Come With Me.. To the Sea of Pink

My cousin's bridal shower is a sea of pink. Her wedding colors are actually pink and brown, which will make her wedding the second one we go to this year with those colors. My cousin is the one in the white dress standing just right of center in this hastily shot picture before it was my turn at the buffet table.

Baby Whisperer?

Holding Lily while her mom eats pizza. Apparently she doesn't like other people holding her but she was pretty happy hanging out with me. Don't get your hopes up. Still not having kids.

Morning After

What do you get after a night of indulgence? Why Wegmans coffee and a breakfast sandwich of course! We needed some protein before we head over to Jade and Dave's apartment to help them move into their new house in Jamestown.

The Last of Four Courses

Tiramisu fondue. And they brought us a complimentary glass of champagne to celebrate!

Early 5th Anniversary Dinner

Celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary (early) at The Melting Pot in Buffalo. We are doing the four course option.

How We're All Connected

My dad going over the Lyle family tree with my cousin Shannon.

Jimmying Open Jimmy's Car

Watching my cousin Al try to get another cousin's car door unlocked. Salads are at peril!

CD Review: Pet Shop Boys - Yes

Originally published in the Chautauqua Region Word 6/25-7/08/09 Issue

Pet Shop Boys - Yes

Yes is the tenth release by Pet Shop Boys. The 18-year old band has created an album that has a familiar, yet fresh sound. Overall, it plays like a soundtrack for happy hour at the local gay bar. You could dance to it but you prefer to just listen while enjoying your drink before heading home to your not-yet-legally recognized husband who is waiting with dinner on the table. It's fun, but it's grown up.

First single and opening track, "Love Etc.," off the new release is instantly recognizable even though you've never heard it before. The album begins with a statement about the things we surround ourselves with to make us happy when maybe we just need love.

A clip from Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker" lends a demented edge to the otherwise anthemic, clap-along "All Over The World."

Neil Tennant has filled Yes with songs like "Did You See Me coming" that cause one to simultaneous smile and cringe: "..I think I'm starting to believe in fate because it delivered you.." Hopefully we all experience that crazy delight of falling in love and the unabashed lack of cynicism that causes rational people to start presenting their friends with metaphorical daisies in their bliss.

Mix in a few songs with a political bent and Yes tidies itself up nicely. It's an accessible album that PSB fans will enjoy thoroughly.

Guest Editorial - The Say

Originally appeared in the Chautauqua Region Word (5/28-6/10/09 Issue)

Ten years ago I graduated from college and was on the casual search for a job. By casual I mean I waited about three weeks after I crossed the stage at Commencement to start idly sifting through online job listings. I didn’t know that in another week and a half I’d be packing up my car and moving to Jamestown to start a job in radio news.

My first impressions of Chautauqua County were shaped by the people I met while interviewing. A future co-worker gave this ringing endorsement, “This may be a small town, but it’s a great place if you want to raise a family. The schools are great. It’s a beautiful area.”

Being 22 at the time, my immediate internal reaction was, “Well, they have a Wegman’s, so I’ll make do for now.” I realistically only planned to live in this county for two years. Plus, growing up near a city, I couldn’t fathom the idea of being away from the “civilization” of coffee shops open until midnight, radio stations that played music I liked, cool little restaurants of varying ethnic variety, and a Target.

I didn’t count on Chautauqua County being a place that had a way of sucking me in ever so slowly.

One hot summer day in 2001, I found myself eating lunch in Lakeside Park in Mayville. An idyllic scene floated in front of me. Kids fishing off the boat landing. The weeping willow dripping tendrils of leaves just above the water's surface. And the horizon shimmering in the summer's haze across the lake. I wondered how I had found this place. It was then that I realized I had fallen in love with Chautauqua County.

A few years later I married a guy I met at that first job. Questions of whether we’d stay here were quieted for awhile when we bought a house in Jamestown a year after that.

I’ve been blessed to meet so many people in this county. Living here is a bit like being part of a slow cooked meal. All the ingredients are in the pot. It’s just going to take some time and patience to make it all come together. When it does, it’ll be extraordinary.

During the past ten years, I’ve seen downtown Jamestown transform - with just the opening of a few places - into somewhere you can get a cup of coffee at 8 p.m. on a Thursday night, catch an up-and-coming music act that’s doing a stop-over performance before a gig in New York City, watch a hockey game, or just hang out with friends over drinks in a bar sans televisions.

There’s the reality of living here. The county had a 9% unemployment rate in March. I’ve watched and read the news reports of lay offs in our community and the closures of some local businesses. Friends have lost their jobs, others are taking jobs they would never consider just because it’s preferable to unemployment. I don’t think it’s too pessimistic to think that given the current economic climate across the country that our county will continue to feel the economic pinch for some months to come, hopefully not years. I call it the reality of living in New York State and Western New York.

Despite this, I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I think we have people here who have figured “it” out. “It” being that magical formula that can lead to a vibrant downtown, successful businesses, and less brain drain. “It” is that something that asks someone who has done it the same way, over and over, to change. And change is a bitch. It’s that whole slow-cooker notion again. We’ve got what we need. We just need to turn up the heat a little more and see what we can make out of this city and this county.

Deepening Skies

The sun set lasted forever. It started out in pinks and purples and kept deepening into reds. The moon rose behind us and you could even see stars in the sky. After a prolonged period of gray, cloudy weather, this vision of the heavens around us was welcomed.

Friends on the Fourth

Friends and a sun set. We had moved so our backs were to the Lake so as to avoid the smoke from the fire pit. Later, most of us turned to watch the fireworks while Ali and Shannon roasted strawberry marshmallows (that's all they had left at Wegmans) for s'mores.

Pie Consumed

Pie being enjoyed at a Fourth of July party. There was only one piece left at the end of the night.

Fun By The Lake

Princess Slea playing with her (off camera) kids at a Fourth of July picnic.

Rolling

Rolling out the crusts. I'm making two pies. I'll have enough crust leftover to make a covered pie, so I'll have to decide if I want to make a fruit pie tomorrow. It feels funny to be making pie during the day in the summer since I'm so used to doing this on a November night before Thanksgiving.

Pie Crust

Pie dough is made and is going in the fridge for an hour. It's easier to roll out that way. My grandma's pie crust recipe makes two covered pies and one shell.

Memory Pie

I am about to start making pie. My Aunt Margie enjoyed pecan pie so that's what will go in the oven.

At the Liberty Street Cafe

Matt, Laura and me at the Liberty Street Cafe. For about 20 minutes, I wasn't sure if we were going to follow through with our dinner plans since I was bumming out about my Aunt Margie dying. Then I figured she'd kick my ass if I just sat around the house moping and crying. Dinner was the right choice. We got to see a lot of friends who we hadn't been in touch with for so long.

Time With Our Warren Friends

Hanging out in Warren with our friends at the Cafe. It was good to see everyone since we haven't been able to get together since New Year's Eve. Dinner was tasty too. I had the Vietnamese Pork Pho. Enough food for 4 people in one bowl.

Pass The White-Out

Welcome to my world at work this afternoon. I thought the year was 2009, but it seems like I am really living in 1983.

Tea for Tune

I have my cup of Constant Comment tea, my violin, some music and lots of lights on. I just need my violin student and I will be set.

Summer Storm

The river of rain down our street. The weather these past few weeks has been rough in terms of outdoor stuff like softball games and our city's summer band shell series. It also has kept me from working in the garden. Please ignore the maple tree that apparently is sprouting above my bushes.

The Children Have Returned

Buddy is happy to be home after he and Zak spent four days at Dog Moms while we were off going to weddings.

Chilling Out

Smeal taking a little break on Matt's shoulder

Lana, The Bride

The lovely bride.

King Rail at Wedding #4

King Rail playing at Todd and Lana's wedding reception. Two weddings with live bands this summer. Pretty awesome!

Blog World Meets Real Life

Father-Daughter dance is to Sweet Child of Mine by Guns n Roses. The girl in the background is the photog whose blog I read for years. I had recommended her to Rachel but only just met her in person today.

My Cousin Karen

My wicked awesome cousin who does radio news. She is one of my heroes.

Me and Matt at My Cousin's Wedding

Post wedding pic. The violin playing went well. The weather has cooperated. Time to drink, eat, and dance!

Rachel & Jeff Get Married

Congrats to Rachel and Jeff!

Andrew's Birthday

Andrew blows out the candles on his birthday cake.

Imagine That, Julia at a Baseball Game

And yes, I am here too

Being Goofy At the Jammer's Game

Jammers are still losing but we are having fun being ridiculous.

Friends at the Jammer's Game

The awesome people in our row. Gib Taylor, Jonny J, Tim Smeal, and Shelley.

Jammer's At Home

Jamestown Jammers are losing but we don't care.

Jamestown Jammer's Opening Night

Spending a Monday evening at the Jamestown Jammers opening night with the folks from Forte and other friends. Matt threw out the first pitch.

The Jamestown version of a garbage plate for Father's Day.

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I twitter while Ali looks on. Taken earlier. All our non bridal party friends have left the wedding.

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Ian Thorsell is wearing pink. He is so hard core.

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Jane and Matt puzzling over whether we know a guest at the wedding.

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There is a candy table!

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Run away!

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Matt and me looking our version of fabulous

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Len and Matt at Kipp and Laurie's wedding. We are all two fisting it because we can.

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This is the line to get into Yassou. Jamestown people are serious about their Greek festival.

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I had to fast for blood work this morning. No caffeine until after means I have to double fist it with a travel mug of tea and a medium coffee. There's a breakfast sandwich just out of shot too.

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Uh. I didn't think I'd get this much food at Daisies and Diamonds.

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Balloon Above

This hot air balloon just went over our house! I snapped this picture after waving at the people in the basket who waved back. The house in the shot is my neighbor's place.

Setting and Spiking

A little volley ball by the Lake. I sat out because I wasn't appropriately attired (nicer jeans and loafers). Plus, I secretly dislike volley ball. Guess it's not a secret now.

Weather Perfection

Such a blissful day. It's the small but beautiful things that matter sometimes.

Midway for a 30th Birthday Party

At Midway Park for our friend Dave's birthday. It's a little windy but a beautiful day otherwise.

Julia Makes Dinner

First dinner on the porch of the summer season. Went with kind of Italian theme with caprese salad, olives, Italian bread, olive oil for dipping, summer sausage, and a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon. Tiramisu is for dessert later on.

10 Things To Do This Summer

Borrowed liberally from All Things Jennifer and Mary Kunz Goldman, here is my list of 10 Things To Do This Summer (2009 edition):

1. Have a drink whilst sitting in a rocking chair, watching the sun set at the Hotel Lenhart in Bemus Point

2. Plant dahlias, an azalea bush, and maybe some begonias and geraniums in my garden

3. Dance at three of the four weddings we're invited to before Labor Day (the fourth is a Muslim celebration, no drinking or dancing).

4. Read 2 books. I set my standards low when the weather is nice.

5. Enjoy limoncello over frozen lemon ice on my porch

6. Play skee ball at Midway Park

7. Eat chicken souvlaki at the Yassou! Festival

8. Drink a super chilled beer outside in the middle of a blazing hot day somewhere I can people watch

9. Take a day trip somewhere near water and just hang out watching the water lap against the shore for a few hours

10. Make caprese salad at home and eat it with fresh Italian bread slathered with butter while drinking lots of red wine and hanging out with friends.

Latest Issue of The Word Is Out

The latest issue of The Chautauqua Region Word is out. I love the Helga Hulse interview. Oh yeah, and check out my guest editorial.

Ye Olde Mix Tape

For about a month, I've been iPod-less. I have my iPod. It works just fine, but it and my computer don't talk anymore. I tried mediation, but they weren't having it. I've threatened arbitration, but since they're computers they just laughingly spit back a bunch of zeroes and ones. The current theory is that the USB ports aren't type 2 and, therefore, I'm out of luck until I get those fixed. Matt seems to think I need a new computer. I think it's just a mad ploy to get another computer in our house. At some point we're supposed to become a dual operating system household when a tech friend gifts us a Mac. But I digress...

The lack of iPod has led to less music listening at work and more cassette listening in the car. I've found mix tapes going all the way back to 1992. My latest find was the first summer mix I ever created in 1994. It starts out with Erasure's cover of the Cole Porter tune "It's Too Darn Hot" before moving onto "Lemon" by U2, "Wild Night" by Van Morrison, "Hey Hey" by Eric Clapton, "Jackie Wilson Smiles" by Van Morrison, "Me & Julio Down By the School Yard" by Simon & Garfunkle and several others.

For one of my first themed mixes, it was pretty chill. I'd like to go back to my 17-year old self and shake my hand. Other mixes I've found aren't as consistently good. I had a penchant for destroying a decent groove of R.E.M., The Cure, and Nirvana with some horrid ballad by Bryan Adams or Kenny G. When I come across those mixes, I want to sit my 15 or 16-year old self down for a serious talk. At least the habits of my youth bring some sense to my occasional clicks on gems by Barry Manilow or James Taylor to add to my music library.

Guest Spot

The next issue of the recently relaunched/revitalized Chautauqua Region Word comes out this week. I've been asked to provide the guest editorial for this issue. Those who know me best know that I generally avoid the truly controversial, so the editorial was more some observations I've made during the ten years I've lived here in Chautauqua County.

Pick up The Word at your favorite "third place" or read it online when it goes live sometime around Thursday this week. I welcome any thoughts you may have on it here. Full text of the guest editorial will be posted here after the paper has gone to print.