wednesday

I walk to work, but most days a Vespa looks way more appealing.

Pumpkin muffins were in the oven by 6AM and spilled all over the oven bottom by 6:17 when I tried taking them out. Of course this happened. Things only go wrong when you plan to give bake goods to someone else. Let me tell you, a piping hot mini muffin looks pretty pitiful slumped on the oven bottom, slowly scorching a burn mark into it's side.

I haven't made lasagna in years because lasagna means glorious ricotta and mozzarella to me. Lots of it. Rire doesn't do dairy, so there's that. I caved and finally made a vegetarian version last night, My Green Diet's version.  I added spinach, parsley and basil. It was good. Really good.  But I still miss the cheese. I compensated with too many slices of buttered French bread.

I need to take the collar off the Ayashe blouse one last time and just cut new fabric. I will fix this.

Up until today, the weather has been good. The kind of good that tricks you into thinking long marathon training runs are perfectly reasonable. Not that I'm running a fall marathon, but it's makes me nostalgic.  I won't be doing another for a while, but I think Portland OR would be a nice welcome back when I do.

must keep learning, blographer 2012

What a day!  I have deep rooted loyalty to Adorama.  Both my D70 and D300 were purchased there (I spent a few years working on the same block as their store, this resulted in many expensive lunch breaks...).  So when the email popped up about this event I was intrigued and even more so when I saw Rachel Devine - AKA Sesame Ellis - would be speaking. I wasn't familiar with the other speakers, but it all looked promising and it did not disappoint. Great advice and strategies, personal stories and a lot of food for thought regarding the battle over whether to watermark or not.

Erin, Vivienne and Amanda even offered up a little more time and joined a few of us on a walk to the Highline after the event.  Fielding more questions in between band-aid applications (new shoes and long NYC blocks are not friends).

So now it's time to make some plans and set some goals!

metal work with my dad

Thinking about home...

the east end

(I think a marriage can be measured by your ability to successfully set up camp at 10PM, after a day of pouring rain, with nothing but a small lantern for light.)

We were feeling confident after camping last weekend in Hudson, so we upped the stakes and headed to Wildwood State Park in Wading River, NY.  I had spontaneously bought stand up paddle boarding lessons on Living Social a few months ago and I saw an opportunity!  We'd drive out Friday afternoon, camp that night, take the SUP lessons Saturday morning and head back to Brooklyn Saturday afternoon.  The perfect summer weekend!  Best laid plans and all that...  Rire had to work late so we didn't hit the road till 8:30, which has it's upside - less LIE traffic.  But still, the downside - setting up camp in the dark isn't any one's idea of a good time.  We took the divide and conquer approach.  He tackled the tent and I got the grill going (note to self, next time bring plates...).  In no time we were sitting back and eating while watching our neighboring campers struggle with their tents.  Ahhh, public campgrounds!  

(He may or may not have snored all night.  Good thing I love him...)

I grew up camping but it's been years (decades?) so my gear has dwindled to pretty much non existent.  I had to borrow my nephews sleeping bag...  Rire however loooves gear and has had the tent for years. Why we haven't been using it all along I don't know.  Better late than never I guess.

Our SUP lesson was in Southampton and we debated leaving the tent and coming back for it later, but our motivation was strong.  The tent came down, breakfast was eaten and we were on the road again to this beautiful spot.  Quick instruction from Hamptons Adventure Watersports and we were ready to go.

I wasn't sure what to expect, but I loved it.  Training and running marathons for the past few years has it's own set of advantages - but I think we've been missing out on spontaneous adventures like this. Long runs dictated our weekends and kept us from exploring other things.  SUP was fantastic.  It was more relaxing than I had expected, I could have gone for hours.

We were on a roll - the dubious late and rainy start on Friday had turned into an actual vacation.  So why head home now?  Our fellow paddle boarders suggested a nearby beach in Sag Harbor.  Which we now think of as a little peace of heaven.  Uncrowded, easy parking, calm water.  Yes please.  We swam, we napped. Swam, nap, swam, nap...