Sorry for the Absence...

Wow, sometimes life just doesn't slow down. Matt and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary and I have been enjoying work and life. The summer was brutal this year in DC and I was not ready for the humidity but am loving my new short sleeve business suits and fabulous sleeveless summer work dresses.

We are enjoying fall and hoping to take up a new activity - geocaching. Poppa Dutes gave us a gps and with this device we can go exploring - we are hoping to do our first this weekend. Trial run will be finding the cache at the cemetery where our dogs are members.

We are digging into being super Apple people with the addition of an iPhone and iPad to our family this fall. We just love the technology that Apple has. Image uploads are not available due to maintenance so I will upload some images for your enjoyment later.

Happy fall!

Martha Stewart and NYC

As many of you are aware, I LOVE Martha Stewart. I have received many important gifts over the years that document big events in my life with Martha Stewart suggestions - upon getting married - hand carved bowl by a man in Maine that Martha uses; buying my first home - Martha Stewart Cleaning book. She has been with me to mark some of the big events in my life, so when I was able to get tickets to a taping of her show, I wasn't missing it. Since Jennie was setting off to Scotland (nice excuse) Matt was my partner in crime for this 24 hour trip to NYC. Here is how it all happened:

Matt and I hoped a bus to NYC from DC and were able to enjoy 4 hours of carefree traveling - no back seat driver, no fighting over the radio - pure bliss when someone else is at the wheel. Upon arrival we checked in to the New Yorker Hotel. This isn't the most amazing hotel, see reference later to the most amazing hotel, but it was clean, nice, and I got an amazing rate. We were in the best location as well - we were less than a block from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. We opted for a walking tour that night to find the perfect place for dinner. Now we are not foodies, but we love some good entertainment while we dine - so The Hard Rock Cafe it was. Where else can you listen to music and look at amazing artifacts - we were sitting next to Ringo's drum set! Plus we were able to see the guitar wall which was neat

The next morning it was get ready for Martha! We headed over to her studio an hour before the doors opened and we were 7 and 8 in line - would have been 1 and 2 but I was thinking we could grab a starbucks first. It was fun standing in line waiting to enter. We were shuffled in and went through security and then placed in a holding room where you could purchase Martha Stewart products and watch a previous taping. When it was time to enter we were escorted in and got to see GK, Frenchie, and Sharky her dogs. The set is beautiful and super clean. Everything is super organized and of course fabulous. The guests were Jill McGowen a desigener from Portland, ME; some chef; and Victoria Stillwell the host of It's Me or the Dog. Victoria was there to do puppy training! The show was great and Matt and I had front row seats. It was fun as she did her glitter craft right in front of us - I made eye contact and smiled but she did not return the happy gesture - but hey, I don't like her because she's nice - so no upset there - Matt was nervous to make eye contact with her for fear of turning to stone!

It was such a fun show

Once we left the show with our LL Bean toiletry bags and our copies of her newest book: Fresh Flavor Fast, we were off on a mad dash to explore the city. Here is our route!Our tour of the city included stops at White Castle, Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dylan's Candy Bar, FAO Swartz, and the Park Plaza for afternoon tea.

For Grammie - The Red Sox on top of the Yankees!

The Hills are Alive with the Sound of Music, fa la la la

Enjoy the pics from my quick tour of the city center in Vienna, Austria. I arrived at 8:30am and took a quick and easy train to the city center. The free map was fabulous and I had no trouble walking around the entire city. I returned for the 4pm train back to the airport and was able to do some work before leaving for Tel Aviv.

WWII Monument

Sculpture Garden leading up to the Belvedere


Parlament





Johann Strauss

Mozart

One of five Christmas Markets I atteneded - this one is at the Rathaus which has an Advent Calendar

Lobbying for more TREATS!

Thatcher has been unimpressed with the number of treats we have been feeding her since her vet appointment last week. In response to her "diet" she decided to take to the streets and lobby Congress - here are the photos from her adventure with Reagan.

Waiting in the kitchen for more treats

Reagan taking to the Library of Congress for research

Thatcher is ready to take on Congress

Reagan shows his support

With no results, Thatcher looks to the Supreme Court for a resolution

Matt with Reagan & Thatcher at the Library of Congress - someone had to help them since they don't have opposable thumbs

Domestic Travel?

Well, as shocked as I was to learn of my trip out west, I was happy about only dealing with a 3 hour time difference. I was able to meet with my supplier, who is acting as a wholeseller for the materials that I am in need of for my project over in the West Bank. Because of this I was off to Wyoming and then Los Angeles - yes, the City of Angels. I had a blast in Casper, WY eating at the Casper Petroleum Club and viewing my supplier's facilities. LA was interesting. Can you say TOO MANY LANES OF TRAFFIC ON THE EXPRESSWAY?! Thankfully it was Vetran's Day so the traffic was light, or I would have pulled a Clueless scene by freaking out and subsequently pulling off the freeway. I had a blast at California Steel where I was able to see the final run of pipe being produced before changing sizes for manufacturing. What a great facility and production line they have. I also had a couple of hours to see the Pacific Ocean and Redondo Beach. Enjoy the pictures!!

My supplier's "trophy room"

my supplier's office - he shot a rogue elephant, I'm sitting on it's feet!

very tame deer in Casper, WY

Doing what I do BEST!

The Pacific Ocean with one of my suppliers

Back in DC

Well, it has been a little while since I've updated you all on the happenings of my family. Now that I have returned to the states, live has become quite a whirlwind of adventures. The dogs are taking to life in DC and have a fabulous park to play in and new doggie friends. Reagan had a great time playing with a Great Dane this weekend which had the entire park in stiches as they watched. Thatcher had her first taste of freedom in a semi closed off area of the park playing with two new friends. We hope that this becomes more of a regular occurance. She also heard what we believe to be her first sound. A fire engine horn. While this frightened her, it gave us hope that we might be able to find a device that can blow a similiar sound at the same frequency and we may be able to train her to be off leash at the park and to do trick, etc.

Matt is enjoying life at his new job and has joined a networking group. The winter will prove to be busy for him but come his 31st birthday we should be celebrating! He is enjoying his walks home from work which lead him past the White House, Washington Monument, Smithsonian Museums and of course the Capitol. Matt's only complaint has come now that it's football season, we can't watch the Patriots as they are no longer the local team and well, who wants to watch the Redskins?

I am loving my new position and enjoying all that DC has to offer. We were able to visit F. Scott Fitzgerald's grave on Friday night, my favorite author, and attend a fabulous event to support local sports (like rec sports in Maine). We are in LOVE with DC life.

Enjoy the pics!

U2

Lobster Boil

4 year Anniversary

Octoberfest

POV - drinks overlooking the White House

AC/DC

F. Scott Fitzgerald's plot

Snow White

Jack Sparrow

Med Sea

After a long and crazy week, this evening was the perfect reward for all the hard work...watching the sunset over the Med Sea. Dinner was amazing at the Mantra Bay restaurant. My boss, our country manager and I sat outside on the deck while watching the sun set and the waves crash on the beach. Dinner was AMAZING! The wine was so refreshing and the food just so mmmmm. Shrimp with figs and cheeze - yum! What a relaxing evening - only two more proposals to do and then it's homeward bound!

Sunset over Med Sea in Tel Aviv

Bruce & I at dinner at Mantra Bay on the beach