Smokey Mountains...etc.

Ben and I are home after a dozen summer days in the south. We started out our vacation in the beautiful Smokey Mountains in Tennessee with the Brandenburg family. We had a ridiculously large cabin for all ten of us overlooking the mountains with a hot tub, pool table, and even air hockey! But these luxuries paled in comparison to the entertainment received from our one year old niece and seven month old nephew.


Brandenburg Family at the Falls


Our view from the cabin

It was a fun time for all of us to be together and enjoy the mountains. We spent most of the days relaxing around the cabin and doing little day hikes. For the other half of our vacation Ben headed out on the Appalachian Trail for 4 days with a good friend while I headed back to Charlotte with the rest of the family for a few more days of R and R.


Silas and Ben ready for the Appalachian Trail


Ice cream and live music in Charlotte

On our way home we were able to spend time with some good friends in Durham, NC and then lunch with Ben's brother Paul and wife Jodi in DC.


In Durham with Silas and Laura

Hot Week in Philly!

This week has been a hot one in Philly...with temperatures into the 100s many of the days. So when it was only 89 today it was a relief.
We also had a good friend, Katie, staying with us this week. We were able to get out and show her all the sites around the city in her short time here. Thanks for making the trip out Katie!

Cheese Steaks on Market Street

Chipmunks, Foxes and Bears, Oh My!

These were just the creatures we discovered above ground in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Shenandoah Valley. Below ground we discovered a vast world of caverns--one mile long to be exact--available to well, any tourist shy of claustrophobia.

Our good friends, Silas and Laura accompanied us over Memorial Day weekend as we hiked, played hours of Rook, swam, spelunked, and attended festivals in the beautiful region. Summer. A blessing indeed.

Girls Weekend

Last weekend my good friend Heidi flew out here from Minnesota for some girl time. We had a lot of fun going to NYC for the day, heading to the Jersey Shore for some sun, eating Philly Cheesesteaks in the city and ending the trip with a morning at the spa!

Thanks for taking the trip out here Heidi!

A Rainy Morning at the Today Show


Ocean City New Jersey Boardwalk


Fun in Philly

Wednesday in the Big Apple

A short play: Husband and Wife in the Big Apple.

Scene: Turtle Bay, NYC. Early Morning.
Toni: (ecstatic) Yes! We made it in time for the Rachel Ray show.
Rachel Ray Staffer: I'm sorry; there are no open spots today.
Ben: (With a cunning glee) Looks like we'll have to walk two more blocks and spend a couple of hours at the United Nations.
Celebrity Count: Ben 0, Toni 0.


At Rachael Ray Studio

Scene: Rockefeller Plaza, The Today Show, NBC. Late Morning.
Toni: I don't see any celebrities? (Starts talking excitedly to Mom on phone)
Ben: (Annoyed by blabbering conversation, leaves area and walks towards exit and spots Ann Curry). You're the best Ann!
Ann Curry: Gee, Thanks.
Celebrity Count: Ben 1, Toni 0.


Taking pics of NYC from UN

Scene: SOHO, NYC. Early Afternoon
Toni: All the celebrities live here.
Ben: I see only spoiled NYU kids.
Celebrity Count: Ben 1, Toni 0.

Scene: Central Park, NYC. Late Afternoon.
Ben: (thinking in his head as he spots an oncoming couple with a baby stroller). Wow, that woman has some really red hair.
Toni: (jaw dropped, staring at red haired woman.)
Marcia Cross: Smiles at Toni and keeps walking.
Celebrity Count: Ben 1, Toni 1.


A Beautiful Day in Central Park

Scene: Central Park, NYC. Evening.
Ben: What in the world? Why are all these people blocking the path?
Toni: (heart still racing after Marcia Cross "moment") I think they're filming a movie. Oh, that's Edward Norton.
Celebrity Count: Ben 2, Toni 2.

A Day in Philly

Today was another beautiful day in Philly. Ben and I both had off after he finished a huge paper yesterday. It was a great day to have free with all of the festivities going on in the city. The morning was spent at the historic Eastern State Penitentiary where they held the annual flea market.

Then the rest of the day was spent at the famous Rittenhouse Square Spring Festival. It is when all of the restaurants have booths and you can try their expensive/delicious meals for a fraction of the price and portion. It was fun to see all of the people and dogs out and about. We finished off the afternoon resting in the beautiful Rittenhouse Square along with everyone else. We were just enjoying the sunshine and green grass!

More later...

No Miracles in Philadelphia

Photo: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty

I was one of the 35,000 who gathered in Independence Park on a warm Friday evening to hear the White House hopeful. The sea of people sprawled across nearly three city blocks. Unfortunately, the messiah, err, candidate, was noticeably tired at 9:00pm, the message was more partisan than I had hoped, and there weren't any mass healings. I was really wishing for that pain in my lower back to go away.