a last-minute trip to Montauk with my friend, Dakota. Montauk is a town at the very tip of Long Island. Why did we choose to go there? No idea. But it was a very nice trip for the day. <br /><br />It all began at about 7 a.m. when we arrived at Penn Station to catch the Long Island Rail Road. About three and a half hours later we arrived in Montauk, welcomed by freezing temperatures, blustering winds, and a very interesting cab driver named Peter.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCSIyHU1TL320FxDKBfrG3tqGaw3KAT4GuzFkqMuCcz2Nwhib1votXlLeru2S6HykCz7AUaTbiHE3W9ZqwbpQEeb2rfAc9D6DrUg_PZ7rX1ZiffakdTf_j1ogTW_nk4u_d7ZpzZOV3wsU/s1600-h/IMG_1425.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGCSIyHU1TL320FxDKBfrG3tqGaw3KAT4GuzFkqMuCcz2Nwhib1votXlLeru2S6HykCz7AUaTbiHE3W9ZqwbpQEeb2rfAc9D6DrUg_PZ7rX1ZiffakdTf_j1ogTW_nk4u_d7ZpzZOV3wsU/s200/IMG_1425.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308314739348329218" border="0" /></a>Montauk was very beautiful.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEksOUFD_nj8CG2jYa_X6JXOdf1lbOsud3Bf-Plcr22QUXV_UfBB2xszkco8RgFJ-rAmBIn6XIWyIl-P3qFcTSQPqNxCSxR6lucQH7nmEyl8AMO-5T2kDQHptQ8hlxWLqQR70StYxkHvgt/s1600-h/IMG_1415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEksOUFD_nj8CG2jYa_X6JXOdf1lbOsud3Bf-Plcr22QUXV_UfBB2xszkco8RgFJ-rAmBIn6XIWyIl-P3qFcTSQPqNxCSxR6lucQH7nmEyl8AMO-5T2kDQHptQ8hlxWLqQR70StYxkHvgt/s200/IMG_1415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308314707805152194" border="0" /></a>But VERY windy!<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUjE5TiHbyq2jdSSHCoVtKxcGbjGtItorTCM-7fEIFYMdH1TVHzLCq0yF7U7D0gXwubed-cyWqiwK8K1QZkXHscqoydTIwkvEgMD7LzrE9ohBXfVw20eRww0bWusFnol4LkU-oUu7Vciz/s1600-h/IMG_1419.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtUjE5TiHbyq2jdSSHCoVtKxcGbjGtItorTCM-7fEIFYMdH1TVHzLCq0yF7U7D0gXwubed-cyWqiwK8K1QZkXHscqoydTIwkvEgMD7LzrE9ohBXfVw20eRww0bWusFnol4LkU-oUu7Vciz/s200/IMG_1419.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308314730443513106" border="0" /></a>Here we are at the fourth oldest light house in the U.S. (the oldest one in New York state). It was commissioned by George Washington.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpOWqJkLiTs_MlPMYh3jrbUqBPQ3gfkWRN5sBMGDf1812hsuZrRBjAso3BIoWWBqyu-ILakOdxZSmz8K6FqZnzgD7rzc5CsWqFkBBtPMmINmUYQsbi4U5q4yfm7y4m65P20ntVPYpn31u/s1600-h/IMG_1412.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXpOWqJkLiTs_MlPMYh3jrbUqBPQ3gfkWRN5sBMGDf1812hsuZrRBjAso3BIoWWBqyu-ILakOdxZSmz8K6FqZnzgD7rzc5CsWqFkBBtPMmINmUYQsbi4U5q4yfm7y4m65P20ntVPYpn31u/s200/IMG_1412.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308314721059277122" border="0" /></a>Here's me with Peter the crazy cab driver!<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUhdKd0xbGvdm29r9B4bbtalx2ZBoUmQgCRbhMhUr9FlN4aa5TTfDb8Le1WSUGYdlHrxScClB_lUz7AIDh-xATCJdVTYwQPpGUdxfM5jAzaQc3K1ViKIuV-41uW7nsdCdbTn8aORJl7nd/s1600-h/IMG_1433.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvUhdKd0xbGvdm29r9B4bbtalx2ZBoUmQgCRbhMhUr9FlN4aa5TTfDb8Le1WSUGYdlHrxScClB_lUz7AIDh-xATCJdVTYwQPpGUdxfM5jAzaQc3K1ViKIuV-41uW7nsdCdbTn8aORJl7nd/s200/IMG_1433.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308314746270196258" border="0" /></a>The lighthouse from a very unglamorous, yet (I think) still beautiful view.<br /></div><br /><br />So that was basically the end of my vacation, if you include lounging around the city and then (finally) getting some work done. There are now 28 more school days until the next break, when I'm going to Alabama to visit Robby for a bit. Until then, it's just school, school and more school. Fun!Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-20090895044126237252009-02-25T15:44:00.003-07:002009-02-25T15:47:45.610-07:00FameThere's nothing like teaching to make you feel like a rock star. No matter how angry your kids get with you at school, no matter how many times they shout "I hate you!" or "I ain't doing it!" in class ... if they see you walking down the street outside of school, you are Miley Cirus or (insert other appropriate "tween" star here).Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-40406132972817785382009-02-17T16:40:00.004-07:002009-02-17T17:19:54.653-07:00Some vacation photographsAfter my last post, my Monday continued with a 4.5-mile walk to the grocery store (turns out the buses here don't run as regularly as they do in NYC), a delicious home-made pizza dinner, lots of wine, a hot tub, a sauna, and, of course, Scrabble. <br /><br />Here are some pictures:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZmfhuuXWjwhwvZefFxGnZUFf1RhymqlQZuRcpH9uSZSaB4iYybwXNhdDCa1G08FLvE5-MIrUNgTtwVD4OTCbK8WsnOu0edRAP_dgcqJs2C2IarSgQM1He5sRoMA4dBF9fsFvOf_XL_TV/s1600-h/IMG_4965.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfZmfhuuXWjwhwvZefFxGnZUFf1RhymqlQZuRcpH9uSZSaB4iYybwXNhdDCa1G08FLvE5-MIrUNgTtwVD4OTCbK8WsnOu0edRAP_dgcqJs2C2IarSgQM1He5sRoMA4dBF9fsFvOf_XL_TV/s200/IMG_4965.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303921122471688898" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BLhB6HbHJNJTo6dBvN8_yW9bC3p1Z1ov1qmn9fh9PSk-AkULXGtMzA2l4u4La5lTGiU06ic_p6CxHFGvTN1aXVi6bodUZfM5-J0Qq9pONIucyQJdkHRrgKiQxlF0kqVgn56BUQeLf5vM/s1600-h/IMG_4974.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3BLhB6HbHJNJTo6dBvN8_yW9bC3p1Z1ov1qmn9fh9PSk-AkULXGtMzA2l4u4La5lTGiU06ic_p6CxHFGvTN1aXVi6bodUZfM5-J0Qq9pONIucyQJdkHRrgKiQxlF0kqVgn56BUQeLf5vM/s200/IMG_4974.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303921117949107122" border="0" /></a>As Becca and I were walking (for about 1.5 hours) to the grocery store, we came upon a small playground covered in snow. So we took some time to see saw and swing. Smart Becca injured her ankle jumping off the swing into the snow. Our activities since this moment have been a little limited.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKbbrFhRV8FTt97Gbm0BdUuh91v7Qk2oP7n5uIX4RVIvq0uCsVEPkKAHHVx9J4CMKY9pBvAhgDhoS9T62eGSXrb1XD0AAg8EDziKsTbPS9Ng1D8xjgGQmuZewJfwo0QbpXXKiLexWQKL2/s1600-h/IMG_4944.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNKbbrFhRV8FTt97Gbm0BdUuh91v7Qk2oP7n5uIX4RVIvq0uCsVEPkKAHHVx9J4CMKY9pBvAhgDhoS9T62eGSXrb1XD0AAg8EDziKsTbPS9Ng1D8xjgGQmuZewJfwo0QbpXXKiLexWQKL2/s200/IMG_4944.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303917903504127874" border="0" /></a>This is the resort where we're staying.<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVciMMtItmNGPzWiXiuN81uS5Pn-_Sw32UtlHgA1mziaE0RI7_0vQXJGtEG4vQ__kV_-lQfPFsgpi8OFhxxNhPlIMopJ5APO7_aiSGHRQ8MRfeLCX5ACB4MnvFhtKnTpKGawF8T0tzJaXe/s1600-h/IMG_4946.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVciMMtItmNGPzWiXiuN81uS5Pn-_Sw32UtlHgA1mziaE0RI7_0vQXJGtEG4vQ__kV_-lQfPFsgpi8OFhxxNhPlIMopJ5APO7_aiSGHRQ8MRfeLCX5ACB4MnvFhtKnTpKGawF8T0tzJaXe/s200/IMG_4946.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303917900396168626" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tyaoqjM6tvFTQ86hJI1_XawI_SLndkSpmC1HWTXA4g6XjHihKdysir7fm7NnZSm20zsEOG4Nk-XFdTItWLvEESgJgBEiQoeXs8wQQfR3VQMjavd2nopkCqr7cqd39W31fmEbJQrPs4QT/s1600-h/IMG_4949.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7tyaoqjM6tvFTQ86hJI1_XawI_SLndkSpmC1HWTXA4g6XjHihKdysir7fm7NnZSm20zsEOG4Nk-XFdTItWLvEESgJgBEiQoeXs8wQQfR3VQMjavd2nopkCqr7cqd39W31fmEbJQrPs4QT/s200/IMG_4949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303917895358949186" border="0" /></a>Some lovely scenic Massachusetts photos along our long, long walk.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBs_klTnVJ5XsZTEkgz7VfIv8TpRyycVGfMjtT0_9SQkzIOoLL8G8fu3HIY8Rnq_rsMl7BPCJ6vfSuZu1GbeYb_TFS8OJ3zw4OeJAyNxoYQ1e9ftOga0dtZ-kKpLK2fKPt4sABw8gpKJQ/s1600-h/IMG_4955.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBs_klTnVJ5XsZTEkgz7VfIv8TpRyycVGfMjtT0_9SQkzIOoLL8G8fu3HIY8Rnq_rsMl7BPCJ6vfSuZu1GbeYb_TFS8OJ3zw4OeJAyNxoYQ1e9ftOga0dtZ-kKpLK2fKPt4sABw8gpKJQ/s200/IMG_4955.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303917893260551842" border="0" /></a>Becca and me trekking it along the mini-highway.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjeSv_3fQtf0w1BMwvdvlwwsM_dlJ9SGBZ-L47ipHpbkarJk1u1yS7FdIkABDppZX79ijwx0ymrWPvB7dsE5C9WvbLh8xYrM91FeHVkyNoMT59LTBVM8eOX4grsPI2hC-psIvNPkfXy-q/s1600-h/IMG_4980.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjeSv_3fQtf0w1BMwvdvlwwsM_dlJ9SGBZ-L47ipHpbkarJk1u1yS7FdIkABDppZX79ijwx0ymrWPvB7dsE5C9WvbLh8xYrM91FeHVkyNoMT59LTBVM8eOX4grsPI2hC-psIvNPkfXy-q/s200/IMG_4980.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303921114356646418" border="0" /></a><br />Our delicious pancetta and arugula pizza. Yes, folks, that's home made!<br /></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-90087360060488900922009-02-16T10:46:00.002-07:002009-02-16T11:06:21.751-07:00Happy Vacation!It's only vacation day 3 and I've already seen many new places, eaten very new things and experienced something quite ... strange. Here's a recap:<br /><br />Saturday:<br />I spent my Saturday hanging out with a new friend and traveling to new places in the city. First we went to the most magical place on earth: Economy Candy, a deliciously exciting candy store with many of my favorites (like a 5-lb bag of Sour Patch Kids) and several interesting new delights. (I tried these space ship-shaped wafers full of sour dust ... quite strange. I still can't decide if I like them or not, and I've already eaten most of the bag.)<br />After hopping up on sugar we traveled to the 5 Pointz in Queens, several giant walls of graffiti on the outside of seemingly abandoned buildings. Very cool. I unfortunately didn't have my camera on hand to take pictures, but here's the official web site's photo gallery: http://www.5ptz.com/5pointzgallery.html<br /><br />Sunday:<br />My roommate Becca and I hopped a train to Massachusetts. Actually, several trains. We changed trains in New Haven, Conn., and Springfield, Mass. <br />We had about two hours before our next train in Springfield, so we decided to grab a bite to eat. However, it turns out that NOTHING is open in Springfield on Sunday. The one place we did find was called the Student Prince, and it turned out to be amazing German food. Yes! After a stein of beer, a bratwurst and an alligator tail cutlet (an extremely unique texture, by the way),<br />we stumbled back to the train, and I took the most glorious nap before arriving at our ULTIMATE destination: Pittsfield, Mass.<br />We came to Pittsfield because Becca's parents had an extra time share, and there is a lodge up here that is part of that. We walked into the lodge at about 4:30 p.m. and very quickly realized that we are the ONLY people here without children. How do I know this? We walked right into the recreation room in time to see dozens of families filling the tables in preparation of BINGO hour. Oh, and the recreation room is attached to an arcade. It took me nearly an hour of annoyance at the kids running around and screaming to realize that this is actually a GOOD thing. An on-site movie theater? A Dance Dance Revolution machine? Skee Ball?! Best vacation EVER. <br /><br />Monday:<br />So far today all I've done is slept late, watched TV, ate an incredibly cheesey quesadilla, and checked the news online. But who knows what else is in store? The Skee Ball machine is just yards away, and my pocket is full of quarters.Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-84937552646135368772009-02-08T07:48:00.002-07:002009-02-08T08:03:14.012-07:00One Week To Go!Only one more school week until our mid-winter break. YES!<br /><br />It's reaching that point at school where I'm tired, the kids are tired, the administration is tired, and so everyone is just cranky. This break coming up is just what we need.<br /><br />On the upper side of things, this last week was full of some good stuff, too. I started an after-school math club to help students pass the state test that's coming up in a few weeks. It's by invitation only, and the students who weren't invited are so jealous. They ALL want to be in the math club. How cool is that? <br /><br />The weather has also been warming up (to a low in the 30s rather than a high in the 30s), so I spent a good portion of my time yesterday walking around the south end of Central Park, somewhere I haven't really been before. It was fun! But now I have so much work to do since I ignored it yesterday.<br /><br />When's that break again?Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-37277542831749879102009-02-01T06:53:00.004-07:002009-02-01T07:25:07.973-07:00Ice Skating in Central ParkIt's been a pretty crazy week since I last posted. One of my students locked me and the rest of the kids INSIDE the classroom for about 30 minutes by ripping off the door handles. The next day, another student got into quite a bit of trouble for a different incident. And on Friday we had quite the freak-out when a mouse, that had been living underneath my radiator, decided to make an appearance during math workshop. There must've been something in the water this week. <br /><br />But it all ended on a high note, because I had the opportunity to take four of my scholars ice skating in Central Park for the afternoon on Saturday. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZjUmomADR-527ruOL8KFLXaTkNSVwSjhYrPL8VgOUGlWTzfqIymma_ty2-WerPvJY3zQMdjccGNq8EFmq4XCbmH-ouBxEtYf0LvhOhOvhc37DUiHO1dYAsVYUZ-LZ0PdtdONZsfLKTry/s1600-h/IMG_4898.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZjUmomADR-527ruOL8KFLXaTkNSVwSjhYrPL8VgOUGlWTzfqIymma_ty2-WerPvJY3zQMdjccGNq8EFmq4XCbmH-ouBxEtYf0LvhOhOvhc37DUiHO1dYAsVYUZ-LZ0PdtdONZsfLKTry/s200/IMG_4898.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297830449724355858" border="0" /></a>Here's the lucky winners: Daniel, Darilis, Davita and Jesslyn.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5cGmw-S_9d9KsgBGOcjRcm-e23liOz4iMMkk7ddr5v9NwLYV8M4FVT3AvbYdsDOhRoWGs7ax3W4R9GeSKzem-F83LEwo7ODuN5CunjkI6qudRSHrnXfFwlpjhHH-Wz2XjMZeftYh4Efd/s1600-h/IMG_4900.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5cGmw-S_9d9KsgBGOcjRcm-e23liOz4iMMkk7ddr5v9NwLYV8M4FVT3AvbYdsDOhRoWGs7ax3W4R9GeSKzem-F83LEwo7ODuN5CunjkI6qudRSHrnXfFwlpjhHH-Wz2XjMZeftYh4Efd/s200/IMG_4900.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297830430571121106" border="0" /></a>Darilis falling on the ice ... for probably about the fifth time.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8Tk9jHlZyfFhVHmaYBm5Ahh9zdStRU-3qMTwES5I5FkIzw1ARGmcImEc0y-k9gXFTB46Rz_RJ_gsQ-K2Y8zyShttNx4VpYor7TEyPM3yA_H-OmuHPW5eGXSZHHa8fdRM-qFJ8nN8ivGj/s1600-h/IMG_4901.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj8Tk9jHlZyfFhVHmaYBm5Ahh9zdStRU-3qMTwES5I5FkIzw1ARGmcImEc0y-k9gXFTB46Rz_RJ_gsQ-K2Y8zyShttNx4VpYor7TEyPM3yA_H-OmuHPW5eGXSZHHa8fdRM-qFJ8nN8ivGj/s200/IMG_4901.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297830424819589042" border="0" /></a>Out of all the students, Daniel was the one who was glued to the wall the whole time.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotHylq6crBHa1oKmnuGamdZFf8dq1W7ivkRNK_fb6bLwScLiTZmCc3BDZdcbh5XGUvdJaqDxY_yUrzj7ER9-iJGyBzaZ0IqaeAgZ_CO1xXFcAH8HFQ6YTsqtt7E06yNqJHT-qBFjQkQbP/s1600-h/IMG_4908.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjotHylq6crBHa1oKmnuGamdZFf8dq1W7ivkRNK_fb6bLwScLiTZmCc3BDZdcbh5XGUvdJaqDxY_yUrzj7ER9-iJGyBzaZ0IqaeAgZ_CO1xXFcAH8HFQ6YTsqtt7E06yNqJHT-qBFjQkQbP/s200/IMG_4908.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297830416018152498" border="0" /></a>Jesslyn enjoyed the skating so much, it was hard to get her off the ice.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXawiYr9uuP5qz9jXryfCf-Js3qp1m_fcEXvVaQgHT09SnxDdOpP1c-5GQ_9xOYt8_x0k2_zjDLLyt2oyj10P3dAYgOcwnSgIPSvwR_6Bgsp7lujNxOcVeMXhjIVv-WRAhirCc1rRkLmj/s1600-h/IMG_4909.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXawiYr9uuP5qz9jXryfCf-Js3qp1m_fcEXvVaQgHT09SnxDdOpP1c-5GQ_9xOYt8_x0k2_zjDLLyt2oyj10P3dAYgOcwnSgIPSvwR_6Bgsp7lujNxOcVeMXhjIVv-WRAhirCc1rRkLmj/s200/IMG_4909.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297829238638146034" border="0" /></a>Have I mentioned how much I love Darilis? She once told me that she wished I would adopt her.<br /><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNX9m49nCNeyW1Vrchi1CuHs2qGHUSVjclG9SKn9zE85uTTW4UIjqAEYKn05C9UZJslpRQwImQ7HfCJ75W2Du1Behli73WMG3YWN4MJG8-GLY39OR2mwc7xsyi-uWB4iZzOrgdZ6cH9vff/s1600-h/IMG_4912.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNX9m49nCNeyW1Vrchi1CuHs2qGHUSVjclG9SKn9zE85uTTW4UIjqAEYKn05C9UZJslpRQwImQ7HfCJ75W2Du1Behli73WMG3YWN4MJG8-GLY39OR2mwc7xsyi-uWB4iZzOrgdZ6cH9vff/s200/IMG_4912.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297829235936493890" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMfjQ7_fBFVy0isKtuH2t5BawJR_SCKkNJcxepfdxOhaSu0TxWUZLiymB2mqDp8D7xMp5hncTdGvxMXBRP1volRIJXF_XWjQslZMihWzVExv_izZEY89jdhILO-0Us-djPVYTzYck5_qr/s1600-h/IMG_4914.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMfjQ7_fBFVy0isKtuH2t5BawJR_SCKkNJcxepfdxOhaSu0TxWUZLiymB2mqDp8D7xMp5hncTdGvxMXBRP1volRIJXF_XWjQslZMihWzVExv_izZEY89jdhILO-0Us-djPVYTzYck5_qr/s200/IMG_4914.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297829231863458306" border="0" /></a>This is just one of the outdoor rinks in Central Park. It's at the north end, about 10 blocks from my apartment. Here it is from a look-out point above it. It was VERY crowded on Saturday.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVFtGtQwLMNRbQIA2RKK1Xf8bqXl81-Lw_Mc6qs0PjfEHevqUVuzwEKM81q7uzO4aZ_fJ4ZqJD2_T4H4JtexKbqzeBF1rBoXBMcC2qnKV7GK6Hd5Wc_PjuN94rBympunThXymixakSRwt/s1600-h/IMG_4917.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVFtGtQwLMNRbQIA2RKK1Xf8bqXl81-Lw_Mc6qs0PjfEHevqUVuzwEKM81q7uzO4aZ_fJ4ZqJD2_T4H4JtexKbqzeBF1rBoXBMcC2qnKV7GK6Hd5Wc_PjuN94rBympunThXymixakSRwt/s200/IMG_4917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297829227444589138" border="0" /></a>We had enough time at the end of the day to take a little stroll through the park before heading back to the subway. What we found was <span style="font-style: italic;">awesome</span>: not only was the lake frozen, but there were still geese just walking around on top. <br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMACoskE9XLOmvmuzMkbGZXeG6C0iuRqlZDXSxLb5bLAdpWxn4NEcfmDaKOH-vY6s-0kyXahrGyzHWbZmdZwjilqIGwGpXmypX46czHtKnGie3moFL-znf4zjmQVlOwXfzEqaOd-O7rAgH/s1600-h/IMG_4928.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMACoskE9XLOmvmuzMkbGZXeG6C0iuRqlZDXSxLb5bLAdpWxn4NEcfmDaKOH-vY6s-0kyXahrGyzHWbZmdZwjilqIGwGpXmypX46czHtKnGie3moFL-znf4zjmQVlOwXfzEqaOd-O7rAgH/s200/IMG_4928.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297827926644525298" border="0" /></a>We also had time to take a bunch of extremely silly pictures. In each one, they decided to yell something else, ranging from "CENTRAL PARK!" to "HEY HO LET'S GO!" I wonder if they know that's a Ramones song ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNq5GNUT9yohud7lVpLxVPiaYtmbYz9MZV9-HYrCBZjorFBo4eOlbaKeDo9FirW8rwoE7rTuxIs1aNUaUWO1Bm1YHlvtHU7dTPJqFmctfbNx06rUsb45Ng1mihko20u8GF1u-QJAQzxry/s1600-h/IMG_4933.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnNq5GNUT9yohud7lVpLxVPiaYtmbYz9MZV9-HYrCBZjorFBo4eOlbaKeDo9FirW8rwoE7rTuxIs1aNUaUWO1Bm1YHlvtHU7dTPJqFmctfbNx06rUsb45Ng1mihko20u8GF1u-QJAQzxry/s200/IMG_4933.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297827921615884738" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfE-KfOelnVgninPynSmsjIS7FqoyZ-ZN0lPpl64SSiYunqxVxizbTOnBW6Pzh6GWM0hVEPaMXqBWqevRogeRcdTmZRpyi-SU3qg3xyqzqsg90YThVyVPSd9sBsdb3XYEv-dNE9FEWoiR/s1600-h/IMG_4926.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfE-KfOelnVgninPynSmsjIS7FqoyZ-ZN0lPpl64SSiYunqxVxizbTOnBW6Pzh6GWM0hVEPaMXqBWqevRogeRcdTmZRpyi-SU3qg3xyqzqsg90YThVyVPSd9sBsdb3XYEv-dNE9FEWoiR/s200/IMG_4926.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297827909280297170" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEgvLg84IAVsCH15OrX7D5I5uOjuSjYr60tzE9aXNbcLvs1ySoCR-EaspfptOAmiplKCyndvVQU37nf3QutZxHWXRGcQw8AyDdijGoa0fOAOUmdF7uhyphenhyphenzZZhAyAeNSmwCpYDMrO0f6kQM/s1600-h/IMG_4934.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBEgvLg84IAVsCH15OrX7D5I5uOjuSjYr60tzE9aXNbcLvs1ySoCR-EaspfptOAmiplKCyndvVQU37nf3QutZxHWXRGcQw8AyDdijGoa0fOAOUmdF7uhyphenhyphenzZZhAyAeNSmwCpYDMrO0f6kQM/s200/IMG_4934.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297827938738919842" border="0" /></a>Waiting for the 2 train on our way home after a very fun day.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />There's just two weeks (10 school days) before our week-long February break. My roommate, Becca, and I are heading to Massachusetts for the first part of the week. Her parents have a time-share at a ski lodge with an indoor pool and a hot tub. So we're going to leave our school work at home and just relax. I'm counting down the days. <br /><br /><br /></div></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-402033024419849372009-01-24T05:34:00.005-07:002009-01-24T06:26:56.418-07:00Ice Skating!So I've been meaning to post this for about a week, but I guess the only free time I have any more is at 7:30 on Saturday mornings. I'm cool.<br /><br />Anyway, last Friday, January 16, to celebrate the completion of our English Language Arts standardized test, the ENTIRE fourth and fifth grades went to Chelsea Piers to go ice skating. At first, I'll admit I was slightly terrified that one of my kids would lose their fingers or get stabbed by an ice skate or something else that is equally horrifying. But surprisingly, nothing bad happened. Even more surprisingly, it was really, really fun. <br /><br />Here are some of my favorite pictures:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezMdCUZPNFSM80KF6v7_fDRPQhG_iyRYZFFscbfuoUrKDCfa557N-2jm9GjLSk8wcZ_wmGj7vvWcfgswBT1hKMMSwoeu2tw6cdRshiaiaIKhWR2tStqEgA0_7SHkFPAU5otm7r9F8hHNJ/s1600-h/IMG_4875.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezMdCUZPNFSM80KF6v7_fDRPQhG_iyRYZFFscbfuoUrKDCfa557N-2jm9GjLSk8wcZ_wmGj7vvWcfgswBT1hKMMSwoeu2tw6cdRshiaiaIKhWR2tStqEgA0_7SHkFPAU5otm7r9F8hHNJ/s200/IMG_4875.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294842557382191842" border="0" /></a>Zeinabe and Steven shortly after the latter crashed into the former and they both took slid about 10 feet across the ice.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE9nAgqD0-QDXwufYN4FVe7-mgcr06Jt15tQ3W1iSY-AGDdbklsCg8rTbLuqkXXD3ySqoAhH25OAevCEnMCeU8oYkyZwAfC99nvALNVBJupimrY7Z7Dwj64dauQzYFHGE9ANVGJWqkDUu/s1600-h/IMG_4869.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIE9nAgqD0-QDXwufYN4FVe7-mgcr06Jt15tQ3W1iSY-AGDdbklsCg8rTbLuqkXXD3ySqoAhH25OAevCEnMCeU8oYkyZwAfC99nvALNVBJupimrY7Z7Dwj64dauQzYFHGE9ANVGJWqkDUu/s200/IMG_4869.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294842549272901346" border="0" /></a>Darilis, my adopted daughter.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWEG8lXRZvknY1E6QR-k7SvzOccrJlx2MtA3XnWx6JO1gR2o5CNW1-gIms1COFjC6VQ-tsSzUUnvrDNbmhS37truj3DuhXUu3JRiAjpXXF1uB5avqdHq38kARRVEfCnXJSL9p8vCd8y-o/s1600-h/IMG_4866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFWEG8lXRZvknY1E6QR-k7SvzOccrJlx2MtA3XnWx6JO1gR2o5CNW1-gIms1COFjC6VQ-tsSzUUnvrDNbmhS37truj3DuhXUu3JRiAjpXXF1uB5avqdHq38kARRVEfCnXJSL9p8vCd8y-o/s200/IMG_4866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294842150130087938" border="0" /></a>Mohamed after a hilariously spread-eagle trip.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBdPeUuS7OZbuFgyKZ9Q0xjPD04sW5KPoSZhHyoDnxy4onuq6rwGXpIIIxQR4nKVdjbErDz20B_5J6pkdwRWR0tbTTJNzLY1BuyPErEtu7bK2IJcXzY2G-AQs5RzOdRMgM6pdnfjdhjbN/s1600-h/IMG_4868.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwBdPeUuS7OZbuFgyKZ9Q0xjPD04sW5KPoSZhHyoDnxy4onuq6rwGXpIIIxQR4nKVdjbErDz20B_5J6pkdwRWR0tbTTJNzLY1BuyPErEtu7bK2IJcXzY2G-AQs5RzOdRMgM6pdnfjdhjbN/s200/IMG_4868.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294842143373952210" border="0" /></a>Brittney and her brother, my favorite chaperone. He keeps all the boys busy on the bus by playing with Yu-Gi-Oh cards. Awesome.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkNiqMH1EZk7dMmdh9Lpq-o03Kmsm-qrWiikYyZWVd7x7MUwSz6y4rrEN0wbV-zBMo1d3gKOMNkgK-drmMEVg35LaBCRp6uAuo8EanJiZdDPkQEiapEtr4TN63H49ckxHvaW8OZiBD2lV/s1600-h/IMG_4864.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 150px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmkNiqMH1EZk7dMmdh9Lpq-o03Kmsm-qrWiikYyZWVd7x7MUwSz6y4rrEN0wbV-zBMo1d3gKOMNkgK-drmMEVg35LaBCRp6uAuo8EanJiZdDPkQEiapEtr4TN63H49ckxHvaW8OZiBD2lV/s200/IMG_4864.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294842140838429586" border="0" /></a>Some of my boys: Heriberto, Justin and Steven.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY5mYg30TG7Q32I7sa4xzrvue3Sii4-m3apFsg53ZzJhqgdz_LQklln1SVQDJpyQeV2oWYVFE5hXwrT51AUT8p4kbJrOFhKIVPAPzV3tjdJodrZHyzAVF3GlJeQYdVVGjDGgeobCxZK__/s1600-h/IMG_4873.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYY5mYg30TG7Q32I7sa4xzrvue3Sii4-m3apFsg53ZzJhqgdz_LQklln1SVQDJpyQeV2oWYVFE5hXwrT51AUT8p4kbJrOFhKIVPAPzV3tjdJodrZHyzAVF3GlJeQYdVVGjDGgeobCxZK__/s200/IMG_4873.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294841558185979666" border="0" /></a>Khristian was posing for a picture and I snapped it right as Jesslyn came crashing into him. Perfect.<br /></div><br />What's Next: Studying for our standardized math tests, planning a character study unit and figuring out my grad school admissions. Fun, fun, fun!<br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-88113791967863049232009-01-01T14:02:00.005-07:002009-01-01T14:26:25.336-07:00Stopping by Central Park on a Snowy EveningSo I meant to post these photos weeks ago. They are from our first real snow on Friday, December 19.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVZH25y1MPx8M6-v4udmn0WSTzHn1fOnF14I8zzcpTTbeP31fExxIkVG-AeKUgLFIzGu04l4LaRpVjstGfdaUqHYdDQJD893q_yWAOMAuIJkJD7FSxx3OHIMkzBxzMIjmc8MZvBf2fFaH/s1600-h/IMG_1854.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBVZH25y1MPx8M6-v4udmn0WSTzHn1fOnF14I8zzcpTTbeP31fExxIkVG-AeKUgLFIzGu04l4LaRpVjstGfdaUqHYdDQJD893q_yWAOMAuIJkJD7FSxx3OHIMkzBxzMIjmc8MZvBf2fFaH/s200/IMG_1854.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286438142783277010" border="0" /></a>I couldn't help but think of Robert Frost's "Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening." I think I read that poem in about the fifth grade, and I still for some reason remember the words.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4jrxAsFuMvTISSADO-mwFhCShHKR4Zc_fvmDt6LpK8gwKiZwgwTWUKSwsZ8bsANIPIPnEUG9WxtSdYMqMQTl3GQ-wojJVQDwJ4o59SluX47ztgfgQyjihnivbbWGyioB8TaXxEa1f1WE/s1600-h/IMG_1863.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx4jrxAsFuMvTISSADO-mwFhCShHKR4Zc_fvmDt6LpK8gwKiZwgwTWUKSwsZ8bsANIPIPnEUG9WxtSdYMqMQTl3GQ-wojJVQDwJ4o59SluX47ztgfgQyjihnivbbWGyioB8TaXxEa1f1WE/s200/IMG_1863.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286438138026539314" border="0" /></a>Whose woods these are I think I know.<br />His house is in the village though;<br />He will not see me stopping here<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To watch his woods fill up with snow.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pBOYqszB9-lojRd2q3xelXCiKgGLks9EX666P9g2cZmt1IGJjx3W0E6sUUHzc2dg2ASlT-BcwVZOR98vob-yt-O-DC30BG6zTrfhDHeVgbPLc3lHrmmDR7Mmz1zySacCrontE3VBnz7f/s1600-h/IMG_1866.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6pBOYqszB9-lojRd2q3xelXCiKgGLks9EX666P9g2cZmt1IGJjx3W0E6sUUHzc2dg2ASlT-BcwVZOR98vob-yt-O-DC30BG6zTrfhDHeVgbPLc3lHrmmDR7Mmz1zySacCrontE3VBnz7f/s200/IMG_1866.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286438131551791778" border="0" /></a>My little horse must think it queer<br />To stop without a farmhouse near<br />Between the woods and frozen lake<br />The darkest evening of the year.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlTfy0VgXIQogyDeR9uL60xZ95B8Dxehyd-KB4g82sLMyLyuoHTynd_REBZVXM4wZw289ZJ8gthCiBtRISLbNtRlJ3XjV08tQRx42DbNIQi4qdT7nDjJ3izKJ5Kqsk3PUno_mQi_4cEV9/s1600-h/IMG_1871.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDlTfy0VgXIQogyDeR9uL60xZ95B8Dxehyd-KB4g82sLMyLyuoHTynd_REBZVXM4wZw289ZJ8gthCiBtRISLbNtRlJ3XjV08tQRx42DbNIQi4qdT7nDjJ3izKJ5Kqsk3PUno_mQi_4cEV9/s200/IMG_1871.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286436955220387682" border="0" /></a>He gives his harness bells a shake<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">To ask if there is some mistake.<br />The only other sound's the sweep<br />Of easy wind and downy flake.</div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJafClV54qSZrNRzs1QpAg-DhH3_0zWy5MRF1BaVEJIhrrwwiDh43d2AFqZ9yQpcqWskwSHT3lQC9zrfdlfP8gGiswr8LDK45UAX60JKpcslutq7mZ9xBrvkbtka8vVodgFbG_X2ylEUh/s1600-h/IMG_1867.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUJafClV54qSZrNRzs1QpAg-DhH3_0zWy5MRF1BaVEJIhrrwwiDh43d2AFqZ9yQpcqWskwSHT3lQC9zrfdlfP8gGiswr8LDK45UAX60JKpcslutq7mZ9xBrvkbtka8vVodgFbG_X2ylEUh/s200/IMG_1867.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286436934760345250" border="0" /></a>The woods are lovely, dark and deep.<br />But I have promises to keep,<br />And miles to go before I sleep,<br />And miles to go before I sleep.<br /><br /></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-5572941926284915012008-12-06T13:01:00.008-07:002008-12-06T14:18:44.111-07:00Blue turning greySo my beautiful orange, yellow and red fall was rather short-lived. The trees are now shades of grey (to match the sky most of the time these days), and the weather has turned from chilly to brrrrrr. <br /><br />While all this was taking place outside, lots of stuff was also happening inside. Including, but not limited to, THANKSGIVING.<br /><br />Mom came to visit for Thanksgiving, and we had lots of fun visiting PS 132, eating lots of food and doing lots of shopping. Fun. Here are some pictorial highlights:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0zGY6fGm4uSbJKlJImXiLgi-ba2Ax8Xi2mNtMAnnjIEMWRBy5gRZiFoxcgXNIQ1274Zb6p-3eQsY0IderKFPgXMWRWE9WxijKDUc0sYAeeP1zX1PX0lnE7Xf4dsWEP5gZqf9eTtRLAri/s1600-h/IMG_1721.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk0zGY6fGm4uSbJKlJImXiLgi-ba2Ax8Xi2mNtMAnnjIEMWRBy5gRZiFoxcgXNIQ1274Zb6p-3eQsY0IderKFPgXMWRWE9WxijKDUc0sYAeeP1zX1PX0lnE7Xf4dsWEP5gZqf9eTtRLAri/s200/IMG_1721.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276789036909121810" border="0" /></a>Matt Sto ... I mean, Kermit the Frog at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FTm9Ud67N1uVnXpIkOO4sniwQt78BROOMWbZt3TM61ZU7HyGmW6WWRa4cZsCz1HzE85sCyO0t-xm_vd1_F1sEqDaapoDKFikwnYDUBex0C-nlHbR5Z9W-s1o-G4zqdZL1pBho5aOL_8k/s1600-h/IMG_1706.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4FTm9Ud67N1uVnXpIkOO4sniwQt78BROOMWbZt3TM61ZU7HyGmW6WWRa4cZsCz1HzE85sCyO0t-xm_vd1_F1sEqDaapoDKFikwnYDUBex0C-nlHbR5Z9W-s1o-G4zqdZL1pBho5aOL_8k/s200/IMG_1706.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276789022150715650" border="0" /></a>The best part of the parade? The pooper scoopers! What a fantastic job!!!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKESH4AS3OHCxScafaEET0N7zZnk3kw-rVUuyXjjOWeSBJta9PY7E3J5Y0JVoGaA_0saS993_P6rhEQBoXC39kmYXNXm_JOrcO4-51KnfisoLm3yVfUM5CEq_DiR_S1SarIPYm8Hp5qzTu/s1600-h/IMG_1679.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKESH4AS3OHCxScafaEET0N7zZnk3kw-rVUuyXjjOWeSBJta9PY7E3J5Y0JVoGaA_0saS993_P6rhEQBoXC39kmYXNXm_JOrcO4-51KnfisoLm3yVfUM5CEq_DiR_S1SarIPYm8Hp5qzTu/s200/IMG_1679.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276789015870249714" border="0" /></a>Becca and Smurf!<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNJ2zZbbZmClexUJAmYEdGxzCtOqf-tCEPQxwbZcE1FLwKxOhCYayy0CnQjGkUi2InPPWrsJ0OL1QbiDAO2FwO7qZgQxxmclbHXaoOTh6P_6j88-ntoHlS8zaG4f5C5-9Gi2w-a8JnlAG/s1600-h/IMG_1671.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNJ2zZbbZmClexUJAmYEdGxzCtOqf-tCEPQxwbZcE1FLwKxOhCYayy0CnQjGkUi2InPPWrsJ0OL1QbiDAO2FwO7qZgQxxmclbHXaoOTh6P_6j88-ntoHlS8zaG4f5C5-9Gi2w-a8JnlAG/s200/IMG_1671.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276789009927126530" border="0" /></a>Macy's lalalalalala<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LqByhbqGClWBtUAhhA-bmjOD-ZciNBkELnrvoPM5MCHPgdB_hAdOV8p_CYWSeZ6GO0pRNFge2xkcM5ZTGwuPUALGt83B8ByrSSsJM3TvdlURMQ2kdMX7Nr9BfZiXdtx4CSTKJjXteFik/s1600-h/IMG_1662.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7LqByhbqGClWBtUAhhA-bmjOD-ZciNBkELnrvoPM5MCHPgdB_hAdOV8p_CYWSeZ6GO0pRNFge2xkcM5ZTGwuPUALGt83B8ByrSSsJM3TvdlURMQ2kdMX7Nr9BfZiXdtx4CSTKJjXteFik/s200/IMG_1662.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276789004457466290" border="0" /></a>Mom taking a picture of me taking a picture of her taking a picture of me taking a picture of her taking a picture of me .... creepy, huh?<br /><br /><br /><br />And later that day ....<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9qWRUvd1x_PGgDZIcpJnS3TS7-vBpmGMaEdg1gKMRNejC7PyY3NQ1xzMNsoJGMe8wDQ9mIqx5aH5T9fq80jtLstjviPviYUJqinZBNlvXv3-PvKEl7KrDQyZ-DQ2FM3zNBOlmAgpo6K0/s1600-h/IMG_1746.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9qWRUvd1x_PGgDZIcpJnS3TS7-vBpmGMaEdg1gKMRNejC7PyY3NQ1xzMNsoJGMe8wDQ9mIqx5aH5T9fq80jtLstjviPviYUJqinZBNlvXv3-PvKEl7KrDQyZ-DQ2FM3zNBOlmAgpo6K0/s200/IMG_1746.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276774661723508690" border="0" /></a>Mom, Becca and Courtney cooking a lovely Thanksgiving dinner.<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgYvPuc0qjlgo8FoA0v7sZlIqHTC5jsu3o1kHEUsI-wdCMgD2xdb73Rt6GENK0IWYAsRziTid1TDVj9wHIMwPFjVAzQ1roHaW5vbhyVYGTHJhVp5N1Gb0f2kEE2QdC2vpBlGskBAt5bkL/s1600-h/IMG_1747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVgYvPuc0qjlgo8FoA0v7sZlIqHTC5jsu3o1kHEUsI-wdCMgD2xdb73Rt6GENK0IWYAsRziTid1TDVj9wHIMwPFjVAzQ1roHaW5vbhyVYGTHJhVp5N1Gb0f2kEE2QdC2vpBlGskBAt5bkL/s200/IMG_1747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276774662455467634" border="0" /></a>Bryan doing what men are supposed to do on Thanksgiving: watch T.V.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJldfLunPninxathUNEOpPTS2bSb1ZdBXDLnvT8VfR_hEtiklsjB-mvc-89t6HW5P1mFmJx3Z1BI50A4VmciLgcD75le7AcGWnMY9M0skZOdOyF7FLsJX6xfft4Gw0_oB7LS6EBz1FXxQ/s1600-h/IMG_1748.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWJldfLunPninxathUNEOpPTS2bSb1ZdBXDLnvT8VfR_hEtiklsjB-mvc-89t6HW5P1mFmJx3Z1BI50A4VmciLgcD75le7AcGWnMY9M0skZOdOyF7FLsJX6xfft4Gw0_oB7LS6EBz1FXxQ/s200/IMG_1748.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276774675124940418" border="0" /></a>Here's me caught somewhere in the middle of the kitchen and the living room. As the official Thanksgiving photographer, I didn't really have a place.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY50IgWezg87EuUG13HUupuTAoqwCu6NbISgK3-ZotvDZxJB965MLOv8pLV40ikNDX7GCPC5LIjCaSZ0U5CIk8J7accqHz3bnyVF7IOXKrXXS0yjWG52FMZ39hRYm7CNQiI0MEG1kqP6H7/s1600-h/IMG_1753.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY50IgWezg87EuUG13HUupuTAoqwCu6NbISgK3-ZotvDZxJB965MLOv8pLV40ikNDX7GCPC5LIjCaSZ0U5CIk8J7accqHz3bnyVF7IOXKrXXS0yjWG52FMZ39hRYm7CNQiI0MEG1kqP6H7/s200/IMG_1753.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276774685311122978" border="0" /></a>There's a party in my tummy! Yummy yummy!<br /><br /><br /><br />Later that weekend...<br /><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgFKv0o6l0BuZnMDbkD-Xec4JKSFouiC1rfkkdRhxL3NXUSnymBKieGg0heD1c8W6JzK0gEcs1ahFFV-T9LxYRhMwE7aaliL-ZeggKGLxSJv4Es_S8YQ9fsw7mx006ah2PkhFLYe3PE0a/s1600-h/IMG_1794.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMgFKv0o6l0BuZnMDbkD-Xec4JKSFouiC1rfkkdRhxL3NXUSnymBKieGg0heD1c8W6JzK0gEcs1ahFFV-T9LxYRhMwE7aaliL-ZeggKGLxSJv4Es_S8YQ9fsw7mx006ah2PkhFLYe3PE0a/s200/IMG_1794.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276773356141352914" border="0" /></a>The Brooklyn Bridge, probably my favorite spot in Manhattan. Please know that if you come visit me, we will be taking this walk.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufyKj7tgfv33bISd2vGpSlfjEYU9zNbezTcHJrz0jbE9AV8wEbBOBIKiJhCH_xcryRrxibAGa4CsT_LZBL9haovlmE9usZ7OrPRrmmqwM6WZ4MTSPo2R7zUsfkVa0C2OHeFyIbbX_qFVQ/s1600-h/IMG_1763.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgufyKj7tgfv33bISd2vGpSlfjEYU9zNbezTcHJrz0jbE9AV8wEbBOBIKiJhCH_xcryRrxibAGa4CsT_LZBL9haovlmE9usZ7OrPRrmmqwM6WZ4MTSPo2R7zUsfkVa0C2OHeFyIbbX_qFVQ/s200/IMG_1763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276773341664410002" border="0" /></a>Lovely!<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Imv8A3kuZnHcRvhGgfI_u1lcz3-VAxj-aCHnZqQ0B74prnKuZrOuR-Ju9k3p9l1iGLi-etKUDt6M0bXhHPdm9NIuOX93t-Tl6qwzOBWzdSwZtZzjDk8olc8BbfZXN0GJBD9HCfqPoTYO/s1600-h/IMG_1774.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Imv8A3kuZnHcRvhGgfI_u1lcz3-VAxj-aCHnZqQ0B74prnKuZrOuR-Ju9k3p9l1iGLi-etKUDt6M0bXhHPdm9NIuOX93t-Tl6qwzOBWzdSwZtZzjDk8olc8BbfZXN0GJBD9HCfqPoTYO/s200/IMG_1774.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276773334820861794" border="0" /></a>Hey mom, you look cold!<br /></div><br /><br />I don't have much coming up soon, except that there are only 12 school days until Christmas break. C-R-A-Z-Y. Can't wait to go back to Phoenix and eat some Mongolian, some Ethiopian Christmasy stuff, Caffe Boa and Four Peaks. Oh, and see you all fools again, too. :o)Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-69289344332320142612008-11-09T14:49:00.006-07:002008-11-09T15:21:26.873-07:00I recall Central Park in fall ...<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">My first real fall:<br /><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWwAQ9xuFQbxb2kh-wBAEUVxqefDsKRS-hPuJh3i3svTFO-gHlAMDrGADfWSgGF3a4G7dCmQY946RWw5v2e08d1a3lDi7ZHv9KH9rxh6UnnQ8e9hJ1CZDvDWo36YvYCwyb8zm3X7XrmBP/s1600-h/IMG_1600.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWwAQ9xuFQbxb2kh-wBAEUVxqefDsKRS-hPuJh3i3svTFO-gHlAMDrGADfWSgGF3a4G7dCmQY946RWw5v2e08d1a3lDi7ZHv9KH9rxh6UnnQ8e9hJ1CZDvDWo36YvYCwyb8zm3X7XrmBP/s200/IMG_1600.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266786066124396418" border="0" /></a>The North Lake<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_8z8GCUjVoZD2FkfSQnq4VqfN7UzDplHvkwXAYmHvvfPyy7nILOIVNAu3jpWZ0f94SQN1XbY3inC1QfTeydhewgsvvFEO_ZUxKhUc52gCBhXR-vnTsd5O02U6am8TQgRbh50S8X5IyWQ/s1600-h/IMG_1602.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT_8z8GCUjVoZD2FkfSQnq4VqfN7UzDplHvkwXAYmHvvfPyy7nILOIVNAu3jpWZ0f94SQN1XbY3inC1QfTeydhewgsvvFEO_ZUxKhUc52gCBhXR-vnTsd5O02U6am8TQgRbh50S8X5IyWQ/s200/IMG_1602.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266786073508364162" border="0" /></a>Leaves!</div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7mXAu7XVU0ROJ9EmJIk-q_G1aBNVKr-nE74OH2i1wi3-aw9BeFSQ4kylDdAkho1v1FzcqbGiDJzmbHmnfb8KbioCpnf6y3fvoL4FsY2hZT9TsYfUY2KGnPr6DiH-GUCIYMU6t9P2RqP6/s1600-h/IMG_1610.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7mXAu7XVU0ROJ9EmJIk-q_G1aBNVKr-nE74OH2i1wi3-aw9BeFSQ4kylDdAkho1v1FzcqbGiDJzmbHmnfb8KbioCpnf6y3fvoL4FsY2hZT9TsYfUY2KGnPr6DiH-GUCIYMU6t9P2RqP6/s200/IMG_1610.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266784685444962722" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0jKwLvdh5w2vnVeovx5XCFLGApEDz1J0k1_Eua5fGYuPrrbCpnnp1A0RHyCXFgQ1CEGE69pTYL-Tnle1UiJ8iiXFRRMH7XgFmorTm_c3gZNFlGsxOz9aWx5fslxsoMMw4SzBQ2b8EeEV/s1600-h/IMG_1606.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs0jKwLvdh5w2vnVeovx5XCFLGApEDz1J0k1_Eua5fGYuPrrbCpnnp1A0RHyCXFgQ1CEGE69pTYL-Tnle1UiJ8iiXFRRMH7XgFmorTm_c3gZNFlGsxOz9aWx5fslxsoMMw4SzBQ2b8EeEV/s200/IMG_1606.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266784677622578850" border="0" /></a>I made Courtney pose for a dramatic falling leaves photo.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllech08-mHizMxkW_qm022twf0sxm82ONfSkcnIBYbGbDmg3Wo5kVQX-hFVfMX0vIxI8wv7Wu4CQQSbqgwPuD75_xD8R3y2DA2bLQT_u6RPdm4ZZprSB3LKMyiVkocNZkHlQ_2f2X2uih/s1600-h/IMG_1621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllech08-mHizMxkW_qm022twf0sxm82ONfSkcnIBYbGbDmg3Wo5kVQX-hFVfMX0vIxI8wv7Wu4CQQSbqgwPuD75_xD8R3y2DA2bLQT_u6RPdm4ZZprSB3LKMyiVkocNZkHlQ_2f2X2uih/s200/IMG_1621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266783627968496130" border="0" /></a>Follow the Yellow Brick (Leave?) Road<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rY8-0FBoz9q9WPhV1j48QJKpPc_R7uY1frqIELdrvmng3dGBaeUMetvUr9VKgMUh2o_y41WREEcwhyIuzH5ZV7vQmx6rYTyu3oFARKzTmv-6L5mWqvG-Pj9_VlIN1QXj6HU7dKhaPE0E/s1600-h/IMG_1625.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4rY8-0FBoz9q9WPhV1j48QJKpPc_R7uY1frqIELdrvmng3dGBaeUMetvUr9VKgMUh2o_y41WREEcwhyIuzH5ZV7vQmx6rYTyu3oFARKzTmv-6L5mWqvG-Pj9_VlIN1QXj6HU7dKhaPE0E/s200/IMG_1625.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266783013865074690" border="0" /></a>Kicking a pile of leaves!! How I've always wanted to do that.<br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yAx4I-lhSfa6q3nPzWSncgkGPiddC7N7VgNyH_H6uZ64T5JMy8r4T1fbo7fOpFMPiMh_YRWxPRUIDPp8YscNDjqBzeMbiInI3EUnrsIPTi0xh5c3b4w4uxDr0jgQuQnqmi3p5M464Uyr/s1600-h/IMG_1639.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2yAx4I-lhSfa6q3nPzWSncgkGPiddC7N7VgNyH_H6uZ64T5JMy8r4T1fbo7fOpFMPiMh_YRWxPRUIDPp8YscNDjqBzeMbiInI3EUnrsIPTi0xh5c3b4w4uxDr0jgQuQnqmi3p5M464Uyr/s200/IMG_1639.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266782358040278706" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-2442289449699802792008-11-02T11:13:00.004-07:002008-11-02T11:35:22.976-07:00Two more reasons to love NYC6. The leaves are changing. I walked by Central Park on the way to brunch this morning, and all the leaves are shades of red and yellow. Expect pictures sometime this week.<br /><br />7. I went sailing in the harbor last night with a friend from high school who has the very fortunate job of being first mate on a boat. The city never looked more beautiful. Pictures below:<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJnktr6WdHA1M1X9y-Qnrw9E_T4ksFc8VG0TrDFLNG3GmBI5zvMRD7qJaFCBvBaLIGhYZnlvXVORFtBqE5FJBfCsW3hhH5oGwNB_WSrf-owBq7kwFiCCwBwoMJxKbaIzYaT2Z4nliUvLX/s1600-h/IMG_1556.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHJnktr6WdHA1M1X9y-Qnrw9E_T4ksFc8VG0TrDFLNG3GmBI5zvMRD7qJaFCBvBaLIGhYZnlvXVORFtBqE5FJBfCsW3hhH5oGwNB_WSrf-owBq7kwFiCCwBwoMJxKbaIzYaT2Z4nliUvLX/s200/IMG_1556.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264129140605439890" border="0" /></a>The Brooklyn Bridge from the East River<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDWAYnACTZO1mnuP9k5XXOE5iP-bpZFo_AtEnm4iyACqjUP-PcA8bn9O6xeC2kU9gTfDihJVX9Nh_5HUyslnav24xb8A8iWZdmnVg8fhrgzY-G7x0wraDuzXmtcacKG4FBxN5RaPgs86p/s1600-h/IMG_1554.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLDWAYnACTZO1mnuP9k5XXOE5iP-bpZFo_AtEnm4iyACqjUP-PcA8bn9O6xeC2kU9gTfDihJVX9Nh_5HUyslnav24xb8A8iWZdmnVg8fhrgzY-G7x0wraDuzXmtcacKG4FBxN5RaPgs86p/s200/IMG_1554.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264129133827837458" border="0" /></a>Downtown and the Brooklyn Bridge (to the right) from the Harbor<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBcShDRvUUw2wzDE1-Id_1Swb8G9KxXFI8jGTfuI3T1LYXbFkLqG_BLxRe7E1iBmJ0cBDBvmsmbUJyA18Urj4rQ5Qj_BEJpVOwWYuCliQwhGSCw0DQhCICrWN4LGREHd9rkWPUdSxODr-/s1600-h/IMG_1534.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 134px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwBcShDRvUUw2wzDE1-Id_1Swb8G9KxXFI8jGTfuI3T1LYXbFkLqG_BLxRe7E1iBmJ0cBDBvmsmbUJyA18Urj4rQ5Qj_BEJpVOwWYuCliQwhGSCw0DQhCICrWN4LGREHd9rkWPUdSxODr-/s200/IMG_1534.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264129131605264706" border="0" /></a>The Financial District from the Hudson River<br /><br /><br />And in other news:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUm7qO5BuUKTb5seD2HVHE_oHs-QEPxQqLCL3JqYotGR-an3XCBDAY3f7xIV37_MieQR6qvEKAikA4PxK1-qnJdbTE4QusCL8etpK3SwggxhALTeFXdYnsItyFYQ5V_OMuwovlwoelM-C/s1600-h/IMG_1526.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXUm7qO5BuUKTb5seD2HVHE_oHs-QEPxQqLCL3JqYotGR-an3XCBDAY3f7xIV37_MieQR6qvEKAikA4PxK1-qnJdbTE4QusCL8etpK3SwggxhALTeFXdYnsItyFYQ5V_OMuwovlwoelM-C/s200/IMG_1526.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264130252415329282" border="0" /></a>Frodo Baggins and an evil Gladiator on Halloween.<br /><br /></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-65959101779473382962008-11-01T09:48:00.002-07:002008-11-01T09:53:43.026-07:005 reasons I love NYC this week1. I found the only Ihop in Manhattan, and it's only 20 minutes away!<br /><br />2. It snowed! Sure, only for like, three seconds, and only in the Bronx. But it was awesome.<br /><br />3. Bruce Campbell (of the Evil Dead series) is here this weekend for screenings of his new movie, answering questions and stuff. Jealous?? You should be.<br /><br />4. Halloween in the East Village is AWESOME.<br /><br />5. This morning I randomly walked into a street festival in midtown. Turned out to be a Greek Festival. Yum!!Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-63676177365373740462008-10-13T07:32:00.003-07:002008-10-13T07:44:59.400-07:00Recap of good timesI don't have a lot of time to recap the last couple of weeks because I have a lot of school stuff to get done today, my day off (bless all these random holidays).<br /><br />Shon came to visit last week, which was really fun. We ate fried chicken and waffles, went to McSorley's (the bar downtown that is the oldest bar in the US -- Abe Lincoln used to drink there!), shopped along Fifth Avenue, saw all the sights (Times Square, Brooklyn Bridge, Little Italy, yadda yadda), visited NYU and visited PS 132.<br /><br />Here are some highlights:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7A3yGagDHiR7e-9Q8Yw4sDgLRfTTFDRUt1Yq9EJV2pEeRZsVM_xhyphenhyphenD8o1Uwlsars9CvPFvU9ux67h13l-7WdkY6fdzUJbyTZmjbEYanE2LNsFB7cSo6HcDVAaWIlOZ06ALGbkXR0LHiZ/s1600-h/IMG_1487.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR7A3yGagDHiR7e-9Q8Yw4sDgLRfTTFDRUt1Yq9EJV2pEeRZsVM_xhyphenhyphenD8o1Uwlsars9CvPFvU9ux67h13l-7WdkY6fdzUJbyTZmjbEYanE2LNsFB7cSo6HcDVAaWIlOZ06ALGbkXR0LHiZ/s200/IMG_1487.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256648182824004194" border="0" /></a>Our second round of fried chicken in the East Village.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAjcBCVcru-z76-t0qSxSE_Dk25njkaHjdxo_yHna3g8O3c6bLJEB-964JfsWcx6zu5S3s3UWt74bF5e3is7CEztWtTHOknAb-9ZXoedsJRrDxsTrJPf6VwSKWd1TrmYw-w3sMhAxFaR3/s1600-h/IMG_1499.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisAjcBCVcru-z76-t0qSxSE_Dk25njkaHjdxo_yHna3g8O3c6bLJEB-964JfsWcx6zu5S3s3UWt74bF5e3is7CEztWtTHOknAb-9ZXoedsJRrDxsTrJPf6VwSKWd1TrmYw-w3sMhAxFaR3/s200/IMG_1499.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256648187487021682" border="0" /></a>Manhattan from the Brooklyn Bridge<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pV3kgg_MQ6gpEC9pXqQraGk7Jpal6hzCISWXHuWW7iYYHtmZ8kNCOENh6b_4oIXH-XpuK7tSKF1w2e73_A0BAhUvEM8pfXJ1gLWLO_QkBc2WAflRa8vJfPM3xDyaHtZijdtBTKUC49Dw/s1600-h/IMG_1511.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pV3kgg_MQ6gpEC9pXqQraGk7Jpal6hzCISWXHuWW7iYYHtmZ8kNCOENh6b_4oIXH-XpuK7tSKF1w2e73_A0BAhUvEM8pfXJ1gLWLO_QkBc2WAflRa8vJfPM3xDyaHtZijdtBTKUC49Dw/s200/IMG_1511.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5256648191404959746" border="0" /></a>Some policemen on horses who seemed shocked when they learned I taught in the Bronx. A little too shocked, if you ask me ...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Anyway, besides that, it's been all school for me. Still trying to figure things out. It's hard, but it already feels rewarding. <br /><br />Until next time, which I promise to be sooner rather than later, ciao!<br /></div></div>Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-83509529839382238222008-09-30T15:49:00.002-07:002008-09-30T15:54:42.166-07:00Best Day EVERSo I took a walk around the neighborhood today to take a break from unit planning, and I noticed that they're building quite a few large structures over on 116th and the FDR. After some investigation, I found out they're building (drum roll, please ... ) a TARGET! Whahoo!<br /><br />Best day of my life!Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-3582244013843334082008-08-30T17:49:00.005-07:002008-08-30T18:27:18.321-07:00I went to Coney Island and all I got was ...To celebrate my last Saturday before school starts for the year, I dragged Stephanie to Coney Island quite against her will. At the very southernmost tip of Brooklyn sits Coney Island, the beach and small amusement park that has seriously declined in cleanliness and popularity since it's pique early in the 20th century.<br /><br />After an hour and a half ride on just two subway lines, we arrived, and went straight to the original Nathan's Famous Hotdogs, which was founded in about 1916, or so says Wikipedia. Here is Stephanie in front of Nathan's:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgZL6K_WC0OHrRHMtlxR9Fu6NR68nRSr4fTMxKHNUvEheyoYEL0IwdWhFKI1Ugw24OLTHALn4Q5rkFr-9acdAtaPeVre1NvZCDkonLI33Vqt-S8NRcJG2vyKiGE7gzVwOTV_Oyk3VpEou/s1600-h/IMG_4736.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvgZL6K_WC0OHrRHMtlxR9Fu6NR68nRSr4fTMxKHNUvEheyoYEL0IwdWhFKI1Ugw24OLTHALn4Q5rkFr-9acdAtaPeVre1NvZCDkonLI33Vqt-S8NRcJG2vyKiGE7gzVwOTV_Oyk3VpEou/s200/IMG_4736.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240481446658599282" border="0" /></a><br />After hotdogs, lemonade and cheesy fries galore, we felt ready to hit the amusement park. But first, we stopped for a little balloon racEing ... notice that extra E in there. God bless Coney Island!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYajac2fXGUck_uoG44lc6VkY3GGLPqY1gzjGXTR9F870toXcsmesdM9mI1-Xe1DU7c58AfrMGiISPP5BCL_czxX7yU-H37xhR5g7lo5QJOh_fNuIve80IBEJOLJvsTX0XtwFayaX10J1z/s1600-h/IMG_4740.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYajac2fXGUck_uoG44lc6VkY3GGLPqY1gzjGXTR9F870toXcsmesdM9mI1-Xe1DU7c58AfrMGiISPP5BCL_czxX7yU-H37xhR5g7lo5QJOh_fNuIve80IBEJOLJvsTX0XtwFayaX10J1z/s200/IMG_4740.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240481457524280594" border="0" /></a><br />Here's a view of the amusement park from the beach/boardwalk:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGiA3fk5Uc7Y6KRERosegkpRb9OlnmkpQEZ9aScxz8P8EGuGJ3ZLJ9fdBpL_7qL5_QPPfED8XFwbpYd2-kk1Niqg4ItMw2qqD8pQ7rqtNC7tayYG9an9HhialUavrNAGyRrjoAheHKybk/s1600-h/IMG_4744.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGiA3fk5Uc7Y6KRERosegkpRb9OlnmkpQEZ9aScxz8P8EGuGJ3ZLJ9fdBpL_7qL5_QPPfED8XFwbpYd2-kk1Niqg4ItMw2qqD8pQ7rqtNC7tayYG9an9HhialUavrNAGyRrjoAheHKybk/s200/IMG_4744.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240481461292087362" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I took this photo for Robby:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9W-w0vm-NEdtyyf7_HHWaOuQUyq6vxTwAwTRTJcGrf23v5gxolvxyf6dDs97lLuFH5d7O49XH9AV1eG7DHXYu-LnsEVk0ezdscBx_Y9jjIxjwljcAsN9KMenHOZFQBDbwi7QyesulXcE/s1600-h/IMG_4747.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk9W-w0vm-NEdtyyf7_HHWaOuQUyq6vxTwAwTRTJcGrf23v5gxolvxyf6dDs97lLuFH5d7O49XH9AV1eG7DHXYu-LnsEVk0ezdscBx_Y9jjIxjwljcAsN9KMenHOZFQBDbwi7QyesulXcE/s200/IMG_4747.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240482296359507202" border="0" /></a>Unfortunately, we did not ride the pirate ship, because Coney Island rides are absurdly overpriced. However, we did end up riding the Cyclone, the roller coaster that I think was built in the 1960s. It was very scary. Not in the scary roller coaster way, but more in the way that you think constantly "I just saw the wood creak, omg the coaster is going to break and we are all going to die" sort of way. Quite the adrenaline rush. I guess I forgot to take a photo of it. Here's a pretty picture of Stephanie and the beach instead:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dn9a08R0xF1nLQVxmhpoLKbMbpTfPNxmZlQphmLjCVjJldVIyar_vuhNK2WSVTJcHtkANcMTRIUvaQEXUy0IfrMose6GyetbilYl8-uoVJNRQUHjHkk0ypfOCJt72U0Qcr8fLJHRQ-0b/s1600-h/IMG_4745.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dn9a08R0xF1nLQVxmhpoLKbMbpTfPNxmZlQphmLjCVjJldVIyar_vuhNK2WSVTJcHtkANcMTRIUvaQEXUy0IfrMose6GyetbilYl8-uoVJNRQUHjHkk0ypfOCJt72U0Qcr8fLJHRQ-0b/s200/IMG_4745.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240481464942041906" border="0" /></a>After sticking our feet in the Atlantic Ocean, we decided that we'd had enough heat, humidity and hot dogs for one day, so we headed back to good Ol' Manhattan. <br /><br />On the way home, in a random subway station in Brooklyn, the most remarkable thing happened. Bogart was resurrected!! An advertisement on the wall somewhere near the Manhattan-bound Q train contained a picture of, I kid you not, an exact replica of my precious, prized and now very sadly broken ceramic coyote. Here is a picture of my dear Bogart from the Subway station:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucIQa7bbFyEuMuUrILcZnwWFWGfS-lTwL6o7LP5KSRIBmRVbuX2fiQrQQkwExZ7jOW12D22_WsrdEjTcFaceGvygqsjvxfC_ywhdPsOcezqpxkWlmembrBHwDH281dpMtpCxTQjQBp_ti/s1600-h/IMG_4749.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhucIQa7bbFyEuMuUrILcZnwWFWGfS-lTwL6o7LP5KSRIBmRVbuX2fiQrQQkwExZ7jOW12D22_WsrdEjTcFaceGvygqsjvxfC_ywhdPsOcezqpxkWlmembrBHwDH281dpMtpCxTQjQBp_ti/s200/IMG_4749.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240481471199816274" border="0" /></a><br />Anyway ... While I was uploading these pictures, I realized I never posted pictures from when Mom was visiting. Here are a couple of those:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCKSCytj7vOYrcF6oI985mtAKadT1_VvlwtqxSEpWpxQWApWW1xEQc1l__tsGV6UDI1j2eCs-Ln5-dckt8d27b_yGfLMoKP_T-FuZOL44R2a3R8p8skOHDUBR0tffVeIYwliSUU-aU4pE/s1600-h/IMG_4734.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLCKSCytj7vOYrcF6oI985mtAKadT1_VvlwtqxSEpWpxQWApWW1xEQc1l__tsGV6UDI1j2eCs-Ln5-dckt8d27b_yGfLMoKP_T-FuZOL44R2a3R8p8skOHDUBR0tffVeIYwliSUU-aU4pE/s200/IMG_4734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240480487022974290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-NdOddkd2FWpqQ4XrwdbtBuqWmcqfI3gP1njT9TvdMZHs39nhu8CvJjk6aQodx8UX52ajWJ1uSYXQw9ZHkeGkBDQoCr-QQ-T_kIBEb0ZRN8jCe13-9xu-dP7euPT9SreNP0Oz6uNOk8Y/s1600-h/IMG_4731.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI-NdOddkd2FWpqQ4XrwdbtBuqWmcqfI3gP1njT9TvdMZHs39nhu8CvJjk6aQodx8UX52ajWJ1uSYXQw9ZHkeGkBDQoCr-QQ-T_kIBEb0ZRN8jCe13-9xu-dP7euPT9SreNP0Oz6uNOk8Y/s200/IMG_4731.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240480487814218370" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0UsFe-3XfSoawPA7cvYMtzC2huM6s7fletDomU-VXpV-NEhcYc0OPfVQ0OziO99j-wM136d0y3jox4gtKz9CiATlU3WfwInrMD5fmTomK3l85Ldl5JWGHPMR8VCUmLqEqH6YlE4mQtCp/s1600-h/IMG_4725.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0UsFe-3XfSoawPA7cvYMtzC2huM6s7fletDomU-VXpV-NEhcYc0OPfVQ0OziO99j-wM136d0y3jox4gtKz9CiATlU3WfwInrMD5fmTomK3l85Ldl5JWGHPMR8VCUmLqEqH6YlE4mQtCp/s200/IMG_4725.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240480494594286210" border="0" /></a><br />That's really all I've got going for now. School starts on Tuesday, and I'm temporarily at the awesome PS 73 in the Bronx. I just don't know how long that will last. My future plans include reading some Wheel of Time, eating a cupcake and maybe, just maybe, seeing the sing-a-long version of Mama Mia! that is playing in Chelsea ...Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5380464815951140338.post-10145353295219450862008-08-10T07:15:00.004-07:002008-08-10T07:37:42.058-07:00A Week of (non)VacationI've officially been free from Institute for eight days now, and while I haven't been waking up at 4:30 a.m. anymore, I wouldn't say that the last week has really been a relaxing vacation, either.<br /><br />Mom flew out on Saturday morning to help me move from the dorm at St. John's into my new apartment, which was quite the process. We rented a small SUV, piled it full of mine and Becca's (my roommate) stuff from St. John's ... for having such small living quarters at the University, you'd be really surprised how much junk we actually had. We filled the car to the brim. One of several times we would do that over the next two days.<br /><br />After several trips to Ikea, Costco, Canal Street (everyone should check out the free stuff on Craigslist, btw... it's awesome), Lowes and Home Depot, some in a car, some on the subway, we finally furnished the apartment. Whoo hoo! But then we had to build everything. Thanks, Ikea furniture in a box.<br /><br />Mom left on Wednesday, after working 10 hours a day, with only one tourist day thrown in there on Tuesday when we took a boat ride around the Statue of Liberty and ate dinner in Little Italy.<br />I finally finished unpacking and building furniture on Friday. Good times. Here are some pictures:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My Room:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_LoxRE6AiSMtT6k4hWUvUXqypJ4ll5QHTVcJMSFRdxyHsWZ2ccLaqylGg70oi2iDn9wwnpZslvoclB1GQYSk91Wi3s9yUgqsBsXnohkC8LgOkBf_6EK6Gn2MdhZy6MZIISJIDvXbGcIu/s1600-h/IMG_1415.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_LoxRE6AiSMtT6k4hWUvUXqypJ4ll5QHTVcJMSFRdxyHsWZ2ccLaqylGg70oi2iDn9wwnpZslvoclB1GQYSk91Wi3s9yUgqsBsXnohkC8LgOkBf_6EK6Gn2MdhZy6MZIISJIDvXbGcIu/s200/IMG_1415.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232895421318125554" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGVGntdb2j8tNZ7G7iO6srI5zCoLfFMPyrKVwVIWbwt5JFKHbpBQRHih1aNvHIi_0HUUJ-gprnf4e-ZLxwEbtvNSDLiReqOl9UrcE8QfBtlVlymVq8cSN-R9IhWWw-HeYSueuCbnGH80j/s1600-h/IMG_1413.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGVGntdb2j8tNZ7G7iO6srI5zCoLfFMPyrKVwVIWbwt5JFKHbpBQRHih1aNvHIi_0HUUJ-gprnf4e-ZLxwEbtvNSDLiReqOl9UrcE8QfBtlVlymVq8cSN-R9IhWWw-HeYSueuCbnGH80j/s200/IMG_1413.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232895429835104242" border="0" /></a>View from the living room window:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEvqWhnidcuyETn2Innm2bcLrmOIHr50m7lCn60uupKEXXIY89Mkk_30-pragcMyga5mtgiBik8HtDfdcbT7x0CTWW-BIFKZplflBt7OO9A4Wa9o4iv8Lm5iy_fMO6FyMu7kZp9WZevHR/s1600-h/3+-+View+from+B1+Window.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcEvqWhnidcuyETn2Innm2bcLrmOIHr50m7lCn60uupKEXXIY89Mkk_30-pragcMyga5mtgiBik8HtDfdcbT7x0CTWW-BIFKZplflBt7OO9A4Wa9o4iv8Lm5iy_fMO6FyMu7kZp9WZevHR/s200/3+-+View+from+B1+Window.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5232896299697227938" border="0" /></a><br />Though this week has been a lot of work, it's been fun too. It was nice having mom here for a while, and it was definitely fun doing the touristy stuff we did (Little Italy, tour of downtown, walk through central park). I've also eaten a lot of cupcakes, and yesterday I went to a music event at the museum PS1 in Long Island City with Stephanie, who was one of my roommates in Rome. <br /><br />This week brings TFA orientation at New York University downtown, where we'll start writing our investment, management and unit plans for school, which starts in about three weeks!Tarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17208537934977049793noreply@blogger.com1