Lost and Found

Monday, August 14th somewhere between security checkpoint #547 at the Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport and Enterprise Rental Car office at LaGuardia Airport in New York - one driver's license belonging to Beverly A Carey was lost to the travel god's.

Thursday, August 31st somewhere between 1 and 2PM in one Beverly A Carey's mailbox was an envelope with the following return address: Regulus, 7833 Walker Drive, Greenbelt, MD. Inside the envelope...Her DRIVER'S LICENSE...returned from the travel god's....

It is amazing...

Thanks to the the folks at Regulus who typically spend their days sending and collecting bills, today delivered a sincerely lovely gift to a girl who was about to have to spend her entire Friday at the Fulton County DMV! Love!

The Freakin Weekend; Out and about in the ATL....

The ATL doesn't always get the credit it deserves. This shot is as good as any really and it's right around the corner from home sweet home..
Mr. Markott checkin out the new ride...it get's the seal of approval..
John and I catch up on a summer in Shanghai at the local Spotted Dog. It has been said that John cannot take a picture without his eyes closed or looking like he may be just the slightest bit intoxicated. I can truthfully report that at this moment that is not the case. However, I can see why it might be said...
Perhaps one of the celery sticks from the wings or just a little self help (not so noticable, really?)and suddenly you look completely alive....
The infamous Kent goes for a nonchalant candid...
Far better with his newly aquired Macgyver style specs...thank Shanghai and a kind friend...
Saturday, 26 August..Brigette Celebrates the big 3-0!
Now THAT is a great girl! Happy Bday Brig...
As big an event as any the world has seen this year. My job description is two part:
> Production of an appropriate appetizer.
> Operations Manager responsible for coordinated entry into event location #2, Fado, ensuring velvet rope treatment with no wait times or financial requirements.
Project goals and objectives met successfully.
The appetizer. Tuna Tartare in Cucumber Cups. So simple and definitely one for the GFG books. Here's How...
INGREDIENTS
2 seedless (European) cucumbers, cut crosswise into 3/4-inch-thick pieces
1 pound sushi-quality tuna, diced
2 tsp. chopped green onion
1 tsp. finely chopped shallot
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp. soy sauce
1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
2 ounces caviar, for garnish
2 Tbsp. thinly sliced fresh chives, for garnish
Combine tuna, green onion, shallot, oil, soy sauce, and pepper sauce in a large bowl. Spoon 1 heaping teaspoon tuna tartare into each cucumber cup; garnish with caviar and chives.(I admit I left off the caviar)
Yep, it is ON....The Theme, "T shirts with funny quotes" In case you can't see it clearly, Brig's quote of choice for the evening, "It's a Celebration Bitches"
Brig and Theresa livin it up.
One of the great perks of being an "Event Person" is that just possibly on your big day your favorite event driver might just show up unpromted to your celebration in a stretch Hummer Limo to escort you and your girls to their next destination. To top it off your co-worker, great friend and party planner extordinaire (it was a true success Kelly) may just have made a "party favor" mix cd with the perfect choices for a hummer ride full of 15 of your greatest friends...my favorite...a little Beastie Boys and some Brass Monkey...brillant...
I could have ridden around with you all night in that thing...if only it had a bathroom...
Rippin up at Hole in the Wall, a great time had by all.
Sunday 27 August...Rachel and friends shower a soon to be Son...
Mrs. Ingram introduced Rachel and I on our first day of Kindergarden. A year and a half ago she became Rachel Knisley. Now, she and her husband, Brian, patiently await the arrival of Joshua Brian...
The gift giving was fantastic but really it was the chocolate fountain that put the icing on the cake...literally...
Congratulations Rach, can't wait to meet Joshua Brian...
Finally, the weekend ends with a concert by Sean Smith who went to highschool with my friend Beth. His stories and songs contained enough perspective for a lifetime much less enough focus for the start of another week. I'll leave you with clips from two of those songs. Sickly sappy but sweet...
Words of Grace - lyrics by Sean Smith Written after his Mother's battle with Cancer. Beth describes Sean's mother as "lighting up every room she entered". Sean tells the story of how these words were said to his mother by her father every night before she went to sleep. The same words she passed down to Sean and his brother every night before they went to sleep and the same words Sean now says to his children every night at bedtime. The safety in these words is unmatched. To me, it also accurately explains those little reassurances that those of us who have experienced the untimely loss of a parent are granted by the smallest of memories.

http://audio.cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/s/s/ssmith-07.mp3

If Sierra Can Smile - lyrics by Sean Smith. Written at the inspiration of his brother's experience at The Lighthouse Family Retreat with one particular little girl named Sierra. This song went miles with me as it parallels my thoughts and experiences with each of my Make a Wish kids. They are truly amazing and their strength unmatched.

http://audio.cdbaby.com/mp3lofi/s/s/ssmith-03.mp3

The love of dogs...

I love folks who find their true calling.

Jennifer Arnold, who is the aunt of my friend's boyfriend, not only found her calling by beginning a non-profit organization titled, Canine Assistants, but grew it under the most difficult of circumstances. Now, the Volvo Corporation attempts to honor Jennifer as a nominee for The Volvo for Life Award. This year’s recipient will receive a $50,000 grant toward their continued charitable efforts. In this case, training and providing service dogs in the aid of children and adults with physical disabilities.

Click on the title link above to read a bit more about Jennifer's efforts, the lives she has touched and the possibility to be publicly honored. The link will take you directly to the Volvo for Life Map. Click Georgia and then Jennifer Arnold...

To learn more about Canine Assistance, make a visit to their website:
http://canineassistance.org/index.html

An ode to the Carey's

At the end of a chaotic day with a few surprises here and there, I was delighted to return home to find some updated pics of our latest family vacation and felt I should share. For those in my family new to the idea of the "blog" this is the benefit of cyberspace....a somewhat public recap of our best of times...Two weeks ago my family converged on Cape San Blass, Florida for the celebration of the year. My cousin, Kathy, a true kindred spirit turned 50 and we celebrated in abundance.
Ready to head out...I can ALREADY feel the sand beneath my feet...
I love the peace of this place. Nothing but sand and surf.
Endless walks on this beach equal miles of wisdom from an esteemed Mother, a favorite Aunt and a dear Cousin. "Think we should turn back...I can't really see"
The family spot was claimed...for the week.
Anchored up to "our Island" to take in a little fishing...Uncle Jim would be proud!
Although I'm not too sure how comforted I am about our swimming breaks when we start pulling in, on more than one occasion I might add, the species we call "shark"? Regardless of size, my feeling is this thing could at least remove a toe or two. It's enough to cause me to consider possibly staying on the shore! Crazier things have happened, like being attacked by a crow (an actual occurrence) or hooking a fish the length of the entire boat (also an actual occurrence). Reeling in that honkin thing would have really been a bonus. I’m just sayin...
The luau was a hit. I must say the pink Lei does do a newly 50 year wise Kathy some serious justice. You look good!
A family I am lucky to call my own...Thanks for a great week!

There is only sunshine...

One of the coolest things life has to offer is watching your dearest friends become parents. Watching your "girls" the ones who picked you first in pick up games of "kick the can", the ones who laughed with you through your first crush and cried with you when life took you in different directions; now offer to you and the world little pieces of perfection. There is only sunshine in the presence of these little ones. It will be important to get to know these faces because they will appear here on a regular basis.
Godmother. The definition includes something like this: A woman who sponsors a child at baptism. As my friends put it, the one who is responsible for the moral well being of a child. We have joked about what that could actually mean but whatever the real definition, I have been honored to be called Godmother to Augusta Cameron by three of my most favorite people.
Collin & Jennifer Cook
Love. This picture.
Jenn & I met in the fifth grade. I am sad to report we were on the same cheerleading "team", "squad" what have you. Needless to say, the cheerleading thing lasted all of 5 minutes but our friendship has endured far longer. There would be no way to explain the experiences we've had but let's just say we have had them and survived quite well I might add...
Could there be a more chic pregnant girl, anywhere, I ask you?
On March 21st, we welcomed Augusta Cameron into the world...
The first thing I learned about Augusta was that she had enough fight in her to breeze through whatever life had to offer.
There could not have been a happier homecoming, even a jealous puppy was happy to welcome this girl home...
Daddy and Augusta relax at home. Collin nailing the role of devoted husband and father...he is good..I have to say.
Sunday, August 6th, Augusta Cameron is Christened.
Getting ready to go...
The moment. It is actually amazing that all seems so smooth. The real deal is that just because there is now a child does not mean the adults act any differently than in high school. We arrived the minute the families were entering into the church which means we missed the "instructions"....all of them. In the Episcopalian church there are lots of traditions and prayers in which we were there to take part, just a little more front and center than those who miss instructions should be. Small breakdowns of laughter and tears aside, it was a success and Augusta was perfect..of course.
The fam...on a great, great day. Loved it.
As if that were not enough, there is this..
Meet "Will"
and his baby sister, "Kate"
Will and Kate belong to Sarah and Alan. Sarah and I have known each other since the sixth grade when she was the "new girl" at my church and made me bust out in laughter on the first day I met her. It's been happening ever since...

This is Motherhood at its finest...
I simply adore these babies...

And so it begins....

I was inspired by my friend Katie, which happens often, to start a blog. Now, I feel a small amount of pressure as most blogs I have been witness to have been uniquely fun. I'm hoping to accomplish the same but at the very least, maybe it will inspire me to actually write down some of my experiences instead of keeping them all safely in my head.

I'll start here. I've been traveling a good bit over the past two years and have seen some amazing things....

Places where sunsets are applauded...

and the simplicities of life...

are found at the hands of people in far away places you never imagined you would see..

Where centuries old castles in Germany...








The spirit of the earth in Italy...




Venezia, Italia...

and the turquoise blue of the Mediterranean keep you inspired...
And inspiration is definitely what you need when your days and nights are full of some of the largest events the World has to offer. The work days of the past year have been, at times, intense but overall have offered up opportunities I simply would never trade...
2006 Olympic Winter Games, Torino, Italy - Opening Ceremony
2006 Torch Pass (Hugo Herrnhof lights the torch at TOROC)
Looking out over Piazza Costello - Medals Plaza
Joey Cheek wins Olympic Gold. One of the finer Olympic Moments of all time..
I mean it's fine enough and all but it is certainly no 2002...right girls?
Women's Aerials Final in Sauze D'Ouix...fantastic upset...
Hangin with Simon in sub-zero degrees after the Aerials event..(a side note...I am very good at loosing things but equally lucky to always get them back. On this particular night, I left my gloves on the shuttle only to have them returned at the end of the evening by a very observant volunteer)...

On to Frankfurt, Germany home of the 2006 World Cup, April 2006
1936 Olympic Stadium; Berlin, Germany. If you get a chance to look at shots of this Stadium during the 1936 Games it will become evident why it holds an equal amount eccentricity as it does splendor...
2006 German Cup Final, Frankfurt vs. Munich; Berlin, Germany. I had thought I had experienced energy in a Stadium but until I experienced a European Cup Football Match, I truly had not. AMAZING.
World Cup Team Bus Media Launch

National Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows, New York; Home of the US Open Championships

The Crew. This shot was followed by dinner in Soho seated next to Moby. I love Manhattan.

with Steve after a presentation for 2006 Gay Games in Chicago, Ill

It has been a great year of events and travel and once in a lifetime experiences and I've loved it..but the reality is, there is truly no place like home. So on we go and more to come...