Sunday, November 9, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
first taste and pumpkin fun
We decorated a pumkin outside the cotton mill! spiders and a happy face
shaun's first brown rice cereal...with a bit of mashed bannana!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
October 2 2008...a friday
We had a great day. Made some yummy no bake oatmeal monster cookies. Shaun sat in the high chair for the first time and Merrick was hanging with maya and ruby. Just a typical day at the walder house.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
About Robin
I was asked to answer questions about myself for a moms group I belong to. I guess my friends can see where our lives crossed paths. Of course there is a complex web of details - better left for a book.
Where did you grow up?
I am still growing up here in Asheville...but it all started for me in Queens, New York. December 13, 1970. I spent the year after that in Garnerville, Ny and then moved to Miami Florida when I was 2. My mom was really involved with the ceramic league of miami... (pottersmark.com ) and I was one of those kids running around art shows with my brother Evan in the 70's. We moved to Greensboro Nc in 1981. I went to Jr high school and high school there. (Kiser and Grimsley). Loved High School...I was into cheerleading, student government and art society.
If you went to college, where did you go? Did you like it?
In 1988 I made my way to Greenville, NC and East Carolina University. I liked college a lot...had no idea what i wanted to do...so I joined sigma sigma sigma soroity and had fun. By 1991 I was vice president of the student body, vp of Order of Omega and working as a news reporter on the campus radio station. oh yeah...playing a bit of ultimate frisbee too. I was majoring in Broadcast and communications w/ a psychology minor. Had in mind that I would go to law school and follow in my grandmothers footsteps into politics.
After College and before family?
I moved down to miami beach right after graduating from ecu in dec 1992. I got a job working at the State Attorneys Office in Child Support Enforcement. Rented my first apartment on 16th street Miami beach off Lincoln road. It took me 1 year to realize that I did not want to go to law school or be a caseworker anymore! I left my job and boyfriend and moved back to greensboro.
Once in Greensboro I began working in sales to set up a new AM News radio station. It only took me 6 months this time to realize I didn't want to do that either!I began cocktail waitressing and making clay jewelry. I have been making some form of jewelry ever since.
Wanting to immerse myself in jewelry and metals. I moved back to miami to attend the Miami Jewelry institute. A 6 month intensive metalsmithing school. I learnedthe ancient techniques of jewelry design. At the same time I started school, my grandmother got cancer. so I moved into a rented apartment in her retirement community to take care of her and her ailing husband. I started a company called R2 Designs. my partner and I set up a jewerly studio on lincoln road...inside a funky store called Chrisalyn.
Over the next 3 1/2 years I followed my grandmother around which led me and R2 Designs back to Greensboro. With her death in 1998 I quickly moved to Atlanta for 6 months and then back to Miami Beach and Chrisalyn. Bought a Condo on North Beach of Miami Beach and Rollerbladed like crazy!
By June of 2000 I was needing a change. I left R2 Designs for good and took off to NYC. I wandered around the city for 2 weeks and settled into a job at SWNY in theWorld Financial Center. It was a busy indoor/outdoor restuarant/Bar that catered to the World Trade Center crowd. A couple of months later I had moved into a railroad apartment in Long Island City...great spot with a rooftop city view. I began bartending (with a book and a lie..) at SWNY and a couple of other resturants owned by the same group. I enjoyed the New York night life vibe ,continued to make jewelry and began practicing taoist tai chi.
By July of 2001 I decided to step away from the parting scene and learn something about jewelry manufacturing. I worked for 2 companies as a jeweler and then a machinst. That is where I was when the world trade centers were taken down. Surreal and life changing event. I had already given my 2 months notice to leave NYC and go back to my now empty Condo in Miami Beach. So by Halloween 2001 I was back in Florida looking for work.
I found a job as a teacher for a company called Ombudsman. It was for High School kids who were having a hard time in the traditional school setting. By the next fall I was directing my own Ombudsman for Miami Beach High. I was training Aikido and starting to dable in Capoiera. over the course of the next year I realized that I wanted to exercise all the time. I finished out the school year with a new personal training certification. I was offered training and a position at Reformed Bodies in Aventura teaching Pilates. So once again I dove in head first...this time to the science of pilates and the body. I also was training 3 hours a day in Capoeria and Carving Wax sculptural medallions. ahhhhhh the days when it was all about what I wanted to do! So I spent 2003 teaching pilates, training my body and carving...Ended the year by going to Brazil for 2 weeks to play Capoeria. On the plane ride home (while listening to a Seal Song) I decided to open my heart and find real love.
How did you meet your Husband, partner, mate, child's father?
3 weeks home from Brazil, With my new open heart, I heisantly said okay to a blind date. A client (Thanks again Linda) gave me the phone number of her neighbor's son. I boldly called and caught him answering his phone while in a Real estate class. We set up a starbucks meeting.
I saw him for the first time while sitting on the hood of my miata. He was waiting in the left turn lane. He smiled at me and did this little peace/rock on hand jester. I remember this feeling of familarity washed over me...kind a breif stop in time. He made me smile and laugh immeaditly. I guess on my part it was love at first sight.
How many kids do you have/want?
Thought if I had a boy and a girl I would have two. But...Think now that I am not sure what life will bring.
How did you choose your kids' names?
In Jewish Tradition you use the first letter of your closest deceased relatives to honor their life. Merrick Branden was named for my Grandma Mollie and Mike's Grandma, Bea. Merrick means ruler of the sea and Branden (with the e) means little raven. Shaun Hudson was named for Mike's Grandma Shirley and My Grandfather Edward (called Harry his whole life). Shaun means god is gracious and Hudson is symbolism for the river where our forefathers came to america.
Where did you grow up?
I am still growing up here in Asheville...but it all started for me in Queens, New York. December 13, 1970. I spent the year after that in Garnerville, Ny and then moved to Miami Florida when I was 2. My mom was really involved with the ceramic league of miami... (pottersmark.com ) and I was one of those kids running around art shows with my brother Evan in the 70's. We moved to Greensboro Nc in 1981. I went to Jr high school and high school there. (Kiser and Grimsley). Loved High School...I was into cheerleading, student government and art society.
If you went to college, where did you go? Did you like it?
In 1988 I made my way to Greenville, NC and East Carolina University. I liked college a lot...had no idea what i wanted to do...so I joined sigma sigma sigma soroity and had fun. By 1991 I was vice president of the student body, vp of Order of Omega and working as a news reporter on the campus radio station. oh yeah...playing a bit of ultimate frisbee too. I was majoring in Broadcast and communications w/ a psychology minor. Had in mind that I would go to law school and follow in my grandmothers footsteps into politics.
After College and before family?
I moved down to miami beach right after graduating from ecu in dec 1992. I got a job working at the State Attorneys Office in Child Support Enforcement. Rented my first apartment on 16th street Miami beach off Lincoln road. It took me 1 year to realize that I did not want to go to law school or be a caseworker anymore! I left my job and boyfriend and moved back to greensboro.
Once in Greensboro I began working in sales to set up a new AM News radio station. It only took me 6 months this time to realize I didn't want to do that either!I began cocktail waitressing and making clay jewelry. I have been making some form of jewelry ever since.
Wanting to immerse myself in jewelry and metals. I moved back to miami to attend the Miami Jewelry institute. A 6 month intensive metalsmithing school. I learnedthe ancient techniques of jewelry design. At the same time I started school, my grandmother got cancer. so I moved into a rented apartment in her retirement community to take care of her and her ailing husband. I started a company called R2 Designs. my partner and I set up a jewerly studio on lincoln road...inside a funky store called Chrisalyn.
Over the next 3 1/2 years I followed my grandmother around which led me and R2 Designs back to Greensboro. With her death in 1998 I quickly moved to Atlanta for 6 months and then back to Miami Beach and Chrisalyn. Bought a Condo on North Beach of Miami Beach and Rollerbladed like crazy!
By June of 2000 I was needing a change. I left R2 Designs for good and took off to NYC. I wandered around the city for 2 weeks and settled into a job at SWNY in theWorld Financial Center. It was a busy indoor/outdoor restuarant/Bar that catered to the World Trade Center crowd. A couple of months later I had moved into a railroad apartment in Long Island City...great spot with a rooftop city view. I began bartending (with a book and a lie..) at SWNY and a couple of other resturants owned by the same group. I enjoyed the New York night life vibe ,continued to make jewelry and began practicing taoist tai chi.
By July of 2001 I decided to step away from the parting scene and learn something about jewelry manufacturing. I worked for 2 companies as a jeweler and then a machinst. That is where I was when the world trade centers were taken down. Surreal and life changing event. I had already given my 2 months notice to leave NYC and go back to my now empty Condo in Miami Beach. So by Halloween 2001 I was back in Florida looking for work.
I found a job as a teacher for a company called Ombudsman. It was for High School kids who were having a hard time in the traditional school setting. By the next fall I was directing my own Ombudsman for Miami Beach High. I was training Aikido and starting to dable in Capoiera. over the course of the next year I realized that I wanted to exercise all the time. I finished out the school year with a new personal training certification. I was offered training and a position at Reformed Bodies in Aventura teaching Pilates. So once again I dove in head first...this time to the science of pilates and the body. I also was training 3 hours a day in Capoeria and Carving Wax sculptural medallions. ahhhhhh the days when it was all about what I wanted to do! So I spent 2003 teaching pilates, training my body and carving...Ended the year by going to Brazil for 2 weeks to play Capoeria. On the plane ride home (while listening to a Seal Song) I decided to open my heart and find real love.
How did you meet your Husband, partner, mate, child's father?
3 weeks home from Brazil, With my new open heart, I heisantly said okay to a blind date. A client (Thanks again Linda) gave me the phone number of her neighbor's son. I boldly called and caught him answering his phone while in a Real estate class. We set up a starbucks meeting.
I saw him for the first time while sitting on the hood of my miata. He was waiting in the left turn lane. He smiled at me and did this little peace/rock on hand jester. I remember this feeling of familarity washed over me...kind a breif stop in time. He made me smile and laugh immeaditly. I guess on my part it was love at first sight.
How many kids do you have/want?
Thought if I had a boy and a girl I would have two. But...Think now that I am not sure what life will bring.
How did you choose your kids' names?
In Jewish Tradition you use the first letter of your closest deceased relatives to honor their life. Merrick Branden was named for my Grandma Mollie and Mike's Grandma, Bea. Merrick means ruler of the sea and Branden (with the e) means little raven. Shaun Hudson was named for Mike's Grandma Shirley and My Grandfather Edward (called Harry his whole life). Shaun means god is gracious and Hudson is symbolism for the river where our forefathers came to america.
So now the story continues in Asheville North Carolina. That is for another day.
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