puppy love part 1

my friend Kera recently got an Olde English Bulldog puppy and named him Axle. I got to meet him a few days ago and he is not only adorable but totally laid back. The perfect puppy!

Yes, I fell in love with little Axle.

This is what he will probably look like all grown up:

western diner

M and I were in search of a quick diner breakfast close to our apartment, but it couldn't be at our old standby Metro 20. Unfortunately, the last time we ate at our formerly beloved Metro, there were flies buzzing around our table throughout the whole meal. Probably one of M's biggest pet peeves. So he declared that our last meal at the Metro. Which left us scrambling for some good, quick breakfast. We decided to try the Western Diner which is a few miles further  up the road.

I thought their coffee cups were cute, and since I usually drink my coffee black with 2 sugars, I dove right in. It wasn't as good as Metro's coffee, but it was acceptable.

M, on the other hand, takes his coffee with creamers. Unfortunately the creamers presented to him hadn't been kept refrigerated as the labels directed and when he mixed them into his coffee curdles rose to the top. M was disgusted. He tried fishing the curdles out, but ended up sending the entire cup back. And our waiter never brought him a new one...

And the water is served in mini glasses...another pet peeve of ours.

The counter was empty because there were only 2 or 3 other customers there. All older. I have a feeling their core demographic is geriatric.

Our meals arrived. You can't tell from this photo, but my French Toast was pretty much neon yellow. I have NEVER seen French Toast that looked like this. And they presented my plate like this....with dirty butter and syrup packets LAYING ON TOP OF MY FOOD. No. Unacceptable. Disgusting. The French Toast had no seasoning, no powdered sugar, nothing. I guess if your main clientele is the elderly you don't have to be too concerned over giving your food any flavor?

This was M's breakfast. He was already stewing over the coffee incident, and wasn't impressed with his breakfast to say the least. His homefries were burnt and crusty, he described the bacon as "weak ass," his sausages were "crappy pre-frozen Jimmy Dean," and he said his eggs were slimy. 

M summed up our experience with this zinger: "But only ONE fly in the place...guess they don't like the food either."

The search continues...

This week...

...I Love New York Chicken Marsala pizza slices are the best/worst thing that has ever happened to me.
...woke up on a lazy Sunday morning to the beautiful sound of rain, it was perfect.
...spent the day with M's family for his cousin's daughter's 4th birthday.
...watched M help move a 100 year old piano across town.
...nerves of steel are not something I have.
...bought a few pumpkin spice scented items in anticipation of fall's arrival!
...lots of exciting news...less vagueness soon!
...it's been rainy and gloomy and cool, but I've loved every minute of it, especially lying in bed and listening to the rain.
...took the first step toward the rest of my life, as a friend put it.
...met the cutest little puppy (who certainly won't be little for long!)
...celebrated with my bestie
...said "see you later" to an awesome friend moving to Chicago

-- Post From My iPhone

suggestions

Hey, robots are COOL!!

1. Oscar Box Art Robot Print

2. Steampunk Robot Pendant

3. Steve and Debbie Robots

4. White Robot Attack Tank

5. R is for Robot Print

6. Love Robot Art Postcards

letters

Dear Nutella Macarons.

You will be baked as a special request for M's visiting family. Please, please, please turn out better than that iffy batch of patriotic macarons I massacred for the 4th of july.

Dear Refried Beans,

For some reason, you're all I want to eat lately. Luckily you are cheap! 

Dear Summer,

You're almost over and we STILL haven't had a chance to go swimming yet. Lame.

Dear Yankee Candle and Bath and Body Works,

I can't wait to visit you and pick up some things that will make the apartment smell all autumny! Best time of the year is about to begin!

on the road again

M and I started the morning with a stop at the local coffee shop, Uncommon Grounds for some drinks. M got an irish cream iced coffee, and I got an iced soy chai latte....which as you can see I promptly sucked right down...

M had a bagel with bacon scallion cream cheese. It smelled delicious.

After our long and winding drive out to Sacandaga Lake, we ended up back at Lake George, where M's mom was dog-sitting for these two cuties.

This is Jack, a mastiff puppy. I love him. I wanted to take him home with us!

M's mom bought us this GIANT peanut butter cup from a candy shop on the strip.

Heading back home after another beautiful upstate summer day.

a day at the lake

A perfect, beautiful day at the lake.

like us!

Hi Friends!

We FINALLY started a facebook page for windshield diaries! We would love it if you would "like" us!

xoxo,
CAPow! & MPS: If you have a facebook page for your BLOG, please leave a link in the comments, I'm looking for more blogs to "like"!!

the altamont fair

I've been going to the Altamont Fair since before I can remember. If there was one thing I could count on every summer growing up, it was that Mom and Dad would take my brother, sister, and I to the fair. Of course, when I was younger, I had no concept of time so every year it was a great surprise when mom and dad would announce that it was fair day!

Before this past weekend, I hadn't been to the Altamont Fair in at least 4 years. So when M's friend told us he would be taking his son to the fair, and M agreed we'd meet them there I was so happy!

The Altamont Fair did something a little different this year. I guess the idea was to appeal to the people looking for some "recession buster" fun. Normally, you pay a small fee to park, pay a small admission fee, pay for ride tickets, pay for food, pay for games, pay for any little chatchki you may feel the need to purchase. But this year the Altamont Fair was offering a deal for the masses: pay $15 per person and that one flat rate includes: parking for your car, admission, AND UNLIMITED FREE RIDES!

Sounds like a great deal, right?

I thought so until we made our way to the midway and saw that the lines to get on rides were longer than the lines at Disney World. I guess when people don't have to be stingy with your expensive ride tickets they go all out. Because of the ridiculous lines, M and I only made it on to one ride: Sea Ray. The giant ship that goes back and forth. And we only went on that ride because our friend's son wanted to ride it and his dad didn't want to go on that one.

The rest of the fair seemed to have a lot less...THINGS than previous years too. It was actually pretty disappointing, and after buying food for each of us, we ended up spending about $60 to walk around, people watch, and ride one ride. That's a pretty steep price for our current budget. Infact, before getting the call to go to the fair, we were planning on getting dinner at a chinese buffet, and THAT was going to be stretching the budget.

Despite being an overpriced disappointment, it was fun to hang out with our friends and walk around. But we left the fair with the distinct feeling that we were kind of ripped off.

So, unfortunately, this will probably be the last hurrah for me and the Altamont Fair.

This week...

...drove around with M trying to figure out what to do with our Saturday.
...got ice cream with M & his mom.
...Monday morning felt like fall: grey, cool, dreary, and rainy.
...celebrated a friend's birthday at the Biergarten
...tried really hard to convince m that we need to go to the fair.
...m & I went to dinner at Jose Malones to see their best waitress (and my bestie) Kelly.
...a $30 oil change turned into a $250 oil change-filter change-transmission flush. At the worst. Possible. Time.

-- Post From My iPhone

suggestions

1. August Birthday Pendant

2. August 8x10

3. Light in August, Summer is Ending

4. August Morning

5. August Sky

6. Peridot and Emerald Green Ring

letters

Dear Future Plans,

There are two very exciting possibilities on the table right now. I am so anxious to see which path we take. No matter which one we choose, I know we will be making things so much better.

Dear August,

Really?!? Where did you go? It seems like yesterday was the 1st and we were hanging out with Kelly & Matt at the track. You're a quick one!

Dear Fall,

I'm not going to lie, I totally CAN'T WAIT for you to get here. Don't tell the other seasons, but you are my favorite. I can't wait to but pumpkin spice candles and make the house smell nice, see the leaves change, feel the crisp air and have to start wearing layers, carve pumpkins, celebrate halloween. I anticipate you all year long.

to grandma's house we go

My cousin was back in town for a wedding. She moved to Florida several years ago, and I haven't seen her in over a year. L to R: my sister, me, and my cousin. Standing between them like that made me feel like an AMAZON...and I'm only 5'6"!

These little flowers always remind me of my grandma. She has some in her garden. I don't know what their real name is, but she's always called them Johnny-Jump-Ups.

A hummingbird! I spotted about SEVEN different hummingbirds while sitting outside my grandma's house. She loves hummingbirds, possibly more than she loves Johnny-Jump-Ups and Queen Anne's Lavce.

mom and dad's gardens

My dad has a small garden in the backyard where he is grown tomatoes, corn, and some other as-yes-unidentifiable-to-me veggies.

My mom's garden is in the front of the house and consists mostly of wildflowers. It's so beautiful towards the end of summer.

These little ladies have been retired from their former garden glory. Now they hold court down by the basement door, waiting for the weather to change.

visiting my parents' house

One of my favorite things about visiting my parents' house is getting to hang out with my favorite buddy, Milo!

I went out in the yard to read through my google reader...

...and Milo sat right next to be the whole time. Enjoying the afternoon sun and warm breeze.

<3

This week...

...sat in my parents' front yard with my dog Milo and enjoyed some relaxation time.
...got to spend some time with my family and see my beautiful cousin who was up visiting from Florida
...began the plotting stages of Costume Kegger 3.0 AND our next possible road trip (crossing my fingers!)
...took a relaxing post dinner stroll in the oppressive humidity
...laughed my ass off at Laughs on Lark, can't wait to do it again next month!
...got challenged to a race at a stop light at midnight by a souped up late 90s mustang with the license plate "mcluvinn" ....I drive a 2008 Hyundai Elantra...
...paid $30 for a Dr to tell me to up my yogurt intake to 3 servings a day
...spent the day up at the lake relaxing with M's mom

suggestions

1. Rider Up

2. The Straightaway

3. Saratoga Paddock Study

4. Final Turn

5. Horse and Goat

6. Anybody's Guess

the track

M's cigar

some bets were placed

Kelly took this awesome shot of M's reflection in my sunglasses!

Kelly waiting for the race to start.

M watching the race with is cigar.

M tries on my sunglasses as the day winds down.