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Monday, August 29, 2016

Sunday Baseball

IMG_20160828_150419Happy Monday. :) We're back on this coast (arrived back Wednesday morning after a red-eye) Spent the rest of the week running some errands, catching up with a few things etc. 

Saturday we went to the movies to see "War Dogs" (pretty funny and a good movie overall) and had lunch at 121 in Oxford afterwards. When getting home at night we've also been binge watching "Parks & Rec", up to the beginning of season 4 now. It's been a while since we've binge watched a show so that's been kind of fun. Never really got into or watched the show when it was first airing but it's actually pretty funny.

Yesterday, Sunday, we took the train into NYC to go to the Mets baseball game with our friends John & Jana and Robin. Was fun to hang out with some friends for the day. The weather was ok too. It was in the high 80ies (31C) but our seats ended up being in the shade so that was good. The game was fun despite the fact that the Mets lost. Well oh well.

After the game we took the subway back into Manhattan and then went to the Village for some dinner. Went to a place across the Angelika theater called "Burger & Barrel". We had originally discovered the place when watching a movie at the Angelika a few years back. There are so many restaurants in the city, it really is crazy. You could eat at a different one every day of your life and never repeat.

Today I am meeting with one of the staffing agencies I used to use when I worked at my old job. Whenever I needed to hire a new employee for my department I would usually contact a few different agencies to see who they had available and go from there. Well, obviously I don't need to do that anymore but since they reached out to me I figured it couldn't hurt to go and talk to them and see if they are currently working with any companies who have job openings that could work with my skills. We will see how it goes. Kind of weird to be on the other side of it now but also weirdly interesting in a way. Been also looking at all the various job sites, checking new postings and all that.   

Well, that's about all the news here from me. Going to see what this week brings. We have a vet appointment with Mindy on Wednesday, just for a check-up and to get her shots updated. Not looking forward to that. Our cats do not like to be transported in their carrier or ride in the car. Hate it. At least the vet is semi close (about 15 min ride) Well oh well. She will get over it. :) 

Other than that nothing scheduled for this week as of yet. Need to take care of some odds and ends, errands, etc. Will see what the week brings. 

Letter/Mail Update: Letters are going out today to Jessica/DE and Carmen/Malta.  

Posted by Hanna at 10:23 AM in NYC, Sports | Permalink | Comments (0)

Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Oregon Coast .. goodbye West Coast :(

IMG_20160821_210119And it's already our last day here IMG_20160822_195707 on the West Coast. Where did the last 8 days go? Time always flies by so fast when you are having fun. 

We left Portland on Sunday morning and headed to the coast. When we made it to the ocean it was still a bit cloudy but the weather improved quickly and the clouds gave way to sun. Such pretty scenery. 

We did some wine tasting and after headed to Yaquina Head Lighthouse where we checked out a couple of trails and took loads of pictures. Such a pretty area. 

Later we had lunch at the brewpub at Rogue Brewery before checking in at our hotel (just a Days Inn..  had gotten used to the Air B&Bs we had in Seattle and Portland which were much nicer of course) Walked down to the main street to check out the various shops and restaurants. What a funky town. 

Monday we left Newport and continued up to Cannon Beach. On the way we checked out the Three Cape Scenic Route which was very pretty. Cape Kiwanda, Cape Lookout and Cape Meares. Saw the Lighthouse at Cape Meares and enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Also stopped at the Tillamook Cheese Factory (yummy samples!!)

Once we got to Cannon Beach we had lunch at the Pelican Brewery. And walked up and down the main street to look at all the shops. Very cute and quaint town. Did some more wine tasting and eventually had a nice relaxed dinner. 

This morning we walked along the beach for a bit, out to Haystack Rock. Cool and breezy but really pretty. Now at lunch at the Wayfarer Inn. Had the most delicious double cheese (asiago on the outside, cheddar on the inside] melt with avocado, tomato and bacon & garlic fries. So yum. Now just sitting, sipping on my glass of Pinot Gris, looking out at the ocean.

I so do not want to leave. Of course we will have to make our way back to Seattle airport regardless after lunch. Well Oh well ..  until next time West Coast :)

 Letter/Mail Update: Received letters/owe replies to Jessica/DE and Carmen/Malta.  

Posted by Hanna at 04:55 PM in Beach, Food and Drink, Outdoors, Travel, Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Saturday, August 20, 2016

Portland, Oregon

IMG_20160820_114224Hello from Portland.

Thursday we went to the Museum of Flight in the morning. Neat museum with lots of exhibits. Afterwards we headed back into the city to take the ferry over to Bainbridge Island.

Managed to get the 12.20 ferry (35 min ride) so we were on the island by 1. Found a place on the water to have lunch  (Doc's Marina Grill) and later did some wine tasting, checking out the different tasting rooms along the main street. What a neat island. Had some tasty gelato and eventually  walked back to the ferry. 

Friday we left Seattle and made our way to Portland. Got here a bit after noon and took the Max Light Rail into downtown. Had a late lunch at a brewpub (Deschutes) followed by a visit to Powell's book store. What a neat store. 

Today we checked out the Japanese and Rose Gardens in Washington Park. Both very pretty. Then made our way to the waterfront where we had lunch outside. In the shade by the water the heat was tolerable. It's been a 100F (38C) but at least there is no humidity so much more tolerable than the heat on the East Coast. 

Tomorrow we are off to the Oregon coast for 2 more nights. This trip is definitely flying by way too fast. 

 Letter/Mail Update: Received letters/owe replies to Jessica/DE and Carmen/Malta.  

Posted by Hanna at 09:30 PM in Food and Drink, Outdoors, Travel, Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thursday, August 18, 2016

Hello from Seattle

IMG_20160817_200013Already Thursday again. Time's flying by. Our alarm went off at 2.45 am on Tuesday so we could catch our morning flight to Seattle from Newark. The flight seemed to be never ending but we eventually made it to Seattle. Picked up our rental car and drove to the area where we were staying. We couldn't check in yet so we just parked the car and took the Light Rail to downtown to explore. 

Spent some time walking around Pike Place Market and had lunch at a really neat brewpub (Old Stove). After lunch we made our way over to Seattle Center via the monorail. Took some pictures of the Space Needle and went to the Experience Music Project museum. Such a cool place. Afterwards we headed back to Pike Place Market and hung out for a bit before meeting up with my friend Nina for dinner at Pike Place Brewing Company. Was great to meet up with Nina after writing letters for 10 years. Always neat to get to meet people in person. 

Yesterday, Wednesday, we drove north to the Boeing Factory for a tour. They bring you through the factory so you can see the planes being assembled and whatnot. It's really pretty neat. Such a huge complex too. They employ 40,000 people in that location alone. Pretty fascinating when you think about it. It's like a small city with their own fire department, police, coffee shops, cafes, daycares etc. 

After we were done at Boeing we headed back south again to Woodinville for lunch and some wine tasting. Had lunch at the Red Hook Brewpub and then went for wine tasting at Columbia Winery and Chateau Ste Michelle. Was happy to get to visit Chateau Ste Michelle as it is definitely one of my favorite wines. Neat to go to their tasting room after all these years. 

After we were done we fought our way back south through rush hour traffic. Had dinner at the Columbia City Ale House near where we are staying and later some wine, sitting outside. Nice end to the day.

Today we are going to the Museum of Flight and later are going to head back into the city to take the ferry over to Bainbridge Island. Should be a good day. :)  

 Letter/Mail Update: Received letters/owe replies to Jessica/DE and Carmen/Malta.  

Posted by Hanna at 12:05 PM in Food and Drink, Travel, Wine | Permalink | Comments (0)

Sunday, August 14, 2016

NYC with Nicki, Damien, Jackson & Lana

IMG_20160812_182128Busy, busy week. :)  

Tuesday we had tickets to see Best Coast in Hamden. So we went there and had a yummy dinner at a place we had been meaning to check out for a while (Eli's on Whitney) Super yummy and HUGE nachos. After we ate we headed over to the venue (Outer Space) which really was just a divy type of club. The show/performance was really good though and it was nice that it was a small venue. Bethany's voice is really great live, so much better than recorded. Pretty amazing how that can happen, the difference between live and recorded music.

Wednesday I took the train down to NYC and met up with my Australian friends. They are staying at a hotel right in Times Square so we met up at a Starbucks across from their hotel. Had lunch at TGI Friday's. Was really nice to catch up with them and to meet their daughter Lana who hadn't been born yet the last time I saw them. Lana's 7 months now and Jackson 4 years. You can really see time pass when you look at kids. It's crazy.

After lunch it was down-pouring so we headed over to Starbucks for a bit. Eventually made our way to Rockefeller Center where I left them to walk back to Grand Central and catch the train back to CT.

Thursday I stayed home and finished decluttering a few more things around the apartment. Then Friday I went back down to the city again. Oh my god it's been SO HOT and SO HUMID. We're in the middle of another epic heatwave and god it's been crazy. Anyway, Friday we took the subway down to South Ferry to catch the Staten Island Ferry. Really one of the best free things to do in the city, great views of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty. Had lunch by the ferry terminal on Staten Island (River Dock Cafe) Yummy caesar salad and nice views. Then afterwards we headed back to Manhattan and walked up to the 9/11 World Trade Center Memorial before continuing on to Tribeca. Stopped at a Starbucks for a drink to re-hydrate and then took the subway back uptown. 

Yesterday, Saturday, Mike and I both went down to the city so Mike could have a chance to see our friends as well. Damien took Jackson to the Natural History Museum so he could see the dinosaurs while Nicki, the baby, Mike and I had lunch at Chevy's (much better inside with AC ... really not much you can do outside in that heat and not much you can do inside with a baby) But lunch was great and was nice to spend some more time with Nicki. Had some more Starbucks after and watched some of the Olympics in their hotel room before heading back to CT. 

Was fun to spend some days with them. Kind of sad that I won't get to see them for a while. Nicki is planning to come back to CA in February. If we can swing it maybe we can meet up with her there. But it's a big IF because by then we will have jobs again and taking time off might be tricky. We will see how it goes I suppose. 

In the meantime we have our West Coast trip coming up this Tuesday. Flying to Seattle, staying there for 3 nights, before heading to Portland for 2 nights and then 2 more nights on the coast before returning to Seattle to fly back home. Should be a fun trip. 

Letter/Mail Update: Received letters/owe replies to Jessica/DE and Carmen/Malta.  

Posted by Hanna at 10:24 AM in Food and Drink, NYC | Permalink | Comments (0)

Monday, August 08, 2016

Hopkins Inn

IMG_20160807_193341And somehow it's already Monday again. Really, where has this past month gone?

This past week I had my unemployment hearing and all went well. They released my funds so at least there is a little bit of money coming in now which is helpful. I also received a return phone call from the logistics job I applied to. Was really excited for a minute but unfortunately that excitement didn't last all that long. Pretty soon into it they told me that it was an entry level position and what it would be paying (quite a bit less than what I had made at my old job) so I had to decline. I am figuring that I shouldn't sell myself short just yet. If I am still without a job in a few months then I will be willing to accept offers that aren't quite what I really want. But I figure for now I should be reaching high and look for the best opportunities rather than pick the first thing that comes my way.  So I will keep searching, looking and applying and see what the future holds. 

The weather was pretty decent most of the week. Saturday it was a little off with high humidity and storms during the later part of the day. So we decided to stay indoors and went to see Star Trek which was really good. 

Sunday the weather was much nicer so we decided to go for a walk outside, along a river. And afterwards had a small bite and some drinks at the Alpenhaus Steinbock Tavern in New Milford followed by a delicious dinner at the Hopkins Inn overlooking Lake Waramaug. I am always happy when we get to go there (we usually try to go once during the summer). We also usually try to time it so it's a nice weather day so we get to sit outside. They have a huge patio and porch area overlooking the lake - very pretty. And of course super delicious food. Had escargot as an appetizer, cordon bleu for my entree and toblerone sundae for dessert. Soo good!! After we got back home we relaxed for a bit and watched "Moonrise Kingdom", a Wes Anderson film we hadn't seen yet.

Tomorrow we have tickets to see Best Coast in Hamden and on Wednesday I am going to meet up with our Australian friends. They are currently in L.A. but will be making their way to NY tonight on a red-eye flight. Will be great to see them again. :)  

Letter/Mail Update: All caught up. No outstanding mail at the moment.  

Posted by Hanna at 12:41 PM in Film, Food and Drink, Outdoors | Permalink | Comments (0)