No More Blurry Photos!

This is an overstatement, but M* found this great how-to video for a "$1 Image Stabilizer" that fits in your pocket—much handier than lugging around a tripod.


$1 Image Stabilizer For Any Camera - Lose The Tripod - For more amazing video clips, click here

First Post-Fire Hike in Griffith Park

Charred trees on the hillside by the newly restored Griffith Park Observatory.

Last weekend, M* and I joined Tyler and Nico for a short hike through parts of the newly reopened Griffith Park in Los Angeles. We'd hiked in GP many times when we lived in the area, and the hike that we undertook most regularly, which started a walkable distance from Nico's place, is still closed since the May 2007 fires which reduced over 800 acres of the park to ashes.

The hydromulching has brought green back to some hillsides.

We were surprised by how verdant parts of the hillsides were during the hike up the Mount Hollywood Trail. The new plant growth was bright green—a dramatic contrast to the charred tree remains. We were singularly impressed with nature's ability to regenerate. While some plants do need occasional fire for germination, I just learned from the Griffith Park blog that the level of growth we observed was due to carefully planned hydromulching efforts of 479 park acres.

Checking their blog today, I read that heavy rains bombarding the LA Basin this past week have caused some of the recently reopened areas to be shut again. The "mild to moderate debris flows and flooding" the park is experiencing are surely exacerbated by the destabilizing effects of the fires.

Griffith Park
(click photos for larger image)

Tyler looks tough, but the polarized, sport sunglasses and the straw hat keep M* from being badass.	I love the dramatic twists of this chard tree.
Somehow the palms at the top of the hill survived.	The area around the Hollywood Sign was unscathed.
Without reseeding work, the burnt areas would still look as brown as the hill in the background.	Without the new growth, all these burnt trees would be a bit sad.

He May Not Be Tool Belt Handy But...

M* certainly can improve the quality of a wireless connection. While visiting his parents my connection to the router was weak, so my techie-sweatheart went online to find the instructions for this signal booster called the Windsurfer. He strengthened the power of the wireless router by constructing a parabolic reflector from cardboard (recycled from a cereal box) and aluminum foil. Jewels shmools, ensuring that I have a fast internet connection is a definite way to keep me happy.

By rotating the Windsurfer, I've even been able to get a strong signal outside.

Things in Tyler's Apartment

A creation by Tyler's friend Vanessa. We call it Fishnu.

This gnome, standing on a table Tyler made, keeps Tyler company at night.

Tyler made this table from layers of pressed plywood. The legs are special ordered from a fellow in Ohio. Chairs are IKEA. Look close and you can spot the games on the table.

A chandelier that Tyler bought from me at my pre-Cambridge yard sale. He brought back the chrome's luster with aluminum foil.

The Buddha box, which Tyler got in Beijing, plays music and puts on quite a light show.

Tyler (far left), Shawn, me, Nico and Abe (front)

A Surprise Welcome in Phoenix

The red petals on the white bedspread were lovely.

When M* and I arrived in Phoenix a few days before New Year's Eve, we expected his sister and her fiance, Lindsey and Jason, to take us back to their place after getting us at the airport. However, when they pulled up to the Ritz, I should have suspected something. Instead, I thought that Lindsey wanted to show us where she worked. When they parked the car and popped open the trunk, I finally realized that our Christmas present from them was to stay at the Ritz.

Delicious, decadent and gluten-free.

Now, our two night stay would have been gift enough, but Lindsey went a few steps further. When we opened the door to our room, we were greeted by the version of "Baby It's Cold Outside" that I had written about on this blog, gluten-free chocolate cake and a bottle of wine, rose petals leading to and covering the bed, framed photos of M* and me and our cats, and a personalized note from the hotel management. We were also given access to the club level (breakfast, tea, cordials, etc) during our stay. The bar was certainly upped for M* in terms of planning a surprise getaway.














M* and I arrive at the Ritz, and a framed photo of us on our four year anniversary.

Grandma's Mii

Grandma B.'s Mii

M* taught my 90-year-old grandma how to play the Nintendo Wii on Christmas. She even beat him in golf—she's a very competitive player. My brother-in-law created her Mii (above). Besides the ponytails, which the family insisted on, it's a strong likeness. She was really pleased with the result.

M* teaching Grandma Wii golf.

First Picture With My New Camera

Ok, so not a very exciting composition (but certainly my favorite subject to photograph).

I'm thrilled with my new Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ18 that M* surprised me with for Christmas. It's my pre-SLR camera; I'm taking photographic baby steps.

I also like these two first-day shots–once again, the subjects make the photos.

Fletcher's first Christmas with the McGavocks.

The new camera better captures Titchou's and Brea's beauty.

Cousins' Christmas

Every year my mom's family gathers in New York around the holidays, and we call it Cousins' Christmas. My mom's family isn't large—three brothers, one who succumbed to cancer many years ago, a sister and their offspring (the cousins)—but the group expands every year or so as one of the cousins marries or has a child. We only have four or five hours together, so the conversations are often quick and consist of a brief rundown of the year's activities. But the time together is valued by all, and everyone appreciates the effort made by those who travel long distances. My mom's sister and brother-in-law live in Canada, and they can't often make it to the gathering (their daughter lives in Canada as well, but she's been able to attend a bit more). This year they had their plane tickets and were excited for the visit, but a last minute health issue prevented them from attending. We missed them very much, as they are just lovely people, but were just very happy that they are feeling better.

The Welling Family 2007

Since this was the first time that M* and I had been present as a married couple, my mom arranged for champagne to be passed around so that she could make a toast. I suspected that she'd make such a gesture, and it was very nice to receive so many well wishes. Of course, everyone was interested to know what we'll be doing next, and we let them know that we're just as excited to find out ourselves. Wherever we end up, I hope that we'll still be able to make this annual gathering.

The Wellings

Christmas angels	Peppermint elf.
A Kennedy lady takes to the keys.	Uncle Paul leads us in song.
The Matt Welling family.	Rudolph showing his gang affiliation.
Uncle Paul imparting wisdom to the newest Welling.	Santa's reindeer.

Merry Christmas!

Happy 90th Birthday Grandma!

My grandmother recently turned 90. Doesn't she look fabulous? We went to church in the morning and celebrated over dinner at Kincaid's Restaurant in Washington, DC. She was glowing the entire night. M* and I were so happy to have the time to be a part of this special day.

The Bastian family gathers at Kincaid's.

Leiden

Before last year, I don't think I would have come-up with Leiden if someone asked me to name cities in the Netherlands. As we had friends in M*'s program that were from there and we visited it during our post-Cambridge travels, we are now familiar with this Dutch town.

A first experienced in Leiden was trying a mild, creamy textured and colored cheese flavored with cumin seeds. M* and I loved it, and we asked our friends what the cheese was called. They didn't know it by a specific name—it was just a regularly available cheese. M* and I weren't hopeful of finding the cheese in the States. However, when we visited Eastern Market a few weeks ago, my sister took us to the cheese vendor so that she could buy cheeses for Thanksgiving. One cheese that she wanted to get was Leiden cheese. When she said that, I didn't make the connection. Instead I described to her the tasty, cumin-seeded cheese that we had in Leiden. She looked at me and said, "It's called Leiden cheese." M* and I immediately bought some for ourselves—and it was delicious. It's definitely one of my favorite cheese at the moment—I love the depth and pungency of the the cumin seeds coupled with the creamy, yet firm texture of the cheese.

Me with my Leiden cheese at Eastern Market

Another thing about Leiden that surprised us is the fact that the Mayflower Pilgrims spent a dozen years in Leiden after fleeing England and before leaving on the Mayflower (from England) to America. I recently came across a brochure from Plimouth Plantation ("Plymouth as it was in the 17th century"), which I visited as a young'un, and even it doesn't mention a stay in The Netherlands.

"In the autumn of 1620, a small band of immigrants left England aboard the ship Mayflower, seeking economic opportunity and religious freedom in the New World."

Our time abroad was an edifying and humbling experience—we didn't realize how much we didn't know.

Seriously, What a Deal

I totally scored on this 'Free Stuff' find in Southeast DC

Wiiiii

My Mii kicked M*'s Mii-butt in bowling.

My sister and her husband have the Nintendo Wii, and M* and I have enjoyed playing when we're over at their house. You can make your own Mii, an avatar used to play Wii games, and my sister and brother-in-law had created one of me for fun, without my input, and named it Stinky. Stinky is not a very happy Mii. M* was allowed to create his own. A cool thing about the Miis is that you can choose and adjust the facial features. A friend of ours described how his nephews created a Mii called Goat Boy—they created horns by rotating the eyebrows until they were vertical and then moving them to the top of the Mii's head. Brilliant.

Lately, M* has had more Wii time than me because Carolyn and Adam recently purchased Super Mario Galaxy. I'm happy with the bowling and tennis, never having been a video gamer. I just lose interest when I have to figure out where hidden powers are stashed and the like—especially when someone, like M*, is levels ahead of me and whose turns last hours (while I die in 30 seconds).



I perfect my bowling form, while Carolyn demonstrates chair bowling.

The Wii was even a family activity on Thanksgiving, with my brother-in-law giving a demonstration to my uncle Peter, mom and grandmother.


Adam explains the controls to Peter, while my mom eyes the Wii suspiciously. Peter scores a strike.

Walking Past the White House

Last weekend we went into D.C. to the National Building Museum to see a Marcel Breuer exhibit. After the museum and a filling dinner, we decided to skip the closest Metro stop and walk a bit in the chilly evening. Our two mile diversion took us past the White House, where we stopped and took the requisite tourist photos.

My Favorite Wintertime Song...

is Baby It's Cold Outside. (The first snowfall of the season is making me feel very festive today, including listening to Christmas tunes). This is hugely influenced by the scene in the movie "Elf" where Zooey Deschanel is singing the song in the shower and Will Farrell secretly accompanies her. I bought the soundtrack hoping their duet would be included. However, it features a version where Zooey sings the song with Leon Redbone—a nice version but I'm still hoping they release the Will Farrell version.

Spa Day

Forgot to post these photos of M* enjoying a Still Waters Run Deep foot treatment at The Still Point—a wellness spa that a friend of mine recently opened in Takoma Park, Maryland. Even though it was a foot treatment, they started us (I got one as well) off with a warm neck wrap and eye mask while our feet were soaking.

M* enjoying his warm neck wrap and calming tea.


M* in full-on relaxation mode.

Our New Home

In need of a little love on Route 178 in Belle Haven, Virginia.

Although we often feel this is all we could afford in any area we desire to live, this is actually a house we passed last weekend when we went on a studio tour of local artists around my sister's shore house in Wachapreague, Virginia. While the roof was caving in, windows were broken and plants had overtaken the interior, the green paint was still in good condition and helped catch our attention as we drove passed. Upon request, my sister turned around so that I could get a photo.

She also entertained me by driving past Liars Corner on the way out of Wachapreague (not that there are many roads in a town with a population of less than 300). This is where, from what I understand, a group of grumpy old men spend their days. Don't know if they weren't around because it was Sunday or the weather was a bit chilly.

Liars Corner

The weather was a bit chilly that weekend, but at least we had lovely sunshine. Sunset in this marshy area is especially beautiful.

The Bastian Ladies at sunset.

More Eastern Shore Gems

Onancock's wreaths acknowledge its dependence on the water.	The puffy coat crew.
Amy & Carolyn outside an artist's studio.	Me and M*
Dinner at North Street Market.	Happy after wine and cheese.
Me toasting the fact that M* enjoys hanging out with the Bastian ladies.