I left Rochester Sunday morning to head to Syracuse for a days' visit with Mickie and Carrie meeting at the Carousel Mall. It was a beautiful sunny crisp morning as I headed out with excitement to meet my friends.

Here's the three of us outside the mall:
We got to spend time when we first got there looking through Carrie's pictures of her wedding, and then pictures of Mickie's Marathon. We shared stories of both and it was such a great time.
After show and tell, we headed to the movies to see
Match Point
Only the three of us can bear what went on during the ordering of our snacks for the movie...when we're together, it's like there's no one else, and I know other people are looking at us like they can't believe we're for real...I wouldn't want it any other way...

Holy TUB o' Popcorn. (we barely dented half of it)

Waiting and talking before the movie...

The movie was really good - not your typical Woody Allen style, although there was a sense of him in there...a major twist at the end that no one saw coming...really interesting...yes - the story has been done a thousand times, but it was interesting from Woody Allens perspective.
After the movie, we headed over to Olive Garden for dinner and more catching up...I surprised Mickie with a dual purpose cake...part birthday that I didn't get to celebrate with her over the holidays, and part for congratulating her on the marathon that she just got back from - Way to go Heim!




As we paid the toll in our separate cars to get back on the thruway, I watched them in their car as our lanes parted to go East and West - and with about as much excitement as I'd had on the way there to see them - I had the same if not more intensity of sadness to watch them go the other way without me.
:(
I missed them as soon as I said goodbye and that same sadness floods over me every time I have to leave them.
The ride home for me is one of recapping everything that we talked about as my mind is filled with images of them throughout the day...
One day, as I've hoped for years, we'll live closer to one another. Until then, we have the very special times every few months that we can get together.
Thanks guys for making the trip out to Syracuse...I can't wait to see you again.
:)

Mickie has returned from Phoenix after walking in a Marathon to raise money for finding a cure for strokes.
Here is her email before she left:

"So next weekend I head off to Phoenix for the marathon you’ve all heard me talk about for the last 5 months. I thought a few of you who have contributed greatly either through financial or verbal support or even those who have simply seen the ups and downs of the training and fundraising process would like to check out the marathon website. You can view the bands that’ll be along the way and headlining at the evening’s celebration concert, about the weekend’s events and/or even check out the actual path we’ll be taking, all 26.2 miles of it, throughout areas of Phoenix on Sunday, January 15!

Rock 'n Roll Marathon in Phoenix

Though my attempts to be all Zen about it (breathing deep and calmly looking forward to it) haven’t been entirely successful (I’m shaking even typing this e-mail), I am confident that Angel and I will be doing our very best no matter what the outcome. It will be quite an experience, enhanced by the good that the money we raised will do for stroke victims and research, and I thank each of you who have been a part of it. Should I be vertical and conscious long enough to get a picture during the marathon, I will share it with you all afterwards. LOL!

“Rather the pain of discipline, than the pain of regret.”
~ Bob Andrews

McE

After months and months of enduring all sorts of weather here for training and early rising to walk all morning on her weekends...SHE DID IT!
We are all so proud of her !
She also shared a great story about walking that inspired her to keep going.

Congratulations!
I'm going to see both her and Carrie this Sunday at the Carousel Mall in Syracuse...our favorite place to meet half way for a days' visit.
stay tuned!
:)

Mom had a trip planned to come out before the holidays that had to get post-poned due to bad weather (no surprise)
so, her meeting was changed to this last Friday so we got to visit for the whole weekend!
She and Peter came to Rochester from Albany Friday night, and then after her meeting we all went to dinner for sushi and good times.
mmmmm Hiyashe Wakame, California and Unagi roll, and some Sapporo on the side.
:)
It was delicious and it was so nice sharing the evening with them at a place that Bob and I love to treat ourselves to now and then.
Thanks mom and Peter!
(Unfortunately I didn't bring the camera with me, so no sushi pix)
:(

Saturday, mom, Peter and I spent the day shopping. We visited the Craft Company where they love to look around at all the artisan works. They picked out a few goodies to take home while enjoying some hot Friendship tea, and then we headed out to pickup a few things for our dinner.
We invited our friends Jim and Susan over to meet mom and Peter so mom made her famous chicken parmmmmmmm....
:)
It was another great evening - great company and conversation, and comforting Italian food.
The guys watched football

while us girls got dinner ready, enjoying our wine with conversation


Ravioli with Chicken Parm...sooooo good.

Everyone left around 11pm, and Bob and I cleaned up and relaxed a bit.
The next morning (Sunday), we met up with mom and Peter to take them to breakfast before they headed back home to Albany.
I took them to a cute little cafe in Pittsford - since it was on their way back to the thruway. It had a shop they could walk through on the way out so I knew they'd have fun in there before they left.
Food was delicious....eggs...and mom got a chance to look through my wedding books and portfolio. It was so nice watching her and Peter look through all the images I've collected over the years.

After about an hour of visiting and finishing up breakfast, we headed out through the gift store. Bob got a quick picture of us before we said our goodbyes.

Thank you both for visiting!
We had such a great time - can't wait to share something new with you next time -
Dinosaur BBQ and Marios I think!
Thanks for everything!

"Arianna, how old are you today?"

Arianna's homemade pink yummmmmy cake

I found a stuffed puppy that looked like Buddy, so I put a nametag around him of a heart with Buddy's name!
So cute...she's always asking, "Where's Buddy?" - now she can play with him, and no allergies for mom!
:)

My sweetie


Happy Birthday Arianna!
We love you!!

We all gathered at Lux for a fabulous New Years Eve celebration!
:)
We LOVE the Chex Mix they always have out, and they handed out mini champagne bottles for everyone too!

Bob, Jim, and Susan

Jim, Susan, and Mike

Noisemakers!

Me and Susan

Bob's brother Sam and friend John

Tracy and Susan

Me and Bob

Wishing you lots of happiness and sticking to those resolutions...at least trying to...
:)
Will update again soon!