New York, New York- Brittany and Dan get married!

 



Great trip back to New York to celebrate Dan and Brit getting married.  So much fun.  The trip started off with an extra long flight.  Yes, we got to spend an extra 2hrs in the air avoiding weather.  I wish we knew where we went, Canada? Florida? who knows.  But, thankfully we made it.  And immediately headed towards New Jersey for food, wine and conversation. 

 

It is great that one of my original Boston roomies Phil and his wife Lara live right down the street.  Love that we are still friends.  So much fun to connect with the two of them.  I never seem to remember to get a photo of us all. 

 

We were very fortunate to have Dan drive us into the city that night.  Thanks!!!



The view from our hotel room in Midtown Manhattan

Our hotel room.  I didn't think they made them this big in New York.  It was great. 

 The front of the New York Public Library

The next day we set out walking and went down towards Greenwich Village, Washington Square area

 It rained off and on throughout the day.  Which was actually very nice and kept things from being too hot

 Exploring Greenwich Village

 This store was dairy heaven.  Had all kinds of cheeses, and dairy products and right next store was fresh bread.  Pretty sure that's all I would eat if I lived in the area

We just happened to walk by this.  Do you recognize it? That's ok either did we at first.  It's the apt building from "Friends"

 The next day we wandered off in the opposite direction.  Towards, Times Square, Central Park and Rockefeller Center

 Nope didn't get to see Jimmy

 The "Tonight Show Studios"

 

 Radio City Music Hall.  They had vendors up and down the street. 

 Rockefellar Center and a giant Ballerina

 Able to get close to this since Trump was over offending the women and people of Europe.  Sorry guys

 St.  Patrick's Cathedral.  

 Manhattan

 Exploring Times Square

 These things were hysterically.  Felt like you were going to fall backwards

 

The craziness of Times Square

 

And of course the wedding festivities.  They started off by throwing a great night before party held in the Penthouse Suite with open bar, a great terrace over looking the city and lots of fun

Love this view

 And of course the wedding ...which was a Black Tie affair. It was so much to fun to get dressed up.  Everyone looked gorgeous They were wonderful to rent us buses to get from the church to Gotham Hall where with reception took place

The beautiful couple. 

 Everything was gorgeous and so much fun. 

 Brittany looked gorgeous.  Glad to have her part of the family

 all dressed up

 The Kates

 

 

 Wow, this wedding was so much fun and elegant.  They had a tenor singing "Danny Boy", a DJ,  a quartet singing during cocktail hour and more.  I think we counted 5 live musical acts.   We danced and ate.  What a lovely night

And a Marching Band at the end of the night with food truck handing out Pizza

 

Thanks for inviting me to celebrate with you.  I had such a fun time.  What a great trip.  It was so much fun to see family.  Welcome to the family Brittany

 









Murrieta, California

Decided to take advantage of my week between jobs and take a trip out to California to visit Mara and family in Murrieta.  She was great and toured us all around.  Here are a few of the highlights

 

The weather in AZ the morning we left...and snowing pretty good as we drove down I40 headed to Cali.

 

 

Thanks to Mara and family for driving us down to San Diego for a day.  It was fun to go see again.  Has probably been close to 20yrs since I've been that way

 

 Was quite the change once we got to California.  Pacific Beach, San Diego.  Crazy that everyone is running around in their swimsuits and it's March

 A lot of people out enjoying the nice weather

 Checking out the shops along the walk way

 These two were great navigators.  Not sure we would have made it without their expertise

 And exploring the town of Tumecula.  There is a cute old town area with ...

 a great farmers market.  Amazing how things grow when you are somewhere that has actual soil

 And fun old time buildings. 

 They even put on an amateur Western.  The woman of course kicked ass

They had the speakers but forgot to turn them on

 and enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich that was big enough for meals for the week

 California is having a "super bloom" from all of the rains.  We didn't get out until later in the evening but was able to get a few good shots

 All the people picking bouquets was irritating.  Seriously, it's going to be dead by the time you get home anyways.  Let it grow and people enjoy.  Or plant your own. 

 Enjoying our nice walk to see the flowers

 I know some you are curious where was Shakti? What did she do? Who took care of her? Well no worries she went on puppy vacation and it looks like found herself a boyfriend while there.  How cute are these two?!