My Baby Takes the Morning Train...

... She works from 9 to 5... then comes home again...

I've had this song in my head all week long mostly because I've spent half of the week on a train or in a car. Our New York City office has been added to my weekly agenda. I went there for the first time this week and experienced a day in the life of a working New Yorker. It wasn't a grand experience as I spent most of it on the train, subway, and in the office, but I felt the energy of the city in the office and observed New York in its natural state - busy. I didn't get a chance to step out of the office during the day, but I'm sure I'll get a chance to do so and take pictures in the weeks to come.

Remembering Bailey

Our family dog of 15 years passed away on September 28, 2009. Although her elderly age and death wasn't a shock to us, it has been hard to adjust to life without her. This weekend was my first time home since her passing, and the whole time I was there, I felt as if she was on the porch or laying under the tree as she usually did. I know my parents miss her tremendously. Bailey was my mother's dog in many ways as much as she was a family dog.

In celebration of Bailey's life, we gathered today to remember and talk about her. Ben made a lovely slideshow, Bema made "Bailey Cookies," and Tom, Ben, and Carter set up a wonderful display where she was buried. Carter wanted to remember her love of going on "walkies" by walking down the driveway and back as a group while carrying the flag. It was a sweet memorial with a lot of love. Bailey's bond with her family will never die.

Weyerbacher Brewery Tour

Tom and I toured Weyerbacher Brewery - a local microbrewery in Easton, Pennsylvania. I discovered the brewery after I was introduced to one of its flagship beers called Blithering Idiot. As you can imagine, the name becomes self-explanatory after consuming one or two. Tom and I decided we should try to tour local breweries to gain knowledge about the history of some of our favorite beers since Pennsylvania has some of the oldest breweries in the country. So, Weyerbacher was our first stop on the tour.

What we learned: Weyerbacher has altered their facility to enable greener beer-making practices. They also recycle what they call "oatmeal," a post fermentation product. The oatmeal is given to a local farmer who uses it to feed his animals. Additionally, their distribution range has grown within the last decade, spanning Maine to Florida. A few of their flagship beers are Blithering Idiot, Autumn Fest, and Winter Ale.

Touring America (well, not all of it)

Some pictures from our adventures during Michael and Julie's first visit to America!

Battery Park Squirrel Show

Here's a video of trained squirrels eating nuts from a pedestrian's hands in Battery Park, NYC.

Lancaster, Pennsylvania

Today we took a tour of an Amish estate in Lancaster, Pa. We learned a lot about their practices and how they have adapted to a progressive society over the years. One of the things I learned is that in an Amish family, it is tradition for a father to make a wooden chest for his daughter when she is 16 years of age. This chest is meant for her to collect and place items in it in preparation for her future home and family. I like the concept and think I may do the same thing one day - maybe with a twist.

Miracles Do Happen

My desk at work is somewhat clean! This is a true miracle as I have been trying to unearth books and papers from it for a few months now.