Monday Manifest

What I Need To Do Today:

1. Take TR to the ENT.
2. Return Keens to Nordstrom at West County Mall
3. Deposit a check at the bank
4. Make copies for bread snippet on Wednesday
5. Go to the grocery store
6. Pick up Sonya from VBS

The Pool Incident

While Josh "worked," ( by work I mean talk to his boyfriends on the phone and watch all of the college sports drama on ESPN) in the afternoons, I went to the pool at our lovely hotel.

Here it is

Nice, right.

When I first arrived at the pool the gate was open I didn't have to worry about getting in the pool, while strategically carrying 

1. People Style Magazine
2. Dell All-Time Favorite Variety Puzzle Book
3. Pen
4. Two bottles of Aquafina
5. Apple
6. Sunscreen
7. Purse

I forgot pack some sort of pool bag for this trip, so I bumbled my way to the pool with all of my belongings.

When I arrived at the pool I looked for towels.  They were no where to be found, so I thought I would go into the gym and look there.  I couldn't figure out how to open the gate to get out of the pool.  I looked at both sides of the gate for hinges, and saw which side should open, but still I could not get it open.

Here is my view of the gate.

 So I decided to just sit in the sun and read my magazine.  After about a half hour sweat was dripping into my my eyes and butt has fallen asleep on the hard wood chair with no cushion, I decided to do what any good Orwig girl would do, I swam laps.  I figured since I was stuck in the pool area, I might as well make the best of it, and get my fat ass in gear.  I was also too embarrassed to call Josh and tell him I was stuck at the pool with no towel and no way out.    

Lets get back to lap swimming.  I swam when I was a kid year round and I come from a family who loves swimming (my cousin is one of the coaches for Clayton Shaw Park Masters).  I forgot what a work out swimming really is.  I could barely swim four laps without wanting to die.  I think a relay team of five year old girls who are afraid of the water would be faster than my 100m freestyle.  I did do flip turns, and bi-latteral breathing.  I also worked on my other strokes.  Breast Stroke came a little easier, that was my best stroke as a kid.  I worked on my two handed touch,  and my underwater pull.  I have know idea if any of those things are relevant in in swimming anymore.  Back stoke was a challenge because he sun was so bright, I didn't have any googles, and my hair was in my face.  I missed my swim cap.  I did not attempt a back flip turn.  Butterfly, oh butterfly I made it one lap, and that was it.  

As I was fluttering in the pool, one of the staff walked by and brought me cushion and towel.  I didn't have to make the embarrassing phone call to my husband, but there was still the gate to contend with.  I finally decided it was time to head up to the room, and wouldn't you know it a fancy couple sits down to have lunch right outside of the pool.  I walk over to the gate with all of my things listed above, and just start pulling at different hinges, locks, pulls, whatever looks like it would open this dumb gate.  I am trying to look like I know what I am doing so the fancy couple don't notice me, and think, "what an idiot."  I finally set my things down, after dropping multiple items, and got serious about this gate.  I finally notice a tall latch above the gate, that you pull up and that will open the gate.  Hallelujah, I am out!!  I am all for safety for kids at the pool, but maybe some type of sign or color coding on how to open the Fort Knox of gates would help a lady out.

I was at the pool the next day and two ladies were having the same trouble with the gate.  I thought I would would offer my extensive knowledge of the gate, and let them in.  They thought I was some type of genius for opening the gate with such ease.

Victory was mine.

Edit:

 You all might have noticed the pull latch in the picture above, if you did obviously my eyes are not as keen as yours, the reason for the puzzle book listed above.  Also, after I wrote this post I went to photograph the gate and saw this.
( excuse the haze my lens was foggy from the humidity)

Need a closer look...

So the gate is clearly marked, but it was open when I entered the pool.  

Remember my view of the gate when leaving the pool.

Victory was not mine.

H-Town

Josh had a business trip in Houston and I decided to tag along in honor of our nine year wedding anniverary for a little rest, relaxation, and romance.  We left on Tuesday right after the big storm, in STL.  We arrived in Houston and decided to get some dinner before we checked into our hotel because it was almost 7pm.  We ate at the Grand Lux Cafe, it is the same company the owns Cheesecake Factory.

The food was really good.  We split duck potstickers, and some fresh bread for an appetizer.  I got a house salad for dinner, and Josh got the Shaking Beef.  The Shaking Beef was delicious, highly recommend it!!

From there we checked into our hotel, 

The Hotel Granduca

Lets just say my husband knows how to pick a hotel.  He has stayed here before and really wanted to bring me back here, and I am glad he did.  It is a BEAUTIFUL hotel, and so fancy.

Here are some shots of our room, I mean suite...

We have turn down service at this hotel, what ever that means.

 Our living room area.  

Remember embrace the grain of some of these shots.

Our suite had a little kitchen with mini fridge, stove top, microwave, and sink.  Trust me I had zero plans of cooking on this trip, but nice to have in the room.

There was also a great four person table where we both set shop with our laptops.  It was nice to be able to work, by work I mean read blogs, check FB, and shop online, and not have two sets of little hands banging on the keyboard, and begging to watch Ke$ha, yes Sonya and Teddy both love her.
Don't ask.

Wednesday I got to sleep in until 8:30am!!
I do not know the last time I slept that late, so nice.  We had a leisurely morning and ate a late breakfast.  I had a english muffin, with peanut butter, and a ice cold glass of milk.  Josh had biscuits and gravy with a side of hash browns  from the Fountain View Cafe.  We came back to the hotel and went to the gym and worked out for about 45 minutes while Josh had a conference call.  Sidenote:  I did watch Paula Deen make Krispy Kreme bread pudding while doing the elliptical, talk about motivation.  From the gym I headed to the pool to get some sun.  I have a pool debacle story coming later, stay tuned.
After the pool I cleaned up and Josh and I headed to the shops across the street from our hotel.  When I unpacked my bag when we arrived in Houston I realized I packed like a blind person, none of my clothes really went together.  Which is hard to do because my wardrobe consists of plain t-shirts and plain bottoms.  Anywho, I needed to get a a new shirt so I wouldn't look ridiculous, so I ran into Ann Taylor Loft because it was the closest store around that sells T-shirts.  I worked at Ann Taylor Loft a few years back and HATED it.  Honestly, I felt like it sucked a little of my soul out of me, so I do not like to shop there, but beggars can't be choosers.  As a looked for a shirt, I stumbled on a sale rack of jeans, and decided to try a pair on because a pair of my jeans that I wear a lot recently got a whole in them.  Low and behold, I loved the jeans. They were actually some what cute on me, which is highly unusual, and they were only $20, sold.  Then I found a dress to wear to a  wedding, and then two t-shirts at the end of my shopping spree.  Thanks Josh for the clothes!!
We went to dinner at McCormick and Schmicks, Josh had an oyster sampler and wild salmon, and I had ribeye (cooked medium rare) with grilled asparagus and we split garlic mashed potatoes.  We had a great time discussing our life together, what we want for the future, talking through some decisions we need to make.  All stuff that is hard to do at home with all of the distractions.  I really miss my kids, but I LOVE being just us.
Just two.
We grabbed some cupcakes and milk for back at the hotel from Crave Cupcakes.

  
  Josh got chocolate with vanilla and I got vanilla with chocolate.

They were tasty, but not as good as Jilly's back home.  Since we were at a fancy hotel, I decided to drink my milk with my cupcake extra fancy.

That is day one and two in H-town.  Nothing too exciting, but exactly what we were looking for,
 to just be together.

Monday Manifest on Thursday

Baking Supplies I Keep On Hand At The House:

1. Flours:  All-Purpose, Bread, Whole Wheat, and Vital Wheat Gluten
2. Jar of Rapid Rise Yeast
3. Salt
4. Sugar
5. Brown Sugar
6. Eggs
7. Vanilla
8. Thermometer
9. Butter
10. Milk
11. Honey
12. Baking Soda
13. Baking Powder
14. Cornmeal
15. Ground Flaxseed
16. Oats
17. Wheat Germ
18. Non-Stick Cooking Spray
19. Parchment Paper
20. Press and Seal Plastic wrap
21. Tin Foil Pans

Gagi

Here is my sister Gretchen.

Can you see the resemblance?

Sonya and Teddy love when Gagi comes to town.

Notice Sonya's smile in these pictures.  

This is her new mug for the camera.  

Lovely.

I love her face regardless but,

I prefer this this one.

We love you Gagi.

Catie O. your next...

Embracing the Grain

I wrote a post a couple of weeks ago about my rocky relationship with my camera.  I attended the the Fresh Moms class, and it was just the "therapy" we needed.  I have been shooting almost everyday.  I am understanding my previous mistakes, working on my settings, composition, lighting, and totally loving it!! 

I have also been embracing some of my mistakes when I can't get the perfect shot.  

Which leads into these sweet pictures of my boy.  He fell asleep on the couch in a ridiculously cute position, so I had to get a picture of him.  The lighting conditions were not the greatest, so I bumped up my ISO to 1600, lowered my shutter speed to 125, and set my f-stop to 2.0.  I knew was going to get a grainy shot, but I love them. 

These are straight out camera except the black and white conversion.

Here is the color of the last photo version also SOOC.  You can see more of the grain.

The grain makes him look so peaceful, soft and kissable.  I love how the photos have a vintage feel because of the grain.  One of my favorite genres of photography are the grainy photos from the 60's and 70's.  I think it makes you want to take a deeper look at what you are seeing, really know the story behind the picture, and

maybe ask yourself questions about the photo 

like...

"Why is he so sleepy?"

"How did he get so cute?"

or

"Why do I have the urge to squeeze him?"

Those are just a few.

As Kim and Jodie say,

"Embrace the grain."

I have.  I have.

Curious Edit....

So I actually have another set of photos, I should have posted with these.  They are slightly different.  

Same question about color with the additional questions...
Which set of photos do you like better and or which one is your favorite, can you even tell the difference, or do you think they all are crap?

Which do you like better...

color,

(new photo)

  black and white,

(new photo)

 or neither?

Let me know.

I can take it.

I stare at these photos so much that it is hard for me to decide what I like  and don't like sometimes.

Thanks for your opinion, and patience.