Accion de gracias

This year we had a lot to be thankful for starting with abuela's impromptu visit the week before Thanksgiving. It mixed everything up a little bit and eased us into the holiday mood with lots of city walks and visits as well as good, home cooked Spanish food courtesy of her culinary repertoire. And though our effort to hit LIC for a quick family photo didn't end up so successful, we did manage to check out Carmen's new digs and later invite her back to our place for her birthday dinner of canelones and flan.  It might not have been a lavish meal out in Manhattan, but I think she appreciated it just the same.  And then just like that, it was time for me to step out of my role as passive bystander in the kitchen and start cooking--Thanksgiving dinner was on me this year and I needed a full day to prepare it! Though I have to admit, I mostly enjoyed the flurry of prep and planning that went with it. I couldn't possibly explain the relevance of these sentimental dishes--green bean casserole, anyone?--to my mother-in-law, but I'm sure she got the gist when she saw the mash up of flavors on the plate. This is tradition and childhood all rolled into one. It's America. It's turkey and stuffing next to candied sweet potatoes. It's me learning to make the best gravy ever because I couldn't let that turkey down. And I didn't! 

Just before asking everyone to come fill their plates, we made a quick trip up to the roof to check out the sunset which was happening right before 5 p.m. It was a perfectly warm, beautiful evening after a lovely day (which I unfortunately didn't get to enjoy outdoors).  And that's when I realized that maybe I prefer colder Thanksgivings, especially if it means I'm not missing much outside while I slave over the stove. I also mastered my pie crusts this year with homemade oil-based dough, making my momma proud (or so I like to believe). I was happy with the results and the lip smacking going that evening after everyone was sufficiently full. After dinner we even managed to squeeze in a round of Trivial Pursuit (which the boys won--boo!), before piling into the living room to watch "Elf." That there were a few newbies watching made me happy and I think everyone enjoyed our adopted holiday tradition. I missed my family and the past few Thanksgiving dinners at Stacey's house where I did nothing to help towards the meal. But I was also pleased to host again. It's always such a cozy evening, and this year was no exception. Hosting a new person who has never enjoyed an American Thanksgiving always makes my heart happy, so I was pleased that Jose and Irene brought a Spanish colleague to join us. We ate and laughed and ate some more. With all the suffering and craziness going on in the world these days, it was a delight to break bread with friends who share our values and make such good company. Thanksgiving was just an excuse, and a tasty one at that. 

Like Old Times

Back in October I was on a roll meeting up with friends during the week while the girls were in school all day. It was a newfound freedom and I was savoring it. I had a couple of weeks where lazy breakfasts in the city turned into meandering walks through old haunts that left me just enough time to hop on the train and get home before pick ups. It was really wonderful. And among the highlights was a day I spent catching up with my college friend Cale. He and his adorable daughter Maggie were in NJ for a few months with his in-laws while his husband Seth held down fort in San Francisco as their home renovations got underway. It was a crazy coincidence that we both ended up in coastal cities far removed from our Missouri homeland. But the more I see of his posts on Facebook, I realize we both have found the "home" we needed through friends and the family we've made and it's such a delight to see him again and be able to talk about all these wonderful changes.

Seeing Cale as a father was just amazing. We found so much common ground as parents who love our kids but also realize that nothing is the same again ever. Life has been  forever altered and that takes some getting used to. It puts things into perspective that you couldn't have understood before becoming a parent. We shared so many laughs over cocktails at Cookshop (while Maggie slept like an angel) that I really wished he would stay in New York a little longer. It might not be the same as us singing and jamming to PJ Harvey in my old beat up Mercury Topaz on a road trip in college, but it was just as fun. I want to do this again soon!

Surprises all around

November has been a very surprising month all around. It's practically flown by and I've been cramming lots of photo shoots into each weekend which has probably made it feel much shorter than it was. But seriously, it's almost Thanksgiving and I feel like Halloween was yesterday. And then there's stuff like Veterans Day which meant I had both girls out of school and Nacho was flying to LA for a 2 day trip. So we made the most of our girl time and hit the movie theatre to see the new Peanuts movie and then lunch at Chuck E. Cheese (something I only decided on the walk to SGP because it was too cold to eat outside) followed by a little impromptu shopping spree at 5 Below and park time (finally) before it got dark out. 

Then there was the last minute surprise party we threw at Manuela's expert insistence for Carmen and Leonardo just as they entered their last full week in Sunnyside. It was a bittersweet moment to reflect on the past 7 years of friendship and the moving ahead with the next 7 in a new spot.  I have no doubt that Carmen is taking a leap of faith by moving to LIC, but I also know that she is one lucky lady to even have this opportunity. The affordable housing units that opened earlier this year in Hunters Point South had over 97,000 applicants for just under 1,000 units. That she ended up with a 2 bedroom 2 bath unit that was in her price range was nearly impossible. Turning it down would be insane. And yet, it wasn't an easy move. But it had to be done and she did it on her own. As her friend, I'm so proud of how far she's come and I know that this next step is part of a healing process that begins when you wash the slate clean. It's onwards and (way!) upwards! And in a similar vein, Nacho had a personal first and achievement this week that also brought tears of joy and excitement. He was assigned a trip this week that included an overnight in Madrid--his first time flying home and he was elated. It was definitely a dream come true. 

After talking briefly to his family, he asked his mom to consider flying back with him since he would be with her going through customs. And she did. It was a perfect way to get her back here for a quick visit, and her second trip to NYC this year no less! The girls have been excited to see her and share their lives with her, including all their desires for Christmas. And so today we caved to their pleas and ended up at Build-A-Bear Workshop in Manhattan. It was slightly problematic that we ended up at their old store location at 46th Street and Fifth Avenue before figuring out that they relocated to the Empire State Building.  It meant more begging from Elisa (are we close? are we going to find it?) but we also managed to walk down the avenue and check out a few of the holiday window displays that are so magical this time of year. The windows at Lord & Taylor had some recognizable work from our friend and fellow Sunnysider Quinn O'Sullivan and I was impressed to see how well the crowd really responded to the gingerbread house surfing on a wave of dancing gingerbread men. Lots of hard work involved, but such a delight to see in person. And capping off a very busy weekend was a ride home at sunset that simply had to be seen to be believed. It was a fiery pink/orange/purple sky that light up the Manhattan skyline just as we were cresting the ramp onto the Queensboro Bridge. I wanted to stop the car and jump out it was so magnificent. But I opted to grab my camera for a quick snap and this image barely does it justice. What a view. And it made me hope that Carmen was snuggled into her new couch in her new home enjoying the same. Here's to the month's surprises and to new adventures for us all. 

November Weather

The Toys R Us holiday catalog arrived and it was FULL of good ideas--keep those Sharpies ready!

Elisa is studying Ancient Egypt (and now Greece) in her Art class. I love it. 

Carolina likes to hop on board the Mickey Express in the morning when we walk to school from Elisa's bus stop. How could I say no? 

We spent Election Day with Carolina wandering around Central Park in the abundant sunshine. What a glorious day off to picnic and enjoy the last hurrah of all. 

Then Nacho and I managed to spend a morning tromping through Williamsburg, searching junk stores (my idea of fun) and talking a long walk back from lunch at Mu Ramen (his idea of fun). 

A drive through Middle Village to location scout my next shoot turned into a bit of lunch at Policano's near JFK after Nacho's medical. All in a day's work and so tasty! 

Halloween was barely over and I still hadn't come to terms with the fact that November was starting. But that's the nice thing about time, it just keeps on coming even if you aren't ready. So we rolled our clocks back an hour to fully embrace the darkness of the encroaching winter and yet the temperatures have remained mild enough that my outdoor photo shoots are still all about frolicking in the leaves.  Never mind that I haven't managed to get my own children out for a nice photo amidst the scenery. I keep saying maybe next weekend and soon enough it will be too cold to bother. Must organize my own family shot soon! But last weekend was all about the business I do have, and it was fun and at times challenging. As I told Elisa the other day, it's kind of like I take work home considering I'm often asking small children to hold a pose or smile or whatever and they totally don't listen or want to do what I ask. Not much different with my own two! But still, I find that when my work does pick up as it seems to do this time of year, it's nice to have that extra bit of income to offset things. And it's even better when things are local and I can squeeze in time to hang out with family or see them do things like the Pumpkin Smash at Lou Lodati Playground. Carolina hurled our very decaying pumpkin off a ladder and in doing so managed to splash herself and Nacho will the juicy remnants of the old gourd. I got it all on video (will try to post) and it was hilarious. Then we scraped the bits off the tarp and into the composting bin. All of it will turn into compost for the NYC Parks which is such a good idea. Halloween might be over but it's fun lives on.