I think I'm in Love...

Dear Lover,

Of course I'm referring to my new bike that my friend Kurt so kindly gifted to me. I love you new bike. You are so blue and so light and so fast. You have helped me to forget about and get over my old love. I even bought a new shiny expensive bike lock to keep you safe.

To us,

kk

Pillow Talk

Dear Late-Night Heart-to-Heart Chats (yes, 11pm is late for me, is that lame?),

I love you. You make me feel warm and fuzzy, and give me new insight into people I didn't know was there. I'm thankful for these moments, and the bonding they bring with peeps.

Good stuff,

Sleepy

Wake Up Dreamer

Dear Dreamers,

Read this post from the blog The Wednesday Chef. It'll give you hope. Be patient, your time will come.

Leap and the Net Will Appear

I got goosebumps,

day dreamer

Don't put it out with your boots ted!

Dear 4th Street and 6th Avenue in Park Slope,

Tonight when I was walking Penny for Bianca, we stopped on your corner. I caught the fresh scent of fall. It smelled like leaves and crisp air and pumpkins. I was standing there eyes closed, breathing it all in, when I realized I was still holding a bag of dog shit. And I wondered, would you call the shit poop if I lit it on fire on your doorstep?

It would be the greatest night of my life,

the dog walker

Red or White

Dear Green Grapes,

I used to eat you as a rule when I was a kid. Somewhere as an adult, I took a turn. I have chosen red grapes for a while now. I don't know if it's because I preferred red wine to white, so thought I should only eat red ones, or what. But I owe you an apology. On a whim at the co-op, I bought the green grapes (the red ones looked shitty). I ate them, and they were delicious. They took me way back to the Muir's kitchen on Gloucester Court where Natalie and I used to spit grapes at each other over bowls of chili. I have missed you green grape, and your memories, too. I shall choose you for a while.

Sorry red, your time has passed for now,

a lean mean green grape spitting machine

Jumping out of planes - family style

Dear Sky Dive Sebastian,

You were amazing. I don't even really know how to describe you as an experience in words beyond that. And you're so exciting, that even my dad took the plunge out of the plane with us, despite the fact that it could have made the "watch my neck" line way more legendary (and actually now that I think of it, maybe it did). He's a true adventurer - like father, like daughter and son.

Also - Michael would like to thank you for the sweet landing.

Why didn't anyone warn me not to wear a v-neck shirt while skydiving with a harness as a push-up device?

Busty

*bear with the number of photos, want to convey this experience in all its glory

**am trying to figure out how to convert the video to a file that I can put up here

***yes, my instructor was the best looking, and it wasn't even on purpose (better than our surfing lesson, huh, cass?)

3 amigos in front of skydive sebastian upon arrival (this is before we know pops is going)
Michael and I filling out our forms reminding each other we could die, then dad busts in and announces that he's going fused neck and all
the man, the myth, the legend
all harnessed up - fly or die time
the view from above
i've been ready for this my whole life
free-fallin'
leaving the plane behind
"THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!!
above the clouds
just want to point out how happy uwe (instructor) is in every picture - what if you were that happy every day at your job? the world would be a different place!
you can be my wingman any time
michael at 13,500 feet
thumbs!! (his instructor looks like superman with his arms out straight)
you'll see he gets his facial expressions from his father
BOOM! shoot goes out, silence!
pops all psyched up, and growing increasingly more nervous with every inch we climb
i'm on the top of the world lookin' down at creation...
as dad would say, "kicking ass and taking names"
between dad's face and the instructor's hair, these are perfect caricatures that only get funnier
i imagine he's saying here "woooooooooooooooo" as only he can
this pic almost looks fake, like he's in a photo shoot, and someone said, "do your best tiger lurching"
the face again
it. makes. me. laugh. this. hard. every. time.
the hits just keep coming
as those of you who know him could imagine, his first response to the camera when they asked him how he felt while he was sitting on the ground like this was to throw his fists into the air and yell, "woooooooooooooooooo" in his signature woo voice
after - a little windblown, a lot more awesome
we thought we would have so much energy, but we were drained after

Tilt-A-Whirl

legendary

Dear Carnival in Old Cocoa Beach,

You were a nice surprise to run into on the way to dinner. Michael bet Chris that your spinny ride was NOT called a Tilt-a-Whirl. He was sadly mistaken. Though your rides were a total rip-off at $4 a pop, my dad and I decided we would conquer one ride for the family. I do believe I have never heard my dad laugh so hard and get such a kick out of something in my entire 28 years of life. This in turn made me laugh equally hard. Who knew it's the carny life that matters?

I'm so dizzy,

Giggles

after dinner - dad in the little guy chair
photographer/bystander/cheerleader/waver

TICKETS!!!!

which car is the best car?

#5 - we are ready to rock and roll
bystander/cheerleader/waver/crazy person
here we go - and dad immediately starts chuckling
he is laughing so hard it's frightening and obviously contagious
spinning
wheezing laughter
pretty lights

Beach Ballin'

Dear Decathlon,

We have decided this weekend will be dedicated to you. Here are some of the events we've decided on:

1. Skydiving

2. Mile run on the sand

3. Spider push-up contest

4. Bungee Jumping

5. Break-dancing

6. Surfing

7. Relay Races

8. Freestyle Walking

9. Ocean swim

10. Parasail/Shark Taming

The actual events that took place:

1. Skydiving - the legend himself, Father Kraft even participated

2. Eating

3. Napping

4. Sunbathing

5. Spider push-up/breakdancing contest

6. Football/baseball watching

7. Swimming

8. Fail at tennis/frisbee on the beach

9. Reading

10. Carnival Tilt-a-whirl-ing

Competitively yours,

the Kraft family vacationers

dad trying to show michael up on the push-ups
also in the running for oldest breakdancer
michael and i playing on the beach

Chillin out with S.W.

Dear Orlando Airport,

You kept me very entertained while I awaited the arrival of the rest of my family to start vacation.

Disney princess lover,

K.K.

Aeropuerto

Dear Little Girl, Little Dog, and Nice Lady,

You all played together so nicely. Humanity is so great.

Entertained on a layover,

another Orlando-bound passenger

Step back you're dancing kind of close...

Dear M60 Bus,

You were so crowded on the way to the airport this morning that I think I violated a little Korean woman. We were packed in so tightly, and I found myself pretty much spooning her standing up as I reached for the rail to keep my balance. I sort of feel dirty.

Not sure what to do,

Space hog

California Love

Dear San Francisco,

As if I wasn't impressed enough with my last post for Ottawa, come to find you you are already implementing a mandatory composting program. The major incentive? - a $500 fine for non-compliance. I love this! It's sooooo easy. And already making such a difference.

Green love all around!

Check out the story on NPR...

City of Green

Dear City of Ottowa,

Mandatory composting city-wide?! Brilliant! Kudos to you! Let's all follow suit! This will make such a difference in waste! I'm very excited!

Implement it everywhere,

a loving fan