A Day in the life....  

Entries in Blog Fest (20)

Wednesday
Aug042010

Stop the Car!

DateWednesday, August 4, 2010 at 7:01AM

This was one of the last shots I took at Blogfest, taken when Lauren, Shelley and I were leaving Bud's beach. 

I had been trying to get the "perfect" sunset picture because I knew Bud's bay had it to give. Last year's sky was amazing. So when I looked out the car window and saw this sky, I likely scared Shelley to death by yelling "stop the car!" as I fumbled for my camera! But I was totally focused on getting this shot!

I love the color. Flat out. Period.

Love. The. Color.

When I look at shots like this, I always think about what's to come. Even as a beautiful sky whispers about the peace that comes at the end of the day, to me... it also murmurs about the possibilities of tomorrow. Skies like this fill me with contentment and hope.

And in this case, wistfull memories of a lovely day at the beach with friends...

AG out!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment10 Comments |
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Wednesday
Jul282010

Conversations in Virginia

DateWednesday, July 28, 2010 at 6:34AM

This shot was taken on a very hot day when I was out on Noe Noe and Cdub's boat with ,MPM, Bayman and AM.

On a sizzling hot day out on the water, these chairs were a luscious bit of whimsy. Inviting, unique... I could just see them full of "blisters" (blog sisters) with ice cold beverages and the conversations and laughter flowing!

Now that I'm back in Washington (state), I have a slightly different view of The Chairs. I can still visualize a fun Blister afternoon on the water, but the conversations we would have while sitting in those beautiful chairs were conversations we did have; navigating Virginia in SUVs, sitting in the sand, perched on beach chairs with gritty, sandy butts, across a table with bloody marys, bouncing across the water in boats, lolling on a shanty porch during a storm, floating in Bud's Bay and walking on lawn covered in goose poop.

In other words, we didn't need a perfect setting to do some of our best work; talking and laughing. We did it wherever we were. Although, to be honest, the beautiful scenery didn't hurt my eyes.

Conversely, one of the loveliest conversations I had in Virginia was a silent one... other than the clinking of ice in our water glasses. Sitting with a new blister in a lovely bistro, cooling off from a sweltering walk, the quietness was serene, graceful and communication unto itself.

And that, more than chairs on a dock, is the beauty of BlogFest. No matter which Blister you sit next to, there is no awkwardness, no right thing to say, no forced conversation. Just another opportunity to chat, laugh, hug, mug for the camera or sit and enjoy each other.

But I do love those chairs!

AG out!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment8 Comments |
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Friday
Jul232010

The White Dog Inn

DateFriday, July 23, 2010 at 7:20AM

One of the highlights of our time in Mathews was the White Dog Inn. Calling itself a bisto/b&b/coffee house is a little misleading... What it is, is fabulous!

The ambiance is impeccable!

 (ship chandelier in main dining room)

Perhaps a little frivilous...

Zebra carpet on stairs? To die for!

Let's continue up, shall we? These are the upstairs rooms!

 The sitting room, an open shared area which can be used by either the King or Queen room. I love the quail painting!

The beautiful King room!

 The charming and airy Queen room....

...complete with stairs to ascend to your comfortable bed!

And now a quick trip downstairs to the dining room...

 Possibly the best chicken salad EVAH! I heard wonderful things about the fried green tomatoes but did not partake. There are no pictures of the macaroni and cheese (with ham shreadies) although I have dreamed about it twice since I came home. It was gone so fast, there was no time to get a picture... There is also no photographic evidence of the bananas foster or the chocolate bread pudding. Again, these dishes were with us for mere moments before they ceased to be!

I sincerely hope I make it back to Mathews, Virginia. This would be one of my first stops! Everything about the White Dog is so well done. They had a group of 40 seated before us for lunch and the service continued to be smooth and effortless, the food was still perfectly done, and the waiter (Hi Eric!) was still graceful and humorous with our energetic group of bloggers!

Thanks White Dog Inn, for such a lovely experience!

AG out!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment10 Comments |
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Thursday
Jul222010

Bookends

DateThursday, July 22, 2010 at 6:56AM

I did not edit any pictures last night or this morning. So I thought I would show you the very beginning and the very end of Blogfest, courtesy of United Airlines who, yes Binky, wanted an arm and a frickin leg to fly Madeline to Blogfest.

Anyway... the picture above is what woke me up as we flew east from Seattle to DC. After taking the pill that had me slipping into a coma, I neglected to close the blind on the window. Thus, in the AM, it wasn't just a sunrise, but seemingly a lake of molton lava outside the window that had my eyelids flying open in self defense so they didn't become welded to my corneas. I was not even awake 5 seconds before thinking "must grab camera". I belive my fumbling around was what woke Shelley up.

Now below... we have the sight flying home...

...which I have carefully labled for you. From left to right, Mt. Hood (in Oregon), Mt. Adams, Mt. St. Helens and Mt. Rainier. (I knew these would be hard to see when I shrunk this picture down small enough for my blog. I may put the original on flickr and post a link to it...)

(due to Asthmagirl's angst at leaving Blogfest, she has also carefully labled the wing, the engine and the lovely 65 degree sky)

Yes, St. Helens is missing it's top.

I blame Gustov.... or Jill...

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming which currently includes snoring chihuahuas, cold legs and three very important grants that are due in a week. (Unfortunately, they carpeted some of the offices while I was gone so I am working remotely from the Den of Madness Brute Squad Central until the dang carpet quits off-gassing and I can return to the mothership.

Yours in not enough time in the day to do "This" and edit pictures...

AG out!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment6 Comments |
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Wednesday
Jul212010

Journeys

DateWednesday, July 21, 2010 at 7:11AM

I'm still processing images... still processing all the emotions that go with Blog Fest.

The amazing thing to me is that no matter why we decided/needed/wanted to start blogging, no one I spoke to had the intent of someday meeting the folks that commented on their blog and having a wonderful/hysterical/heartwarming getaway with them somewhere down the line.

And yet, that's exactly what we did.

And it was amazing...

 And heartfelt...

 

And stunningly beautiful...

But mostly...

 ...it's almost impossible to put into words.

AG out!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment8 Comments |
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Monday
Jul192010

Awash

DateMonday, July 19, 2010 at 6:52AM

I'm awash with images and memories surrounding BlogFest 2010.

I'm also awash in "not much sleep and having to leave for work in a half hour not having eaten and my hair is still in a towel".

Life is good!

Here's a favorite... more to come...

I call it "Cloud Soup".

Blister hugs to all my girls.

AG out!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment10 Comments |
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Wednesday
Jul142010

Getting ready

DateWednesday, July 14, 2010 at 6:52AM

I'm leaving...

On a jet plane!

Going to see...

My blisters again!

I'm nervous and excited and nervous and excited and....

Must go pack!

AG out!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment6 Comments |
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Monday
Jul122010

Yes Virginia!

DateMonday, July 12, 2010 at 6:45AM

Yes Virginia! There is a Blog Fest!

And we will all be there shortly!

And Sunday night, I realized how much I have left to do in order to be ready...

But it doesn't matter, because I'm practically giddy at the thought of seeing all my Blisters again!

Two more sleeps before The Baroness and I climb on the plane for our overnight flight!

Giddy doesn't even come close...

 

No no! I said "giddy", not Geddy!

Photo borrowed from the nice folks at buzzine.com

 Does anyone know if the coffee grinder is still there at the Sea Shanty?

AG out!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment7 Comments |
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Friday
Jul092010

1000 words

DateFriday, July 9, 2010 at 6:36AM

I can't wait...

Have a fabulous weekend!

AG out!

 

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment9 Comments |
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Wednesday
Jul072010

To-do list

DateWednesday, July 7, 2010 at 6:45AM

It's official. In one week, the hilariously funny, articulate and gently sarcastic Baroness and I will board a plane at the stroke of midnight and depart for DC, and ultimately Blog Fest '10.

While the Baroness will nestle into her seat roughly 5 minutes after takeoff, throw her coat over her shoulders and immediately slip into a restful coma, yours truly will sit, upright, wide eyed, irretrievably alert and desperate for sleep.

Activities I plan on engaging in while the baroness dozes include:

  • smearing more self tanner on my legs in a futile attempt to combat the pasty whiteness
  • smearing some on the Baroness just for giggles
  • cataloging any topics I can speak knowlegably about at Blog fest so I don't sound like a dope (I know this won't matter, I may sound like a dope anyway but preparation is everything)
  • calculate the ratio of lift and air speed required to remain airborne with all the medications I've brought
  • ponder the increasing likelihood of network failure at work the more state lines I cross.
  • pick at the red patch on my forehead which has morphed into something so unspeakable, I've named it Bob to placate it.
  • throw glitter in the aisle... I'm feeling festive
  • learn norwegian
  • wonder whether the pilot ever dreamed of flying for NASA
  • estimate the lifespan of my pedicure (not that I'll actually get one) once the plane lands and I start walking around
  • wonder what kind of scones Meg is bringing to the airport
  • puzzle over why the fascinating book I bought the night before is now about as enteraining as a 1970's Harlequin novel
  • rummage through the Baroness' carryon to see if she has snacks
  • rummage through my carryon to see why it weighs 850 pounds
  • ruminate over the laws of physics and density that allow a carryon to weigh 850 pounds and still be the size of a grapefruit ("You're my density")
  • consider whether the clothes I brought are going to be too hot, too big, too small or too boring
  • wish that I had purchased a new camera lens to play with at blog fest
  • sigh in frustration that I put my bite guard in my luggage and not my carry on...
  • remind myself that everything will be utterly fine if only I would go to sleep and get some rest
  • collapse in exhaustion at having finally worn out my brain

It's going to be a wonderful flight!

And we're all going to have fun no matter what!

AG out!

PS~ Just kidding about rummaging through the Baroness' carryon. Dead serious about smearing tanner on her though!

AuthorAsthmagirl | Comment9 Comments |
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