May your day be full of friends and family, and your heart be full of thanks and joy.
11.24.2011
Happy Thanksgiving from Brookline
May your day be full of friends and family, and your heart be full of thanks and joy.
11.23.2011
NYC and The 7 Tour
Before we knew Dane and Micki's exact itinerary, we knew David Crowder Band was on The 7 Tour, their last ever. Ian promised me, after seeing DCB while on his internship in LA, someday he would take me to their show. For lack of future options, that someday became October 29, 2011.
The day after Dane and Micki left, we caught a 6:30 a.m. Bolt Bus to NYC. By the time we disembarked on 34th Street, the predicted precipitation had started to fall. We bundled up and walked in the direction of the High Line, since travel always involves landscape architecture sightseeing.
We trudged through the increasing downpour until we arrived at the stairs to the High Line. Already cold and wet, we remembered how much windier it is 30 feet above street level. And while I was wearing waterproof L.L. Bean boots and a poncho, Ian was drenched. One block and one photo in, and Ian gave up.
We walked back to Macy's in search of gloves and/or a poncho for Ian. It was crowded, and we were wearing giant dripping backpacks. They directed us to the 7th floor, via crowded elevators. We didn't find ponchos, but were starving and decided to patronize the penthouse McDonald's. We were desperate.
After scanning for several minutes, we spotted an open table. A man sitting nearby said to Ian, "Nice haircut!" Surprised, he thanked the man, who responded, "I have to shave it every three days" and then talked at people the next table over. Ian suggested I sit at the table by myself, next to the crazy man, and watch all our stuff while he ordered food. I decided we were not that desperate.
Several recommendations and elevator rides later, we were back on the first floor, exactly where we started, only to be informed they did not have ponchos or gloves cheaper than $60. Defeated by the weather and Macy's, we left in search of a warm meal. Contrary to advertising, shopping at Macy's over the holidays is less magical and more panic-attack-in-the-middle-of-the-aisle-and-cry-like-a-baby.
Thankfully, we found a warm pizza joint with an open table and after a chocolate croissant and an Instagram session, the day was looking much better. We hopped on the subway to our hotel, blow-dried/ironed our wet clothing, and watched the first half (the good half) of the K-State/OU game from under a toasty pile of blankets.
At halftime, we braved the weather and headed to Irving Plaza. And John Mark McMillan, Christ August, Gungor (with a beatboxing cellist), and David Crowder Band more than made up for the miserable weather.
The night culminated with a multi-artist performance of "How He Loves" and a DCB encore that included a guitar-melting rendition of Carol of the Bells.
The next morning was cold, but the sun was shining and we had 9:15 a.m. tickets to the 9/11 Memorial.
The park is open to the public, but until construction around the site is completed, access is limited and you must reserve a free pass online (these go quickly so don't wait). The memorial is completely worth the extra effort. The pools are stunning, and I appreciate how they arranged the victims' names based on their relationships to each other (with input from friends and family). The survivors tree was saved after the attacks and nursed back to health. The tree returned to the site only to be uprooted again by the hurricane this summer, but it continues to live up to its name.
After exploring the park and visitors center, we continued our landscape tour with Teardrop Park and a few trips down the giant slide.
We headed back to the hotel to check out, and enjoyed brunch at Felix, celebrating Halloween with a Prohibition theme. All of the wait staff was decked out in twenties garb and champagne corks periodically landed under our table as the bartender mixed mimosas. (The cork popping happens whether or not they're dolled up like a speakeasy, but helped sell the theme.)
We tried once again to visit the High Line, but were foiled, this time by icy conditions that kept the park closed (I'll blame that on our overly litigious society).
We moved on to Plan B: Brooklyn Bridge Park.
A waterfront park in Brooklyn replacing abandoned piers, parking lots, and storage buildings, it's a beautiful open space with a great view to Manhattan and Lady Liberty. We wandered around and Ian took site photos until we couldn't walk anymore.
Exhausted but satisfied, we took the Metro back to 34th Street and the Bolt Bus stop, procured Chipotle for dinner (to make Brett proud), and headed back to Boston.
Because of crazy amounts of traffic at 10 p.m. (really, Connecticut?) we arrived too late to catch the T. Fortunately, we hailed a "sit-down" comedian for a taxi driver, who knows every U.S. president in chronological order, as well as countless other Boston tidbits and jokes. And he was a good driver, too. They do exist!
We came away from the trip with a to-do list: Look into comfortable waterproof shoes for Ian. Buy some of the music from The 7 Tour. Revisit the High Line when an unseasonably early snow/rain storm is not ravaging the streets of NYC. Third time's a charm, right?
The day after Dane and Micki left, we caught a 6:30 a.m. Bolt Bus to NYC. By the time we disembarked on 34th Street, the predicted precipitation had started to fall. We bundled up and walked in the direction of the High Line, since travel always involves landscape architecture sightseeing.
We trudged through the increasing downpour until we arrived at the stairs to the High Line. Already cold and wet, we remembered how much windier it is 30 feet above street level. And while I was wearing waterproof L.L. Bean boots and a poncho, Ian was drenched. One block and one photo in, and Ian gave up.
We walked back to Macy's in search of gloves and/or a poncho for Ian. It was crowded, and we were wearing giant dripping backpacks. They directed us to the 7th floor, via crowded elevators. We didn't find ponchos, but were starving and decided to patronize the penthouse McDonald's. We were desperate.
After scanning for several minutes, we spotted an open table. A man sitting nearby said to Ian, "Nice haircut!" Surprised, he thanked the man, who responded, "I have to shave it every three days" and then talked at people the next table over. Ian suggested I sit at the table by myself, next to the crazy man, and watch all our stuff while he ordered food. I decided we were not that desperate.
Several recommendations and elevator rides later, we were back on the first floor, exactly where we started, only to be informed they did not have ponchos or gloves cheaper than $60. Defeated by the weather and Macy's, we left in search of a warm meal. Contrary to advertising, shopping at Macy's over the holidays is less magical and more panic-attack-in-the-middle-of-the-aisle-and-cry-like-a-baby.
Thankfully, we found a warm pizza joint with an open table and after a chocolate croissant and an Instagram session, the day was looking much better. We hopped on the subway to our hotel, blow-dried/ironed our wet clothing, and watched the first half (the good half) of the K-State/OU game from under a toasty pile of blankets.
At halftime, we braved the weather and headed to Irving Plaza. And John Mark McMillan, Christ August, Gungor (with a beatboxing cellist), and David Crowder Band more than made up for the miserable weather.
The night culminated with a multi-artist performance of "How He Loves" and a DCB encore that included a guitar-melting rendition of Carol of the Bells.
The next morning was cold, but the sun was shining and we had 9:15 a.m. tickets to the 9/11 Memorial.
The park is open to the public, but until construction around the site is completed, access is limited and you must reserve a free pass online (these go quickly so don't wait). The memorial is completely worth the extra effort. The pools are stunning, and I appreciate how they arranged the victims' names based on their relationships to each other (with input from friends and family). The survivors tree was saved after the attacks and nursed back to health. The tree returned to the site only to be uprooted again by the hurricane this summer, but it continues to live up to its name.
After exploring the park and visitors center, we continued our landscape tour with Teardrop Park and a few trips down the giant slide.
We headed back to the hotel to check out, and enjoyed brunch at Felix, celebrating Halloween with a Prohibition theme. All of the wait staff was decked out in twenties garb and champagne corks periodically landed under our table as the bartender mixed mimosas. (The cork popping happens whether or not they're dolled up like a speakeasy, but helped sell the theme.)
We tried once again to visit the High Line, but were foiled, this time by icy conditions that kept the park closed (I'll blame that on our overly litigious society).
We moved on to Plan B: Brooklyn Bridge Park.
A waterfront park in Brooklyn replacing abandoned piers, parking lots, and storage buildings, it's a beautiful open space with a great view to Manhattan and Lady Liberty. We wandered around and Ian took site photos until we couldn't walk anymore.
Exhausted but satisfied, we took the Metro back to 34th Street and the Bolt Bus stop, procured Chipotle for dinner (to make Brett proud), and headed back to Boston.
Because of crazy amounts of traffic at 10 p.m. (really, Connecticut?) we arrived too late to catch the T. Fortunately, we hailed a "sit-down" comedian for a taxi driver, who knows every U.S. president in chronological order, as well as countless other Boston tidbits and jokes. And he was a good driver, too. They do exist!
We came away from the trip with a to-do list: Look into comfortable waterproof shoes for Ian. Buy some of the music from The 7 Tour. Revisit the High Line when an unseasonably early snow/rain storm is not ravaging the streets of NYC. Third time's a charm, right?
11.22.2011
Advent Conspiracy: xmas cards
Last Christmas, we decided to make Christmas more [relational, intentional, meaningful, joyful] with less [stress, spending, obligation, stuff]. And we invited you to join us by writing about some of our favorite gift ideas that fit with this thing we call Advent Conspiracy.
When I saw our friends Micah and Marianna at Old Try are conspiring this year with their design talents, I knew I had to share.
Each year through Advent Conspiracy, [REUNION] supports (along with a few other worthy causes like fighting sex trafficking in Boston) clean water initiatives in developing countries. And this year, Old Try is partnering with [REUNION] by offering beautiful Christmas cards to support this cause. For each and every card purchased, $3 goes towards digging fresh water wells.
For more Advent Conspiracy ideas, click here.
When I saw our friends Micah and Marianna at Old Try are conspiring this year with their design talents, I knew I had to share.
 |
| photo by Old Try |
Each year through Advent Conspiracy, [REUNION] supports (along with a few other worthy causes like fighting sex trafficking in Boston) clean water initiatives in developing countries. And this year, Old Try is partnering with [REUNION] by offering beautiful Christmas cards to support this cause. For each and every card purchased, $3 goes towards digging fresh water wells.
 |
| photo by Old Try |
"The X on the front in place of Christ is there for a reason. This card, this season, will raise money to help eradicate thirst, make people less susceptible to droughts and help prevent disease from the lack of clean water. Christ can do a lot, and we can, too." — Old TryBuy xmas cards, spread Christmas cheer, and give the gift of clean water. It doesn't get any better than that.
For more Advent Conspiracy ideas, click here.
11.17.2011
the annual eye exam visit: D.C. in a day
I left work early on Monday to finish packing and meet up with Dane, Micki (with her squeaky clean, post-appointment contact lens), and Ian for our 7:50 p.m. flight to DC. Since Ren spent part of his summer studying at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Ian has been working on a certain project at Arlington National Cemetery, we thought it would be a good family adventure for Micki's birthday.
Thanks to the itinerary Ian mapped out for us, we managed to squeeze in Arlington, the USDA cafeteria, Holocaust Museum, and Pentagon Memorial before our 7 p.m. return flight Tuesday evening.
Most of our time at Arlington we spent examining the Kennedy memorial. Ian brought plans and renderings so we could better envision the senator's future grave site. We also happened upon a funeral taking place nearby. The soldiers who participate in the services demonstrate such respect for those who have served our country, and such consideration for the family. I couldn't help but think back to the soldiers who folded Grandpa's flag before handing it to Grandma at his graveside.
The USDA cafeteria came recommended by Ren, who frequented it on lunch breaks while he was completing his intensive study program across the street at the Holocaust Museum. Keeping in mind it is a cafeteria and not a five-star restaurant, it was quite tasty. I also realized I've fully adjusted to the cordial but cooler tendencies of New England when I was taken aback by the guy behind the counter, who cheerfully offered to make my panini to order, sans mushrooms. His smile had joy behind it, not formality, and it was refreshing.
There are not words to describe the Holocaust Museum (or photography, which isn't permitted in the exhibits). The musty wooden smell of the interior of a cattle car that brought hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting Jews to their deaths. The pile of empty suitcases that had been filled with personal belongings and family treasures, the owners fully expecting to use the contents. The tower of family portraits. The overwhelming smell of leather in a room piled with discarded shoes. The stories of the debate on whether or not to participate in the 1936 Olympics in Germany (the winners of the debate argued sports weren't political, despite the fact that successful games would support Hitler's cause).
Our final stop was the Pentagon Memorial. It is eerie to see the repaired section of the building, a subtle change in color distinguishing the old from the new. The memorial is beautiful. One bench for each victim, organized by birth year. Still pools of water under each bench. Muted colors, exquisite detailing. If you're interested in learning more about the design, you can view the Washington Post interactive here.
And just like that, 24 hours after we started, we were on a plane home.
I've been to D.C. two other times, and both visits were less than a day. Ian says if we keep it up, we'll hit all the popular destinations by age 60. Maybe by then the Metro will have simplified fares and written instructions that can fit on the machine in font bigger than size 10. Nah, it's Washington.
Thanks to the itinerary Ian mapped out for us, we managed to squeeze in Arlington, the USDA cafeteria, Holocaust Museum, and Pentagon Memorial before our 7 p.m. return flight Tuesday evening.
Most of our time at Arlington we spent examining the Kennedy memorial. Ian brought plans and renderings so we could better envision the senator's future grave site. We also happened upon a funeral taking place nearby. The soldiers who participate in the services demonstrate such respect for those who have served our country, and such consideration for the family. I couldn't help but think back to the soldiers who folded Grandpa's flag before handing it to Grandma at his graveside.
The USDA cafeteria came recommended by Ren, who frequented it on lunch breaks while he was completing his intensive study program across the street at the Holocaust Museum. Keeping in mind it is a cafeteria and not a five-star restaurant, it was quite tasty. I also realized I've fully adjusted to the cordial but cooler tendencies of New England when I was taken aback by the guy behind the counter, who cheerfully offered to make my panini to order, sans mushrooms. His smile had joy behind it, not formality, and it was refreshing.
There are not words to describe the Holocaust Museum (or photography, which isn't permitted in the exhibits). The musty wooden smell of the interior of a cattle car that brought hundreds of thousands of unsuspecting Jews to their deaths. The pile of empty suitcases that had been filled with personal belongings and family treasures, the owners fully expecting to use the contents. The tower of family portraits. The overwhelming smell of leather in a room piled with discarded shoes. The stories of the debate on whether or not to participate in the 1936 Olympics in Germany (the winners of the debate argued sports weren't political, despite the fact that successful games would support Hitler's cause).
I recommend exploring their website. Not only do they have information, teaching material, and numerous online exhibits, they also address genocide as a current issue and list at-risk countries including Sudan, near and dear to our family.
Our final stop was the Pentagon Memorial. It is eerie to see the repaired section of the building, a subtle change in color distinguishing the old from the new. The memorial is beautiful. One bench for each victim, organized by birth year. Still pools of water under each bench. Muted colors, exquisite detailing. If you're interested in learning more about the design, you can view the Washington Post interactive here.
And just like that, 24 hours after we started, we were on a plane home.
I've been to D.C. two other times, and both visits were less than a day. Ian says if we keep it up, we'll hit all the popular destinations by age 60. Maybe by then the Metro will have simplified fares and written instructions that can fit on the machine in font bigger than size 10. Nah, it's Washington.
11.16.2011
the annual eye exam visit: cold on the water
Dane and Micki were in town a couple weeks ago for Micki's checkup at the Boston Foundation for Sight. Her cancer is in check thanks to Herceptin and healthy living, and her second cornea transplant is continuing to do great thanks to the special prosthetic contact from the Foundation.
We picked them up from the airport late Saturday night, and woke up relatively early the next morning, given their two hour time adjustment, to grab Boloco truckstops (for Dane) and Starbucks (for Micki) before the second gathering at REUNION. Which, by the way, was a successful first day as one church in two locations: 152 people attended the Somerville launch and there was still a great turnout in Back Bay.
After church, we decided to catch the Head of the Charles Regatta, "the world's largest two-day rowing event." It was a cool day, and even colder on the water. After taking some photos and watching a few boats dart past, we decided we'd experienced enough of both the race and the weather.
We took the Red Line back downtown for some clam chowder and original Boston Cream Pie. As many times as Dane and Micki have visited Boston, they're no longer interested in the touristy things. But that cake is just too good to pass up while you're here. (On another note, this is the best group photo we got all week...)
We relaxed that night over an episode of Fringe, knowing we had a full couple days of birthday celebration adventures ahead of us. Stay tuned...
We picked them up from the airport late Saturday night, and woke up relatively early the next morning, given their two hour time adjustment, to grab Boloco truckstops (for Dane) and Starbucks (for Micki) before the second gathering at REUNION. Which, by the way, was a successful first day as one church in two locations: 152 people attended the Somerville launch and there was still a great turnout in Back Bay.
After church, we decided to catch the Head of the Charles Regatta, "the world's largest two-day rowing event." It was a cool day, and even colder on the water. After taking some photos and watching a few boats dart past, we decided we'd experienced enough of both the race and the weather.
We took the Red Line back downtown for some clam chowder and original Boston Cream Pie. As many times as Dane and Micki have visited Boston, they're no longer interested in the touristy things. But that cake is just too good to pass up while you're here. (On another note, this is the best group photo we got all week...)
We relaxed that night over an episode of Fringe, knowing we had a full couple days of birthday celebration adventures ahead of us. Stay tuned...
11.15.2011
the annual eye exam visit: gastronomical delights
Since Gerald + Mel had us over for dinner last month and Mel shared the secret to her culinary success, Ian has been a little obsessed with Barbara Lynch. (I bought him the cookbook; I can hear it calling out from the shelf, "Ian, use me to cook dinner for Anna.") So when Ian selected a nice restaurant for Micki's birthday dinner Wednesday night, naturally he chose The Butcher Shop.
The space is small and casual. Butcher paper covers the tables and you can pick up meat cuts, sauces, and a handful of deli-type food selections from the refrigerator in back. The menus are printed on sheets of paper as they change weekly.
We chatted about work, life, and the future over mouth-watering comfort food. Tender juicy chicken over broccoli puree with twice-baked fingerling potatoes. Yes, they scooped out tiny potatoes, stood them on end, then refilled them with creamy goodness and sprinkled on cheddar and bacon. Venison over mashed yams with kale chips. A mesclun greens salad with pumpkin seed vinaigrette, a ring of roasted fall vegetables lining the edge of the plate. Prime rib with roasted fingerling potatoes and a side of the aoli Mel couldn't stop gushing about. And to top it all off, a slice of pumpkin cheesecake and helping of chocolate mousse that perfectly balanced deep chocolate flavor with creamy rich texture. We might have licked the bowl. Our waitress assured us this was perfectly acceptable.
Thursday, Dane and Micki treated us with an exciting home-cooked dinner: stuffed pork chops, potatoes au gratin, and sweet Halloween snacks. We made the most of their last night in town, relaxing over football.
Early Friday morning we picked up a ZipCar and drove Dane and Micki to the airport.
As hard as it was to say goodbye, we can look forward seeing them again soon: Christmas is just around the corner!
The space is small and casual. Butcher paper covers the tables and you can pick up meat cuts, sauces, and a handful of deli-type food selections from the refrigerator in back. The menus are printed on sheets of paper as they change weekly.
We chatted about work, life, and the future over mouth-watering comfort food. Tender juicy chicken over broccoli puree with twice-baked fingerling potatoes. Yes, they scooped out tiny potatoes, stood them on end, then refilled them with creamy goodness and sprinkled on cheddar and bacon. Venison over mashed yams with kale chips. A mesclun greens salad with pumpkin seed vinaigrette, a ring of roasted fall vegetables lining the edge of the plate. Prime rib with roasted fingerling potatoes and a side of the aoli Mel couldn't stop gushing about. And to top it all off, a slice of pumpkin cheesecake and helping of chocolate mousse that perfectly balanced deep chocolate flavor with creamy rich texture. We might have licked the bowl. Our waitress assured us this was perfectly acceptable.
Thursday, Dane and Micki treated us with an exciting home-cooked dinner: stuffed pork chops, potatoes au gratin, and sweet Halloween snacks. We made the most of their last night in town, relaxing over football.
Early Friday morning we picked up a ZipCar and drove Dane and Micki to the airport.
As hard as it was to say goodbye, we can look forward seeing them again soon: Christmas is just around the corner!
11.05.2011
our iPhone event + uncommon giveaway
Last Friday night, we had a lovely community group leaders dinner at the Publick House. We enjoyed the company and talked logistics for our upcoming multiplication. But at 8:45, Ian gave the signal for the iPhone 4s hopefuls to head to internet access. Unless we wanted to wait 2+ weeks for online orders, we knew we'd have to reserve iPhones at 9 p.m. via the Apple web site for next day in-store pickup.
Brett was also in the market for a new phone, so the three of us sat in Brett and Emily's living room and used two computers to repeatedly attempt the reservation process. High traffic volume resulted in lots of error messages, sometimes right before the final step. Brett threw in the towel with his netbook and passed it off to Ian in exchange for Emily's iPhone. With the app, he managed to reserve two (the maximum allowed) for CambridgeSide Galleria. The Boylston Store downtown was already out. One for Brett, one for us.
"We're getting another one. I don't care how far we have to drive," Ian said, flushed with iPhone fever, a glint in his eye. He looked at the online map and tried for a reservation in the Burlington Mall. Two attempts later and we had another destination on our iPhone road trip.
This resulted in a heated discussion on the way home: could we pick up both iPhones and still get the house ready for company? With iMotivation, Ian dusted and swept while I worked on the [REUNION] slideshow for Sunday, and he promised to do more in the morning while I was at my eye doctors appointment.
By 11:30 a.m. I was back with new corrective lens prescriptions and the apartment sparkled. Brett picked us up in the rental car they had picked up for their weekend trip to Jersey. We hopped in the iPhone line after confirming our registration, and thirty minutes later the three of us were on the floor with an Apple Specialist.
Ian and I began the iPhone setup process while Brett looked at cases. When it was time to access our Verizon account, we kept getting an error message. We tried different combinations of our two phone numbers, names, and last four digits of social security numbers to no avail. Our helpful Specialist took us to the Verizon kiosk right outside and after a little searching and some panic about the possibility of a stolen identity, discovered Ian had been reciting the last four digits of our credit card number, not his social. Back to the store we went.
We continued the process and paid for the phone, only to realize they hadn't applied our New Every Two credit; a few weeks ago, the Boylston store had told us they could do everything a Verizon store could do. While I set up my phone, Ian talked to the guys at the kiosk and called Verizon. He learned they only offer the credit through Verizon directly. We'd have to return my phone, then buy it online through Verizon and wait two weeks for delivery. Our specialist talked to her manager. He couldn't give us a phone discount, but offered merchandise to make up the difference. Another reason I love Apple: we got a $50 App Store gift card for our trouble.
Brett dropped us off on his way to pick up Emily and wished us luck with iPhone number two. We grabbed Fox's car (thanks again for the loan!) and headed west.
The Burlington Mall is in the middle of a sea of cars. That it felt surreal is a testament to our adjustment to city living. We parked and quickly located the Apple Store, pleased to see there was no one in the iPhone line. Veterans at this point, we could chuckle at the well-off older gentleman inquiring as to the availability of the new iPhone. No reservation, no phone. In five minutes, we were talking with our second Apple Specialist of the day (who referred to the Boylston Store as "heaven") and breezed through the process.
Mission accomplished, we headed to the food court for some celebratory Chick-fil-a. And I told Ian the next time we need to get iPhones, we're ordering them online.
We're thrilled with our new phones, and wanted to share the love. Our awesome uncommon capsule cases arrived with a couple discount codes to share. Each is good for $5 off any uncommon case: iPhone 3gs, iPhone 4/4s, or iPod touch. Comment with what image you'd wrap around your device of choice, and we'll randomly select two coupon recipients. Deadline is Friday, November 11. Go!
11.01.2011
thankful list | October
01. Fringe season 4 starting on Hulu
02. baptisms
03. sweet messages from Ian (see above)
04. time with friends + new baby
05. ProPresenter 4 at [REUNION]
06. SCRIPTschool. still.
07. a visit from amazing in-laws
08. our quick trip to DC
09. a passing grade on the first three of Ian's LAREs
10. Pepto-Bismol for my sometimes finicky stomach
11. a visit from our landlord, reassurance there's no hard feelings after a lease fiasco
12. once again, for many reasons, God placing us in Boston
13. [REUNION]'s successful Somerville location launch
14. my new (Missoni, unintentionally) travel pillow: no more Bobble Anna
15. good weather for half of our NYC weekend
16. in-room iron and blow dryer after a morning in the cold rain of NYC
17. David Crowder Band
18. Gungor + Chris August + John Mark McMillan
19. friends who call when they go to IKEA
20. friends who pick up things for us at IKEA when we can't go with them
21. our space heater
22. iPhones
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