Paul and Leslie Pierce

Bangladesh Bound...

2011-03-21T19:29:00.003-04:00

For those of you that haven't heard, I finally decided to embark on a journey to Bangladesh!

Why Bangladesh, you ask...

I get a call free month and while a lot of people use this time to do things like have a baby, I have decided to use it to go away somewhere and try to make a difference with all of this insane training I have gotten over the past 7 years.

Two of my best friends are there now and have created a blog. I will probably continue on updating their blog once I get there. So, feel free to follow along on

I am excited but also a bit nervous about going by myself. It will be quite an experience!

thebanglablog.blogspot.com

So, stay tuned! I am leaving on April 9th...

Puerto Morelos, Mexico

2011-03-21T19:10:00.002-04:00

We had a chance to get away and easily decided it had to be somewhere warm! These winters are brutal!! I can't believe that we have signed up for three more of them! So, we had a few days to get out of the cold and found great deals on an all-inclusive in the Riviera Maya (probably because everyone is scared to go to Mexico right now!)

We stayed in Puerto Morelos and were greeted by warmth and humidity the moment we landed.

We didn't take many pictures, but here are a few from our short trip.

Our colorful room
The first night we had dinner at the Mexican Restaurant.

This is our waiter making me a coffee beverage after desert...yum!

The next morning we were on the beach bright and early, which is unfortunate because that meant we just got burned all the sooner!

Paul in action playing some volleyball

One of the swim up bars...plenty of Corona to go around!

The second night we had dinner at the very popular Japanese restaurant where they cooked in front of us.

It was much needed: relaxation, warmth, sun, food, sand, drinks, etc. It was a nice break from the NY winter. But, then it was back to the city and back to work :(

Snow Day!

2011-01-12T16:58:00.003-05:00

For the first time since probably elemetary school, I had a snow day today!!! I am on elective and the clinic was canceled this morning. We ended up getting 9" of snow in Central Park. Therefore, first thing on the agenda this morning was getting Tucker out to play in it.
This dog LOVES the snow more than anyone I have ever seen (except for my mother, of course)! He finds the largest piles and runs back and forth.

The park was beautiful!

Happiness!

Frolicking!

He doesn't always understand that some sticks are just too big!

Sad to leave

But, as soon as Paul got home we took him over to the East River for more playing in the snow.

Paul thinks its funny to make snow balls and throw them for him to "fetch"...

he leaps...

and then digs for the snowballs...usually without much success in finding them :(

Fun times!

We have to enjoy these lovely winter days. Only 3 more winters in NY :)/:(

Home for the Holidays...

2011-01-09T20:35:00.005-05:00

Miraculously, Paul and I both got 11 days off to go to Texas. We hadn't been since July (and that was only for a quick weekend) so we had lots of ground to make up. We flew into DFW and headed to Houston the next day. We stayed with Courtney and Gamble in their beautiful new house. We had one thing on our minds...fajitas and margaritas. So, it was Lupe's for dinner...Courtney and I sipping away happily on "Sangritas"
Paul's brother, Mark, and his girlfriend met us for dinner.
We left the next day for Port Neches to see Paul's family. We spent the night with his Dad. It was a quick but great visit and then we headed back to Corsicana.
Of, course we had to stop at the Jerky Capitol of the world on our way...

Only in Texas!
Kristen and Kyle drove in and Ellen came over to meet us. We sat outside by the fire and caught up...just like old times!

Ellen, Kristen, and I

The next day was Christmas Eve. Paul's mom and Bo drove in to stay with us for the weekend. My Aunt and Uncle came in and we had dinner and celebrated Christmas Eve, traditionally.

in front of the tree at my parents house

Christopher and I

Calie was happy to have everyone home!

Christmas morning!

Christopher got the most popular Christmas present by far! The Xbox connect. Here are Paul and Bo boxing. We spent hours the next few days horseback riding, skiing, playing soccer, dodgeball, rafting, etc.

The, we went over to my Grandparents for Christmas lunch.

My Grandfather and Uncle David preparing all of the meat

So good to see everyone!!

We were also lucky enough to see Becky, Heather & Robert, and my cousins and their children (just didn't get pics of those). It was a great trip and makes us realized how much we appreciate Texas and the family and friends that we can't wait to move back to!

However, it was good to get back to our apartment, 21 inches of snow, and most of all...

Tucker!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL!

Back to Thanksgiving and Halloween...

2011-01-06T22:31:00.002-05:00

We were stuck in the City for Thanksgiving, but thanks to amazing friends it was great!We started out the morning with Tucker in Central Park. Such a happy dog!!!
Then it was home to cook. The Greenberg turkey, a family tradition. Along with a new big fan...Tucker!

We went to our friend, Steve's and it was quite a spread!

Taboo and 4 Loco rounded out the day!

The next day we spent a second Thanksgiving with Vinod & Gillian. We got to eat way more than anyone should!

Just a look at Tucker in his Halloween costume for those who didn't get to see him...

poor guy but such a good sport!

Back to October 23rd...

2011-01-06T22:02:00.003-05:00

I have been a bit negligent in blogging. So, I have to go back and show you what you've missed..

Two of our dearest friends, Vinod & Gillian, got married in Chicago. It was our first true Indian wedding and quite a show!!! Vinod is a friend from residency who is now doing a PICU fellowship at Columbia and Gillian and I have become really great friends through him. She is currently a NICU fellow at Cornell and we will get to work together next year!! (and hopefully live in the same apt building!!)

Tom & Courtney also cam for the weekend
Courtney, Lee, Vinod, myself, and Faith after the Welcome Dinner

Gillian's hands

Me, Faith, Gillian, Shannon, Caroline, and Lee

The festivities began with a parade of the Groom's family bringing him to the Bride's family. Of course, Vinod did it in style...white horse and all.

the Groom's family danced around him

we paraded all the way up the Magnificent Mile to the doors of the Drake!

The ceremony was beautiful!

The lovely couple leaving

Gillian and I with a couple of her NICU co-fellows

at the reception

Luckily while in Chicago we got to see Kaelin and Manuel for two of the most amazing brunches I have EVER had!!!

After brunch on Sunday, Kaelin took Paul and I to a bar that soon became Paul's FAVORITE bar...

it was a beautiful day, and there was...

Shiner on tap! Needless to say, Paul was in heaven!

It was a wonderful weekend of seeing old friends and celebrating the new marriage of two new great friends!

First trip to the beach...

2010-11-13T19:31:00.001-05:00

We have been looking forward to October when dogs are allowed on the beach in Long Island. Just as we expected, Tucker loved it! He didn't venture very far into the water but we will work on that when it's warmer.

Big waves!

Look at that pose!

My Birthday Weekend

2010-10-10T16:19:00.003-04:00

Let's face it...it takes a lot to get a girl excited about turning 30. However, from the moment I found out that my 5 best friends from medical school were coming it couldn't come soon enough! It had been way too long since we all got together but the moment they arrived, it was as though we hadn't missed a day. Despite a huge tropical storm delaying all flights into NY, everyone made it. We started the evening at a Spanish Tapas restaurant where the sangria was unlimited...

Me, Jessy, Courtney, Martha, Kaelin

Back together again!!!

After dinner it was off to Japanese Karaoke. We got a huge room to ourselves and sang our little hearts out!

Joined by Courtney and Lauren

Eric, Lauren, and Tom

An action shot of the Connors brothers

The night was everything I hoped it would be. We all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves...a little too much!

We got up the next morning and went to brunch and walked around. The weather was perfect.

We walked the High Line Park

We took it a little easier the rest of the weekend.

It was everything I could have asked for on my 30th birthday!

Thanks to everyone for coming and celebrating with me.

September 29th...what a day!!!

2010-10-09T11:29:00.003-04:00

Today is finally the day...after 10 months I find out where I am going for fellowship.

We (Courtney and I) snuck away from Cardiology clinic and went down to the NICU office to log onto the website with the entire Neonatology department looking over our shoulders and...

Woohoo!!!

Courtney also got her first choice and will be going to Columbia. We start July 1st!

In combination with this exciting news and my big 30th birthday coming up in 2 days, Paul wanted me to come home for a big surprise. He got take-out from our favorite sushi place and it was waiting for me when I got home. I sat down at the table and there was a bowl full of clues that Paul had made. I had to answer a question correctly (from a stack of Sex and the City trivia cards) to get a clue. My clues were: a metrocard, a champagne cork (and out of the fridge popped a bottle of VEUVE!!! awesome surprise! we usually reserve that for anniversaries!), a blindfold, and cut up pieces of a notecard that fit together to give me our destination.

So, we hopped on the train and got off at 59th and Lexington. I allowed Paul to tie a scarf around my eyes and lead me down the streets of NYC blindfolded!!! It was quite entertaining to hear everyone's comments as we walked by. He led me a few blocks and then into a building where we walked around a few corners, got onto an elevator, and then got off. He turned me around and when he took my blindfold off I was standing in Barneys in front of the Christian Louboutin shoe section!!!

He convinced me that I truly deserved a pair and after drooling over all of the options, I decided on a very classic pair for my first. They are AMAZING!!!

He did good!

Maine

2010-09-12T13:45:00.009-04:00

We have been talking about making a trip up to Maine to visit Paul's aunt and uncle since we moved to New York. We finally had the rare opportunity for a long weekend off together so we headed up for Labor Day.

Bright eyed and ready for our 8 1/2 hour car ride...with Tucker!

We arrived at 330am on Saturday!

Tucker quickly found what for him is the best place on earth...

a huge backyard for him to run in

I had no idea he could have so much energy!

this is how he spent much of his time, testing out the pond water, until he finally mustered up the courage...

we don't think he has ever swam before. he LOVED the water!!!
what every Maine resident should drive

this is some life these people live out here!

lobster traps

boats and birds (eating dead fish :))

more boats

probably the prettiest picture ever!

we stopped of a take-out place to have lobster rolls...amazingly delicious!!!

We even got to experience the infamous Blue Hill Fair. This was a true country fair! There were...

Pig Races!!!

horse pulls!!

(Paul experiencing fair food at it's finest while waiting for the oxen pull to start)

Caramel apples!!!

Famous french fries!!!!

and Ferries wheels!!!!!

We spent Sunday at the Acadia National Park

beautiful

interesting red mushrooms

straight out of an L.L. Bean catalog!

I was a bit obsessed with the buoys

For our last night we had to have a delicious lobster dinner.

these are the huge pots that they boil the lobsters in outside of the restaurant

ready to dig in

doesn't get much better than this

On our way back to New York on Monday, we stopped in this really cute town that we found along the way
Belfast, Maine
we had to have one last lobster roll
and it was amazing! left me wanting to go back to Maine asap!

it was a great weekend with perfect weather

Someone really enjoyed himself!!

Hiking with Tucker

2010-08-15T20:46:00.005-04:00

We decided to take advantage of having a day off, nice weather, a car, a dog, and being able to drive 1 hour north of the city and completely escape by spending a Sunday hiking in upstate New York. We loaded Tucker up and headed out. Needless to say, he was excited!

Deep conversations...hiking 101

His favorite way to ride

Just starting out. Testing out the trails.

Our first lookout point

Paul caught us having a moment :)

that's one happy dog...off leash and free!

a little higher up

even higher
we found a rock to break for lunch
checking out the sights

hold on! we're reaching the summit

And this is Tucker, after a 4 hour hike..."tuckered out"

He did so well off leash. He just hiked next to us and had such a great time. We will have to take him back soon.

It's been a busy and fun-filled month!

2010-07-29T11:30:00.006-04:00

Paul came home from the Dominican Republic. One month away and let me tell you, someone was really happy to see him!

We had less than a week to find and purchase a car which was a little stressful but worked out perfectly. We found a 4Runner in really good shape and bought it from a really nice family.

While having a car in the city is expensive and challenging, we are enjoying being able to do things that we weren't able to do before. We drove out to New Jersey and spent the weekend at Tom's parents' house in their backyard cooking out, swimming, playing home run derby, volleyball, etc. We drove out to Westchester the next weekend for an Engagement party for Lauren and Eric.

But, most exciting of all for me was going to see Dave Matthews after 2 years (which you know is a long time for me!). We went out and tailgated before the concert which took me back to college! Zack Brown Band opened for him and they were awesome. Dave put on the best show I have seen in years! It was sooo hot, but sooo fun!

Brendan, Paul, and I gearing up for the concert

floor tickets!!!

AWESOME!!!

It has been over 7 months since I have been home and was way overdue! Paul and I made a fast trip to Texas and made the best of every single minute we had!

We flew into Dallas Friday night (delayed as usual) and had dinner with Jessy.

Woke up Saturday morning and headed out to the lake. We spent the day soaking up the sun, riding in the boat, skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, jet skiing, swimming, etc.

Nothing says Texas to Paul like a cold Shiner! (he'll probably kill me for putting this picture up without his shirt on!)

My Uncle David and Granddaddy on their boat

Good to know I still got it

Christopher came in for the weekend, too

Just of note, I never had my camera when Paul was showing off his skills.
and for the finale...

Dad's still got it too!!!!

One of my favorite parts of being at the lake is cooking out for dinner. While waiting for the steaks to cook, a impromptu driving range was set up in the yard

good form mom!

It turned out to be quite a blessing that we were planning to come home for the weekend. The Thursday before we flew in my cousin, Alicia, unexpectedly passed away. It was good to be able to come home and be with the family at this terrible time. Please keep our family, especially her two children (5 and 2yrs of age), in your thoughts and prayers.

Punta Cana, D.R.

2010-06-22T10:02:00.006-04:00

For the month of June, Paul is in the Dominican Republic for surgery. I will let him fill you in on those details. Needless to say, I couldn't go a month without seeing him, and there isn't a better place to go and visit than paradise. So, I made reservations to meet him in Punta Cana for a long weekend.

Unfortunately the trip didn't get off to a great start. I woke up super early to get to the airport and make a 7am flight to get there by 11am and have the whole day. 1 broken engine, two airplanes, 1 broken chair, one too scratched up window in an exit door, 1 cancelled flight, many hours in JFK airport, 2 countries later, and one really long and scary taxi ride later and I finally made it to the resort at 1am the next day...awesome!!!

The start of my trip. Soho Bistro in JFK airport with 3 new friends

The luxurious accommodations provided by American Airlines to make up for the cancelled flight. The astute of you will notice that we have been required to step out of the car, luggage has been moved, and the tank that has been assembled in the trunk hold propane (apparently gasoline is too expensive) is safely being filled. Never mind that at this point it is probably 11pm in the middle of the Dominican Republic where I have no cell phone service and am relying on my mere medical Spanish.

Thanks American Airlines!

However, showing up at 1am to one amazing resort seemed to make me forget the last 21 hours. I have never been so happy to see Paul, a glass of champagne, or a bubble bath!!

Then, we woke up the next day in paradise...

This is outside the lobby of the resort

The main pool that continues on through the resort

and, the beach

a view of part of the lobby

the biting parrots (Paul is so brave!)

the view from our balcony (a second pool!)

in that pool (can't quite appreciate the sunburn yet from so far away)

Oh, the nightly entertainment was quite entertaining!

But we sang, laughed (a lot...Dominican "Boys 2 Men", Usher, Cher, Britney Spears, etc...you get the point), danced, and had so much fun!

Pure relaxation

the water was perfect

la playa

you should all be here

One day there was a kayak race and Paul was all over it

after seeing the other women, I had to step in

and make Paul proud (which I did :))

He won first place!!!! And I got a 10 min foot massage out of it.

Even in the D.R. they have Wal Mart, K Mart, and even Target (that's better than Manhattan)

We even had an included 30 minute horse ride on the beach

nice to be back in the saddle

we even got to trot and/or canter our horses along the beach!

Me and "Morro"

Then, all too soon it was time to head back to reality. Leaving Paul there and flying back was a little weird. But, it was so good to be there and see him.

The Punta Cana airport is unlike any I have ever seen. I didn't get any really great pictures but this should hopefully give you an idea. It is entirely open to the outside. This is us walking down the "jet way" to the airplane.

Until next time (and there really should be a next time), good bye Punta Cana.

End of the Year Party

2010-05-28T20:48:00.003-04:00

I cannot believe it but it is time to celebrate the end of our second year of residency! We are one month away from being third years...the most senior pediatric residents in the hospital!

This year has absolutely flown by and I am sure next year will go even faster.

Paul is one month away from being done with general surgery and starting Plastics for the next three years.

We had our end of the year party at the Manhattan Penthouse where we had it last year.

Tom, Lauren, and I posing in front of the Empire State Building

Glad Paul made it (late and answering pages all throughout dinner, but there nonetheless)

It was a good night. Soon it will be us celebrating our last party together!

Italy, Part 7: Chianti Region (the final post!)

2010-05-22T13:25:00.005-04:00

As soon as we decided to go to Italy I really wanted to visit some wineries. We explored many ideas of the best way to do this: renting a car, taking a tour, riding bicycles. It wasn't until 2 days before that I was flipping through the guide book and found a small paragraph that lead us into this journey. So, we woke up in Florence and found our way to the bus station and rode a bus to Greves in Chianti. We somehow found this little shop that rents mountain bikes and scooters to explore the Chianti region. As romantic as biking through Tuscany sounded to me we decided that a scooter sounded way more fun. So, we put on our helmets and jumped on our scooter to make it to our first winery. (it actually didn't happen that easily and it turned out to be more of a motorcycle than a scooter. I really thought we might die for a while and then my dad would kill Paul afterwards but we made it!)

We were quite late but made it to the first wine tour at Castello di Verrazzano (yes, the same guy that the Verrazzano bridge was named after. He was apparently the first to sail through the harbor of New York)

it was beautiful!

they get something like 9,000 bottles of wine out of one of these barrels!

some old bottles

they also cure their own wild boar that live on the property (we got to have some ham later...yum!)

finally to the tasting

and "lite" lunch! I thought this tray was for our table until she sat it down in front of me! We got to try the balsamic vinegar and olive oil that they also make. The food was delicious and the wine even more so. We made friends at our table and enjoyed lots of wine. It was really amazing!

three of the five wines that we got to try

we bought a bottle of the Chianti Classico Reserva and are saving it for a special day

we walked around for a while so that the wine could wear off before climbing back on the "scooter". I don't know if it was Paul's increased level of comfort or the bravery that the wine instilled but climbing back on that scooter was so much fun! We had some time to kill before our next tour so we drove around the hills of Tuscany...beautiful!!!

we stopped off at a random winery to do some tasting and bought another bottle

the scooter

We made it to our last tour. It was nice but nothing compared to the first tour!

we may not be smart enough to wear helmets while we ski or ride bikes but we were smart enough to realize that we should today! Very sexy!

It was back to the bus stop to get back to Florence.

We had a traditional Tuscan dinner of ribollita (a Tuscan soup with bread) and fresh pasta.

The next morning we got up and did some last minute shopping and got on a train back to Rome.

We get to Rome in the rain, find our way to our hotel and we were greeted by a man who spoke no English and told us that we didn't have a reservation and he had no more rooms. It is really hard to find a room in Rome on a Saturday night that is anywhere near affordable! We lucked out and found a really cool, modern, boutique hotel that had just had a cancellation. So, when we finally made it there we sat in our room, enjoyed being dry and in the air conditioning, and turned on the TV for the first time in 2 weeks and enjoyed one of the bottles of wine we had .

Then, got dressed up for our last dinner in Italy. We found a really nice wine bar and had a great Montelcino wine, an assortment of bruschetta and gnocchi with truffles. It was a great last dinner. Then it was one last trip to the Trevi fountain (in the rain) to enjoy one last gelato.

We made it back without any problems. I have to admit that it was so comforting to be greeting by Americans at the airport! You really appreciate this country after being gone for a while.

I am so thankful we had this opportunity to do this together!

Italy, Part 6: Siena

2010-05-22T12:44:00.003-04:00

We got up and boarded another train on our way to Siena. It was quite an expedition but we found our way into the city center and were pleasantly surprised! Siena is supposedly one of the best preserved city's in Italy and is full of medieval architecture.

Piazza del Campo in the city center

we grabbed some pizza and sat in the center for lunch

a closeup of the castle (notice the nice weather we had that day!)

Siena's Duomo (I argue it's prettier than Florence's)

Then we were excited to visit the Enoteca Libraria (Wine Museum). It holds all of the best rated Italian wines. We thought it would be fun to taste and learn a lot about wine. However, it was a little disappointing. But, the showroom was pretty cool.

Then we found a bar that did wine tasting and got to try some really delicious wines and bought a bottle. After some gelato we made our way back to the train station to head back to Florence for the night.

We took a little break from the norm and found a Irish pub in the center of the square surrounding the Duomo and sat outside and had beer and popcorn for dinner.

We headed to bed to rest up for our exciting adventure in the morning. Stay tuned for that!!

Italy, Part 5: Florence take 2

2010-05-18T19:41:00.003-04:00

So, it was back to Florence to basically stay there and travel to Siena and the Chianti region. Being back during the week with less tourists was a much more pleasant experience. We checked into our hotel and it was just about time for dinner. So, we went to this great restaurant that I found the first time through but didn't get a chance to go to.

Florence is known for is very simple and country style cooking. That is exactly what we experienced. Then after dinner we head out to get some desert that we kept seeing people with and Paul was so excited to get...

freshly made waffle with nutella

let me tell you, I wasn't so excited about it but it ended up being amazing!!!

Then we were drawn to this really cool bar for a glass of winewe couldn't figure out why we were the only people there until we got the check...

The next day we head to Siena

Italy, Part 4: Cinque Terre (Monterosso)

2010-05-17T14:38:00.003-04:00

I have to say that I was most excited about Venice and Cinque Terre. I have heard so much about this place and couldn't wait to see it for myself! We boarded yet another train and were on our way. So, Cinque Terre is an area of 5 lands (hence the name) along the coast that are linked by hiking trails (and a train for the less athletic). It is known for its food which I was so excited for! In keeping with our Italian tradition, the weather when we arrived was less than ideal.

We stayed in Monterosso which is the Western most and largest of the 5 towns.

Not the best picture of Monterosso but it's the only one I got.

After checking into our "pension" which thanks to Paul I now know what that means (basically an apartment) we headed out to find some lunch. This area is best know for 4 things in particular and pesto is one of them. Let me tell you that it was the best thing I have almost ever had...heaven...finger licking good...can't get enough...can't wait to get home and experiment with making my own!
I had the pesto on gnocchi (which was so fresh) and Paul had it on pasta. Did I mention that it was amazing?!

Another thing they are known for are there lemons. They were so cute and imperfect (unlike the ones we buy in the store).

In case you are wondering what the other 2 foods are: anchovies (which I admittedly didn't try) and olives (which I had some amazing ones at a wine bar).

After pesto we walked around and........sunshine!!! So, we grabbed a bottle of wine and perched ourselves out on some rocks and were so happy!

Probably one of my favorite memories of the trip

Then, it was time for dinner. We went to a really cute restaurant with outdoor tables. We had the best risotto of our lives and a huge order of mussels (along with lemons...yum!!). It was up there with one of the best meals of the trip.

The next day was unfortunately raining...all day! So, we slept in. Then found a delicious place for lunch where we split a pizza and foccacia with pesto (I know). Then sat outside under a covered bar and enjoyed the local wine.

Time for dinner and we went back for more at the restaurant from the night before which I would normally never do, so it was a huge compliment. We tried another risotto which didn't at all let us down, and pasta with...pesto! AMAZING! So amazing that...

I had to capture the super cute head chef.

These are some lemon trees on the way to our place

We woke up the next day to more cloudiness. I loved it so much here that we almost didn't leave but there was nothing but rain in the forecast. So, we reserved a room in Florence and headed back to the train.

However, once the train was pulling in the sun came out!!! So, we decided to forgo our tickets and soak up the sun!

we literally changed on the beach

then decided to grab some lunch at a bar on the beach

THE BEST SANDWICH OF MY LIFE

Pesto, brie, and tomato panini

along with the local wine

I was in food heaven!

Try this at home!!!

After 3 hours in the Mediterranean sun without sunblock, we were both red and finally ready to board the train back to Florence. If you couldn't tell this was the best food experience of my entire life. I cannot wait to come back multiple times again in our lives. Just hoping for better weather next time!

Italy, Part 3: Florence

2010-05-17T13:55:00.004-04:00

While it was sad leaving Venice, we had much more of Italy still to see. We arrived at the train station and grabbed some lunch while waiting (which of course was delicious pizza) and were amused by the panini selectionsWe arrived in Venice to check into the cute boutique hotel that we actually had reservations for. While there was some sun shining we headed out to explore Florence.

First stop, near our hotel, was the Duomo. It is one of the world's largest churches and began being built in the 1200's! It is entirely constructed on white, green, and pink marble.

standing beside it is the bell tower that we climbed later in the day...all 414 steps!

the gelato in Florence was by far the prettiest!

This is a recreation of Michelangelo's the David. The original is in the Galleria dell'Accademia which we visited the next morning. They moved him inside for protection.

a view of the top of the Duomo from the top of the bell tower

Florence from the Bell Tower

Our first pass through Florence was nice. If you want to shop at all the best places, this is the place for you. Every designer imaginable is there. However, we were here over a weekend and there were so many tourists!!!

Lets just say we were excited to go on to Cinque Terre.

Italy, Part 2: Venice

2010-05-16T21:59:00.007-04:00

We woke up in Rome, had breakfast in bed (not as luxurious as it sounds as breakfast is included in all hotels and ours was so small that there wasn't a "breakfast room" so they brought it into our rooms. but, the yogurt and coffee were delicious!) and then boarded a 4 hour train to Venice.

I was immediately in awe the second we walked out of the train station! I had a feeling I was going to love it and it surpassed all of my expectations! I really hope it isn't sinking at the rate they say it is because I plan to go back someday...many times!

We bought a "metro card" to ride on their bus/subway (I will point it out in a later picture)

and began to travel down the Grand Canal
a "side street"

We actually ended up eating at this place the next day for lunch...so cute!!!

So, we get off at our "bus stop" and walk around until we find our hotel around the corner from a wine bar...ring the buzzer...ring again...and again...nothing! Thankfully the guy at the wine bar knows the guy that owns the hotel who knows another guy that owns a hotel who walked us back to the "bus stop" to ride a little further to meet a man who walked us through many sidewalks, over many canals to another cute little place. They never received our reservation but luckily had a room that ended up being quite nice and in an even better location.

So we headed out to San Marco Square.

In keeping with the weather we had been having, the rain made us see as much as possible as quickly as possible.

But, what a great picture of the gondolas lined up just waiting for nice weather and lots of eager tourists!

like ourselves!

more gelato also waiting for eager tourists and some sunshine

a view standing in Piazza San Marco looking at San Marco Basilica on the left, the clock tower, and Doge's Palace on the right.

It was actually nice because it was a weeknight and the weather kept most people inside so we got to see a quiet version of Venice.

Then we found a super cute local Italian restaurant in a small sidewalk that appeared to only have 4-5 tables. We were set right by the counter where then man prepared the anti pasta dishes. So, when he would shave off some fresh proscuitto for a customer, we got to benefit. The pasta was the freshest I have ever had!

Paul enjoying his seafood pasta

of course, the after dinner gelato
The next morning we got up to spend a full day in Venice...

the Rialto bridge (one of three bridges that joins the largest of the 118 islands that make up Venice...amazing!). Notice the cargo boat. It is just crazy to realize that is the only way to get things around!

a great view of the Grand Canal from the Rialto bridge. Notice the large white boat on the bottom left. That is the "vaporetti" which is their public transportation.

They also have many "taxis" which are just normal motor boats that you get on and that's how they take you from place to place.

just a gondolier waiting for some business

I believe that wooden looking boat on the left is a taxi

back to San Marco square

a really cute Italian man drawing the square

a view of San Marco Basilica coming into the square (many more people out today)

Blue Skies!!! We rode an elevator to the top of the bell tower later in the day.

the top of the basilica from the bell tower

more gelato and my Venician hat!

Dinner that night was AMAZING! I didn't expect the food in Venice to be some of the best but it was. We had this vegetable risotto that was made to order (for sure because we had to wait about an hour for it) and worth the wait!

Waiting for the vaporetti. Just wanted to show off my backpack!!! Sad to leave Venice but excited to see Florence.

Italy, Part I: Rome

2010-05-16T21:18:00.005-04:00

Disclaimer: so, I am going to attempt to blog by city. Therefore, I will post them backwards...

We flew overnight and arrived in Rome the next morning, rode the train to the train station and hiked to our hotels, backpacks in tow. We stayed in a cute little hotel on the 3rd floor of a nondescript building with a great window that opened up onto a square with a beautiful fountain . Then, it was out to see Rome...

View from out hotel room

out of the window

The remnants of my first Italian meal (mushroom pizza and vino de la casa)

Vatican City

A view from inside the Pantheon
Trevi Fountain by day

Trevi Fountain by night

We had to return after dinner to throw a coin in and make a wish in keeping with the Roman tradition.

The next morning we got up and headed to the Colosseum and it was amazing!

Good thing Paul was there to protect me, because

I clearly didn't even realize what this guy was thinking!

The things that went on inside of these walls in unbelievable!

Afterwards we visited the Roman Forum and got a great tour from a really smart guy that made me wish I had paid much more attention in history class.

Then it was lunch, gelato, wine, dinner and off to bed to make the trek to Venice in the morning.

John and Konnies Wedding

2010-04-25T18:58:00.006-04:00

As soon as I met Konnie and hung out with her and John (Paul's middle brother), I hoped they would someday get married. I am so glad that he came to his senses, proposed, and now I have a great sister-in-law!!!

We flew to Texas on Friday am made it just in time to the Rehearsal and then the R. Dinner. It was a fabulous "Texas" time equipped with all the fried cajun food your stomach could hold.

There was also a live band and Shiner Bock beer!!!

Mark (Paul's youngest brother), Konnie, John, me and Paul

Paul and Grandma Pierce

The handsome brothers

Dancing the night away...so fun! They don't dance like this in NYC.

The blushing bride...my new sister!

And the happy groom

It was really great to get back to Texas and see family.

And guess who our wonderful dog sitters were for the weekend...

my parents.

Thanks so much!

I think they got along rather well :)

A glimpse of Spring!!!

2010-03-22T21:59:00.003-04:00

This past weekend was absolutely amazing! Paul & I both had the weekend off and the weather was perfect!!

Then, to top it off Donnie and Alison decided to come for the weekend...At the Boat Basin Cafe

Enjoying the 70 degree weather

Last week, Paul's sister and her daughter came to NYC and we got to meet them for dinner...twice!!! So good to see old friends and family!

A blurry view of Manhattan from Hoboken, NJ (St. Patty's Day Celebration...hence the green)

and, because no blog entry can be complete these days without Tucker...a family photo.

What a winter!

2010-02-28T18:45:00.003-05:00

It's officially the snowiest month in history...ever! We got 21" this past snow and have gotten 37'' in February! Despite making the trek to work a little more difficult, it really is beautiful (until it ends up all piled up around the curbs filled with dirt, trash, and dog pee). I walked out of our apartment at 5:30am to take Tucker out and was in disbelief! My rain boots weren't tall enough to keep the snow out!! However, he loves it and it makes it all worth it in the wee hours of the morning watching him have the time of his life. It's hard to believe he is a "southern dog"!

So, the next morning Paul got up with me (and made me breakfast while I got ready for work) and we left early and took Tucker to Central Park to play. Dogs are allowed to play "off leash" before 9am in the park. It was a momentous occasion...

I was absolutely terrified to let him go...for the first time...ever...to run and play in the middle of central park...without a leash...with the possibility of running...forever...ending up in the Bronx with Paul chasing after him while I had to go into the hospital to work.

He's still with us!

Look at that handsome man!

Tucker and his girlfriend Buttercup. She lives in the building and they LOVE to play together. We share a dog walker and sometimes she takes them out and then over to play with each other. They wear each other out which is fortunate for us!

He is one loved dog. For Valentine's day my dad sent a box of bones and he's eaten every one of them!

Cindy sent a box of toys and he too has eaten every one of them! Actually he only ate this really cute John Deer tractor which is unfortunate. She also sent a squeaky Harley Davidson Boot that he loves! We are saving the frisbee for the summer and the bone for now (don't want him to eat that one too...yet).

There is apparently more snow coming. While that will make him happy, I am praying for spring!

More Tucker...

2010-01-28T12:24:00.003-05:00

Just wanted to give an update. We are all still hanging in there. Being doggy parents is rough at times, but he is worth it...most of the time.

Close up

He loves his daddy!

Tucker's first snow!

There isn't much in our lives right now that doesn't revolve around him. However, I have been on two interviews for fellowship and am really excited about one program in particular. At least 3 more interviews to go, so we will see.

Tucker

2010-01-20T18:20:00.002-05:00

So, really freaking big news...we have a new addition to our family...Tucker! After months of stalking the ASPCA website for the dogs available for adoption, my "dream" finally came true. It was our third trip to check out the available dogs, and guess what...we finally found what we were looking for.

I was instantly interested in meeting him. He had my heart from the start. After meeting with a behavioral specialist and learning about him, we took him into a room to play. He is really playful and instantly showed us his amazing personality.

They want you to make a decision right then. Although they don't normally "hold" dogs, she agreed to let us go to Petco and get some stuff prior to taking him home (I didn't want to admit it, but I was freaking out about making this commitment and needed to get out and talk to Paul about it). So, we took off to Petco and I was really freaking out about this decision but Paul was cool as normal and told me that it was ok to be scared. So, we ran back to our apartment to "doggy proof" the place, and walked back to get him.

And brought him home!!!

The first night was interesting. He adjusted really well, is very playful and quite large for a one bedroom apartment. But, he is really good...and did I mention that he is playful?
He is a year and a half and a Border Collie mix (not sure what the mix is)
He is also a Southern dog!

He was all mine the next day (Paul was on call). We got a nice run/walk in and a long romp in the Dog Park near us. He plays really well with the other dogs and is super friendly to all he meets. Then, the rain started. He didn't seem to mind it too much but I couldn't resist buying him a raincoat. He was very tolerant (and cute)!

One of his favorite spots (his favorite spot is really wherever we are)

Who couldn't love that face?!

He was happy to see Paul the next morning. What a perfect sized lap dog!

In the 4 days that we have had him, we have ranged from he's the best dog ever, to what in the h#!! did we do! I am lucky to have a lot of time to spend with him for the next couple of weeks. Then, real life with him will set in and we will see.

It is going to be a real challenge to have a dog in the city but I already cannot imagine us without him. I am really excited to move back and give him a yard and take him on trips to the lake (I just hope we can all hold out for the next 4+years!).

Our life has really changed and now revolves totally around him.

Stay tuned for more of Tucker than you probably care to hear about.

Who Knew?

2010-01-10T22:18:00.003-05:00

So, there were quite a few things that I didn't know before this weekend:

A. Can you successfully get 7 Residents and/or Fellows up and out of the city prior to 9am on a day off?
-surprisingly yes. Temped by quite a decent ski mountain only 2 1/2 hours from the city got us up, in two cars, some coffee on the way, and off to the Catskills. Windham is 150 miles from NYC and a totally do-able day trip...amazing.

B. Is East Coast skiing really that much harder/worse than West Coast skiing?
-OMG YES!!! Just to put things in perspective, Paul and I just went skiing with my parents one month ago in Colorado. I like to think that my skills can get me down any mountain. It may not be fast and/or pretty but I have the confidence that I can at least make it down. Well, that is limited to skiing on the other side of the country. First run, a green, felt a little wobbly and we blamed it on the snow. So, back up the lift to head down a blue. Steep + uneven terrain + ice = a hilarious amount of falling. The rest of the day we had to limit ourselves to easy blues and develop a whole new skill of balance to keep from falling every two seconds when you hit a patch of ice. It was quite disheartening but fun nonetheless. A couple more times skiing there and I will be ready for the double black diamonds in Colorado!

C. Can you pass through New Jersey and not stop at the Cheesecake Factory?
-Apparently not. Last time I went shopping in upstate NY with Vinod and Gillian we stopped there on our way back to the city. And once again we found ourselves pulling up to a huge mall, walking in and waiting 45 min for over sized portions and delicious Red Velvet Cheesecake (if you haven't tried it...amazing!). Those of you back home don't realize the comfort we get from pulling up to malls and eating at chain restaurants...really takes you home!

D. What's the best part of a weekend full of good food, good friends, 2 free tickets to a really hilarious comedy show, and making a day trip to ski?
-spending it with my husband

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

2010-01-03T21:02:00.004-05:00

The 26th is here and it's Christmas in the Pierce apartment. As soon as Paul arrived home from work, it was time to begin Christmas morning...

The presents were wrapped under the tree...

And the stockings were hung on the bookshelf with care.

These are the stockings that my mother made for us with lots of love, hard work, and personal details. They are beautiful and we will have them FOREVER!

In my beautiful morning look. So excited, an easy way to get my daily fix of caffeine.

Paul and his beloved new Blue Ray player

We spent the afternoon watching movies while I basted my Christmas ham.

A new Christmas tradition for us. My ham turned out absolutely delicious and I can't wait to make another one next year (recipe available upon request). It went perfectly with my Grandmother's dressing recipe, and my quickly becoming famous pumpkin pie...yum!

New Year's Eve we made dinner reservations at Essex where they had a delicious price fix menu complete with champagne.

Lauren, Courtney, and I at dinner

Paul and Eric

Then, we all went back to Lauren and Eric's apartment until the ball dropped at midnight. Then all back to our respective apartments for bed...oh the crazy life of residents!

Happy New Year! I cannot believe it is 2010! I cannot wait to see what this year has in store for us and all of you.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2009-12-25T15:08:00.003-05:00

As soon as we got back to New York I couldn't wait to buy a Christmas tree! Paul met me at the "tree lot" on my way home from work and we picked out a beauty, carried it all the way home, and decorated it.

We got our first real snow last week, and it was quite a snow!!! After 4 hours of sleep, I was off to work on Sunday morning. The commute to Queens is a doozy. I wanted to take some pictures to show the amount of snow we got...12 inches! (kinda rare for Manhattan)

This is the part that we get to tell our kids about how we walked everyday to work uphill in the snow (and when you wear flats it sometimes feels like you are barefoot)

This made me thankful that we don't have a car....yet. By the time they shovel the sidewalks and the streets, there isn't much place else for the snow to go.

This is the "tree lot" where we bought our tree at the Subway stop (only in NYC). Off to Queens where I am the only person with English as my primary language...literally!!!

For those of you paying attention, today is actually Christmas. But, by the fact that I am sitting on my couch updating my blog, you can imagine I am not very busy celebrating today. I was on call last night on Christmas Eve and Paul is on call today on Christmas Day :(

We are going to celebrate tomorrow. So, hopefully there will be more to come.

Big News!

2009-12-19T13:38:00.003-05:00

No, I am not having a baby...patience people!

After much soul searching, I made the decision to no longer do Pediatric Neurology. After starting residency I learned a lot about about practicing medicine and about myself. I realize that I really love working in the NICU. I love the delivery room, doing procedures, managing really sick babies, and being a part of the lives of these families in such stressful, vulnerable situations.

It has been quite a hurdle getting out of my contract with Columbia but they finally agreed to release me, and I have officially applied for a Neonatology fellowship.

This means that I will stay at Sinai next year and finish my 3rd year of Pediatrics. Then, I will start my 3 year NICU fellowship. Therefore, we will be in NY one year longer than planned.

It has been really fun sharing this journey with my mom and as you can imagine, she is thrilled! As much stress this has caused a lot of people, and as much as I dread going through the interview process all over again, I am super excited about this!

Stay tuned for the results (I don't find out where I will be doing my fellowship until Sept/Oct!).

Colorado, Kansas, Texas, oh my!

2009-12-19T12:49:00.006-05:00

Paul and I were lucky enough to get vacation time together this year. So, we wanted to see as many people as possible in a 2 week period.

We started off in Colorado, were we met my parents in Denver and drove to Estes Park for a couple of days.

The best surprise, our house had a hot tub just outside of our bedroom!

Pure relaxation

The next morning we soke up to a surprise of 3 inches of snow! Then, we took Paul on a whirl-wind tour of our favorite spots. We started with a drive up Trail Ridge.

Then we took him to where my Greatgrandparents lived. There are numerous pictures of me as a little girl sitting on these steps in front of their house.

We climbed up the mountain behind their house as we have a million times in the past.

This cave was huge when I was much smaller!

The river that runs in front of the house

We spent the rest of the day shopping, eating, relaxing, eating....

Then, the next morning we got up and drove to Breckinridge for some skiing.

Notice Pauls change of hat after Texas won

After leaving Breckinridge, we dropped my parents off in Denver and drove to Kansas for Christmas with Paul's family. His dad, Janie, and brothers drove up and we got to spend some time with his grandmother, aunts, uncles, and cousins. I regret not taking any pictures, but it was great to see them all.

Then, we flew into Dallas and met Heather for dinner. It was great to see her and catch up!

Then, we headed to Corsicana. We got to spend some time with my grandparents and see their new, beautiful house!

Then, we drove to The Woodlands to meet Caroline...

We didn't get any pictures with Kristen or Kyle (just an example of how things change once you have a baby!)

Then, we drove to Houston and got to have dinner with Courtney & Gamble, Matt Pesek, and Steven & Iliana. It was really great to see some old friends!

Back to Corsicana. Paul's Mom and Bo drove in and spent the weekend with us. We had Christmas with them,

and Calie. Then flew back to NYC. Back to work :(

Halloween, etc...

2009-12-19T12:31:00.004-05:00

So, I realize I am a little behind but couldn't keep Paul's moustache all to myself!Me and my co-pilots

FYI, just sticking some popsicles into a drink doesn't make it taste better.

Just wanted to give some props to my wonderful husband! He had a day off and when I came home from work...
Delicious!!!

The view from our living room

COLT....

2009-10-31T12:17:00.004-04:00

So exciting, and long overdue! Colt finally made it to the Big Apple to see us.

Friday night we had to let Colt experience Yoshi Sushi...yum!

So fun having old BFF's meet new BFF's

Then, we took him to our beloved "Brandy's", the most fun piano bar ever!

Saturday was rainy. We spent the day walking around the upper east side, eating a delicious brunch at "The Barking Dog", browsing thrift stores, markets, PetCo (Gatsby loves his anemone!), stepping back in time at Heidleberg. Then it was off to Chelsea for dinner at Colt's beloved "Cafeteria", and out on the town.

Thankfully, Sunday brought beautiful weather. Paul was on call, so it was up to me to entertain Colt. Thankfully Central Park never lets down. The leaves were beautiful!

Then, we went downtown to experience the new High Line park. It is built up on old above ground train tracks. It is full of wild flowers and was really cool.

These really don't do the park justice.

Stay tuned....Halloween pics should be coming soon!

My Birthday & Moms come to visit

2009-10-17T12:32:00.003-04:00

So, I thought being on call on my birthday would be quite depressing. However, my most amazing friends proved me wrong. My day was full of inumerable text messages (thank you all) and the best suprise of all...

My attending came into the office while I was getting sign out and said,"Leslie, we need you NOW!" Thinking I was about to have to intubate a baby or something, I run out of the office to find three of the best friends ever armed with Crumbs Cupcakes!

You guys truly are the best and I wouldn't even want to try and imagine my life here without yall.

Then, we finally all got together to celebrate later in the week with dinner and drinks at Cuba...yum!

Another amazing birthday surprise was my Mom flying into town. It was a perfect weekend full of food, shopping, and relaxing.

Then, to top things off the next weekend we got a visit from Cindy. She came into town with some family members and we got to hang out with them all weekend.

Labor Day Weekend

2009-09-11T17:25:00.006-04:00

This weekend was a rare occasion...an entire weekend off for Paul and I both! So, we took full advantage...

Friday night we decided to try out a new sushi place and happened to end up across the street from the NYC official Texas Tech bar! Kristen had told me about this place but we never made it last season. There was a huge TTU flag flying outside the bar and therefore we had to stop in, we walked in and I was immediately amazed at the fact that everyone was wearing red and black. It was like stepping back in time! The bartenders were in TTU Football jerseys! Just about that time, the fight song began to play (the Tech game was being broadcast over the radio) and everyone clapped, sang, and got their guns up. I was in shock. I have never felt so at home in NY! I guess the smile that spread across my face gave me away. I was approached by a really cute girl that is the President of the NYC alumni and she got all of my info so I could be added to the email list and never have to miss out on Texas Tech events (Paul is thrilled and will only join me if he is allowed to wear burnt orange). If only I was off for the Texas vs. TTU game, I would drag him there (they are going to have a Bevo pinata! and import Shiner kegs!). Anyways, come to find out the cute little president is a ZTA...how fun!

Then, Saturday we went to our first Mets game at the new Citi Field. The field is amazing but I now understand how depressing it is to be a Mets fan!

Such a cute couple!

This was taken before beers, Nathan's hot dogs, Nathan's french fries (Kristen, I was thinking of you as I enjoyed every bite!)

Then, Sunday morning we hopped on a train and headed out to Courtney's parents house on Long Island. I am so grateful that they have adopted us (I don't think Courtney ever goes home without us anymore!).

Paul Boogey Boarding

When the wind picked up on the beach, we moved the party to the backyard. Paul quickly resumed his position.

So thankful we enjoyed the weekend because it appears to have been the end of summer :(

The McClanahan's Come to NYC

2009-08-16T15:46:00.004-04:00

My parents finally decided to come and visit again (way past due, Dad!) and we were able to get out and enjoy the best of what NYC has to offer...fabulous bagels, delicious Italian food, shopping, Brandy's Piano Bar, To die for Frozen Yogurt, and best of all Coney Island Hot Dogs!!!

The Brooklyn Cyclones Baseball game...go Cyclones!
The Cyclone which is almost exactly a replica of the Cyclone at Astroworld (I think that's really the other way around) which reminded us of the day we met. I now remember how much fun it is to ride rollercoasters with Paul. He just laughs the entire time! No wonder we fell in love.

The home of the famous Hot Dog (and the fries are worth mentioning as well)

Delicious! Worth the calories for sure.

I am really thankful that my parents were able to come and visit. I know it was a hard time for them to leave Corsicana. One of their best friends had been killed in a motorcycle accident less than a week prior to them coming. They were an amazing support for his wife, children, and family during that week. I know it was hard for them to leave but I hope that we were able to get their mind off of things for a few days while they were here.

I hope that we all learn to be a little more thankful of those around us. You never know what may happen to your husband, father, son, brother, or best friend. We lost an amazing person when David Coley died. I will always remember his smile when he would pull up at our house on his motorcycle in his full Harley garb (dew rag, leather chaps, and all). He was an amazing person that will be greatly missed.

Don't forget to tell those that you love how thankful you are for them...life is too short!

The Pierce's come to NYC

2009-06-05T18:21:00.003-04:00

Paul's family came to visit in April. Paul finally found an excuse to get to ride the Double Decker bus Tour around the city.

While they found Times Square, Central Park, the Empire State Building, The Statue of Liberty, and the Double Decker Bus really exciting...I think everyone was glad to make it back to Texas.

A well deserved rest after an eventful weekend.

The End of an Era...Internship

2009-06-05T18:08:00.005-04:00

I cannot believe that the end of intern year has come! We had our end of the year party at an amazing Penthouse (yes, that's the Empire State building coming out of Paul's head). Complete with drinks, dinner, and dancing.

I don't know how I would have made it through this year without the amazing friends tha I have made here.

I am already seeing how being a resident is so much better...

Work Hard...Play Harder

2009-05-18T20:16:00.007-04:00

A great perk to living in The City is that you can do just about anything on a Friday night...even Asian Kareoke! That's right, the subtitles come in "Asian" too!

Paul and Nick not holding back
Another Huge perk of The City (maybe even considered my favorite perk at the moment...)

Tom, Courtney and I at Yoshi

We ran into Lauren on the street waiting for a cab (another perk of The City)

Our First Wedding Anniversary

2009-05-18T20:08:00.009-04:00

We can't believe that it has already been a year of marital bliss! This has truly been the best year of my life and we couldn't wait to get away and celebrate. Luckily we didn't have to go far. We jumped on the Hampton Jitney (yes, the same big green bus that Carrie and Miranda take to meet Charlotte and Samantha in the Hamptons) and headed off toward the wineries of North Fork, Long Island.

Paul in front of our fabulous Bed & Breakfast. The breakfast was to die for!

Just one of the many wineries in the area

After our quick trip in the relaxing wine country, it was time to jump back on the Jitney and head back to our real lives.

One of the most exciting parts of our first anniversary...getting to enjoy our wedding cake all over again!

And it was delicious!!!

Chicago!

2009-05-01T22:38:00.007-04:00

I know what you are all thinking...Does Leslie ever work and when she leaves town does she ever take Paul with her? Well, I got a call free month and somehow Jessy, Courtney, Kaelin, Colt, and Martha all had time off on the same weekend! Med School reunion, Chicago here we come!

Happy Birthday Marth!

Texas Trip

2009-04-02T17:17:00.009-04:00

So, I had vacation time and Paul was stuck in NYC working. I could think of no better way to spend it than traveling all over Texas trying to see all of my favorite people that I can in 1 week.

I start out in Corsicana, visiting the parents and Grandparents.

Even the clouds are better here!!!

This is an old picture but it was so good to see Gabe, along with Ellen and Jason of course.

Another old picture, but I got to see Heather. We had a fabulous lunch in Dallas at Chuy's (how I miss Tex-Mex) and I got to see her beautiful apartment (I can't wait to move back and have a "real" house!)

Then, it was off to New Braunfels to see Becky. She and Tony had the perfect evening planned...backyard barbeque, beer, and Tony with his guitar...what more could a girl want?

Then, it was off again. I made it to Houston to have lunch with Courtney (at Hungry's...yum!), squeeze in a haircut, then head to The Woodlands to meet up with Megan and visit Kristen and Kyle at their new house.

As you have probably figured out from all of the old pictures that I didn't do very well at actually taking pictures while I was home. I will work on that in the future! It was so great to see you all. I consider this a very productive vacation!

Shopping!!!

2009-04-02T17:05:00.005-04:00

I finally got to experience the infamous Woodbury Commons Premium Outlets in NY! Lauren borrowed her parents car and she, Courtney, and I were on our way.

All I have to say is San Marcos has nothing on this place! It was an amusement park of designer outlets...Gucci, Fendi, Jimmy Choo, Cole Haan, Michael Kors, Joes Jeans, Off 5th, just to name a few.Just to really express the "amusement park feeling"

This is how we spent and hour and a half, staring at our selves in Joe's Jeans, finally realizing that we are three of the same person!

Oh the deliberation required when picking out jeans!

6 hours later...

SUCCESS!!!

Weekend in Philly, March 2009

2009-03-23T14:33:00.010-04:00

We decided to get out of the city for a couple of days, so we jumped on a train to Philly. We arrived and headed out to see the sights...

Paul, checking out the map and brushing up on our history

The Liberty Bell (alongside a "Southern Belle")

Standing in front of the State House where the Decleration of Independence was signed

The famous Philly Cheesesteak...2 provolone with (slang for 2 cheesesteaks with provolone and onions)

My idea of Heaven on Earth...a market full of cuisines from all over the world, produce, spices, seafood, and meats...I would spend every Sunday here...and be quite rounder!

Delilahs' known as the best mac & cheese in the country! Agreed!!!

What would a trip to Philly be without a local brew?

Wonderful weekend away from the city!

To Kansas to celebrate Christmas early

2009-03-23T14:26:00.001-04:00

Paul, Mark, Grandma Pierce, and John

Skiing in Breckenridge December 2008

2009-03-23T14:15:00.006-04:00

Paul and I drove from Kansas to Denver to pick up my parents and brother from the airport and drove to Breckenridge to ski for a few days.

Christmas time!!
Crazy Texans in the hot tub in the snow!

Freezing!!!

On the slopes

Trip to Puerto Rico, December 2008

2009-03-23T13:03:00.014-04:00

We were so lucky to be able to get out of the 19 degree weather in New York and spend a week on the beach where we could put work behind us and concentrate on our tan (or not getting our pale skin burned), sleeping in the sun, drinking great local beer, and sampling the local fare.

We took a ferry to the Island of Culebra...beautiful!

El Morro, a fort in San Juan. We have never been so happy to see such an expanse of green grass!

The street in Old San Juan where we stayed

a typical street in Old San Juan

Hiking in El' Yunque rain forest

Mofongo, a traditional Puerto Rican dish of mashed plantains and a meat (a favorite of Paul's)

Chichirones piled up during an outdoor festival in San Juan

Paul's attempt at blending in with the locals...and the delicious Medalla light!

Trip to Chicago, June 2008

2009-03-23T12:59:00.004-04:00

It was really great to get to see you all. Although NYC is much cooler than Chicago, I am jealous that the three of you get to hang out whenever you want. I miss you guys and can't wait to come back in April...reunion!!!

Getting you all caught up...

2009-03-23T12:29:00.011-04:00

Some of my favorite moments in NYC so far

Jenny, Courtney, Lauren and I celebrating my birthday - October 2008

Fall in Central Park

Martha came to visit (Grand Central Station)

Halloween 2008 - Carlos, Lauren, and I

Steven and Iliana came to visit (Washington Square)

Sony, Nate, and Jaco came to visit