Camera Craving

I've always loved taking photographs. In college, I took a photography course and loved it. At the time we only used film, so unfortunately I don't have any digital images to show ya'll. My brother Graham is an especially talented photographer (see below and here). Before we got a puppy ($$$$), I thought about buying a nice new digital camera like the Cannon Rebel Xsi. I learned how to shoot on a Canon so I think it may be the best option for me. Right now I have a point and click camera and the quality of the photos is not great. Do any of you have similar cameras to the Canon above? If so, please let me know. I'm starting to get the camera craving again and think I'll do some saving over the next month so that I can make the purchase.

There is nothing like a good friend.

As I mentioned last, my two best friends (the puddin's) flew north for a visit this past weekend. To say we had a blast would be an understatement. Though the three of us haven't spent time together in quite awhile, it was like no time had passed when they arrived.

We talked, and talked and talked some more. All weekend (poor Husband). We also ate and drank our way through the city. My body is hurting, no hating me right now. But, it was worth it.

I miss them terribly already.

A few quick highlights from their trip:
Rooftop talks
Sangria at the #1 tapas bar (wink wink)
The Highline
Raleigh friends sitting right beside us at lunch - what a small world
The Standard
Crazy Chinatown
Patron
Sunday Funday
Dance-off (s)

Since the aforementioned highlights are more like inside jokes, here are some photos from our weekend.There is nothing like a good friend.

The Puddin's

Right now I can barely contain my excitement for the puddin's arrival this weekend. Two of my best friends in the world are flying north to see Southern in the City tomorrow. We met freshman year in college (though how we met is a bit fuzzy at the moment) and have remained close these past eight years. During our sophomore year living together, the name puddin', yes just like chocolate pudding cups, quickly became our way of referring to each other, (but, again, another fuzzy story). Our fourth puddin' will be missed this weekend but I'm sure we'll call you many a times, Lo!

Megan and Lindsay, which I'll now refer to them as, arrive tomorrow afternoon. They have been such loyal friends to me - making me laugh, listening to me complain and always being there at the other end of the phone, despite the fact that they are many miles away.

I'm sure our weekend will be filled with lots of laughs, late-night conversations, shopping, toasts and lots of memory making and for that I am so thankful. See ya'll tomorrow, puddins'!

City Dog

What happens when a city dog spends the weekend in the "country"? Well, this:

Bailey loved every minute of running around in the grass, getting dirty and chewing on sticks. Life was good in the country...but it's not so bad in the city either.

Like a Sock and a Shoe

When I was younger, I remember seeing an old babysitter and her husband together and thinking they were perfect. I called them a sock and shoe because they seemed like a great fit for each other (not exactly sure why I picked a sock and shoe, but you can't really have one without the other right?)

Today marks my grandparent's (B and Pop B) 58th wedding anniversary - another sock and shoe couple. Fifty-eight years is quite a feat. For any of you who are married, you know that it's not always easy. It's a lot of give and take - compromise and patience.

On a recent trip home to North Carolina, we sat down with B and Pop B for a Sunday afternoon lunch where B told a story of one of their first apartments as a married couple in Rhode Island. Her description of their tiny home, starting from the kitchen all the way to their living room (complete with a Murphy bed) was so interesting to hear and so detailed that I can only hope I have a memory like that one day. It was fun to think of them so many years ago in their first place, making a home and learning how to be married.

I can't imagine what it must be like to look back on 58 years of marriage as I have just passed one. What started out as just two people has turned into a family of 20 and that is something to celebrate! Happy Anniversary B and Pop B - you sure do make a great sock and shoe.

Money Can't Buy You Class

Money Can't Buy You Class according to The Real Housewives of NYC's Countess Luann's new and, might I add weird song, but it sure can get you to the front of the Verizon Store tech line. Case in point, yesterday evening at the Verizon on 81st and Broadway.

In my opinion, going to Verizon is very similar to visiting the DMV, you wait and wait along with a number of other interesting and strange people never really sure if you'll get what you came in for. After waiting thirty minutes for a technician to diagnose my phone, in walks Kelly from The Real Housewives of NYC. Now, if you don't watch the show then you definitely won't appreciate this story. But, for those of you that do, you could only imagine my first thought, "where are her jellybeans?" Kelly pranced right up to the counter (instead of checking in at the kiosk like the rest of us) and had the nice Verizon tech man fix her phone right then and there. Can you hear me now?

She looked exactly like I thought she would. - beautiful, but in an Amazon woman kind of way -tall, tan and crazy. She did have on a great green dress that I would love to have.

Pictured below - Kelly and her jellybeans. All I wanted to do was text and call my friends to let them know I was standing beside Kelly, but wait, I couldn't. Oh the irony of being in a phone store without any working phones and wanting to call someone - it made me laugh out loud.

My recent celebrity siting makes me even more excited for the reunion show this Thursday - oh, those crazy New Yorkahs.

Why, Hello There!

Why, hello there Southern in the City readers. Let me first apologize for my lack of blog posts this past week. I think that was longest I went without posting anything. I do apologize and wish my excuse was due to the fact that I was on a fantastic beach getaway with no Internet. But, unfortunately that's not true. Life got in the way - work, work, work, and Bailey was sick, needing lots of love and attention.

But, I'm back and hope ya'll had a great weekend!

We, or should I say The Husband has gone back to business school part-time. I say we because when one person in a couple goes back to school, it feels like you are going with them (e.g., proof reading their papers, giving them suggestions and patiently waiting while they finish their studying so you can go and do something fun). Bailey has even been helping him study, giving The Husband tips for his paper on the oil crisis. She even likes to help highlight important sentences.

But The Husband isn't the only scholar in the house. With Bailey feeling much better this weekend, we took her for her last puppy training, where she got her Canine Good Citizen Award. It was an interesting six weeks to say the least. First being that the instructor was crazy and a complete nut. She almost cried when a dog spilled her coffee (who brings a full cup of anything to puppy training class?). She also repeatedly told us to train Bailey using our energy. "Use your body's energy to pull Bailey and not your strength," she said. What?! The Husband I just looked at each other and then down at Bailey. We're still confused about the energy comment, but alas Bailey did pass!

She loves her certificate so much that like everything else, she tried to eat it. The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and Bailey sure knows how to do that.

I promise more posts this week and thanks for being patient!