Jane's Addiction

I've discovered my addiction: The Bubble Game. Too much of my time has been wasted on it, and I still have not won! Here's the link if you're really curious and want to try your luck:
http://www.onemorelevel.com/game/bubble_shooter

The Beehive State

About a week and a half ago, I had a few days off before I started my new job (yes, I started a new job) and decided to go to Utah for a quick trip. And it was just what I needed! It's always good to go home, be absolutely comfortable, hang out with the fam and just let people take care of me a little bit.

Some highlights (and the photos are from another trip home; I didn't take any this time.):

• Annie and I went for a hike up Big Cottonwood Canyon (Annie, it's the one with 7-11 at the mouth of the canyon). However, as we started driving up the canyon it started to rain. Our hike ended up being a nice drive up the canyon. Either way, it was beautiful! Every time I'm home, I realize how pretty of a place Utah is. (Thanks go out to Google for this pic! It really is Big Cottonwood Canyon.)
  
• Cafe Rio! Barbacoa Pork Salad. Need I say more?
• Over the past few years, our family has had the tradition of going to the driving range on holidays. Well, mostly just holidays like Memorial Day, Pioneer Day and Labor Day. It's what Adelee likes to call "Monday Holidays". This year was no different. Since it rained on Memorial Day in Utah, we countThe great, and amusing thing, is that no one in our family really golfs. Except Adelee - she won a tournament and a trophy back in the day when she was at the BY (BYU for anyone who went there after 1980). "It's all in your bottom," are her words of expertise!
• Les and I were able to take a little time and get pampered! We got manicures - one of my favorite things since coming to New York. She'd never had one before, so this was a real treat. Thanks Les for coming with me, letting me steal this picture and hanging out just like old times! I love that nothing ever changes with us, and we can just pick up right where we left off.
  
• Park City is always on my list when I go home. Not only is it a beautiful drive up there and a beautiful city, it also has great shopping! I know what you're thinking, "Doesn't New York have TONS of places to shop?" Yes. But I don't really do that much shopping due to time, too many people, etc., etc. Plus, the outlets have great deals!

Since being home makes me think of family, here are a couple random pictures of home/family:
This photo is of the banjo cake, made by special request for a special occasion. The Mad family celebrated Bard and Adelee's 60th birthdays by all of the kids flying home and surprising them! A miracle is what it was - that we actually pulled it off!

Oh, beautiful Utah sunsets (yep, the same one). I miss being able to see sunsets like this!

Celebrities, History and Randoms

In the past week (or so) I've witnessed a few things that could only happen in New York:

1. Anyone ever heard of Ferragamo? He's an Italian designer of handbags, accessories, etc. Well, I saw him at the airport going through security check. With his wife and two sons. I would not have even known if the airport employee at the check point would not have mentioned it. Now this was not Salvatore, the original designer, but it was his son Massimo (thanks Google for helping me figure this out - here he is at some event with his wife. And yes, this is the first of many pics to come!). 

2. As I was walking to the subway after work, I was near Central Park right by Columbus Circle. Clearly, a movie was being filmed. I saw John Heder (Napolean Dynamite) do a couple of takes of his new movie "When in Rome", which will also be starring Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), Josh Duhamel and Danny DiVito.

3. Carnegie Hall! Beautiful concert hall and great company. And thanks to BYU Orchestra for letting us enjoy a free night! One of the best parts - it was called "Mormon Night at Carnegie Hall". Love it!

4. Once again, this was walking on the street on the way to the subway. Two chairs were set up on the sidewalk - the ones you sit in for a shoulder/back massage. The funniest part is that they were occupied by people actually receiving a little TLC - I guess the city is just too stressful sometimes!

These are just some of the reasons I heart NY.