LEGALLY YOURS

Happy Valentine's Day! Nathan and I celebrated our 10th Valentine's together by making our marriage official at City Hall. We planned to leave work early, meet at home and head cross town together, however I had a terrible time getting out of work and we almost missed the cut off time. The marriage license instructed us to be on site at 3:15 and wedding ceremonies were only performed until 3:45 sharp. We were still in the cab at 3:40 giving new meaning to the phrase "you would be late for your own wedding." When we finally arrived at City Hall the Security Guards at the door told us to hurry. "You have exactly two minutes!" Sure enough, we took the elevator up to the second floor, ran down a hallway, through the door reading Civil Marriage Ceremonies, just in the nick of time. The city hall worker shut the door right behind us and we got in line behind another couple that was also running late. We paid our money, signed on the dotted line, recruited a random woman to be our witness and we were good to go. After the exchange of rings (again), another round of "I do's", and a "you may kiss the bride," Nathan and I became the very last two people in New York City to get married on Valentine's Day. Dramatica y Romantica.

COUNT DOWN

Any day now, baby Lyman will be making his or her long awaited appearance followed just a few months later by baby Degner. Here's a photo from my visit to California last week with the two mama's-to-be. Dion's 9-months along, Jess 5-months - both looking fantastic. Can't wait to meet your little darlings. Thinking of you both everyday!

NYC SLIDESHOW - FALL 2007

CAR #61

Last night I arrived around midnight at JFK sad that my trip to California had come to an end. I fished my three suitcases off of the baggage claim belt only to walk by a slew of paparazzi ferociously snapping pics of Gwen Stefani with baby in toe. It was my second celeb sighting in the same trip. When I arrived in California a week ago, I was waiting just a seat a way from Will Farrell at the baggage claim at LAX.

I crossed the street to the taxi line only to find the line winding three times over. Yuck. I fished out the number for our company car service, Utag, and made a reservation for immediate pick up. I could barely hear the dispatcher on the line amongst the traffic and crowds, but I swore she said my car, Car #61, would be arriving at post “C” in ten minutes. Not too shabby. I waited under the sign reading “C” and not three minutes later a driver arrived flashing a fabulous red sign in the window with the word “Bell.” Sweet! That was so fast. I could not help but be impressed that they had even gone to the trouble of printing out my name so quickly and professionally. The number on the sign said 161, not 61, but perhaps I had misheard the dispatcher through the blaring horns outside the airport.

The driver helped me load up my luggage and I confirmed with him one more time, “the car is for Catherine Bell, right?”

“Bell, yes,” he replied in broken English. I settled myself in the back seat and off we went down the Van Wyck Expressway toward Manhattan. About 15 minutes into the ride, the driver’s phone rang. It was his boss yelling at him that his customer was still waiting curbside and was furious. Where was he?”

At this point the driver looked back at me and asked me my name for the second time. “Catherine Bell,” I replied.

“Oh no…I am in deep trouble now. Huge mix-up! The name of the car service is Bell. The sign was not for you, but the company’s name!” That explained the very professionally printed sign. Hmmm.

“I’m turning around now,” he told the dispatcher. The dispatcher told him he was too late and that he had sent another car. The driver frantically called the angry passenger and begged her to let him pick her up explaining if he did not make the pick up he would be fired. Yikes. I felt awful.

He asked if he could take me home then so he would not loose out on the $60. I had to tell him he would have to return me to the airport, because I had already pre-paid a car service on my corporate card to Utag. My correct driver was most likely there and waiting, wondering where the hell I was. Grudgingly he turned the car around and drove me back to the terminal.

As we rounded the bend toward Arrivals Area “C” we pulled up directly behind Utag Car #61. I guess the dispatcher did say #61 after all. What a coincidence. “That’s my driver!” I exclaimed. The Bell Driver began frantically honking at the Utag driver. Just then my cell phone rang and the dispatcher asked my location. “I am right behind Car #61. Have him pull over immediately.” We were stopped at a light so I snapped my cell closed, jumped out of the car and ran up to the Utag car, giving him a few quick knocks to the passenger window. “You’re my driver. I AM BELL!”

Both cars pulled off to the curb and we made the luggage switch. My stomach hurt for the Bell Driver and the look of despair on his face. Out of guilt I gave him a tip for his efforts and apologized for the mix up, though I know it was both of our faults. Hopefully his boss would understand the unfortunate Bell mix-up.

Once safely nestled into Car #61 and back on the Van Wyck Expressway, I began to ponder the “Bell” coincidence and came to the conclusion that although Bell has served me well for 30 years, this must be a sign that I should officially make the name change to Ellis.

JUNO WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT?

I normally wouldn't use my blog to publicize movies, but Nate and I saw Juno last night and loved every minute of it. Absolutely fabulous, quirky and refreshing. If you haven't seen it - I would highly recommend it. Ciao.

IN & AROUND TOWN

This weekend, Nathan and I had a little time on our hands to do a little exploring...we decided to get out of town on Saturday and headed to Greenwich, CT. Just an hour or so from the city we were in a different world of sprawling lawns and mansions along the Sound.

From Connecticut we jetted over to New Jersey to visit the local IKEA. We had to replace a bookcase that was leaning worse than the tower of Pisa and was an apartment hazard. Oddly enough IKEA in Jersey is almost the same as the IKEA in Costa Mesa, only with thick accents. Just like in Cali we left the store smelling like cinnamon rolls and hot dogs. Here is a pic of Manhattan coming over the George Washington Bridge from Jersey.


Yesterday we explored in town with an attempt to escape the cold by visiting the Guggenheim Museum. We were were quickly dissuaded when we saw the immense line circling the outside of the building. Somehow we seemed to forget that it is New Year's and tons of visitors are flocking to the city. Instead we opted for a long walk in the park, checking out a few choice statues and the Conservatory Gardens. That's all for now. Happy New Year!

GHETTO SUPER STAR

So Merry Christmas to all of our friends and family near and far! This Christmas, Nathan and I decided to brave the city, just the two of us. We have had a good time bringing the Christmas spirit into out home. Pictured above is our Christmas tree. It is a little bit of a Charlie Brown tree, but has a lot of character. We picked out our tree about three weeks ago on the corner of Jane St. and Hudson. The funny thing about Christmas tree "lots" in New York, is they are not really "lots" at all, but rather Christmas trees lined up on popular street corners. Our particular corner lot was employed with an old man with white beard who looked very-Santa-like, a small, dread-headed, hippy-like elf-man, and a little boy in full cowboy gear. As Nathan would say in the words of Austen Powers - "carnies - small hands, smell like cabbage." I wonder what happens to the carnies after the Christmas season? Perhaps they head back to the ranch to begin growing pumpkins for next Halloween. We were gone during Halloween this year. I'll be curious to see if the "pumpkin patches" look similar to the Christmas tree "lots." I'll keep you posted.

Nathan and I brought out little tree home and spent the weekend making it festive. For the past nine or so years, Nate and I have been purchasing Christmas tree ornaments whenever we take a trip somewhere new. Each year when we decorate our tree, it is fun to remember the trip and the funny events associated with each . When we made the move to NY we had to leave behind our box of souvenir ornaments and lights. Given our new small quarters, even just one medium size box accounted for too much real estate in our tiny apartment. This caused us to be a little more creative with our decor this particular Christmas. Aside from the senor y senora ornaments picked up in Zihuatanjo, the cross from Mexico City and the Bajan woman made from a coconut seed from Barbados, we had no traditional ornaments to think of. We decide we would convert all of the cards we received from friends and family into ornaments for our tree. If you look closely you will see a few of our favorite newlyweds thanks to Jess and Janae, some darling children - the Bland kids, the Saenz kids, the Booser kids, the Maitlen kids, and an orray of beautiful holiday scenery from cards from everywhere else. With each glance at the tree I am filled with happiness and friendship from each greeting mailed from our dearest friends. We also spent an entire Saturday night watching Sopranos and stringing popcorn to adorn the branches of our XMas tree (hence the snow like effect;). When the stringing of the popcorn was complete we looked at our Charlie Brown Tree and realized that we were missing an angel or a star to top our tree. Nathan suggested we pull out our art supplies (which we did find a space for in our tiny apartment) so we could construct a star for the tree topper. Amongst the paints, tape, markers, pastels, etc., we found a full jar of gold glitter - perfect! Nate cut out the star as I got crazy with the glue stick and glitter. Before long we had the best "ghetto super star" we could imagine possible.

As for other Holiday decor, we have a gorgeous wreath adorning our front door (also purchased from the carnies on my way home from a L'Oreal Holiday Party - what can I say, I was in the Holiday Spirit after a few celebratory glasses of vino) and a string of vintage christmas lights illuminating the fire escape outside our apartment window.

As for our Christmas weekend activities, we spent Saturday with my dear friend, Steven, from work, and his family in Central Park attempting to ice skate, followed by cocktails on the roof-top deck of the Peninsula Hotel. On Sunday we headed to Madison Square Garden for the Knicks'/Laker Game, where the Laker's almost blew it in the 4th Quarter, but pulled through with 30 seconds left in the game. Thank goodness, as I sported my vintage Magic Johnson shirt amongst a sea of blue and orange. Christmas Eve we spent doing some last minute shopping and settled down to Nathan's homemade jalepeno-corn cakes and guacamole and caught Hugh Grant in Love Actually (a new Christmas classic) on DVD.

Christmas day entailed coffee and presents in the morning, followed by a long run to mid-town on the bike path. Nate and I have both been running quite a bit and we were eager to try out our new all-weather attire in the cold. After our run we headed uptown to W. 57th where our friends, the Spielman's, invited us over for Christmas Dinner. Melissa and Jim's neighbors cooked up a feast of beef wellington and an array or sides including carrots, green beans, mashed potatoes, cheese rolls and asparagus, as well as three kinds of desserts. We left happy and full with a couple of new faces to call friends. We turned in early for the night, knowing we both had to head back to work early in the morning.

All in all, it was a festive and fun Christmas, though very unlike the California Christmas' we know and love. We missed our families and quality time we typically spend together. I am hoping next year we will be able to head back west to see all your smiling faces.

Have a safe and Happy New Year. Missing you all and thinking of you often!
Signing off, with a special farewell to the corner of Jane St. and Hudson carnies.

OH TO BE THANKFUL - T DAY 2007

I am a little late posting Thanksgiving Day pics, but thought they were worthy of a share. This year, like years past, Nathan and I ventured to the Caruana Ranch in Petaluma, CA for the annual Thanksgiving Day festivities. Diane and Michael hosted a full house (and barn) with 13 for Thanksgiving Dinner, most of who stayed for the weekend. One of many great things about Thanksgiving at the Caruana's is we all contribute to the dinner by making a signature dish. We all cook together in the kitchen to the music of Kim & Ron's iPod. With so many chefs in the kitchen the collaborative effort is always an adventure. Thanks to Diane and Michael for another fabulous gathering! Love you!
The Hits:

• Bocci ball in the horse ring
  
• A gorgeous full moon
• Delicious spread - the best yet in my opinion :)
• Trail run in Helen Putnam State Park
• After dinner dance party
• After dinner dance party turned aerobics class lead by yours truly (talents I never knew I had)
• The perfect amount of leftovers (this includes gravy - no trips to KFC this year!)
• The solitude of Diane and Michael's home
• Perfect nights' sleep without horn honking and bus farts
• Laughter echoing through the house
• Christmas shopping at Heeby Geeby in town
• Spending time with the crew: Kim, Ron, Kelsey, Carly, Randall, Tess, Bryan, Matthew, Diane, Michael, Alan, Jen and, of course, Nate-dogg

FIRST SNOW

This morning we woke up to a winter wonderland. We finally received the first snow of the year. All in all we got about 2 inches, but it was pretty exciting. Here are some pics from the Village...