I've never been a fan of Sundays, dating back to my elementary school days. I think my mom worked 3-11 most Sundays so it was usually me, my dad, my grandpa, and my brother hanging out at our house on Sunday afternoon. Now don't get me wrong, I loved them all as a 6-year-old, but I think I felt slightly outnumbered in the girls camp. I wandered around the house while Dad and Grandpa drank their beer and watched football (that was mainly for my Grandpa, as I know my dad could care less about any sports) and Ryan played video games. I didn't always know what to do with myself. (for some reason, a Road Runner coloring book keeps flashing through my mind in addition to a dreary, gray day pressing itself into the large bay window over my dad's head). I'm sure I read or played My Little Pony and took care of whatever homework I had from second grade...but those afternoons tended to drag on, and I knew that Monday morning and school were right around the corner.
I occasionally still feel like this, although as an adult I now realize that all time is precious, and I shouldn't spend 52 days a year wishing the day away. It helps that I really like my job now because Monday mornings aren't as painful as they used to be. When Jeff and I lived in New London, I spent more than half of every Sunday whining and feeling sorry for myself that it was back to another week, back to the same old routine.
But I have always loved rainy Sundays. They are to be enjoyed by everyone...cozy inside and no need to even get dressed or make a plan for the day. No real motivation to accomplish anything of substance, just movies, TV, good books, warm comfort food, (I think I just heard thunder, yay!), and blankets. Today my parents are coming over for Jeff's amazing pasta fagioli and some red wine. I miss them and don't get to see them nearly as much as I'd like to, considering they're only an hour and 15 minutes away. I know I can count on good conversation, great food, fun stories and another memorable rainy Sunday.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, January 25, 2009
I miss Ange. It's not often that I have the opportunity to hang out with my girls. Ohhhhh I had too many martinis but who cares?! She is great. We played "Singstar" which is basically just a glorified karaoke game. We blasted songs from the 80s and 90s like they were going out of style, we drank martinis, we had wine, we ate pasta, we talked and we laughed. I am sad now because they left at 12:30 and now it's 1:00 a.m. and I wish they could have stayed. I'm sure this is going to sound ridiculous but I wish I had girls that LIVED in my TOWN. Not in Vermont or Manchester or New York. But heeeeeeereeeee. It's 1:08 and I want Angela here. I want to blare into a microphone with her, to butt bump her while singing...uummmm well I can't remember what exactly we were singing. Geez. We sang some Nickelback and some STP and yeah I really don't remember much else. But it was awesome. Night night.
Monday, January 19, 2009
25 Random Things
1. I love to write but I don't do it nearly as often as I should. I kept a personal journal on and off from 4th grade through college, and it amazes me that I had such dedication (or maybe it was merely teenage angst) and passion back then for writing pages and pages in a single entry. Now when I get home from work I usually just want to read, watch TV, check CNN.com, and go on facebook. Luckily my career enables me to write on a daily basis which does make me feel a little better about not writing for myself.
2. I am not very graceful. Never have been, never will be. I am constantly tripping, falling, ramming into things, getting bruised, dropping objects on the floor, etc. I don't know what it is but I have spent my entire life crashing and burning. Falling down entire flights of stairs, breaking my wrist rollerskating, falling off my bike, breaking my ankle (twice), and constantly watching things slide from my grip (my deodorant, my hairbrush, tupperware--you name it, it's on the ground).
3. I work really hard to maintain my weight. I've lost 30 pounds on Weight Watchers since joining nearly 3 years ago and every day is somewhat of a struggle. I eat healthfully for the most part but I find it hard when I see skinnier people consuming however many calories a day and staying the same weight when I have one bad day and notice every single ounce gained. I try to keep a positive self image but after battling a negative one for so many years, it can be difficult at times.
4. Jeff and I met in Chorus at UConn. He was sitting in the Tenor section and I was an Alto, and he was always laughing and being friendly to everyone around him. I could tell right away that he was truly a genuine person (and the cute floppy brown hair and shining brown eyes didn't hurt, either). I developed a crush at 17 when I was a freshman (he was a sophomore) and soon found out that he was still with his high school sweetheart of three years. So we became friends and I waited my turn...we finally started going out my junior year. He was well worth the wait.
5. My favorite city in the world is London. I spent the fall semester of my senior year of college there and I have been there a total of 4 times. It feels like home to me. I love Oxford Circus and Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, and Leicester Square. And Jeff proposed to me on Tower Bridge on September 12, 2005.
6. I love clothes from JCrew, Ann Taylor Loft and Banana. If money wasn't an object, I would seriously buy new clothes every week. I'm not shallow or vain, but I just like the way I feel when I'm wearing a certain pair of cute pants or a nice sweater. I have been told that I am "preppy" which I suppose is accurate...I might describe myself as "classic." I love cords and sweaters and cardigans, jeans and flats and button down shirts. I don't wear a lot of t-shirts/sweatshirts/sneakers out unless I'm exercising or going for a walk.
7. My favorite author is Jodi Picoult. She writes vividly and realistically, and while I don't love all her books equally (a few favorites include "My Sister's Keeper," "The Pact," and "Salem Falls"), I find that she tends to write in a voice that I can relate to. I had the opportunity to meet her at a book signing once and unfortunately I was so nervous I could barely even pay her the compliment that was inside my head. She ended up telling me she liked my coat.
8. Speaking of famous encounters, I suppose I should tell one of the stories that has become one of my claims to fame. When I worked at the Goodspeed Opera House, I met Julie Andrews who was there directing "The Boy Friend." You would think I would tell her how much I enjoyed "The Sound of Music" when I was growing up (loved it!) but oh, no...I was making platters of cheese and crackers for the Opening Night party and since I am clumsy (see random thing #2), I was having an issue cutting the cheese in perfect little squares, so I had a plate of misshapen cheese pieces to the side. Anyway, Big Jules comes in from rehearsal and exclaims "I'm starving!" so I run over with my plate of misshapen cheese pieces and say "Would you like some rejected cheese pieces?!" to which she replied "Rejected cheese pieces would be lovely. Let me just go get some bread." No joke.
9. My parents have one of the best relationships I have ever known. They are each other's best friend, they still have date night every Friday and honestly enjoy being with each other. I think they were an excellent example for my own relationship with Jeff.
10. We have a cat named Nutmeg. I love cats!! Throughout the course of my life, my family has had many cats: Natasha, O.J., Buckwheat, Frisky, Cupcake, Fievel, Tuxedo, and Oreo.
11. I have my Teaching Certification and am certified to teach K-6 in Connecticut, however, I know that teaching isn't where I am meant to be. I had applied to 54 teaching jobs in 2004 and couldn't land a single interview despite being in the national educational honor society...so I ended up at Goodspeed for 3 and a 1/2 years and now I am working as a Strategic Proposal Writer at Aetna. I like my job because it involves strategy, editing, writing, and every case is different and dynamic. OH, and the people in our department are young, driven, and smart. And great.
12. I only have 2 wisdom teeth and to date I haven't had to have them removed. However, I have been feeling a dull pain where my right one is and am wondering if it will be time soon (they told me it would be time years ago).
13. One of the hardest things I've ever had to go through was when Jeff's dad died in 2003. We knew for a year that it was coming, but we didn't know when. I was 23 when he was diagnosed with cancer and honestly had no idea how to deal with my boyfriend/best friend's father dying. I know it was obviously way harder on Jeff, but it was one of the first times I felt like my listening skills and love were just not enough.
14. I love rollercoasters, water slides, and almost any other amusement park ride...but I HATE the bumper cars. This all stems from one incident when I was probably 10 or 11, and I couldn't get my car to face the right way...so I was driving the wrong way and getting hit by EVERYONE while simultaneously being yelled at by the ride operator when everyone was staring at me. I was a crying mess by the time I exited the ride (never did get my car to face the right way!!) and I have never been back on the bumper cars since.
15. I am incredibly nostalgic, sometimes to a fault. I love looking at old photos, home videos, yearbooks, discussing memories with my family and friends, watching chorus concerts and even sometimes (don't laugh) reading an old Baby-sitters Club or Sweet Valley Twins book. There's just something about that safe and innocent piece of your childhood that will always feel like home to me.
16. I hate when people tailgate me on the highway, but I also hate it when the car in front of me is going 20 miles an hour when the speed limit is 45. I am usually sandwiched between the two (someone on my ass and someone in front of me that is never going to get where they're going). Ask Jeff. I am a bad driver magnet.
17. My brother and I used to use his glow-in-the-dark Construx to create outerspace in his bedroom. We would spread out the Construx all over his floor (strategically, of course) and then turn off the lights and pretend we were above The Milky Way somewhere.
18. I love theatre. I wish I could see more shows...but over the years I have seen "Les Mis", "Phantom", "Rent", "Mamma Mia", "Wicked", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Doubt," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Glass Menagerie," "The Lion King," etc. and countless Goodspeed shows.
19. I value my husband, family, and friends over anything else in my life. I really would do anything for the people who are close to me. And I love listening and giving advice (when asked for it).
20. I once made up a song about Lunchables to the tune of "Silver Bells" on our family trip out West in 1995 (somewhere between Utah and Arizona). Lunchables...lunchables...oh how my brother loves to EAT them! Ham and cheese, turkey breast...this is what my bro loves beeeesst. Crackers and cheese, two kinds of each, it just melts in his mouth....while his sister looks on in...pure envy. (You get the point).
21. I love listening to music and singing. I like a wide array of music from alternative (Fleet Foxes, Kate Nash, Band of Horses) to high school favs (Tori Amos, Indigo Girls, Dave Matthews Band) to 80s (any of it) and 90s (grunge--Pearl Jam, STP, Candlebox)...also musicals, old favs like Simon and Garfunkel, etc.
22. I am currently craving Birthday Cake Remix from Coldstone. Yum.
23. I believe in ghosts. My dad had a personal experience and I love all paranormal shows (especially "Ghost Hunters") but I have never experienced anything myself.
24. I am mostly Irish. (75%) and then a little Polish and French (Canadian).
25. I love the Howard Stern show. And Artie Lange cupcakes.
2. I am not very graceful. Never have been, never will be. I am constantly tripping, falling, ramming into things, getting bruised, dropping objects on the floor, etc. I don't know what it is but I have spent my entire life crashing and burning. Falling down entire flights of stairs, breaking my wrist rollerskating, falling off my bike, breaking my ankle (twice), and constantly watching things slide from my grip (my deodorant, my hairbrush, tupperware--you name it, it's on the ground).
3. I work really hard to maintain my weight. I've lost 30 pounds on Weight Watchers since joining nearly 3 years ago and every day is somewhat of a struggle. I eat healthfully for the most part but I find it hard when I see skinnier people consuming however many calories a day and staying the same weight when I have one bad day and notice every single ounce gained. I try to keep a positive self image but after battling a negative one for so many years, it can be difficult at times.
4. Jeff and I met in Chorus at UConn. He was sitting in the Tenor section and I was an Alto, and he was always laughing and being friendly to everyone around him. I could tell right away that he was truly a genuine person (and the cute floppy brown hair and shining brown eyes didn't hurt, either). I developed a crush at 17 when I was a freshman (he was a sophomore) and soon found out that he was still with his high school sweetheart of three years. So we became friends and I waited my turn...we finally started going out my junior year. He was well worth the wait.
5. My favorite city in the world is London. I spent the fall semester of my senior year of college there and I have been there a total of 4 times. It feels like home to me. I love Oxford Circus and Trafalgar Square, Covent Garden, Piccadilly Circus, and Leicester Square. And Jeff proposed to me on Tower Bridge on September 12, 2005.
6. I love clothes from JCrew, Ann Taylor Loft and Banana. If money wasn't an object, I would seriously buy new clothes every week. I'm not shallow or vain, but I just like the way I feel when I'm wearing a certain pair of cute pants or a nice sweater. I have been told that I am "preppy" which I suppose is accurate...I might describe myself as "classic." I love cords and sweaters and cardigans, jeans and flats and button down shirts. I don't wear a lot of t-shirts/sweatshirts/sneakers out unless I'm exercising or going for a walk.
7. My favorite author is Jodi Picoult. She writes vividly and realistically, and while I don't love all her books equally (a few favorites include "My Sister's Keeper," "The Pact," and "Salem Falls"), I find that she tends to write in a voice that I can relate to. I had the opportunity to meet her at a book signing once and unfortunately I was so nervous I could barely even pay her the compliment that was inside my head. She ended up telling me she liked my coat.
8. Speaking of famous encounters, I suppose I should tell one of the stories that has become one of my claims to fame. When I worked at the Goodspeed Opera House, I met Julie Andrews who was there directing "The Boy Friend." You would think I would tell her how much I enjoyed "The Sound of Music" when I was growing up (loved it!) but oh, no...I was making platters of cheese and crackers for the Opening Night party and since I am clumsy (see random thing #2), I was having an issue cutting the cheese in perfect little squares, so I had a plate of misshapen cheese pieces to the side. Anyway, Big Jules comes in from rehearsal and exclaims "I'm starving!" so I run over with my plate of misshapen cheese pieces and say "Would you like some rejected cheese pieces?!" to which she replied "Rejected cheese pieces would be lovely. Let me just go get some bread." No joke.
9. My parents have one of the best relationships I have ever known. They are each other's best friend, they still have date night every Friday and honestly enjoy being with each other. I think they were an excellent example for my own relationship with Jeff.
10. We have a cat named Nutmeg. I love cats!! Throughout the course of my life, my family has had many cats: Natasha, O.J., Buckwheat, Frisky, Cupcake, Fievel, Tuxedo, and Oreo.
11. I have my Teaching Certification and am certified to teach K-6 in Connecticut, however, I know that teaching isn't where I am meant to be. I had applied to 54 teaching jobs in 2004 and couldn't land a single interview despite being in the national educational honor society...so I ended up at Goodspeed for 3 and a 1/2 years and now I am working as a Strategic Proposal Writer at Aetna. I like my job because it involves strategy, editing, writing, and every case is different and dynamic. OH, and the people in our department are young, driven, and smart. And great.
12. I only have 2 wisdom teeth and to date I haven't had to have them removed. However, I have been feeling a dull pain where my right one is and am wondering if it will be time soon (they told me it would be time years ago).
13. One of the hardest things I've ever had to go through was when Jeff's dad died in 2003. We knew for a year that it was coming, but we didn't know when. I was 23 when he was diagnosed with cancer and honestly had no idea how to deal with my boyfriend/best friend's father dying. I know it was obviously way harder on Jeff, but it was one of the first times I felt like my listening skills and love were just not enough.
14. I love rollercoasters, water slides, and almost any other amusement park ride...but I HATE the bumper cars. This all stems from one incident when I was probably 10 or 11, and I couldn't get my car to face the right way...so I was driving the wrong way and getting hit by EVERYONE while simultaneously being yelled at by the ride operator when everyone was staring at me. I was a crying mess by the time I exited the ride (never did get my car to face the right way!!) and I have never been back on the bumper cars since.
15. I am incredibly nostalgic, sometimes to a fault. I love looking at old photos, home videos, yearbooks, discussing memories with my family and friends, watching chorus concerts and even sometimes (don't laugh) reading an old Baby-sitters Club or Sweet Valley Twins book. There's just something about that safe and innocent piece of your childhood that will always feel like home to me.
16. I hate when people tailgate me on the highway, but I also hate it when the car in front of me is going 20 miles an hour when the speed limit is 45. I am usually sandwiched between the two (someone on my ass and someone in front of me that is never going to get where they're going). Ask Jeff. I am a bad driver magnet.
17. My brother and I used to use his glow-in-the-dark Construx to create outerspace in his bedroom. We would spread out the Construx all over his floor (strategically, of course) and then turn off the lights and pretend we were above The Milky Way somewhere.
18. I love theatre. I wish I could see more shows...but over the years I have seen "Les Mis", "Phantom", "Rent", "Mamma Mia", "Wicked", "Fiddler on the Roof", "Doubt," "A Streetcar Named Desire," "The Glass Menagerie," "The Lion King," etc. and countless Goodspeed shows.
19. I value my husband, family, and friends over anything else in my life. I really would do anything for the people who are close to me. And I love listening and giving advice (when asked for it).
20. I once made up a song about Lunchables to the tune of "Silver Bells" on our family trip out West in 1995 (somewhere between Utah and Arizona). Lunchables...lunchables...oh how my brother loves to EAT them! Ham and cheese, turkey breast...this is what my bro loves beeeesst. Crackers and cheese, two kinds of each, it just melts in his mouth....while his sister looks on in...pure envy. (You get the point).
21. I love listening to music and singing. I like a wide array of music from alternative (Fleet Foxes, Kate Nash, Band of Horses) to high school favs (Tori Amos, Indigo Girls, Dave Matthews Band) to 80s (any of it) and 90s (grunge--Pearl Jam, STP, Candlebox)...also musicals, old favs like Simon and Garfunkel, etc.
22. I am currently craving Birthday Cake Remix from Coldstone. Yum.
23. I believe in ghosts. My dad had a personal experience and I love all paranormal shows (especially "Ghost Hunters") but I have never experienced anything myself.
24. I am mostly Irish. (75%) and then a little Polish and French (Canadian).
25. I love the Howard Stern show. And Artie Lange cupcakes.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Happy 2009!
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Became a strategic proposal writer, welcomed my brother's new fiancee to the family, adopted my cat, drove to Boston, bought an Altima, visited Charlotte, NC, started a book club, initiated Artie Lange Cupcake Day, made it through layoffs, assisted with Open Enrollment in D.C., attended a Lia Sophia party.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really do resolutions. I try to be the best person I can be every day, although it definitely shows more on certain days. I would like to get back on the Weight Watchers track, though. I've been kind of a slacker.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Scott and Kem just welcomed their baby boy on December 11th.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? The U.S. (namely North Carolina, Vermont, D.C., Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia).
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? I will let you know :).
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 14th...my snowy 1st day at Aetna. That day really determined how the rest of my year would turn out. I feel like it was fairly successful.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Proving myself in my position at work and developing a career for myself.
9. What was your biggest failure? Falling off the Weight Watchers wagon.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing worth writing about.
11. What was the best thing you bought? We were pretty frugal this year. I didn't buy my cat, but I would say that her vet bills are well worth the happiness she has brought us.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? The behavior of U.S. voters! (agreed, Sarah--can't really beat that one).
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I don't want to go into it on a public blog.
14. Where did most of your money go? mortgage, car payment, taxes, groceries, gas (over the summer). Ugh I am a grown-up!!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Besides the new job I was really excited about visiting with the girls in Vermont. It was a wonderful weekend getaway.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? "Foundations" by Kate Nash.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? same ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter, I guess, but not by much, and post-holiday season, I will change that. iii. richer or poorer? richer, although with the economy I feel poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Exercise
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Eating unhealthy food, caring too much what people think about me.
20. How did you spend Christmas? At my parents' house celebrating my brother's engagement.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Have been in love for 9 years.
22. How many one-night stands? None.
23. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's, Lost, Ghost Hunters, The Biggest Loser
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Hate is way too strong a word. I don't actually hate anyone.
25. What was the best book you read? "The Kite Runner" and "Memoirs of a Geisha"
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Fleet Foxes, Kate Nash, A Fine Frenzy
27. What did you want and get? a new car!
28. What did you want and not get? nothing, I really have everything I want at the moment.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn't see many movies, but the most anticipated would have to have been Sex and the City.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 29. Jeff and I went out for breakfast, then spent all day Christmas shopping in Mistick Village...then went to Starbucks for caramel apple spices, and then to the Daniel Packer Inne for a romantic dinner by the fireplace in the pub downstairs. Oh, and we had homemade fudge from the general store.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being able to save more money. It has been hard.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? someone described me as preppy. Not sure about that...but classic, I guess.
33. What kept you sane? Who said I'm sane?
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I don't fancy celebrities. Boring, I know.
35. What political issue stirred you the most? The election and the economy.
36. Who did you miss? Heather, Corrine, Jess, and I did miss my brother but just saw him.
37. Who was the best new person you met? quite a few from the new job...
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: That is extremely hard to do and I am not feeling all that creative this afternoon. Sorry!
Became a strategic proposal writer, welcomed my brother's new fiancee to the family, adopted my cat, drove to Boston, bought an Altima, visited Charlotte, NC, started a book club, initiated Artie Lange Cupcake Day, made it through layoffs, assisted with Open Enrollment in D.C., attended a Lia Sophia party.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don't really do resolutions. I try to be the best person I can be every day, although it definitely shows more on certain days. I would like to get back on the Weight Watchers track, though. I've been kind of a slacker.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Scott and Kem just welcomed their baby boy on December 11th.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? The U.S. (namely North Carolina, Vermont, D.C., Massachusetts, Maryland, and Virginia).
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? I will let you know :).
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 14th...my snowy 1st day at Aetna. That day really determined how the rest of my year would turn out. I feel like it was fairly successful.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Proving myself in my position at work and developing a career for myself.
9. What was your biggest failure? Falling off the Weight Watchers wagon.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Nothing worth writing about.
11. What was the best thing you bought? We were pretty frugal this year. I didn't buy my cat, but I would say that her vet bills are well worth the happiness she has brought us.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? The behavior of U.S. voters! (agreed, Sarah--can't really beat that one).
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I don't want to go into it on a public blog.
14. Where did most of your money go? mortgage, car payment, taxes, groceries, gas (over the summer). Ugh I am a grown-up!!
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Besides the new job I was really excited about visiting with the girls in Vermont. It was a wonderful weekend getaway.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? "Foundations" by Kate Nash.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: i. happier or sadder? same ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter, I guess, but not by much, and post-holiday season, I will change that. iii. richer or poorer? richer, although with the economy I feel poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Exercise
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Eating unhealthy food, caring too much what people think about me.
20. How did you spend Christmas? At my parents' house celebrating my brother's engagement.
21. Did you fall in love in 2008? Have been in love for 9 years.
22. How many one-night stands? None.
23. What was your favorite TV program? Grey's, Lost, Ghost Hunters, The Biggest Loser
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Hate is way too strong a word. I don't actually hate anyone.
25. What was the best book you read? "The Kite Runner" and "Memoirs of a Geisha"
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? Fleet Foxes, Kate Nash, A Fine Frenzy
27. What did you want and get? a new car!
28. What did you want and not get? nothing, I really have everything I want at the moment.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn't see many movies, but the most anticipated would have to have been Sex and the City.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 29. Jeff and I went out for breakfast, then spent all day Christmas shopping in Mistick Village...then went to Starbucks for caramel apple spices, and then to the Daniel Packer Inne for a romantic dinner by the fireplace in the pub downstairs. Oh, and we had homemade fudge from the general store.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being able to save more money. It has been hard.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008? someone described me as preppy. Not sure about that...but classic, I guess.
33. What kept you sane? Who said I'm sane?
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I don't fancy celebrities. Boring, I know.
35. What political issue stirred you the most? The election and the economy.
36. Who did you miss? Heather, Corrine, Jess, and I did miss my brother but just saw him.
37. Who was the best new person you met? quite a few from the new job...
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: That is extremely hard to do and I am not feeling all that creative this afternoon. Sorry!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
I have a number of things I want to write about, and none of them are really connected so this entry may seem a little disjointed. You're probably thinking "Whatever, Tara, at least you're actually writing something for a change." I know I haven't been the most prolific blogger recently.
So I will start with a conversation I had with one of my favorite girls (well, favorite little girls). Caity turned 8 this year and she has been into "High School Musical" since it came out in 2006...so of course she wanted the "High School Musical 3" DVD for Christmas. I asked her about it when I went over there Christmas night, and she looked slightly disappointed when she replied that she had received the HSM video game and Barbie doll, but that the movie was sold out. I said "Well Santa must have had to deliver a lot of those this year; I'm sure it was a popular item on kids' wish lists." She half-smiled and replied seriously, "Yeah...but I just thought that the elves might be able to make the movie or something." I wanted to laugh and give her a huge hug at the same time. I love the fact that she still truly believes and can speak about the elves as if they are real people, working hard up on the North Pole. It's so refreshing to talk with someone who isn't jaded about the outside world, who doesn't fully understand current events or have to worry about anything more than not receiving her favorite DVD on Christmas morning. I hope she has a few more years left of that innocence and that she continues to enjoy the simple experiences that make up a treasured childhood.
This Christmas was special in many ways. I am fairly spoiled by Jeff and my family every year around this time between my birthday and Christmas. People with December birthdays often complain that they are overlooked during the holiday season, but that has never been the case with me. Growing up, my parents always made sure to have a separate family birthday party for me, as well as separate presents (and no Christmas wrapping paper on my birthday presents!) This year was no different, even though I turned 29. Of course I appreciate the attention, but that's not what made the holiday special this time around.
My brother proposed to his girlfriend Sakshi on Christmas Eve at the beach near our house. They came over with my parents to see our tree, and when we saw them coming up the sidewalk, Sakshi exclaimed in a somewhat shaky voice, "We have something to tell you!" Jeff guessed right away and whispered in my ear "They're engaged" but I was in shock. It's funny, I've spent almost my entire life with my brother (minus the 2 and 3/4 years that I was an only child), and somehow I had never imagined this day. That may sound unreasonable, but when he was growing up and people asked him "Are you going to get married someday, Ry?", the answer was always "No way!" followed by a nasty grimace. He went through girlfriends in high school and even in college, but I guess to me I never truly thought any of them would become a significant part of his life. But that was before he met Sakshi.
She is beautiful, and funny, and charming. When Ryan teases her, she gives it back to him like no one in his life ever has been able to (not even me). I think that characteristic has allowed him to respect her. In the past, his other girlfriends or girl friends merely took the teasing in stride and played the doormat role which didn't (and doesn't) impress my brother. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to be ready to argue and to prove your point. He has a strong personality and likes the challenge of someone who will put him in his place. Ryan and Sakshi complement each other in a way I never thought possible. I remember when he first called home to tell us about meeting her at grad school in September 2006, he said: "She looks exACTly like Princess Jasmine from "Aladdin", Tara." And he's right, she does. She's from India, has a perfect British accent (whe she says his name it sounds like "Rine" instead of "Ryan") and they both completed the MBA program together so she is obviously extremely smart. It almost brings tears to my eyes to think of my little brother finding this amazing love...and while I had noticed their relationship becoming serious for a while now, I guess I just never imagined this next step happening in the near future. It has made me realize how much he has matured even in the past year, to make this decision and to want to dedicate the rest of his life to her.
In my head, I can still see Ryan with a shock of blond hair making crazy faces, playing Sega Genesis, holding my hand on the beach when he was 4...I can see us dying Easter eggs, licking cake batter from the beaters, playing basketball, creating a universe out of Construx. I don't always see the 6 foot 5 muscular person that he has become. I can't always comprehend that he is 26 now, with a classy apartment in Charlotte and a well-paying job. But this Christmas Eve I opened my eyes and truly saw all of him for the first time--from the little brother he used to be to the adult that he has become. I really think that Sakshi has been an important piece in his development...I can even see elements in him that could only have been developed out of care and consideration for her. And all of it makes me extremely happy.
So I will start with a conversation I had with one of my favorite girls (well, favorite little girls). Caity turned 8 this year and she has been into "High School Musical" since it came out in 2006...so of course she wanted the "High School Musical 3" DVD for Christmas. I asked her about it when I went over there Christmas night, and she looked slightly disappointed when she replied that she had received the HSM video game and Barbie doll, but that the movie was sold out. I said "Well Santa must have had to deliver a lot of those this year; I'm sure it was a popular item on kids' wish lists." She half-smiled and replied seriously, "Yeah...but I just thought that the elves might be able to make the movie or something." I wanted to laugh and give her a huge hug at the same time. I love the fact that she still truly believes and can speak about the elves as if they are real people, working hard up on the North Pole. It's so refreshing to talk with someone who isn't jaded about the outside world, who doesn't fully understand current events or have to worry about anything more than not receiving her favorite DVD on Christmas morning. I hope she has a few more years left of that innocence and that she continues to enjoy the simple experiences that make up a treasured childhood.
This Christmas was special in many ways. I am fairly spoiled by Jeff and my family every year around this time between my birthday and Christmas. People with December birthdays often complain that they are overlooked during the holiday season, but that has never been the case with me. Growing up, my parents always made sure to have a separate family birthday party for me, as well as separate presents (and no Christmas wrapping paper on my birthday presents!) This year was no different, even though I turned 29. Of course I appreciate the attention, but that's not what made the holiday special this time around.
My brother proposed to his girlfriend Sakshi on Christmas Eve at the beach near our house. They came over with my parents to see our tree, and when we saw them coming up the sidewalk, Sakshi exclaimed in a somewhat shaky voice, "We have something to tell you!" Jeff guessed right away and whispered in my ear "They're engaged" but I was in shock. It's funny, I've spent almost my entire life with my brother (minus the 2 and 3/4 years that I was an only child), and somehow I had never imagined this day. That may sound unreasonable, but when he was growing up and people asked him "Are you going to get married someday, Ry?", the answer was always "No way!" followed by a nasty grimace. He went through girlfriends in high school and even in college, but I guess to me I never truly thought any of them would become a significant part of his life. But that was before he met Sakshi.
She is beautiful, and funny, and charming. When Ryan teases her, she gives it back to him like no one in his life ever has been able to (not even me). I think that characteristic has allowed him to respect her. In the past, his other girlfriends or girl friends merely took the teasing in stride and played the doormat role which didn't (and doesn't) impress my brother. If you want to be taken seriously, you need to be ready to argue and to prove your point. He has a strong personality and likes the challenge of someone who will put him in his place. Ryan and Sakshi complement each other in a way I never thought possible. I remember when he first called home to tell us about meeting her at grad school in September 2006, he said: "She looks exACTly like Princess Jasmine from "Aladdin", Tara." And he's right, she does. She's from India, has a perfect British accent (whe she says his name it sounds like "Rine" instead of "Ryan") and they both completed the MBA program together so she is obviously extremely smart. It almost brings tears to my eyes to think of my little brother finding this amazing love...and while I had noticed their relationship becoming serious for a while now, I guess I just never imagined this next step happening in the near future. It has made me realize how much he has matured even in the past year, to make this decision and to want to dedicate the rest of his life to her.
In my head, I can still see Ryan with a shock of blond hair making crazy faces, playing Sega Genesis, holding my hand on the beach when he was 4...I can see us dying Easter eggs, licking cake batter from the beaters, playing basketball, creating a universe out of Construx. I don't always see the 6 foot 5 muscular person that he has become. I can't always comprehend that he is 26 now, with a classy apartment in Charlotte and a well-paying job. But this Christmas Eve I opened my eyes and truly saw all of him for the first time--from the little brother he used to be to the adult that he has become. I really think that Sakshi has been an important piece in his development...I can even see elements in him that could only have been developed out of care and consideration for her. And all of it makes me extremely happy.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Christmas comes this time each year...
I am sitting on the couch staring at the naked tree in my living room. Stockings are hung by the buffet with care (we don't have a fireplace), "The Christmas Song" is blaring through the TV speakers (thank you, seasonal holiday channel!) and I am sipping a glass of pinot grigio. Nutmeg just discovered the colorful light display that is spiraling out from the electrical outlet in disarray (checking to see if they still light up from last year), and I am awaiting Jeff's return home so we can decorate the tree together. Our 2nd Christmas here in our house...hard to believe. Oh, he's back! More later...
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Well I am back from Open Enrollment in D.C. which proved to be an even more worthwhile experience than I had originally imagined. Being there during and after the election was both meaningful and interesting for me (despite the fact that only weeks prior to the trip I was whining about being overpoliticized and about the constant TV coverage). On Wednesday the 5th I had a health fair at the Department of Justice from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. I left the hotel in the morning with a sense of optimism and an overall lighter feeling because I felt that change really was on the horizon for the first time since I was 20. I am looking forward to real action as opposed to rhetoric in the upcoming months and years, but this election was definitely a step in the right direction. After all, America has endured eight years of incompetence and uncertainty, and I know we have all felt the ramifications. I passed a number of newspaper vendors on the way to the Metro but didn't have room to carry one in addition to my health fair materials. I should have purchased one while I had the chance--after my meeting ended, they were completely sold out across the city and even in Alexandria, where my hotel was located. After the health fair, I decided to follow Pennsylvania Avenue down to the Capitol Building to take some pictures and observe people's reactions. For the most part, people seemed subdued which I though
t was strange...however, I believe there had been a lot of celebrating the night before, so it may have just been due to lack of energy. About halfway to the Capitol, I noticed a long line of people standing outside in front of a building, taking photos and video, and reading whatever exhibit was in front of them. I looked up and realized that I was at the Newseum in downtown D.C. Apparently the Newseum displays 730 front pages and headlines from 66 different countries on the sidewalk in front of the actual building daily, and I happened to be there for an unprecedented day. I captured whatever I could with my camera but it would be difficult to pin down the excitement and the passion that seemed to seep from the people around me in front of those headlines. I loved being in the middle of it all, especially since I am an avid news reader and watcher. But of course the day wouldn't be complete without a Tara anecdote. I continued walking down to the Capitol, by one of the reflecting pools, past an art museum, to a park bench right outside the building. I called Jeff and relayed my excitement over the Newseum (definitely a place I want to ac
tually check out the next time I am in the area) and then hung up when he had to take care of something for work. I decided to walk through the grounds a bit before returning to the street, and as soon as I walked under the first tree, I felt something heavy and wet land in my hair. "Hmmm," I thought. "Please don't let that be what I think it was." I reached up and touched my head and hair and of course it was green bird crap and I nearly lost it because I had no napkins or tissues or anything that would be conducive to getting the crap out of my hair. A token to remember the day by. At that moment, I wasn't thrilled, but people do claim that it's good luck, so we will see what happens in the coming months. As my friend Sarah says, I am cautiously optimistic.
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