2005 PICTURE REVIEW

I DECIDED TO TRY AND PUT TOGETHER A PICTORIAL SUMMARY OF 2005. IT SOUNDED LIKE A GOOD IDEA UNTIL I STARTED SEARCHING THROUGH THOUSANDS OF SHOTS...I WAS NOT DISCOURAGED, THOUGH, AND PLOWED AHEAD WITH THIS PROJECT. ENJOY!

JAN 2005: SPENT THE HOLIDAYS IN SCOTTSDALE AND SEDONA, AZ. THE FIRST IS A VIEW FROM AK MOM'S PORCH IN SEDONA, AND THE SECOND IS YOURS TRULY WITH MCNABB ON OUR FLIGHT BACK TO PHILLY.




FEB 2005: HAD A SMALL SUPERBOWL GET-TOGETHER WITH MOUNDS OF FOOD, INCLUDING STONE CRABS FED-EXED FROM JOE'S IN MIAMI BEACH. AK, JOJO AND CNN


MAR 2005: A VIEW OF THE SUN BREAKING THROUGH AND SIGNS OF SPRING THROUGHT THE MELTING SNOW FROM OUR TREETOP BALCONY.


APR 2005: A CLOSE UP OF THE AMAZING "SUGAR" MAGNOLIA MY MAMA HAS IN THE BACKYARD..SPRING HAS SPRUNG.


MAY 2005: CELEBRATING OUR BEST BUD'S BDAY IN NORFOLK, VA, WHERE WE ALL MET WHEN ATTENDING ODU BACK IN THE DAY. BDAY BOY AND AK


JUN 2005: ME AND MY PRECIOUS GODSON NICHOLAS ON THE DAY OF HIS BAPTISM. HIS MAMA AND I GREW UP TOGETHER IN UPPER DARBY, AND MY POPS AND HERS WERE LIFELONG BUDDIES-THEY GREW UP IN WEST PHILLY TOGETHER. IF YOU CAN SEE NICHOLAS' CHAIN, IT ACTUALLY WAS MY FATHER'S BAPTISM CROSS CHAIN :)


JUL 2005: JOJO AND HANNAH/HANNAH TALKING TO AK ON MY CELL. HANNAH IS THE DAUGHTER OF JULIE AND GABRIEL-VERY GOOD FRIENDS OF OURS FROM CALI. JULIE AND HANNAH WERE IN NYC TO VISIT JULIE'S MOM, AND I TOOK THE TRAIN UP TO SPEND THE DAY WITH THEM. WENT TO THE NEW MOMA-FABULOUS DAY, AND SO AMAZING TO SEE HOW MUCH HANNAH HAS GROWN SINCE WE'VE MOVED.


AUG 2005: 30 DAY EUROPE TRIP THAT ENDED THIS MONTH. 1-VIEW OF TIVOLI GARDENS IN COPENHAGEN, DENMARK FROM OUR ROOM 2-YOURS TRULY ENJOYING A DELICIOUS HOEGAARDEN IN ARHUS, DENMARK AND 3-VIEW OF ROTTACH, GERMANY FROM OUR TRAM CAR AS WE RIDE TO THE TOP OF ONE OF THE MOUNTAINS-PART OF THE ALPS.






SEPT 2005: SPEND A LAZY HOT SATURDAY ON THE CHESAPEAKE ON MY COUSIN'S BOAT WITH HER FAMILY. THIS IS MY COUSIN ANDREW AND THEIR SWEET DOGGIE JAKE TAKING A RIDE ON THE JET-SKI


OCT 2005: FILLER LILLIES FROM AK'S NIECE'S GARDEN IN ARHUS, DENMARK


NOV 2005: FILLER THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED WITH JUNE'S PICS-A SIDELINE SHOT OF THE MEDIA 5-MILER AT TED'S ANNUAL PARTY. CHECK OUT AUSTIN CHILLING IN THE LOWER RIGHT :)


DEC 2005: VIEW OF THE BEAUTIFULLY DECORATED LIVING ROOM IN AK'S MOM'S HOUSE IN FL, AND A SHOT OF OUR CHRISTMAS GOOSE-IT WAS SOOOOOO DELICIOUS!




DEC 31, 2005: RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR IN VERO BEACH, FL. 1-AKJN, 2-JOJO, AK AND HIS MOM




THAT'S ALL, FOLKS!

GUMBO

I don't even know where to begin....

First-I don't know if you are familiar with Ron Jon's Surf Shop, but it has been a staple on the Cocoa Beach, Fl scene for years, and on our most recent trip to FL over the holidays, we learned that they are moving to the Port at Cape Canaveral in order to capitalize on the all of the booze/gambling and all other cruise ships that have infested that area. Cocoa Beach residents are very upset and they should be! Ron Jon's is a landmark, but I guess to many people money is the bottom line.

Back in Media-I have resumed my chauffer duties with my mother, and realize that her neck brace must come off very soon for both of our sakes. Hopefully she will be driving within a month or so, as soon as her neck heals. I have to say she is a tough broad at the ripe old age of 76, and has had a series of bad luck and health problems since Pops passed away a year ago. I am trying to be a good daughter and make Pops proud, but lately I am ready to take off again, but with no return address this time. So selfish, I know....had a long day with her today so I am a bit cranky. But I love her so! Enough of that....

Sunday Night-I got the word Friday from Chrissy that Lynn was in town for the weekend. Since I didn't make it into the city and meet them as planned on Sat (mom stuff-imagine that!), I did a pop in at Chrissy's Sunday with bags of hangover food nd drink supplies in order to spend some time with Lynn and Dena before they left. Well, it turned into a spontaneous, crazy-ass slumber party (see pics at CNN's blog). The group as a whole transported ourselves back to the 80's-location and behavior-wise. We went to Della Paula's on McDade...the last time I went to that particular establishment was 19 yrs ago, when I was totally underage. The same people were still there. It was a fun, hilarious night-things are still coming back to each of us as the days pass (stories cannot be published). I think today is the first day I am totally back to normal. Back in the day, I remember partying like that 3-4 times a week for a few years running. I am glad to be grown up a bit, but kicking it loose like that a few times a year makes you feel young, and funny stuff just happens when you are with your good buddies. Love the girls...

...one more thing-we watched "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" the other day...I totally forgot how awesome that movie is! It's one of the free movies offered for HD channels, so if you have it, check it out and make some mashed potatoes :)

Hope everyone's 2006 has gotten off to a happy and healthy start!

HOME AGAIN

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Sorry for the slight vaca, but we travelled home earlier this week, and I just had two of my xmas presents installed-a new keyboard and new mouse :)

...more soon-the damned laundry awaits me...the siren song of the dryer calls to me even now...