The best ever. I love Schumacher but Senna was amazing

I was watching the documentary on Senna showed on TV the other day and almost cried while watching his crash.

Children Festival 2012 at Ten Thousand Villages

We are finally home after almost a month and this weekend at the store we're having our annual "Children Festival" It's a lot of fun and a blast to all the kids coming around and sharing their love for crafts and music. I work at the Flying Carpet Booth and we took over a 100 Pictures. Here is a taste of the Festival. If you haven't been to one yet make sure you come next year.

Denver 2012

We've been to some great restaurants in Denver. Unfortunately this week I'm to laze to describe the places we've been and thought I would just share some pics to give you a little watered mouth. The cotton wood trees were were everywhere near the event and there was cotton flying around. It almost looked like snow when we looked out of the window. Never saw anything like it before. It was very cool.

Golden, CO

Finally sometime off after a full week of long days of work. Jesse and I took a short trip to Golden in Colorado, just a 30 minutes drive from Denver, and had a wonderful day with the best weather we could wish for. Golden is this little Paradise on the foot hill of the Rocky Mountain. The Home of Coors Brewery. They had nice places to hike and take relaxing walks. The food was excellent and the whole place had a calming feeling to it. We sat in a restaurant by the river and chat for while listening to the water rushing gently near by. What a great day. That's the kind of place I could live in.

Glenwood Springs 2012

Boise 2012

Before and between our long hours at the event, we spent time at the movies, not "Dark Shadows", previewing a possible mode of transportation, and eating at Red Lobster, P F Chang's, and the restaurant on the corner again with Staff and Board Members. Nothing will compare to our dinner with our newly found Pakistani friends who along with their mother/mother-in-law and their friends were so excited about Fair Trade and hand knotted rugs from Pakistan. Reminded me of my experiences in Lahore and with my Egyptian friends in NYC. The hospitality was tops! Then back to reality and breakfast at Denny's (not shown) before leaving for Denver

Napa Valley and Sonoma 2012

There are so many vineyards in The Nappa Valley, each one beautiful beyond words. Time restraints allowed us to visit two of them, Artesa Winery and then Domaine Carneros by Taittinger. Wine tasting at both and a nice finish at Domaine Carneros with great hors-d'oeuvres and a spot on the terrace. The main building was mansion proportions. Dinner at a Mediterranean restaurant in Nappa topped off the experience. Breakfast at Denny's (slide show) was not too shabby either.

San Francisco 2012

San Francisco
Scott McKenzie
If you're going to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you're going to San Francisco

You're gonna meet some gentle people there
For those who come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there
In the streets of San Francisco
Gentle people with flowers in their hair

All across the nation such a strange vibration
People in motion
There's a whole generation with a new explanation
People in motion people in motion

For those who come to San Francisco
Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair
If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there

If you come to San Francisco
Summertime will be a love-in there

Pasadena 2012

Great weather in Pasadena. We found some great Brunch places with excellent food and fresh fruit. A little corner pizza place with a Wood fire Oven. I can't believe I ate a whole pizza by my self. Jesse didn't want stay behind so he ate a whole calzone and still try to tell me it was health food. I saw the car of my dreams parked across the street from the store and we finished the week with a trip to Yard House Beers. They claim to have the largest selection of beer in the world.

Scarlett Johansson Hollywood Blvd Star 2012

Jesse and I were very lucky to be walking around Hollywood Blvd the day they were giving Scarlett Johansson her Hollywood Blvd Star of Fame. I'm a big Marvel fan and was nice to see two of the main actors on the Avengers Movie on real life (Scarlett Johanssonand as "Black Widow" and Jeremy Renner as "Hawkeye"). I know what you're thinking. "Nerd". But I'm sure you would be star's struck if would meet someone you consider an amazing actor/actress as we did. I thought she was very nice and didn't seem to be snob or anything like it around people.

Hollywood, Los Angeles 2012

Hollywood was amazing and you never know who you will meet. Madame Tussaud was very gracious and arranged a meet and greet. After the meet and greet, there was still time to check on the "stars". Kermit, "yayee" and 3CPO's footprints.

Pella 2012

Pella is an amazing place with windmills and a restored opera house complete with an organ. A favorite place to eat was a Greek restaurant. A great dinner with Board Members and the Manager at The Monarch, a Pella hotel, after the event closed. See, we're on a seafood diet and check out the salads. Dutch made pastries are huge! We were looked after very well!

Last night we had dinner with Cassie and Paul. He cooked us an amazing meal. We always look forward to visit with them when we go to Houston. It's one of the best thing from the trip and we know a pleasant night is ahead of us when we get invited for their home.

Houston 2012

Today we had some time until we have to head to the store so we decide to visit downtown. Houston is a very pretty city to drive around. We found a house all made of aluminum beer/soda cans. This is to show how people can be creative but as well shows how many crazy ones are out there, he, he, he... The Houston Aquarium was nice. We enjoy playing with the stingrays and see the White Bengal Tigers among other things. I was a little concerned having to explain people Jesse was not part of the showing and it was ok for me to take him home.