Photo Per Day #29: Geneva, NY

Today, I drove to a client in Northern PA and back but rather than heading down the less scenic 390, the hubby talked me into taking Route 14 which is also, unbeknown to me, faster. Duh. So I headed to Geneva and instead of going to my brother-in-law's cottage, I drove along the other side of the lake and saw those familiar sights from a new angle. The road-side of the inns directly across the lake from the cottage: Geneva on the Lake and Belhurst Castle. I now want to stay at both and wave to my sis from my upscale vantage point. So beautiful!

Anyhoo, instead of taking pictures of the cute little town of Watkins Glen or of the gazillion vineyards dotting the landscape (or even of the one, lone boater), I fell in love with the town (city?) of Geneva for the first time ever. Crime-riddled, decay-filled Geneva, NY with its boarded up storefronts is chock full of gorgeous architecture. Mansions dotting the lakefront. The lake itself. The whole package. I now personally want to restore the area to its former glory. A Geneva revival sans gunfights, welfare and crack whores. Could happen, right?

And I want to live here: smack dab in the middle of town with Christmas decorations on the lampposts and views of the lake from my backyard.

Photo Per Day #28: The Latest Cat Toy

When out in the living room there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the couch to see what was the matter,
Oh right, two cats fighting over something . . .

Who knew an old Santa hat could be so much fun?

Photo Per Day #27: Kitten Proofing

This year, with new kittens, we're decorating the tree in all non-breakables. And, unlike prior years where the tree was decorated by little people (i.e., bottom loaded), all of our ornaments are now strategically placed at the top of the tree where they can't be swatted down by furry creatures. It's an equally bizarre lookin' tree only a few short years later.

So what must one do with all of the pretty bulbs? Shove 'em in bowls, I say (and then take a fuzzy picture).

Photo Per Day #26: The Pub

Went out to meet my niece, in town from DC, for a drink tonight at the pub. Thankfully my girlfriend came with me because my niece didn't show for another 1.5 hours. So we went home. Beforehand, we had these.

Photo Per Day #25: Thanksgiving 2010

Happy Thanksgiving y'all. Today's picture is not of the succulent turkey that my brother-in-law Jim prepared. Or of the gorgeous spread that he and my sister offered at their home. Or the blazing fire. Or the smiling faces. Or the beautifully illustrated label on the wine that my mom bought. Instead, today's picture represents what families of nine year old boys know inside and out: how to stave off a holiday meltdown. Today's picture is of Son #2 at the supermarket picking out a box of store bought stuffing because he doesn't like the fresh mushrooms and delicious sausage in my sister's moist, homemade stuffing. Welcome to parenthood 2010. Dysfunction. Love. Thanksgiving. Whatever it takes for happiness.

Extra Photo Per Day: Sunset

Okay, so I missed two days of my self-imposed photographic compilation; however, I'm closing the gap with an extra photo today. This shot was taken by my brother-in-law, Jim, at his cottage last Friday night. I've never seen the lake that calm before.

Photo Per Day #24: Got the Time Tick Tick Ticking

Sooooo excited for Thanksgiving, a four-day weekend, the kickoff of the Christmas season, dinner at my sister's house, food, family fun, etc. Alone at work, I can't stop looking at the clock on the wall outside my office door. Got another day to get through . . . No such thing as tomorrow, only 1-2-3-go.