Hand and Foot at the Saratoga Rose Inn

On Tuesday night my friend Russ (who I work with) was invited to some friends' place for a 'game night'. He asked me to go along, and since my dance card is always full, I immediately said yes. Turns out his friends run the Saratoga Rose Inn & Restaurant in Hadley, NY. The plans were that we were to bring our own drinks and we'd all chip in for pizza. So, on our lunch hour we ran to our friendly local Price Chopper and picked up some soda. When we got back to the office, we put it in the fridge so that it would be cold by the time we left work.

We zipped out of work as quick as we could, only to wait in rush hour traffic. I parked my car at the Latham Mall and rode up with Russ. He lives in Troy, so we figured that was a good plan. By about the time we got to Saratoga, we rememberd the soda sitting back in the fridge. Luckily, the printed directions we had gotten, had us turning at a T-intersection where there was a Stewart's on the corner. Good ole Stewart's in a pinch!

We arrived at the Inn just before 6:30 pm. What a pleasant surprise! The Saratoga Rose is an 1885 Queen Anne Victorian mansion set on a wooded hilltop at the convergence of the Hudson River and Sacandaga River, between Saratoga Springs and Lake George. Six others had already gathered in the library and were playing a board game. Russ and I were given a tour of the grounds and the Inn and then joined the group. After introductions, we sat about a plan for dinner. Instead of pizza, we decided to order Chinese.


After feasting on about six different dishes we divided into four teams of two each to play a game of Hand and Foot. They said it was similiar to Canasta. I replied, "Is that the game with the board and the little pegs?" "No, that's Cribbage." I guess my card playing experience was beginning to show. I guess Pinocle, Old Maid, Slap Happy and Birds was the extent of my card playing. We used 8 decks of cards because there were 8 of us playing. It's a fun game and I've brought home a set of instructions. Anyone for some Hand and Foot?

Here's the library where we played. It struck me that the Inn would be a good place to play 'Clue'. There were lots of candlesticks around that could be used as weapons. And one of the guys did remind me of Professor Plum.

OUCH!!!

A bunch of us local bloggers went to the Albany Tulip Festival this past Saturday. I think we all left our thinking caps at home. With such beautiful weather finally here who was thinking about sun block? Heck! Bring on that sun! Now should I wear white to highlight my stupidity or red to try and hide it? Decisions. Decisions.

Albany Tulip Festival

It was a gorgeous day for the Tulip Festival this year . . . I've never seen Washington Park so crowded! At one point, I heard Mayor Jennings say from the main stage that this was a record breaking crowd. I was impressed by the number of food vendors and the choices available. I was also impressed by the number of arts and crafts vendors and the quality of the merchandise offered.

I walked from my apartment and met Sean and Jeffrey and Gavin in the ampitheater at the Lake House. We were soon joined by a bunch of other friends and new friends. It was relaxing, just sitting there, but the sun was getting hotter and I knew the top of my head would not be happy later! So off we went to check out the food vendors and work the crowd.



One of the things that amazed me was the difference in the trees from my last post from last Sunday. This time of year, it always happens....buds on the trees and then *POOF* covered in leaves!








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Here's Sean. I think he's confused me with Helmut, the photographer from GQ.

Here's Gavin. He looks right at home in that sun!

Sean and Jeffrey, shades in the shade. And yours truly . . . adding some more redness to my head.

The main headliner on the main stage was Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. We made sure we hung around for "I Love Rock n Roll". Buddahead and They Might be Giants were the other bands that I was familiar with.

The crowd kept growing . . .

I figured I'd give some of the tulips out of Washington Park some exposure too! I snapped these on my walk home.

Sunshine, Harry Potter and Tulips

It was such a beautiful day that I thought maybe I ought to get out in it! With blanket, water bottle, camera, iPod and Harry Potter 5, I ventured out to Washington Park in Albany. I figured that with a warm week coming up and rain predicted by Friday, maybe the tulips wouldn't look so good for the annual Albany Tulip Festival on Mother's Day weekend.

So I spent about 3 hours soaking up the sun and reading. It took me about three or four tries to get into that 5th book, The Order of the Phoenix, but I did it. I am a little over the half way mark. I want to finish it before the movie comes out this summer, so I bring it with me to the laundramat every time I go. With the nice weather finally here, I'm hoping to read and get some sun at the same time. This is my favorite time of year, not humid yet, and not a lot of bugs.












So.......here is my tulip gallery for 2007! I got carried away!

Look at that rebel!

And, I actually cooked tonight! And I've got leftovers for lunches! My old standby, chicken and peppers in the oven...this time with a raspberry pineapple sauce. YUMMY!

Karaoke Dreaming

Sometimes when I'm out with some friends at a karaoke night, some of my friends ask me, "Why don't you sing a song?" I've just never found one that though I could do justice to. Well, I used to joke that I'd like to do "Baby Got Back" but I think if I did that Sir Mix A Lot may hunt me down and kill me. Recently a friend sent me this rendition and I think it may be the perfect vehicle! Some of my friends have offered to be backup singers and dancers. After some rehearsals, I think I just may be ready!!!