New Orleans in June

In 2009, our road-trip plans included a swing through New Orleans in part to experience the delectable cuisine that this region had to offer.   Due to the job offer at the time, we detoured and never made it to the Big Easy.  As a reward of sorts to surviving our first home buying experience and our renovation to follow, we picked up two tickets South to visit the missed destination from two years ago.  Before we headed South, Kims father Rizalde and his wife Mila had also decided to make the trek to join us on our culinary excursion, making this a family adventure with like minded food connoisseurs. 

With Rizalde and Mila arriving before us, they had the advantage to scope out the area prior to our arrival and sample some of the world famous cuisine prior to use, admittedly, making me a bit jealous.  Staying at the W Hotel downtown, we were only two blocks from the French Quarter, making it an easy jaunt to the famous area of New Orleans.  Upon arrival, family hugs and celebration were at hand with a couple of cocktails to boot at the hotel.

Our first evening included a walk through the Quarter, one of many as I had  found out that the French Quarter is all about walking, walking, and more walking.  I found the area to be a bit dirty compared to Toronto and DC but in line with New York City.  Yes, I know, Katrina happened here big time but come on, it's 2011 and as the locals told us, the trucks of donated money to the region went to the 'tourist' areas to generate future growth but at least buy some vacuum trucks I have seen in other major cities.  Moving past the trash, we enjoyed an excellent first dinner in New Orleans with a locally recommended hole-in-the-wall place that is known for the best fried chicken.  Can't say the fired chicken was the best at all, even a bit over-done, but they did feature the best fried pickles I have ever experienced.  The night ended up with a tour back along the famous Bourbon Street, accompanied with stops at various bars to keep the to-go cups full as it is truly legal to have open container! 

The famous Bourbon Street did surprise me a bit as I felt like I was living a freshman-in-college dream.  Open container law, strip clubs, sex shops, topless women on the street, and live music emitting from every bar on the street.  Being 39 now, I was a bit over it but still found it entertaining to some degree while still maintaining a healthy understanding that those days of unlimited drunkenness and foolish public behavior are long gone.  While distracting my wife's wandering eyes from the gay bars featuring live dancers, we finished the night with some great desserts before retiring at 1am.

New Orleans provided my wife's father and his wife with a great opportunity to attend a time-share presentation, allowing us to experience a bus tour of the city, all parts of the city.  This opened our eyes to the famous 9th ward in New Orleans where Brad Pitt has a project and where little recovery money was spent, but after understanding why this would just return to another ghetto, the money was spent better elsewhere, democracy in motion.  In addition, it gave us some quick insight into the crazy history of New Orleans, prompting us to take a ghost tour and a visit to a true Voodoo shop.

The ghost tour itself opened our eyes to some crazy history and stories in the French Quarter.  Kim having an experiencing of seeing a ghost at a hotel property during a bathroom stop prior to realizing it's history, made the walking tour that much more interesting.  Hangings, slavery, rape, dismemberment, torture, and overall craziness were all parts of story during this tour.  The Blacksmith shop was quite interesting with being the oldest operating bar in the United States and a history of a child death on it's premises.  Our picture from the other side of the road showing a child figure and an adult figure in the foreground, made this trip well worth it and landed Josh's ass back in the seat of realism and some belief in the super-natural.

This ghost tour led us to a palm and tarot reading in the square.  If we did not believe in this 'junk' before as Josh did, this left us with way to many thoughts and beliefs to ponder.  Her accuracy was beyond explanation and left us knowing that there is something beyond and perhaps there truly is a Twilight Zone.  This evening also included a trip to an Absinthe bar which may have attributed to the experience with the traditional serving of the liquor, but in the end, I truly believe that there is more out there, call it supernatural or not.


Cocktails, family, great dinners of Frenchman's street, fantastic Jazz bands, and plenty of walking, made this excursion well worth it.  From visiting a scene from the Bond movie (Live and Let Die (see below)), to the famous beignet (Kim and father Rizalde), a true Absinthe bar, and great family time, we will hit this road again with the next stop being the Philippines.

Our 2nd Wedding - 01/22/2011

We did it again, yes, we got married again! On January 22nd, 2011, exactly 364 days after we exchanged vows in the Venetian Suite in the Wedmore place at the Williamsburg Winery, we were standing in the same place, with just a few more in attendance.

After some great discussions over multiple bottles of great wine (probably Williamsburg Winery juice), we came to the conclusion that having a second wedding with family and close friends present was something that needed to be done. A year gone with a love that dreams are built around, celebrating our marriage with this group of twenty five truly made us thankful for everything we had and how far we had come.

We started the official celebrations the day prior with an open house at the house of Haugh overlooking the Chesapeake Bay. Family gathered, introductions occurred, and food and drink were had amongst all. A starter party that was needed as many have never met before and some loosening up was definitely on the agenda. While Mylo played games with all and explored the beach with family, Kim and I cooked, caught up, and laughed. It was a big day ahead of us so while the families headed back to the hotel to enjoy a spread unknowingly left by the executive chef, we cleaned up and prepared for our second big day.

Packing the car in the morning with all of decor, we headed North to Williamsburg. A trip made before, but now it was different, our lives already built and moving forward on a daily basis. Arriving at the Wedmore Place was nostalgic, walking through the great wooden doors, brought back such great memories. While we decorated for our ceremony, family enjoyed the area along with a tour and tasting at the winery. We figured we might as well get them sauced up a bit before the ceremony to continue the family bonding. With the weather a bit nippy that day, keeping some holed up in the lobby, we ventured to the vineyard for some posing.

With Kim's vision of the Wedmore Suite, the inns largest suite, we entered a room with tree branches highlighted with glowing lights and candles hanging from them. Pictures from our first wedding adorned the room along with soft harp music playing to finish off this atmosphere of loving warmth. With the fire burning behind, Kim's father Rizalde walked her to me, a glint of tear in his eye, as he gave his only child away to a man that was going to care for her for the rest of his life.

The ceremony was officiated by Robert, a great friend whose wife Vanessa was our photographer at the first wedding. With I speaking the original vows as I did one year ago, Kim responded by singing hers, with such heart and love in her voice, it truly melted my heart. I knew my wife could sing as I have witnessed many times before, but this was truly from the heart and held a sincerity I have never witnessed before in my life. The ceremony was finished with a kiss, long and sensual, just as our lifelong love is meant to be.

Cracking the silence as claps and cheers of happiness. Out comes the wine, cheese, and cocktails to start the celebration of a marriage that is truly built to last. Our dinner down in Cafe Provencal was exceptional, releasing toasts and cheers that brought tears, laughs, and a sense of togetherness amongst all present. With the table lined with crisp white linens, taper candles down the middle, a warmth and intimacy was created that will last for years to come. Our bonding that evening will be remembered by all I am sure, and the memories will live with Kim and I forever.

A second wedding in Williamsburg bonded families, brought friend closer, and created another bond on top of an unbreakable one Kim and I already had. 364 days prior, we were joined in married, yet on this date a year later and a day short, we committed again for our family and friends, to join them and bring them close to our daily lives.

One Year Reflection

On this day last year, it was Josh’s very first day at the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside hotel. Yesterday would have been our first night in our new home, Norfolk. Though living at the hotel at the time, we felt the comfort that a home would give and an overwhelming range of emotions.

Taking in the area, one which we have never even heard of before, I hit the pavement running wanting to learn everything about Norfolk: where to go, what to do, and most importantly where to live. Flowing parallel with all this was a finding an outlet for my writing career to begin.



Josh and I felt quite overwhelmed—to say the least—but we were not going to let a new area, a new job, the distance from our friends and family, along with an infinite list of unknowns consume us. Little by little we introduced ourselves to Norfolk and allowed it to introduce itself to us. We met so many people, many who have remained close friends.

As Josh went to work during the day, I aggressively searched for what would be our first home. In doing so, I felt sad that our Keep Left road trip was over but was so excited that we were creating a new beginning for us. Over bottles of wine Josh and I laid out our plans, crunched numbers, and talked endlessly about here and now, and tomorrow; but looking back on all of those conversations we really could not have known it all. I was in search for a modest home on the beach. The thought had me teemed with delight, a house on the beach—how unforeseeable for a girl from Toronto. Thank goodness the first beach cottage fell through—it would have been a disaster. Instead we found a home that has two raised porches providing an unobstructed view of the Bay giving us sights of dolphins swimming through lulling us with its crashing waves at night. Not to mention second and third floor wood burning fireplaces—many long nights, romantic dinners, and so much more in front of them.

Oh and the blah, blah, blahs with our exes—like a pebble in each of our shoes. They tried so persistently to invade in our life with their juvenile plays and conniving attempts, awaiting the demise of our relationship. There are far too many instances to name, but they present a good laugh every now and then. We continue to wish them well in hopes that they will find their own happiness.

One year later, we could not be more in love. We continue to learn from one another and with each other and feel so fortunate to have found each other. As Josh always says, “Life could not be better.” Reflecting about the year that has passed last night, over another delicious dinner—experimenting with kale: tomato and red onion salad to start followed by kale, mushroom and blue cheese lasagna. It certainly works to our advantage to share the same pallet and willingness to experiment and invent new recipes—we realized how lucky we are. Our woes were resolved and our problems are minimal. We’ve learned to focus on our life and future together distancing ourselves from who or what could pull us down. We have truly learned to enjoy life and have executed that mantra each and every day. If you were to tell us one year ago that we would have all this, we probably wouldn’t have believed you, but we wouldn’t have put the idea past us. Coincidentally enough, just as it was last year, we are in search for a new home and are enthralled about buying our first home together. We initially gave ourselves a year in the area, but have realized that a couple of years invested into Norfolk will fetch a more than decent return—not just financially.

So as we cheers to the year past and the year to come, it’s been real—very.

HAPPY 6 MONTH ANNIVERSARY, BABY!

I promised you the best ride of your life in my vows, along with a constant, non-judgemental love that will beat all the odds.  It has been a fast and crazy ride to get to where we are today, but I would not change any of it one bit.  We swam against the current and did it our way the whole way!  You constantly show me a love that is patient, kind, and endless, and I hope that I show you how much all of that does not go unnoticed each and every day.  Being with you has taught me so much about myself.  It has also showed me to settle for nothing less than the best things in life.  You are truly amazing, Mr. Joshua Haugh! The way we are together is amazing. 

Things that I love about us:

Cooking.  We have both introduced the other to new dishes and ingredients.  In addition, we have created some wonderful meals together.

How we think so alike. 

How you are always on it without me even saying anything.

How we naturally meet halfway without even knowing it.

How we are ALWAYS a team. 

How we can go through three bottles of wine in one sitting with the best conversations.

How we can turn our kitchen into an 80's dance floor.

How we can be at any type of event, not knowing a soul, and then someone comes up to us and compliments on how in love we are.

How we can be anywhere and poke fun at anyone, anything, and everything.

How we can toss around through the night in bed but will always be holding one another.

How our kisses get better and better each time.

How Mylo, Paige, you and I are such a happy family together and we know that the bond will only get stronger.

I LOVE YOU!  So much more, each and every day.

Right Here, Right Now

In the hustle and bustle of our every day life, there are those opportune times where we are able to sit down to a great bottle of wine, listen to moving music, and take in how great life really is.  Right now, Diana Krall is workin' it out on the keys, Bonterra sauvignon blanc is a flowin', and the air is so heavy it is as though time is still.  The clichés may be all about us—walks on the beach at sunset, the ocean breeze, enjoying each other over a bottle or two of wine—but I don't mind it.  For many years I have thought myself to be the type to swim against the current, but for the first time, swimming with it may very well be the best thing ever to do.  How could we possibly ask for more than this?  Dolphins visit from time to time, the ocean is our ambient sound, the sand is like sugar, and our love is what brought us here.  Sure we could deal with more, who wouldn't?  But right here, right now, could not be any better.  Sometimes you truly have to take in all and everything that you have to realize how rich you are in life, love, and spirit!   

Haugh-Tide on the Chesapeake Bay

Waking up one morning, we peered out our bedroom window to find a pod of dolphins going by, not to far from the beach.  Wow, we never thought they would be so close, but how can we get closer?

Locating a kayak started out on craigslist.com, only to find that not that many people were selling since summer was only weeks away.  Deciding to check out Bass Pro Mills in Hampton was a great decision as it allowed us to get educated on kayaks from the store staff.  But no, once seeing the price tags, we need to find another solution.  So many extras you need to buy!  After giving craigslist another shot, we found the double kayak we had been searching for.  Strapping it to the roof of the VW, we made it home with our new boat, so excited to hit the water and have fun while getting a great core workout.

Freedom to go as we please on the water is a great feeling along with spending time together, getting that excerise the fun-way.  Trying out the crab trap, enjoying an ice cold beer, dipping your feet into the bay, or paddleing hard truly makes each trip out unto the water different.  Diving the front of the boat through waves I think was the best though, especially hearing the 'YEAH' screams of delight from my Canadian wife.  From a Toronto city girl, hitting the fashion district and sporting the best high heels that gather stranger comments by the minute, to paddleing on the Chesapeake Bay is something I thought I would not see.

See the joy on Mylo's face was another great moment, dressing him up in his body life jacket and matching hat, he almost looks like he should be Asian.  Sitting between dad's legs though, gripping the sides of the boat, Mylo has also now found the pleasure of the open water and all that the Chesapeake Bay has to offer.  Not only have we found a new sport, we have found another way to enjoy life, as that is what life is for, the simple pleasures that will be memories forever.—JDH