A funny thing happened on the way to the cash register.
Is something wrong with a single gal wanting to buy wedding magazines? Well, when the cutest guy in Borders is waiting to check you out at the register, I think yes. Flashing my bare ring finger did me no good.
I give everyone and everything nicknames, so it's only fitting that I named my Elon oak "Oakey." I received Oakey on May 22, 2010, the day of commencement, and after seeing some beautiful new leaves on his one-month birthday, I decided to keep track of Oakey's growth each month...with photos, too, of course! Every Elon student receives an acorn during freshman convocation and an oak sapling after graduation. It's one of Elon's most meaningful traditions. *Elon means oak in Hebrew.
2 days short of Oakey's 1st birthday
Oakey is growing from the bottom up this spring. I'll pick a spot to plant him soon after his birthday.
7 months: December 25, 2010
Oakey sees his first snow...no more growth, though, since it's winter.
6 months: November 22, 2010
46.25 inches
5 months: October 22, 2010
46 inches
Oakey has his first autumn leaf this birthday
4 months: September 22, 2010
Oakey, now almost as tall as me, has sprouted an arm!
3 months: August 22, 2010
36 inches
Oakey was given a bigger home before his 3rd birthday because he's getting bigger than me!
2 months: July 22, 2010
33 inches
1 month: June 22, 2010 Happy Birthday Oakey!
26 inches
This week, in short, was wonderful because of all the video adventures I got to go on.
Sunday was Point-to-Point at Winterthur. Not only have I always wanted to go to Winterthur, but as soon as I heard about the steeplechase tradition last summer, I knew I wanted to attend this year. The hills were covered with people dressed in pastels and fancy hats laying on their blankets and in lawn chairs. It was the first time I got to see a horse race, and I must say it was fabulous. The horses' names were most entertaining: South Monarch, Music to My Ears, Like a Bee, Flying Contraption and News Flash, just to name a few.
The horses and jockeys parade around in front of the crowded hills before beginning a race
About 12,000 people attended Point-to-Point this year
Video Daniel and I shot:
Wednesday, Justin Williams rappelled off a 17-story building in downtown Wilmington for Anything Once! His daring act was for a fundraiser for Special Olympics Delaware.
Justin in front of the building before his leap
A gorgeous view of Wilmington from the top
I felt so legit for being just a camerawoman
Another beautiful view
Justin goes "Over the Edge"
A much scarier view...looking down from the edge
Here's the video:
After my Anything Once adventure, I went to Aqua Sol in Bear for Signature magazine's June/July cover photoshoot. It was a beautiful location. The video going behind-the-scenes of the cover shoot will run next month. I need to rappel off a building and dabble in fashion photography...that's what I took away from Wednesday afternoon.
View of the marina from the ramps at the restaurant
To end my week, I spent today in Bethany and Rehoboth for "Foodie TV" shoots at Matt's Fish Camp and Victoria's. The videos will launch with the new series on June 1. Bonus: I got to try the duck dish at Victoria's and it was supremely amazing.
The patio at Victoria's had a beautiful view of Rehoboth Beach. It was a perfect sunny day and there were huge waves.
And the final thing that made this week wonderful: Birthday flowers in bloom. You may have noticed by all the flower photos I post, but I love having fresh flowers in my apartment each week. My birthday bouquets have lasted for weeks and I couldn't be cheerier.
Bouquet from Mikey's sweet girlfriend Lauren. The flowers were from her dad's garden.
Bouquet from Mom and Dad
OK, so I didn't have any cupcakes this week, but just thinking about my favorite cupcakes from SAS in downtown Newark made me happy. These are the treats I got for my birthday a couple weeks ago. Flavors: Chocolate, red velvet, oreo, and chocolate with raspberry icing.
Sometimes, a long walk is all you need to be reminded of why you are where you are at a certain time in your life.
When things are going badly, I learned that I just need some fresh air and beautiful scenery. While Winter Terms spent abroad used to be my outlet for beauty, I have to seek other means of adventure in the "real world." In Wilmington, Delaware, that means a walk around the city.
The Grand, my favorite building in the city
My two-month "Sex and the City" marathon concluded Friday night in tears as I watched the final episode. I had never seen the show while it was live - mostly due to the fact that I didn't have HBO, but also, I was never that interested in my teenage years. After years of my Ya-Ya sisters' pleading, I finally decided it was time to watch the show. A co-worker lent me her DVD collection and I was hooked. New York City was its own character in the story. And, I suppose, Wilmington is an important character in my story here. The day after finishing the series, I took my longest walk yet - 12 miles - around the city with a friend.
Wilmington has charmed me. On more stressful days at work, a short three-hour walk through the city before it gets dark is just what I need to feel better. The lights along Market Street and the reflections in the Christina River during twilight make my heart smile.
The riverfront
The Grand is lit up beautifully at night
The city was beautiful in its bare and cold state just a month ago, but it's even more therapeutic now.
Brandywine Creek in mid-April
Only a few weeks later, and the trees along the creek are in full bloom
Spring has arrived and the city is even more enchanting.
Josephine Fountain in Brandywine Park this Saturday
One of the many highlights along Saturday's long walk was getting to enjoy the gardens in front of the many beautiful homes in the city.
Atop Rockford Tower (a stone water tower), we had a beautiful view of the city and the Wilmington Flower Market going on below us.
Even though it suddenly became freezing cold and rainy, God rays came through the clouds at the Russel W. Peterson Urban Wildlife Refuge.
And on the walk back home, I finally got to see the beautiful Kalmar Nyckel in the perfect lighting. The tall ship of Delaware is an icon I've been waiting to see since I moved here nine months ago.
