When the dreamer dies, what happens to the dream?

one of my favorite things about nyc is the street art. i hope portland has treasures like these...

Love

i think i need to actually print this one and hang it on the wall. love love love love love it! 

*although maybe it's kind of sad that the artist painted on the brick of this beautiful building...

The Great GoogaMooga!!

Courtney's original dates to come visit were Memorial Day weekend, but after hearing about this new FREE music festival being thrown in Prospect Park, I convinced him and his friend, Jordan, to come the weekend before. I was hoping that the music festival would be all that I had anticipated it to be... and I think it was. Seth said he laughed at the two of them quite a few times during the afternoon as they talked about how awesome the whole thing was :) 

  
We got in early enough to get decent spots on the top of the hill. Since we didn't actually know any of the musicians, (well - turns out we did know some music from Hall & Oates - but we totally thought they were some local band that was just trying to make it big - obviously we are a little out of touch!!) anyway - since we didn't know any of the musicians, seeing the stage wasn't that big of a priority. 

  

  

A little arm wrestling. 

  

Food was another big part of the festival. According to the website, over 70 local places were represented! Restaurant tents pretty much lined the whole perimeter of the festival. It was a little torture since I now have to be more careful about what I do eat :) but I enjoyed some food and a delicious ice cream sandwich!

  

  
This is about the part where everyone starts standing and we start wondering why they are standing... and how they know the words to all the songs & who are these guys anyway! (Hall & Oates... we did recognize a few of their songs though... We aren't completely out of the loop!)

As Seth and I enjoyed the afternoon, we talked about how this would DEFINITELY be the type of thing we'd miss about Brooklyn. We love live music outside, and especially the FREE type!

Court in Coney Island

  

One of my youngest brothers was in the city visiting this last weekend. On Saturday, we took him to one of my favorite places: Coney Island! The plan was the ride the Cyclone (it's been on my NYC bucket list for a long time). Only, we got there and Seth and I both realized that I probably shouldn't be riding roller coasters! (Still getting used to the things I can and cannot do when pregnant!) So the boys rode it & loved it & raved about how fun it "Actually" was (how dare they doubt Coney Island!)

  

  

   

O Coney Island how I do love thee!

Bubbles on Canal

18 Weeks

A Snapshot of Our Weekend!!

One of my younger brothers and his friend are visiting NYC this weekend. We had quite a busy one! Friday night dinner and friends in Williamsburg. Saturday to Coney Island and Dumbo. Today was the Great Googamooga (an AWESOME music fest in the park up the block). I think they've enjoyed themselves.

varrazano-narrows

we drove across this bridge (the verrazano-narrows) and through (stinky) staten island this last weekend on the way to pick up seth's oldest brother at the airport. it was kind of exciting to think that the next time we drive across this bridge, we'll most likely be driving out of nyc and heading westward. we've spent so much time (and continue to spend time) being excited about our move. pretty soon, i think the chaos of the move and the change will set in and start freaking me out (and maybe pulling out some tears ;) until then, we'll continue to countdown while enjoying our last weeks in nyc (although it seems crazy to actually really truly think about not living in nyc anymore!!!)

Watermelon Slushie

finally watermelon at the coop!

orange sweet watermelon

half the watermelon gone 

& seth isn't even home yet 

(shhh, maybe the other half will be for the 'baby')

or the other half will be for 

some more rounds of this delicious 

refreshing, sweet, better than ice cream,

better than soda, drink

watermelon slushies

easy to make 

watermelon + ice + blender = yum

this $8 watermelon

was worth every penny and more

slurping this divine watermelon slush

Finally Park Weather!

It's Official - Driving in NYC SUCKS!

Driving the FDR with your husband (well - him driving, you side-seat driving) is a true test of patience and love. The other night, we headed aalllll the way to the northern tip of Manhattan island to Inwood (I guess now we can see we've officially been from the top to the bottom). We were picking up a Thule cargo carrier for the top of the Jeep (trying to find ways to make more space without renting a trailer -- 11 cubic feet more of space).

NYC drivers are RIDICULOUS! And bikers are worse - they follow no rules, but drive on the streets like cars. We've literally almost hit some of them because they run red lights and drive right out in front of on-coming traffic. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. Cars are not much better though. We cannot count the times we've almost been side-swiped because some idiot wants in our lane but 1) doesn't know how to use a turn signal, 2) doesn't know how to check to see if he can actually come into the lane, and 3) is lacking a great amount of patience and common sense.

Let's just say, Seth and I will avoid driving as much as possible for the next 2 months. We really wish we could just get in the car and start our drive right out of NYC! Especially after the other night!

Stoop Sale Sunday

We've (me mostly) been preparing for a stoop sale for a couple of weekends. Going through every nook and cranny of the apartment to seek out all the things we have that we absolutely do not need ever again. The pile was taking over our livingroom. Much to our disappointment the weather did not cooperate yesterday, but today the clouds have cleared and the sun is shining!

a rainy morning

the other morning was not only rainy, but it was storming. real lightning and thunder. my students were frightened and shocked to hear and see the lightning during their morning commute. to me, it was just a reminder of life back home!

Almost a year ago

No stoop sale today. The weather has looked like it's threatening a downpour all afternoon (grrr!) & while we were sitting outside debating if we should just do it, a few heavier sprinkles began falling. We thought it better to not take a chance. Soooo instead, we've spent the afternoon rolling change (since the bank won't just count it for you) and sorting through more stuff. Our apartment currently looks as if a bomb went off in here. I'm afraid that all the guests we have coming in the next few weeks are just going to have to deal (luckily, it's all of the male version & honestly, I highly doubt they care...)

Anyway - I want to get all my photos backed up before we head out west so I have taken on the challenge of going through my desktop (a computer I have hardly touched this last school year - considering that one of the documents I had left open on the desktop was from September... - we actually debated on getting rid of this computer, but I love love love it too much (despite the lack of time I've spent on it) & this is a good computer!) So anyway, going through the photos I found this from a year ago. I do NOT remember it at all. I don't even remember Seth having longer hair last year. (Good thing for photos!) We spent part of Memorial Day last year at the Brooklyn Bridge. This Memorial Day we'll be heading to North Carolina. I know it's still weeks away, but I'm getting excited! Okay, back to computer cleaning and photo backing-up... & seeing what other photos I can find!!!