Calling all angels-thoughts on Dave's death April 10

This blog is dedicated to my friend and colleague, Dave, who died this morning. He was diagnosed with brain cancer two years ago, and fought bravely and obstinately til the very end. Dave was a softie with a hard shell-you all know the type. Called us on all our bullshit, made us go outside our comfort zones, and never suffered fools gladly.

He touched so many lives in so many ways, as colleague, mentor, teacher, friend, and father. He will be missed-he is missed.

Another reminder to all of us-whatever your path

make sure you stop along the way and take it all in

cause it's later than you think...

Thank you

One mor before the year is over Dec 09

I stayed home today cause I just couldn't get out of bed-oh well one less vacation day next year. But I'm not a complete sloth; oh no. We have company coming to see the new year in with us! It's Beth, a very dear friend that we don't see very much. You may remember her from my hs graduation

and the reunion last year

So I'm madly rushing around getting ready-NOT! I am doing some wash and some cleaning in between looking at pictures and generally goofing off.

Speaking of pictures, I thought it only fitting to close out the year with some Philly shots-yes I know it's a bit boring but bear with me. They really are rather interesting. Anyway-from a ramble I took last week

and one from inside my favorite coffee shop

Thanks so much to all my friends who show up to read my ramblings and comment on my pictures! I treasure your friendship and wish all of you a very happy, healthy, and prosperous new year!

Rittenhouse Square tonight Dec 09

Took the BFF Pat out for her birthday tonight, and we sat at the window looking out at one of my fav places-Rittenhouse Square of course!

First though-the Van Ransallear mansion aka the Anthropologie store. I can't stay out of that place. If you look at my photoblogs at all you've seen it, not that you'll recognize it from these.

The view from our table at Parc

Happy boxing day Fairmount park houses Dec 09

It's boxing day; the day after Christmas, and thinking about how I finally found out just what boxing day is all about gives me a good excuse to avoid the paying work I must do and write this blog. (play first, work later?)

My sister-in-law, my niece, and I recently visited Fairmount Park in Philly to see some of the historic houses there dressed up for Christmas. This is a Philly tradition, and even though the houses are owned by different entities, including the city and the Art Museum, many of them decorate for Christmas and open for tours. We visited four houses that day, built in different architectural styles in periods of the 18th and early 19th century. I won't go into the history here, but if you google Fairmount Park houses you can take a look. I will say that many of these houses were built up on a bluff overlooking the river to allow their owners, wealthy Philadelphians (both patriots and loyalists), to escape from the periodic yellow fever epidemics that swept through the city.

So-what about Boxing Day, you ask? My knowledge of British history is very poor, but I can't imagine how this little tidbit of info did not make it into my brain at some point-shame on me! Anyway, I asked one of the docents in a house we visited about the origins of the day and the name, and she told me that it was tradition to give the servants off the day after Christmas, and to provide them with boxes of leftover Christmas dinner and goodies to take home to their families. Thus the name boxing day. Interesting, huh? I also learned another little tidbit of history that I'll reveal later on.

So now to some pictures


The Art Museum

Lemon Hill

The oval room and the view from

One of the curved doors

The tree upstairs

Mount Pleasant-very Georgian!

One shot of Ormiston

This last shot is from Woodford. These andirons appeared in many of the houses we visited that day, and I just had to ask about their meaning and significance.

The docent told me that they represent Hessians. Patriots used them in their fireplaces because they wanted all the Hessians to burn in hell!!!!! LMAO-can you imagine the savvy entrepreneur who created these things? I hope he made a fortune!!! Appropriately enough, I leave you with a very American success story-find a need and fill it.

Have a great weekend and happy Boxing Day!

Doylestown and Philly photoblog Dec 09

Words elude me, EXCEPT-- I have to ask about the 81 blog views today and not one comment-wtf?-who are these people? Leave me a comment-good or bad-or kudo please.

A couple more pictures