Houston Week 1

I am perfectly aware that I am a couple of weeks behind, but I am charging ahead...

After Ida and I arrived in Houston, I had a quick turn around- Bryant and I went to Austin for the weekend for the V&E retreat. It was very fun and I got to meet all of those crazy lawyers he had been working with. Even met up with Amy Langbein for some breakfast tacos on our way out of town.

When we got back Barry and Kathy left for a week in Breckenridge, Colorado--- jealous---, and I got the official transfer to the Houston Del Frisco's. Yes, the world of 32oz Domestic Kobe Dry Aged Ribeyes did not lose their cutest server because of a silly summer in Houston.

We also went to an Astro's game at the Juice Box (Minute Maid Park) with Angela and a few of her work buddies. The Astro's lost to the Yankees and the parallel symbolism of Houston vs. New York was just too much for us all to bear.

After just a short week, Ida found herself quite at home at the Lee's!

Reunions

Well, many have asked how Ida handled the reunion--- it had been 2 1/2 months of being apart. Thank goodness I had my camera at hand to capture the event! And yes, that is me talking in a very high pitched baby voice... sorry about that.

Ida was in great shape--- even kept her girly figure. Some say that is because of the 4-a-days she was having with Grumps (Steve Langbein). They usually went on 3-4 walks a day and when things got a little hot, Grumps would carry a "walk backpack" full of all sorts of hydrating tools. They had definately bonded while Bryant and I were away and I am impressed that I was able to tear them apart!

The Manhattan School of Music class of 2004 had a mini-reunion in Ft. Worth while I was in town. I missed my friend Hadley Reinert by a day, but I did manage to track down Christian Reinert (he was performing for the Ft. Worth Opera at the time) and Brandon Poor (now a Grand Prarie po-po police officer). Though Brandon had to leave for work, it was great to catch up a little with everyone! And check out Bwandon's policeman costume... he even has a gun and a tazer.

El Fenix was my first stop after my airplane landed, but Amy, Dad, Zac, Tyler and myself went to a fun new Dallas spot, Times Ten Cellars. It is a winery and wine tasting room and has a dog friendly porch... which we love now that Ida has calmed down a little in her advanced age (she turned 4 on May 30 by the way). The best part about Times Ten is that you can have pizza delivered to the porch from a nearby pizza joint called Scalini's... a Lakewood must!


I ended my 2 days in Dallas by doing the unthinkable... I separated Ida and my dad. It might have been one of the saddest moments ever. Ida was very excited about the ride and did not realize the gravity of the situation (probably for the best) and Grumps put on his brave face. Ida slept most of the way to H-town and did not know what to think when Milly the cat greeted us as we pulled up to the Lee's.


The final reunion of the week: A Texas couple and their dog!

CBA's in WDC

I flew back to NYC to work a little and to pack up for Houston (yes two 50 lbs. boxes made their way down to humid H-town... well done me). My week in NYC was uneventful other than work and a dinner or two.

Before heading back to Texas, I took the train to DC to by my Mom's first official house-guest. It was so much fun. We spent Saturday in Alexandria--- we ate at Gatsby's Tavern (apparently a George Washington favorite) and did a little awning-hopping during a serious rainstorm.

We also had great pedi's with matching purple toes!

Dinner was amazing in a "Jardine" of a local French Bistro. How would you pronouce "Le Gaulois"?!

Sunday was a serious tourist day... Eastern Market, the brand new Museum of Crime and Punishment... brand new and has everything from the Bonnie and Clyde's shoot-up car to cop car simulators.

Lunch was at Old Ebbit Grill for crabcake sandwiches... one of my favs!

And we finished our tour at the Mall's Museum of Natural History to check out the hope diamond... inappropriate pictures are always a must with large stuffed elephants! We finished the day with popcorn on the back porch/balcony of mom's "compartment"... equipped with twinkle lights!

On Monday I followed mom to work and saw the official Office on Violence Against Women. Our little SPADOVAW is quite the CBA (cheif bad-A). Thanks for the great weekend mom!

For Whom the Bell Tolls

From Toledo I took the Megabus to Chicago and met up with Sara Zimmer Cordell and Kristin Klungvedt. The reason for such a reunion: The Wedding of Tricia Anderson and Brendan Bell. What a celebration indeed!

Chi Omega's galore and, not to mention, some serious SMU Mustang pride!!! Featured in the above photo we have Iota Alpha pledge classes ranging over 30 years: Marybeth Anderson, Laura Moran, Laura Moran's mom, Julia Stump Morrison, Alyson Cooper Averitt, Kristin Klungvedt, Sara Zimmer Cordell, and the new Mrs. Tricia Anderson Bell.

Sara and I took advantage of our "day of the wedding" morning in Chicago. We began the day with and architecture boat tour of Chicago (yes, that is what the cool tourists do). We learned all you could ever know about the buildings of Chicago--- my most celebrated was the new hotel the guy who won the first apprentice is building for Trump, Oprah's building, and the very cool Lyric Opera House. We shopped along Michigan Avenue and visited exotic stores like Banana Republic and ended our day with high tea at the Drake Hotel. The food was amazing and we both made excellent tea flavor selections--- if i do say so myself.

O-why-O-why-O did i ever leave Ohio?

Yes, it is true... my stint with the Toledo Opera has come to a close.

First, please let me introduce to you the amazing family that sheltered and fed me during my time in Toledo. Phyllis and Ford Cauffiel have one of the most beautiful houses I have ever seen, and they let me invade their back apartment for two months. And also provided me with a Wii and Guitar Hero--- I might have been a little spoiled!

Ford was my movie buddy. I almost met my match in 'how many movies one can watch in a day.' Ford is also quite the social butterfly. He knows just about everyone in Toledo and always loves great conversation! Phyllis was my caretaker! She is an absolute joy and always has a smile on her face. She landscapes her entire grounds and has the most beautiful array of flowers and plants... even cactus. She also feeds the neighborhood birds and 'marmots'... so I was lucky enough to spot a gopher or two, bunny rabbits, cardinals, a hawk, blue jays, and ducks galore! The final 2 members of the Cauffiel clan are Sunshine and Darwin. Darwin is a parrot who never quite warmed up to me. But he did greet me daily with a "good morning," and if I arrived home and forgot to say hi, I would often get a very sassy "ummmm, HELLLLOOO?" Ford and Darwin are best buddies! Sunshine was my dog away from home, and she rules the house. She mainly sleeps on top of the breakfast table, and she can sniff out a tube of lipstick from across Toledo. Here Sunshine is modeling her "Doggles" that she wears when riding in Phyllis's roadster.

And that brings us to my last point of fascination with the Cauffiel Clan. One of their biggest passions is for antique cars. They always kept 4 or 5 at home in the garage, but they also have a private museum in town. David (the tenor) and I got a private tour of their collection and it was so amazing! They have everything from a Duesenberg to a "titty pink" T-Bird to a Model A Ford Coupe. I learned so much about cars while I was there--- and even got to experience the acquiring (through auction) of their newest addition, a Desoto Airstream.

So, when I was not watching movies with Ford (who i convinced to be a Netflix-er by the way) or chit-chatting with Phyllis... I sang a little. Here are a few pictures of what kept the Toledo Young Artists busy most of the time. Jenny the Soprano and David the Tenor are both now living in New York City--- we just can't get enough of each other!

So, after ten weeks, I have collected a few "must sees" of Toledo, Ohio.

1. The Cauffiel Car Museum

2. The Toledo Art Museum (thanks to Sara Zimmer Cordell's 'nana' for the tour)

3. The Toledo Glass Museum... very cool!

4. A Mudhens Game

5. The Libbey Glass Factory outlet

Travelin' Man

For the three of you who have requested a new blog entry... here you go. Although I have no idea how you could ever get sick of the "California" video!

Since leaving Toledo, I have been quite the traveling guru: Toledo to Chicago via bus, Chicago to New York via plane(s), New York to DC via train, DC to Dallas via plane, Dallas to Houston via car, Houston to Austin via car, and then back to Houston again. Wowzers!

So the following week's worth of entries will cover my adventures. Please stay tuned and, until then, enjoy the dreamy eyes of Ricky Nelson and also discuss why this song title should be changed to "The Playah." You can also think about how awesome the "bom, bom, bom, bom" guys is!