PAD 2011

07/18/11 - Amy

"Pinned"
Just before we left Orkney, we had a walk through the town of Stromness. We walked into a store that had a lot of lovely little things. I kept picking them up and saying "oh, that's so cute!" and Matt kept asking me "do you like that?" which I thought was weird, because he never does that...well, we've never really gone shopping together...anyway, long story short is that I didn't get anything from the shop, but on the way back down the street he asked me if I was sure I didn't want anything from there, and then told me to pick something out and he would buy it for me. I chose this pin, and let my man pin me! ;-)

07/17/11 - Amy

"A Light at the End of the Tunnel"
After Orkney, we spend an absolutely wonderful lazy day doing nothing at all. I took this while Matt was checking his email, through a peep-hole created by the books on my desk.

07/16/11 - Amy

"Viking"
I told you I was dating a Viking! ;-) And oh, how I love this man. When I took this picture I kept thinking about how Lori said that Matt seemed really patient with my photography stuff. This picture proves that he is also good about indulging my silly side. I had been wanting to buy him one of these Viking hats forever, and I finally found one on Orkney. I wanted to get a picture of him wearing it on Orkney, but I knew he wouldn't want to do it in a public place. So, just as we were leaving this tea room for the ferry, there was no one around, and I asked him if he would indulge me, and of course he did! Honestly, I think he kind of enjoyed it, too. Look for some other cute pics with this hat on facebook.
By the way, the whole helmet-with-horns thing is a total fiction. It was popularised by Wagner in the 19th century, but has nothing to do with Vikings at all...except in popular culture, which is why you can nevertheless buy them at any Viking-related site in the UK!

07/15/11 - Amy

"Orkney"
So, for Matt's birthday I cooked up a little surprise. As his nickname may indicate, he studies Vikings. There are some remnants of Viking culture in the UK, although not many. We had already been to York, where there was one big settlement. Another haven for them within easy reach is in the Orkney Islands, which are surprisingly not too far from Aberdeen - just a five hour drive to the ferry, and a 90 minute sailing across. For some reason or other, I wanted the trip to be a surprise, so I told him that what I was planning would last for two days and require a change of clothes and a toothbrush. Although he guessed I had some trip planned, he had no idea where we were going. And it remained that way until we entered the port! It was a fun 5-hour drive, because all along the way I kept teasing him by reading the road signs and suggesting that the local farm museum/random small village/quarry in the distance was our destination.
Our trip to Orkney was fortuitous, as it happened to coincide with the tall ship races between Orkney and Shetland, which meant that there were these lovely boats in the ports of Stromness and Kirkwall to look at, and that the whole island was all abuzz with excitement!

07/14/11 - Amy

"Matt's Birthday"

07/13/11 - Amy

"Best Goalie in the League"
I got this for Matt at the NHL store when I was in New York in February. I got it for him for Valentine's Day, when we had just started going out. Recently, he moved, and in the move this little guy ended up on his nightstand at my place. It makes me think of him even when he isn't here.
As it's a Bruin's goalie, this means it is Tim Thomas, who, according to Matt (among others), is the best goalie in the league :)

PS I forgot to PAD on the 12th. Actually, I was on vacation, so, it's allowed, right? Sorry!

07/15/11 - Lori

Mr. Tree

I am in love with this Tree, located on the edge of the parking lot at work. It was love at first sight. There was a dang minivan parked in front of it, so I took some shots from my car window. It's my mission to park in front of this tree as often as I can. There will be more PADs to follow of my new friend.

07/14/11 - Lori

I Need OneNote!

07/13/11 - Lori

Busy Street At Twilight

07/12/11 - Lori

My First Window Seat

07/11/11 - Lori

First Day

My PAD today was either this, taken in the Women's Room, or a shot of the front of my building. I chose this one because it is more personal. This represents Jim (sapphire necklace he bought for my birthday in 2008 so I'd have something nice to wear to my mother's funeral later that week), my friends (hand-me-down sweater from Carmen), and my spirituality (Dragonfly pin - long story there). My chest is just a bonus to it all ;)