Thursday, February 19, 2009
Dinner last night - brussel sprouts & pancetta prepared by Andy!
He made me rainbow chard too...I wish I took a pic of that one before I gobbled it up! Gotta love my green vegetables!Valentine's Cupcakes!
Andy made me these cupcakes for Valentine's Day - chocolate souffle with peanut butter buttercream. Yum!New addition to our family!
This Valentine's day Andrew and I decided that we wanted to share our love with another creature - we decided to adopt another cat. And in doing so we are ultimately saving a life. By adopting Kennedy, we have allowed someone else to adopt another cat, and that is an immeasurable gift. Animal rights and quality of life is something that both Andrew and I feel very strongly about, so we are thrilled to have the means, the time, and the love to bestow upon Kennedy.
Where did we come up with her name you ask? Andy and I adopted Kennedy from the Humane Society (who were amazing btw), and they had been calling her Caroline, after Caroline Kennedy. Apparently the staff at the HS had named her and her brothers after famous Kennedy's. We thought Kennedy was cute on its own, so we dropped the Caroline.
I have to say that adopting this kitten has already brought just joy into our home, and we've only had her for 2 days now. She really is a bundle of love, and both Andy and I hope that her and Cleo become friends and companions. I will keep you updated on the progress with that..
Friday, February 6, 2009
2-6
What are you grateful for?
All I can hope for with the question that you just read is that you are grateful for something. I feel like I originally wanted to start off this posting on another foot, but I just wanted to ask that. Last night, while waiting for the train, I watched a woman walk into the subway station with a gigantic German Shepard. She was blind. This was her guide dog. The dog was well trained, and well mannered. He sat there, focusing on his task, to guide this woman onto the train. That is his purpose. He is grateful that she grants him love, food, and shelter...and she is grateful that he is her eyes.
What struck me about this whole observation was that all this time, everyone was staring at her within 10 feet. The thing is, they were not staring to be rude, however they were waiting to make sure she got on the train. Different trains come on the same tracks, so they were waiting in case she asked. She was grateful that we all were there. She may have had no clue that people were staring at her, but just hearing other people around gave her comfort in a dark place.
I think we all get caught up in different things at different times. Losing my job has really been somewhat of an amazing thing. I have been learning so much about myself over the last few years, and every single thing that seemed devastating, well it was just nothing in hindsight. Its the people, the events, the experiences that make us truly happy. The woman on the subway platform had no one but her dog. And she found comfort in him, and found comfort in us. It is the fact that I am getting married to the most wonderful girl in the world that makes me truly happy. Not a job, not a car, not a possession. My love is not something to be possessed. Things that are possessions can be broken. My love cannot.
Amanda's superior told her this quote this morning, "it's not the man who makes more money that is richer, rather it is the man that knows how to save the money he makes that is rich." It can be taken in many ways, but I relate it in the fact that you can have $1 million dollars, but if you spend it all, all your time is spent doing just that. Instead, if you focus on what is really important, well the fancy dinners, cars, clothes, jewels...well, those are a distant place in your life and you get true riches: giving to others and making yourself and everyone else amazingly happy.
As far as our wedding goes, we booked off rooms in an amazing Brooklyn Hotel, went for our cake tasting, and added to our "things" with the purchase of a sewing machine. Amanda is going to make fabric flowers for the groomsmen, and her talent will be shown to all. She is an amazing artist, and I am proud to be able to wear one of her lovely creations on the best day ever.
Our cake lady is awesome, a true artist and businesswoman in that she is not pretentious (like some other places called Sweet, How about You Do What We Want For An Expensive Price...its not really called that, more of an inside joke), and she literally started her business in her kitchen. I admire people like that.
The hotel we booked, is "the nicest hotel I have ever seen" courtesy of Ivy, a bridesmaid. So there you have it.
I will just now share a small list of what I am grateful for, just to perhaps get you started...
I am thankful for Amanda, my family (which includes hers), my legs, my sight, my health, BBQ sauce, Cleopatra the cat, my friends, our friends, Burger King, White Castle, Amanda's burps, her acceptance of my farting, our love, GQ magazine, and you for reading this.
May you all have a blessed and wonderful day!
All I can hope for with the question that you just read is that you are grateful for something. I feel like I originally wanted to start off this posting on another foot, but I just wanted to ask that. Last night, while waiting for the train, I watched a woman walk into the subway station with a gigantic German Shepard. She was blind. This was her guide dog. The dog was well trained, and well mannered. He sat there, focusing on his task, to guide this woman onto the train. That is his purpose. He is grateful that she grants him love, food, and shelter...and she is grateful that he is her eyes.
What struck me about this whole observation was that all this time, everyone was staring at her within 10 feet. The thing is, they were not staring to be rude, however they were waiting to make sure she got on the train. Different trains come on the same tracks, so they were waiting in case she asked. She was grateful that we all were there. She may have had no clue that people were staring at her, but just hearing other people around gave her comfort in a dark place.
I think we all get caught up in different things at different times. Losing my job has really been somewhat of an amazing thing. I have been learning so much about myself over the last few years, and every single thing that seemed devastating, well it was just nothing in hindsight. Its the people, the events, the experiences that make us truly happy. The woman on the subway platform had no one but her dog. And she found comfort in him, and found comfort in us. It is the fact that I am getting married to the most wonderful girl in the world that makes me truly happy. Not a job, not a car, not a possession. My love is not something to be possessed. Things that are possessions can be broken. My love cannot.
Amanda's superior told her this quote this morning, "it's not the man who makes more money that is richer, rather it is the man that knows how to save the money he makes that is rich." It can be taken in many ways, but I relate it in the fact that you can have $1 million dollars, but if you spend it all, all your time is spent doing just that. Instead, if you focus on what is really important, well the fancy dinners, cars, clothes, jewels...well, those are a distant place in your life and you get true riches: giving to others and making yourself and everyone else amazingly happy.
As far as our wedding goes, we booked off rooms in an amazing Brooklyn Hotel, went for our cake tasting, and added to our "things" with the purchase of a sewing machine. Amanda is going to make fabric flowers for the groomsmen, and her talent will be shown to all. She is an amazing artist, and I am proud to be able to wear one of her lovely creations on the best day ever.
Our cake lady is awesome, a true artist and businesswoman in that she is not pretentious (like some other places called Sweet, How about You Do What We Want For An Expensive Price...its not really called that, more of an inside joke), and she literally started her business in her kitchen. I admire people like that.
The hotel we booked, is "the nicest hotel I have ever seen" courtesy of Ivy, a bridesmaid. So there you have it.
I will just now share a small list of what I am grateful for, just to perhaps get you started...
I am thankful for Amanda, my family (which includes hers), my legs, my sight, my health, BBQ sauce, Cleopatra the cat, my friends, our friends, Burger King, White Castle, Amanda's burps, her acceptance of my farting, our love, GQ magazine, and you for reading this.
May you all have a blessed and wonderful day!
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