Sunday, June 29, 2008

Put on your rally caps!



In a couple of weeks, NYC will host the baseball All-Star game in Yankee Stadium. For those of you who don't follow baseball, this is the last year games will be played in the old Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. Apparently this is rather significant for Yankee fans (of which we are not) and many people are coming to New York this summer for one last chance to see the Yankees play in their old stadium. Every Sunday for the past few weeks we have had visitors who have come for just this purpose. Paul makes it a point to make these families feel welcome and when he finds out they have come just to see the Yankees play, he looks at the kids and says, "you know what Yankees spelled backwards is?" Paul hesitates and then answers, "Satan." You can see the kids furiously working this out in their little heads until they realize that Paul is joking. It's a joke that always works. This week, Paul's former missionary companion, Bruce Nelson and his son will be here for the weekend to watch two games. Paul and I are going to the game on Saturday with friends, Andy and Karen Esparza from Austin. Ordinarily we wouldn't be so excited to see the Yankees play, but they are playing the Red Sox. Should be an exciting time. In celebration of the All-Star Game, Lady Liberty has gotten on board. See photos. We are still searching for the Red Sox Lady Liberty, but suspect she must be under heavy guard or already demolished by Yankee fans.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Killing me softly.....



We spent our Saturday exploring Central Park and came upon a group of kids playing guitars and singing. Upon closer inspection, we discovered it was the "graduation" of the kids from the Roberta Flack School of Music. And guess who was in the house? That's right Roberta and me!!
She agreed to have a photo with me just after we sang our duet of "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face." I'm not sure she knew we were singing a duet, but let me just say, it was good. You just never know who you are going to meet in the Park.

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Seattle's Best

Megan and Matt have so many entertainment options right out their front door. The Seattle Art Museum is across the street and this fine movie theater is right next door.














Visiting the International District doesn't even require a passport. In the days before we were so politically correct, I believe we may have referred to this area as China Town.














Blake and I had a good time at the children's library, but it was hard for him to understand that we were limited to just one hour on the computer per visit.














Megs, Blake and I took the water ferry to West Seattle and not only discovered a fun beach, but a very fun bakery. Unfortunately the photo does not do justice to the cinnamon rolls. Just imagine that each one of these is the size of your head and then you get the picture. Yes, we did indulge and I would highly recommend taking them up on the offer to heat it up before you eat it.














Pike's Market was an adventure. Flying fish, flowers of all varieties, fruits and vegetables fresh from the farm and grandma's riding pigs were all part of the fun. I suppose you could say, I went hog wild in Seattle. Thanks to Matt, Megan and Blake, truly Seattle's Best, for making it such a wonderful week.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Laughter is the "breast" medicine

It has been fun getting acquainted with the different neighborhoods in the city. For example, if you live by the Flatiron building, you are in the Flatiron District. If you are east of Central Park, you would say that you live on the upper east side. Right now Paul and I are living south of the park, but east of it so we are on the east side. Our new condo will be on the Upper West Side. Other neighborhoods are Battery Park, Lower East Side, Downtown, Harlem, Chelsea, Union Square, Times Square, Hell's Kitchen, etc. I had a meeting on the Upper West Side today and decided that while I was there I would explore a little bit and see what businesses and shops would be in our new neighborhood. I was delighted to find that one business had a particularly good sense of humor. I walked past and had to back up and read the sign again because it was an imaging center and it was called Upper Breast Side Imaging Center. It somehow seemed a bit awkward to stick my head in and ask if I could take a photo so I didn't. But as I was walking along I began to wonder if for those of us with a few years on us and a few more years with gravity doing its trick if we would have to go to the Lower Breast Side Imaging Center.