Picture Pages

I recently created a gallery to store all my pictures online. I am still working on it, as I have my pictures spread out over three computers, but you can check it out anytime you like.

www.elizabethsphotohut.smugmug.com

Or, you can click on my "Elizabeth's Photo Hut" link on the right-hand side of this blog. Feel free to comment and let me know what you think about my pictures.

Enjoy!

Liz in the City

I spent four wonderful days visiting my brother, Chris, in New York this past weekend. With the MLK holiday, I was able to make it an extra-long weekend, which was great. I flew out Saturday morning from Houston and had two stops in Jackson, Mississippi and Baltimore, Maryland. When we landed in Jackson it was actually snowing!! Crazy!

We made it to Long Island (Islip) about 2:00 pm, and then I took the train into Penn Station, where I met up with my brother. I hadn't seen him since Grandpa's funeral in September, so it was great to see him. This was the first year ever he hasn't been home for Christmas.

After we met up, we hopped on the bus and rode to his place in West New York, New Jersey. We hung out for a bit and then went back into the city to meet up with his girlfriend, Katie (who I adore!). We went to The Parker Meridian hotel where there is a little hidden burger joint. It was so speak-easy-esque, andI loved it. You basically have to stare people down to get them to vacate a table once they are done eating, as there are literally 10 tables total. We finally grabbed a booth and got our grub on. Good times. After dinner, we went to Rudy's Bar & Grill (a total dive, but we had a great time). Then back to NJ to crash.

Sunday, Chris and I began to explore the inner rock star in ourselves playing Rock Band on his X-Box 360. Too much fun. I could so totally get addicted. Then my friend Beth came and picked us up and we went out to lunch. It was FREEZING!! It was 21 degrees outside, but the windchill was at 7 degrees. My Texas brain cannot comprehend single digit temperatures. Lunch was fun and I really enjoyed catching up with Beth.

After lunch, we decided to forgo going into the city, and stayed at Chris' apartment playing Rock Band until it was time to meet Katie for dinner. We walked down by the Hudson River (freezing) and I was totally awed by the night-time view of the city. We ended up eating dinner at the Fudrucker's inside the Ferry Terminal, and having drinks while watching football in the bar. These New Yorkers went NUTS when the NY Giants won the game (Superbowl bound). After dinner we raced out into the frigid night and climbed a million stairs to make it back to the apartment.

Monday, Chris and I decided to venture out to Coney Island to go to the New York Aquarium. He hadn't been there, so it was fun to do something new together. It was 17 degrees out - windchill 3 degrees. Yikes. We took the hour subway ride out to CI and explored the Aquarium. It was a really neat place, but set up more like a zoo with different buildings and exhibits. We saw stingrays, thousands of fish, the Walrus family, a very playful Otter, and a myriad of other aquatic life. Oh, and I can't forget the shark exhibit. It was pretty impressive. Here are a few pictures from the trip. The Daddy Walrus was such a ham!! He would swim right up to have his picture taken and was making kissing noises through the glass. He is a pro.

After the Aquarium, we went back into Manhattan for our lunch date at Craftbar for Restaurant Week (where the "little people" get to eat in the fancy restaurants without mortgaging their houses). We had a delicious lunch. Chris had the Warm Pecorino Fondue with Acacia Honey (possibly the best thing I have ever eaten in my life!!!) and a Pork Sandwich (cuban style). I had the Pecorino Stuffed Risotto Balls (SO GOOD) and the Veal Ricotta Meatballs. OMG I was loving every bite. We both has chocolate cake with malted milk ice cream for dessert. To die for. After lunch we walked over to FAO Schwarz (my favorite store in NYC) and then to visit Katie at Tiffany & Co (where she works). Then we went back to Jersey and chilled out for the rest of the night with Chris' roommates.

Tuesday was my last day, and we spent most of it trying to get me ready to fly back out. We went into NYC after I packed in search of a Kinko's so I could print out my flight documents. After that, we walked back over to Penn Station/Madison Square Gardens and went to lunch at Chipotle. After lunch, Chris put me on the train back to Islip, where I caught my flight to Chicago. After a truly scary landing (snow/ice on the runway - sliding & fishtailing), I had a 90 minute layover until I could fly home to Houston.

I had a great time and can't wait to go back again. Preferrably not in winter. Certainly not on Southwest.

Happy Birthdays all Around!

Happy 32nd Birthday to my cousin Jean, who will soon be moving back from Florida! I can't wait until you are back in town!!

Happy Birthday also to my sweet God daughter, Amelia (Mia). Mia turns 2 years old tomorrow!!

Liz Takes Manhattan

(Actually, West New York, New Jersey, but I digress!) I will be taking a long weekend this week and flying off to visit my brother, Chris, in New York!! Dad gave me a free airline ticket that will expire by the end of the month, so I decided to go for it! I visited Chris last year for the first time since he moved up there, and I had a blast. Here are a few pictures from that adventure:

I had such a great time and am looking forward to seeing even more things this trip! Unfortunately, the karaoke rematch will not happen, as Chris' bar (he is a karaoke DJ) will be closed for 2 weeks. We will be able to take advantage of Restaurant Week, where the ritzy restaurants have a week of prefixe menus where the average person can partake.

I will also get to spend a little time with my friend, Beth, from New Jersey. Somehow, I managed to spend almost 24 hours with her and didn't take a single picture!! I will not let that happen this time around!!

Wish me luck, as I am flying stand-by for the first time. I fly out Saturday morning, and should return Tuesday night.

OMG I think I wet my pants...

Thank you to my good friend Melanie for sending me the first pants-wetting blog of the year. You might want to grab a towel and a box of Depends before you go any further.

http://listoftheday.blogspot.com/2007/09/great-olan-mills-photos.html

Funniest snark of 2008 (so far...). Two thumbs up.

Another Year Has Come And Gone

I can't believe how fast 2007 flew by!! This year we spent New Year's Eve with Sarah, Javier, Maddy, and Javier's family. We enjoyed the crisp weather playing horeshoes and BBQing. Sarah and I also brushed up on our Spanish skills playing a game of Mexican Bingo with Javier's family. It was a ton of fun. Somehow, I managed to keep my camera in my purse the whole time and don't have a single picture of the evening. Ah well. Scrapbookers everywhere are pulling their hair out.

I make it a policy not to make New Year's Resolutions because I find them impossible to keep. Here is wishing you all a productive and happy 2008!!

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Sarah & Javier's house this year. We had a great time hanging out with them, Madison, and my parents. The only person lacking this year was my brother Chris, and he was greatly missed. Chris stayed in New York this year to spend time with his girlfriend Katie, and it sounds like they had a wonderful time.

As has become our Christmas Eve tradition, I made a roast and we sat around watching our favorite Christmas movies: A Christmas Story, Christmas Vacation, and Miracle on 34th Street. Madison got a suit this year similar to Ralphie's bunny costume that even has a bunny sewn on the front... except the hood has bear ears. I don't understand why, but she was definitely adorable in it.

We all had a good time unwrapping our gifts. Dad gave me a new 80 GB iPod, while Steve got me an underwater case for my digital camera for our trip to Cozumel, Mexico in March. I think we had the best time teaching Maddy how to unwrap her presents and showing each of them to her. I think she was more interested in the paper, but that is pretty typical.

I got Madison a ton of books and this really sweet rocking butterfly that plays Fur Elise (Madison's middle name is Elise). Her Uncle Steve bought her a set of Presidential gold coins from the US Mint. Just what every baby needs this year!! ;-)

Blessitt Family Christmas Party

We celebrated Christmas with my Dad's family, as usual, this year the Saturday before Christmas. It was great to see everyone and to spend time with those who live far away. A few were absent this year, and were greatly missed. Here are some pictures of the party.