American Foundation for Suicide Prevention - NYC Community Walk

I got involved with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention 6 years ago, and for the past 5 years I've sat on the board of their NYC chapter. It's a very special organization that I'm proud to be an active part of.When I began volunteering for AFSP I was working in the neuroscience department at NY Presbyterian Hospital. I saw a lot of patients who struggled with depression and thoughts of suicide. A few years prior to that I lost a dear family friend, L., to suicide. I have dedicated my charitable work at AFSP to honor the memory of my friend L. and to support the patient population I saw at my former job.

On the 18th of October Monty and I will be participating in AFSP's annual NYC Community Walk:This year I've pledged to raise $4000.00. If there are any readers out there who'd like to help me reach that $4000.00 pledge I'd be super grateful. The link to my donation page can be found here.

I'd also like to invite NYC area readers who are interested in the organization to join me (and Monty) on the walk. It promises to be a wonderful day for a truly wonderful cause. If you'd like to walk in the NYC event please email me for details or leave your email in the comments and I'll get in touch.

I send a big thank you to my generous friends and family who have already sponsored my walk -- it feels great to have your support!

I'll be sure to post a full wrap-up, complete with photos and fun stories, on the blog next month.For more information on the organization please visit their website: American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

To donate to my walk click here: support Melissa Morris.

Cheerful Money

I recently finished reading Tad Friend's newly-released memoir Cheerful Money: Me, My Family, and the Last Days of WASP Splendor.Tad is an uber WASP, and his well-written memoir tells the story of his distinguished family (he's a descendant of Declaration of Independence signer John Morton), his summers spent at an ocean-front estate in the Hamptons, his rigorous education (he's a Harvard man), and so on.... But these well-bred, highbrow tales are all told with the characteristic understatement and modesty of a true WASP. The book includes heart-warming, sweet accounts of courting and falling in love, and cringe worthy episodes where family dinners go awry when an outspoken relative pipes up. It's easy to relate to these likable stories - even if you're not a Colonial Dame.

The key players in the author's life have fantastic nicknames like his great-uncle "Wassa" or his childhood nanny "Baba", and there are spot-on, witty gems like this quote: "Extraordinary oddities of conduct are tolerated among Wasps so long as you show up for Christmas."

All in all, Cheerful Money is a fun, delightful read.

Cheerful Money: Me, My Family, and the Last Days of Wasp Splendor.

Trek Travel - Dordogne, Summer '09

This past summer I went on a cycling trip to the Dordogne region of France.

It was *fantastic*. The entire region looks like something out of a fairytale, the food is decadent and delicious, and the cycling was first-rate. This was one of the best trips I've ever taken.

I realized I've never posted Dordogne photos earlier, so here goes...

Our trip started with a bike fitting and picnic lunch at the Monbazillac winery.

Trek Madones ready to ride:
In front of the winery's chateau:
Gourmet picnic with food from local markets:
We rode through field after field of sunflowers:Some of the terrain was nice and flat, but some of it was one giant 'rolling hill' after the next.

Self-portrait after riding 85km and climbing 3000ft -- red-cheeked and tired!:
Our hotel in Tremolat. An ideal place to relax after a long day in the saddle:
I'm not the world's strongest or fastest cyclist, so this is how I spent 3/4 of my trip -- behind my super fit friend Dave:
A stop for lunch in the quaint medieval village of Monpazier:
All smiles checking out a local village's decorations for their annual fete des fleurs:(This picture really makes me miss being on the bike -- I can't wait till I'm out of this sling and back in the saddle!)

A snap of the peaceful backroads of Lalinde:
An indulgence at dinner - foie gras six ways:
Our guide Bart outside Font de Gaume cave:If you're ever in this area, visiting Font de Gaume is a must. There are the most exquisite, well-preserved prehistoric paintings on the cave walls.

An afternoon stop at the bustling market in Le Bugue:
My pink flip flops perfectly matched my pink jersey:
Visiting formal gardens at Du Manoir D'Eyrignac:
The town square in Sarlat:
Later (much, much later) that night, posing atop the foie gras monument in Sarlat:
One morning we hiked up to the top of Beynac-et-Cazenac. This view of the Dordogne River was well worth the climb:
I spent an afternoon in the SAG wagon with a sore knee - a decidedly less impressive view:Big boo to that, but after a little rest I was good as new.

Our hotel in Varetz, complete with its own vineyard:
And finally, a self-portrait of one very happy cyclist at the end of a great holiday:For more information on this trip, visit Trek Travel's website.

Fashion Week - Milly Spring/Summer 2010

Fashion Week is just wrapping up in NYC. I'm still recovering from my shoulder surgery, but I couldn't miss seeing the Milly show earlier this week...

Milly added a punk edge to some of her preppy designs this season -- there were lots of black pieces and lots of metal embellishments. I liked the new, edgier stuff, but my favorite pieces were her fun, feminine bright pink and deep orange colored dresses. All the models wore their hair in side ponytails, a playful 80s touch, and the DJ played catchy French hip hop. It was a great show.

Here's a peek of what was on the runway:
The beautiful designer, Michelle Smith:Milly.

An Evening at Yankee Stadium for Frankie's Friends

Last night we headed over to the new Yankee Stadium for a benefit and a ballgame.

This was my first visit to the new ballpark and I was totally impressed. Frankie's Friends, Monty's charity of choice, hosted the event and arranged all kinds of great treats for us...

Skybox seats:
A tour of the press box:
A chance to chat with the handsome YES network anchorman, John Flaherty:
A peek at the tunnels beneath the stadium:
Site of the infamous buried Red Sox jersey:
A walk around/on the field - such a thrill!:
On the sidelines in a sling, just like many a major leaguer:
Yankees dugout:
The bases for the game:
Each is labeled and dated:
Back in the suite, I did my best to copy this late 80s Don Mattingly photo:(Not bad, right?)

Our matching backwards ball caps:
My mini ball cap (it was actually the bowl for dessert, but I felt it needed to be worn too):
Chappy and the complimentary stuffed toys (I believe they are PC Richards Yankees peanuts):
My peanut happily hung out in my sling:
All that was wonderfully fun, but this was the real reason we were at the game:Frankie's Friends is a terrific foundation that provides funding to families that cannot afford emergency and specialty care for their animals. We're happy supporters of their important work. For more information please visit their website.

Go Yankees!