And happiness follows.
Box in the sunbeam…
And happiness follows.
Category: just plain fun
Bark to the Park
It was a beautiful day for walking outside with a doggie … and several hundred Columbians did that downtown Saturday as part of Bark to the Park, the annual fundraiser for the local pet rescue shelter Pawmetto Lifeline. My friend and work colleague Bess invited me to join her team and help her walk her two dogs, Buddy and Pickles. Buddy was friendly and enjoyed nosing around the other dogs; Pickles was, ahem, overstimulated by all the excitement. But both behaved well and didn’t foul the streets!
The walk was led by the local police canine unit.
Buddy, ever sociable, was ready for his closeup:
Pickles wouldn’t consent to having a picture made by himself; we had to catch him in an unguarded moment.
The State newspaper has a great roundup of photos.
Caturday
Just because she’s cute….
Pickles says hi.
So thankful
Today I had brunch with a dear friend after a morning of busy activity … Exercise and a chiropractic appointment. She brought me up to speed on all the cool stuff she’s doing, like organizing a retreat next weekend. Then it was off to do errands in a leisurely, no-stress way. … Just the way I’d love to live my life if only I could be one of the ladies who lunch! Working for the man has its perks (hello, generous benefits) but that 9-10 hour block out of the middle of the day can be a little trying. Like my dad always said, the only problem with work is that it’s just so daily. . . .
Crossing items off the to-do list is one of the best feelings in the world! I have a lot more to do but my computer at home has gone iffy, so I’m taking that as a sign I should relax now.
And many other things are going well… A friend who was in ICU was moved to a regular room earlier this week. Today she’s going home! A great praise.
Hilarious!
For Lent I gave up watching television. I wasn’t obnoxious about it; if I was over at someone’s house and they had the TV on I’d just let it go and focus on something else. But I really don’t miss it … So much so that I’ve yet to turn it on again. So of course I now get this invitation in the mail:
Breakfast of champions, NY style
Here’s what I’m noshing on my last morning in NYC:
Dinner at the “wurst” restaurant in town
Ever since I read about this place in the New York issue of Gourmet Magazine (in 2004!) I’ve wanted to go to Hallo Berlin. The restaurant is located on 10th Avenue, between 44th and 45th, so it’s just far enough from the Times Square area to feel like you’re in a residential part of the city.
The restaurant’s exterior awning proudly proclaims “Germany.”
I had the two wurst plate, which came with sauerkraut, red cabbage and spaetzle. Plus cabbage and potato soup to start. I choose bratwurst and knockwurst.
It was delicious!
A delicious New York lunch
I had to, just had to hit the Grand Central Station Oyster Bar while I’m in NYC. The place was only a short subway ride away from my hotel – in fact, all I had to do was hop on the shuttle from Times Square and 42nd to Grand Central Station.
I quickly found a place at the bar and ordered, then sat back to watch the cooks at work.
Since it was only 39 degrees outside I decided to have the oyster stew. It came dusted with paprika.
I could have had lots of different oysters:
Matilda writes back
Look at how well the Algonquin Hotel handles publicity… they have an email address for their cat! This is excellent PR. These are my email exchanges with Matilda… Start at the bottom and work your way up.
From: MAlgonquin Cat <MAlgonquinCat@algonquinhotel.com>
Date: March 21, 2013, 10:16:42 AM EDT
To: J
Subject: RE: My blog post about YOU
FURbulous! Thank you.
From: J
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 10:22 AM
To: MAlgonquin Cat
Subject: Re: My blog post about YOU
Thank you for the info… I’ve just updated my blog.
On Mar 20, 2013, at 10:12 AM, MAlgonquin Cat <MAlgonquinCat@algonquinhotel.com> wrote:
Very CATabulous – thank you but please note I am the 10th cat and the third Matilda – the first seven cats were all males named Hamlet.
Please come by anytime. I like making new FURiends
Have a PURRfect day
^..^
><
Matilda
From: j
Sent: Wednesday, March 20, 2013 8:57 AM
To: MAlgonquin Cat
Subject: My blog post about YOU
Hi Matilda,
I’m visiting NYC for a few days and dropped by to catch a glimpse of you. The concierge was so kind; he let me come in and get a picture. Thought you might like a link to my blog post:
https://auntjim.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/the-algonquins-most-famous-guest/
I had to stay somewhere else due to my conference in the city; hope to stay at your place next time I come to town.
J
More things I will miss when I leave New York City….
… Aside from the wonderful Broadway shows, the tempo, the colorful streets – I’m going to miss my daily Starbucks treat, courtesy of the Nielsen Norman Group, and the New York Post.
Notes from Aunt Gem 