Happy Belated New Year!

Whoa is me! Where ever shall I begin?

First, with apologies for not “blogging” regularly….Dear reader, please accept my sincerest apologies.

Second, with HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! How is your 2007 going? A and I kicked off the new year with some good friends and fun snow play in New Hampshire. We snowboarded, hiked in the snow, and played games in the nice warm condo. The following weekend we enjoyed high tea with M and D at the new Taj hotel (formerly the Ritz Carlton) downtown. All parties involved thought the tea and snacks were fabulous!

Since then A and I have had several “chill” weekends enjoying our Brighton/Brookline neighborhood. We tried the Boston Sports Club for a couple weeks and then joined the YMCA. We enjoy Saturday morning walks to Coolidge Corner. Sometimes we get brunch and find fun things at the game store, other times we just pick up the random necessities such as the latest book club book. This past weekend we hit the video game store. I’m the proud owner of Dance Dance Revolution! Anyone want to challenge me?

We’ve had plenty of adventurous weekends also. We explored Provincetown (at the tip of the cape) and hiked in the national seashore area there. Let me tell you, walking on frozen sand dunes is so much easier than unfrozen sand. We crossed frozen cat tail marshes and frozen ponds. Lot’s of casual ice hockey happening on the ponds! Over President’s Day weekend, we visited A’s family on Martha’s Vineyard. There were frozen ponds and sand dunes there too! We were lucky enough to have snow out there also.

On the home front, things are great. We’re keeping a busy social calendar and finding plenty of time to relax. Amy and Paige came to visit us last week! I’ve picked up this month’s book club book: “The Winter of Our Discontent” by John Steinbeck. Last week we discussed “The Race Across Alaska” by Libby Riddles. If you haven’t learned much about dog sled racing, or mushing, it’s quite fascinating! (cold but fascinating) Actually this year’s Iditarod begins on Saturday!

Before I end this post, I’ll give you the traveling update. We’ve got a trip to Spain booked! At the end of May we’re hitting Barcelona, Andorra, and the northern most coastal area of Spain. A and I are looking forward to a new adventure in new places.

Stay Tuned for more updates!

Recipe for happiness

Remove worries from your mind
Remove hatred from your heart
Live Simply
Desire Little
Give much

FIRST DAY OF SNOW!!!

WAAAAA WHOOOOO!!!!! (and a little bit of brrrr.)

It's absolutely lovely.

Birthday Countdown Continues

2 days until I'm 29! Then, the countdown to 30... Why is that such a milestone? Should there be things I "need" to get accomplished before I'm 30? What will my goals for age 29 be? 28 was pretty good...I moved back to Boston, got my first professional certification, continued developing a wonderful relationship with A, and spent more time with my parents than I have in any other year since starting college. What fun peeps they are!

I'm laying down (building) the brickwork for an adult career and perhaps even establishment of my own family. That progress will continue into age 29...Are there more professional certifications and perhaps home buying in the future? YIKES! I think it's official that adulthood is here. Trust me, I'm listening to the child within...or shall I say, the traveler within. Spain has recently popped onto the list. I've never considered it as a desirable destination before, but yesterday it sounded good. Other top places on the list are Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, and Japan (yes, again). More local destinations include NYC, Nova Scotia, Montreal.....How do we get sponsored to travel for a year? Is one year on the road too much to ask for in a person's life?

Random Advice: So, our car was looking a little dirty (well kind of like a sand pit with all the stuff collected on the floor). I was feeling like it was run down and was drooling over new cars (how wasteful, I know). This weekend, I vacuumed the car, cleaned the dashboard, etc and now it's just like new! Who knew that a little act of cleaning the car could have such a big effect. What a beautiful little car I have now.
(This theory applies to bathrooms also)

Turkey Week!

How was your turkey week? Our Turkey Week was chock full of Family Fun Activities. The week kicked-off with a visit to Body Worlds 2 at the Boston Science Museum and continued right on through to the latest in Fashion at the Museum of Fine Arts and a walking tour of the Freedom Trail. The 3-D culture was maxed out at that point so we hit the 2-D movies (Déjà vu and Casino Royale) after porking out on Turkey. (Can you say ‘porking out’ when referring to the bird?)

Of course, as per our family customs there was a lot more eating than just the turkey meal… We visited the Parker House and indulged in the famous Parker House rolls and official Boston Crème Pie. Yes, this is the restaurant that invented the Parker House rolls and Boston Crème Pie. No, they do not know why it is called pie when it’s really a cake. We asked.

We also fit in an afternoon of high tea at the Boston Harbor Hotel. It’s always a favorite. Yum.

Game of the week: Monopoly! Wow, talk about getting to know you’re family… This game will show you who’s in it for the money and who’s willing to lay on the guilt to get the money! We played the current version where you collect $2 Million for passing go. Check this out.

Happy Turkey Day!

gobble gobble

Best Snowboarding Lesson Ever!

last night...on the hill near my house...no snow...no snowboards...but the best snowboarding lesson I've had!

A talked me through how it all works, the hip turning, the pushing from your heel... We envisioned going down the mountain to the right, and then shifting the weight to go to the left. I can envision myself snowboarding now. This is more than I did the times I actually tried snowboarding with snow and a snowboard.

Just you wait. I'm going to tear down those slopes this year! Queen Latifah in Last Holiday is my inspiration. If she can do it, so can I. Right?