Photo of the Day - July 28, 2013

12 Days and Counting

The Leshinsky sisters seemed to have grown closer than I have ever seen them.  The realization that Adina is leaving in 12 days and that Rachel is staying is starting to hit them.

The girls have done EVERYTHING together for the past few weeks.  I have not heard one argument, disagreement or raised voice.  It is a bit spooky, but kind of nice to see them get along so well.

Over the past 18 years, the girls have certainly gotten along, but there was always some underlying tension.  Whether it was a sisterly competition for attention, the one who has to be right or the one that has the last word, there was always something.  But this summer that has melted away.

Today the girls went to Forever 21 and sort of hinted that they didn't want mom along, which was fine with me since shopping is the last thing in the world that I enjoy doing.  When the came back, they each had to show me their items that they bought.  Then they retreated to Rachel's room to watch a movie and do art.  I am savoring each of these tender moments.  And of course, when I interrupt with my camera, they whine and tell me to leave them alone, so I only took this one image.  It is good enough for me today!

Photo of the Day - July 21, 2013

Transitions

This weekend was devoted entirely to cleaning out Adina's room and separating everything into piles -- one for Goodwill, one to pack for college and one to save.  Actually we ended up with a fourth pile -- garbage!

Adina and I spent both Saturday AND Sunday working on the room.  I just can't believe the amount of stuff she has amassed over the years!  I suppose I have too and if I ever have to move

from this house, it will take weeks and perhaps months to clean out the stuff that Joel and I have collected over the 33 years of our marriage.

Well, these photos tell a little of the story.

What you don't see is the garbage can in my garage that we filled to the brim and also filled not one, but two recycling containers!!  There are also three boxes filled and taped and ready for UPS next week.

I must say, I am tired, but also a bit sad because everything that went out was a little piece of Adina's childhood.  We didn't throw it all away, only the junkie stuff and the stuff that we know could be used at Goodwill.

Photo of the Day - July 19, 2013

Elemental Forces

In celebration of Jeremiah Jenner's third anniversary Galerie Jenner, he threw a shindig in his Sailboat Bend Artists Lofts apartment which is ALSO his gallery.  All of his students, friends and colleagues came out in support of this fabulous exhibition that he curated.

I had two pieces on exhibit.  It has been a VERY long time since I participated in the visual arts world but it felt right.  I was right at home with my fellow artists, standing around chatting about the pieces on the walls, catching up on gossip and talking about what is next.

I did get the spark of an idea and that is why these events are so important to artists.

Photo of the Day - July 18, 2013

My View of the Cultural Tour

Every other month the Business for the Arts of Broward presents a Cultural Tour.  I am the tour guide and provide all of the historical background of each of the 12 cultural institutions that we visit and, Lois Marino talks about BFA's programs.

It is a long day, I am on my feet not only in the bus but also at each facility that we visit.  So what do I do to entertain myself?  Take photos of course!

This time I didn't bring my camera, so I used the iPhone.  These are the miscellaneous images that I see along the way that I feel the need to capture.

Photo of the Day - July 17, 2013

Typical Summer Morning

Standing on the corner of Andrews Avenue and 2nd Street waiting for the longest light in Broward County to change, I snapped this shot of Downtown Fort Lauderdale.  You can feel the heaviness of the humidity in the air.  You can imagine that as I stood there with my briefcase slung over my right shoulder and my lunch bag over my left shoulder with the umbrella shielding me from the raindrops, that the clothes that I selected earlier that morning were beginning to plaster themselves to my skin.  To take my mind off of the discomfort of the typical summer morning, I pulled out the iPhone and trained it in the direction of the Museum of Art with the two residential buildings in the background which were stuck in the very low clouds but didn't photograph the way I was seeing it.  However, I was very pleased to see that I caught the raindrops bouncing off the puddles in the bricked walkways.  And just like that, the light turned green and I was jerked back into reality and my workday began.

Photo of the Day - July 16, 2013

What's the Buzz

As I was getting out of my car in the parking garage I looked over at this beautiful branch of a tree that was hanging into the garage.  I was just going to take a quick shot of the flowers, but then on closer observation, I noticed a bunch of bees flying around the blooms.  I did my best to take a shot of both the flowers and the bee, but this was the best I could do with the iPhone.  That was the moment that I wished that I had grabbed my Nikon.  Note to self . . . .start carrying your camera all the time!

Photo of the Day - July 6, 2013

Pure Terror

This HAS to be my most favorite photos ever.  My daughters couldn't be any opposite.  If you look at the pleasure on Adina's face and the pure terror on Rachel's face, you can see exactly how different they are.

I provided the close up just for effect!

Photo of the Day - July 5, 2013

Rainy Day in Fort Myers

Joel and I took a long weekend trip over to Fort Myers while the girls went up to Orlando to Universal Studios.  Both of us wanted a weekend where we did absolutely nothing.  So we got our wish!

I drove across Alligator Alley and about 20 minutes into the drive, torrential rains greeted us like a wall of water.  It was very scary driving across the alley but I kept the car in front of me in

my site, we drove about 40 mph and I cranked up the music while Joel snoozed.

The rains continued for most of the weekend, with an occasional break in the clouds.  That is when I took the opportunity to pull on my workout clothes and take a 2.5 mile run around the property where we were staying.

During the rains I sat on the screened in porch on one of the most comfortable chaise lounges I

have ever sat on, with a sweet smelling candle burning, watching the wildlife and reading a book.

This blue heron was fishing in the rain and he let me take these photos of him as he tolerated me.  I tried to be as quiet as possible and he got fairly close to me.  But, as with all wildlife, he wandered away in search for his dinner.

Photo of the Day - June 28, 2013

Grace

I did not take this photo, but felt the need to post it because my cousin Michael took this with his iPhone and it was such a great image that I had to share.  We were having a nice family dinner and of course, Michael couldn't put his iPhone away, so he was playing with it and just reached up and snapped this shot.  Great eyes, huh?

Photo of the Day - June 22, 2013

Girl's Night Out
 

Art. It brings people together. It makes you think. It gets people talking. It is also an excuse to have alcoholic beverages and be social.

Rachel and I decided to attend the opening night of the South Florida Cultural Consortium Visual and Media Artists Fellowship Recipients exhibition at the Museum of Art l Fort Lauderdale. We started by picking up Samantha and heading

over to the Riverside Market in Sailboat Bend. We had a couple of hours to burn so we relaxed on the couches, shared a bottle of wine and snacked on tasty sandwiches.
 
By the time that we arrived at the Museum there was already a healthy crowd in attendance. I never know who I will bump into and that is part of the excitement and surprise of these events. Rachel and I ended up losing Samantha as we wandered through the exhibition, which was by far, the best I have ever seen in my quarter century at the Broward Cultural Division! 

There were 14 artists in total on exhibit from the five counties -- Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and and Monroe. There were very interesting pieces -- one in particular was a performance piece where the artist sat at a desk, flipped through her journals and sketchbook, then rhythmically ripped out the pages and ran them through a shredder. People were fascinated with the artist and stood and watched for very long periods.

There was another exhibition upstairs by Bunny Yeager, but that was not open to the public at the time we were there. I was a bit disappointed but gives me a reason to return! 

Rachel and I drove home in silence. Each lost in our own thoughts. Not upset, not emotional, just quiet and perhaps sleepy. All in all, it was a very satisfying evening with my grown up daughter.

Photo of the Day - June 16, 2013

Happy Fathers Day

The Leshinskys celebrate EVERYTHING, so of course we HAD to celebrate Fathers Day!

This year we gathered in the living room with my Dad in attendance too!  He had recovered so amazingly well from his broken hip and surgery, that he was able to walk (very slowly and with assistance) down the five stairs to my living room and to the dining room with a walker.  For a 94 year old, he has unbelievable strength and will.

We enjoyed watching as my Dad and Joel opened their presents and then we had ice cream cake!

Photo of the Day - June 10, 2013

A Day at the Beach

After two months of stress and two weeks of rain, I felt that I needed a day alone at the beach.  I have quite a few vacation days so I decided to use one for myself. 

Adina was working at the JCC, Rachel was in Indiana attending a wedding and Joel was busy designing ads for a freelance job.

When I checked the weather and found out that it would be a bright and sunny day, I emailed work and said that I would be out (I had already told them the previous week too!).  I packed up my chair that has an

umbrella.  I packed a small cooler with yogurt, fruit, water and other snacks.  I tucked my book into my bag along with lots of sunscreen and I was off to my favorite spot at the end of Commercial Blvd.

I couldn't have picked a better day.  There was a breeze, the water was warm and very few people.  By the time that I was ready to leave the beach, my inner calm had once again returned.  Something about soaking in salt water and feeling the sun on my skin brings me back to my roots and grounds me.

Photo of the Day - June 1, 2013

Happy 33rd

Another year, another anniversary.  What to do?  Well, this year we started the day with breakfast on the Pier at Commercial Blvd.  We found a parking spot nice and close since it was so early and we sat in where we could watch the folks who do their workouts on the beach.  I had the view of the side of the pier and the ocean.  If I could, I would live on the beach, but then I would be terrified during hurricane season!   But a girl can dream. 

Thanks to a the girls, we ventured down to Hollywood for dinner at Bistro 1902.  It is a French restaurant, and thanks to the GroupOn that the girls bought as a surprise, dinner came with unlimited wine and champagne!  Of course Joel doesn't drink, so I polished off a few glasses of champagne and then a few glasses of wine and switched back to champagne.  I think I giggled all the way through dinner.

I did convince Mr. Leshinsky to walk up and down Hollywood Blvd. so that I could have fun with my iPhone.  Sometimes I feel guilty for leaving my Nikon at home, but other times I am surprised at the quality on iPhone.

At home the girls were waiting with presents for us!  They had wrapped them with Justin Bierber wrapping paper!  I was still giggling at that point!