Tale of two pillows

The summer I moved to NYC I spent a few weeks at my parent's house transitioning from grad school in Texas to full time employee in NYC. Anyone who has spent more than a few hours with my mom knows that any type of down time can be filled with crafting. So that summer I started embroidering a pillow top. I'd made some good process, but soon I moved to NYC and only picked up my project on some cold winter nights. Finally last year (four years after I had started) I finished the embroidery work, but then the top sat in a bag for another year. Now it is finally finished! It's my 5 year pillow. Now that I live in DC I should start a DC 5 year pillow.

As I was finishing up the pillow I came across some fabric I had purchased in NYC and since I had some pillow filling left I decided to sew up another pillow. The second pillow is my 1 hour pillow. 

I think they both look great on my couch.

5 yr pillow on left & 1 yr pillow on right

Chilhowee High School 10 year class reunion

What does a class reunion look like when you only had 16 people in your class?  Well you don't need a ballroom in a hotel and you don't need name tags.  We had our reunion at a nice patio bar in a town 16 miles from where we went to school.  We also invited some other classes to create a party.

class of 2001

class of 2001, 2000, and 1999

Mizzou family

I tell anyone who will listen that I play football.  Well usually the conversation goes like this:  

Boss/Coworker/person in the elevator:  Got any big plans this weekend?

Me:  Not really, playing football on Saturday (or Sunday).

Boss/Coworker/person in the elevator: Oh really!  Where do you play?  Who do you play with?

Me:  All over the city, randall's island, roosevelt island, riverbank state park, etc..  I play with my Mizzou friends.

But really they have grown to be more than my Mizzou friends or my football friends to being my Mizzou family in New York.  And two weekends ago I was lucky enough to attend the wedding of the Captain and the Quarterback (aka Susan & Sean).

They wed in Madison Square Park, which is one of nicest little parks in the city.  Home of the original Shake Shack and always has art exhibits going on.  On their big day the park also had the Fonz (aka Henry Winkler) walking around and taking pictures.

the flat iron building and park art

the mister of honor, officiant, groom, and best man waiting for the bride

After the wedding we walked to Blue Smoke for the reception.  The meal was delicious.  I had brisket, pulled pork, blue grits, hushpuppy, salad, and green beans (I regretfully left the ribs and wings on the buffet). There was music, dancing, and cake!  

Tigers in wedding attire (and yes the bride and groom played the next day)

Missouri & New York

Oscar Edition

Of the best picture nominations this year you might not be surprised that one of the films was based in New York City, but did you know there is also one based in Missouri? Yes of the ten nominations one is based in NYC and one in the Ozarks of Missouri (as far as I can tell... I've sadly only seen one of the nominations).

Best Picture nomination from Missouri:

Winter's Bone

Best Picture nomination from New York:

Black Swan

From what I can tell neither movie is expected to win. The one nominated movie I did see was Winter's Bone. The girl's story is gritty and not like mine at her age. But some things about the movie did remind me of home. Like the ford ranger pick up truck that makes several appearances is exactly the truck I drove for 8 years.

Missouri & New York

In honor of the title of my blog BB to 79th, which represents where I come from and where I'm going (even though I no longer live on 79th and even though I don't know exactly where I'm going) I present to you... Missouri & New York.

So also in honor of President's Day I bring you edition #1 of Missouri & New York, the President's edition

Missouri

The only president from Missouri (so far) was the 33rd, Harry S Truman. He was born in Lamar, Missouri in 1884 and grew up in Independence, Missouri where he was a prosperous farmer for 12 years. He became President in 1945 during World War II.

New York

Six Presidents are associated with the state of New York, however only four of them were born in NY.

Martin Van Buren- 8th President

Born in Kinderhook, NY in 1782

Millard Fillmore- 13th President

Born in Finger Lakes country in 1800

Chester A Arthur- 21st President

Born in Fairfield, Vermont in 1829 moved to NY in 1839

Grover Cleveland- 22nd and 24th President

Born in New Jersey in 1837 was raised in upstate New York

Theodore Roosevelt- 26th President

Born in New York City in 1858

Franklin D. Roosevelt- 32nd President

Born in Hyde Park in 1882