Project 365 - Photo of the Day - December 6, 2008

Yesterday was the most magnificent weather you could possibly imagine. The sky was crystal clear and the temperatures were somewhere in the 70s which then dipped down into the 60s in the evening. My friend and employee, Jose Luis Amador, Jr. was getting married on his parent's horse farm in Southwest Ranches. He couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.



Here is Jose, patiently waiting at the alter! Not only did they forget to bring the marriage license out to the justice, but the videographer was late. So, Jose just stood up there and talked to his guests. It was a comical but sweet moment.



This is Jose's mom. Doesn't she look like she is absolutely thrilled? Jose is and always has been the "Golden" child! She did take the opportunity to give both Jose and Sandra a lecture when she toasted them later!



This is Sunmo. He was also dressed for the occasion and walked down the aisle with Jose's little sister. Cute!















May I introduce . . . Mr. and Mrs. Jose Luis Amador, Jr.




And here are the Leshinskys. Handsome bunch huh? We clean up well!


And here is the proof of the picture perfect day!! Love those fairy lights . . . all installed by Jose himself!

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - December 5, 2008

This has been one of those weeks that we just didn't stop. We had something to do every night. I didn't take my regular camera, so all of these images are from my phone! Not terrible.



This first image is Adina all dressed up to go to see "Twilight" with her girlfriend. They got into vampire mode! This was actually last Friday night.



Tuesday night we went down to the new Adriene Arscht Performing Arts Center to see Annie. It is probably the fifth time, but it is still fun and a musical and you walk out humming showtunes! Joel was hugging the girls here and looked rather devilish!



This is the public art on the plaza outside of the center. I snapped this as we were headed to our car.



Thursday evening Joel and I had to attend a congratulations party at Shooters on the Intracoastal in honor of the Supervisor of Elections, Brenda Snipes. I took this when we first arrived as we were sitting on the dock sipping a glass of wine. The image is much better than the wine was!



I took this as Robert and I were on the way home. I really don't know why, but hundreds of thousands of these birds gather at 441 and Oakland Park Blvd. every morning at dawn and every evening at sunset. I love to watch them as they swarm in the sky and gracefully do their ballet dance across the electrical wires as though it were all choreographed.



And tonight we went out for a fun dinner at a neighborhood restaurant. While we waited for a seat we were dipping Adina off of the edge of the low wall that she was sitting on. I don't think that she was amused!

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - December 2, 2008

Arriving to work at 7:30 a.m. has its advantages. I can decorate my office for the holidays, turn on the holiday music in the lobby so that when the staff arrive they are greeted to the holiday spirit and I can read some emails in peace!



This was the view out my window this morning. Definitely the approaching "cold" front. With it was a huge downpour that lasted about 20 minutes and then clear skies behind it and cooler weather (yay!). But this sky looked a bit menacing to me.



Here is a corner of my office all decked out in Martha Stewart holiday lights and poinsettia table cloth with cinnamon scented pine cones. Might as well feel the holiday spirit myself!

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - November 28, 2008 Part II

Early this morning I grabbed my camera and ran outside because I saw these birds on the neighbor's roof. Of course, once I got outside they had moved and I walked around the block to find them. I sat very quietly observing them for a while and snapped a few shots here and there. I liked what I captured.

I also found a cute squirrel peeking down at me from high up in the branches. I also found several hawks flying over my head (I was wondering what meal they were circling?). And I found some insect flying around the flowers near the lake.

All in all, not a bad shoot for early morning and still in pajamas!

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - November 28, 2008

I had a very nice day today. I was up at 8:30 am and rolled out of bed to another gorgeous South Florida day with a crystal clear blue sky. By the time I got outside it was 70 degrees. I was following a pack of birds around with my camera which I will upload later when I feel like getting up out of this chair (not likely too soon since I just poured myself a tall glass of spiced rum and ginger ale on the rocks -- a treat that my Trinidadian friend taught me all about.

After I was finished with the birds and checking out the lake . . . I am afraid now of the other alligator . . . I came back to the house to munch on a bowl of cereal and then climbed back into bed with Rachel and laptops!

Later in the day Joel and I decided it was time to clean the windows in the living room and then that spurred me to continue cleaning the entire house. That included the inside of the microwave, the kitchen floor, all of the toilets and all of the laundry. So that is why I deserve to sit right here on my rear end with golden oldies from the 60s blaring from an old boom box that I used to use when I taught aerobics in the 80s with my rum and ginge that is sitting on the floor next to me. At least I am outside enjoying the fading light of the day. I love watching the colors of the sunset and listening to the weird birds across the street that sound like monkeys! Although they are fairly quiet at the moment, but they are all over the tree in many nests.

These photos are courtesy of my children. The black and white ones were taken by Adina on her cell phone and the one that clearly shows that Rachel is ready for college was taken on my cell phone last week. I will upload today's photos a bit later.

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - November 27, 2008 - Part II

I had to upload the Thanksgiving photos!
























Here I am in my favorite chair. My cousin Michael snapped this with his iphone and emailed it to me! I just love technology (when it works). I park myself here in the driveway when it is cool out and sit with the computer and surf and watch the neighbors come and go. I wave a lot and chat when they have a moment. It reminds me of when Hurricane Wilma stranded us for 10 days without electricity and we all got to know each other VERY well and we took care of each other.




Ronnie took me for a quick ride around Inverrary. He was trying to scare me but I just clasped my hands around his waist and hung on for dear life! It was thrilling. The air was cool, my hair was blowing every which way and it was loud because it is a Harley! I could enjoy this. He told me that I was a Tom Boy. I am not really, but it was fun!




This is George Caren and Gert Wolder. They are NOT an item! George's wife flew up north to visit her daughter and granddaughter and brand new great granddaughter. George did feel well enough to fly so he joined us at the Kaplan's.



I just thought this photo looked silly because the turkey looked larger than Rachel's head! It is a picture perfect turkey don't you think?



Lynn and Richard were sharing the carving duties. Don't they look serious? They made a fabulous spread.



Doesn't Adina look like she is enjoying herself?



Yum! I could eat more now. It is about 12:35 a.m. and I am hungry again!!



What is a Thanksgiving Dinner without the Publix Pilgram salt and pepper shakers??
























Lynn started out the dinner with a beautiful Thanksgiving prayer. Nothing religious, just thanks for great company, thanks for our health and our good fortunes in these tough economic times.



Like father, like son. One smile!




This yummy cake was a Pumpkin Spice cake that Michael brought! It was a work of art!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Project 365 - Photo of the Day - November 27, 2008

After a peaceful morning chat with Joel I went to the kitchen and made myself a pot of coffee and crawled back into bed for the Macy's Day Parade. . I wait for this moment for 365 days! Just as they cut the ribbon on the parade . . . the phone rings!

Ok, so it was Joel's brother and sister-in-law and we haven't talked in a very long time so we had a lot of catching up to do. I got to speak to my sweet nephews, Matthew, Kevin and Christopher and my niece Nicole. I couldn't talk to Alyssa or Brian, the twins, because they are only three months old!

Wow, six children. I can't imagine it. But there is so much love in that household! As we were talking we were sending each other photos on our Kodak websites. It was about 10:30 when we got off the phone . . . 90 minutes!!

So I will have to see the parade next year!



We had to get dressed at that point and get ready to deliver Thanksgiving dinners to the Lauderhill police department and the fire department. Joel has been cooking for three days and our house smells so wonderful. I snapped this photo of Newton right before we left the house. He looked so unbelievably cozy on Rachel's bed. I loved the combination of all of the colors and the morning sun streaming in. I could have curled up next to him and taken a nap.



I snapped this right before I walked out the front door. This was my sister's grandmother's Singer sewing machine. Long story short . . . my sister is really my step sister and unfortunately she passed away two years ago and I ended up with the sewing machine. I love it because it is antique and I grew up in a house full of antiques in New York.



This was only half of the food that we were loading into the car to take to the police and firemen (or firepeople?).



Joel is loading the food into Richard's car. I call it the Mid-Life Crisis Mobile because it is a convertible! Richard is the Mayor of Lauderhill and he paid for all of the food.



This is Rachel and Andrew helping to load the food. Andrew is Richard's son and is home from Michigan . . . freshman! Rachel and Andrew went to school together since Middle School and also Hebrew School. They are the same age but Andrew skipped a grade.
























Look at that sky . . . couldn't have asked for a prettier day, huh? Sort of a Miami Vice feel to it?



That is Richard with the staff of the police department. They were extremely appreciative of all this food!



I got to ride in the back of the Mid-Life Crisis Mobile! It was a blast and this was my view of the world. A perfect day.



Here we are at the Fire Dept. They had an amazing kitchen there! They couldn't wait to dig into the food!



After smelling all that food, WE were hungry so we went to this cute hamburger joint. They have tiny hamburgers, medium ones, double ones and giant ones. Then there are all sorts of toppings and the best fries. I figured I can cheat now and then. I am really not supposed to eat this stuff . . . cholesterol city!! Well we only live once so once in a blue moon I suppose it is okay.



Back at the house I settled into my favorite chair in front of the house with my computer. Rachel decided to take off and go for a bike ride (that is not something that she does often). So I decided to take a few photos of her riding off into the distance.
























I just loved the sharp shadows of the bicycle on the pavement so I turned this image into a grayscale and Photoshopped it a bit.