Noumena12 Blog

As we move from 2011 into 2012…

2011-11-20T12:42:00.000-08:00

…We once again celebrate the friendship and support that our friends and family have provided throughout the year. We are thankful for the opportunities that we’ve been given. We are thankful for the love and friendship of our family and friends. We are thankful that we have the opportunity to make a difference in the world in which we live.

As is our tradition, there was a little fundraising going on in the Smith-Roberts household. Ann participated in the Dewey’s 24 Hour Readathon and raised $850 for Dayton Project Read and Room-to-Read. We hosted Rooftop Rubi for Dayton PRIDE and a DVAC Artist’s Palate featuring the artwork of Julie Anderson and Lizabeth Whipps. And with the help of YOU, our FRIENDS, we raised $3,251 since last year bring the total contributions to LOCAL non-profits to $10,551!!! How easy it is to make a difference!

We had one new objective for 2011…that we didn’t exactly accomplish as planned, but I blame weather…to travel to one place that we have never visited before. We had found that we were traveling to the same places over and over and over. We planned a Cheese and Beer tour of Vermont with Ben and Julie Puterbaugh in September. Unfortunately, Julie’s work schedule wasn’t cooperating and Vermont was under water. Hopefully, we’ll make it happen in 2012.

We did manage to do a little traveling in 2012. We started the year in NYC in January with a stay at The Standard Hotel. Why January in NYC you ask? Because it is the only time I can “afford” to stay at this hotel. Situated above Highline Park in the Meatpacking District and known for the views (in and) out of the windows, it is a fun place to stay. Plus it has a great bar with fabulous views. Even if you don’t stay there, the Top of the Standard is worth a visit (just don’t wear shorts…because they won’t let you in). 2012 was a year of traveling with friends. April found us in California for Passport to Dry Creek 2011. We were joined by Deb Cronin, Don Dawson, John Germroth, Randy Hamilton, Rob Leonard, Rodney Player, David Strohscher, and Lillian and Dave Sullivan. This was our second year making this great wine trip, Apparently, we had so much fun that we booked hotel reservations for 2012 three days after returning. There will be no redeye flight in 2012. Read more about our 2011 Passport trip. In July we drove to Princeton NJ to visit Bruce and Ellen Holroyd. We really miss them and are anxiously awaiting their return to Dayton (hint, hint). We even made a day trip in to NYC (okay, we had never been there before so I think it has to count as our never been before even if we made a trip in to NYC ) including a visit to the Bloomberg offices, found a fabulous place to stop along the PA Turnpike (Out of the Fire Café), and some of Bruce’s cooking including dinner with friends Holley and Larry Thompson and Leigh Sempeles. We even got to see the NJ bald eagles from Bruce and Ellen’s guest room. In September, John Germroth planned a driving trip East that included a visit to Dayton, OH and the opportunity to join him in NYC. So once again, John and I piled into the car and drove to Princeton NJ where we had dinner with Bruce and Ellen Holroyd and left our car before taking the train into The City. We also had a chance to stop and visit Kentuck Knob, a Frank Lloyd Wright home in PA. Other highlights include the Bryant Park Fall Festival, a self-guided walking architectural tour, and lots of fire escape photos. Oh, another place we had never visited! Again, you can see the 2011 travel pattern repeated but we have really enjoyed the addition of driving vacations that allow us to spend quality time together…if you consider quality time John browsing YELP to see where we will stop next…and to find out-of-the-way places we would never have found.

And what is a year in the Smith-Roberts household without change? After 3 years with LexisNexis, Ann is now Director of Solutions Development for Digital Divide Data (DDD). DDD provides job and educational opportunities to disadvantaged youth in Cambodia, Laos, and Kenya. DDD was recently highlighted in a NY Times article on local sourcing, employing socioeconomically disadvantaged people in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), and was featured in Thomas Friedman’s book The World is Flat. While leaving some great people at LexisNexis, Ann will once again be working with Cynthia Hauck and Lori Silverstein who are responsible for tempting her in the first place. And, yes, a trip to Cambodia is being planned for early 2012.

And a quick update on our family: Grandma Evelyne fell and broke her other hip in February but has once again recovered remarkably well. She got out of rehab just in time for a Stewart Family dinner hosted at The Firefly Building. We hosted the Stewart Family again in September at the request of Uncle Bill Stewart. John’s sister, Karen Roettele, has returned from Kuwait and has settled in Denver, CO. Sydney Ann Lewis turned 21 years old…talk about something to make me feel old! Henry Pitman, who cannot be in High School, and Caleb Malone are no longer allowed to grow up. Jason Lewis is engaged to Amanda Lovejoy and will get Alexia, a beautiful 1 year old in the process. Brian and Jennifer Roettele added Jacob to the clan. Carol Roberts retired from teaching. Cancer is having an impact on several family members including Carol’s sister Dee Auffrey, Uncle Bill Stewart, and Rick Roberts. Dad has just completed chemotherapy and we are awaiting good news. We are hoping that 2012 brings us a better health year.

And we wish you HEALTH and HAPPINESS for 2012 and beyond!

Happy Holidays!
Ann & John

Vacation 201109–Day 1

2011-09-16T06:46:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I love NYC? Probably not yet this month!

We left the car with our friends Bruce and Ellen in Princeton NJ and caught the NJT train into the city. NOTE: Even the last express train of the morning is crowded…at least on a beautiful Friday. This trip we are staying at the Marriott Courtyard Bryant Park (40th St. and 6th Ave). This is going to be a good location…convenient to the subway, fairly easy cab access, and the Bryant Park Fall Festival is going on.

So we arrive starving and I haven’t thought too hard about where to eat. Fortunately, Croton Tavern is right next door to the hotel. This turned out to be a great surprise. I ordered a Ferrari-Carano Fume Blanc and we started in on lunch of Thai Coconut Chicken soup, Noir Rare Tuna in citrus marinade, Mussels and Chorizo in white wine broth. Thanks to our servers recommendation, we ended with the Chocolate Obsession – think chocolate, espresso, more chocolate, caramel with a side of espresso ice cream.

After that we needed to walk so we headed down the street to the International Center of Photography. All three current exhibits are definitely worth the visit. The current exhibits are: Remembering 9/11; Harper’s Bazaar: A Decade of Style; and Signs of Life: Photographs by Peter Sekaer. The surprise for me was how much I enjoyed the Harper’s exhibit…this is about so much more than fashion and style. And my favorite part of the 9/11 exhibit was the little room in the back where they had a collection of photographs that had been submitted and printed on paper.

Our good friend John Germroth arrived later in the afternoon so we met him for a cocktail at Croton Tavern – well, it’s handy! Then we headed off to see a little of Burnt Sugar the Akestra Chamber free at Bryant Park. Then it was off to Empellon.

I stumbled upon this restaurant because of an article in Food Arts magazine – a trade magazine that my friend Nik shared with me because the same article included Anne Kearney of Dayton’s Rue Dumaine. Now, I wouldn’t normally seek out a mexican restaurant on vacation but this is a not-to-be-missed restaurant. I asked for a cocktail to start that “didn’t contain brown liquor – "yes, tequila is okay” and wasn’t too sweet. Our waiter pointed me to the Por Que No? A cocktaill made with silver, cilantro, serrano, and pineapple juice. So good I had two which was okay except that as we left the restaurant I couldn’t feel my lips. This is a great place to share items. We started with the Red and Green Chorizo Queso followed by the Smoked Plantains with Crema Sopes. Our tacos were the Skirt Steak with Mojo de Ajo (olive oil, lime juice, toasted garlic) and the special Chanterelle Mushroom Taco (tequila and other stuff I don’t remember). I was too full to even entertain dessert…okay, the 2nd Por Que No could have been dessert.

And, of course, a little walking after dinner.

And we are off…on Vacation 201109

2011-09-15T06:12:00.000-07:00

As I was leaving meeting with my boss, he indicated surprise that we were driving to NYC instead of flying. One primary reason is that I’m tired of giving control of my time to the airlines. Too frequently the flights have been delayed or cancelled…making travel 2 to 3 times longer than originally planned The second more compelling reason to drive is what you find along the way.

We left Dayton Wednesday night about an hour later than planned. John didn’t get out of work when expected and had to take groceries to his mom. It was a beautiful evening. Because we left later than expected, we knew we weren’t going to get close to Pittsburgh in time to have dinner at a decent hour. So John set off in search (via his cellphone) of a place for dinner along our route. Our primary restaurant locator is OpenTable. While OpenTable is great if you know what City you want, it is not as great for locating places along the route you are traveling. We’ve become a fan of YELP. Check out the map, move the map, then search for restaurants in that area. Then you can check out the reviews.

And that is how we ended up at Muddy Misers Cool River Café in Zanesville OH. Do not be discouraged because it looks like a biker bar but definitely ask to be seated on the patio. They had a nice Carr Cabernet and we shared the Walleye Rubin and the onion rings. Definitely not small portions. Lots of other things on the menu looked good as well so this won’t be our last stop at Muddy’s. One other thing about Muddy’s is that as you head out to the highway, go east and you will get to drive on the World Famous Zanesville “Y” Bridge.

We spent the night in Uniontown PA because so that we could visit Kentuck Knob the next day. Kentuck Knob is a Frank Lloyd Wright home near Fallingwater that has recently been opened to the public. We reserved spots for the 8:30am tour and it turned out to be a private tour. Besides the beauty of the house and FLW’s ability to fit a home with its natural surroundings, my favorite part was the original owners. Mr. and Mrs. Hagan (think Hagan-Daz) brought some common sense to Wright’s design. And when they realized that he would never visit the home, they made some very practical adjustments without losing site of Wright’s design. Unfortunately, it was a cold rainy morning so we didn’t get to spend much time on the grounds which are also spectacular including over 30 sculptures around the property.

Kentuck Knob

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After Kentuck Knob, we headed to a little place that we had found on our last trip through the Pennsylvania Turnpike – Out of the Fire Café in Donegal, PA. We each had soup – Mushroom for me and Tomato for John. They had large chunks of vegetables and were delicious. We shared the citrus house-cured smoked salmon sandwich. Definitely worth a visit. If you are coming for dinner, it is BYO wine.

And we would have missed all of this had we flown.

We Were Here: The AIDS Years in San Francisco

2011-06-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

I was invited to attend the screening of the documentary We Were Here (Produced and directed by David Weissman; Editor/ co-director Bill Weber) at the Neon Movies last Thursday. Special Thanks to Brent Johnson and Josh Stucky for the invitation and to Jonathon McNeal for making it possible to see this powerful film right here in Dayton OH.
I don’t go to many movies but I am grateful that I had the opportunity to see this film. Regardless of your involvement with the gay community, this film makes an impact and can only leave you emotionally drained. The film is a series of interviews with six people who lived through the AIDS epidemic and devastation in San Francisco combined with images from the time. The images are powerful…they capture the love as well as the despair…and the devastation. If you have a chance to see this movie, do not miss it!
I hope that this movie continues to raise awareness that HIV/Aids is still affecting people…not just in San Francisco but right here in Dayton OH and across the world. And HIV/Aids is not limited to the gay community.
Watch the trailer: WE WERE HERE (trailer) from David Weissman on Vimeo.
For local HIV/Aids related information here in the Miami Valley, visit www.arcohio.org.

How To Create A Social Media Scrapbook : All Tech Considered : NPR

2011-04-05T11:24:00.000-07:00

Heard this story on NPR last night...it is pretty cool...and yes, I am now on Memolane!

NPR – All Tech Considered

A new service called Memolane promises to feed your nostalgia by tapping your social media history. It lets you create a graphic online album using content from Twitter, Facebook, Flickr, YouTube, Last.fm, Vimeo, Foursquare and other outlets.

Read the entire story!

Blog Facelift

2011-04-02T10:56:00.001-07:00

Today my blogs got a facelift. Wanted something new and fresh. Stop by and let me know what you think!

2010 Smith-Roberts Annual Letter

2010-11-06T08:14:00.000-07:00

To our family and friends: Another year...gone already?! How is that possible? We appreciate the friendship and support that we have shared through the year. Time seems to move faster the older John gets....personally, I just refuse to age. 2010 brought us two significant events: Ann had a milestone birthday and we celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary.

As you may remember, in 2008 we started a new tradition at the holiday party by asking our friends to contribute to a local charity in lieu of gifts. Thanks to YOU we have raised over $7200 for local charities. That is an average of $1200 per event. We really do appreciate your help in making a difference locally! Our charity of choice for our Winter Holiday Party is the YWCA's Domestic Violence program. We know that times continue to be difficult for everyone but we appreciate any contribution that you can make. In addition, if you have an old cellphone to recycle we will collect those and send them to an organization that "recycles" them for victims of domestic violence.

There were no significant job changes in 2010. Ann changed positions within LexisNexis and is now a Product Manager bringing more new challenges. John is back to having one job, was promoted to Vice President, and is still traveling quite a bit. Ann will be looking for more opportunities to piggyback on his trips.

A recent realization is that we seem to be in a travel rut of sorts...although it is definitely not all bad. In April, we celebrated Ann's birthday (and Rodney Player turned 50) with friends in California starting with tattoos in San Francisco followed by wine in Sonoma County at the Passport to Dry Creek wine event. Read more about the wineries that we visited. We had a private dinner at Charlie Palmer's Dry Creek Kitchen in the Reserve Wine Library. Read more about the spectacular meal and wine pairings. Needless to say, we had a spectacular time and are planning a return to Passport to Dry Creek in 2011. Let us know if you are interested in joining us! In July, John and I headed to NYC to celebrate our Anniversary. After picking up our new Droid X phones at the Jersey Gardens mall in Newark NJ, we headed for Ocean City to visit with Ann's family. Then we headed to NYC where John Germroth also joined us and I blame him for the oppressive heat that we experienced. As usual, we had some wonderful meals and our theater experience for the trip was seeing La Cage Aux Folles with Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge. Believe me...go...see it...spring for the cabaret seats. Thanks to a business trip that Ann took, we were back in NYC in early October where the weather was MUCH better! John was delayed arriving because of weather but it was still nice to be in NYC again. In December, we are heading back to San Francisco for John's company holiday party followed by an extended weekend in Napa. We are taking advantage of our Dutch Henry wine club membership and staying in their guest house. One of John's co-workers and his wife as well as Mr. Germroth will be joining us. It turns out that Lambert Bridge winery is hosting their wine club holiday party that weekend! We are going to use the weekend to explore northern Napa wineries. If you've got a recommendation for that spectacular, little known winery, please let us know. We made a very quick trip to see OK Go in concert in Columbus with Julie and Ben. WOW!! It has been a really long time since I was at a concert...really long!
Our travel plans for 2011 include NYC in January with a stay at the Standard Hotel where "every room has stunning skyline or Hudson River vistas." The hotel is located in the Meatpacking/Chelsea district right on top of the Highline Park. As far as I can tell, January is the only month I have a chance of affording a room. And, of course, we are heading back to Passport to Dry Creek again this year with friends. Have you seen a pattern here...not that it is a bad pattern. So we are adding a 2011 trip to somewhere we've never been before. Current leading idea is Vermont for a cheese tour. Another pattern emerges...food and wine!!

Thanks to John's unwavering support, Ann continues to be active in the community. The big event was chairing Masquerage 2010. Often referred to as "Dayton's Best Party," it is an important fundraising event for AIDS Resource Center Ohio. There are an unbelievable number of person-hours that go in to pulling off an event of this magnitude and the staff and volunteers are the reason this event comes off without a hitch (or at least a noticeable one). We had record attendance for Masquerage 2010 with over 850 people attending...and would like to hit 1000 in 2011. Mark your calendars now for Masquerge 2011 October 15th. In addition, Ann continues to chair the K12 Gallery for Young People board and is involved in Dayton's 100+ Women Who Care. Unfortunately, the 100+ Men Who Care group that John belonged to decided to support some controversial organizations and John no longer participates.

With a sense of holiday spirit, it is time again to celebrate family and friends! Our annual celebration will be on Saturday December 18th. We hope that you will join us and lend whatever support that you can to the YWCA Domestic Violence program. The YWCA Dayton operates Montgomery County’s only shelter for victims of domestic violence. It serves over 400 women and children annually and several hundred more are receiving post-shelter follow-up services from the HouseKeys Program. In addition, the YWCA co-sponsor and staff the 24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline providing confidential services 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, free of charge to victims, their friends and family members, and other professionals.

The Victims
One in 4 women will experience domestic violence during her lifetime.
Women experience more than 4 million physical assaults and rapes because of their partners, and men are victims of nearly 3 million physical assaults.
Women are more likely to be killed by an intimate partner (30%) than men (5%).
Women ages 20 to 24 are at greatest risk of becoming victims of domestic violence.
Every year, 1 in 3 women who is a victim of homicide is murdered by her partner.
The Families
Every year, more than 3 million children witness domestic violence in their homes.
Children who live in homes where there is domestic violence are also victims of abuse or neglect in 30% of 60% of such cases.
A 2005 Michigan study found that children exposed to domestic violence at home show greater symptoms of trauma, including more illnesses.
A 2003 study found that children are more likely to intervene when they witness severe violence against a parent – which places the child at great risk for injury or even death.

Wishing you a happy and healthy 2011!!!

Ann and John

Day in the Life Photo Diary Reincarnated

2010-08-05T07:52:00.000-07:00

Now that I have my new and amazing Droid X phone with its 8-megapixel camera, it seems like a good time to attempt this project again. So the 2010 Day in the Life Photo Diary starts today. Let's see if I can do better!

Visit Noumena12 Day in the Life Photo Diary

NYC- Day 3: Shopping Day

2010-07-19T06:38:00.001-07:00

Sunday and it is shopping day. We head up toward Park and 60th. Oops its Sunday and nothing opens til noon. So we decide to walk to Thalia (50th and 8th Ave) to meet John G and his cousin for lunch. Had a great Lobster Benedict and tried Mixed Berry infused Sake. Then headed to Soho for some more shopping.

Dinner was at Rose Water (Park Slope) in Brooklyn with Molly and Skooter. It was great catching up with them. Had Fried Goat Cheese, Grilled Polenta, and a nice Rose.

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NYC - Day 2: Another Hot One

2010-07-18T06:58:00.001-07:00

Oppressive heat is the theme of this trip! Have I mentioned how much I hate the heat. Actually it isn't the heat I hate, it is sweating that I hate!

Started the day at PIGALLE for brunch. I had the Smoked Salmon Club sandwich and a Mimosa. This Sandwich is right up there with Meadowlarks Fried Green Tomato sandwich.

With some time to kill before the theater matinee (a way to avoid the afternoon heat) we walked over to the International Center of Photography. Really enjoyed the civil rights movement photography exhibit. Still some time remaining so we walked over to the NY Public Library. I just don't get John and John G's fascination with the place. So now that it is time to head back toward the theater it is miserably hot again. We wander through Bryant Park then stop back by PIGALLE for a cold beverage before the show.

Next stop is the Longacre Theater to see La Cage aux Folles. This was the best play I've ever seen in NY. Kelsey Grammer and Donald Hodges were fabulous. And "Lilly" did a great job warming up the crowd. If you go you definitely want to splurge on the caberet seats!

A quick stop back at the hotel to change clothes and we were headed to dinner at BLT (17th between 5th and 6th). It is a great seafood restaurant. John and I shared the Pink Snapper. It was a giant whole fish and we put a good dent in it. The desserts we shared were wonderful. The wine list was huge but we ended up with a Chenin Blanc.

To end the night we walked the High Line. This is a rail bed converted into a park. I continue to be amazed by the parks in NYC. Since we are staying downtown we spend time on West and a fabulous park has been added along the Hudson.

#noumena12_dining #nyc

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Dry Creek Passport Weekend - Day 1: Tattoos

2010-04-24T07:39:00.000-07:00

Okay...so we aren't actually in Sonoma County yet, we are still in San Francisco! Rodney and Don's flight is like 3 hours late so John, Steve A, and I head to Black & Blue Tattoo. Vic was our tattoo artist...in addition to doing a great job, he was a lot of fun to talk to. We also met some interesting guys from Texas who were getting their first tatts.

I've decided I want my 2nd tattoo on the top of my foot. Everyone has warned me that it will hurt A LOT!! Of course, that's what they told me about my ankle too. Yes, those are PINK hearts cascading down my foot. I was struggling with color. I didn't want something that would be too stark, like black. I was considering a light brown (henna look) but decided that would be too depressing.

I'm very happy with how it turned out!

Rodney designed his own tattoo to commemorate the reason for this trip. HIS 50th birthday. Yes, I can say that because I am writing this blog so just get over it. And, surprisingly, he didn't "scream like a girl" this time. Although he is curled up in a fetal position. The tattoo says "RCP 50 2010." I think he was just afraid he would forget how old he is.

Don was up next. If there was one of us who picked a "it's gonna hurt" location for their tattoo this time, it was Don. The inking doesn't really hurt until you get near bone. So Don picks his shoulder. He wanted a tattoo to match the one he got on his back in Las Vegas 3 years ago (for HIS 50th Birthday). There is one photo of him either smiling or grimacing...you decide.

And we can't end this post without recognizing John for his infinite patience. When Don, Rodney and I got tattos in Las Vegas, it took about 90 minutes. However, they had us each going one at a time in SF, so it took 7 hours!! John patiently, I know...it is what he does, waited through the whole ordeal.

2009 Smith-Roberts Annual Letter

2009-11-08T08:02:00.001-08:00

To our family and friends: It's hard to believe that another year has passed by already! We appreciate the friendship and support that we have shared through the year.

As you may remember, last year we started a new tradition at the holiday party by asking our friends to contribute to a local charity in lieu of gifts. Thanks to YOU we have raised over $3500 for local charities.

There were no significant job changes in 2009. Ann became a full time LexisNexis employee in April in a new position as Business System Requirements Manager bringing new challenges. John actually picked up a second job. In addition to his Business Development job, he became the interim operations manager of the Dayton office in May. Both jobs keep him busy and on the road. Ann will be looking for more opportunities to piggyback on his trips.

2009 was a BIG year for John as he turned 50. He is a glass full kinda guy and continually repeats his mantra that the alternative is worse. We celebrated by having Mark from El Meson cook Paella on the deck. It was a beautiful feast! In addition, we raised $1045.00 for The Other Place and Planned Parenthood.

Family highlights from 2009: Jason joined the Marines and left for basic training on November 16th. By November 17th, Jason was a Squad Leader responsible for 6 other Marines. Sydney graduated from high school and is getting ready to start at Sinclair - what a relief! Grandma moved into Friendship Village retirement community and seems to have picked up an even more full social calendar. Look for Helen on some upcoming 10 Wilmington Place television advertising.

We managed to squeeze in a little vacation travel this year. A January trip to NYC with our friends Bruce and Ellen gave us a chance to also visit with Molly and Skooter. While Bruce, Ellen, and John were locked away in a museum somewhere, Ann got a chance to walk through Central Park in a light snow storm. It was incredibly beautiful!! In addition, Ann piggybacked on one of John's business trips to Los Gatos to include a trip to San Francisco and wine country. We had a chance to visit with friends Randy and Debbie in SF before heading up to a little bed and breakfast in Geyserville. We had a great weekend, found a few new wineries, and joined some wine clubs.

Even with very hectic jobs, we continue to be very active in the community. Ann is chair of the K-12 Gallery for Young People board and is finding that it is more work and reward than anticipated. In addition, Ann will again be actively involved in the 2010 Masquerage fundraiser for AIDS Resource Center Ohio. While Masquerage is "Dayton's Best Party," this is a huge fundraising event and contributes significantly to supporting ARC Ohio. Did you know? According to the US Centers for Disease Control nd Prevention, 15% of all new HIV/AIDS cases occur in people 50 and over. 23% of ARC Ohio's clients are 50 and over. Meet Denise: Denise’s 20 year marriage ended in 2004 when her husband left her for a 22 year old. It took Denise another year to gain enough confidence to move from casual dates to a sexual relationship. Three years later she was diagnosed with HIV. When asked why she did not use condoms, Denise stated she had a hysterectomy “years ago” and therefore did not have to worry about getting pregnant. And HIV never crossed her mind. If you haven't attended Masquerage before, this is the year you MUST attend. Mark your calendars for Saturday October 16, 2010. We both participate in the local 100+ groups that continue to make a difference in the local community. 100+ Women Who Care - Dayton has approximately 195 members which means that we contribute almost $20,000 each quarter to a lcoal nonprofit. There are 100+ Women chapters in Michigan: Jackson & Albion; Illinois: DuPage County & Cook County; Ohio; California; Iowa; North Dakota; Georgia; Virginia; and Missouri. The Columbus Chapter just started up. The 100+ Men - Dayton group that John belongs to is growing a little slower at around 64 members.

It is time for us to once again celebrate our family and friends. Our annual celebration will be on 19 December 2009. So with a continued sense of holiday spirit and hope, we are asking you to bring a contribution (whatever you can afford to give). Once again, I had a difficult time deciding which non-profit to support when there are so many in need. With the unemployment rate still near the all-time high, many people are struggling to find jobs. Clothes that Work provides interview appropriate clothing and personalized confidence building image services. Sitting here snuggling with one of my "kids," I'm also reminded that there are some "family members" who are forgotten in these economic times -- the family pet. (Learn more at: http://www.clothesthatwork.org) The Humane Society of Greater Dayton is committed to helping lost, abandoned, homeless animals and providing Dayton's families with the resources to become loving, lifelong pet owners. Families forced to give up their pets because they no longer can afford the pet or because the family is also homeless has skyrocketed. (Learn more at: http://www.humanesocietydayton.org)

A look forward to 2010 is going to make for a very busy year. Ann turns 50 and we will celebrate our 25th Wedding Anniversary. We will be traveling in 2010 as well with trips already planned to Parris Island for Jason's Marine Graduation; we'll be celebrating Ann's birthday in California wine country and our anniversary in New York City.

Fireworks Party Food Bank Donation

2009-07-04T15:52:00.000-07:00

We started the idea of asking our friends for a donation. We select the non-profit and ask our friends to contribute what they can.

Our request for our annual fireworks party was the Dayton Food Bank. Our friends helped us raise $1,229.00.

Thank You!!

John's 50th Birthday Raises Money for Local Charities

2009-05-17T15:59:00.000-07:00

In lieu of gifts, we asked our friends to donate to one of two local charities. As usual, our friends came through.

The Other Place $705.00
Planned Parenthood $340.00
Total $1045.00

Thanks to our friends!!!

2008 Thank You!

2008-12-21T13:32:00.000-08:00

Thank you for making our 2008 annual party another roaring success!!! The weather once again put a crimp on turnout so there is way too much food leftover.

Because of your generosity, we will be delivering $1271.00 to The Other Place tomorrow.

The 100 of you who did brave the elements consumed: 16 lb smoked turkey, 10 lb skirt steak, 6 lb shrimp, 4953 ml liquor, 58 bottles of beer, 7 bottles of champagne, 15 bottles of red wine, 5 bottles of white wine, and 32 cans of pop! If only you had also consumed all of the other food! :)

If by any chance you took photos during the evening, please pass them on...we'd love to see them. Wishing you the best in 2009! Ann and

2008 Annual Letter

2008-11-30T11:13:00.000-08:00

Once again 2008 has brought change on National and personal levels. In September, my position with SPi was eliminated; October brought a new position with LexisNexis; and in November we celebrated a historical Presidential election. Ann is currently working at LexisNexis as a Project Manager in a contract-to-hire position learning new technologies and no longer traveling. On the other hand, John continues working for Sierra Nevada Corporation in Business Development and has been traveling almost every week since May.

Our family is all doing well. Grandma fell in February and broke her femur. It was a tremendous inconvenience for her given all of her volunteer and social commitments. In true style, she was walking again by May and has resumed all of her commitments. Dad and Carol celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary this year. The "kids" hosted a surprise party for them at El Meson with about 60 guests. It was a great time! Jason graduated from Northmont and continues working at Complete Pet Mart. Sydney, a senior this year, is thrilled to have her own car and a new puppy, Pongo. She’s also been exploring her college options but plans to spend the first 2 years at Sinclair. Matt continues to work for his father when he is not running back and forth to Columbus to visit Stacy, his girlfriend. Caleb and Henry continue to grow like weeds and when Jenny married Greg Muhlenkamp earlier this year, we added Luke and John to the family. Brian, Jennifer, and new daughter Allison recently relocated to Colorado Springs thanks to the Air Force. John and Elizabeth are living in Dallas as is Sara. Laura, Jose, and Alex are still in Houston and survived Ike. Laura was just accepted to nursing school. We hardly get to see Julie and Ben these days…even though they are just “up the road” in Columbus.

So much work travel left us wanting to stay home instead of traveling for vacation. However, we did manage a few trips. In March, I joined John in California for a wine tasting trip. In August, I took my Grandmother to her niece’s 50^th wedding anniversary in Boise ID. There’s a lot of stress ensuring that the 91 year old Matriarch makes it safely. Particularly when I agreed to take her I assumed we were headed to Cleveland. However, I was thrilled to make my first trip to Idaho and I also got to meet Bob Feller, former Cleveland Indian and oldest living member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Check out my photos from this trip at Stanley, ID Travelpod. Also in August, we took Jason on his High School graduation trip to Washington DC and environs which I called the Magical History Tour. Gettysburg was way better than I expected but one can really stand to only visit so many battlefields. Grass, hills, rocks…it’s really all about the same. Of course, Jason also experienced some exceptional food.

We are still holding at 5 cats. Our oldest, Momcat, is 17 and amazes me every day. She is deaf and has only one functioning kidney. While she moves slower, she shows no real sign of slowing down. Of course, none of them move as fast as our youngest Harley…even his heart murmur doesn’t slow him down. Namir, Lola, and Kirby continue to tolerate us and the other cats.

We continue to be actively involved locally. As usual, we hosted several fundraisers. I am starting my second year on the Board of K-12 Gallery, a nonprofit arts organization located in the heart of downtown Dayton, offering a wide variety of classes, workshops, exhibitions and special events for children. John and I both served on the Masquerage committee for AIDS Resource Center Ohio.

People frequently wonder why we are still in Dayton OH. While Dayton is struggling economically, it continues to be an amazing place with great arts and entertainment and very special people. Last year I joined a group called 100+ Women Who Care. Dayton Women Who Care was the third chapter. It is the best 4 hours and $400 that I spend a year. The concept is simple: each quarter the group selects an organization, each member writes a check for $100, and a non-profit organization reaps the benefits. For more details, see my blog post “We All Give What We Can.” The Dayton Chapter has now over 180 members and since it’s inception in April 2007 this amazing group of women has donated over ?? Probably more interesting to me is that these chapters aren’t showing up in “major” cities…they are showing up in places like Dayton OH, Jackson MI, Dupage County IL, and Albion MI. And now Dayton will boast the first 100+ Men Who Care group, which will include John. John (aka Stella Artois) also performed in his third RubiGirls show at Club Masque on November 29 to benefit ARC Ohio. It’s always a great time for not-easily-offended adults only! All this and more is why it is still GREAT in Dayton.

An update on the Smith-Roberts Annual Holiday Party. Recent news stories have indicated that many companies are pulling the plug on holiday parties because of the economy. We think this sends the wrong message to employees and is bad for morale. While Viacom gave 2 additional personal days to their employees, we intend to move forward with the 18th Annual Smith-Roberts Holiday Party. However, we thought we would take a page from a company we heard about who instead of throwing their office holiday bash will be donating to charity. So with that sense of holiday spirit and hope, we are asking you to bring a contribution (whatever you can afford to give) to The Other Place, a homeless shelter here in Dayton.

Wishing you a HOPEFUL 2009!

Ann and John

2008 Annual Holiday Party Menu

2008-11-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

We've done it! We have a menu for our annual holiday party!!

Spicy Grilled Shrimp
Prosciutto & Asiago Rice Cakes with Pesto Aioli
Stilton, Bacon and Scallion Puffs
Parmesan Puffs
Crab and Wild Mushroom Cheesecake
Roquefort Terrine
Smoked Bluefish Pate
Tricolor Vegetable Pate
Skit Steak with Mushrooms and Chipotle Aioli
Smoked Turkey Breast with Chutneys
Cranberry Black Pepper Chutney
Spicy Chutney Barbecue Sauce
Apricot and Rosemary Chutney
Sweet Potato Salad with Orange-Maple Dressing
Brussels Sprouts and Glazed Pecan Salad
Chocolate Truffles
Candied Espresso Walnuts
Meringues

Travelpod: Stanley Idaho

2008-08-11T11:53:00.000-07:00

I'm taking my 91 year old Grandmother to her niece's 50th Wedding Anniversary in Stanley Idaho. From what I've gathered the area looks beautiful.

Welcome photo taken from Google Maps by by photodegraff. (Until I can get my own photo up there)

100+ Women Who Care - 2nd Quarter

2008-06-08T06:16:00.000-07:00

In January, I posted about an organization that I participate in called 100+ Women Who Care. At that time, 100+ Women Dayton had 107 members. As of our April meeting, we had 166 members!! That translates to $16,600 dollars donated to a non-profit. That kind of money MAKES a difference locally!

The 2nd Quarter recipient is Clothes That Work. Clothes That Work provides interview appropriate clothing and personalized, confidence building image services for clients. The 100+ Women donation will be used to provision of large-sized clothing for both men and women since there are never enough garments of those sizes.

An update from Dayton Children's Hospital, the second 100+ Women recipient, provided examples of how the 100+ Women donation has helped through the needy patient fund. In the midst of the great fear and trials of having a child critically ill, the needy patient fund has helped with rent, with electric and gas bills, in any number of ways to take some of the burden off the family.

You can make a difference locally! Join 100+ Women at our next meeting on July 15!

AIDS Resource Center RED Event

2008-06-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late posting about this event...but here it is. John and I sponsored a table (with the help of our friends) for this spectacular event. Every two years, ARC hosts what was generally referred to as the "table top event." This year they took it WAY beyond just table tops...entire rooms were created. Joining John and I for this year's event were: Bruce and Ellen Holroyd, Lillian and Dave Sullivan, Steve Makovec, and Lavonda Webster.

If you didn't make it to the Table Top event here are a few more dates to mark on your calendar:
Red Ribbon Society, 26 September, hosted by John and I on the roof of the Firefly Building
Masquerage 2008, 18 October {See photos from the 2007 event}

We All Give What We Can

2008-01-17T05:55:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it is $25, $50, $100 or more. We donate our money, time, and services in order to make a difference in our community and in the lives of others. Sometimes I would wonder whether my small contribution was really making a difference. I've found a way to make MY $100 be the difference.

Consider this... The Dayton Boys and Girls Club (DBGC) has a room of 16 computers that don't work consistently if at all. The kids may or may not be able to use them for their homework. These are kids without access to a computer at home. In addition, these kids parents have very limited computer skills and limited access to computers; in today's technologically savvy market that means that you can't even apply for a job at Kroger's without access to a computer. Replacing the computer equipment is beyond the capability of the existing operational funding. Enter 100+ Women Who Care. Because of 100+ Women Who Care, the DBGC was able to acquire brand new computers for the club. The kids at the club have been developing their computer skills and using the computers to help with their homework and the reports they need to write. Their parents are also benefiting! Because DBGC has new computers, they received a grant from Microsoft for additional software. Because of the new computers, they have been able to develop programs such as a summer program that will tie the kids in with the Columbus Zoo.

How did my $100 make a difference? If I had just donated $100 to the Dayton Boys and Girls Club it wouldn't have had the same dramatic impact. 100+ Women Who Care currently exists in only four (4) cities and Dayton OH is one of them! (Other chapters include Jackson, MI; Dupage County, IL; and Albion, MI.) Since it's inception in April 2007, 100+ Women Who Care Dayton donated over $22,000 dollars LOCALLY. That really amazing! What a great way to make a local impact! (NOTE: I've been writing checks since I joined last summer but was only able to attend my first meeting the other night. That's why I'm so jazzed about this group of women!)

What is 100+ Women Who Care? It's really a GREAT model that keeps your donation local and makes an impact.

Each member donates $100 per meeting ($400 per year)
The donations will be given to charities/worthy causes serving locally in the Dayton area.
Controversial charities/non-profits/causes will be avoided and official, researched charities (501(c)3)/nonprofits will be considered. Worthy causes will also be considered and the donations will be handled by a bank with a trustee administering the fund to issue checks after receiving receipts.
No national programs will be considered. The purpose is for 100% of the contributions to stay in the community.
Any member may put a suggestion she has researched in the drawing at each meeting; three will be drawn for consideration.
Each of the members who submitted the charities/non-profit which are drawn will be given five (5) minutes to make a presentation. No representative of the organizations may make the presentation.
The membership votes and majority rules. Even if a member's first choice isn't selected, each member is committed to donating at each meeting.
Members write their check directly to the selected charity/nonprofit.

Each meeting lasts one (1) hour. That makes the commitment four (4) hours a year and $400. It's about strength in numbers...And what a difference it makes!

Want to get involved here in Dayton? Email me and I'll send you the literature and commitment form.
Want to learn more about 100+ Women Who Care? Check out the 100+ Women Who Care website.

I'm a sharpie addict

2008-01-10T11:21:00.001-08:00

So, I'm in the office supply section at Sam's. (Please if there were a Cosco nearby I wouldn't have to go there. But they truly have the BEST deal on Scotch Bubble Mailer envelopes.) And what do I see but a 28 pack of ultra fine point sharpies. Do I need them? Nope. Probably not a chance as I have a drawer full. Can I stop myself from buying them? Nope. Not a chance. I think there are colors that I don't have. Besides, the cats are always running off with them and hiding them under the furniture. I now have 28 new sharpies. Life just doesn't get much better.

2007-12-16T12:27:00.001-08:00

Despite the dire weather predictions and 2 inches of snow earlier in the day, our 2007 holiday party was (in our estimation) a huge success. Here are the "numbers" for this year's party:
# Actual Attendees 83

Liquor 3125 ml
Beer 24 bottles
Red Wine 14 bottles
Champagne 10 bottles
White Wine 4 bottles

Pop 44 cans
Water 54 bottles

Thanks to everyone who braved the weather to venture out last night. John and I had a fabulous time...and it is ALL thanks to YOU!

Wishing you a safe and happy holiday season and new year!

Our Annual Holiday Party Menu

2007-11-30T17:50:00.000-08:00

WOW! It's only two weeks until our holiday party...and I'm running a little behind. I just finished the menu tonight.

Toasted Spiced Cashews
Crab and Wild Mushroom Cheesecake
Crispy Potatoes with Tangy Tomato Sauce
Sundried Tomato Sausage Dip
Spicy Lobster Queso
Stilton, Bacon, and Scallion Puffs
Bacon, Garlic, and Thyme Gougeres
Spicy Ceci Bean Puree
Smoked Salmon Mousse
Blue Cheese Mousse
Cranberry Rice Salad
Chipotle-Spiked Winter Squash and Black Bean Salad
Roasted Pork Loin with Maple-Mustard Crust

2007 Smith-Roberts Newsletter

2007-11-23T12:11:00.000-08:00

How Can It Be December Already?

Season's Greetings! It’s that time of year when we thank you for your friendship and support over the last year. We also bring you up-to-speed on the craziness that is our lives.

Neither of us has changed jobs in the last year and work has kept John and I very busy! Both when we are here in town and when we are on the road. And boy have we been traveling. Ann’s been to Manila, Philippines; Hong Kong, China; India; UK; Bulgaria; New York; New Jersey; Florida; Washington, DC; Texas; Virginia; South Carolina; North Carolina; Tennessee; and Utah. I'm now using TravelPod to share highlights and photos from our major trips. There is a travel journal for Ann's UK, Bulgaria, India trip in September and Hong Kong in February. John has been to California; Nevada; Washington, DC; Utah; and who knows where else. Here's hoping that maybe we'll stay a little closer to home in 2008.

In addition to work, we manage to stay busy in our local community as well. We've hosted fundraisers for Cystic Fibrosis (more about that event later) and Women in Leadership. We had birthday parties for Grandma Evelyne (90) and Jason (18). We donated the roof for a Planned Parenthood auction item resulting in a party for 100 during the summer. Ann is on the Board of K-12 Gallery and Ticket Chair for AIDS Resource Center Masquerage.

John and I were both honored by Cystic Fibrosis this year as 2007 Stars. This honor really belongs to your our friends who we continually call upon to stop up and contribute to locally. This year's CF fundraising event raised over $5000. CF estimates that we have been involved in raising over $25,000 for CF. Which we could NOT have accomplished without YOU!

John continues to do some drawing. He's posted images of his artwork on his myspace page: www.myspace.com/noumena11. Please let Ann know if there is anything you would like to purchase! :)

2007 Family Update
As mentioned above, Grandma turned 90 this year and she doesn't appeared to have slowed down at all. She continues to volunteer and drive (although only in the daytime). After telling her that she was NOT allowed to cook her own birthday dinner, we had a fabulous party on our roof for her birthday and surprised her when family from all over the country attended. The next day we had a larger open house for everyone who's lives she has touched.

Our parents are doing well. As do our siblings. We'll be adding to the family again when Ann's stepsister Jenny marries Greg (and his two boys).

And boy have the nieces and nephews been busy this year.
Brian and his wife Jennifer had their first child, Aliison, in October. In addition, Brian will be leaving FE Warren AFB in Cheyenne WY to transition to Shriver AFB in Colorado Springs. It sounds like they are both looking forward to the move. John and Elizabeth are still in Tulsa but are planning on moving to Dallas soon. Sara is still at Honda in Dallas. Laura and Jose just bought a house in Houston. In addition, Laura is still going to school and trying to keep track of 4 year old Alex. Matt continues to go to school and work for his father. Jason is a senior in high school and works at Complete Pet Mart. We continue to be hopeful that he'll graduate. (You just can't take these things for granted.) Sydney is a junior at Miami Valley Career Technology Center (CTC) studying Agri-Technology. She really seems to enjoy it and wants to combine her love of horses with agricultural management. She plans to continue her studies in college. Henry seems to have picked up some of his father's artistic capabilities. He's done some great photography! Caleb continues to grow like a weed. And he's always the first one there to give a hug!

All 5 cats seem to be holding their own. They certainly love living downtown and enjoying the deck!

Rubi Girls Reach for the Star

Did you miss it? Do you recognize her? Meet Stella Artois (pronounced "Artoys")

Thanks to John, the Rubi Girls, and you, we raised over $5000 for Cystic Fibrosis. If you weren't there, you missed a spectacular night and performance. The Rubi Girls are even hinting about making a Firefly Roof performance an annual event.

Yes, that is John dressed as a woman! And yes, I'm the one who suggested that he do it. And a lot of you came out to see her! (Of course, it has apparently released all of his repressed theater genes because he's become addicted to performing.) All for charity of course! Be sure to check out the photos from the event. John will be performing with the Rubi Girls again at Club Masque on Saturday 24 November. This event will raise money for AIDS Resource Center Ohio. And rumor has it that Ann will make a special guest appearance.

Keep in Touch More Than Once a Year
Over this year, we've really moved into the online space in order to keep up with friends and family. You can still find us at www.noumena.com but the information there is more static. You can always reach us via email at ann.roberts@noumena.com or jsmith@noumena.com. Other online communities where you can find us....

Find Us Online	Ann	John
www.plaxo.com	YES	YES
www.linkedin.com	YES
Blogs	noumena12.blogspot.com
Myspace	myspace.com/noumena12	myspace.com/noumena11
Facebook	noumena12
Bookcrossing	noumena12.bookcrossing.com	noumena11.bookcrossing.com

Added more Rubi Girls/CFF Photos

2007-10-27T19:43:00.000-07:00

Check them out:
Rubi Girls Reach for the Star

Masquerage 2007 Photos

2007-10-26T16:30:00.001-07:00

Finally!!

These photos were taken by my friend Jessica...and yes there are pictures of me:

http://picasaweb.google.com/noumena12/Masquerage2007

This is the link to the professional photos from the event. I like them better because I'm not in them.

http://www.photoshelter.com/gallery-show/G0000CaqqskM5zZg

More Rubi Girls Reach for the Star photos

2007-10-21T08:44:00.000-07:00

Finally, some more photos from the CF Fundraiser "Rubi Girls Reach for the Star" fundraiser on the roof of the Firefly Building. And, yes, there are finally some photos of Stella!

Rubi Girls Reach for the Star Photo Album

Dayton's Best Party!

2007-10-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I'm actively involved in the Dayton I'm on the event committee for Masquerage 2007! Masquerage is a fundraiser for AIDS Resource Center - Ohio (ARC - Ohio). This year the theme is Glam Rock...think 70s, Studio 54, disco...you get the idea. Over the last few years, John and I have really gotten dressing for the theme. Just last weekend, I had an ebay shopping coup! Check out the shoes!

TravelPod: India via London and Bulgaria

2007-09-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Business travel takes me all over the world. This trip will take me to London, England; Sofia, Bulgaria; Chennai, India; and Pondicherri, India.

TravelPod: Manila Philippines and Hong Kong China

2007-02-16T10:59:00.000-08:00

This travelogue includes photos from my trip in February 2007

A Little Sightseeing

2006-08-13T13:39:00.000-07:00

Sightseeing...I took 3 hours off, hired a driver and did some quick sightseeing. The Philippines is 95% Catholic...so it is hard to do any sight seeing that doesn't involve churches.

Everyone told me I should visit the beaches. Well, I didn't have time for much more than a quick drive by....Each evening along this stretch, they set up bars and tables.

This is one of the National parks which includes the burial of a National military hero (I don't remember which one).

I believe that this is the MINOR BASILICA OF SAN LORENZO RUIZ
(Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish), Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, Binondo, Manila. This church was originally established in 1587 and has been rebuilt 6 times.

The Intramuros is the old walled city built by the Spanish rule occupation 500 years ago. Intramusros actually means "Within the walls." At the time, you could only get inside if you were Spanish. If I get a chance, I would like to go back and spend more time in this section of the city.

This is the SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF CORREA
Immaculate Conception Parish (San Agustin Church). It also contains a museum. In order to be married here, you must apply. While I was there, a couple was putting together a portfolio of photos to include with their application.

Inside St. Augustin's

The music book is set in the choir loft so that the choir could see the entire book.

The gardens and grounds where couples hold their reception following the ceremony at St. Augustin.

The Coconut Palace was a $10M project of Amelda Marcos. 70% of the construction materials are derived from coconut. According to my guide, the house was built for St. John Paul II although he didn't stay there because it was too much. Instead, several of Imelda's jet-set friends stayed here at one time or another, among them Van Cliburn and Brooke Shields. Also, according to my guide, much of the furniture was built by 8-10 year old children (although I can't confirm that). I was unable to get closer to this because it was closed on Friday afternoon. (NOTE: Friday afternoons are bad days for sightseeing because everything closes so people can get to mass.)

The Philippines Cultural Center is a legacy of the Marcos'. It is supposed to have fountains in the front but they were not working when I was there.

This isn't a very good picture of the US Embassy. It has a great view overlooking the water.

Getting to Work

2006-08-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

Fortunately, SPi provided a driver to get us to and from the office. To me, the issue with driving in Manila is not the amount of traffic and its not the fact that no one seems to drive in a specific lane. It is that people walk in the middle of traffic. It is that jitney's stop in the middle of traffic and people get off and cross traffic.

Here is the SPi billboard!!

Here are some photos from the drive to and from the office.

There are many of these little shops along the streets leading to the office.

Jitney's Own the Road

Jitney's are the main transportation for most of the working population in Manila. Most do not have air conditioning so they are open with no windows. You frequently see people hanging off the back of them. Air pollution is so bad...people frequently cover their mouths, noses, and faces as they travel.

This Jitney driver wanted his picture taken!

More about The Pen

2006-08-13T12:13:00.000-07:00

The Peninsula Hotel Manila is amazing! It is a grand old hotel. The staff attends to your every need. You can't walk through the hotel without each person greeting you or asking how you are doing. When I found out that I wasn't allowed to take toothpaste on the return flight...they provided me with Baking Soda so that I could at least brush my teeth.

The Spa is amazing as well. And of course the exchange rate helps! I was able to have 3 massages at the Spa while I was there. The cost of a 1-hour massage is equivalent to $24. How can anyone, especially a massage addict like me, pass that up?

The hotel also have several GREAT restaurants. I ate at the Lobby restaurant a couple of times. Each night they had live music.

Old Manila features European cuisine that is fabulous. I had a wonderful Wild Mushroom Soup followed by Sea Bass. The setting is formal but inviting. The staff was impeccable! It seemed to be the place for the well off in Manila to celebrate special occasions!

Spices was probably my favorite restaurant featuring cuisine from different Asian countries including The Philipines, India, Malaysia, Vietnam, and Indonesia. For dinner, I started with Roti Canai (Malaysian bread served with a curry sauce) followed by a Lentil dish from India. I want to have an Indonesian cake for dessert but I ate too much of the rest of the meal and was too full for anything else. As soon as you enter Spices, you are overwhelmed with a fabulous aroma of spices!

My Trip to Manila, The Philippines (August 2006)

2006-08-13T11:55:00.000-07:00

Whew! What a week it has been!

I left Dayton on Friday, August 4 and arrived in Manila on Saturday, August 5...barely! We were supposed to arrive at 10pm but instead arrived about midnight. We were late leaving Hong Kong because of weather delays. And, of course, while I arrived safely...my luggage was NOT so lucky.

I stayed in a fabulous hotel...The Peninsula Manila. The conceirge there was fabulous and incredibly helpful!! The room was very nice and the bath was to die for!

Speaking of the concierge! They immediately began helping me try to locate my bag. Unfortunately, no one at Cathay Pacific was answering the phone. By the time they reached someone at Cathay Pacific on Monday, they were told that they didn't have a bag that looked like mine. Hello! It's a black roller bag...how can you NOT have one that looks like mine!

After leaving work on Monday, I asked the driver to take me by the airport. I was pretty sure that people were as tired of me wearing the same clothes as I was of wearing and washing them each night. And blowing them dry with the hair dryer in the morning. After some wandering around the airport, I was directed to a building called Orbit Warehouse. And that is exactly what it is. It is a GIANT warehouse for all unclaimed baggage from all airlines flying into Manila. It didn't take me too long though to find my bag. Hello!! It had not 1 but 2 luggage tags with my name, address, and phone number on it! I'm convinced if I had left The Philippines without coming to look for my luggage myself, I would have never gotten it back!

Welcome to My Blog!!

2006-05-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

I'm not an everyday...any thing that comes to the top of my head blogger. If I have something to say...this is where I will say it. You will also find links to my specialized blogs.

Dining Blog
I love food and wine!!! I love to cook and entertain!!
Ann's Dining Experiences
20th Anniversary Party - includes recipes

BookCrossing Blogs
When I first graduated from college (many years ago), I said I didn't have time to read anything that wasn't related to my career. Thank goodness I finally outgrew that. Want to see what I'm reading? Check out My Book Blog

A couple of years ago I found bookcrossing and starting reading fiction again...for fun! I've attended 2 of the 3 BookCrossing Conventions which I blogged. Learn more about bookcrossing and join!
2007 Bookcrossing Convention
2006 Bookcrossing Convention
2005 Bookcrossing Convention

Coming soon: 2008 Bookcrossing Convention in the UK

Several BookObsessed BookCrossers are sharing a blog at the 2006 convention! Be sure to check us out!

The Menu...The Food...The Recipes

2005-08-31T16:14:00.000-07:00

The Menu
Sun-Dried Tomato Dip (Fine Cooking - I think)
Hummus with Mellow Garlic & Cumin (Fine Cooking)
Striped Pesto Dip (allrecipes.com)
Bean, Bacon and Blue Cheese Dip (Cooking Light)

Grilled Soy-Ginger Skirt Steak (Fine Cooking)
Orzo Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Herbs (Bon Appetit - epicurious.com)
Grilled Corn Salad with Lima Beans and Tomatoes (Bon Appetit - epicurious.com)
French Potato Salad with Arugula, Roquefort, and Walnuts (Cook's Illustrated)
Marinated Carrot Salad with Ginger and Sesame Oil (Food & Wine)
Black Beans with Mango, Citrus & Crunchy Jicama (Fine Cooking)

The Recipes
Sun-Dried Tomato Dip
1/4 cup drained oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
2 tablespooons chopped drained bottled roasted red peppers (1 oz)
1/2 cup walnuts (1-3/4 oz) toasted
1 teaspoon finely chopped shallot
1-1/2 tablespoons red-wine vinegar
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup olive oil

Puree all ingredients except oil in a food processor. With motor running, add oil in a slow stream, blending until incorporated. Season with salt.

Hummus with Mellow Garlic & Cumin
coming soon

Striped Pesto Dip
INGREDIENTS:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/3 cup sour cream
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
6 tablespoons pesto
1/4 cup chopped toasted walnuts

DIRECTIONS:

In a medium bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream and Parmesan cheese.
In a small clear glass serving dish, spread 1/3 the cream cheese mixture. Top with 2 tablespoons pesto. Repeat layering, ending with a topping of pesto. Sprinkle with walnuts and serve.

Bean, Bacon, and Blue Cheese Dip
Serve with warm pita wedges ot toasted baguette slices.

1/4 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1 teaspoon chopped fresh or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (15-ounce) can navy beans, drained
1 garlic clove, chopped
1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled blue cheese
3 bacon slices, cooked and crumbled (drained)

Place first 7 ingredients in a blender; process until smooth. Combine bean mixture and remaining ingredients in a small bowl.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups (serving size: 2 tablespoons)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES 71(33% from fat); FAT 2.6g (sat 1.4g,mono 0.8g,poly 0.2g); PROTEIN 4.4g; CHOLESTEROL 6mg; CALCIUM 49mg; SODIUM 230mg; FIBER 1.9g; IRON 0.7mg; CARBOHYDRATE 7.8g

Cooking Light, MARCH 2003

Grilled Soy-Ginger Skirt Steak
One 2-pound skirt steak
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
2 tablespoons finely grated fresh ginger

In a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, lime juice, and ginger. Pour over the steak and turn to coat. Let stand for at least 10 minutes.

Orzo Salad with Heirloom Tomatoes and Herbs
Check out your local farmers' market for the best selection of heirloom tomatoes and use them within a few days.

8 ounces orzo (rice-shaped pasta; about 1 1/4 cups)

2 tablespoons Sherry wine vinegar
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 1/4 pounds assorted heirloom tomatoes, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3/4 cup chopped green onions
1/2 cup sliced pitted oil-cured olives
1/4 cup thinly sliced fresh basil
1/4 cup chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons chopped fresh Italian parsley

Cook orzo in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Rinse under cold water; drain well. Transfer to medium bowl; cool.

Whisk vinegar and lemon juice in small bowl; gradually whisk in oil. Pour dressing over orzo. Mix in remaining ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. (Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature. Stir before serving.)

Makes 6 servings.
Bon Appétit
August 2004

Grilled Corn Salad with Lima Beans and Tomatoes
This salad is dressed with a red pepper and tomato sauce.

3/4 cup (about) olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 large shallot, finely chopped
6 medium ears fresh corn, husked
2 cups frozen baby lima beans
2 bunches watercress, thick stems trimmed, sprigs torn in half
2 cups halved teardrop tomatoes or cherry tomatoes
1 cup coarsely grated Parmesan cheese or crumbled soft fresh goat cheese
1 cup halved pitted Kalamata olives
Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato Sauce

Prepare barbecue (medium-high heat). Whisk 1/2 cup oil, vinegar, and shallot in small bowl. Set dressing aside. Brush corn with remaining 1/4 cup oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper. Grill until tender and beginning to char in spots, turning often, about 10 minutes. Cool slightly. Cut corn from cobs. Transfer to large bowl. Cook lima beans in boiling salted water until just tender, about 4 minutes. Drain. Rinse with cold water; drain. Mix lima beans into corn. Mix watercress and tomatoes into corn mixture. Add dressing and toss to coat. Season salad with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with cheese; garnish with olives. Serve, passing roasted pepper sauce.

Makes 8 servings.
Bon Appétit
July 2003

French Potato Salad with Arugula, Blue Cheese, and Walnuts
For best flavor, serve the salad warm, but to make ahead, follow the recipe through step 2, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Before serving, bring the salad to room temperature, then add the rest of the ingredients.

Serves 6 as a side dish

2	pounds small red potatoes (about 2-inch diameter), unpeeled, scrubbed, and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
2	tablespoons table salt
1	medium clove garlic , peeled and threaded on skewer
1 1/2	tablespoons champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar
2	teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4	cup olive oil
1/2	teaspoon ground black pepper
1	small shallot , minced (about 2 tablespoons)
1/2	cup walnuts , toasted and coarsely chopped
4	ounces Roquefort cheese , crumbled
1	bunch arugula , washed, dried, and torn into bite-sized pieces (about 2 1/2 cups)

1. Place potatoes, 6 cups cold tap water, and salt in large saucepan; bring to boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium. Lower skewered garlic into simmering water and partially blanch, about 45 seconds. Immediately run garlic under cold tap water to stop cooking; remove garlic from skewer and set aside. Continue to simmer potatoes, uncovered, until tender but still firm (thin-bladed paring knife can be slipped into and out of center of potato slice with no resistance), about 5 minutes. Drain potatoes, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Arrange hot potatoes close together in single layer on rimmed baking sheet.

2. Press garlic through garlic press or mince by hand. Whisk garlic, reserved potato cooking water, vinegar, mustard, oil, and pepper in small bowl until combined. Drizzle dressing evenly over warm potatoes; let stand 10 minutes.

3. Toss shallot, walnuts, arugula, and Roquefort cheese in small bowl. Transfer potatoes to large serving bowl; add shallot/walnuts/arugula/Roquefort mixture and mix gently with rubber spatula to combine. Serve immediately.

Marinated Carrot Salad with Ginger and Sesame Oil

Laurent Tourondel grew up in France eating his mother's carrot salad. His Asian take is a little different: The sesame oil, fresh ginger and cilantro add vibrancy to sweet, crunchy carrots.

ingredients

1 pound carrots, peeled and shredded
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
1/2 cup grapeseed oil
Salt and freshly ground pepper
1/3 cup fresh carrot juice
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 1/2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
3/4 teaspoon fresh ginger juice, squeezed from 2 teaspoons finely grated fresh ginger

directions

In a medium bowl, toss the shredded carrots with the garlic, vinegar, 1/2 cup of the cilantro and 1/4 cup of the grapeseed oil. Season the carrots with salt and pepper. Let the carrots stand for 15 minutes; drain well.
Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, boil the carrot juice over moderate heat until it is reduced by half, about 5 minutes. Let the reduced carrot juice cool slightly, then transfer to a bowl. Whisk in the mayonnaise, sesame oil, ginger juice and the remaining 1/4 cup of grapeseed oil. Season the carrot dressing generously with salt and pepper.
Add the carrot dressing and the remaining 1/2 cup of cilantro to the carrots and toss the salad well. Transfer to a shallow bowl and serve immediately.

Black Beans with Mango, Citrus & Crunchy Jicama
coming soon

We've Been Outdone!

2005-08-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

So I picked up the mail this afternoon and Marina (a friend of John's from high school who lives in Germany) had sent us this!

Who knew that John and I were being outdone by Blonde and Dagwood!

Here come the pictures...watch out!

2005-08-30T22:00:00.000-07:00

As usual, I left my camera laying around somewhere...so I didn't take any pictures. But my good friend Dan Hursh was on the scene with his camera...here is some of what he captured! For some reason, he took all of them after dark and I can't change the picture size.

Palm Trees, pools, and a Firefly Sunset...it was shaping up to being a GREAT party!

Harriet and Lillian seem to be having a good time as they pose for the camera!

Ann's BookCrossing friend Rhonda drove over from New Albany IN (near Louisville)

Ann's know June since Ann was born (as June likes to remind her)! June was secretly dating Gary 20 years ago...she even called him from our wedding reception!

Alan and Don relax by the pool!

The "Tequilla Table"
Oh what I night they will have!

What is Dewayne (Rhonda's friend) showing Dan and Dave.?

Rhonda showing off her beer?

No idea what she is up to here

Deborah (flew in from Chicago for the party), Steven, and Rhonda

Relaxing by the ppol

Dave, Steve, and Dan

The Firefly Sunset

Dan is Down. At the end of the night, he seemed to be having trouble maintaining his balance as he tried to take photographs.

The Day of the Event - On the Roof or Not

2005-08-30T21:39:00.000-07:00

Well, leading up to the party was a little touch and go. For a change, I was done cooking by 5pm the day before. That is unheard of. So I thought I would have plenty of time to have everything set up and ready to go. Unfortunately, the weather wasn't cooperating...storms were moving in and we weren't sure we were going to be able to have the party on the roof.

So instead of having everything set up and relaxing, we were as usual scrambling to set up. If you've never been on the roof of the building, all the scrambling really is worth it!

After a little sprinkle and a wind that knocked the vases of flowers that I had on the table, the weather calmed down and it turned into a beaurtiful evening.