2 January 2010

We are certainly starting the new year out well. Yesterday, the beautiful Fort Worth Zoo, and many good friends. Today, the Rahr, the Yucatan Taco Stand, the Flying Saucer and a home of good friends. Great beer and good friends, great food and good friends, more beer and dominoes, a farewell and good friends, and then . . . more beer, charades, a crazy dice game and yet more good friends.

We found ourselves downtown Fort Worth, parking in the garage, right at sunset. The Bass Performance Hall is a beautiful building in bad lighting, but with the glow of the firey sunset reflecting off the giant angels, it was breathtaking. I am delighted that my photo captured at least a part of that moment.

Thanks to Mary and Donny and Bert and Kara and Amber and Chris and Jay and Jason and James and Jill and Brett and Jennifer and Brian for filling our day with laughter and love. (Did I miss anybody? I hope not! That’s what I get for waiting too long to write it down!) Best of luck and happy adventures to Jason as he heads overseas. And to James as he heads back overseas. We miss you already!

~MB

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1 January 2010

After sleeping quite a bit later than I’d planned, I was getting ready for our annual New Year’s Day Zoo visit, when I learned I’d be going without my husband. Kyle is dealing with some very severe back pain, and the thought of walking around all day on concrete was more than he could handle. If there’s anything I completely understand, it is back pain—so off I went, to join our friends, while Kyle stayed home with the pups.

As always, I had a wonderful time at the Fort Worth Zoo—Dan’s stories as he leads the Zoo Tour, are both educational and very entertaining. And, I am one of many folks who would not miss it for the world.

One of the highlights of the trip for me, is always the visit to the Primate exhibit—specifically, our playtime with the gorillas. And, yes, I do mean “with” the gorillas. Dan takes the time to teach the group how to act in such a way that *we* are interesting to *them* instead of just the other way around. Thousands of people visit the gorillas and walk up to the glass and smile and stare and point. The gorillas are bored of that behaviour, and in fact, direct eye contact is seen as a sign of disrespect and aggression in their world. So, Dan has taught us to gather far from the glass wall and to not look directly into their faces. We approach the glass one or two at a time, and with bowed posture and eyes down. We run fingers through our hair, play with cameras and cell phones, even groom each other. At that point, we are acting more like gorillas than people, and we catch their attention. They want to approach us and figure us out—and those who are watching get awesome photos. While I prefer to interact than to take photos (the big silverbacks always seem to really like my long hair and today was no exception!) I did take this one today, of a young male that we are pretty sure was trying to act like one of us. He laughed, pointed at us, and just generally acted goofy for long enough for some cute photos to happen.

At the end of my day out, I returned home to find that Kyle was beginning to feel a little better and had started a meatloaf in the crock pot. Dinner was exceptionally tasty and was the perfect first dinner of the new year.

~MB

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31 December 2009

We enjoyed a relaxed day, leading up to our attendance at the New Year’s Eve party being thrown by friends Bill and Kathleen.    I snapped this photo of Kyle and Cormac as we watched television and considered what we were going to cook for brunch.  It was a very strange day for us—the first New Year’s Eve in sixteen years when we’ve been home, but weren’t hosting a party.  I think I’d have to say we were feeling both relieved, and a little lost.  I know I actually missed all the crazy preparations we usually go through—and the excitement. 

And also, uppermost in our minds today, are all the incredibly wonderful memories of our Hogmanay Holiday in the UK last winter.  On this day, one year ago, we were walking the streets of our home away from home—Edinburgh. We were sitting in a pub just off Princes Street; we were attending the biggest New Year’s Eve party on the planet.  How very grateful we are for that exciting experience and those memories. 

But, this year, the excitement was all at Bill and Kathleen’s house where, by the time we arrived, the party was in full swing.  The table was full of yummy food, the house full of good friends, and the fabulous vintage cocktails were flowing!  I started my night with the vintage cocktail called a “blue moon!”  I figured that was appropriate, considering that if we had been able to see the moon  through the cloud cover, we’d have seen a beautiful full moon—the second of the month, and thus, a “blue moon.”  Everything our beloved bartenders Glenn and Dan mixed for us was absolutely delicious all night long.  And, at midnight, Kyle and I toasted the New Year with the special bottle of Blue Moon Grand Cru that we took with us to the party.  We said our goodbyes shortly after all the kissing and singing, and were pleased that the drive home was swift and easy.

And so, we welcome 2010.  Even though there was no beating of the house with branches or firstfooting at our door, we trust that the year will bring happiness and contentment to us and to all our friends and family. May it be a year of joy and accomplishment—a year of love and light and laughter.

Happy Hogmanay!

~MB

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30 December 2009

In the midst of my annual cleaning binge, I had a wonderful distraction today. Our friends Jene and Sandra and their daughter Chardonnay, from the Fredericksburg Winery stopped by for a visit! And, not only did we enjoy sharing stories and learning more about one another, but, in a gesture of the extreme generosity we have learned to associate with Jene—we now have a few more bottles of his yummy wine to enjoy. I love my friends!

~MB

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2 January 2010
Marita Beth & I made a snap decision to visit the Rahr Brewery today. We met Mary & Donny, Kara, and Bert there for – once again – a good time. After a few beers there, we retired to the Yucatan Taco Stand on Magnolia for much-needed food. From there, we headed to the Flying Saucer in downtown Ft. Worth to carouse with Jason before he moves to Florence, Italy for a semester. Safe journeys, Jason.

Cheers

~KR (Written on 3 January 2010)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/8.0
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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31 December 2009
On this evening last year, my wife & I were celebrating the arrival of the New Year with hundreds of thousands of other people on the streets of Edinburgh on one of the most exceptional vacations I have ever taken. This year, Marita Beth & I celebrated the arrival of the New Year and the 15th anniversary of some dear friends at their house. Two distinctly different, yet wonderful, ways to celebrate the New Year.

I am hoping that the door symbology will, in fact, help me close the door on 2009 and open a new door to a wonderful New Year.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 3 January 2010)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 250
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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30 December 2009
In our house, we have two lovely border collies. Border collies are very energetic dogs with a lot of energy to burn. Since our backyard is on the small side, we need to take them elsewhere. Hence, we have dog leads of various types, shapes & colours. This is one of them.

Now, if I only knew how to use it.
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 3 January 2010)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.4
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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28 December 2009
One of my favourite things about the Christmas holidays is the lack of people in the office. That means no interruptions, no phone calls, no meetings. That means a lot of good, quality work gets done in a short time. Some people say that every day should be like Christmas. If I could get the peace & quiet at the office every day, it would be like Christmas.

Cheers.

~KR (Written on 3 January 2010)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 320
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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27 December 2009
For Christmas, my parents got for us a device called a Vinturi. The Vinturi is designed to immediately aerate your wine one glass at a time. It’s remarkeably convenient and an excellent gift for the wine lover.

Thanks Mum & Da!
Cheers.

~KR (Written on 3 January 2010)

Camera: Canon PowerShot SD850 IS
Exposure: 0.125 sec (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.8 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -1/3 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

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