Ice Ice Baby

My friend Audrey called me last Thursday with an invite to go and see Vanilla Ice on the local television show, Good Things Utah. Of course I had to say YES!!! Who wouldn’t jump at the chance to see the great white rapper from the eighties?

Be sure to notice Vanilla Ice looking right at my camera. I know he was thinking, “That lady with the red Sony Cybershot is sooo attractive, she looks so young, does she Botox?”. While I was thinking “What is wrong with his right eye?”

Audrey had to share the spotlight with the crazy pregnant woman (she has the permed hair and denim jacket from the eighties) on the left of Vanilla Ice. Crazy pregnant woman had him sign his autograph on her belly with a Sharpie. Very classy. I’m positive her boyfriend and/or husband was really happy about that. Audrey and I lucked out when Vanilla’s manager whisked us off to the lobby for a personal meet and greet. I would show you that picture, however, I look like I’m trying not to laugh hysterically(because on the inside, I really was laughing hysterically).

Monica

Real Estate Friday

For a mere $29,000,000.00 this could all be yours.

Reflecting the remarkable and renowned personal style of the late Brooke Astor, philanthropist and doyenne of New York society, this residence is an eloquent representation of her distinguished life. It is located on a very high floor at 778 Park Avenue, which was designed in 1931 by Rosario Candela, who is to this day New Yorks most celebrated luxury residential architect. It occupies the entire 16th and part of the 15th floors, resulting in 4 brilliantly sunny exposures. What makes this property uniquely charming is the sheer number of its architectural assets. There are 15 large and beautifully proportioned rooms, 10 of which have at least 2 exposures, many with partial views of Central Park. Additionally there are new French doors opening to 6 terraces, 5 fireplaces with antique mantels, elaborate and original moldings, antique parquet de Versailles floors and high ceilings. The entertaining rooms all radiate off a 30 foot long gallery with 18th century oak floors and include a grand living room with fireplace and a wall of bayed windows looking up and down Park Avenue. The oversized formal dining room has a fireplace and 2 pair of French doors to a small terrace. The red lacquer and brass trimmed library was designed by Albert Hadley and is possibly the most photographed room on Park Avenue. This room features a fireplace and 3 pair of new French doors opening to a large, square south facing terrace.The private quarters are on both the 15th and 16th floors. On the 16th floor is a charming oval study with new French doors to a small terrace. There is also a guest room and a hallway powder room before reaching the remarkable master bedroom. With 3 exposures, including Central Park, a fireplace and 2 pairs of new French doors to a terrace, this master bedroom is truly enchanting. Possibilities exist to expand the dressing rooms and to include a second bath in this suite. On the 15th floor is another master bedroom almost identical to the one above

For the man who loves himself (and the woman that has to put up with him)

Yes, this is really for sale. I found it on a British lighting website. I started thinking about the kind of person who would purchase such a piece & where they would "hang it". If it were mine, I would display it proudly in my front entry. Where would you display it?

Real Estate Friday

An outstanding Georgian rectory with attached three bedroom cottage. Planning consent for two further houses and about nine acres of land. Entrance lobby, halls, cloakroom, drawing room, dining room, study, breakfast kitchen, laundry, four bedrooms, one en suite, house bathroom, linen room, second floor storerooms and studio. Attached three bedroom cottage. Conservatory, greenhouse, workshop, potting shed, stores. Two attractive brick buildings in a courtyard setting with planning consent for conversion to separate dwellings. Formal gardens, old orchard, kitchen garden and grassland.

I love the bold yellow and red colors that are chosen for two of the rooms. The grounds are beautiful. I will have to dream up lovely stories of myself living in this home.

Thursday Quiz - well, it's a question this week

I have been reflecting lately on the different places that I have lived and visited through out my life. I wouldn't say that I have moved a lot but I guess I have had my share of different places to live. I have enjoyed every city I have lived in and actually think about moving back to some of them because I did have such great memories. There have been 14 times that I have moved and I know that there will be more places for me and my many possessions. But I was wondering if 14 is the average or if it seems a little excessive.

So tell us, how many times have you moved in your life? Was there one place that you loved living more than the others? And last question, is there a dream city or place that you would like to live?

Happy Mardi Gras!

Today is Mardi Gras in New Orleans. For the last month there have been parades in the streets because they started weeks ago. It is not just a one day affair there, the party started a long time ago. And since I am not there I thought I would share with you some of my favorite pictures of New Orleans and the surrounding areas. This is the French Market. If you have been to the Crescent City you have likely been here. You can find just about anything here from hot sauces to luggage to baby alligator heads to feather boas and Mardi Gras masks. Loved it!

This is Lafreniere Park located in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans. I lived a couple of blocks from here and enjoyed this park often. It has a bird sanctuary, paddle boats, a two-mile track for exercise and a carousel to ride on. I busted a tire driving through the park one day. Lucky for me a park worker helped me change the flat.

This is Jackson Square that is in the French Quarter probably one of the most famous sites of New Orleans.

I loved the trees there. This particular tree is in City Park. It is a park equivalent to the size of Central Park in New York City. We don’t have trees like this in Utah so to look at them is overwhelming to me. They are so beautiful how the branches just flow to the ground and back up again.

The top photo is from Lake Lawn Cemetery in New Orleans. More than once my friends would go here to have lunch. It sounds crazy but it is one of the most beautiful places in the city. It is so big that we would get lost trying to drive out. The bottom photo was taken at a cemetery in Harvey on the West Bank. It wasn’t a pretty as Lake Lawn but I do like this picture. Utah doesn’t receive rain the clouds just spit on us. New Orleans has rain. The picture is blurry because you couldn’t see that good out of the car. The roads flooded often when there was a good rain. I think that it took about two hours for the street to flood to this point. We were a bit nervous because we were in a little car and didn’t know if we were going to flood the engine or not. It’s always an adventure.

One morning I was kneeling on the floor and I thought I saw something moving around. I looked away and then looked back and had the same thought. I thought that I was going crazy for a minute. I started searching and there it was, a baby lizard was crawling on my bag. I freaked out. It took us a few minutes to catch it but we finally did and set it free outside.

Remember in the movie Princess Bride when they spoke about the R.O.U.S.s? I think this is what they were talking about. This is a neutral rat. They are vegetarian rats but still it is a rat. It is the biggest freaking rat I have ever seen and they are everywhere.

Again, if you go to New Orleans you have not really visited the city until you have eaten a fluffy pillow covered with powdered sugar otherwise known as a beignet. My advice, don’t inhale when you take a bite. You will choke on the powdered sugar.

Southern grammar: y’all come pass a fun time.

I’ve shared this picture before but if we are going to talk about the Big Easy, I can’t ignore the business Slugs for Thugs. They will gladly take care of all of your gold teeth needs.

I took this picture south of New Orleans. The town is Jean Lafitte, Louisiana. From what I have heard this town was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Hopefully it still looks like this.

But I have so many great memories of New Orleans that make it different and unique compared to any other place I have been; for example, the memory of the man peeing outside of the the bar Uncle Larry's, the smell, Old Metairie Road, the drive-thru liquor stores and daiquiri shops and so much more.

So, to all my friends and readers, have a very happy Mardi Gras and don’t eat too much King Cake.

Insanity

I hope that you have all been interested in watching the Tour of California. This an 8 stage (8 day) road bike race. Many of you may have only heard about it because Lance Armstrong is riding professionally again and participating in the race. We have been watching everyday and loving every part of it. Some of our favorite riders are there along with our favorite team Rock Racing. Wednesday’s race was a great stage. There were two great crashes, unfortunately one rider was hurt bad enough that he had to leave the race (Kim Kirchen, we hope get feeling better soon. Hugs and Kisses). I enjoyed watching the three riders that broke away from the peloton or main group of riders for the majority of the day.

Let me paint the picture for you of Wednesday night. I have my bike set up on a trainer at home and while watching the race each night I ride my bike. So like a complete fool I try to peddle as fast as the pro-riders. Anyway, the other night I am peddling as fast as I can for the last few miles because I can see the giant pack of riders chasing down the three riders that have been in the lead for 4 HOURS. They are getting so close to over taking the three leaders. I fight the urge to scream at the leaders Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing) and two other riders to hurry faster, the pack is so close. My heart is pumping and the anxiety is building as I am peddling and they are peddling and the pack is getting closer and closer. It’s like watching the shark in Jaws getting closer to the swimmer. No matter what the swimmer does or how fast he swims the shark is going to eat the swimmer. Then it happens, the three leaders are swallowed up into the belly of the peloton.

But wait. What’s this? Who is now coming from nowhere and attempting to win stage 4? It is my boyfriend, Mark Cavendish. Can he do it? Will he cross the line first? I think he did but then another rider thinks that he just won. Alas no, Mark is the winner! All hail, Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man. The fastest sprinter in the world on a road bike. He has won the day’s race and my heart again. And to make the night end even better we get to hear him talk in his nice accent. Thank you, Mark and the rest of you pro-riders for giving me such a great day.