Ben and Baby

Growing

For all those who haven't seen me in the past couple weeks, my baby belly is growing. And yes, I know it doesn't look like much, but to me, it feels giant. And for someone who has always made sure I had a flat stomach, it's a bit alarming. But anyway, here is it.

Philly Thanksgiving 2008

A Haiku

Two little pink lines
A little one comes in May
Our hearts swell with joy

Rocktober

Water damage from a burst pipe in the bathroom radiator that ruined our dining room. Boo. Happily, our homeowners insurance will cover all the repairs. They start today.




Go Phillies! Phillies won the World Series and I got to watch the victory parade from the Kimmel Center which is right on Broad Street. My work is right next to the Kimmel and they gave us free lunch and the best view.

This month also took me to New York for 3 weekends to perform with Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance again. It was great to see all the dancers from Martha's Vineyard and the shows went really well. It is also great that most of my best friends live in NYC now and I got to see them and spend time hanging out with them. But, I am glad to be back in Philly for a while.

Back to Modernity

This week started with my last day at my previous job, which I think you all know, I strongly disliked. I spent the last day training my replacement, which revealed all the inefficiencies and ridiculous things that had become normal to me. But gladly, I have started my new job at the Philadelphia Orchestra. It is like I suddenly realized I have been living in slow motion, but have just now come back to real time. It is a dream to work for a bigger company with separate departments and more than 7 people. Everyone has been really nice to me so far and the company seems to really take care of their employees. I love being downtown everyday and not having to sit in traffic and spend so long in the car. My title is Volunteer Programs Assistant and I have already had a board meeting with the chairmen of the Volunteer committees. They are responsible for all the major fundraising events for the Orchestra and I was really impressed with their vision and ability to get things done and pull off successful, lucrative events.
Anyway, I am really grateful for this job. It is part time, which enables me to dance more. I have a performance this weekend and next weekend in NYC with Cherylyn. We are doing the piece we created at The Yard this summer. After that, I am starting a workshop with a choreographer here in Philly. Hopefully, that will help me to plug in better with the dance community here.

Autumn Notes

Let's see, I haven't posted anything on here in a while.
So what's new? Summer's over and the fall is going well so far. This weekend, I made my traditional pumpkin bread and Ben and I went apple picking and picked out some pumpkin. We also went to a Penn football game which was fun. It was the first football game I have been to in 10 years.

I am leaving my job next week. I got a new job at the Philadelphia Orchestra, which I am really happy about. I will be working in their Volunteer Program department, coordinating their fundraisers and events. The job is in Center City, so I won't have such a long commute, the people seem nice (and young) and it's a great organization. It's the biggest art organization in the city, so hopefully I"ll learn a lot.

Ben's doing great in his work and is playing on a football team as the quarterback.

Enjoy the some pictures of the house and from my birthday party!

Home Improvement

We've been busy doing things to the new house. I hope to have pictures of the finished products soon, but here are some of the in-process ones.

CLD at the Yard

I have just returned from 10 days in Martha's Vineyard dancing at The Yard with Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance. I had a really good time and enjoyed dancing and meeting all the new dancers and relaxing. It was a much needed break and it made me really miss dancing more. Being in a house with 8 other dancers who are mainly under 22 years old was like being on some kind of reality show, except without all the fighting. We couldn't really go anywhere since we had limited transportation, so we ended up sitting around a lot. We had no tv, but managed to watch you tube, music videos and celebrity family feud (awesome) on the computers.

I may continue to do projects with Cherylyn in the fall, which would be really great. I miss performing.

Brian's Wedding

Last weekend, Ben and I went up to New York to go to Brian and Mary's wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and a really lovely reception. Melissa F, Amber and Lil came too and we had a good time dancing and laughing as usual. Brian and Mary looked so great and happy and we got to hear the song Brian wrote for Mary .

After the wedding, we stayed with Marla in Long Island City and enjoyed spending time with her before she moves to London. We loved being back in New York and seeing old friends (and one new one!)

Pie

I love pie and I like making pie too. Last weekend I made a peach blueberry pie, and it did not turn out great. I think those fruits don't have enough fruit. I made a strawberry rhubarb pie a couple months ago and it was really tasty and beautiful - see picture.
Just thought I'd share my success.

Ice Cream Festival

Last weekend, Ben and I went to an ice cream festival down by the Delaware River. It offered all you eat ice cream for $5.00.
We went with our friend Cara and one of her friends, both who turned out to be as serious about ice cream as us. When we paid our money and they had given us a spoon each, we entered the tent filled with tables, ice cream scoopers from Ben and Jerry's, Haagen Dazs, Bryers, Edy's, Rita's Water Ice, and more. Also in the tent was a ton of people elbowing people out of the way and pushing small children out of their paths to get the cups of goodness - we joined right in. There is something about crowding around and jostling with hundreds of people over cheap sweets that just says "America" to me and it was fun fun fun. We'd all split up to scout out our favorite flavors and brands. (Melissa only took chocolate flavors, Ben filled up on fruit pops), and then meet up in the middle of the tent to eat and rest until we'd go back in to the foray. Apparently, it is an annual event, so next year, come join us!

So Philly

Last night we rode our bikes to the Mann Center to meet some friends to see the performance of The Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra with Yo Yo Ma. The Mann Center is cool. Like Wolf Trap or Summer Stage, it is a big outdoor stage with a big lawn space for people to have picnics. It was the first city activity that we've really done here.
Which is especially important since now we own a bit of this city. Ben and I bought and moved into our new house last weekend. Living in a house with so many rooms and floors, that we own, is a concept that is strange to me. But it's been fun and great so far. My mom and sister came up for a few days to see the house and celebrate Ben's birthday, which was fun. All our friends have been really helpful telling us where to put stuff and filling up the house more. Ben is in 7th heaven, planting stuff, fixing up stuff and cooking on his grill. It's like we've become these whole new people in the last week. We cook on the grill and have a basement and a washer and dryer (which is one of my life goals fulfilled), and a backyard, and have to put the trash out.
It is also strange to live in our own house, but still be in the city. So far, city living for me and most people I know means living in an apartment. Philly is nice that you can buy a house, but still enjoy city life. All our neighbors have been very welcoming and friendly. Everyone says hello to each other on the block and has come over to introduce themselves to us.

We are thankful for this new blessing in our life and wish you all a great summer!

Big Apple

Ben and I went to New York this weekend. We saw some great friends and enjoyed being back in the place where we began our life together. In addition, we went to the Met to see the Jeff Koons exhibit on the roof which was wonderful and the Superheros Costume Exhibit, which was also fantastic. We love NY!

Future Home Owners

Check out these pix of the house we are in the process of buying in West Philly!

Hello to Spring and Goodbye to Wisdom Teeth

We have welcomed spring and all the blooming trees and flowers around us. It is unusual to track the coming of Spring in a city, but Philadelphia has so many beautiful trees along the streets. Ben and I continue to explore different parts of the city and have especially enjoyed to find Philly's hipster neighborhood, Northern Liberties. Packs of fixed gear bikers and friendly dogs. If only Planet Thai and Sea could open there too, we'd have a very nice Williamsburg, Brooklyn replica.

My Mom and Walter came to visit and we had a great time wandering around Center City and the Italian Market and watching a lot of basketball. They had an authentic Philly cheesesteak at Geno's and braved the "whiz wit" which in Philly lingo means you want it with Cheese Whiz and with onions. As the city wakes up from winter, it has a lot more action and reminds me of an uncaffinated New York! ( Although I still miss the frenetic pace in NYC). Anyway, Philly was out and in character for Mom and Walter and we're glad they liked it.

Otherwise, Ben and I are good. I had my wisdom teeth out a month ago and thought I'd embarrass myself by showing a pic of me right after I got home. Ben made this ice pack contraption that looks like I am wearing a ice-filled bra on my head. But it sure did work and I didn't have any bruising or swelling. Ben was an excellent nurse!

Pictures: Kato and Ben! Post-op Melissa! Girls from out home group from our church!

Oldies but Goodies?

Welcome 2008! Life moves on here in Philly for Ben and I.
At the end of December, I finally got a job. I"m working for an Artist Management company and I am the Contracts Coordinator.
We represent a big roster of chamber music groups, dance companies and soloists and my job is to finalize and write up their contracts with the theatres/presenters and send them out for signatures. I also do all the touring details, and just finished planning a tour for a vocal group from the Netherlands. I like what I do, but there is one small issue with the job.
Most of the people I work with are really old. Two are in their late 70's, One is in the late 60's and then some in their 50's. It's a really strange dynamic, which really turned me off at first. But it's growing on me and now it's 80% funny, 20% sad. I am grateful to have a job but still adjusting to working everyday. I am continuing to dance when I can and Ben and I are now gym members, which he is super excited about.
I'm sad i never have pictures to post anymore, but living regular American life doesn't call for much picture taking.
Next week we are off to Atlantic City for the CDW holiday party, so maybe there will be pictures from that.

This picture is one of my mom's paintings. She is having a show in DC in February, so anyone around there should go check it out, it's going to be spectacular!

Best Wishes to everyone for 2008.