year in review

Personal only this year...


2007 has been a great year! We traveled to Ireland, and I got to at least 9 other states (NH, MA, DE, NJ, NY, CA, IN, DC, IL). Two of my uncles got married, plus a cousin, Trav's brother and two sets of friends. Our friend Bri became a daddy. We went to a few hockey games, a baseball game, a football game (two for Trav), I reconnected with an old high school friend, and cut my hair. I turned 25, Trav & I celebrated one year of marriage/7 years together, and the quads moved to Boston. We fixed up our bathroom some.

It has been a great year. And looking back on it I can't help but feel like a very luck girl.

A meme, from last year!
1. What did you do in 2007 that you had never done before?
Travel internationally with my hubby!

2. Did you keep your new years resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Hmm... sort of. I did declutter some, but not as I had hoped. So far I haven't made a resolution for next year, and I'm not sure that I will. Maybe its better to not and just attempt to be the best me I can be?!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes! Brian and Stacey had their beautiful baby boy!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, we were lucky this year.

5. What countries did you visit?
Beautiful Ireland!

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
A less cluttered and more "us" house. A better job.

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Fall '07 and our trip to Ireland.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Hmm, I'm not sure. Maybe just enjoying life so much. It was a really good year.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't like to think about things as failures.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Ugh, so sick after Halloween... but otherwise, we were lucky again.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Well, i didn't buy it (got it as a gift), but I'm super excited for new ink!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Hmm, is this like who gets a gold star? Most of my family, all of my "thick and thin" friends, and definitely my husband.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Nothing personal, but there were definitely a few appalling news items.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Paying down house stuff.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our friend's weddings, our trip to Ireland.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Hmm... maybe "Umbrella".

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
a) Maybe a little happier, in general life is very good.

b) Hmm... hopefully a little thinner!

c) Richer I think.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise... house fix ups.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Let things I can't control get me down.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With my wonderful family and amazing in-laws.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
I fell more in love... if that counts.

Hm, 22 is missing.

23. What was your favorite TV program?
House, CSI, NCIS, and Scrubs.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a waste of time.

25. What was the best book you read?
The last Harry Potter book... so sad its over!

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Lots of random "little guy" artists.

27. What did you want and get?
New ink (well, technically I'm getting it in '08 since my appt is next weekend... but I got the means for christmas)!

28. What did you want and not get?
A new job and a new house... lol.

29. What was your favorite film this year?
Harry Potter.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was 25... we had a great dinner at Morimoto's and celebrated with some friends.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not too much except for maybe getting more house stuff done.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Casual business comfort.

32. What kept you sane?
My husband, family, friends... I'm a lucky girl.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
You know I still love me some Angie.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The war.

36. Who did you miss?
Hmm... no one really.

37. Who was the best new person you met?
Don't know that I met new people, but I've definitely gotten closer to some people this year, which was nice.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007.
That sometimes you have to relax and let life take you where it will... to can't control everything and sometimes it's best to know when to let go.

Happy New Year Y'all!! :-)

holiday stuffs, part two

Pictures from my parents camera, since I forgot mine:

Aren't we cute?

As an aside, I didn't end up making bread pudding... but my mom and I did decide that next year Trav and I would host Thanksgiving (with her assistance, of course)! Exciting... and scary, but definitely exciting!

Other quick notes... my ring is fixed, cleaned, and shined. It hasn't looked this nice since I first got it! Today is quiet and lazy.... with a four-day weekend ahead. And on that note, back to work for me!

holiday roundup

Very sad news indeed: Bhutto killed. She was a very brave woman, and its sad her life was ended in this way.



On a nicer note... thank you for all the holiday wishes! We had a wonderful Christmas with both families. We saw most of Travis' family over the weekend and on Christmas Eve day. Christmas Eve night we headed up to my parents and spent the night there. It was very relaxing, and just what I needed. I feel 100x better this week then I did last week. I love four-day weekends, although coming back after them is always a little tough!

We both got some nice stuff... some clothes, cash, gift certificates for some new ink (yippee!), earrings, etc. Good stuff. And the fun continues this weekend... Willy's holiday party is on Saturday, before which I have a hair appointment and I'll be stopping by the tattoo shop to price out two designs. Then Monday night we're headed up that way again for a NYE party at a family friends' place. I'm excited for all of it.

The office is quiet this week... everyone (except for Miyano, who is in Japan until the 13th) is in at some point this week, but not all at the same time. Its kind of nice and lets me enjoy lunches out doing other things. Yesterday I did some shopping with a gift card I got to gap/old navy/banana republic. I got a great sweater and ordered some jeans from online (these and these... hopefully one pair will fit!). Today I'm going to run out and see a guy I know from the train, who happens to be a jeweler. Somehow I bent one of the prongs on my engagement ring! So I figure, I should get that fixed sooner rather then later!

Well, back to work for me! If I don't get back this week... have a very happy New Year!!

merry christmas!! happy holidays!!

Gah! The week was so slow, but I still didn't get here to post. I'm still having crazy dreams that wake me up throughout the night... but at least no more about family members dying (last night, Ro was a monkey. just the cutest little chimp you ever did see...). They do leave me pretty tired though, and my stomach has still been rolling during the day. Perhaps a side effect of antibotic #2? I'll have to check. In anycase, I'm definitely looking forward to the four-day weekend ahead, and of course, the holidays. Hopefully I'll be much more well rested come next week.

Leaving work today at 3, and still tons to get done... so off I go. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to all!!


Ps. Check out the Year in Pictures. Beautiful and heartwrenching all at the same time.

mixed reviews

The weekend was a mixed bag. The laziness was good, the weather was gross, the couples massage on Sunday (an early Christmas surprise for Trav) was wonderful and relaxing, the leak in our roof that is going to set us back $900 is very frustrating. It all makes me feel very scattered, and my stomach a little knotted. Bah.

BUT the roof is being fixed today, and that makes me thankful for the fact that we do scrimp and save so much... thereby having a substancial savings that we can pull that from no problem. That, after all, is what it is there for.

Guess I don't really have much else to say this morning. Lots running through my head, but nothing I really want to put out there at the moment. I feel like I'm waiting for something, but I don't know what. It's an odd feeling. I'm eager for this week to be over so Christmas can get here already.

mental stuff

I wanted to make a post just to point out this blog entry to people.

It's at Dooce, and I think you all know how I feel about Dooce/Heather. Like, if she were food I would weigh 900 lbs because I can't get enough of her. Yum, that Dooce sure is fattening, but I love her so... But love her, hate her, never read her before... you really need to read this post. You really do. Because she says so beautifully what I could not.

My family has a history of mental, uh, issues. My father is bipolar... I'm pretty sure his parents have some undiagnosed issues, and I've definitely suffered from bouts of depression. Heather is articulate, straight-forward, and gets the point across that whatever you are feeling there is no shame in getting some help for it. Be that therapy, drugs, herbs, or an alternative form of treatment... just get some help. There is no shame in needing a professional to help you with a disease.

Okay, have a great weekend and read that post!



ps. Who are you anonymous commenter? You creeped me out a little! :-)

abstract day in the life

In picture form...

I actually brought in my camera the other day... I was taking it to the hockey game and since I had it, decided to take some pictures at work. Abstracts that make up my day.

Of course I completely forgot to take it out into Philadelphia at any point during the day, so I didn't get that aspect (I think I could have fun taking pictures around the trains, etc.)... but it's a start.

(Note: Didn't plan it this way, but another blog I read also did a similar post today. Except her's included pictures of, you know, her... and her big boobs, gorgeous hair, walk in closet with accessory wall {um, for real?!}, and slightly odd looking kids... I think they need to grow into their huge eyes, right now they look like elves. Anywhoo! Point being, this is more a "while I'm at work" day in the life, and pretty abbreviated... and it was just coincidence that its posted the same time. Not that any of you would have noticed if I hadn't said anything. Okay, end rant.)

Work holiday party today which should be fun! Good food, holiday spirit. Plus, I smell so yummy today... I got myself this* (thanks gram!), which is lovely and makes me feel pretty. I didn't think a smell could make me feel pretty, but this one does! Okay, back to work.

* Except, dear god it didn't cost that much because, holy hell, really?! Do people pay that much for perfume?! I mean it smells REALLY nice... I haven't found one person who doesn't like is so far... and I've had a lot of people smell me, but it doesn't smell THAT nice.

hockey!

Did any of you watch the Flyers vs. Penguins game last night? No? Well, I did! Live!
Woot!

These are from the warm up:



We knew it would be a good game when there was a fight 20 seconds in:



And it really was a good game. I'm not just saying that because we kicked ass either (or because of the 5or so fights!). :-) It was pretty fast paced, and high action. Some great saves, some great scores.

Trav and I had a lot of fun. Maybe I had a little more... ;-) but we both had fun.

You've got Mail

Here is your virtual Christmas card (from our family to yours, internet)!


(They look even better in person.) Now that everyone should have recieved their Christmas cards, I thought it was safe to post my design. So here is your virtual holiday card.

Enjoy!


Ps. This video definitely made me tear up a bit... if I weren't viewing it at work I probably would have actually cried. It's not the first part that gets to me, but the second part, from the dog's p.o.v. Watch it if you've ever loved an animal.

Tis the Season... part two

Aka. Just one reason why I love my husband...
Blurry, sorry! And ignore the one strand of Christmas lights that went out in the center, we are fixing them today...
He did this for me!! :-) What a great man.


Plus, my early Christmas gift which I wore to his work Christmas party on Friday night, and am actually wearing again today (the dress):

And two from the party:


What a handsome man. My appletinis and I had a great time.

We also have stockings hung in the stairwell with care (mine is full already!)... and stuffed snowmen... and a few other odds and ends. Yippee!!


Other bits from the weekend: Walked with Ro both Saturday and Sunday, so we logged 10miles this weekend. Not too shabby. Saturday night we realized that we didn't have any gas coming into our house... not cool since its what we use to cook and heat in our house. Called the gas company, who were great and came out very quickly... but we ended up being without heat/hot water/stove or oven abilities for 7+ hours. Finally they knocked on our door at 2a.m. and turned everything back on for us. Could have been a lot worse.
Otherwise, lazy weekend. Which I love! Travis made homemade venison sausage patties... yum!

Thursday is my work Christmas party, otherwise I have a quiet week ahead. Back to work!

post overload

Just a quicky... I feel like I'm on post overdrive.

Last night was the third night in a row that I dreampt someone I love died. Very weird. First it was my brother, then it was Alex (of the quads), then it was my Uncle Wray. In all of them something prevents me from mourning. Wonder what it all means?

Also updated my links section... divided it up a bit and added a half-dozen new links. I think I read too many blogs. But they are all worth the read if you need a distraction.

Check out the pictures I posted below...

its beginning to look a lot like...

Winter!!



Not the best pictures, but it was already dark when I got home. The last one is just funny because I accidentally let the flash go off and all I got was snowflakes!

Night all!

urgh

I really really need to do work today.... because honestly I've been pretty bad about it this week, and if my boss came up to me right now and said what have you done these past few days, I would have to answer, "not so much stuff, as not stuff?" (Althought I had an excuse on Monday because we had an event during the day that I had to help with... a big one, keynote: Ed Rendell, damn skippy.) And yesterday, well I got some done yesterday, but not enough and it's just so hard to concentrate.

Another trip to the dermatologist this morning... I didn't have to spend an hour in the waiting room this time which is nice, but still waited for a half hour in the exam room. She gave me a different antibotic, and some other creams, etc. Wish me luck.

This past weekend was good... saw a bunch of friends, relaxed, did a big food shopping and actually have stuff in our fridge now! Made a big batch of Cinnamon Bacon Carbonara, which is one of my favorites! I can't make it often though because it's one of those dishes I eat every meal until it's gone!! I finished it last night. Mmm.

Snow today (right now, in fact) and less then three weeks until Christmas!! Maybe some pictures if the snow sticks and is pretty. Ciao!!

tis the season

So we haven't decorated yet... no christmas boxes have even been pulled out of the basement (or the closet? where are our decorations?). I always kind of felt guilty about not decorating our house more. I want a real tree! A big one! Perfectly done up with lights, delicate glass balls, and some ornaments that mean something (like the one I bought in Ireland! Because, wait... why did I buy that?). But in truth the most we normally do is put out our stuffed snowmen, our two foot mini-tree, and hang out stockings. And on the outside? Well you can see the fake candles we stick in our bedroom window... and that's about it.

I read that to have a truly stress-free (or at least, less stress) holiday season... one that is full of the things that matter, like family, friends, and goodwill towards men... you should pick the two "Christmas to-do" things that matter most to you and not worry about the rest. Example, baking cookies to hand out... decorating your house perfectly... sending out 70 christmas cards... etc. I've already done the 70 (yes, 70) cards, they were mailed out yesterday. I'm not sure what my second thing will be, but decorating the house the way I wish it could be decorated? Not it. And I'm going to do my best not to feel bad about that. Instead I'll enjoy my parent's tree, and their beautiful garland. We will hang up stockings and fill them with little things for each other. Maybe I can even get a wreath! For our front door!

But secretly I will still want a big, live tree.



Happy Hanukkah!



ps. Maybe baking a fabulous desert to take to my parent's... or one each to take there and to Willy's, maybe that will be my number two? Doesn't this look divine?! I do love bread pudding (with no raisins... that must be noted)! Cheers!