Monthly Archives: February 2010

Places I Love

Posted on by Run DMT
15

Every week, I visit I Heart Faces and promise to participate in the challenge, but I then I get distracted and forget to submit my photos.  But not this week!  Although this week’s challenge seemed relatively easy, it was difficult to narrow down my favorite places.

 

England
About 5 years ago, we traveled to Chester, England for my friend, Suzie’s, wedding.  During our holiday, we drove to Edinburgh, Scotland (where Allan was born), York (the city where I completed my final teaching internship) and visited Whitby (Allan’s hometown).  Although I had seen many pictures of Whitby, it wasn’t until I physically stepped foot in the town that I understood why Allan gets homesick.  Since my college days, I have always loved England, but I fell in love with little quaint little sleepy seaside town.  Honestly, pictures do not do it justice and simply cannot reflect the beauty of Whitby.  Someday we’ll own a small little cottage summer home there visit again.

 

 

 

New Orleans
Can you believe I spent a weekend in New Orleans and this is the best picture with “faces” I can find?  These cute little Jamie Hayes voodoo dolls were more willing models than my DH.

 

 

This southern city is truly full of soul in more ways than one.  New Orleans has the best food, best music and the best people.  I’m planning a trip back to the Big Easy for my 40th birthday in 2011.

 

 
BTW…Good luck to the Saints in the Super Bowl!  Who dat?!

 

New York City
Last year, we were fortunate to spend two kid-free weekends in New York City.  Our May trip was Allan’s first time in the Big Apple.  He usually doesn’t like having his photo taken, but he willingly posed for this shot.  Look closely at the photo to see why Allan thought he was being so clever.

 

 

The Beach
I love the beach and so do my girls.  Thank heavens we live in a state that is almost surrounded with soft sand and beautiful blue water.  I can’t wait for the warm weather to arrive so we can start packing the beach bags and head for the waves again.

 

 

Disney
Living in Florida, you either take for granted that you live in a state with miles of beautiful beaches and Mickey Mouse or your take full advantage of it.  It’s been a year since our last trip to the Magic Kingdom and I miss the magic. Therefore for Mother’s Day this year, I requested a weekend at Disney.

 

 

 

Camping
Both Allan and I camped as kids, but until our friends, Erika and John, reintroduced us to the idea of camping a few years ago, we had forgotten how much we loved it.  Now, we camp a couple times of year with our friends and it’s something we all look forward to, except when it’s raining.

 

 

North Carolina
We can also thank our friends, Erika and John, for our love for North Carolina.  For the past three years, our two families have enjoyed sharing a cabin and playing in the snow in the Blue Ridge Mountains.  However, last month was probably our final trip to the mountains for awhile.  We’ll have to see if our next little one will be an intrepid traveler, car sleeper or car screamer like his/her sisters were as infants.  Another car screamer would make me head for the hills for sure!   Fingers crossed we can return to North Carolina in 2011.

 

 

 

 

Hooters
So, I cheated a little with this one, because my friend and absolutely FABULOUS photographer, Kelly, took this family photo.  I really love Hooters, however, my pregnancy nose can’t stand the smell of chicken or fried food, so I’m really missing sunsets over the Gulf and hot wings and pitchers of beer at the New Port Richey Hooters these days.  Food aversions really stink.  (No pun intended.)

 

 

 

Home
Dorothy said it best.  There’s no place like home. As much as I love to travel, it feels so good to come back to the comforts of home after any trip.

 

 

Also submitted at…

Musical Monday: To Sir, With Love

Posted on by Run DMT
17

This Friday, my dad turns 70.  It’s hard to comprehend my dad being that old, but I feel blessed to enjoy another year with him.

 

My dad, Horatio Alban Mestanza, loves to share stories about growing up in Washington Heights and the gangs he got involved with there.  Growing up a mutt in Manhattan, he learned to fight after being beaten up by the Irish, Blacks and Hispanics.  He eventually found himself in front of a judge who sentenced my dad with either serving time in jail or serving time in the military.  Without hesitation, he changed his name to Donald, enlisted with the Marines and served two tours in Vietnam.  Rumor has it he can break a man’s neck with one hand, however, years of raising daughters softened this tough guy from the ghetto and he’s become quite the gentle grandpa.

 

 

After the military, he became an apprentice to learn steam fitting.  A couple of years later, he met my mom while repairing the fire sprinklers in her office building.  They soon tied the knot and a few years later, my sister and I came along.

 

Then, in the late 70’s, we moved to Florida, but the jobs for pipe fitters were few and far between in the Tampa Bay area.  Forced with a tough decision, my dad left to find work in Miami and New York to provide for his family.  He became a weekend dad for about 20 years and retired in 1999, the year Allan and I married.

 

During winter and summer breaks, my mom, sister and I would visit my dad in New York.  Year after year, we would suffer through a walking tour of Manhattan as my dad pointed out all buildings where he worked.  I believe my dad scaled the scaffolding of about ¾ of the buildings in New York, including twice in the former Twin Towers.  As a kid, I hated it, but when Allan and I visited New York last year, I found myself giving the same tour.

 

Decades in construction, took a toll on my dad and he has been living with asbestosis for about 15 years now, however, it’s no small miracle that he is can still function without an oxygen tank strapped to him.  I don’t know if it’s the volume of vitamins combined with all the steroids and prayers, but something seems to be working.  Maybe this old gentle grandpa still has some fight left in him after all.

 

Dancing with my dad at my wedding is one of my fondest memories.  He secretly took dance lessons so he could swing me around for our father-daughter dance.  He tossed my around like a rag doll on the dance floor and I loved every minute.

 

 

I pray Dad has a few more moves in him for my mom, my sister, my children and me.

 

 

 

Happy Birthday, Daddy!