December 31st, 2024 - Germany

We had a few opportunities to go out and have some fun. Cologne, Duesseldorf and more than a few dinners with Henk and Susanne including for New Years. It was a lot of fun despite the daily sorting, packing and discarding. One of the things we learned was that Henk is a phenomenal cook. All I am hearing from Arno and Margo these days is that my own cooking is lacking quite a bit after tasting his. : )

December 3rd, 2024 - Krefeld

I arrived at the house today to begin the long process of sorting through everything. There is way more stuff than we can take and a lot of it isn't going to fit into our home in Texas. Here are a few images before we have to tear up the place.

November 16th, 2024 - Korea Town

Margo and I had an itch for Galbi and Gymchi and thus headed over to Korea town for lunch and a few bobas. In fact, we tested two best places side by side to setle which one is better. Confusingly, they were both great in that one had better boba while the other made more versatile concoctions. Nothing was resolved, but we were left quite full and satisfied nonetheless.

November 10th, 2024 - Fort Worth

Quick trip to downtown Fort Worth and the Modern. We had initially planned to have lunch there, but got distracted by a Cajun place in the city. Great food and the right preparation for the museum. The exhibit was an astonishing architectural installation by Jonah Freeman and Justin Lowe.

November 9th, 2024 - DMA & Deep Ellum

Arno and I were bachelors this weekend and lived it up in style. We went downtown, mainly to catch a fabulous lunch at Mercat, but also to see the Frida Kahlo exhibit once more.  We finished our exploits with a walk through Deep Ellum which was lively and busy to say the least.

October 10th, 2024 - Arno's Birthday

It was really nice to celebrate Arno's birthday together once again this year. As is customary, there were a lot of clothing items which always hit the spot. We went for a nice dinner and toasted to many great years to come.

September 29th, 2024 - The Weekend

First time everyone was back at the house. It's been great to see Margo and Arno, and I am sure they enjoyed being pampered a bit, certainly having a doting mother around. We just ate very well, which pretty much sums up the two days. It was great fun and we shall do it again in two weeks when we celebrate Arno's birthday. 

September 8th, 2024 - Meredith's Birthday

It's the first time we have celebrated without Margo and Arno in a good while. 18 years really. We had a great day, visited the Frida Kahlo exibit at the DMA and then had an early dinner at the Egyptian Room. All around very nice and relaxing. 

August 15th, 2024 - Oldenburg

Finally had a chance to visit Nils in Oldenburg again and took it. It was great to see him and had a load of fun as we always do.

July 28th, 2024 - Liz & David

Liz and David came over with their kids for a pizza lunch, We made a full eight pizze and they were pretty much gone, which is an accomplishment. It was a very nice afternoon and we truly enjoyed their company.

July 14th, 2024 - Austin's Birthday

It was a belated birthday gathering this year since Austin's birthday really was several weeks ago. We just didn't find a time to get together. It was fun though and we had good food as well as plenty of good laughs. 

June 23rd, 2024 - Shopping

We went to the mall today so that the girls could check a couple of things such as building a teddy bear, getting gifts for friends and looking for sneakers off their list. Mission accomplished. 

June 21th, 2024 - Rodeo

Given that Lara is staying with us, a trip to Cowboy Coliseum was in order. Except for Meredith, none of us had actually ever been at a rodeo and thus we were all very excited to go. The show was great and we saw plenty of very tough guys being thrown off bulls and horses. There was lots of lassoing and cattle wrestling as well. Everything we had hoped to see.

June 16th, 2024 - Fort Worth

We took a road trip to Fort Worth for a walk in downtown and Sundance Square before heading to the Modern and Kimbell for a relaxed day with lots of great art and some good food as well.

June 8th, 2024 - Downtown

Just popped into downtown for a quick morning walk and a few snapshots.

June 3rd, 2024 - On the Street

Last day. We are flying out tonight and took a long walk up to Tiffany's before heading out. The city is interesting because of its people and there's never a shortage of interesting characters. On the way back Margo and I got out reader cards at the New York public library, which is usually the best souvenir to bring back. It's hard to say Good-Bye, as always.

June 2nd, 2024 - Coney Island, Brooklyn and Downtown

We've covered a long distance today and took a bus through Brooklyn to Ciney Island, which was a long ride but totally worth it. It's a completely different New York and people actually are normal as opposed to beautiful and fashionable. Of course, we had a Nathan's hot dog, before coming back to downtown and walking over the bridge to Brooklyn again. We finished our last full day in style with a very nice steak & frites at Pastis.

June 1st, 2024 - Upper East, Upper West

First time we took the subway other than getting here from the airport. All the way up to East 90th on the 4 train, and into the Guggenheim and the Neue Gallerie. We had a fabulous lunch at Cafe Sabarsky and then moved on to the Met, which was way too busy. Through Central Park we went and landed in the Museum of Natural History. Another train to downtown and the ICP and then a brisk walk back to the apartment. Four museums in one day.

May 31th, 2024 - Whitney Biennale

Today was all about modern art. The Whitney is naturally one of the most interesting buildings in the city, and their Biennale has been their staple for close to 100 years. There were way more artworks than we expected and not all of them on the same level. Yet. some were just amazing. We also got another 20,700 steps in, which is on par with the last two days. 

May 30th, 2024 - Chelsea and MoMa

Long day and lots of walking. We probably walked close to ten miles and covered the High Line, Chelsea, and Midtown. An excellent lunch with Nancy and John at the Oyster Bar. Then on to MoMa for an immersion in the past hundred years of painting and sculpture, back to Flatiron for a shot break and then up to Times Square for the Alicia Keys musical Hells Kitchen on Broadway. We've been busy to put it mildly. 

May 29th, 2024 - New York

Margo and I flew to New York today for a long weekend, good food, some shopping (accomplished by now), museums and Broadway. It's great fun to be back in the city and feels like not much has changed. There certainly are few places where you can survey as much as you do here. People are very individualistic, typically have a lot of character, and don't mind at all being photographed. 

May 25th, 2024 - Margo's Graduation

Has it really been 18 years? Today Margo walked across teh stage to receive her High School diploma. She's finished near the top of her class, already completed two years of college courses, and was accepted into the University of North Texas. In just a few months she'll be living in a dorm at the Honors College and begin her own life.  I can't tell you how proud we are of her. Well done Margo!

May 4th, 2024 - Margo's Birthday Party

We didn't really have time to celebrate Margo's birthday properly during the week. Instead, she invited her best friends for Korean BBQ and a visit to a karaoke room afterwards. Of course, we missed the signing, but I am told it was enormous fun. I've thrown in a few photos that I took while we were waiting towards the end.

April 27th, 2024 - Festival of Joy

Margo and I went to the DMA only to discover that there was a huge Indian festival going on in the park. We really enjoyed the buzzing crowd, where everyone had lots of fun and was somehow busy doing something. Every now and then it's really nice to forget that you're in North Texas.

April 14th, 2024 - Margo's Graduation Pictures

Typically when you graduate from high school, you send out cards to friends and family. We took well over 200 shots this mornings and then whittled it down to six which was really hard.  Margo look amazing in many of them. Anyway, here is a selection.

March 31st, 2024 - Easter

We celebrated Easter with Alex, Emilia and Massimo this year. This gave Margo a chance to hone her babysitting skills a little bit and it was just incredibly cute to see Emilia explore the house. Great reminder of how it was with Margo and Arno not too long ago. I miss those days.

March 19th, 2024 - Traveling (Again)

This was a very short trip and it blew by in no time. Unfortunately, we did not have any time to see local friends or visit with Malte and Charlotte in Stendal. Next time...

March 16th, 2024 - Duesseldorf

At some point during every trip we end up on the Koenigsallee in Duesseldorf. Don't ask me how, but somehow we all have a honing beacon that sets us on the right course. Margo had already bought a whole bunch of stuff at Zara and now it was Arno's turn to get a really nice pair of Chukka boots and some shirts.

March 13th, 2024 - Dinner with Susanne & Henk

We've had a few nights to get the jet lag out of our system and met with Susanne and Henk this evening for a wonderful steak that he prepared to perfection. It was all great fun and is always really refreshing to get together.

March 9th, 2024 - Traveling

Margo and I flew t Germany to visit with my Mom and also to keep Arno company on the way back. She's an absolute pro by now and knows the ins-and-outs of international travel like the back of her hand. It was great to finally arrive.

February 5th, 2024 - Vegas

A conference, a couple of days, and a crazy city. Everyone was getting ready for Superbowl and there wasn't a lot a time to walk or shoot.

January 14th, 2024 - Antonio's

It's really nice to have Arno at home and feels like we are a family again. Not that that's missing when he's gone, but there just is a part that isn't there. We went to Antonio's in Addison, which is probably the best Italian in town and a joint that I frequented with regularity when I lived in an apartment above the restaurant. Oh, and we had snow. Not a big deal for the rest of the world, but in Texas...