Birthday !

Monday was my birthday and I didn't get home from work until after 8:00, but I had a pile of cards and presents waiting for me to open, as well as roses and a white chocolate birthday cake. Miran took a 10 minute video of me opening and discussing and trying everything, which I don't know how to edit down so won't post. But here is a before photo:

Active Citizens!

I forgot to mention the othe day that on our way to the concert, we stopped and voted. It was Miran's first time so we made a big deal out of it and wore our "I voted" stickers all evening. I hovered over him while he voted and told the election officials it was his first time.

There was actually a mayoral race in Charlotte so it was important for us to vote. And the democrat won for the first time since 1987! So we are happy about that because he was the much bigger advocate of public transportation, including finishing the light rail projects and building the trolley along Central Avenue. It will still take 15 years probably to build, but at least they will move forward with plans for it - it will go right by Progress Lane and connect us to downtown.

To be more even active citizens - we called our congressman today and told him to vote for the health reform bill. The bill is definitely flawed, but way better than nothing. Our monthly health insurance premium is going up by 260% from this year to next - which just goes to show insurance companies can't be trusted and regulation is needed. I guess just the fear of reform made them hike up our insurance ridiculously. Plus, if we have any hope of getting Miran's mother over here, we'll need health insurance reform ... her preexisting conditions will make her dificult to insure affordably if nothing changes in the system. So we are really happy the public option is back in - even if we don't use it, it should definitley bring the cost of private insurance down due to the competition. Go health care reform!

BRUCE !!!!

Tonight, for my 35th birthday present (a week early), we went to the Bruce Springsteen concert.

Its been quite a while since either of has been to a big arena concert, but I've always wanted to see Bruce live because I've always heard he is such a great performer and because I'm a big fan. He was in Charlotte a year and a half ago, but we were too cheap to go. But this time, we splurged because we could call it a birthday present. And it was well worth it. He lived up to his reputation.

It was certianly the most interactive concert I've ever been too - he body surfed on the crowds, pulled kids up on the stage to sing with him, walked around in the crowds, stood on a platform in the middle of the crowds, let everyone touch him and his guitar, and even took signs from people in the audience requesting specific songs ... and then played them. Of course we were way up in the nosebleeds, so not participating in any of this, but still it was enjoyable to see such an unscripted, crowd-friendly performance from a superstar. Plus the music was great! Even Miran by the end decide he was a fan (he wasn't really all that familiar with Bruce Springsteen - though he is pretty popular in Europe, apparently not in ex-Yugoslavia).

So even though I'm getting older, tonight I felt almost like I was in high school again at a big concert - singing and dancing along to songs - some of which were popular way back when I was in high school!

Fall Colors in the Mountains

Last week-end we went up to the mountains for the day with some friends of ours. First we went to the Altapass Orchard to pick apples. Apparently we were a little late this year and there were only slim pickens left! Only one type of apple was left on the trees, and they were all up high. But that meant we got to use a metal apple-picking tool, which the guys enjoyed. Though as you'll see, Miran gave up and just started climbing the trees after awhile.

After we finished apple picking, we drove along the Blue Ridge Parkway to Linville Falls and hiked by and then above the river and falls. It was very pretty and the trees were definitely at peak. We weren't the only ones with this bright idea, and it was incredibly crowded on the trails, so it didn't quite feel like we were away from civilization. But the views were nice and we had fun!

Fall on Progress Lane

Ok. Its been awhile. I have a few things to blog about and show pictures of, but I'll try to space them out over the next few days instead of posting 10 things at once and then not again for a month. So its fall now in Charlotte, and its quite lovely - probably the nicest season here and definitely my favorite. With so many trees around town the colors are really nice.

Here is a view of our yard with more fallen leaves and the new birdfeeder Miran hung up. Mom and Dad brought all our old birdfeeders from the Arlington House when they were last here, and we tried to piece them back together, but something was missing or broken or wrong with each of them so we just bought a new one. I'm sure soon Miran will have half a dozen up again and we'll have crowds of birds hanging out in the yard.

And here are some witch hat cookies I made Miran for Halloween since we aren't planning to dress up this year and wanted a little festivities. I have a big bowl of candy waiting for trick-or-treaters, but I have a feeling we'll be eating most of it ourselves next week. We may get a few, but I doubt we'll get a lot.

How do you like the fall setting I made to take a picture of these cookies?