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!
Chasing Shadows
Today was the first day that I got out of bed after three days of fighting a cold. It wasn't that bad, but I am glad that is over! I watched more movies than I ever have. I think my favorite was the 1932 film Grand Hotel with John and Lionel Barrymore, Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo.
Anyway, I digress . . . today I was completely immersed in the arts. This morning I went to the Broward Center to judge the Carbonell Scholarship applicants. It was a three hour session with four of the board members and wonderfully talented high school seniors who we interviewed and then watched them perform anything they chose. I always find this day a privilege to see our budding youths with their passion in the theatrical arts. The winners will be announced the night of the Carbonell Awards ceremony!
When I got home, Adina decided she was going to teach me to paint. I was game. I have always wanted to do watercolors. I thought that I could take some of the images I have shot and paint them. I tried and she was very patient with me. I really did get into the moment and time just disappeared. We were painting for about two hours. But the smell of the turpentine was getting to me (Adina was doing an oil painting). So we decided to take a walk.
I grabbed my camera and Adina grabbed her bike and off we went. It was a perfect time of day with a clear blue sky and a setting sun. Everything was glowing. So I decided to chase shadows. These are the images that I made today. I played a bit in Photoshop, but just to enhance, never to change the image.
Super Bowl Sunday
Every year we celebrate Super Bowl Sunday at the Kaplan's. This year was no different!
There was the annual menu planning between Joel and Lynn. Phone calls and emails flying back and forth to figure out who would make what and who would bring what. In the end, there was an array of comfort food lining the table on warming trays and with plenty of utensils and plates and forks for all.
This year was a little different however. Lynn's friend got sick early in the evening and Lynn had to take her to the emergency room. We didn't realize until after Lynn had left that something was wrong. They left very quietly. Her friend was okay in the end, but it was a bit scary and Lynn was texting Richard every so often with updates.
The party continued and Joel turned into the host! He made sure that the food was being eaten and kept warmed properly and then he cleaned up and didn't really want any help. I pitched in a bit, but he was really doing it all.
Meanwhile, on the couch, the wine and beer was flowing and Adina and her girlfriend were deep into arts and crafts projects at the dining room table. Even Rudy (the cat) got in on the arts and crafts!
Lazy Daze
Joel and I took off for Fort Myers since we knew that Adina would be in Boston for the Harvard Debate Tournament. It was a little slice of what empty nest would be like next year.
So Thursday night we headed over with the car packed with food for the weekend so we could eat in if we wanted. And we did. We had a very romantic Valentine's Day complete with a bottle of wine, candles and roses!
When Friday rolled around I crawled out onto the cushy chaise lounge on the porch with my book, my iPad, my iPhone and my camera. The house that we were staying in is along a canal and the wildlife is all around and was right outside my screened in paradise!
I did actually get up and wander around and these are the photos that I took.
Sunday Picnic in the Park
The outdoor concert season is underway. Many of the Broward cities has them. But one of my favorites is the one I can pretty much walk to, the Sunday Picnic in the Park at Ilene Lieberman Botanical Gardens on Inverrary Blvd.
This is the fifth season that my friend, Richard Kaplan, the Mayor of the City of Lauderhill, has presented for the residents.
We gladly roll out of bed, pack a cooler with goodies and one of use brings orange juices and another the champagne for our mimosas. Someone, or sometimes, all of us bring wine! It is a very happy way to spend our Sundays. I know that I was going to miss the next one, and it was a big one and it was at night and it was a Beatlemania type of group. But Joel and I needed a weekend away. But these are the photos from last week.
Legends of Baseball
I had been asking Joel for weeks if he wanted to go to the Fort Lauderdale Stadium to see the Legends of Baseball game but he wouldn't give me an answer. Finally, Richard and Lynn asked if we wanted to go with them so we decided to go!
Little did we know that this was the very last time that this game would be played here in Fort Lauderdale. Kind of sad. We did get to see many legends and some non-baseball players who played very well like Ron Magill from Zoo Miami.
The weather was wonderfully warm in the sun and cool in the shade. I even felt a little too cool in the stadium and could have used a sweatshirt. But I digress.
I only was able to take a few photos with my Nikon outside the stadium because I was not allowed to bring the camera into the stadium. I was angry, and couldn't understand why since they allowed Lynn to take her camera in. Either have a policy of NO cameras, or just forget the policy.
So the rest of the game I used my iPhone. Not a terrible choice but would have preferred my camera. In the end, I got quite a few good shots, but still would have preferred the camera.
My friend, Neal,and I couldn't figure out why the Batmobile was there. But of course, I took a photo of it! And a close up of the logo on the side of the car.
