New York City, Day Four

Tuesday was our last full day here - we are heading back to Massachusetts Wednesday morning (New Years Eve), although we expect to get caught in six inches of snow.

We spent Tuesday evening chilling with Lindsey and Rob, as well as celebrating Paul and Whitney's wedding anniversary with dinner at Johnny Rocket's and a wedding cake courtesy of Rob.

New York City, Day Three

Waiting for the Long Island Railroad


At Bryant Park


In front of the Empire State Building - it was too cold/windy to wait the two hours in line to go to the top


Times Square, the day before New Year's Eve


Without the ball...


...and with the ball - it went into position at about 2:30PM


Yeah, we're New Yorkers, what about it


Whit, Katie, Lindsey

New York City, Day Two

Today's highlight was an all day visit to the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan.


Katie has become very interested in energy conservation and alternative energy


Three of us


With Auntie Lindsey and Dum Dum from Night at the Museum


View of the beautiful weather outside


Hayden Space Center


Hall of Ocean Creatures


In the exhibit halls


The Hayden Planetarium at night

New York City, Day One

We are spending a few days between Christmas and New Year's with Whit's sister Lindsey in New York City.


Katie working at the art desk of Auntie Lindsey, a fellow artist


In front of the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center...


...and again


Shopping at Nintendo World


Katie on the subway - she looks like she has been doing this her whole life


Nicholas playing with his new Nintendo DS


At the Polish restaurant in Queens


The Polish platter

Christmas Day

Tae Kwon Do sparring gear, a great daddy-daughter present


40 degrees hit our snowmen hard


Beautiful weather today


Nicholas got his Nintendo DS today...


...and Katie shows Grampy her iPod


Whitney getting dinner ready...


...with Whit's parents

Christmas Eve

Whitney and Katie baking the babka (Polish Easter bread that Whit's family eats on Christmas)


Our Christmas manger, built by Paul's father way back when


Cookies for Santa, carrots for the reindeer


Jorge, our Christmas tree


Even our Chinese general gets in the Christmas spirit


A Christmas print

Over two feet of snow this weekend

Coolest Snowflake Ever

Yesterday Nicholas noticed a very cool snowflake on my coat - a near perfect 6 point star about 2mm in size. The iPhone photos do not do it justice.

Up to 15 inches by tomorrow morning...

Christmas Cookie Party

Our Christmas Tree

Nicholas is a Bobcat

Nicholas earned his Cub Scout Bobcat badge, completing his Cub Scout joining requirements. The badge was presented at the December meeting of Pack 135.

Cub Scout Overnight Camp

Nicholas' first Cub Scout overnight campout was last night. It was 15 degrees, and parts of Massachusetts were still recovering from an ice storm...

Underwater in Venice (3)

By Friday the rain had come back, just in time for my departure from the hotel...

Underwater in Venice (2)

The flooding had receded by Wednesday (although more came back later in the week)


These are stands used to create a walkway when flooding hits


San Marco is water free!


Self portrait at the pier...


...and another


Christmas lights at San Marco

Underwater in Venice (1)

A conference in Venice? Great! In December? Well, still pretty good. Two days after the worst flooding in Venice in over 20 years? Mmmm.

So today I traveled from Geneva to Venice, expecting the worst as my hotel is only 50 yards from San Marco, the lowest point in Venice and the center of the worst flooding...


Waiting for take off at Geneva Airport


A view of the Alps from the plane


This was just cool - the camera captured the shadow made by the spinning propeller - which was not visible to the naked eye


Water taxi to the hotel


Getting closer - what lovely weather!


Heading up the canal...


...to the hotel