A Little Plum and the Big Apple

You know you've been away too long when the blogging template changes on you...

...thanks a lot, Google.

What I used to enjoy about Blogger was the easy manipulation of image sizes.  Now I'll really have to play around with new features and mess even more with html code.

But with this all aside, I guess I should apologize for the recent blogging inactivity...

 

...allowing entire holidays to pass on by and not share this freaky pic with you. 

Truth is - things have been rather busy with a whole bunch of exciting developments coming about...

 

...especially this one!

Due around October 28, this little plum (soon to be a full-sized baby) has been a centerpiece for discussion for a few weeks now and I don't doubt you'll see more of him or her in time. Lord knows that I'll be taking plenty of pics!

So get ready!

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Now that I have your attention, let me tell you about one of my more recent adventures.

Two weekends ago (April 13-15), Julia and I headed to New York.  We arrived (very) early Friday morning and made our way to an international art show that Julia was in at the Austrian Cultural Forum...

 

...titled "It's the Political Economy, Stupid."

  

Here, Julia's photographs were set up as a slide show piece on a digital monitor...

 

...and I must say I was rather impressed with l'artista.

It definitely was a beautiful weekend to be in New York City.  We walked around all day Friday to admire...

 

...the blossoming trees...

 

...the hanging flower vines...

 

...and even the inflated rubber tree in Columbus Circle.

On Saturday, Julia had to go out of the city and left me to explore the island at will.

I started the day meeting my cousins for breakfast at the Brooklyn Diner...

 

...where I had a delightful dish that included challah toast and kugel...

...later followed by a nice stroll...

 

...and a hand scrub at Sabon.

Afterward, I continued walking...

 

...checked out a flea market...

...got some sushi...

 

...felt nostalgic about some familiar sites...

...and even noticed some new ones.

I hadn't been in Times Square in years.  YEARS!

Usually, when in New York, I made a habit of avoiding this area completely.

But since I had the day free and nowhere to go, I decided to check it out where I came across all these costumed photo-ops.

As I stopped to snap some pictures of them with my phone, they approached me and wrapped their fuzzy around around me...

...so I took advantage of the photo-op for myself.

Once the photos were taken, both the Elmo and Cookie Monster characters turned to me and lifted a hanging accessory that I hadn't noticed before...

...a shaggy bag that hung around their shoulders.

They repeated a word with an Asian accent as they shook this bag:  Donation.

I warned them that all I had was some loose change, dropped some dimes and quarters in each of their bags, and then took off  before their friends had a chance to also pose with me.

I headed west to escape the crowd...

 

 ...and noticed people lining up along the street...

 

...so I lined up with them right before the Scottish Parade started by.

Here are some video clips so that you can too...

 

Of course, there were other little trips and sites through the rest of this weekend, but I really don't have that much more photographic evidence to show you.

Therefore, allow me to end this post with another announcement and a photo...

ANNOUNCEMENT:  I will be on New Day Cleveland on Wednesday, May 2, 2012 to talk about festivals.  Please watch the show, DVR it and share this news with friends!

THE PHOTO: I just wanted to finish with this tasty breakfast that I made a few weeks ago consisting of a slice of toast, garlic mayo, lox and a perfectly cooked egg.

I admit...

...the light really makes it look so heavenly.