Ohhhhhh brother!

This was recently broadcast on "On Point" on NPR. (Scroll down to Thursday, September 15, "How Are Our Siblings Shape Us" and right click on the media file if you want to hear/download it. I tried uploading it, but had problems.)

I thought about a mass email, but opted to not. Just because I'm totally intrigued by sibling/family dynamics doesn't mean everyone is.

A Carnival and a Balloon Race

Joe and I ventured over to the St. James the Great Homecoming on Saturday for some carnival rides and funnel cake. Joe was not a happy camper when he got dropped off but I talked up the rides and then the hot air balloons we'd be seeing later and he came around.

First up were the "racing" cars that went pretty fast around on a fixed track.


Next up was the ferris wheel. It had been quite few years since I'd been on one, but Joe said he'd been on one before. Joe certainly didn't show any fear getting on and enjoyed every bit, but did keep one arm tucked through mine the whole time. :) It was a great view from the top and we could see all the way to the arch.

Joe also really enjoyed the bouncy castle. And then we both went down the big slide on potato sacks several times.

Lastly, we headed over to the Turtle Park playground to watch the hot air balloons take off for The Great Forest Park Balloon Race.

See the tiny, tiny balloon?

New York, New York.

"Tar" art? Street art.

Extreme lawn ornament.


View from the Williamsburg Bridge.


Design in the MOMA.


Central Park South - as far as we got into the park.


Daily Show studio - unimpressive.

Times Square.


Wall Street - so patriotic.

Maggie in DC!

Unfortunately, there are no photos to prove this, but it's true. The only photos from her trip are these, which are from the US Botanic Garden. The garden is a nice respite from the bustling city, however the outdoor area is small and underwhelming (but free!), particularly if compared to the Missouri Botanical Garden.

I took a day off from work for a nice 3 day weekend that included a dinner out for Maggie's birthday, walks through Georgetown (including cupcakes from Baked & Wired) and Eastern Market, a visit to the National Portrait Gallery, and general hangin' out. The highlight (in addition to Maggie's presence) for me was the Newseum - a little pricey, but well worth it.

Other St. Louisans in the area recently were Sue Waterman for a wedding and Jenny Reid for a conference - great to see them both!

Pat Learns Zip Lining

I meant to upload a video from the Costa Rica trip awhile back...

Spring time gives 7Reids a new look!

I know that this blog never really "took off", but I've decided to recommit myself to at least putting out there what's going on in my neck of the woods. I'd love to hear/see what's going on with others (yes, I could call or email (which I haven't been doing well), but this is a little more inclusive and "at your leisure"), but I also understand that blogs aren't for everyone. Whether it's a funny video, photo, article, or news from you - I welcome the contributions.

I'm hoping that spring is here for good, but I also say that as the temperature continues to drop today, with a low in the 30's expected for tonight (though we used our window AC unit last night!). But I think it's official (not counting the calendars that have told us it's spring) because the National Cherry Blossom Festival has been going on for the past week and a half and concludes this coming weekend. Kevin and I took a stroll around the Tidal Basin and the Mall area last weekend on a sunny day, which was packed due to the lack of consistently nice weather since this festival began. I hear it's always crowded during the blooming, but I think everyone was also waiting for a nice day. Nice to see, but I think I'm good.




A new development that I'm looking forward to is a recent sign-up for a CSA (community supported agriculture). While working on the farm last summer, a major focus of our time was harvesting for their weekly CSA (along with the many, many, many hours of weeding). Eating a lot of fresh, local produce (or maybe more importantly, not being able to eat as fresh of produce since then) has reminded me that I think it's important, if you have the means and motivation to participate. The season doesn't start until June for the farm I selected, so I'll let you know how it goes. Which will hopefully be awesome...

Rally to Restore Sanity!

A few pictures from the recent rally. Kevin had a friend who traveled from New Jersey to attend the event, along with a debated 200,000-500,000 others. It was crowded! Metro trains were packed so we took a little over an hour walk to the Mall. We didn't get very close, couldn't hear much of what was going on, and I kind of wished we had just watched it on TV. BUT I've never seen so many people in one spot and it was refreshing to know they were all in pursuit, if they weren't already, sanity. The size did remind a bit of the Obama rally in St. Louis at the arch grounds, the summer/fall leading up to the election in 2008. Beautiful day, though...

a few pictures from my summer...

early morning at the farm. workdays were often 4 hours in the morning, a few in the evening, due to the afternoon heat.

evening on the farm, with farmhouse to the left.

chillin' at the swimming hole.

watching a double rainbow at the farmhouse.

farmer couple, mandi and jeff.

csa box. boxes were prepared mondays and fridays, from half shares to full shares.

at the mackinaw bridge entering into the up.

pristine beach in the up on lake superior.

annnnnd we still like each other. i think.

Guess who's walking now?