Staten Island Ferry or the cheap way to see the Statue of Liberty

Spoiler: photo of Lydia on this blog. I know, Shocker, huh.

We had to keep her from getting sunburned on that bald head somehow.



Fun, relaxing and free! Highly recommend it.

I am not a photographer

All I want is to be able to take nice-looking snapshots of my family (and, apparently, household plants).

My camera has done wonderful things for this goal. I've been experimenting with full Manual mode because I was having trouble getting enough light in my photos (when taken indoors) when using Aperture priority.

These photos are of a lovely orchid Adam brought home for me just a few days before our Anniversary (which I will blog about eventually, maybe) and were taken in full Manual. I think the exposure turned out okay, don't you?

More pictures of the Lyds up on her blog.

Shack Attack

I have wanted to go to the famed Shake Shack for awhile. Because it's famed. So we went.

But not to the original Shake Shack. The line is supposed to be hours long. Seriously - they have a camera online that you can watch to check how long the line is. I, being a kind wife, decided not to put Adam through that, and instead went to the second installment of the Shake Shack, which still had a long line, a longer wait, loud music, and no available tables. We ate on a bench outside the Museum of Natural history.

Verdict:

Good shroom-burgers - so much cheesy goodness.

The fries were meh for us.

Adam thought his strawberry shake was kinda generic.

I loved my "Concrete" - basically a custard shake with yummy mix-ins.

So...good, but not that good. And certainly not worth the price tag. If you look closely at the pictures, you can see that Adam turned the S's on the bag into $'s. I laughed, but only because it was true.

If I were writing a review, which I guess this kind of is, I would say "Go for the experience, but probably only once. And don't waste money on the fries."

This post won't run until Tuesday, but I'm writing it on Sunday night. Based on requests from my Mom to blog more often, I'm creating a batch of future posts. It's hard to post during the day. I usually wait until the evening, in the "Golden Hours" after bedtime for the little one. Am I the only one that looks forward to those hours after bedtime and stays up way too late during them?

If this post-dating posts thing is working, there should be a new Lydia post up. As always, let me know if you need an invite.

Independence Day Thoughts

Happy Fourth of July! We celebrated with a walk in the park, long naps during church (for more than 1 of us - Wheps!), and raspberries, blackberries and cream for an evening dessert. That was the closest I could come to a festive treat, considering that we don't really bake around here and blueberries are not even in the same goodness league as blackberries.

Lately:

Our bishop asked us if you have to have a beard to be a singer. We laughed.

Lydia gave me a bloody nose. I assume this is a harbinger of things to come and am imagining all the things I will endure at the hands of my children. I am not looking forward to vomit.

Adam has been really enjoying his Opera program at Caramoor. He even had a celebrity sighting when he ran into Sonia, a choreographer on SYTYCD, in the elevator in their building. He's also seen the original Elfaba from Wicked. Basically, he's famous. He gets along with everyone in the program great, and gets invited to some fun parties. We chose not to go the 4th of July one, where the main attraction was a bathtub full of ice and booze, and Adam opted out of the MuuMuus and eyeshadow party, which is a shame, since he cuts a nice figure in tentlike dresses.

I discovered the joy of picking out books to read to your child. Seriously, I almost started skipping in the library when I saw the shelves and shelves of picture books so full of old friends. Now I need to make a list of my favorites that will someday be Lydia's favorites (or hated enemies) because I read them to her. Shaping a little mind is awesome.

Here are just a few I want to find: "Goodnight, Moon" (because "Goodnight, Bush," while funny, is lost on a wee one), "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs," "A Special Trade," "Oh, the Places You'll Go," "Blueberries for Sal," and so many more. We've already read a Madeline book, one of the Little Critter books, "Whistle for Willie" and "Make Way for Ducklings." Oh, and Adam has requested the book about the 7 brothers who can't be killed. Anyone know the name of that one, or have suggestions for more must-reads?

Loved the MOMA, but it was a madhouse. Apparently the free Friday nights is not a well-kept secret.

We also went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I had forgotten how monstrously large it was. We saw the Egypt stuff and a bunch of Japan before sinking into an art-induced trance. We just wandered through the European paintings section with glazed eyes, oblivious to the masterpieces. We just wanted an exit, and when we found that, we wanted food. That hot-dog vendor at the bottom of those steps makes BANK. One walk through Central Park and one long subway ride got us home to rest our sore feet.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take pictures of us at the Met. Not that I like taking pictures of the art, but it would have been nice to have documentation of us being there, seeing the art. Next time, we've decided we'll go and see ONE section, no more. ONE, you hear me? ONE.

There will be a new Lydia post up in a few minutes. Let me know if you need an invite.