Saturday, October 31, 2009

Catching up

The last part of October took us once again to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. where we did IVF #5. An unsuccessful treatment but a very memorable trip with the family. I will focus on the positive with this post because I really got some great photos of everyone and they are worth their weight in gold. Dave and I are so thankful to have our one and only fireball of a son. He makes us laugh every day and amazes us with the little things in life that one usually takes for granted as an adult. Cliche as it is... it really does pay to look at life as the glass is half full. Ask David for he reminds me of it often!

I have to give thanks as well to my good friends Marilet and Perry Waters for opening up their home for me for 8 days in Virgina so the hotel bill wouldn't be such a sting in Washington. Perry is a fellow Marine and Marilet is an old friend from San Diego. They have a nine month old baby girl named Ava who is as precious as can be. It is always good to reconnect with a bit of my San Diego past and Marilet was just as eager to reminisce as I was about the past in So. Cal. Enough chatting now and onto the pictures - the autumn leaves were at their peak when we were there which made a photo opportunity every time I stepped outside:

Trip isn't complete without going to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum - Look! Look!
Marilet and Ava girl in historic Fredericksburg, VA.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Greenville, South Carolina

I had the opportunity to attend the South Atlantic Region AIA conference this year in Greenville, South Carolina this past weekend. It's a four day event that takes place every three years with the South Carolina, North Carolina and Georgia state chapters of the AIA getting together and discussing the current hot topics that are of concern to architects in this region. Sounds boring, right? I was sceptical too but in the end, I was glad I made the effort. Indeed I do miss architecture and indeed I learned a lot about this region that we have only spent one year living in. My mother in law so graciously agreed to fly out from California and take care of Brenden while I was gone which of course is the only way it was possible for me to make the trip. I am so lucky to have family that is willing to do that!
Greenville is an up and coming town that has recently undergone a complete downtown revitalization over the past 25 years. The redevelopment has focused on a vision to have "a thriving Downtown which is recognized nationally as an example of a 'state-of-the-art' community in which to live, work, and play...which serves in itself as a national attraction." The walkability of the area was very refreshing. The city has a great unique feature that has also been addressed in the Downtown area - the Reedy River which runs underneath the downtown streets and pops out at the west end. An ambitious $70 million plan for a world-class public garden with a one-of-a-kind pedestrian bridge over a waterfall has been built and it's fantastic. Overall this city is a great example of modern urban life. Something which is sorely lacking in this region.
The Falls over Reedy River
The bridge overlooking Falls Park:
Train track fountain on the river walk: