New York

Warning:

This post contains a zillion pictures. If you're bored at work... or a family member... read on.

Since I could go on forever about this trip, I think I'll just explain some of the pictures. It'll be easier on you (and me) that way.

When you walk out of Walton's door... you're about a block away from David Letterman's set. Walt said that if you want to see a celebrity... just hang out around the side door after filming.

I kind of wanted to, but, alas, I resisted.

A random stop light...

Sister walking towards Central Park.

Sayyyyyyy Cheese!

Yes, I carried around a giant camera bag - all over the city, all day long.

I got some good pics, but I paid a serious price. Apparently, self tanner can't take the wear and tear of two heavy bags (my purse is practically a diaper bag) and 100 degree heat. I looked like I had a skin condition by the end of day 1.

Creepin' on random dude in the park.

Sisters | Central Park

Smitty, Radio City Music Hall

Sweatin' it up in the Subway

I mean, I love Theory, but don't read too much into the photo. This is not my way of paying homage to the Theory people.

Just the view I had from lunch... cool building though :)

Where the World Trade Center once was... pretty depressing...

After about 20 minutes (and nearly an anxiety attack) in Century 21 I ran outside for some air.

This is the view from the curb in front of Century 21.

...

I sat on the side of the road just staring at it for a while. Wow.

It's crazy | sad | sickening if you really think about all of the horrible things that happened here, only a few years ago.

Moving on to a much HaPpIeR place-- Times Square!

... where you can find all sorts of freaks and geeks. - like a miniature man dressed up as Sponge Bob Square Pants.

BTW, please excuse the horrible get-up I was wearing on day 2.

I thought that I was in the company of people who actually cared about me and what I look like! Why my sister and best friend let me outta the house looking like this - I will never know.

It was a maternity shirt, guys. I need help.

Of course we had to go to Toys R Us (in Times Square) to get Chappy some goodies.

But don't think we didn't have a little fun while we were there.

Ummm... the Barbie department? Uber cool.

Did you know they make Barbie video cameras now? The camera lens is a part of Barbie's necklace! I would've wanted that so bad.

(We had to get a picture with Edward and Jacob).

Haha... us Sinrod girls wouldn't have been allowed to have these guys...

My parents didn't buy us Ken dolls...

I don't really know why... but that's another story for another time.

Let's just say that we were resourceful and made do with what we had.

Walton gettin' her grove on with the Dance Dance Revolution Super NOVA.

Check Smith's blog for an explanation regarding these ladies...

The Empire State Building... Wally tells me that it is full of dental offices... kind of funny.

Cool view from lunch.

We had delicious Sangria... it was such a perfect (carefree) lunch.

Goofy picture of us in the cab... Once again, I over-straightened my hair.

After Ellis Island, you go here... I think to be "decontaminated" one last time? I need to research this. My dad's dad came through here on his way over from Russia as a baby. It's a cool story. Again... another story for another time. It's 10:45 at night and way past my bedtime!

I like sugar.

Nearly fell off the boat trying to get some pics of her...

After the Circle Line (cruise around the city) we were able to view our "fam" pic. I decided to save 20 bucks and took a picture of our picture. I got in trouble and was forced to run away.

That's about it!

After the boat ride we went to dinner at a really cool French restaurant, but I already forgot the name. My memory is pitiful these days.

I had such a great time.

Walton, thank you so much for letting us stay with you, even though you were in the middle of moving!

And Smith, thanks for taking me everywhere, showing me around and not freaking out when I always insisted on "a plan."

I just signed up!

I'm making this one happen!

Following Through

Doing what you say you're going to do can be tough.

At least for me.

I seem to suffer from chronic not-following-through-syndrome.

It all began circa two-thousand-and-six.

I'd always planned on going to law school. It sounded like a good enough plan.

So, I chose a major (Criminal Justice) and declared myself as "pre-law."

I'll never understand why my parents let me pick Criminal Justice. I'm pretty much qualified to be a Cop or a mall security guard. Thankfully I have a business minor.

I met with the pre-law advisor every few months and studied for the LSAT. I took the LSAT, and I actually did pretty well. However, I procrastinated and didn't get my applications in until the very last day at 12 am - I'm not kidding.

I actually cancelled my first date with Reed to finish those dang applications!

When I didn't get into law school immediately, I freaked out, got really embarrassed and withdrew my application. Fear of rejection?? Let's just say I never pursued that avenue ever again.

Later in 2007 I married Reed.

Turns out the man upstairs really knows what he's doing... being married to a lawyer reminds me every day that it was a blessing in disguise that I didn't go to law school. The majority of it sounds rather boring and I don't think I'm cut out for a desk job.

Confused and desperate to find a career, I completed the 60 hour course that is required to obtain an Alabama Real Estate License.

I never took the state exam.

Then I decided to take the GMAT. Lord.

This was yet another attempt at grad school. I did OK on the test.

Good enough to get into UAB, but I never even applied!

Are you seeing a trend?? What is wrong with me?

During the whole GMAT/MBA period, I got a job at a big law firm in Birmingham in the recruiting department. I worked there for about a year and happily quit shortly before Chappell was born. It was then that I realized I would not, could not (been reading a lot of Green Eggs and Ham lately) ever have a boss again.

Well, if it's at all possible.

I'm kind of a control freak, and being bossed around has never really been my thing.

The whole point of all of this rambling and rather embarrassing admission is:

I {think} I finally know what I want to do.

I'm signing up for a Photography Certificate Program. I haven't signed up yet, but I'm hoping that by posting this, I will go ahead and just do it!

It's for "students who want to go into photography as a career or earn extra income and receive a certificate."

I know that my photographs are just average now... but I'm hoping that the class + some new equipment + Photoshop will fix that.

None of my photos on this blog have been Photoshopped. I don't even own Photoshop.

This will be a process, that is for sure.

I'm not saying that I (necessarily) want to be a professional. But if a year from now, I'm a half decent photog, I wouldn't be opposed to the idea.

I love photography and I love taking pictures of babies and children even more.

If I could earn a living doing what I love, what could possibly be better?

When Chappell was about 6 months old, my dad gave me his Canon EOS Digital Rebel XT.

It was like Christmas... in July (truly).

Dad, thank you for giving me one of your most favorite "toys." If you know my dad, you know how much he loves his cameras.

*My dad was a sports photographer back in the day... and a good one at that! He has a few magazine covers and is friends w/ a few professional tennis stars (from the 70's) that he used to photograph. Pretty neat!

I even inherited his famous "DON'T DROP MY CAMERA!!" face!!

Here are a few of my faves from the Rebel... pre-instruction.

New York post still coming!

I'm obviously behind...

What's new?

It's nap time, and I'm trying to get a little caught up around here.

Just got dinner situated (kind of scared... a few random ingredients and wahhhlaa! hodgepodge casserole...) - I figured I'd try to get the blog up to speed.

This past weekend I went to New York with my sister. It was incredible.

We walked a lot - I destroyed a pair of sandals and my pedicure in two days. But it was totally worth it!

We stayed with one of my best friends, Walton. We lived together all four years of college if you count Tut and the srat house... and I do, by the way.

This is Walton: I really like this picture - check out that hair! (From our boat tour Saturday night).

Walton has lived in New York for 3 years now.

However, I am super-duper-excited to announce that she is moving back to Bama this Friday.

She got a great job in Birmingham... all of our friends are more than pumped to have her back down South.

BUT...

First thing's first.

The New York post will have to wait... hopefully, I'll have it ready in a day or so... but it might be longer since I'm getting ready for (another) best friend's bachelorette party this weekend in Grayton Beach.

----- Switching Gears! -----

She's graced this blog O' mine before, but just in case, let me introduce you to my older sister, Lyle.

Lyle lives in Bangkok, Thailand.

She has three boys. Lyle loads up and drags her crew across the world for at least a month every summer. While they were here, we spent a weekend with them at my parents house in Pensacola.

We were super excited when Lyle & Co. drove up to Montgomery to check out our new (rental) digs!

Here's Nathan, the oldest:

And Alec, the middle man:

Last, but not least, Iain (pronounced "Ian") the baby:

Chappell loved spending time with her cousins...

especially little Iain since he's not much bigger than her!

Lyle and I are 14 years apart. We still think it's so funny that we ended up having kids so close in age.

The two of us have always been close... but honestly, neither one of us ever thought we'd end up sharing mom advice. Lyle bought me my first breast pump. Precious, right?

Iain will be 3 in September... and little Chappellina will be 2 in December.

They're only about 15 months apart. Life is crazy sometimes, huh?

Ta ta for now!

:)

Fe, thanks for sending!