An Orphan Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

David, our friend, took a hodgepodge of familyless New York City urbanites and invited them togother for a tasty Thanksgiving celebration at his uncle's vacant spot. We all gathered in the huge place on the 5th floor of an Manhattan highrise. Food was served and good times were had by all. But, it was no Michalowski feast. The mad scientest cook, dad, hadn't been cooking for 3 days straight. So we didn't get to enjoy thanksgiving Estacada style: 5 different types of cookies, a ham, turkey, smoked salmon, 8 different types of salad, baked french bread, pumpernickel bread, sour dough bread, mango chutney salsa and whatever else dad usually cooks up. We missed it, but we did the best we could in NYC. At least we had friends and family (Autumn and Eric) to share the holiday with. See everyone soon for the Christmas and New Years holidays.

More Visitors... Yeah!

Rockefeller Center
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Autumn and Eric showed up. Well didn't really just show up. It was kind of expected for about 6 or 7 months. It looks like NYC has suited them and they've suited NYC well. They've taken advantage of the food, plays, subway, culture and East Coast Time Zone (everyone stays up here until about 2 in the morning). Enjoy the pictures.

New Moma Exhibit

A couple weeks ago Michelle and I checked out the Museum of Moder Art newest show, SAFE: Design That Takes on Risk. It was great, and lucky for you (and me) it's all online. Check it out. It's all about crazy and everyday things that humans use for for safety. Think steel shark suit, breathing mask and a bike that breaks in half if it's stolen. I especially liked the Tsunami signs that were from the Oregon Coast.

Vermont. Just like Oregon.

Rainy Hike
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Did we bring Oregon to Vermont or did Vermont bring Oregon to us? Either way, we got rain. Lots and lots of glorious, beautiful, wet rain. And we loved it.

That being said, rain on the East Coast is a bit different than the rain on the West coast. Rain is rain here. It comes down like waterfalls. It feels like movie rain… looks. And our rainstorm didn’t stop for over a week. Elijah and Chamille swam through the first day of it and then left. I just kept swimming. Swimming to work. Swimming to class. And then swimming to Vermont.

The famous Vermont colors had been knocked down by the pounding rain, so instead of looking at them in the trees, Michelle and I walked over them in our hike. The ground was ablaze in yellows, reds, oranges and a constant coating of moisture that brought a glint to everything.

The creeks busted their banks and we were washed out of two hikes. But on the third hike, a beautiful spot outside of Danby Vermont, Michelle and I trekked a couple miles to a small pond in the Green Mountains. On the hike we ran into one man and two dogs. And we soaked it all up.

It’s amazing what life weather can bring to a place. Everything explodes with energy. It changes colors, moves and transforms places from the beginning of the storm to the end. City, country or forest—anywhere a storm happens to touch, transformations are made. Keep the weather coming. I love the fall. I can’t wait for the winter. I’ll just keep taking it all in.

Urban Planning

Perfect
Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

The perfect place to begin and end a night in New York.

Brooklyn, it's got it all.

P.S. There’s nothing like storefront churches.

Katrina Crab Feed

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Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

We all went out on Saturday to a crab feed fundraiser for the victims of Katrina.

Guess Who Just Got Married?

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Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

If you said Brad and Angelina, you'd be wrong. But if you said Senator Wieden, you'd be right. And he decided to have his wedding pictures done in Central Park. Camille just happened to notice him and ran up for a quick handshake. I snapped a few pictures and ask her if she'd questioned the senator about his vote to confirm Judge Roberts. She didn't. Nice of her, seeing it's the guys wedding pictures... but that was shitty vote on his part.

Us in Central Park

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Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Elijah and Camille in Central Park

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Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Central Park on a Beautiful Sunday

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Originally uploaded by Polish Carpetlayer.

Central park was going off today. Elijah, Camille, Michelle and myself took a stroll through the park today. We saw sand volleyball, skaters dancing to music, acrobatic performers, classical music, boats, painters, kids, adults, grandparents and everyone else of every color enjoying the park the day and NYC. Wish you could have been here with us.