My Absolutely Fabulous Bachelorette Party!

I recently returned to New York after a fantastic visit to Texas. While I was there, my bridesmaids and friends joined with Lizzie's bridesmaids and friends to give us a joint Bachelorette Party which was probably one of the most fun nights of my life!
The two brides-to-be, Lizzie and Cassie, and also the maids of honor for each other.

Joley, Jena, and Kristina

Cassie, Wendy, and Cheryl

Cassie, Missy, Anna, and Tracy

Kristina, Jenn, and Cassie

Thank you for the most fun night of my life ladies!!

Jena, Michael Jackson, and Blithe Spirit

Jena (my oldest friend from childhood) came to New York for a visit last week. Our big night out was Thursday when we had dinner in Bryant Park and then saw the play "Blithe Spirit" on Broadway starring Rupert Everett, Christine Ebersole, and Angela Lansbery (who won the Tony this year for Best Actress in this performance).

This was also the night that we heard the news of Michael Jackson's sudden passing. We were walking down the street to the restaurant when our friend Missy (my second oldest friend from childhood) texted me to share the news (Missy and I watched "Thriller" for the first time at her house in 1983 and we probably watched it 500 more times together over the next three years). We both stopped in shock after reading the message and then suddenly we heard everyone on the street talking about it...as if everyone else had received the news at just the same time. Seconds later a man crossing the street cried out "Long live the King!" It was such a strange and surreal moment.

There was another element of strangeness to add to the moment because Jena and I were riding our bikes together in 1984 when we heard the news that Michael Jackson had been burned doing the Pepsi commercial. How strange that she just happened to be in New York with me again when we heard the news of his death. We both got chills when we realized the coincidence.

This picture was taken around 1983 or 84. I really did love Michael Jackson and his music when I was growing up. But I've realized after watching all the news coverage of his life, that the Michael Jackson I loved was gone a long time ago. Although he never stopped making great music, he did lead a very strange life towards the end. It was sad to watch his appearance change so drastically over the last few years and even sadder that his reputation was tarnished after the law suits. The man must have had considerable personal pain in his life to make such choices. But despite all that, I will always remember his music of the early 80s and how it was the soundtrack to my childhood. I cannot hear a song from the "Thriller" album without reliving a memory of dancing around my bedroom in my purple-striped leotard at nine years old. For the sheer joy your music gave me as a child, I thank you Michael Jackson.

Dinner After the Opening

Soo Jin and the gallery staff at Patrick Painter put together a fabulous dinner after John's opening. We dined on the most delicious Mexican food dinner: Chicken Burritos, Cheese Enchiladas, Rice, Beans, Guacamole, Chips, Salad, and Chocolate Cupcakes for dessert. The tables were decorated in the spirit of John's paintings with brown tableclothes, red circles, and green succulent potted plants. It was a truly special night that we will never forget!


Soo Jin and me

Cassie, John, Claire, Joe

Cassie and Jenn

The beautiful, almost-to-pretty-to-eat, cupcakes that Soo Jin saved just for Claire, Joley and me. They were so delicious and decadant, but also tiny works of art!

Joley and Andy

Marc, John, and Richard

Andy and John hug it out in front of Honey Hunter for the last photo of the night!

Beyond the Horizon - John's Opening!

John's show, "Beyond the Horizon" opened at Patrick Painter Gallery in Santa Monica this past weekend. It was his best show ever and the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen.

The color paletter for our wedding was inspired by this painting, "Flowering Feathers".


John and Cassie in front of Flowering Feathers. Unfortunately my shoulder is doing it's double jointed thing in this picture...it looks so weird!
"Kaleidoscope"






























"Honey Hunter"



































Jenn and one of the Clayton Brothers in front of "Beyond the Horizon"













Love Birds...
















John spots me taking his picture from across the gallery. He sure looked cute that night!


















A beautiful picture of Joley and her bright smile!













Claire and Marc













Andy, Amanda, Michael, and Jillian (Andy and John's cousins)














Andy and Joley

Cassie and Panny in almost matching dresses!

Santa Monica Beach with the Family

John's family met us in Los Angeles over the weekend for his show. The day of his show we all got to spend the morning together at Shutters for breakfast and then out on the beach for a few pictures.


Joe, John, and Andy
Look out Hollywood!












Joley and Cassie outside of Shutters











Despite the gray weather, we still had fun walking on the beach. Here's the Santa Monica Pier...











...and right next door is the Casa Del Mar where we stayed. This is the view from the beach.
I love these pictures that John and I took of each other on the beach. Big Red and Little Red!

Kristina's Visit to NYC

Kristina came to New York for Memorial Day Girls Weekend!

We did some shopping in Soho...












Shared Lemon Sugar crepes at Cafe Henri...













Had dinner at the Cubana Cafe with Vera, Mina (not pictured), and...












John! He took a short break from the studio to meet us while he ordered his dinner to go.












Afterwards we had coffee and desert at Cafe Reggio in the village. We had a great time! The three of us hadn't hung out since Vera and I lived in Houston. It had been a few years, so this was really a special weekend.

New Purses and Bags

Here are some of my latest plarn bags...