Concrete Jungle

in Central Park

Highlights from our trip to New York City:

1. Seeing Lutz from the show "30 Rock". He was walking down the street towards us, I recognized him just as he was going into his bank. Jeff was like, "hey", i was like, " can we get our picture with you??" as he shuts the door in my face. He totally ignored us! Not to give up; I wanted to take a picture of him filling out his deposit slip, but thought that might be illegal or something, so we just moved on. It was exciting none the less. my goal for the trip was to see someone from "30 Rock", it just so happened to be my least favorite character... beggars can't be choosers!

at the infamous ice rink at Rockefeller Center

2. Jimmy Fallon Show. The only recognizable guest was Alicia Silverstone (from the movie "Clueless"! lol). Jimmy was goofy to see in person, as you might imagine. He seems like a normal guy that you'd want to hang out with. We didn't hang out with him, but Jeff DID get a high five! We were able to sit in the third row, and had our 2 seconds of fame during a shot of the audience!! here's us on TV:

3. just seeing things that you see on TV or movies was really exciting to me. i guess i am easy to please!

for dad:

you can't really tell, but below I am trying to smile like Kenneth from 30 Rock. i am such a dork; the morning of our NYC trip, i practiced my "Kenneth smile" in the mirror.

This was my idea. i hang out with guys too much

4. Going to a Broadway show. We got discount tickets the day-of and saw the musical, "Next to Normal". We both enjoyed the performance, amazing talent, but the story line was depressing. we sat next to an older couple from Jersey, and i was envious to hear that they frequently go to shows. That would be so fun to live close enough to do!

While riding the subway a few times, i noticed that most people either had their music or some reading material with them. It seemed to be an unspoken rule that I didn't know. I didn't have anything to read, so I just made awkward eye contact with people.

What draws me back to NY the most is the thought of going to another broadway show. The city itself was amazing to see, and i am pretty sure that we saw a lot: Chinatown, Little Italy, Statue of Liberty, SOHO(super trendy hipster area), Times Square, Empire State Building, Grand Central Station, Wall Street, the Financial District and those already mentioned. It's a pretty magical place.

I wish i could live in all the different places in the world, just for a bit. i am content to just visit them, for now.

signs of spring

I am obsessed.

Last summer i spray painted circles around baby redbud trees that were growing in my back yard lawn. i love those trees! they are so elegant and enchanting. The buds are like pink fire in the springtime, hence it's name. summer brings Spindly Stems bearing over sized leaves that are shaped like hearts. I've transplanted a few from the back to the side yard and they took off last summer. I couldn't bear to mow them down, so i took time to mark each little baby that dared to grow in my lawn. I don't care if i looked like a crazy person swerving this way and that, stopping abruptly to change rout while i was mowing. Jeff made fun of me and said that they probably didn't make it through the winter.... we'll see.

I had the flu last monday night. that was AWESOME. Just so happened that we ate at one of our most favorite places, Moe's, earlier that same dreadful night. won't be hearing, "welcome to Moe's!" in some time.

Felt better later that week and got out to work in the yard. I have inherited an enjoyment for this kind of work, but have not inherited a love for the insects that are involved. give me the heebie jeebies! with every rock that i lift, i peek with one eye expecting to see some grotesque tiny monster. it's usually just a pill bug

I pruned away the dead and uncovered some sure signs of spring.

nature's revenge:

It may not look pretty, but it is an work of art to me. Since we've had our house, I have spent more than a few hours uprooting and cutting down the overgrowth that = our backyard.

While bullying my way through the backyard, i hit the jackpot! seed pods from my biggest redbud tree. no one could have been more excited :) i gathered them up, popped them open and scattered them all around the outside of my house.

The whole afternoon was therapeutic and beautiful. Does God speak to everyone else like He does to me when I am in nature? Maybe i am naive to think that it is "our thing", me and God. When the sun rises, shines on my face, the wind blows, in my backyard, at the ocean, maybe this was made for me? It seems ironic that the vastness and grandness of God's nature would make me, little me, feel special. but it does. thanks God!

emotional story, if you have the time

Another blogger friend shared this link. It is fairly long, but very worth it.

Enjoying the Small Things: Nella Cordelia: A Birth Story

I've been following this blog ever since i read this story, it's pretty amazing.

stories i don't want to forget. episode 1.

sometime in 2008, funny to me:
We were at a show (i think up in MN). I was back at the sound/ light board doin my thang- the lights for the show. Sidenote: I acquired the job of doing the lights during the shows a few years ago and have taught myself along the way.
There was a man from the venue running sound who was back at the booth with me. We were small-talking and such. After a while, he said to me, " There aren't many women in our profession". I smiled and laughed to myself. He called it OUR profession, so i guess that means I am seen as a "techy".

February 2010, funny to most:
We were at a weekend retreat and Jeff was talking with three students at the merch table. The students were amusing in a dorky sort of way, unique :) All of the sudden the quietest of the three blurts out, "UNprotected SEX!"
There is a hush between us and the other members of the room. No one addresses it, we just resume conversation in a few seconds. OKAaaaay......

Later on, Jeff is like, "Did you hear what I heard?"

"YES, what was that about?"

Jeff says, "Well after re-running the situation over in my head, i think i've figured it out........"

It goes like this: One of the three students had a jean jacket with 3 buttons (pins) decorating ONE side of his jacket. Jeff (teacher at heart) asked the students how many smaller Attaboy buttons would it take to "even out" the jacket on both sides??
'Miss Random' pipes in, "I'm PREdicting SIX!"