Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Lunch on The Hill

I met my friend Dona for lunch on Capitol Hill. She made an excellent choice, Cafe Berlin.

We both ordered delicious sandwiches with carrot soup and potatoes. A very hearty meal. Each one was really enough for three people! But the food was wonderful and the server was efficient and friendly. And, since it was a gorgeous fall day, we were able to eat outside.

Dona toasts with a glass of German beer (above) and Chris with a glass of water (below)!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Bucket List Item #1: Check!

A DREAM COME TRUE
 
Going to Yankee Stadium was Number One on my Bucket List. I was able to check it off. Mission Accomplished!

Thanks to Wells College friends, my dream of many, many decades finally came true.



I was born a Yankees fan. I inherited my passion from my father. Not only did he instill in me a love for the Yankees but also a love for the game of baseball. I don't believe there is another sport as interesting, as exciting, as intelligent as baseball. It is challenging and never boring.

My two friends Louise and Dotty organized the outing - studying the Yankees home schedule and then purchasing the tickets.

NEW YORK

I took Amtrak up to NYC on September 23 and was met at Penn Station by Dotty. We then returned to her house where I spent the night. I met her charming husband. Dotty and her husband are a wonderful couple. They have written over 100 books together. Very impressive!

Dotty and Tom have written a wonderful Samurai Detective series for young adults (and more mature adults like me) and a series of books on immigration (e.g. the Scandinavian American Family Album). 



That evening Dotty and I went out for dinner to Haru, a wonderful Japanese restaurant. I have never eaten such delicious sushi in all of my life. (I left my camera at Dotty's so I unfortunately missed a great photo op.)

YANKEE STADIUM

Then The Big Day arrived. Dotty and I took the subway to Yankee Stadium where we met Louise. There I stood - in front of the Yankee Stadium. What a feeling! What excitement I felt! Then we went inside. I felt even more excited!

Monument Park


Louise first led us down to Monument Park. So many of my favorite players are commemorated there.


           Phil Rizzuto, My First True Yankee Love 




                                   Phil Rizzuto



            Another Old Favorite: Mickey Mantle

 
A more recent favorite: Mariano Rivera

Seats in the Stands

Then we went up to our seats - great seats behind 3rd base.


                         Dotty, Chris, Louise

Jeter on the Field

What energy in the stadium! Overpowering! Of course, the focus was on Jeter. It was his next-to-the-last game. Je- ter! Je - ter! Je -ter!


       A photo of Jeter at the plate

The Yankees lost to the Orioles but it was exciting, thrilling, memorable in spite of the loss. I had seen Jeter before - at Camden Yards and at Target Field - but seeing him on his home turf, in his office (his shortstop territory) was priceless.

Dinner at Candlestick Vegan Restaurant
 
After the game we three took the subway back to Dotty's and we then went out to dinner. We met Noni and Cathy, two other Wells girls, at Candlestick, a vegan restaurant with interesting, excellent food.


               Sweet Wells Girls: Chris, Cathy, Noni, Louise, and Dotty


Desserts - carrot cake, chocolate cake, and sweet potato pie

Home Again
 
Then I went back home with Noni where I spent the night. The next morning she accompanied me to Penn Station to catch my train back to DC.

What a great adventure! I think I will put A Second Trip to Yankee Stadium on my Bucket List!

Thank you, Wells Girls!



Saturday, September 13, 2014

Exploring St. Paul with Ann

My friend Ann introduced me to some of the sights of St. Paul.

First, a Norwegian surprise! (She knows that I love all things Norwegian.)

 She took me to the campus of Luther Seminary to see the Norwegian church.

This church, Muskego Church, was the first Lutheran Norwegian church built in America.

This church was built in 1844 in Wisconsin and later moved to St. Paul.

 It is a true gem!

Then Ann took me to Rice Park.

A striking statue of one of my favorite authors, F. Scott Fitzgerald

One of the Peanuts sculptures in the park

Highlights from my WHS 55th: Kirky's Luncheon

Kirky hosted a wonderful intimate luncheon at her home on Grass Lake.

 Kirky, The Hostess with the Mostest

From left counterclockwise: Kay W, Kirky M (standing), Nancy L, Nancy B, Liz H, Kathy K, Judy W. (Photographer Chris F)

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Highlights from My WHS 55th: Bill's Rose Garden

My friend Bill invited us to his home to tour his magnificent rose garden.

 Kathy, Kirky, and Kay in front of Bill's ivy-covered home

The two Master Gardeners talk shop.

Kirky and Kathy in Seventh Heaven


 Bill treats us to delicious ice cream - Kirky, Bill, Chris, Kay, and Kathy

Bill offered each one of us a rose. What a beautiful centerpiece! Two Seashells and two Peace and Love

Friday, September 05, 2014

Lunch with Kim

A wonderful lunch with Kim, the daughter of my dear old friend Denny. We met at the Lebanese Taverna at Pentagon Row. We had lots to talk about and ran out of time, as usual!

Chris and Kim

Kim with her Sampler

Chris with her two dishes: Watermelon & feta and 5 falafels

Tuesday, September 02, 2014

Lunch with Carla

A wonderful lunch with my good friend Carla who was back in town for a visit. We met at our usual place, Busboys and Poets in Shirlington Village.

Isn't this a cool photo? We are sitting on a very comfortable sofa in front of Busboys and Poets' Tribal Statement. We support their philosophy!