Summer Sequence

July 25th, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

It’s been a busy few weeks, but now two batches of jam (better late than never) are cooling on the kitchen counter, so I have a few minutes to catch up. Besides work, audio work, Gang training, Supernatural nights, and Gilda’s committee work, I managed to fit in a trip to see the Red Wings play with Heather and Miss Julia:

I was also lucky enough to spend some quality time with fellow Bradford Alum Tammy during Zombie Weekend:

Matthew and Sarah’s three-week visit to Penn Yan went by far too fast! Here’s a picture of Matthew and Jennie sharing a pool-side goodbye hug:

There are a few more pictures from their visit in the Summer 2010 album here. And here’s a shot of Linds, me, Matthew, Kim, Andy, and Sarah after a night of swimming and pizza:

I wasn’t here for this one, but it’s definitely worth posting (thanks to Mama for remembering to take photos!) – Dad and his big sisters, Phyllis and Joanne:

The Dowds invited me to help celebrate Alex’s high school graduation, and Karen thought it would be a good time for a day care photo. So, here’s me (with Rachael’s son, Charlie), Rachael and Bright, and Karen and Myles:

Richmonds from Arizona, South Carolina, and Florida popped up for a visit after the Fourth of July. Lots of pictures from their visit here. And here’s one of Tracy, Debbie, Steve, and Mom.

Today is the Ironman Lake Placid, and we’re all cheering on Gang trainers Alex, Beth, Paul, and Annette as they tackle the 140.6 miles. Here they are at the fundraiser Alex held at The Old Toad, on his way to raising almost $5000 for Gilda’s Club!

While they’re swimming, biking, and marathoning their way to another medal, I’m kicking back with a good book.

Saving the biggest news of all for last… A big welcome to my newest “niece,” Miss Abigail Reese Wesneski! Here she is with her mama and her grandma (photo stolen from Lisa’s Flickr site – thanks, Lis!). I’m flying down to Texas to spend some time with the girls over Labor Day. Can’t wait!

The title of this post is a song from the musical Blood Brothers. It starts:

There’s a few bob in your pocket,
and you’ve got good friends,
and it seems that summer’s never coming to an end.

All’s Right with the World

July 6th, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

It’s only the 6th, but what a July it’s been already! Matthew Charles and his mom have been visiting for a few weeks, and above is one of my favorite pictures from their trip: Matthew on the swingset at Mom and Dad’s. And here’s a good shot of Sarah, me, and Linds on an oddly chilly Thursday afternoon.

My other favorite picture (so far, as I’ll be seeing the Merrills again later this week) is of Matthew and Mom in mid-giggle:

I spent last weekend in DC with Mandy and her fabulous friends. We ate out, we saw a movie, we went to a Nats game, we tubed down the Shenandoah River. And to cap it all off: We watched the fireworks from the South Lawn of the White House! Here’s Evan, me, Carol, and Mandy right as we arrived:

It was an amazing experience – the nicest portable bathrooms you can imagine (!), the friendliest people, Secret Service everywhere, yummy Dove chocolate ice cream bars, lots of beverages, a concert by The Killers, and the most gorgeous backdrop for watching fireworks I’ve ever seen. I guess the Obamas made an appearance, but we didn’t get to experience the meet and greet. Still, thanks to Keri for the amazing, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Here’s me at the White House!

There are more pictures from Sarah and Matthew’s visit in the Summer 2010 album, and lots more from DC here.

In other news, I hit a raccoon with my car, and I had a chipmunk in my apartment! For a few days, I felt like I was living in an evil Disney movie. Ha! And this also happened…

Chav injured his paw again, and has to wear this ridiculous cone. I think it’s been more traumatizing for me than for him! He’s doing much better than he was when I snapped this picture, thankfully!

The title of this post comes from a quote by Ada Louise Huxtable:

Summer is the time when one sheds one’s tensions with one’s clothes, and the right kind of day is 
jeweled balm for the battered spirit. A few of those days and you can become drunk with the belief 
that all’s right with the world.

Look Out, Music City

June 26th, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

A week ago today I arrived back in Rochester after twelve-and-a-half hours in the car. Road tripping to and from Nashville isn’t bad; not having a working air conditioning system in the car when it’s 100+ degrees with the heat index is pretty awful. But I survived it! I took two days to drive down, resting and relaxing for the first night in beautiful (?) Louisville, Kentucky. Where it was already very, very hot. When I arrived in Brentwood on Sunday, Uncle Steve already had an eight-pound brisket cooking in his new smoker. Chris, Mike, Leisl, and I all helped him to eat it that night (picture above is of the boys waiting for their dad to start serving), and then Dan and Sarah wandered back from Bonnaroo to help finish it off.

On Monday, I had dinner with Cindy, who I hadn’t seen in eight years. We had a delicious Mexican dinner at Rose Pepper’s in East Nashville. On Tuesday, I hauled it up to Springfield to have Mexican (what’s up with that?) with John, Sandra, and Crystal.

Tuesday night was Creole (finally, not Mexican!) with Steve in Brentwood. (As you can see, the majority of my time was planned around eating!) On Wednesday, I had brunch with Michelle, Brent, Suttree, and Oliver in Goodlettsville…

…and then I drove over to Murfreesboro to have dinner with Liz, Miss Charlotte, and Chad. Best time of the trip: Charlotte whispering in my ear, “I love you, Wendy!”

On Thursday, I spent a lovely afternoon with Linda, Deanna, and Zane on Coronado Court…

…then met Ran for a Thai dinner and an evening of great conversation.

Friday was Dalts reunion day! I spent the afternoon with my two favorite transplanted New Yorkers (or would that be transplanted Nashvillians?), Chris and Leigh Anna. We ate yummy pizza at Michelangelo’s (sad I didn’t know about this place when I lived there!), and then drove out to East Nashville to meet some old Dalts friends, including Derrick, Josh, Tracy, and Brad.

Drove straight home on Saturday, and have been recuperating ever since. There are more pictures (mostly outtakes from the ones shown here!) in the Nashville 2010 album here. The next adventure: Fourth of July weekend with Mandy in DC!

The Present You Love Most

June 25th, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

I wasn’t away on Father’s Day, but it’s been a very busy week since I got back from Nashville, so I’m just getting around to posting. Here’s a picture of the dads who were present on Sunday: Tom, Dad, and Grandpa. There are more pictures from the day (including a visit from Aunt Cindy and an appearance by Meghan and Joe’s new puppy, Jackson) in the Summer 2010 album here.

The title of this post comes from a quote by Bill Cosby:

Fatherhood is pretending the present you love most is soap-on-a-rope.

Chavo Is Twelve

June 25th, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

I was away on Chavo’s birthday (June 18th, or so I decided long ago), so here is the (belated) traditional post in his honor. Happy birthday to my bean!

The Epitome of the Chic Coiffure

June 5th, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

The Legacy of Heroes

May 31st, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

Happy Memorial Day! It was a gorgeous, sunny, hot weekend, full of picnics, parades, family, and friends. On Friday night, Linds, Heather, Jena, and I shared s’mores and lots of laughs over a bonfire in Jena’s backyard. On Saturday, Linds and I braved the Outlet Mall, then enjoyed some pool time and dinner with the family on Ogden Street. Yesterday was a picnic at the Woods and an evening with Heather and the Winchester boys. Today was the parade in PY, more pool time, and a picnic with the family. I’m tan, full, and tired. On to the photos (the one above is of a rose in Mom’s garden)!

Here’s Dad marching with the honor guard in the Penn Yan parade:

And here’s Jennie waving a flag as the parade goes by:

More photos in the new Summer 2010 album here. The title of this post is from a quote by Benjamin Disraeli:

The legacy of heroes is the memory of a great name and the inheritance of a great example.

Goodbye, Lost

May 24th, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

This is photo of the amount of kleenex I went through during the finale.

Top Five Series Finales That Made Me Cry The Most

  1. Doctor Who (the last episode with David Tennant)
  2. Fame
  3. Buffy the Vampire Slayer
  4. Lost
  5. Beverly Hills, 90210

Bonus: MacGyver*

*because of how ridiculous it was

Finally, here are two of my favorite Lost-related photos, from Best Week Ever (I think I’ll miss their episode recaps more than I’ll miss the show itself!):

See you in another life, brutha.

The Attempt

May 23rd, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

Yesterday Jennie and her Yates Greats teammates participated in a regional Special Olympics track and field event. Jennie came home with three medals: a silver in the softball throw, and golds in both the 100-meter walk and the 400-meter walk. Everyone on the team came home with at least one medal. Congratulations, Yates Greats! Above is a picture of Jennie crossing the finish line of the 100-meter walk. There are a bunch more photos from the day here. And here’s a short video of Jennie during the race – all smiles!

The title of this post comes from the Special Olympics motto:

Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

The Celebration Continues

May 18th, 2010 by Bethany No comments »

Happy 40th anniversary to Mom and Dad! They were married on May 18. 1970. Here’s a picture of them at Sunday coffee at Grandma and Grandpa’s.

On Saturday, I joined some Gilda’s folks to celebrate a bunch of happy occasions: Patience and her family visiting Rochester, Brian’s doctoral graduation, Julia’s masters graduation, and the birthdays of Annette, Nathan, and Roni. Here’s a picture of me and Julia doing our Animal and/or Tyrannosaurus Rex impression:

There are bunch more photos from the Saturday party and from Sunday in PY in the Spring 2010 album here (scroll down).

The title of this post comes from a quote by Gene Perret:

Our wedding was many years ago.  The celebration continues to this day.