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New York Review (yep, we’re home)

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Balto, Carter, & Haven

Here are pictures from Central Park. The babies and I are around the statue of Balto. He is the Siberian Husky who led the final leg of the dog sled team when in 1925, the town of Nenana, Alaska was suffering from an outbreak of diphtheria. The sled team was carrying the antitoxin. This is the run that is commemorated in the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race each year. We have seen the statue several times in Central Park, and this is the first time I haven’t cried while contemplating those wonderful dogs and their heroic run. I can’t help it. I love dogs!!

Haven, Ammon, & Balto

Once again, it was the first time Ammon and Carter had been on a carousel. They loved going “up and down”. Later in the week we returned to Central Park to simply walk and get exercise. It was very enjoyable.

Carter & Ammon: Central Park Carousel

I also promised Diana from the Cranberry Café that she would appear on the blog. She’s here. The pictures of Friend of a Farmer is a quaint restaurant (77 Irving Place) between 18th and 19th Streets near Union Square. We enjoy the breakfasts there. I highly recommend the breakfast/brunch (pumpkin pancakes!), but the service is usually lacking.

Cranberry Cafe (45th and Times Square)

Haven & Diana (Cranberry Cafe)

Carter, Haven, & Ammon (Friend of a Farmer)

What a treat New York was! One play that we saw that I did not write about last week was Sister Act. It was really good with themes such as “working together with your ‘sisters’ (mankind) and ‘raising your voice’ (in life and to God) were throughout the play. I also thought it was a profound idea where the Reverend Mother said that you find God in people. Patina Miller plays the lead role, and she is very good. She has many mannerisms that remind me of Diana Ross, but her voice is more soulful, and (sorry Diana), Patina is a much better actress. If you liked the movie Sister Act, you will enjoy this play as well.

What a treat New York was, but we are glad to be home. We have been going twice a year, and we plan to return right after Thanksgiving this fall.

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Birthday/New York Broadway

. Theater Shows (Broadway)/Movies

The first part of this post is not a self-absorbed, I want attention, “hooray for Haven”, but I am grateful to our Heavenly Father that it is my birthday today (Saturday May 7). I am so blessed, and that is my point: Ammon, Carter, Sean, My mother, my pets, my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, my pets, my health, etc. I am honored that God is giving me another year to serve Him and grow closer to Him. Thank you, God, through Jesus ;o)

Okay, Ammon and Carter have been having a great time especially in Central Park. I will post actual pics of Ammon and Carter on the Central Park Carousel when we get home, but accept this one for the moment. We were also disappointed to find Niko’s Mediterranean Grill (Greek food) closed. It was located at 76th and Broadway. They had the BEST Moussaka ..yum, yum, yum…oh, well, not any more. We, however, found our way to one of our favorite sandwich diners: Deluxe. It’s up on Broadway at Columbia University, and it is located between 113 and 114 Streets. I had a delicious New York Burger!!

We also saw an awesome reprisal show last night: The Normal Heart. It is about the AIDS epidemic here in New York City between the years of 1981-1984. The actors were SUPERB. Joe Mantello is a such a realistic actor. His raw emotions come across as so believable. I am also for the first time a fan of Ellen Barkin. I was lost in her portrayal of the doctor who was researching and treating the AIDS patients. I could have REALLY believed she was a doctor! I highly recommend seeing this play if you are in New York.

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New York: Cranberry Cafe

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 I am also going to make some posts about where to find some good food and beverages. I am going to start with the Cranberry Café (115 West 45th Street) which is right around the corner from our Comfort Inn at Times Square. It is on 45th Street. This place has homemade sandwiches and wraps. They also have pizza and hamburgers. The BEST DEAL there is a 16 oz. cup of coffee for $1.75: It’s delicious coffee (especially the hazelnut), and it sure beats paying $5 for a cup of coffee at Starbucks!

I have also had the pleasure of speaking in Spanish this week at The Cranberry Cafe with a cashier named Diana. She is so sweet, open, and friendly. It is also apparent that she has a wonderful work ethic. The owners need to know how lucky they are to have her. She has made our morning coffee ritual extra special with her engaging conversation and bright personality. I will post our Cranberry pictures when we get home…Diana included. ;o)

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“How to Succeed…”: Broadway

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How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying

Starring: Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette

What a comical treat to see Daniel Radcliffe in a happy, teasing role instead of his brooding, troubled Harry Potter, and what a contrast to Daniel’s role as Alan Strang in Equus where his character creates a mythological theology where the horse “gods” watch what he does and he later stabs innocent horse victims in the eyes! I saw Equus here on Broadway just a few weeks before the babies were born in 2008. Daniel was awesome. However…. 2011…

Daniel Radicliffe is a superb comedian and his singing and dancing is great as well. He was entertaining and full of energy for almost 3 hours (could have been a half hour to an hour shorter without character Rosemary’s multiple reprisals). I would suggest that anyone with the time and money see “How to Succeed…” if at all possible. You will not be disappointed.  John Laroquette is great as well, but he is known for being a comedian. A hilarious addition to the cast is Tammy Blanchard.  She plays a Hedy La Rue a ditzy “secretary” with whom John Laroquette has been having a fling. She is nominated for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for a 2011 Tony award. She helps make the show a “success”, and I predict she will win her Tony.

The babies and I also got to see Wonderland. It was appropriate for children and similar to “Alice in Wonderland”, but it wasn’t as animated (no bunny costumes, or Walruses, or mice, etc.) as we had hoped so as to keep Ammon and Carter engaged. They got a little bored, but they behaved very well. As we left the show MANY people around us congratulated them and us for having such well-behaved 2 YEAR OLDS. While they whine at home, pull each other’s hair, smack, and cry we lose sight of the big picture, and forget that, yes, indeed, they are wonderfully well-behaved children and travelers. Back to the show…if you are a fan of “Alice in Wonderland” you might want to see it; however, I would suggest renting the Walt Disney cartoon or the latest Johnny Depp version for a more fulfilling experience. ;o)

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Broadway

. Theater Shows (Broadway)/Movies

Our first Broadway show was “Priscilla Queen of the Desert”. It has an excellent score, and the actors are superb. The score has excellent music from Madonna, Donna Summer, and Dionne Warwick. I think the best lesson is how to look at people from the perspective of a child: love and acceptance of everyone for who they are  “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God”  Luke 18:16. Ammon and Carter are doing great!

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Ammon Moment

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Last Thursday evening, Ammon and Carter overheard a conversation I had with my family. Before going to bed without power on Thursday evening, I said, “If there is no power in the morning, I am going to change the babies, and we are going to go to town and get breakfast and a big ol’ cup of coffee.” We then proceeded with going to bed.

Our life returned to “normal” with power early Friday morning. When the babies woke up around 8:00 a. m. Friday, I greeted Carter and put him on the couch with the television on. He shouted, “Sponge Bob!”.  I then went and got Ammon out of bed, and I said, “I’ve got a surprise! The power is back on. You and Carter can watch television, I can cook you an egg and pancakes…”, and as I was finishing the word “pancake”, Ammon chimed in with, “…and you can have coffee!”.  I cracked up! I concurred and said, “Yes, ma’am, Daddy can have coffee!”

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Finder of Lost Loved Ones

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I have a first cousin, Kimberly Jones Moore, who, evidently, enjoys finding and keeping in touch with her relatives. She found me on Facebook this week, and she and I became “friends”. Now, the blessing which she gave me was the re-connection with her sister, Debbie Jones George, with whom I was very close growing up. As a matter of fact, Debbie is only 3 days older than I .Debbie and I began exchanging messages on Friday, and we spoke together for the first time in almost 17 years on Saturday. We had a joyous reunion, and it was such a blessing. Thank you Kimberly & Facebook (and you too, God)  for finding a “lost” loved one. Debbie and I are looking forward to communicating and sharing our lives again for the remainder of our days.

My beloved cousin, Debbie Jones George

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No electricity = Better Family Time!

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The bad weather that took away our electricity for 24 hours had some bright points for our household. We did not depend on the television for our entertainment. Last summer we were out late at night catching lightening bugs (fireflies for some of you) and playing in the yard, but I did not realize until last Thursday night that the end of April had such long days as well. Because there was no electricity in the house, we played outside until 9:00 that night. It was beautiful, and the babies had a ball! It was also cool reading to the babies by candlelight as well as having bedtime prayers by candlelight.

I also spoke to several other families on Friday who spent more time together  during the storms and afterwards during the power outages, and you know what? They had great “family time”. Now, I am not saying to flip the switch once a month on your house’s power box so you can spend some quality with your family (LOL), but let’s all try to turn off the television sets, computers, computer games, and cell phones more frequently and share some time with our family and friends.

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Weather Tragedies

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Simple regrets to our neighbors and the people in our area cannot do justice for the tragedies that have occurred, but for me and my world/area, I am asking you all to please pray for Southeast Tennessee  and Northern Georgia and its recovery from the Wednesday April 27 bad weather devastations. The town of Apison is obliterated with quite a few fatalities, and it’s just 5 miles up the road from our “untouched, blessed” house. Bradley County saw numerous fatalities as well. Parts of Ringgold, Georgia near Interstate 75 were demolished and also suffered fatalities.  May our prayers and deeds towards our neighbors let them know God’s presence and love, and may the Holy Spirit comfort the hearts and souls of  those whose who are bereaved from the loss of homes and especially loved ones.

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Keeping up with Facebook

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I don’t spend too much time on Facebook, but I do like it. One of the main reasons I like it is because of its instant news, and you don’t have to be watching television to get it. Of course, there isn’t audio, but you can get up-to-date news from family and friends. Case in point…just this morning a friend in Murfreesboro, Tennessee sent a facebook message from her closet where she was trying to shelter herself from a tornado. I began to pray for her and the people of Middle Tennessee immediately. Another good friend of ours had a motorcycle wreck a few days ago. He and his friends kept us up to date on his condition, and we were very grateful.  Casie, keep those weather updates coming, and Gavin, keep resting.

We love the fun stuff even better: birthday pictures, vacation pictures, holiday pictures, or just every day neat stuff of life are posted, and we can enjoy with everyone all around the world! I am not advertising for Facebook, but if you’re not on it, give it a try. It’s pretty cool stuff.