iPhoto with Murphy Cat

Home from work on a cold afternoon, Murphy Cat and me are under the covers surfing the web.

Sunday

This afternoon Beto and I took a ride on the El down to Society Hill and took some pictures. We visited the Old Pine Street Church, a favorite spot of mine since I mined downtown. The graveyard is beautiful and peaceful and full of history, built in 1768. http://www.galenfrysinger.com/philadelphia_churches_old_pine_street.htm We then took a walk over to Rittenhouse and had some dinner at Parc Restaurant http://www.parc-restaurant.comone of my favorite restaurants downtown. We shared a pot of escargot swimming in an herbed butter cream sauce. They have a great cote-de-rhone there as well.

Numbers Stations

Last night beto and I listened to a radio broadcast that NPR aired on numbers stations. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numbers_station. I shared a story with him of when I was little, up late under the covers, flipping through the radio dial and came across a what must have been one of these broadcasts. A young woman's voice speaking in a Russian accent reading a steady stream of what seemed to be random numbers, interrupted for a few moments only by an occasional carnival tune. This went on for roughly half an hour. If it sounds creepy, it was. Turns out I was lucky enough to hear an elusive broadcast of a numbers station, encoded broadcasts used to transmit messages around the world to spies, or at least that is what people suspect they are. These stations can be heard in all parts of the world, usually on a shortwave radio. For audio clips, check out the sites below.

http://www.archive.org/details/ird059

New cat

On the last day that Beto's family was in town, we all went down to the PSPCA and Beto and I picked out a pet cat. We brought home a big orange (or red tabby as they called him) boy named Max. He is a lover, very gently, loves having his face petted. We have since renamed the cat Murphy, Eddie Murphy actually.

Beto's family left early the next morning before dawn. The following day we went downtown to the art supply store and purchased some art supplies. We spent the evening painting.

Walker Lundee and Candy Apples

Today Beto's family took a trip down town to do some shopping and see the Mushulu, we stayed at the house and worked on some projects. Beto needed some of the CD's packaging he had designed photographed. As I had the lighting and backdrop already set up, I also took a picture of what was left of a candy apple we had this morning.

Trip to the Big Apple

Yesterday Beto, his family and myself took a day trip to New York. We walked around and had some lunch. We took the subway, we saw the Statue of Liberty and the work being done at the World Trade Center Memorial. We returned to Philadelphia late in the evening and took the El home to jubilation in the streets as the Phillies won and it was determined that they would once again be going to the World Series.

Illustration Mundo

In searching for new avenues to market our work, Beto came across a great illustration website, Illustration Mundo.  It is a website devoted entirely to original and creative illustration. Beto submitted his portfolio and was accepted onto the site.  Another great site is Workbook. In fact Workbook is one of if not the leading creative resource for photography and illustration portfolios, as they say on their site.  The work is really, really good.  

http://www.workbook.com/

Full House

Yesterday evening, Beto's step father, sister and brother in law arrived at our house. They are traveling together by car from the Mid West/West Coast and have come to pay us a visit and see the East Coast. They should be in town for roughly a week.

Investment in warmth

It's getting COLD here.  I didn't think I'd survive last winter but I did somehow.  This season I am determined to be prepared.  I bought a new warm coat, scarf, hat, and leather suede boots and gloves.  Impulse buys on a cold day yes, but there is no buyers remorse when I am wearing them on a cold windy night.

New Cat

A little cat wandered into Atlantis on Prince's shift, Prince brought him home and now he is his pet.  Beto had wanted to get me an orange kitten wearing a sweater as a surprise for my birthday and says that he still will.

Twit

I have a twitter page.

http://twitter.com/oliviavaughn

iFreelance

I created a new online portfolio for Beto's work. Click on the icon, it will take you to it.

Las Cruces Mountains

We took a hike up one of the mountains in the Las Cruces Desert.

Las Cruces Wildlife

Birthday

Today is my birthday. I turned 25 years old. Nice to spend it in such a beautiful place and with family. It is the best birthday because it is the first birthday that I get to spend with Beto.

Las Cruses

Beto, my mother and I took a long bike ride through the dessert. I love the dessert.

Flight into El Paso

Today we took out flight to visit my family in Las Cruces. Beto and I arrived in El Paso in the late afternoon. We drove along the boarder as the sun sank into Mexico.

First Friday

Beto and I went down to the Piazza to enjoy some wine tasting and walk around the galleries open for Frst Firday. I wore a pair of vintage earings that my grandma had passed along to me. We went into Bambi http://www.bambiproject.com/ and saw an awesome glow in the dark exhibit. Outside, we came accross friends and walked over to El Camino Real (http://www.bbqburritobar.com/photos.html)for a delicious inpromptu dinner. I had a wonderful pureed pumpkin soup.

Letterly Manor

Tonight we turned on the heater for the first time this season. The house smells warm.

Beto and I have hung the two pictures that my boss had given to me. He had purchased them from the great folks over at Absolute Abstract http://www.absoluteabstractart.net/.

Afternoon

The fall weather has been wonderful here in Philadelphia. We took drive over to Ikea and boght our new springless foam mattress. Across the street from Ikea is the SS United States Navy ship. http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/transportation/4263478.html The ship is in danger of being melted down for scrap metal.