Holiday Fun

It's official, let the Christmas festivities begin! After that huge meal Thanksgiving day and swerving though the madness of the shopping lanes on 'Black Friday', it's nice to relax a bit. This Saturday I took a nice drive to Lockport, through Archer avenue. When heading further south, Archer Avenue takes you through a soothing drive through the woods.

This Saturday it was just my nephew and I, enjoying the Jingle Festival in Lockport Square. We enjoyed the activities in Santa's workshop, posing with the reindeers and having a nice cup of hot chocolate as the Christmas carolers sang many Christmas Jingles. I'm looking forward to other holiday festivities.

La Existencia Sin Ti

Imagina el cielo sin las nubes.
Imagina el sol sin su calor.
Cual seria el mundo sin la luz de la luna?
Cual seria el mundo sin aire que respiro?
No puedo imaginar tal mundo,
No quiero imaginar mi mundo sin ti.

Happy Thanksgiving

I will head towards my sister's in-laws in a few hours to spend Thanksgiving dinner with them. My mom has prepared a few items that she will take to my aunt's place and spend Thanksgiving dinner with them. I get the double treat of having some of that food left for me to enjoy tomorrow.

Tonight will be the traditional Turkey food prepared with all the trimmings and side dishes. Tomorrow will be my mother's traditional dishes of stuffed Cornish hens, pasta, potatoes and cold pasta/veggie salad.

The plan for tomorrow is to go shopping with all the other loonies out there going crazy for black Friday specials. I saw some of the circular specials and I must say I am not that excited over the deals this year. I recall last year had great sales and I had practically finished my Christmas shopping on that day. I'll be lucky if I get three gifts tomorrow.

StarSchmucks Coffee

Hahaha - This is so true - Check it out. Anyone who knows me knows I am a starbucks shmuck, I admit it. See this small flash movie clip "StarSchmucks" - especially if you are a frequent Starbucks customer.

My Autumn Hike

I posted these on my photoblog but not everyone reads the looks at the different sections. This post is for you V - I know how you like Charlie postings...
About two weeks ago, before my hectic schedule, I took Charlie to our favorite forrest trail. I'm glad I made the time and went, because the weather now is too cold to stay outside for long. On this day we were out for a few hours. I loved walking through the fallen leaves and seeing the reflection of the bright colors over the water.

©2005 Araceli Arroyo photographs

Turkey Sings - I Will Survive

A couple days before Thanksgiving Day, this turkey has a message for you. Watch and send this funny e-card from American Greetings - Turkey ecard.

Out of Town Again

Another day has passed and I am now in another city and another hotel. This one is a very quick trip that will provide no time to explore the city. Oh well at least I was able to go out last week in New York. Although today's travels weren't as smooth as usual I don't mind the whole process at all. I like traveling, the waiting isn't fun per say but it's bearable. I just bring a magazine and some headphones and I'm usually ok. I found out yesterday that I had to fly out again, this time out of Midway airport. I was happy to learn that I would finally be able to take a flight out of that airport, which is so close to where I live.

Here's the glitch to that excitement... I haven't flown from Midway in quite some time. All of my flights have been from O'Hare and I always dreaded taking two trains to get there and sometimes trying to get a ride back. I've taken many flights but I think only two have been from Midway. Things have changed! I was surprised that seats are not reserved. I have heard of the expression cattle call used when referring to Southwest Airlines from people that have flown out of Midway, but until today I now know why. I don't like that whole first come first serve arrangement at the time of boarding. I like to know where I am going to be seated. I have a sense of security with that. Security check in was somewhat longer than what I have experienced at O'Hare - I find that VERY surprising, considering how congested O'Hare gets. We'll see how it goes tomorrow, I may never want to fly from that next door airport again :(

NYC visit 2005

Anywhere you look in a great picture waiting to be taken in New York City. That's how I feel as I see the masses pass by through the busy streets. I arrived yesterday settled in and unpacked in my hotel room. I had roughly two hours before going to a welcoming reception for a conference I am at for work. You've probably already guessed it, I went for a very long walk and took some pictures. I have a ritual of things I do each year I come to Manhattan. Unfortunately I will not have time to do all. I must confess the first time I came to New York I didn't like it at all. I found it too congested, dirty and smelly. What changed my mind? The fact that it's never boring and no matter your budget there is something to do, at least for my interests. Here are my suggestions should you come visit NYC.

1. Go to a new neighborhood explore the surrounding shops streets and at some point sit at a park or cafe and do some good old fashion people watching. I use this primarily for my photography hobby.

2. Catch a Broadway show you haven't seen yet. The best thing to do is to go to the TKTS booth and get that day's discounted tickets. Many times you will be able to get good shows at a great rate.

3. This is my favorite thing I absolutely have not missed in the recent past 5 visits I've come here. I usually take the MTA or bus to a new spot in central park (again more pictures) I sit down for a while and read a few chapters of a book.

4. Shop :) I don't get to this one as much as I'd like for obvious reason - time and money.

Well time to go to my next session...

Joke Of The Day - Big Bad Wolf

From E-mail Forward:
Little Red Riding Hood is skipping down the road when she sees a big bad wolf crouched down behind a log.
"My, what big eyes you have, Mr.Wolf."
The wolf jumps up and runs away.
Further down the road Little Red Riding Hood sees the wolf again and this time he is crouched behind a bush.
"My what big ears you have, Mr. Wolf."
Again the wolf jumps up and runs away.
About two miles down the road Little Red Riding Hood sees the wolf again and this time he is crouched down behind a rock.
"My what big teeth you have Mr. Wolf."
With that the wolf jumps up and screams, "Will you knock it off, I'm trying to poop!"

Maze Fun

This takes talent. Try to get to the end, I almost made it all the way through. See if you can get through the end of The Maze

Halloween Pictures

I've been posting pictures left and right - mainly on snapfish.com where I share my pics for printing with family and friends. These past days have been very eventful. Friday was the Gwen Stefani Concert.

Saturday I went dancing with some friends and family. Sunday was a usual movie trip - movie choice this time: North Country. It made me appreciate women's rights. That's another topic all together. I have to start writing in my movie review section again.

I digress, yesterday I took my nephew trick-or-treating. Here are a few pictures of the family, I even posed in some pictures, something I don't normally do. It was fun!