Just Us

A Decade Later

2009-08-21T10:15:00.002-04:00

So tomorrow is my ten year high school reunion. I know some of you with a few years on me are probably chuckling at my wonder at how its even possible that ten years have passed already, but I'm still in awe at how quickly time goes by.

For many people, high school is a time that they prefer not to think about. It was an awkward, weird phase, and they are perfectly content not reliving that time or thinking about the people who were in their lives then. While I was, for sure, the epitome of awkward, I loved high school, and I'm so fortunate to still keep in touch with many of my high school friends. And while I know I still have a lot to learn, I can't believe how much I have changed in the past ten years, as I'm sure have so many of my classmates.

I have very mixed emotions about tomorrow's reunion. One part of me is really excited. I can't wait to see my friends who have moved far away, and just be a part of the reunion experience. The other part of me is nervous. While I loved high school, the typical cliques and jealousy existed and I hope that those attitudes have faded over ten years. Its funny, we've all "friended" each other over Facebook, but I never have actual conversations with the people who I didn't really talk to in high school either. It will be interesting to see how time has changed people, for the better or the worse.

I'll be sure to update with stories and pictures. I do know one thing though. I'm going into tomorrow with more confidence and pride in myself and my life than I ever thought I would. No matter how the night turns out, I'm proud to represent who I have become over the past ten years.

This Makes Me Smile

2009-07-28T15:45:00.001-04:00

I just told a 46 year old woman that I just accepted her and she screeched and giggled like a 14 year old girl at a Jonas Brother's concert.

I love my job. :)

The Anniversary Trip

2009-07-26T20:39:00.014-04:00

Its hard to believe that its been two years already since our wedding day. Its safe to say that July 28th, 2007 was the happiest day of my life. There were many times growing up that I thought that day would never come, but it did, and now here we are, just about two years later, and still as happy as we were on that day.

As you may or may not remember, last year around our anniversary was when Jim's mom, Mary had her brain aneurysm and was hospitalized in Boston. We made it back to Maine for our first anniversary, but it was almost impossible to celebrate as we had much bigger things to worry about. So when my mom called me a few weeks ago out of the blue and offered to babysit Rowdy so we could go away and celebrate our anniversary this year, I jumped on the opportunity. We didn't want to go too far away, and I had hotel points saved up from my work travels over the past year, so we cashed them in and headed about an hour and a half up the coast to Camden, Maine.

I'd only been to Camden a few times, when I was very young, so I didn't have much memory, but Jim spent many a summer in the town on his dads boat as he was growing up. It was really cool to watch him reminisce and show me the places around town that he remembered. We started off our trip with a stop at the breakwater in Rockland. Attached to the beautiful Samoset Resort, this rock pathway is almost a mile long, and has a gorgeous two story lighthouse attached at the end. Jim was amazing and let me take my time as I fiddled around with my new camera. Here are a few of my favorite shots:

From the breakwater we headed into Camden for dinner and a sunset cruise. We found this little restaurant on the water, Atlantica. If you ever find yourself in Camden, eat here! This place was amazing! The decor was stylish, the view was amazing, and the food was to die for. It was so reasonably priced too! I enjoyed a delicious lobster roll, and Jim dined on the best fish and chips Ive ever had...and I hate fish and chips.

After dinner we headed to the docks for our sunset sail reservation. As luck would have it, we were the only ones registered for the sail, and the captain aboard Schooner Olad was kind enough to still take us out. It was amazing. It was the most relaxed tour Ive ever been on. The captain, Aaron, and his deckhand Ben just hung out with us, chatted about nothing, and let us just sit and watch the sun set. I think they appreciated not having to be on, and we appreciated just a nice relaxing sunset cruise. It was the perfect end to the day.

Today proved to be a wet one, with lots of clouds and rain, but we still made the drive up Mt. Battie, and stopped at Fort Edgecomb State Park on the way home for some more photo shots.

It was an amazing weekend, and I'm so grateful to my mom for offering to come down so that we could go. One thing Ive learned in my few very short years of marriage is that its easy to forget to take time for each other. Having a weekend just to ourselves with no real agenda, and no plans with anyone else but just us was so needed, and I think we both agree its something we need to do much more often.

To see all of our photos, click here

Camden/Rockport and Fort Edgecomb State Park, Maine

Ahhh Camp

2009-07-17T14:31:00.008-04:00

Seven years ago, I spent the spring semester of my junior year in college abroad in Spain. Not only did the experience change my life by way of understanding the world, but it also gave me some amazing new friends. Katelyn and Kristen were friends of mine from Keene State, and the three of us lived together during our semester abroad. While I made some of my closest friends in college, it is undeniable that the bond created with those you study abroad is an entirely different game.

Following our semester abroad, Katelyn invited us to her uncle's camp in upstate New York. Excited to reunite, we all made the drive to the Adirondacks, the trunks of our little cars full of cases of cheap beer and liquor. We were ready to get our party on.

Katelyn's dad and uncle came to supervise.

We had a ball nonetheless. In fact, I think Uncle George was more than excited to have a bunch of 21 year olds at the camp, and even got all dressed up to go to the local dive bar, the I-Go-In and hang with the cool kids. All I really remember is him driving us in his truck, wearing a cowboy hat, with the windows down, and Michael Jackson blaring out of the speakers. He really thought he had it made. We still laugh about that night.

Seven summers later, we still go to camp. I think we can officially call it a tradition and I know its something we all look forward every year as summer approaches. This year I had to laugh as we all pulled into the parking lot. Our trunks were still packed with beer and liquor, but this time we all arrived in family sized SUVs, had high quality beer, mid-shelf liquor, and our favorite books. New friends and significant others have joined the original crew, and Katelyn's dad and Uncle George let us be, and we spent the weekend reading on the porch, laying out on the dock, or enjoying quiet conversation by the fire. Maybe we're just getting old, but it was absolutely perfect.

One thing I've learned as I've found my way into adulthood is that true friendships are a real gift. So many people come in and out of our lives along the way. To get together with friends who know the real you, who you can be exactly who you are around, and who appreciate the real person you are truly is special, and I feel very blessed for every minute I get to spend with these girls.

Here are some pics, I had a ball with my new camera :)

My Newest Hobby

2009-06-21T16:22:00.011-04:00

I love my new camera. I am by far no expert, and still have so much to learn, but learning to use it has been such a blast, and when my mom asked if I would mind trying to take some pictures of my brother Rion for his senior yearbook, I said sure, hoping we would get at least one good shot. What I came home with were over 150 shots, and I was so excited and proud of how far I've come, just by having the right tool in my hand.

The photo shoot with Rion was so much fun. He's a goofy kid, so getting him to ham it up a bit for the camera wasn't very difficult, and made even easier by the ridiculous antics of both Jim and Rick who got Rion blushing more than once.

We started out at my parents house and then found our way to a cement factory which opens up if you walk about a quarter mile through the woods behind Jim's parents house. I think we definitely got a good yearbook shot or two, but Rion was good to let me play around with some artisier and serious shots as well. Here's a taste, you can see many more of my favorites here.

Its dangerous how much fun I had doing this. Thanks for letting me take your pictures Rion!

This Is Why I Love My Job

2009-06-09T10:50:00.004-04:00

I have a student who I have been talking with over the phone for the past few weeks. His situation is a bit complicated, he's come to the U.S. from another country, his English is a bit rough, and he has transcripts coming from all over the place. But boy, is he a charmer. Working with both me and our Associate Director, he has not hesitated to let us know when we're doing a good job.

So today, we're on the phone, and its one of those conversations where you are banging your head against the wall, wondering if its ever going to end, and of course you now really need to use the restroom. The student has been struggling to submit a transcript to us. He promised to fax it to me tonight and I told him I'd call him in the morning to let him know if we got it. Pretty routine stuff.

Then there was this:

Student: Kristina, can I tell you something? (He's very polite and formal)

Me: Sure (student name), what's up? (As I think, oh boy here we go..)

Student: If I get accepted to your university, *pause* I promise, I will make you very proud of me.

Me: (Heart sinks, face softens). You know what (student name), I bet you will.

Its a good job.

A New Look!

2009-06-08T17:33:00.001-04:00

I found this site today with free backgrounds for blogs, and couldn't resist! What do you think of the new look??

Bark in the Park

2009-06-08T12:39:00.016-04:00

We are officially dog people. I never really knew what that meant, even after we got Rowdy, but this weekend it really became obvious that we are that stereotypical family with the SUV and the lab with his flappy ears hanging out of the back windshield, on their way to some event with other dogs and crazy dog owners. And to be perfectly honest, I'm ok with that.

The Portland Sea Dogs are a farm league for the Boston Red Sox, and their field is right downtown. In fact, as you are driving down 295 through the city, you can see the field just off to your right or left, depending on which way you are heading.

Every June the Sea Dogs host an event called "Bark in the Park." On that day, they invite dog owners to bring their pup to the park to participate in a parade and enjoy the game as a family. I'd always wanted to go, but never had a dog, so this year when tickets went on sale I was anxious to finally join the crowd, (you know, being a dog person and all). My friend Angie decided to come along with her chocolate lab Bristol, and we definitely made a day of it. It was a toasty 80ish degrees in the sun, but Planet Dog kindly provided a doggie kiddie pool for the pups (which MY pup decided would be a great urinal), and we had a great time marching around Hadlock Field with the other dogs (which, again MY pup decided would be a great urinal...and then some. Oops.). They got free balls, treats, and lots of play time in with the hundred or so other dogs that were in attendance.

Here are some pictures from the day. I couldn't believe how well behaved all the dogs were. Every once and awhile one would bark from the stands and start a little doggie cheering section, but it was great to be sitting with a bunch of other dog lovers who would laugh it off instead of rolling their eyes, and I think we all had fun hanging out with everyone's little buddies.

This little pug loved Angie! She jumped right up on her and started giving her kisses on her face!

There were so many fun pups there. It was hard not to just walk around and take pictures of them all!

Can't wait for next year!

See-ya Suzuki!

2009-05-25T19:37:00.007-04:00

Well its been coming for months now, but we've finally said adios to the Suzuki. In a way it was a bit bittersweet as the Suzuki was my very first brand new car, but one look at our new wheels and I didn't even look back to say goodbye.

I started thinking about trading in about a year ago, but I didn't really need to, and as it was, I was "under the water" on my current car loan..not a fun place to be. So we decided to wait, and I've been keeping my eyes open ever since. Last fall when I was on the road all the time, I had the opportunity to try out lots of different rental cars. Some I liked, some I hated, and one I loved, the Camry. I only had it for one week, but at the end of it I knew I would be buying a Camry in due time, much to my little brother Rick's dismay as I had taught him that Camry drivers are the devil and that I would never in my life be one. (Next time you get cut off or almost hit, look closely, I bet its a Camry :) ).

At any rate, we really started shopping back in February. We ended up at a few different dealerships, and finally found my car. However, either our calculator was on its last leg or we'd had a few too many beverages before crunching numbers, and financially it just wasn't the right time.

So, we waited. The Suzuki plugged along, shaking just a bit when over 65mph, just passing inspection, and essentially doing its duty to get me to and from work every day. Then last week Jim got the "new" car itch once again, plugged some numbers, and figured out exactly what we could do.

Then it appeared. The perfect Camry. The car I've been dreaming of for months. It was fully loaded, low mileage, in our price range, and in New Hampshire. Jim called the dealership, and told them we'd be down the next day.

Saturday morning we woke up extra early, cleaned out the Suzuki, and headed south, very excited. We pulled into the dealership, shook hands with the salesman, and were crushed when he told us the Camry had sold the night before. They called Jim's work...on a Saturday morning...to let us know we shouldn't make the trip.

So, heavy hearted, we headed north. We knew that Evergreen Subaru in Auburn had a Camry, although not as loaded and at a higher price as the one in New Hampshire, but we decided to go check it out. Jim got his Subie at Evergreen and has been extremely impressed with their service and salesmanship, so we liked the idea of supporting the dealership. We got there, tried out the Camry, and were sorely disappointed. It was obviously a smoker's car, and not in great shape. Disheartened, I didn't even know if I wanted a Camry anymore. We were about to leave when the nice salesman invited us to just take a walk around the lot to check out Subaru's. I didn't figure we'd find anything we could afford, until he pointed out a nice, BIG, 2006 B9 Tribeca.

This is the part of the story where I realize this is getting ridiculously long. So, I'll speed it up.

We test drove it. We liked it. We bought it.

It's awesome.

So, here you have it. My 7 passenger, fully loaded, gets the same gas mileage as Jim's Impreza, monster of a vehicle. And it only cost a few dollars more than the Camry.

Is it just a teeeeeeny bit ridiculous?? Oh sure. Does it have everything we could possibly need now and for the next 5-10 years. It does. I couldn't be happier with our choice.

Come on over and I'll give you a spin. Heck, bring 6 of your friends, because I can fit them too :)

Ahhh Summer

2009-05-22T19:49:00.002-04:00

Dare I say it? Or even think it?? It seems summer is here at last! The past two days have been in the high 80's, my dog is panting like a madman, and the ice cream shop on the corner has a line halfway down main street. I am in my glory.

Its funny how every February and March we all feel like it won't happen. The sun won't shine more than 10 minutes. The snow won't disappear. Those nano-buds on the trees won't ever grow into full-fledged leaves.

But ever year it happens. The snow disappears. The grass turns green almost overnight. Evenings are spent walking amongst smells of burgers on the grill and fresh cut grass. We take it for granted, and before we know it, its gone , and we are longing for it once again.

So my pledge to myself this year is to take it all in. Embrace summer. Throw my window down. Let my hair blow free. Soak in the sun. I encourage you to do the same, because November will be here before you know it and you'll wonder where this amazing time went.

Shout Out!

2009-05-15T16:01:00.002-04:00

This one goes to my hubby...who has just submitted his first ever professional book review, and is featured on the NACADA (National Academic Advising Association) website. Check it out!

If selected, he will be published in this fall's NACADA journal. Nice job babe!

It only took four years...

2009-04-23T19:12:00.014-04:00

...but I finally got to go to a Kenny Chesney concert.

Let me back up just a bit.

I've always like Kenny Chesney songs, but it wasn't until 2006 that I really started liking both his music, and him. Maybe that's when he started getting really popular, or maybe its when I realized that all of my favorite songs were by the same person, but at any rate, there is no question that that's when I became a huge fan. I remember when I was teaching in Braintree, and my Housemaster knew how much I loved Kenny because he was a fan too. He bought the new Kenny CD, which came with a calendar poster. He called me into the office to tell me he'd gotten me a present and gave me the poster. I promptly hung it in my classroom and made all 150 of my students ooh and ahh at it the next day. (Yes, I really am that dorky).

So upon realizing my newest obsession, I learned that he would be playing at Gillette Stadium that summer. Of course, I got online as quickly as I could to find out what day it was so I could be first in line for my tickets.

It was the day I was the Maid of Honor in my best friend Jen's wedding.

So, I moved on, and only slightly lamented as I stood by my best friend's side on that gorgeous July day. (Kidding Jen!) I was determined to make it the following year.

The next February I was riding to work when the DJs on my local country station said that following the break they were going to announce the date of the Kenny concert at Gillettte that summer. My heart was pounding the entire time, praying it would be on a day that I could go. They came back on and...

It was on my wedding day.

Did I think about it on that beautiful July day in 2007? I actually think I did. Don't worry, I was happy to be where I was, and knew there would always be next year.

But no, alas, next year's date fell on July 27th, our anniversary weekend, and we had planned a week long road trip to Wisconsin. As chance would have it, we chose not to go on our trip, but something told me not to try to find tickets. My mother-in-law had her brain aneursym that weekend and we spent it at Mass General.

So by this point, I figure this is a hopeless goal. Maybe Kenny and I were just never meant to be. But this summer....we only have one wedding. One weekend planned. One Friday night. Just. One. Day.

Kenny Chesney's Gillette Stadium Show is Friday, August 14th. The night of my one wedding.

I think I almost cried when I heard the date. Actually, I don't care if you laugh at me, I know for a fact a tear dropped down my face. Never in my life have I wanted to go to a concert so badly. Not even when I was 19 and ridiculously obsessed with Blink 182 (yes, it was a phase), did I want to see them in concert as badly as I wanted to see Kenny.

I gave up. The stars were just not aligned.

So you can imagine that when I heard that he would be playing at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut in April I was only slightly perked up at the idea. It was only 3 weeks away, I was sure tickets were sold out, and something would come up that would keep me from this concert I wanted so badly. I called Jim from the car, he looked up the show, it was indeed, sold out, and I let it go.

Twenty mintues later, my husband called me back. He had just bought me a pair of floor seat tickets.

I cried. Surprisingly not because I was finally going, but because of the ridiculous amount of money that was just dropped on the tickets. But I will say, I got over that very very quickly and turned all of my excitement towards the upcoming show.

The concert was this past weekend. I won't lie, I held my breath the entire way to Connecticut, praying something wouldn't go wrong with the car, or the venue wouldn't catch fire. But we made it, and I can say with utmost confidence that it was the best concert I've ever been to, and probably the best I'll ever go to...until I see him again that is. It was unbelievable.

I was worried about having floor seats and being too far back to see, but the way the stage was set up, we ended up only being about 50 feet from him when he was at the front of the stage. And the best part was that he entered the concert on a swing that lifted him up over the crowd, and started just two rows behind us. It could not have been any better if it were a dream. (Ok, that's a lie, in a dream I'd be on stage making out with him and touching his sexy man arms, but you know what I mean).

Now, I know Kenny's kind of a petite guy. And I really thought that once I saw him in person I'd get over my obsession with his looks. I thought for sure that up close, he just wouldn't do it for me. I was so wrong. My friend Angie and I stood there and just STARED at him, speechless for so much of the show. He is absolutely incredible. His energy was unreal, his voice was incredible, and he really is an amazing performer. At the end of the concert he did something I've never seen an artist do. The lights came up, and he stayed on stage and signed autographs. I thought it was incredibly humble and really showed how much he appreciates his fans.

I'll leave you with some of my favorite pictures from the show. If you ever get a chance to go to a concert at Mohegan Sun, do it. The venue holds about 10,000 but feels so small, and I don't think there's a bad seat in the house. I'm so glad I didn't see him at Gillette Stadium. This experience was better than I could have ever imagined.

I guess everything really does happen for a reason.

Our New Toy!

2009-04-15T19:08:00.011-04:00

For months now, Jim has been showing me links and pictures of a digital SLR camera. I've always loved photography, but have never had the tools to really get into it, and the idea of having a nice camera was extremely exciting to me. However, as is the case for most of the world right now, money is tight and I refused to entertain the option of spending a significant chunk of money on a new camera.

Until last week.

I finally gave in. Jim wasn't giving up, and Best Buy was having a pretty sweet deal, and what the heck, I know I'll use the camera for every penny its worth. So, we splurged. Introducing my new Nikon Digital SLR D90....a.k.a. I have no clue what to do with this thing.

I've never seen so many buttons on a single gadget in my life. The manual is over 200 pages long. There are numbers in my viewfinder that I have no idea what they could possibly mean. But I absolutely love it. I've had so much fun in the past few days playing around with the settings and taking pictures of ridiculous things just to see what all the settings do.

To give you an idea of how ridiculous this camera is, here is a a picture I took with it of the orchid plant in our office.

And here is the same picture, taken with my little Sony Cybershot pocket camera, taken with the same setting.

Unreal right?

I can't wait to learn more about it, and really start taking nice pictures. In the meantime, here are some of the VERY amateur fun shots I took in the past few weeks!

Its a Rough Gig....Really

2009-04-01T18:00:00.016-04:00

So, as you already know, my job involves an extensive amount of travel, mostly in the fall, but a bit in the spring too. While it is hard being away from home for extended periods of time, especially in the fall when you've been traveling for literally 13 weeks straight, there are some definite perks to the gig. Usually when I travel, I shack up in a Hampton Inn, near to whatever schools I'll be visiting on the trip. Hamptons are great. In the past few years they've really done a lot to upscale the brand, and I have yet to be disappointed with a hotel. The breakfasts are great, the beds are super comfy, and the staff are always really friendly.

Every once and awhile though, I get a trip that makes the beds at the Hampton Inn look like the wrong side of the tracks in a big city. When I found out that New Jersey was part of my territory, for example, I wasn't terribly excited about it, (although it was still a billion times better than hearing I had Connecticut...no offense Nancy), but when I found out that my week in Jersey included a stay in Atlantic City, all of a sudden Jersey was the hot destination of the fall.

Before I really jump in, I feel the need to offer a disclaimer, in light of the lovely economic state we all find ourselves in. When we stay at these nice places, we get a killer rate. Often times its even cheaper than a night at the Hampton.

Ok, disclaimer over. So, in November, for my second to last week of travel, I was off to Atlantic City. I'd never been before, and really didn't expect it to be much excitement at all. But when I drove into the city and saw all of the casinos, and outlet shopping, I knew I'd found the Vegas of the east coast. To make matters even better, when I checked in at the Bally's H otel and Casino, the nice man behind the counter informed me that they had sold out of the room I reserved, so I got a free upgrade. And by upgrade I mean a room overlooking the city and the ocean, with a full granite bathroom with a deep tub, stand alone shower, and very plush king size bed. I looked it up online. My $130 room would have cost me $450 on any other day.

This week was my second "I love my job and the places it sends me" experience. Every year, guidance counselors from around the state of Maine convene at the Samoset Resort in Rockport. My pictures don't do it justice, and I'm sure this place is absolutely incredible in the summertime. Set on a golf course, it overlooks the ocean, and has a 7/8ths of a mile breakwater with a lighthouse on the end, that you can walk out too. The food was amazing, my bed was unreal, and I am in the process of begging my husband to take me back for our anniversary this summer.

Next week I'm off to Boston. The host hotel for the event this time is the Seaport Hotel. Have I mentioned I love my job????

I'll be sure to post pictures. :)

In Memory

2009-03-27T23:14:00.005-04:00

I don't even know how to begin this post. I think its because thinking about the events of this past week is hard to do, but at the same time, I feel that writing about Nate is one way that I, among the hundreds who know him, can honor the time I was lucky enough to have with him.

If you don't know the story, Nate was a senior at Hampden Academy. On Sunday night he went missing, and his body was found yesterday afternoon, near a gravel pit that every H.A. student has visited at least once in his or her life. As of right now, the cause of death is unknown although there is significant speculation that he was intoxicated, took pills, and killed himself.

This is so hard to wrap my head around, because this is not the Nate Clark I knew. Let me back up just a bit.

When I was a junior in high school, a good 11 years ago, I got a role in a play for the Winterport Open Stage. One of my castmates was Dan Clark. Dan and I became friends while doing the show, and I soon became a regular babysitter for his two sons, Ben and Nate, then 4 and 7 years old respectively.

I think I fell in love with these boys the second I met them. Having little brothers the same ages as Ben and Nate I could easily relate to them, and they were the cutest kids ever. Nate was a little bit older, so he'd help me out with Ben, often translating for me as Ben was a little behind in his speech. These kids were my buddies, and I looked forward to every chance I had to babysit them.

After I went to college, I would only get to see the Clarks every now and again, usually at a ball game of some sort, as Rion and Nate often were on the same team. I remember one time I came home and took them out to the movies to give Danny and Denise a break and hang out with the kids. My absolute favorite memory of Nate was from my freshman year in college. I was home on break, and the boys had a basketball game at the elementary school. I remember walking in and Ben running right up to me to give me a hug. I went and sat with Danny and Denise. Only a minute or so later, as the players were running across the court, did Nate spot me. He stopped dead center, in the middle of the game, waved at me, turned around, shook his butt at me, and kept running. The other team scored, and as they headed back to the other end of the court, he did it again. And again. And again. We were dying laughing. He was such a goofball. Thats just how these kids were. We always had so much fun.

Eventually I lost touch with the Clarks as I got more involved in college and the kids grew up. I always kept an ear out for how they were doing though, and my mom would keep me updated as well. A few years ago they welcomed another son to the family, and last year Danny and Denise decided to split. I think this was hard on the boys, but especially Nate. I don't know why he did what he did, and I don't want to put blame anywhere, but I just wish he knew and could understand that things aren't ever as bad as he appeared to think they were.

I think the most heartbreaking part of the whole situation is remembering Nate as a little kid. He was so happy, and funny, and just a blast to be around. I never in a million years would have imagined that it would end like this for him. Its so hard to wrap my head around it all. My heart breaks for his family, his friends, and the entire H.A. community, which has lost more than its fair share of students in the past two or three years. I don't think the Clarks know how close to my heart their family has always been to me. Some people truly do leave a stamp on your life, and my time with their family is one I will never forget.

God Bless you Nate. Rest in peace. Thanks for the memories kiddo.

Shout Out!

2009-03-17T19:52:00.002-04:00

Remember my new CC niece Taylor?? Clare Norton, who photographed Jaime, Annie, and Skye's weddings, as well as some pictures for me and Jim, did a shoot with Taylor, Jaime, and Chris last Saturday and has posted some pictures on her blog. Check them out, but with fair warning, you might pass out from the extreme amount of cuteness oozing from her page!

Here's a teaser!

Awesome job as always Clare!

Thank you sir, may I have another?

2009-03-08T19:04:00.007-04:00

Today was a great day. Take a little bit of sun, a little bit of warm, and a little touch of spring in the air, and you've got one happy Kristina.

The day started out quickly. By that I mean I woke up at what should have been 8am, but in reality was 9. Yep, daylight savings time. I'm not complaining though, its now 7pm and just starting to get dark. I got out of bed, kissed my wonderful husband who got up with the dog many hours before I arose, and in thanks made him a breakfast sandwich and sausage and cheese omelette. Finish that and it was off to the races...literally. My friends Annie and Virginia were running a 5K in Portland today that ended at a popular Irish bar in the Old Port, Brian Boru's. We got there just in time to see them cross the finish line and join the crowd in Boru's for a beer.

There's nothing like middle of the day beer. Especially after a sporting event, even if you didn't participate in it. The smell of sweat, beer, and mud reminded me so much of my rugby playing days that I was bouncing around the crowded bar happier than a 5 year old on Christmas morning. Of course, the good company helped, but it definitely brought me back to a place from my past that I both cherish and miss terribly.

After our midday beverages, Jim and I headed home to treat Rowdy to a fun pre-spring trip of his own. We headed about 5 minutes down the road to Sandy Point Beach, just at the entrance of Cousin's Island. We'd never been there before, only drove by, and this was Rowdy's first official trip to the beach. The timid, afraid to swim, I don't know how to fetch a ball puppy from last fall had disappeared and Rowdy went full force swimming in the ocean, and playing with the other dogs that had come to enjoy the day. He had a ball, and is still passed out on the floor next to the couch (a nice chance for me and Jim to enjoy some quiet time I might say).

Our day ended with homemade english muffin pizzas (I won't lie, this was a selfish excuse to make a dinner that is complete in under 5 minutes), bad reality television which we just can't get enough of, and a sun that has just set.

Thanks for the visit spring. I hope you decide to stick around, you make life a little sweeter.

Because this is what we do in Maine

2009-03-07T11:41:00.001-05:00

Today the sun is shining and its a whoppin' 50 degrees outside. My heat is off, I didn't wear a jacket when I went outside, and all the windows in my house are open. I might even use my sunroof when I get in my car. What a good day. :)

Jailbird

2009-02-26T12:37:00.006-05:00

So I was poking around some old files today, and came upon something I had to share. If you've ever hung out with me for an extended period of time (or a short one, if there is wine involved), you know I often write senseless, silly poems, usually in limerick form. I think they are goofy and fun and I love to write them.

Well a few years ago on Halloween, we were having a pumpkin decorating contest at work. Some of the pumpkins were really nice and crafty, such as this one:

My group however, must have had some really interesting lunch, because this was what we came up with:

Meet the jailbird-pumpkin. We thought we were hilarious. But he wasn't quite complete without a story. I mean, how often do you see a bird-pumpkin, let alone in jail?? People would wonder what he was all about.

So my friends, I give you his story, "Jailbird". Enjoy :)

"Jailbird"

There once was a jailbird, alone in his cell
Nobody to listen, a story to tell.
It wasn't his fault he was stuck in this jail,
If only somebody would come pay his bail.

You see this poor pumpkin was kind of a nerd,
The others they laughed, at the weird pumpkin-bird.

It wasn't his fault he was a little displaced,
His life was abnormal, many challenges he faced.
While other little pumpkins sat nice in their patch,
This little pumpkin had a large urge to hatch.

He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't stop trying,
He'd squirm and he'd squeal, he just felt like flying!
His weird bird-like beak, disco balls for his eyes,
They just didn't get his squawky bird cries.

He knew that he needed to get out of here,
The feathers he found helped him get into gear.
Stuck onto his sides, they gave him new hope,
He knew he could fly, he was no dope.

Then one night it happened, he saw his big chance,
The other round pumpkins were at a big dance.
He saw in the distance a glimmer of light,
He felt in his guts he could get to new heights.

He flapped those fake feathers in hopes he could fly,
And before he knew it he was 20 feet high!
He screamed, HALLELUJA! and flapped them again,
And flew to a place that no pumpkin had been.

But as he was flying above the fall dance,
He spotted Lucia, his pumpkin romance.
The love, how it grasped him, he stopped in his tracks,
Stunned by her beauty, her luscious knick-knacks.

In less than a second tragedy did occur,
As our hero was no flying connoisseur.
In this moment of love, he sure did forget,
To flap his strong wings, his fate he then met.

As he fell towards the dance he was spotted above,
They shouted "Look out!" and each other they shoved.
Poor little Lucia got lost in the mix,
Bird-pumpkin fell on her like a great ton of bricks.

The dance it fell silent, they all knew her sad fate,
Lucia was crushed under his heavy weight.
Our pumpkin was devastated, his love he had killed,
One dream was now crushed because the other was filled.

So now this poor pumpkin sits alone in the jail,
The whole patch does hate him, he never gets mail.
He knows he will die alone in this place,
The local officials, they won't take his case.

If only bird-pumpkin had known from the start,
A little known fact which would have changed his poor heart.
Yes, Lovely Lucia, although she was sweet,
Was a confused little pumpkin, who's real name was Pete.

The Nibbler

2009-02-25T20:46:00.003-05:00

Every once and awhile I'll post recipes on this blog of new dishes that I've found, tried, and had some success with. Since this summer, I've been trying quite a few new recipes each month, so I decided it was time to share what I've been learning. I've started a new food blog, titled "The Nibbler" which will have the recipes and pictures of each recipe on it. I've found as I learn to cook that online food blogs are a great source to find new recipes, so I hope it helps some of you. The web address is http://kristinasfoodblog.blogspot.com/. Feel free to check it out, and please comment if you try any of the recipes!

Another Essay

2009-02-25T13:57:00.002-05:00

So a few weeks ago I wrote a post about how it would be really cool if students only knew that sometimes their admission essays fall in the perfect set of hands. Like girls who's entire life was cheerleading, or students who traveled abroad to help students in a Spanish speaking country.

Well today I got one that probably should not have gone to me. Remember when I hiked Katahdin? I do. I remember crying the entire way up the mountain and not being able to walk for a week following.

Today I got an essay from a girl who also hiked Katahdin. She described her experience by saying that she "raced to the top, dodging boulders, taking in the amazing views, and picking a flower at the top."

I felt the need to throw up a little at the end, but kept my cool.

BDC Love!

2009-02-23T18:29:00.007-05:00

No, I promise I do not have code names for every one of my friend groups.

That being said, this weekend Jim, Rowdy, and I headed to Boston for what we called the "BDC Reunion"...a night of good food and fun with my former roomates.

When I moved to Boston back in 2004, my high school friend Leah and I decided we wanted to live together. Leah's current roomate Kerry was also looking for a place, so we invited her to join. A few weeks later and after searching many apartments, we found the place that would soon be known as the BDC. You see, our house number was 13. Our street was Craigie. Our friend Eric is goofy, and deemed our new place the Bakers Dozen Craigie.

Life at the BDC was interesting. Looking back, it shouldn't surprise any of us that our very first weeks there would in a way foreshadow the year ahead of us. The day after we moved in ,our landlord Doug (a creepy man with obvious small man syndrome who was completely obsessed with roomie Kerry), asked us if we would like a brand new kitchen and bathroom. Of course, we said! Who wouldn't? Little did we know that would mean that for two straight weeks we would have to shower in the morning on the third floor of the building in another apartment whichwas also being renovated (READ: Shower by candlelight while making sure not to step on tetanus covered nails), not have a kitchen available for use AT ALL, keeping my poor three month old kitten locked in my bedroom so that she wouldn't die of asbestos, and literally being taped into our bedrooms on a Saturday morning while a group of uninvited, unexpected, illegal immigrants painted our hallway and we all had to sneak out of our bedroom windows in search for coffee. To say the least, it was both a disaster and utterly hilarious, the two words that best describe the next several months.

We laughed a lot at the BDC. We also cried, screamed, and dramatized. We fell in love, we fell out of love. I still can't believe everything that happened while we lived there happened in only a matter of 11 or so months. Through the months, we had some additions to our little group. Eric was friends with me and Leah in high school and got to know Kerry while Leah and Kerry lived together. He would come over to the apartment and stay for hours, even if nobody was home. Mike was friends with Eric in college, who then became friends with us. Mike and Leah started dating not long after we all moved in. Jim, well you all know Jim, arrived in my life in November. The girls were nice enough to let him move in with us for a few months when he moved to Boston.

I could talk about a hundred different things that we did while we lived at the BDC, but my favorite of them all were our dinners and breakfasts. At that time I was as far from being a cook as one could imagine. Kerry and Leah however, were pretty well versed in the kitchen and enjoyed spending time in there. Most of the time we prepared Sunday morning breakfast and ate as a "family"...Mike and Eric in their boxers unable to create a coherent sentence in their sleepy states, and Jim playing the guitar and singing Dave Matthews, and me, Kerry, and Leah whipping up waffles, pancakes, eggs, bacon, fruit, and juice for our traditional meal. Occasionally we'd do dinner as well. I moonlighted at a liquor store in Porter Square and one of the regulars would go on fishing trips and always bring me back salmon. While we were hesitant at first, we decided to whip it up and it made for awesome meals.

When we all parted ways the following summer, I hoped we would stay close. Leah and I struggled living together and we were a bit distant for a bit, but have definitely come back together since. We see each other at the holidays, as we both go home to see our families. Mike and Leah have since split up but stay close and we see him from time to time. Eric and Jim have become very good friends so we see him whenever we are home for the holidays or down in Boston. He comes to visit us quite a bit as well. Kerry and I have kept in touch mostly by email and the occasional visit when we are lucky enough to have our schedules connect.

So, onto the reunion. Kerry and I met up this past November while I was traveling for work and decided it was time for a BDC reunion. We needed to reconnect the "BDC Love" as we always called it. So this weekend we headed to Boston for a night of cooking and fun at Kerry's awesome apartment. We had so much food, I never thought I'd get out of bed the next day. Dips and salad, pasta dishes, baked zucchini, scallops and swordfish, wine, and bread. It was awesome. It was so fun to get together again and cook, drink wine, and laugh about the ridiculousness of our year at the BDC.

Here's a picture of our group, and the fun we had getting ready for the night!

Mike and Leah

Introducing...

2009-02-18T20:39:00.006-05:00

...Taylor Marina!!
Remember the CC baby shower I posted about a few weeks ago? Well, she's finally here! Taylor was born yesterday afternoon, and we all stopped by the hospital today to see mom and baby. Jaime is doing amazing..you would never in a million years know she delivered a baby yesterday. She was perky and glowing and as happy as a new mom should be. Taylor is just perfect and was the best baby while we all oooh-ed and ahh-ed at her for a good hour and a half this afternoon. I couldn't get over how alert she was, and how much hair she has!! We are all very excited to welcome our new niece, and I wanted to share some pictures with you all. Many congratulations to Jaime and Chris!!

Fun!

2009-02-15T09:23:00.005-05:00

One of the perks to moving to Yarmouth last spring was our new vicinity to Freeport. Most of you have probably been there before, but if you haven't Freeport is a huge attraction for outlet shoppers. Probably its biggest attraction however is the flagship store, (actually its a campus now..there's like 5 stores), of L.L. Bean. Jim and I have always liked Beans but I don't think we expected it to be almost a weekly occurence to take the five minute drive up and just walk around. For some reason, it never gets old.

So Friday night we decided to get out of the house and drive up to the store. We actually had a purpose this time..we got Rowdy a nice little travel crate. Hooray for no more roadtrips with a metal crate that takes up 3/4 of the Subie wagon, when folded. Anyways, I always like to poke around in the shoe section to see what fun things they have this year, and stopped right in my tracks when I saw these...chocolate lab flip flops!! Beans always puts out a line called Maine Isle Flip-Flops every year, but there's never much I really want. Usually its just lobsters and light houses, but I definitely couldn't pass these up.

I don't see any of the lab ones online but they have tons in the store.

Fun huh?

Vote for Rowdy!

2009-02-14T14:07:00.002-05:00

I just found this website that gives monetary prizes to photos of pets that win the most votes, so of course I entered our handsome Rowdy! Please vote for him! The weekly winner will be announced next Saturday but there are also daily winners so every vote counts. Just click this link and then click on "Give a Hug" Thanks!

Yay for Love!

2009-02-14T08:24:00.005-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! I hope everyone finds themselves happy, healthy, and with someone to share their love with.

Its still very strange to me that I "get" to celebrate Valentine's Day in the way that one would hope to. Yes, its always nice to call your mother or your siblings and wish them a happy VDay, but to have someone really special to spend it with is a whole separate ball game. It definitely hasn't always been like this for me. Those of you who know me well know I haven't exactly been the most versed in dating throughout my life, and actually the first Valentine's Day I ever had someone to celebrate with was my first with Jim, five years ago, (it was really special, he got a very nice hotel room in the city and took me to dinner with some close friends to the Top of the Hub in Boston, which since then has kind of become our spot). But before Jim, VDay usually consisted of me trying to pick up a shift at work, or hanging out with my other single friends, which were often hard to come by.

I'll never forget the Valentine's Day the year before I met Jim. I was living in Berwick, and my friend Ray was in Boston and we were pretty much inseparable at that point, so of course I chose to come to Boston for the weekend. It was one of those odd years that Ray wasn't dating, and neither were our friends Ian, Jamison, and Petro. So we deemed ourselves "The Lonely Hearts Club" and took ourselves out to Sissy K's, wearing black hearts on our shirts. Luckily "The Lonely Hearts Club" didn't last long for most of us, but it was a fun way to spend the evening. Consequently, I think that's also the night we hailed a limo instead of a cab because it was too cold out for a cab, but that's another story for another post I think....

So anyways, I hope everyone has a fantastic day of love. Jim and I were going to give snowshoing a shot, but he's a little under the weather so we'll spend the day just hanging out and then tonight we'll head to our Portland place, and the best sushi around, Yosaku.

Happy Valentine's Day!

The PS3

2009-02-12T20:49:00.003-05:00

Well it happened. After months and months of telling myself we couldn't get to that point, it happened. I am a PS3 widow.

I didn't plan for this. In fact, I planned for quite the opposite. We have enough video game systems to last the rest of the century. A Super Nintendo. A Nintendo 64. A PS2. A Wii. Why, might I ask would we ever need a PS3?

My husband will tell you its because of its amazing graphics, online capabilities, and BluRay disc player. I will tell you it is so that he can justify that even though he's turning 31, he's still a young gamer at heart.

I really thought I'd get out of this one. I thought for sure he'd hem and haw at the fact that yet another video game system had passed him by. This one would be a no-brainer. We just couldn't afford it. When they first came out we had just bought the Wii, and once the price dropped we had bought the house and were thinking of getting the dog. Oh shucks. But then came that fateful evening when my father-in-law, who I really love to death, called me up to ask how I would feel if they baited Jim with a PS3 to finish his degree. What do I say? No problem! He'd love it! Inside my head I'm thinking: he'd never take them up on that..that's just too much bribing.

I'm too damn nice. And too damn naiive.

So it's here. In my living room. There are games and controllers on my coffee table. As I type I'm listening to the oh so soothing sounds of machine guns and men screaming. As I'm drinking my coffee in the morning, getting dressed, and doing my makeup, I am accompanied by the sounds of rally cars and my husband shouting "That's so &$#@& awesome!!"

I am a PS3 widow.

And now the disclaimer, or I may be sleeping on the couch.

As much as I dreaded it all, it hasn't been nearly as bad as I expected. The night he picked it up, Jim brought me home American Idol Karaoke, and even played it with me for two nights in a row. He makes sure to do something nice like clean the kitchen before he plays, and when I ask if we can hang out without the PS3 for a bit, he doesn't hesitate to put the controller down. It's as if he can...wait for it...balance a video game system AND a wifey.

There may be hope for the world after all.

This is what it looks like...

2009-02-07T12:54:00.003-05:00

...when you put a mad bomber hat on a 7 month old puppy.

He loves us. Really.

If They Only Knew

2009-01-29T14:29:00.005-05:00

Sometimes a student doesn't even know how lucky it is that a particular counselor is given his or her application and essay to read. If they only knew how often their file fell into the perfect pair of hands, they would consider themselves to be extremely lucky. For example, when I get students from Hampden Acadamy, I wonder what they would think if they only knew an H.A. alum was reading their application and rooting for them to be admitted. Or the student who has a rough home life, and due to the situation is forced to behave in ways and pick up responsibilities that are far beyond their years. I wish these students knew how close to home their essays hit.

Today I read an essay that was meant to go to me. A student wrote three whole pages about how much she loves Spanish and Spanish class. She talked about how much she owes her Spanish teacher for bringing the language and culture into her life. She was overjoyed at how easily the language came to her. She wrote parts of the essay in Spanish, and discussed how she likes to set her dvd player to play all of her movies in Spanish, or at least watch them with subtitles. She talked about how much she loves the laid back Spanish culture, and how much she can't wait to study abroad some day. She talked about how learning Spanish is a gift. I could just see her beaming while she wrote this essay.

If only this kid knew how close to my heart his essay falls. Even without the essay she was admissible, but there's a little part of me that is proud that I was able to admit her, and I hope she brings her enthusiasm to USM.

And this week's college admission essay of the week is.....

2009-01-20T14:47:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to the student who wrote the essay about why USM is the perfect number TWO choice, and outlined all of the reasons she wants to go into the Navy instead of come to college.

::Scratches head and sighs::

The CC Surprise

2009-01-19T09:38:00.012-05:00

If you're friends with me on Facebook, you often see me posting a status update of some sort proclaiming excitement over my CC girls. Yesterday we threw a CC surprise, and it was a blast. Before I go into the details of the day though, I thought I'd take the opportunity to clear up what CC is, and how it came to be.

When Jim and I first moved back to Maine in the summer of 2006, the transition was difficult for me. While Jim's closest friends all lived here in Portland, I didn't know anybody at all. All of my friends were back in Boston or up in Hampden. At the time, we were in the middle of planning the wedding, and I'd heard of the website theknot.com. I knew there were message boards on the knot, but always thought message boards were kind of corny and didn't really know what to do with them. There came a day though that I was bored in my new office job, and decided to pop on and ask for some recommendations for a DJ. From that moment on, I was hooked, and spent most of my free time on The Knot.

My experience on The Knot was a million times different from what I expected it to be. Instead of a random post here and there, we all posted throughout the day, talking not only about our weddings, but our lives as well. Most of the girls I "chatted" with lived here in southern Maine, and before I knew it, we were all becoming a group of friends. "Knotties," as we call ourselves, are all over the country. The Knot has message boards that focus on different areas of your wedding, and are of a national scope, and also has local boards, hence my connection with other southern Maine brides. Most of the local boards participate in what we call "Get Togethers (GTG)." For quite awhile, the Maine girls were having GTGs once a month. We'd go out to Margaritas or Sebago for drinks, or even to the spa for an afternoon of manicures, pedicures, and wine. Laugh if you want, but this was the perfect way for me to make some new friends.

Last fall, as the 2007 wedding season was coming to a close, we decided to have another GTG. Many of the girls on the board had dogs, so we wanted to do a doggie GTG at a Knottie's house. I didn't have a dog, but really wanted to go, so I went along anyways. As it turned out, only 6 of us showed up to this GTG, (usually there were anywhere from 10-20). In the five or so hours that followed, we laughed more than I had laughed in a very very long time, and we all knew that this group was something different, and that we all clicked in a special way (and so did the pups I might add!). After a few glasses of wine, some hilarious conversation, and some very yummy appetizers, we decided to name ourselves. I won't tell you what the CC stands for (its incredibly silly, like a cheesy high school clique), but the name stuck, and so did the CC bond. Since that day, we have enjoyed more bottles of wine than should be legal, laughed more than even a doctor would prescribe, and formed a bond that I really think will last us a very, very long time.

So, let me formally introduce to you, my CC ladies. Here is a picture from our very first CC GTG. From left to right we have me, Annie, Skye, Jaime, Virginia, and Angie. We couldn't even get a picture without laughing hysterically.

And here is a picture from our CC birthday party in February. Everyone (except for me), was born in January or Feburary, proving to be a perfect excuse for another night of fun!

So, onto the story of the day, the CC surprise. Jaime (far left in the birthday picture) is 8 months pregnant, and expecting a little girl, Taylor, due next month! Of course, we are all excited to be aunties and welcome our newest CC member to the family. Jaime had expressed a few months ago that she and her husband Chris felt strongly that they did not want a shower for the baby. Given the economic times, they felt that it would be too much for their family and friends, and didn't want to put that sort of pressure on everyone. I'm telling you, they may be the nicest people I know. Now, while we all respect their wishes and desires, we didn't quite see it fit to not do something for Jaime, Chris, and Taylor. Jaime had mentioned that instead of a CC shower, she wanted to do a brunch at her house. We all thought that was a great idea, but warned her that if gifts showed up, it would be because it was what we all wanted to do, and we did not feel any pressure to give a "shower" per say.

So, as we started planning the brunch, it became apparent that if Jaime were to host, she would be doing too much for her own brunch. So we came came up with a devious plan. We told her that the brunch would be next weekend, the weekend of the 25th, but that in the sneaky manner we all love, it would actually be this weekend, on the 18th. We just needed to get her out of the house so we could sneak in, decorate, and surprise. Her hubby Chris was 100% on board and agreed to get her out of the house. As the date approached however, we realized that the weather was going to be less that perfect, and Chris owning a plowing business, would have to be out the morning of the shower. So on Saturday, I gave Jaime a very strict set of instructions. Leave your house at 9:45am. Leave it unlocked. Return at 11:00am and call for further instruction. Do not ask questions. I managed to convince her this was not the brunch, but some other surprise. She had no idea the whole group was involved.

So yesterday morning, as snow was falling literally in inches by the hour, bless her, she did as she was told, and we all crashed the house. We brought food and drink, decorations, and gifts. We spent about a half hour decorating her kitchen, and then patiently waited for her to arrive. When she got home, she was so excited and completely surprised. She said she could not figure out what was going on, and had no idea we were throwing the brunch that day.

The morning was a blast! We ate lots of yummy food, ooh-ed and ahhh-ed at the nursery, played silly games, and watched Jaime open the cutest gifts ever for little Taylor! We all agreed that it was too easy to shop for a new member of our crew!

Here are some pics from the morning. We are so excited for Jaime and Chris and absolutely cannot wait to meet Taylor next month!

Skye working hard to get some streamers up!

This is the weather the day greeted us with! We ended up getting 14 inches of snow!

The table all set up!

Angie made this diaper cake..isn't it awesome?!

Jaime opening some gifts

Chris loves John Deere, and Skye found this fabric and made a sleeper sack! I can't wait to hear what Chris thought about it!

Our new Momma showing off the goodsToasting to our future CC girl (with non-alcoholic spritzers of course!) :)

The Sad State of the O'Brien Household

2009-01-06T19:28:00.003-05:00

I don't think anyone can deny that being sick just plain sucks. But when both you and your spouse are sick at the same time, life is just difficult. Jim never gets sick. In the four plus years we've been together, I think I've seen him sick to the point of calling out of work once, and that's when he had mono. I on the other hand, always get sick. My immune system is about as easy to attack as a helpless stuffed animal in the same room as a puppy. So when Jim got a terrible head cold turned flu this weekend I prayed I wouldn't fall victim. Of course, the poor stuffed animal always loses.

Jim attempted work yesterday but only made it until noon, and survived the day today, but has landed right in bed as of 6:30pm because of it. I laid my bum on the couch all day yesterday and today and I may be going clinically insane.

I've learned in the past few years, that I have what people call a "Type A" personality. I can't sit still. I don't know how. Even if the house is perfectly clean, my family is comfortably fed, and things are calm, I have to be doing something. Make a snack. Organize the office. Sweep the floors. Surf the web while watching tv. So when I get a virus that seriously knocks me and my husband on our butts, I'm struggling. My back hurts. Heck my whole body hurts. Last night I had sciatic pain from laying down all day that kept me up most of the night. I'm not meant to sit still. I'm even at the point where we are expecting a big snow storm tonight and I'm hoping we DON'T have a snow day just so I can go to work (and flu or no flu I'm going to work)! I just pray to God that if I am ever blessed to be pregnant I do not end up on bed rest because I don't know how I would get through it.

So at any rate, if you were planning on visiting Casa O'B anytime in the very near future, you may want to wait a bit. Once I actually can stand up and do things again, I will be releasing three days of pent up energy into disinfecting this poor sick house. It has no idea what's coming.

What a Year!

2008-12-29T11:45:00.004-05:00

I was doing some thinking this morning on my way into work and couldn't believe how much has happened in the past year with me and Jim. This year has been such an emotional rollercoaster for both of us. Thinking back to this time last year we had no idea that so many different events would come our way. Some of the bigger ones were:

Losing our jobs
Saving our jobs
Changing our jobs
Buying a house
Graduating (Jim)
Hiking Katahdin
Almost losing a parent
Getting a puppy
Spending basically three months apart
Watching a sibling pull his life together
Watching another sibling move across the country

Looking back on the four plus years we've spent together, I will admit that this year was the most challenging for both of us, but in so many ways it brought us much closer together as well. I can't wait to see what 2009 brings. Some of the things I'm looking forward to in 2009:

BDC Reunion
Finishing the basement
Buying a new car
Camp in NY with the girls
Meeting the newest member of the CC crew
Celebrating our 2nd anniversary
Spring travel
My 10 year high school reunion (dear lord, is that possible?)
Helping Rion get ready to apply for college
Seeing a best friend finally get that ring she deserves (I have no doubt!)

As for resolutions? I only have one this year: Do what makes you and your family happy. Because when it comes down to it, that's all that really matters.

Here are some pictures from our year. If you know me well, you know I'm a picture addict, so I love to share them! Enjoy the slideshow!

I hope everyone had a wonderful 2008 and are looking forward to an even better 2009!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T18:56:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to say that I hope everyone is having a wonderful Christmas and I hope Santa brought you everything you wanted! Don't forget to count your blessings and kiss your loved ones today. :)

The Office Party

2008-12-18T19:42:00.004-05:00

So today was the big office holiday party. I expected it to be a good time. I figured we'd all bring some food, swap secret santa gifts, hang out for an hour or so around lunch, and continue along our days getting work done. When I got to work at 8am and learned that the day would be starting off with latte's and homemade blueberry waffles, I knew this day was going to be fantastic.

I know I worked for an hour today, only because I was in a meeting, but I think that was it. The stream of food was constant, the gifts were given, and boy oh boy did we laugh our butts off. The highlight of the day was by far the impromptu game of "telephone" initiated by the boss. If you can picture it, it consisted of 20 25-60 year olds sitting in a circle playing a game I used to play with my girlfriends in 6th grade. I don't know the last time I laughed so hard.

I wish I could explain to you all what it is like to work with the people I work with. We all have coworkers. We all really like some of them, and we all really dislike some of them. But I don't think that most places have the connection that this group seems to have. Yes there are the snickers and jeers here and there, but this group as a whole is really close, and we are all really similar people (just to put it in perspective, there were a total I think of 6 Borders gift cards given out at the secret santa swap!). We work in Admission. We love people. We love to talk. We love to laugh. I honestly believe we work in the most exciting office at the University, and it takes a very specific type of person to make it in that environment. I feel very fortunate and very blessed to fit in with these people. Although I've only been there a few short months, I already know that in many ways we are like family to each other. At least that's how we treat each other, and believe me, that's an awesome thing to be a part of.

Appreciation, Love, and Support

2008-12-17T09:33:00.004-05:00

I find it amazing how easy it is for us to go through our every day lives and not truly stop to think about the things that we are lucky to have. Our spouses, our significant others, our kids, our friends, our jobs, our homes, our animals. There are times we stop to take it in, but on the whole we just run through our days never stopping to think about what would happen if they all went away. We take them for granted. And sadly, it often takes a tragedy for us to realize what we once had.

Its been a rough few years in my office. Although I am new here, I have learned a lot about the people I work with and the things they have been through. Two years ago, one of my colleagues lost her young son. Last May, another lost her husband. His name was Robert, and he is what I would like to write about today.

Robert was a Portland police officer. His wife Carol works in my office, and together they have two very young children. Last May, while routinely getting ready for the following day, he accidentally shot himself in the leg, a shot that ended his young life. I'm sure you can imagine what the past six months have been like for Carol and her kids. I met her youngest, a son, a few months ago. When I greeted him, he shook my hand, and it was a nice strong handshake. I told him so and he looked at me and said "My dad taught me that." My heart melted.

At Robert's funeral, it came about that he wrote poetry. After that day community leaders, police officers, artists, photographers, and students all came together to create a project in support of Robert. They created a calendar that is unlike a calendar I've ever seen. Portland police officers, men and women alike, sat down to write their own poetry. These poems are highlighted through the 12 months of the year, including some of Robert's own. Last week the proofs for the calendar were brought into our office to see, and it was incredibly moving. The best word I could use to describe the calendar would be "humanizing." Like our loved ones, and our homes, jobs, etc., we take our law enforcement for granted. Unless you know an officer on a personal level yourself, you often don't think of them as real people, and you just expect them to always be there. This calendar gives them life inside and outside of the force.

The calendars are $15, which I find to be extremely reasonable. 60% of the proceeds will go to Carol and her children, and the rest will fund future projects similar to this. Even if you are unable to buy a calendar, please check out the website. I will say that I don't think the link itself does the photography, artwork, and poetry enough justice. The link to the calendar is here: http://www.artsandequity.us/calendar.htm, and the link to the project can be found here: http://www.artsandequity.us/index.htm

If you take nothing more from this post take this: Go home tonight and hug your family. If they aren't with you, call them, and tell them you love them. Do it because you still can, and try, hard as it is, to never take what you have for granted, because in a fleeting second, it can all be gone.

"Seasons"

2008-12-14T06:20:00.006-05:00

So my new job comes in "seasons." There's travel season, from September to November, then reading season from November until September, with a little bit of travel in the middle. I'm about two weeks into the reading season now, and its quite a nice change of pace. What does reading season mean? It means sitting at my double-monitored computer for eight hours reading countless applications and deciding if a kid is ready to come to college. Yup, I actually can admit people. When I was in high school I always wondered if anyone was actually going to read my application, and now I know. At least at USM, we read them all.

The essays I have been reading have been something else. Some make me laugh,(like the kid who claims that chop suey made him who he is today), some make me cry (like the kid who wrote about volunteer work he did with children in the Guatemala City dump), and some just make me cringe. I was never an English teacher, so I've never had the pleasure of learning what kids write about, and I've always wondered. I think the essays are the most fascinating part of the reading I do every day. Its funny, sometimes I'll share the topic of an essay with Jim, like the kid who wrote about Fluffernutter sandwiches and how they changed his life (it actually made a little too much sense), and Jim will claim them to be an instant admit. The essays are great because I get to know a little more about who I'm letting into our school.

Jim asked me an interesting question the other day. He said, if you were offered a teaching position today, would you take it? And I told him honestly, no. I really love this new job. The seasons make it so interesting and I haven't had energy like this in years. I still get to work with students, but I get to connect with adults too. And my department is fantastic. I don't think I've ever worked with a group that is so close and supportive of each other. I couldn't imagine walking away.

On another note, if you haven't heard, Jim got a new position. He is now an academic advisor in the School of Business at USM. He loves it and is so excited about it. It kind of fell in his lap, which was a good thing, since due to some reorganization in the President's Office he wasn't sure where he'd be in the next few weeks, and it puts him up close with students, which is what he's been wanting to do for some time now.

I have to say, it is so nice to have us both come home from work and not be dragging our feet and hating our days. Its been a long time since we've both been there, and its a welcome change.

Need a Gift Idea? My Shameless Plug

2008-12-02T10:17:00.005-05:00

One holiday down, one more to go. I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! We spent it in Hampden with our families. My grandparents were here visiting from Reno and it was so nice to spend some time with them. Its been 19 years since we last had Thanksgiving with them! Its always great to get up home and see our families and friends for a few days.

Now, on to the next big event, Christmas. If you haven't seen these already, I wanted to share with you my mom's latest project. A few months ago she discovered that she has quite the knack for apron making. They are so fun and she loves putting them together! She has created her own website on Etsy.com, http://www.UniqueApronsbyDebbie.etsy.com

Here are a few pictures of her work. I think they are so much fun and would make great Christmas presents!

She has also made potholders and some other things as well, so check out her site!

Ok, shameless plug over.

Ahhh Home Ownership

2008-11-26T08:12:00.003-05:00

Last night we had quite a strong rain and wind storm sweep through the state. In my pre-home owner life, storms were just fun. You got to sit and listen and watch, and then not worry about the clean up. Now, last night's storm didn't do an extreme amount of damage, but as I sit here on my day off, I am faced with throwing out most everything in the fridge that I JUST bought, following a 11.5 hour power outage, going through boxes in the basement because our "guaranteed dry basement" decided to leak a nice sized puddle of water right into our storage room, and I got the pleasure of cleaning up our trash bins outside that tipped over, consequently dumping little bags of dog poo all over our yard. Ick.

Like I said, compared to some storms, these are minor things, but they are also things I've never really had to worry about before. In the apartments the power came back quickly (I was usually in a city or apartment complex), I didn't have to worry about water or anything in the basement (we rarely had one, and honestly it wasn't our problem), and the external parts of the apartment were maintained by grounds crews or the landlord. This is an adjustment, for sure.

Let's hope for a mild winter. :)

The Meetiversary

2008-11-24T15:22:00.003-05:00

Ahhhhh how sweet it is! Travel ended on Thursday and it has been awesome to just spend some time at home without that little voice in the back of my head telling me to get ready for my next trip. This weekend we deemed Saturday as "home improvement day." I painted the entryway while Jim and his friend Brian fixed our toilet (Brian's a really good friend, lol), and an exhaust pipe in the attic. We felt very productive. :)

Wednesday night we head to Hampden for the traditional Turkey Day festivities, which means off to the bars Wednesday night, dinner with my family on Thursday, and dessert with Jim's family Thursday night. I've always looked forward to Thanksgiving, but especially now since it is an indicator of another year Jim's been in my life. (Wait, put on your corny goggles, because here it comes...)

If you don't know the story of how Jim and I met, I think its a good one, even though I'm just a little biased. It was the night before Thanksgiving, four years ago, and I was driving up from Boston. I was well into Maine when I realized I forgot my license, which was a huge bummer seeing as we all (the HA gang) always go out for beverages the night before the holiday. I called my friend Eric, to see if he could stop and pick up my license and bring it up, and he said he wouldn't mind at all.

Fast foward a few hours. We're all at my friend Jen's house, dressed up and ready to go out, and Eric shows up. Without my license. It turns out after he picked it up for me, he dropped it somewhere along the way. Of course, I was quite sad, seeing as I would have to miss out on the tradition, but Jen talked me into going to the bar with my birth certificate to see if I could get in. I hemmed and hawed the whole way there, telling her there was no way it would work. I was ready to go home and sulk it out.

We got to the bar, and Jen must have batted her eyelashes at the doorman in just the right way, because somehow I got in. Awesome.

A little while into the night, my friend Matt tells me that Jim O'Brien was asking about me. I knew Jim from high school, but he didn't know me. The next thing I know, there's Jim, standing in front of me, not saying a word, and holding a beer out towards my face.

Awkward.

So I asked him if the beverage was for me and he said yes, and then I told him he should dance with me. And that was that.

Jim tells me that it was the only time he'd ever done anything like that, just buy a drink for a girl out of the blue, and that something just told him I was special and he needed to get to know me.

However, if you are a male, (such as my workstudy Tim), and talking to my now husband about this story, he will tell you he was out "looking to get all hammered and looking to get some and then he saw this hot chick and he knew he wanted to 'get' with her." Uh huh.

At any rate, it was the best Bud Light of my life, and no matter how you tell the story, the ending is the same, and four years later I am the happiest I've ever been.

Happy Meetiversary babe ;)

On the up swing!

2008-11-16T18:44:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to give everyone a quick update on Jim's mom Mary. She had surgery on Friday to remove the second aneurysm and the surgery was a success! She was in the ICU overnight, but has been moved to a regular floor where she'll stay for the next few days. Again, Jim and I want to thank everyone for the well wishes!

The Home Stretch

2008-11-11T11:55:00.005-05:00

Yikes, I was cranky last night. I'm finding this to be the case not just in myself but most of my traveling colleagues. The "crank" started hitting me about two weeks ago when I was in Connecticut. I thought it was just me, but when I got to a fair one night and listened to the insane amount of grumbling from other reps, I realized I'm in good company. This is my second to last week of travel, and for many reps, the last week of the season. Today I was thinking about my very first day, back in September. I remember pulling up to at a school to a sea of perky individuals, well dressed, carrying their black rolly bags, smiling and cheerful, excited to take on the hundreds of students awaiting their arrival inside. This week, I notice we are all walking a little slower, looking a little sloppier, and hanging our heads a little lower. We're freakin' tired. It's been a blast, don't get me wrong, but after nine weeks of travel, I think we're all ready to be home.

So while I will try my best to keep a positive vibe on the blog over the next week, please do forgive me if I slip up a bit. I'm just sleepy, homesick, and ready for the next "season" of Admissions to start.

Dear Server,

2008-11-10T19:37:00.003-05:00

Let me begin by saying that I understand the hardships of being a server. I was one for many years, and can appreciate the work that you do. It takes a lot for me to be upset by bad service, so this letter comes after much frustration.

I feel it is important for you to realize one basic fact: A "solo" diner is a human being.

A solo diner is not a nutcase.
A solo diner is not going to tip you poorly.
A solo diner is not some freak who has no friends to go to dinner with.
A solo diner is not an introvert who doesn't want to make eye contact or conversation.
A solo diner is not always in a rush.
A solo diner is not a waste of your time.

Just because you would never have the gall to sit at a restaurant by yourself does not give you the right to judge why I am there. Maybe I'm away on business, or maybe I just felt like getting away for a few hours. Maybe you should push aside your judgmental thoughts because believe me, they turn into quite judgmental actions.

Next time I sit down at your table, stand facing my table straight on, instead of to the side like I'm a quick pit stop on your way to the kitchen, (because we all know how quickly you can get an order from a table of one). Ask me how I am, and be interested in the answer, just like you were for that outgoing table of 5 behind me. Give me more than 2 minutes to peruse your menu, check on me when I receive my meal, and don't give me the check and tell me to have a nice night literally 3 minutes after I receive my meal, (like the arrogant &@#$% at the Olive Garden in Connecticut last week). Actually, all you really have to do is pretend there are two other people sitting with me, and by golly, you'll do just fine.

I too, server, am a human being. Treat me like one, and you'd be shocked at just how normal your "solo" diner really is.

Bad Blogger!

2008-11-08T19:46:00.004-05:00

Yes, I know I've disappeared for a few weeks. I've sat down to write several times, but just couldn't muster up the energy. I guess you could say I've had "blogger's block." The past few weeks have been pretty busy. I spent an entire week split between Connecticut and Rhode Island, ending on Halloween, (which by the way left us with an extra TEN bags of candy when the 100 kids we were told to expect turned into 10 kids). Last week I began the week in Keene and finished it up in the White Mountains. It was great to be able to go to Keene for work. I spent Sunday night with two very good friends, Adam and Kristen, at my most favorite bar, Kilkenny's. I love getting together with college friends, we laugh harder than should be legal when we get together.

Tomorrow I hit the road again, this time to New Jersey for a whole week. I'm definitely excited to be going somewhere I've never been, but sad to be leaving for a whole week. Tuesday night however, I'll be heading to Atlantic City baby(!!!), so I will be sure to post some pictures and stories (of me gambling all by myself, hahaha).

Just a heads up to those of you who followed my blog at all this summer. Jim's mom Mary will be having surgery on Friday to remove the second anuerism from her brain. We will be spending Friday night in Boston with the family but ask you to please keep her in your thoughts. The surgeons will be going in through her head again, and snipping out the anuerism that did not burst. Its very good that she will be getting rid of it and won't have to worry about it anymore! She will be in the ICU at Mass General for a day or so and then in the hospital for hopefully no more than a week. I promise to keep you all updated via my blog like I did this summer.

And a Few More

2008-10-21T22:01:00.004-04:00

I was out raking again today and Rowdy decided to help me out. He was so cute running through and laying in the leaves! The photo ops were too good to resist so I took a few more fall pics and wanted to share :)

Fall Pictures

2008-10-20T20:08:00.009-04:00

So we've had Rowdy for about a month and a half now, and we are having such a blast with him. Its definitely been an eye opener to both me and Jim about our "parenting" skills and opinions, as well as the total change of lifestyle that comes when you have that responsibility at home. Its such a great experience though and I still maintain that every couple should have a dog before they have a child. I think we'll be ten times the parents because we did this first.

So anyways, the little guy is growing like a weed, and I wanted to share some pictures. Saturday Jim was outside raking underneath our huge maple tree (which decided to stick its tongue out, shake its booty, and laugh at Jim while dropping another large pile of leaves on the ground literally two hours later), and I took the opportunity to capture some pictures of Rowdy next to the tree. Of course, he was quite the ham and didn't mind posing it up :)

And This Week's Student Genius Is.......

2008-10-17T20:47:00.004-04:00

Last night I was at a college fair in Massachusetts when this young lady and her father approached my table. I'm not kidding, the following conversation is word for word:

Girl: I'm so excited USM is here! I'm from Maine originally and I am so excited to get back to my roots.

Me: That's great! What part of Maine are you from?

Girl: I was born in Portland. I'm just so excited to get back there.

Me: Awesome! How long did you live there?

Girl: We moved when I was 6 months old.

Dear God.

Carrie Underwood!

2008-10-16T21:11:00.013-04:00

So back in June when I was going through my quarter-life crisis, and was determined to do what I wanted to do and spend money on what I wanted to spend money on, it was announcedthat one of my favorite country stars, Carrie Underwood would be coming to Portland. Now, there are about a million other things I could have done with the $50 I spent on my ticket, but I put my stubborn hat on and said, I don't care, I'm going to this concert! I headed to the Civic Center at 7am the day the tickets went on sale, waited in line, and got two tickets for me and my friend Jaime. And it was so worth it.

The concert was Tuesday night and it was such a blast. Jaime and I have been looking forward to this so much since we got the tickets and it was worth the wait!! Little Big Town opened for Carrie, and I like them a lot too. They have a couple of popular songs, but I heard a lot of new ones at the concert. "Bring it on Home to Me" is one of my all time favorite songs and I had chills the whole time they sang it. Its really cool when you go to a show and don't know the opening band very well but they impress you. I am definitely going to be getting some more of their music!

Carrie was amazing. I am still blown away by the fact that three years ago this girl was a nobody. Its also really cool that we all kind of knew her before she was huge, while she was on American Idol. Its hard to imagine her just being a contestant on the show after all she has accomplished. At one point during the concert, she was doing a costume change, and they played a montage of her accomplishments, starting in the present day and working back to her time on Idol. It really was incredible to watch her ride, and I think everyone in the civic center was just in awe of all the amazing things that the woman standing in front of us had done in just a few years.

The show was so good. She sang all of my favorite songs, and was surprisingly very candid on stage. I kind of expected her to be snooty, its just the vibe I get when I see her on tv, but she was actually really funny and relaxed. I think she's probably a really easy going person after all. At one point she invited a little four year old girl onto stage to sing "American Girl" with her, and I think it was probably the cutest thing I've seen in a long time. Her encore and closing song was one of my favorites, "Before He Cheats" and it was freakin' incredible. She ended the show with a huge confetti drop, and it was just awesome.

Here are a couple of videos I took. The first is Little Big Town singing "Bring it on Home to Me" and the second is Carrie singing "Before He Cheats" They're short, but don't they all sound so good live?

A Healthy Pot Pie

2008-10-13T19:36:00.003-04:00

Yes, ladies and gents, there is a healthy pot pie out there. Since starting our new diet, I've discovered the joy of recipes on mrsdash.com. Mrs. Dash makes spices and sauces that are salt free, but really really tasty. I found this recipe today for a Turkey Pot Pie and we both loved it! It was so easy to make and had tons of flavor for a low-sodium meal. And, if you are on a low calorie diet, it only has 272 calories per serving, and the servings are a good size!

Just a heads up on this one and any other Mrs. Dash recipe I may post on here. You really have to use Mrs. Dash flavoring on these. I've done some comparing in the aisles, and Mrs. Dash really is the key ingredient to make the recipes healthy. Other brands will have at least double the calories, fat, and sodium.

Turkey Pot Pie

Ingredients
2 prepared frozen pie crusts, 9 inches in diameter
1 can condensed low-sodium cream of chicken soup
3/4 cup skim milk
1/4 cup Mrs. Dash Zesty Garlic Herb 10-minute marinade
1 tbsp cornstarch
16 oz mixed frozen vegetables
2 cups cooked diced turkey breast

Directions

1. Thaw pie crust and vegetables.

2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

3. Cook and dice the turkey breast.

4. Grease pie pan with cooking spray and the bottom pie crust.

5. Whisk together soup, milk, Mrs. Dash, and cornstarch in a large bowl. Add the thawed vegetables and cooked turkey. Spoon the mixture into the pie pan. Top with the crust, pressing the crust onto the edges of the plate. Cut slits in several places on the crust.

6. Bake for 40 minutes in the oven. Let stand at least 5 minutes before serving.

Quote of the Week

2008-10-12T10:19:00.005-04:00

And now, the question of the week, brought to you by one very curious high school senior in Massachusetts:

"So, like, with the snow, do I have to like clean off my own car and stuff?"

Oh boy.

Tales from the Road

2008-10-09T19:39:00.005-04:00

Well I've been a traveling soul for about four weeks now, and its been quite an adventure. I love my new job (yes, I know I've mentioned this once or twice). I have met so many nice people and so many great students. To be connected with kids and schools again and really feel like I am making a difference in someone's life really has me back on my game. For so long I was so miserable at work, and its just awesome to look forward to my days again.

For the most part my days are pretty typical. Wake up, drive south, or wherever from my hotel room, go to a high school fair or visit, meet with anywhere from 1 to 60 students depending on the event, get in the car and do it all over again. My nights in the hotel vary. Some weeks I'm gone three nights in a row, some weeks its just one night and the rest of the days are day trips. Its really not a bad gig.

Every few days though something just plain weird or ridiculous or something that is complete crap happens. Take for example, Tuesday night. I had a fair in western Massachusetts that got out at 9pm. Wednesday morning I had to be on the other side of the state for an early high school visit. If you've ever lived in Mass, you know attempting to drive anywhere in the morning with hope of no traffic or accidents is like saying last night you went out for beers with the Pope. It just doesn't happen. So after my fair got out at 9, I hopped in the car, put the debate on the radio and ventured east. Two hours later I arrived at my hotel in Peabody, very tired and very ready for a hot shower, my reserved king size bed, and fluffy pillows, followed by a nice free breakfast in the morning. When the nice man at the desk told me there were "problems" with the rooms and my reserved room no longer existed, you can imagine I was less than pleased. So the nice man informed me my stay would be free, and that they had set me up at a very nice hotel down the street. The nice man then proceeded to send me to an Extended Stay America a mile down the road. Instead of my nice warm shower, king sized bed, fluffy pillows, and expected breakfast, I was greeted by a scuzzy hippie (no not all hippies are scuzzy, just this one), who directed me to my dirty room, queen sized bed that was hard as a rock, flat pillows, and zero breakfast.

The next morning I woke up with a creak in my neck, and significantly dark circles under my eyes, and proceeded to call the sales manager at the hotel where I was initially supposed to stay. I'm an honors member at this particular chain, and lord knows if I had a night like that I damn well better still be getting my points. (I'm saving up for a cruise you see, it only takes 800,000 points. We'll be enjoying the Mediterranean Sea in roughly our late 80s). Luckily the woman I talked to was fantastic. She informed me that typically if this happens (not that it typically happens), guests are sent to the Sheraton. She wasn't quite sure why I was sent to Cirque du Extendastay, but was rather embarassed. She kindly rewarded me with ten times the amount of points I would have earned had I stayed at her hotel. I kindly accepted them. Yay for me for finally getting the guts to stand up for myself. Two years ago I never would have made that call.

So that's the story this week. Tonight I'm in a much better place. I'm staying at a Homewood Suites in Peabody. My room has three rooms, a full kitchen including a dishwasher, and..wait for it...free popcorn. Oh, and because I'm signed up for rewards there was a sign at the check in desk with my name on it, welcoming me to the hotel. I almost feel famous.

More Pics!

2008-10-02T07:02:00.004-04:00

Clare posted more pics from Ray's wedding on her blog last night!! Check them out, she did a fantastic job!!

Ray Ray's Wedding

2008-09-29T11:08:00.005-04:00

When you enter your mid-twenties a phenomenon happens. You go to weddings. Not one or two weddings here and there, but 900 weddings in the span of 4 years. Those of you who are past this stage in your life, you know what I mean. Those of you who are not, start saving now!! At any rate, this weekend was my best friend Ryan's wedding. Part of me wondered if by the time we got to this, I'd be too weddinged out, detached, and unemotional. Given that I literally have been to 16 weddings in the past 3 and a half years, I just wondered if I might be over it. But when she put on that dress and turned around to look at her admirers I completely broke down.

Let me back up a bit and give you a sense of why, maybe more than most, this wedding really got me.

Ryan and were not terribly close early in college although we played rugby together and had many mutual friends. Our junior year we started hanging out quite a bit, mostly because we were dating guys who were also good friends and roomed together. It wasn't until the year after college though, that Ryan and I became best friends. We were both single, her college boyfriend having broke her heart, and Ryan lived in Boston while I was up in Maine. Every weekend and even some weeknights I'd travel down to Boston, stay with Ray (Ryan's nickname), and we'd hit up the town, meeting new people, becoming not just bigger Red Sox fans, but experts that year, and lamenting that we'd never meet the perfect guy. We were attached at the hip, and people thought we were sisters. We chatted on the phone sometimes for hours, and called each other in a panic before we went on one of many blind dates. We even took a 2.5 day road trip to Tennessee to surprise a good friend. We were inseparable.

Then Ryan met Shawn. I remember the night she met him. It was a blind date, and she called me from the parking lot, like she always would, freaking out about her nerves. It was different this time though. I think Ryan knew before she even met Shawn, that she was going to marry him. Obviously the date went well, and they started becoming very serious.

Oh, have I mentioned, this date was over 5 years ago.

Ryan and I have stayed close, but have naturally found a distance that most friends do as they get serious and begin to settle down. The road that she and Shawn were on was a rocky one for a bit. He had just gotten out of a relationship that about destroyed him, and because of it, it was hard for him to be close to Ryan. I can't tell you how many times I told her to just move on. But she didn't. And he didn't propose. And he didn't propose. And he didn't propose. Ryan was in our friend Meg's wedding, and then mine, but as the classic saying goes, she was always the bridesmaid never the bride. Until last fall. He finally proposed, and Ryan finally got to be the bride. This weekend at their wedding I realized that what I had always hoped would be the reason he took so long to marry her would be true. When he knew 110%, with no doubt in his mind that this would be his wife, he asked her, but not a moment sooner. I have so much respect for someone who knows themself well enough to wait, and even more for the woman who waited for him. When she walked down the aisle Saturday afternoon to greet her groom, and that strong willed Boston boy started to cry, not a single person in the room doubted that it was worth every second they waited to get to this day. They are so in love, and my best friend has found her best husband.

I feel the need to add that I have been beyond thrilled for all of my friends who have gotten married over the past few years. Each of them have found a partner who gives them a joy that we always hoped we would find. I think with Ray, it just got me a little more because I know how much she has waited for this day with Shawn.

Ok, enough blabbing. Time for some pictures!! Ryan's photographer was a friend of mine, who I met as she photograped many weddings of my friends from the Knot. Her name is Clare, and she is fantastic. She's posted a teaser on her blog and I'll let you all know when she posts more, as she always does. In the meantime, here are a few of my very very nonprofessional but favorite pics from the day.

What a night at the ballpark!!

2008-09-25T20:42:00.004-04:00

So, my friend Kristen and I are both pretty big Red Sox fan, yet for some reason we'd never been to a game together. Being the awesome friend she is, she sent me this shirt as a congratulatory gift when I got my new job, so I said, we need to get to a game!! So, knowing my travel schedule would be keeping me in Mass and NH quite a bit, I got online and picked a night to go. Little did I know, this would be the night the Sox would clinch the playoffs!! The game was a blast. It was the first time I've been to a night game in quite awhile, and I forgot how exciting it was! It was a close one and of course Papelbon came through and won it for the Sox in the 9th inning. We stayed around for quite awhile afterwards to get some pictures of a few of our favorites!!

Wake and Timlin

Yooooooook!

Me and Kristen

Beckett

Coco and His Family

Papi!

Let the Travel Begin!

2008-09-17T19:30:00.004-04:00

So I am on my first official trip for my new job. I am currently slummin' it in a less than wonderful Best Western just outside of Boston. While the hotel may not be the best thing I've experienced in awhile, the job just may be. Today I had four "mini fairs" at four different high schools. Mini fairs are a lot like the big nighttime college fairs you may remember, with tons of different colleges set up at tables, only this is only for the juniors and seniors at the school you are visiting. Its a really great opportunity for the students, and I wish we had done it when I was in high school. The crazy thing though is that the fairs are scheduled virtually back to back with only enough time for travel in between. So at the end of the fair, all the representatives pack up as quickly as possible (we're talking like a 30 second whip all of your materials in a bag), run out the door, drive to the next fair, and do a very quick set up before the students show up. You barely have time to breath. Its funny though to see 60 people with their rolling black bags flying into a school and then the line of cars driving to the next one. Its a little stressful, but exciting too, and I love the "challenge" of getting to each place. The other representatives are really friendly, and I had some great questions from students. It has literally been so long since I have loved going to work each day, and I can't explain how great it feels to be energized by my job like I did when I was teaching.

Tomorrow I have four more mini-fairs, including one at Braintree High where I last taught! I actually still have students there so I'm so excited to see them and my teacher friends!

No Time to Think!!

2008-09-12T23:52:00.002-04:00

Life is BUSY!!!! Between a new job, planning my upcoming travel, and a new puppy in the house, I don't even have time to think, so please forgive me for slacking on the blog a bit! Rowdy is great, a handful for sure, but lots of fun. I don't think one can truly understand how difficult a puppy (especially a chocolate lab puppy) is until getting one. Jim and I knew we'd be lacking in sleep but I think we underestimated the amount of undivided attention a puppy requires. Our day looks something like this:

5:30am - Kristina gets up with Rowdy, takes him out, plays, plays, plays, with several sips of strong coffee in between puppy jumps and kisses.

6:00am - Jim gets up, and gets in the shower. Kristina attempts to make lunches while preventing the cats from attacking the puppy and the puppy from peeing on the floor.

6:20am - Kristina gets in the shower, Jim attempts to get dressed and drink his strong coffee in between puppy jumps, breakfast, and attempted poops on the floor.

7:20am - Kristina and Jim run out of the house like mad people.

Work Mornings - Busy busy busy, as both of our jobs are now requiring 100% focus all day.

12:00pm - Jim drives 20 minutes home, takes puppy to the park, and drives 20 minutes back to work.

Work Afternoon - Busy busy busy

5:00pm - Kristina gets home, gets attacked by puppy, takes puppy for walk in which he walks in front of her, in back of her, to the left of her, to the right of her, stops to smell grass, and finally poops.

5:30pm - Jim gets home to find puppy eating Kristina's pants, eating grass, eating his chuckit toy, eating anything he's not supposed to.

6-9pm - Jim and Kristina run around like insane human beings attempting to feed puppy, entertain puppy, discipline puppy, make dinner for themselves, save the cats from puppy attacks, save the floor from puppy pee attacks, and finally put puppy to bed.

You think its over right? No

11:30pm - Puppy wakes up crying. Jim takes him out

12:30am- Puppy whining

1:30am- Puppy whining

3:30am - Puppy whining

5:30am - It starts all over again.

It may sound as though I'm complaining, and I need you all to believe I'm not. Rather I'm just trying to give you an idea of our day, and sadly the outline doesn't even do it justice. I honestly think a toddler will be easier than a puppy. At least we will be prepared! We love the little guy right to death though, and don't tell him I said this, but I think Jim might love him more than he loves me! (Kidding). I'm so glad Jim will have a buddy while I travel this fall, I think it will help to keep him sane and give him good company.

Here are a few of my favorite pics of the little guy so far!

Meet Rowdy!

2008-09-06T09:47:00.004-04:00

He's here! We finally have our puppy and we are just so in love with him!! We picked him up yesterday morning and he had a very long day of riding in the car, visiting our families, and finally arriving at his new home.

Jim and I are both amazed at how well behaved this puppy is. There were children in his previous home, so he is very used to being handled, and lets us rub his belly, touch his paws, and even put our hands in his mouth. We were expecting a very sleepless night last night but only had to get up twice to let him out, once at midnight and then again at 5:30 this morning. He barely whined in his crate, (its actually his new favorite space, he brings his toys in there to play), and we only woke up because he was moving around. We haven't had a single accident yet, and even our kitties are behaving much better than we expected. So far, this isn't too bad!

I will post more pics as the weekend goes on. We are just thrilled to have this new addition and can't wait to show him off to all of our family and friends!

From Tiki and Naboo

2008-08-30T11:45:00.001-04:00

My cats, brilliant as they are, found this this morning, and told me to share it with you all. I think this pretty much sums up how they are feeling about their soon-to-be brother.

A Puppy!

2008-08-30T11:15:00.003-04:00

We have been wanting a puppy for quite awhile now, but were waiting for the right time to finally give it a go ahead. When I got my new job, we both decided that this was the time to get the dog. Jim will be home alone quite a bit this fall, and he could use a buddy. So, we have been checking websites daily for the perfect pup and we found him yesterday! He is a 9 week old chocolate lab, and we are going to name him Rowdy (from the tv show Scrubs). The picture online wasn't great, so I will leave you all in suspense until we pick him up next Friday. :) We are very very excited to welcome him to his new home and we are so excited for the opportunity to give a pup a good home.

I do feel the need to say one thing about our new pup. He is not a rescue. And because he's not a rescue dog does not mean we are bad puppy-hating people. We looked at rescue dogs, and breeders alike to find the one that was a good fit for us. Rowdy just happened to come at the right time. Rescue or not, he is getting a good home with people who will love him and treat him right. Who knows what would have happened to him if nobody did adopt him. I understand that the argument is that if you support breeders, they will continue to breed and fewer rescues will be adopted. But as my husband put it, there are orphan children out there who need to be adopted too, but people keep having their own children and will continue to do so. It is whatever is right for the couple making the choice. So please, do not judge us based on this decision. We are good people, who do good things for our communities and our families. Choosing a dog from a breeder does not change that. It was what was right for us, and I appreciate our friends and family supporting that decision.

The New Job

2008-08-28T20:51:00.004-04:00

I know I haven't updated the blog in quite awhile. Things the past two weeks have been pretty busy. I started my new job last week and so far I love it. It is so awesome to get up in the morning and not dread my day and walk out of the office at the end of the day with a smile on my face. Don't get me wrong, I didn't hate every waking minute in my old job, but it was so hard to get excited about what I was doing..it was so BORING to me!! And while I do realize I'm still in the honeymoon phase of my new job, it just feels good. I really think I have found a place where I belong, and its been a long time since I've felt that way. I'm very much looking forward to what my new career will bring me and I think this will be something I will stay with for quite awhile.

I start traveling in about three weeks. Traveling means I will be away from home 4-5 days a week, and away overnight for 2-3 of those nights. I think this will be good for me and Jim. Those of you who know us well know that we are attached at the hip, so a little independent time will be good for us. We are actively looking for a puppy though, so Jim isn't too lonely, so if you hear of any black or chocolate male pups looking for a new home, let us know!

I hope everyone has a good Labor Day weekend. We are laying low, since our summer was so crazy. Saturday night I'm getting together with some of my favorite girls, and I can't wait for a night of a thousand laughs and about as many glasses of wine. :)

Dear Fall,

2008-08-18T12:01:00.003-04:00

Back off. I'm not ready for you. This morning on my drive into work I saw FIVE trees with leaves of red and orange. In case you hadn't been keeping up, its AUGUST 18TH. You my good friend are not welcome until at least September 9th. While you are still my favorite time of year, I'm not ready to let go of the hot days, warm nights, tank tops, and fun flip-flops.

Go back to your cave, stop bullying Summer, and we'll see you in a few weeks.

I Wouldn't Have Done This in College

2008-08-14T19:32:00.003-04:00

After all my talk about growing old, and wishing I were in my early 20s again, I am spending my evening baking whoopie pies for dinner with friends tomorrow night, drinking wine, enjoying some of my favorite acoustic tunes, and dancing in my living room. Maybe its just the wine talking, but this is not something I would have enjoyed in college, and this just may be the best night I've had in a long time. I'm not at a club, I'm not wasted, and I will get up and go to work tomorrow morning. Maybe this growing up thing will turn out ok....

Growing Up

2008-08-14T15:08:00.003-04:00

I wish that when I was born, someone had given me a book on the stages of life. Something that said how exciting going to kindergarten would be, how hard puberty is, how fun college would be, and how friggen scary and kind of depressing your late 20's would be. Don't get me wrong here, I enjoy my life and I am very happy with my family, friends, husband, kitties, house, and all that jazz, but it is so HARD to leave your early 20's behind.

A few months ago I claimed to be going through my quarter life crisis. Don't laugh at me (I can see my aunts chuckling at this), its a real thing! Babies? No way. Independence, alcohol, and clubbing? Bring it on. I spent three Saturday nights in a row living it up and wasted three Sundays in bed with the worst hangovers I've ever had. I needed to rebel a bit. Go out to the club. Dance until 2 in the morning (although by 11 I was exhausted). I even told my poor husband I was going to buy concert tickets because it was what I wanted to do and I was sick of having to ask about every financial decision I want make (which by the way is so NOT true, we both have plenty of our own financial freedom). I was a crank.

After the third Sunday of crawling out of bed at 4pm only to trip on the trash can my amazing husband had placed next to me, I snapped out of it. Still no babies, please, but I was perfectly content making dinner at night then sitting on the couch cuddling with my husband and kitties until we went to bed at a very early but comfortable 9pm.

Last weekend was my best friend Ryan's bachelorette party. It wasn't a wild, wear penis hats, matching shirts, and take 900 shots kind of night. We all dressed up, took a limo into Boston, went to a really classy martini bar, and then went to the Revolution Rock Club where we hung out in the VIP area, and I ordered myself a bottle of wine. (Hey, its cheaper that way!) But as I looked out onto the extremely packed dance floor I couldn't help but long for those college and early 20s days back. Things were so EASY. Get up, go to class, come home, start drinking, laugh your butt off for hours on end, go to bed after about 20 drinks, and wake up hangover free. That was the life.

Do I think that life is boring now? No way. I have a lot that keeps me going. I have an amazing husband, and the best girlfriends who make me laugh more than I knew I could. But I honestly think that my college/early 20s years may have been the best of my life, and its so hard to let that go. When I think about starting a family I get so excited, but then immediately realize that my youth is over. I'm even starting to look too old. I was watching some news story the other day about a guy and I just assumed he was this regular, adult man, obviously out of college and in the career world. Then they said he was 27 years old and I about died. Do I look that old? Well, maybe I do, seeing as I too am out of college and in the career world. Oh lord, this growing up thing is tough.

Back to the book I never got. I'd like to think that the chapter on your late 20's ends something like this: Being grown up doesn't mean being boring. It doesn't mean the kids at the store think you are some old hag. It does mean less time at the clubs, but it doesn't mean less time with a good bottle of wine and close friends and family (you still get the buzz you know). Having kids doesn't mean your life is over. You really are only as old as you think you are. When your co-workers and older family members tell you the best is yet to come, its ok to not believe them, you will see it in your own time, but believe that this time is coming sooner than you think. And know this, when the next transition comes and you hit your mid-life crisis, it won't be easy, you'll recover, and the second half of your life will be even better than your first.

GOING HOME!!!

2008-08-12T13:19:00.002-04:00

We just got word that Mary is being discharged from MGH as we speak!! She is heading back to Hampden, and will not be doing any rehab in Boston. From what little Jim got from his dad on the phone (he was hurrying to get her ready to go), she will do minimal PT and OT in the Bangor area, and she will be able to stay at her house, rather than being in another facility for a few weeks. This is great news and I can just imagine how excited both Mike and Mary are to finally get home!

Weekend Update

2008-08-10T21:23:00.003-04:00

We are back home after a busy busy weekend. Saturday I got to go in and see Mary and she was doing pretty well. The drugs have her in and out of sleep but when she's awake she is herself and really getting better every day. At this point we think she will be heading out of MGH and in to rehab early to mid-week. She won't need any physical therapy but may need occupational therapy. As of our last report from Mike, she hadn't seen the OT yet for her evaluation, so hopefully we'll know more tomorrow. Once she meets with the OT it will be determined if she can do her rehab in Boston or Hampden....pray for Hampden, it would be great to get her and Mike home!!

So, all in all she is doing great, looking great, and sounding great. I'll let you all know when she heads towards OT and where she is going!

Surgery Success!

2008-08-09T08:46:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone,

Just a very quick update. Mary had her surgery yesterday to put in the permanent drain and it was a full on success! The drain will now stay in there forever, draining fluid from the brain to the stomach when necessary. Jim and I are in Boston this weekend. I haven't seen Mary yet, as this was a planned weekend with friends quite awhile ago, but I am heading in for a bit today. Jim did get to see her last night and is in this morning and said she is looking and sounding great. I'll post more on Monday when we are back home and after I have seen her. Have a great weekend everyone!

Movin' Out!

2008-08-06T11:32:00.002-04:00

I just got word from Mike that Mary is kissing the ICU adios today! She will be moved to another section of the neuro floor at MGH, but getting out of the ICU is huge, and I bet she is just thrilled!

They have decided to put a shunt, a permanent drain, into her head, as they have had trouble with headaches when they try to turn off the drain. The shunt will stay in there forever, but will allow her to recover more quickly and hopefully (this is me talking now, not the docs), prevent future issues.

I'll keep everyone updated on the move, and where she is once she gets moved!

Some Uplifting News

2008-08-04T11:37:00.003-04:00

I think we all could use a little good news, so I am here to share. First and foremost, Jim had his 6 week blood pressure check up today. After 6 weeks of a complete do-over of our diet, and a lot of self-control on Jim's part, he left the doctor's with the lowest blood pressure he's ever had since he started going to this office! I'm so so proud of him. He's worked so hard to get his blood pressure down, and to see him not only do it, but knock it out of the park, is just awesome. His next appointment is in 3 months, where they will check to make sure he is staying on track. He is definitely looking at this as a lifestyle change, so I think he will find it pretty easy to maintain. Good job babe :)

On my end of things, I got a new job!! I will be working as an Admission Counselor at USM, where I work now. I am beyond excited about it. I have really been missing working with students, and this will definitely satisfy that need. During the fall I will be traveling all over New England, going to high schools and college fairs to recruit students. The rest of the year I will work to read applications, approve scholarships, and work open houses. This is a new start for me and I am really excited about it. My first day is August 18th.

Checking in on Mary, she is doing well. They have been attempting to turn off the drain that goes into her head. When they are able to turn it off without her getting a headache, they can remove it, and hopefully start moving her out of ICU. As of today, the drain is back on, but they keep trying every day. I know she is anxious to get out of the ICU, so keep your fingers crossed that it will happen soon! She is definitely a trooper!

Home Again

2008-08-03T09:10:00.002-04:00

Jim and I are back home again, this time for the week, as we also have to head back to work. Mary looked amazing when we saw her yesterday. The swelling in her eye is completely gone and the bruising has almost completely subsided. She was awake, up in her chair, and attempting to eat. She had her same sense of humor and really just was Mary. It doesn't appear that any cognitive loss has taken place which is just fantastic. Last night after we left, the doctors wanted to try turning off the drain coming out of her head. If she didn't experience any severe headaches, they could take it out today. We did receive an update from Mike around midnight, and they had to turn the drain back on. So, they'll try again soon. I'm just so excited that they are at the point where they can start thinking about disconnecting some of the critical things attached to her. I know she is very anxious to get out of the ICU.

So, I will keep you all updated as the week goes on. Jim and I are headed back to Boston next weekend. I have a bachelorette party to go to, and he'll spend it with his mom and dad. Thanks again for all the love and support!

One Week

2008-08-01T12:21:00.004-04:00

Well today marks the one week mark since Mary's accident. Jim and I have been here since Wednesday evening and have only seen her a few times. She's had many many visitors since she got here and asked to have a quiet day yesterday. We saw her briefly in the morning and then the three of us (Mike, Jim, and I) went our separate ways and gave her some space. Jim went for a bike ride to blow off steam, Mike visited with his mom, and I took the opportunity to get some shoes for Ray's wedding. I think we all needed the break as much as Mary did to be perfectly honest. We did get to see her briefly last night and she was awake and eating and looked really good. Every day is an improvement which is what we like to see!

Aside from Mary and her improvement, the think that amazes me more than anything is the amount of support that all the families here in the ICU give each other. We say hello to each other in the morning, offer to get food or coffee when someone goes downstairs, share our stories, and check in to see how their loved one is doing throughout the day. When someone comes back from a visit everyone stops what they are doing to make sure everything is ok. There is a man here who's brother got in a severe motorcycle accident last Saturday. They just stabilized him this morning. There is another family who's wife/mother/sister had an aneurysm like Marys. Another family is here with their mother who is suffering from cancer. Together, we have all become each other's support system. It truly is amazing, and I am so grateful for all of us here that we all feel like we can give each other that type of support, rather than just sitting in this green and tan waiting room all day long, staring at the wall with nobody to talk to.

So, one week down, with tons of improvement. Hopefully this time next week we'll be talking about a timeline for heading home, or at least getting out of ICU.

Lookin' Good!

2008-07-31T08:34:00.002-04:00

Jim and I are back in Boston and arrived to find a much improved Mary last night! We hadn't seen her since the day after her surgery, so to walk in and see her alert, watching tv, and chatting away was just amazing. The swelling in her eye has subsided significantly. She still can't quite open it but its much less bruised and is no longer weeping. She was very excited to see us and was talking like she normally would while we were in there. It was very very exciting. After we visited, Jim, Mike and I went out to dinner. When we came back, Mike went over to say goodnight and learned that they had got her up and walking a little bit! It was very exciting, and he came back to the hotel all smiles and whistling.

So for now it looks like we are on an upswing. We are looking forward to spending the day with her and hopefully helping her move around a bit. As always I will keep everyone updated.

Ups and Downs

2008-07-29T11:12:00.002-04:00

We've learned over the past 24 hours that the next few days, if not weeks will be a lot of ups and downs. Mary has had some really great moments, and we've learned some really scary things. On the up side, yesterday she was awake and eating, which is really great news. Something that kind of made us all giggle was when she told the doctors and family that she had a headache and that it was probably because she hadn't had any coffee in the past few days. It definitely couldn't have been because she had just had brain surgery..haha. We had to laugh.

On the serious side of things, it looks as though a stroke, while not imminent, is very possible over the next few days. The bleeding in the brain is quite serious. The stroke would not be your "typical" stroke, where there is a clot which blocks oxygen to the brain, rather this would be caused by spasms in the brain which would cause the passageways to close up, blocking the oxygen that way. The good news is that she is already in the hospital, and they know it might be coming. The severe damage of a stroke happens when the brain is lacking oxygen for a period of time. With Mary being watched very closely 24/7, they can jump on her the second it happens.

She is also experiencing issues with her right eye. The other day I posted about how it is swollen and bruised from the blood dripping down from the brain. I also posted about how she was leaking fluid from her eye. Two days ago they tested the fluid to see if it was just saline or cerebral fluid (fluid from the brain). We haven't heard back yet, but the doctor does feel that it is cerebral fluid. This is not great news, as it means there is an opening somewhere in there for infection to get into the brain. Like I said, we don't know for sure yet, so I will of course, keep you all updated.

Jim and I are heading back to Boston tomorrow afternoon, and will stay through the weekend. The both of us, along with Mike, Maggie, and Mary too, cannot stress enough our sincere appreciation to everyone who has reached out. We are so fortunate to have such amazing people in our lives who truly care. Keep praying, keep up those positive thoughts, and I'll check back in here as soon as I know anything new.

Day 4 Update

2008-07-28T10:24:00.002-04:00

Its Monday morning, and Jim and I are home for just a few days. Last night Maggie arrived, and a bunch of Jim's aunts and uncles are coming to Boston today so we decided to come home and take care of the kitties. Luckily we are on vacation this week so we can go back whenever we need to.

Yesterday was a better day but still very tough. We were able to see Mary awake once, and she was very coherent and knew who we were and what was going on. She has a very black right eye where some of the bleeding from her brain has seeped down. Her eye is swollen shut, and the blood is seeping out of her actual eye. Its kind of scary to see, she looks as though she's crying blood, but the doctors don't seem overly concerned about it. If anything its a good thing because it is releasing some of the pressure from her brain. She did have a CT scan yesterday but we don't know the results of it quite yet. Jim talked to his dad this morning and he said her eye is looking better, so that is good news. He also said she was eating this morning which the nurses were anxious for her to do. Hopefully with each passing day she'll be more alert and feeling better.

She will remain in the ICU for probably two weeks and then we don't know how long she might be in the hospital. We do know it will be a long road to recovery no matter what.

Again, keep checking the blog for updates1

Oh, one more thing, today is Mary's birthday. Happy Birthday..we love you!

Post-Surgery Update

2008-07-26T21:59:00.004-04:00

The surgery went really really well, and we are all feeling some relief. The doctors went in through her skull and removed one of the aneurysms. There was significant bleeding from when it ruptured so she will remain in the ICU for the next 8-10 days to make sure there is no more break through bleeding or clotting. I haven't gotten in to see her, but Jim and Mike have and I guess she woke up and knew who was in the room, which is a very good sign. She is heavily medicated so she probably won't remember much if any of today, but that's probably a good thing. We are hoping she will be a little more coherent tomorrow.

Its been a very very long 24 hours. The three of us (me, Jim, and Mike) were able to cat-nap for about three hours this afternoon, but that's all we've had since we woke up yesterday morning. Mike's sister Maureen joined us at 3am last night and stayed until around noon today and then some of Mike's other siblings and their spouses have been in during the day as well. Maggie unfortunately is stranded in Western Mass without a car, but is hoping to be able to get here tomorrow or Monday and I know she must be very anxious to join the family. We are so fortunate that Mike and Mary each have 7 brothers and sisters, most of whom live in the area, so we have had lots of support the past day and will continue to as the next few weeks go on.

So, the immediate threat is over. Sorry if these posts are a little scattered, but so is my brain right now. I'll post another update tomorrow after we spend some time with Mary. Many many many thanks to all of our friends and family who have expressed their love and support!

Thoughts and Prayers Please

2008-07-26T11:56:00.005-04:00

As I type this entry, I am sitting in the waiting room of the Neurology ICU at Massachusetts General Hospital. This was not an expected visit. Yesterday afternoon my father-in-law Mike went out to run a few errands and came home to find a very delirious mother-in-law, Mary, out back by the pool. She was complaining of a severe headache, and when she could not tell Mike the year or where she lived, he called 911. They took her to Eastern Maine Med where she was diagnosed with two brain aneurysms. One had burst, and one more was discovered in her scans. At about 10pm, about 20 minutes after I had arrived at camp in NY, I got a call from Jim telling me that Mary was being airlifted to Boston. I hopped in the car, as did Jim from Portland, and Mike from Hampden and we all headed down to the city, not sure what would await us.

Jim arrived here at around 12:30am and was able to see his mom for a few minutes, which calmed him down quite a bit. She was Mary being Mary, and seemed to be doing ok. I arrived at 2am, followed by Mike and his sister Maureen at 3am. We started being able to see her around 4am, and the doctor came in to tell us that surgery was going to be necessary. She is currently in one of two possible surgeries. Right now they are removing part of her skull to take out the aneurysm that burst, and then replacing the skull. They may have to go through the leg to remove the second, but we are unsure at this point.

We're all on edge, not knowing what possible side effects could come from the surgery or the aneurysms. Her memory was off and on this morning, so we'll see how she is after she gets out of recovery. I will try to update the blog as to how she is doing. Jim and I will be in Boston for at least a few days, but there is talk she will be in the ICU for two weeks so we may be here for a little longer. For now, please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Exciting Happenings

2008-07-22T08:48:00.014-04:00

If you know me at all, you know that I have various groups of best girlfriends. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful women in my life, and this weekend I was lucky enough to hang out with my two Megs and Ryan. These girls have been some of my best friends since college when we all played rugby together and enjoyed many a night of intense partying. I love them so much and I feel so fortunate that we are all still friends. The three of them live in the Boston area, and each of them have something really exciting going on in their lives right now!!

Big Meg is my athletic friend. She's the sportiest person I know, and has been playing rugby since college, and continues to play with the Boston Women's team. In September she is leaving us, which we are so sad about, but we are so excited for her because she will be heading to Colorado for a year of wilderness training. I wish I understood it more than that, but it is Meg to a T, and sadly for us, I don't think she'll come back east. But she is beyond excited for it, and rightfully so. I think she'll find her place out there, and now we have a cool place to go vacation :)

Little Meg and I met my freshman year in college and roomed together for two years. She was always the wild one in our group. She didn't care what people thought, and made us laugh more than anyone. Her junior year she went off to Australia for a semester and came home with her boyfriend, Ned, who is now her husband, and they just had their first baby and bought their first home (all within a month)!! Saturday I got to meet baby Eddie and I am one proud auntie! He is adorable, and at the age where he can start trying to communicate to whoever is talking to him. Here's my favorite picture of the little guy!

And then there's Ryan..or Ray as I call her. Ray has been dating Shawn for 5 years now, and has been very patient as she was a bridesmaid and never the bride in both Little Meg's and my weddings. Well Shawn finally proposed last fall and Ray's getting married! She is the epitome of a blushing bride. This weekend was her shower, and it was probably the nicest shower I've ever been to. It was in this gorgeous colonial home in Massachusetts. Meg and I treated ourselves to a tour and took some pictures..we couldn't resist!! The decorations were beautiful and Ryan got some really really nice gifts. She is a lucky girl and is going to be such a beautiful bride. I can't wait for her wedding in September!

Here are some pictures of the girls...if you guys are reading, I love you and I'm so lucky to get to share all of your exciting happenings with you!!

Big Meg, Little Meg, Eddie, and Me

Me, Ray, Little Meg, and Eddie

Two New Yummy Recipes

2008-07-10T20:00:00.001-04:00

This has been a good food week!! On Monday I scoured the internet for some heart healthy recipes, and made two this week. Here are the recipes, both come highly recommended by both of us!

Pasta Primavera

Ingredients

(You can use any veggie really, I chose to go with the recommendations but will play around with it next time!)

1/2 cup broccoli florets
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced zucchini or squash
1/2 cup sliced red or green peppers
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon butter
1 cup evaporated fat-free milk
3/4 cup Parmesan cheese
16 ounces thin pasta (spaghetti or angel hair)
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley

Directions

1. In a large pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring about an inch of water to a boil. Add the broccoli, mushrooms, zucchini, peppers, and peas. Cover and steam until tender-crisp, about 10 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, start water for pasta, and add pasta when ready.

3. When the veggies are done, remove from pot. In a large saucepan, heat olive oil and garlic over medium-high heat. Add the steamed veggies and stir or shake to coat the veggies with the garlic and oil. Remove from the heat, but keep warm.

4. In another large saucepan, heat the butter, evaporated milk, and Parmesan cheese. Stir over moderate heat until somewhat thickened and heated through. Stir continuously and don't scald. Remove from heat, and keep warm.

5. When the pasta is ready, divide evenly among plates. Top with veggies and pour the sauce over the veggies and pasta. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately!

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Sun-Dried Tomato, Thyme, and Basil Pizza

Ingredients

1 12-inch prepared pizza crust, frozen or made from a mix
4 garlic cloves, chopped or minced
1/2 cup fat-free ricotta cheese
1/2 cup sun dried tomatoes
2 teaspoons dried basil
1 teaspoon thyme

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Lightly coat a 12-inch round baking pan with cooking spray. (I used our pizza stone..just lightly coat with flour so it doesn't stick)

2. Roll out the dough and press into the baking pan. Arrange the garlic, then the cheese, then the tomatoes on top of the pizza crust. Sprinkle the basil and thyme evenly over the pizza.

3. Bake on the lowest rack of the oven until the crust turns brown and the toppings are hot, about 20 minutes.

4. Cut the pizza and serve immediately!

The Katahdin Adventure

2008-07-07T11:02:00.011-04:00

We survived! Sometimes I think it was survival by sheer luck, but we survived. Last night we got home around 5:30, exhausted, sore, dirty, and more of a team than we've ever been. Our trip was so fun and so hard all at the same time. Where to begin?

Thursday we took off in the morning after Eric and Kerri arrived from Boston to our house. After a yummy lunch at Dysart's and some grocery shopping, we ventured up to our campsite at Roaring Brook Campground. The campground is about 8 miles into the park, and our sites were walk-in sites, about one-tenth of a mile in the woods. Thursday night we just chilled out in front of the fire, and enjoyed a yummy breakfast of eggs and sausages on Friday morning, made by our grillmaster, Eric.

Josh and Kim joined us around 10, and after they got their campsite all set up the six of us headed on a walk to Sandy Stream Pond to hopefully see some moose! The walk in was pretty easy, and when we got to the stream there were two moose in the pond! We hit a few different viewpoints and at one point we got pretty close to one of the moose. It was exciting! Attached to the Sandy Stream Trail is a trail that goes up a small mountain called South Turner Mountain. We decided to hike a little ways up, but when it got really steep, the girls decided to call it quits so that we wouldn't be sore the next day. The boys on the other hand had to be rock stars, and decided to hike the whole thing. They showed up at the campsite about 3 hours later. They claim they weren't sore, but us girls have a hunch that they may have regretted that decision just a bit the next day.

Saturday was Katahdin day! I was a little nervous but mostly excited. The hike starts with a 3.3 mile hike to Chimney Pond, at the base of the mountain. Let me tell you this....the Chimney Pond hike was about 10 million times easier when I was 10 years old. It was tough! I have to admit, that my fear of realizing I'm not the athletic chick I once was came true on this trip. But I pushed on, and I was not turning back! At Chimney we had decided to climb up Cathedral trail. I had heard Cathedral was steep and tough, but I had no clue what I was in for. The other four in our group were pretty fast climbers, so they sped up ahead of us, and Jim and I spent the next 5 hours rock climbing up an almost vertical path to the top. It was the single hardest thing I have ever done in my life, both physically and emotionally. Every time we hit a peak, we'd see three more. It was exhausting, but very exhilarating at times too. The view was incredible. The hardest part was feeling stuck, and at times hopeless. The trail was so difficult, that it would have been near impossible to go back down, so you just had to keep climbing. When we finally reached the top of the trail we were greeted by Eric and Kerri, and we were about 0.2 of a mile from Baxter Peak. I wish more than anything that I could have done it, but my legs were waaay past their breaking point, so Jim and Eric took a quick trip up and I hung out with Kerry. I only wish I could have shared the moment with Jim, but I don't feel like I failed or anything like that. It took everything I had to get up that mountain, and I did it. I have to give major major credit to Jim. He was amazing. Every time I thought I couldn't go on, he pushed me and pushed me and was so supportive. And I hope I did the same for him (although he stayed much stronger than I did)! I'm so glad I got to do this with my best friend and my teammate.

We headed down the mountain on a trail called Saddle Slide. We were originally going to go across the Knife's Edge, but at that point we were so exhausted that we headed down Saddle. Its called a Slide for a reason. The first mile is an almost vertical drop of sliding rock. You have to pass most of it on your butt so you don't go flying down the mountain. It was tricky, but not nearly as hard as climbing Cathedral.

We arrived back at camp around 8pm...9 miles and 13 hours later. It was an exhausting day, but I am so proud of myself and everyone who came with us. I never realized what a feat it really is to hike Katahdin and I have so much respect for those who do. My previous assumption that it was just another hike has been thrown out the window. This was not for the weak of strength or mind. I'm glad I've done it. I'll probably never do it again, but at least I can say I've hiked Mt. Katahdin. :)

Here are some more pictures of our trip!

Jim and I at Sandy Stream

Moose!
Eric and Jim on the top of South Turner Mountain
Jim and I at Chimney Pond
Jim starting up Cathedral
We did it!
Ready to head down Saddle Slide
Breathtaking

Off to the Great Outdoors

2008-07-02T13:09:00.004-04:00

So tomorrow we head up to Mt. Katahdin for four days of camping and hiking. I'm pretty excited but a little nervous. Its kind of a rite of passage of sorts for those of us who live in Maine to hike Mt. Katahdin and its something I've always wanted to do, but been a little nervous to do. In high school I was bound and determined, but it just never happened, and of course as I got older my resistance to the idea got larger. When Jim first put this together back in January my initial reaction was to go but not hike. I used my bum knee (which I really do have) as a nice little excuse, but I really was resisting because I'm just plain afraid. I'm not sure what exactly I'm scared of...maybe its that Knife's Edge is only 4 feet across and there is about a mile (or something like that) drop off each side, or maybe I'm nervous that this will be the ultimate proof that I'm not the athletic chick I once was. At any rate, after finding out that with poles my knees will be just fine, I gave in and decided that I need to do this for myself. So, hopefully I don't fall off Knife's Edge, slide down the mountain, or get eaten by a bear. If you haven't seen another entry by Tuesday, you might want to call the park ranger :)

French Country Chicken with Mushroom Sauce

2008-06-26T09:07:00.003-04:00

Boy was this a hit!! I always get nervous trying new recipes because I never know how they will come out, but this one was fantastic. Jim says it needs to be my new "company meal" :)

The meal can be served any way you like, but I chose to serve it over fettuccine and it was perfect!

Ingredients

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 shallots, thinly chopped
1/4 pound mushrooms, thinly sliced
1 tablespoon all-purpose (plain) flour
1/4 cup white wine (I used Pinot Grigio, and the flavor was awesome)
1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
1 tablespoon fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary)
2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Directions

Place the chicken breasts between wax paper and pound with a mallet to flatten. Cut each piece in half lengthwise. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes.

When the chicken is ready, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Add the chicken and sauté until no longer pink or until a thermometer inserted into the chicken reads 170 F.

While the chicken cooks, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat in a small frying pan. Add the shallots and saute for about 3 minutes. Add the mushrooms and cook for 2 minutes more, stirring occasionally.

In a small bowl, whisk together the flour and wine until all the lumps are gone. Add the flour mixture to the shallots and mushrooms. Stir in the chicken stock and cook over medium-high heat. Stir until the sauce thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and add the rosemary.

To serve, transfer 2 chicken breast halves onto each plate. Spoon mushroom sauce over the chicken and garnish with parsley. Serve immediately.

A New Lifestyle and Yummy Recipe

2008-06-24T09:02:00.003-04:00

So last Friday Jim had his yearly physical. Usually he comes back being lightly scolded by the doctor for being a little overweight, but this time was a little different. Jim has high blood pressure, and at 30 years old, its not a good place to be. So the doctor said that they could put him on medicine, but at 30 years old, he should be able to take care of this himself. So we have 6 weeks to lower his BP. This means our entire diet needs to change. I typically cook pretty healthy but there is almost always SOMETHING not-so-great-for-you in the house that Jim will gladly eat in its entirety in one sitting. Cheese is an example. Jim is very content eating an entire pound of cheese with bread in one sitting. Now, I'm not making fun of him, and please don't laugh, but this is seriously the root of our problem.

So I decided that if he's going to do this and do it right, I better do some research. I learned the best way to lower high blood pressure is to lower sodium intake, but you also need to cut back on fats, eat lots of fruit and veggies, and get lots of exercise. Some of Jim's favorites like pickles, chips, and cheese are no-nos. Friday night we had friends over for dinner, and it was Jim's last night of junk food so we had brownie sundaes, and then I sent our guests home with the leftover brownies, and all the chips, pretzels, and crackers in our house..haha. (Good night for them!)

If you've ever met my husband, you'll know that he hates fruit and veggies, they are like little devils staring him in the face. So I knew that if he were to live on just that for the next six weeks, we'd all be in a living hell, even our poor cats. So I did some more research and learned that there are actually lots of foods he can eat..just in moderation. Besides fruit and veggies, I got him fat free frozen yogurt (its chocolate!), dark chocolate bars, animal crackers, whole wheat bread and whole wheat english muffins, and even low-sodium roast beef. Yesterday I sent him to work with a roast beef sandwich with light mayo, tomato and lettuce on whole wheat bread; fruit salad (yes, ladies and gentlemen he ate fruit and LIKED it!), yogurt, a banana, and some peppers to snack on. From what I was told it wasn't miserable and he was a pretty chipper guy when I got home so it was a successful start!

So now on to the recipe. Because we need a low sodium diet, I researched some low sodium recipes and found this one. It was pretty yummy..I ended up adding a little parmesan on top, but I also used too much pasta, so I think had I used the amount of pasta in the recipe it would have been more flavorful.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Broccoli, Garlic, and Rigatoni

Ingredients:

1/3 pound rigatoni noodles
1 cup broccoli florets (tops)
2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 teaspoons minced garlic
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Fill a large pot 3/4 full with water and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente (tender), 10 to 12 minutes, or according to the package directions. Drain the pasta thoroughly.

While the pasta is cooking, in a pot fitted with a steamer basket, bring 1 inch of water to a boil. Add the broccoli, cover and steam until tender, about 10 minutes.

In a large bowl, combine the cooked pasta and broccoli. Toss with Parmesan cheese, olive oil and garlic. Season with pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

If anyone tries this and has some suggestions on how to spice it up (without salt), please do comment to let me know.

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Tonight I'm trying a french country chicken with mushroom sauce. If all goes well, check out the blog tomorrow for the recipe!

I'll be sure to post on Jim's progress, (with his permission of course, as I had today). We also need to get out walking, but if any of you live in Southern Maine you know the past week straight has been nothing but rain in the afternoon, so as soon as its nice again we will get out.

Shout Outs!

2008-06-20T09:48:00.005-04:00

Sometimes I just get so excited about the wonderful things going on in our friends' lives that I have to share. Today I have two fun things to put out there.

As many of you know, last spring, all three of Jim's best guy friends welcomed their first borns, (all within just a few weeks of each other)! As a gift, we bought them a package deal with our wedding photographer, Amy Salerno. In the package, they got free photo sessions with Amy at 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year. Matt and Tanya took full advantage of the gift, and last week Amy photographed Sydney for her 1 year photos. They are just too cute for words. Here's a little preview (and my personal favorite of the bunch), and the link to her blog entry: http://amysphotonews.blogspot.com/2008/06/all-grown-up.html

Also, with exciting news is Jim's cousin, Kevin. I just recently learned that Kevin is an interior designer, and until I saw his feature article on Boston.com I had no clue how talented he really is. Check out this house...amazing! Click here!

Fun with the Fam

2008-06-17T14:44:00.008-04:00

So last weekend Jim and I went home for Rick's 8th grade graduation Friday night. If you've never been to an 8th grade graduation before, its quite a sight. Its easy to think that its silly, but I remember back to when I was in 8th grade and what a huge deal it was, so it was really exciting that we got to be a part of the night with Rick. Rick got all dressed up, in new pants, a new shirt, and some spiffy suspenders. If you know Rick at all, you know that's 110% his style and he looked great. I think he had a good time at graduation. Rion and Jim were sure to send him plenty of inappropriate text messages to keep him occupied. Jim's cousin Maeve also graduated. We didn't get to catch up with her but we did see his aunt, uncle, and cousin Sam, so that was good.

Saturday I decided to take the boys to the beach and they wanted to go to Bar Harbor. We hung out at Sand Beach, got stuck going 20 miles an hour behind tourists from Mass and CT (which I just cannot understand seeing as every time I'm in THEIR state they practically run me over), and walked around downtown for a bit. It was really fun to be able to hang out with just the two of them..we don't get to do that very often and every time we do hang out I am just constantly amazed at how much they have grown up. They're amazing kids, and I'm lucky to have them around!

Sunday for Father's Day Jim hung out with his parents and I hung out with Mom and Wayno. We went to a wicked dive restaurant in Brewer where we waited an hour and a half for THE BEST clam roll I've ever had (and yes, folks, I'm a Mainer so that says something). It was worth the wait, and just like it was fun to just hang out with the boys on Saturday, it was just as fun to go to lunch with just Mom and Wayne.

Overall the weekend was eventful but a good one. Jim and I look forward to getting home to see our families and it was definitely worth the trip north!

For the Love of Sox

2008-06-12T11:42:00.006-04:00

When Jim and I lived in Boston we were very spoiled by good friends and family who treated us to (or helped us sneak into) lots of Red Sox games. When we moved to Maine in July 2006, we found it to be much more difficult to get tickets and couldn't get to a game until this April. We're both pretty big Red Sox fans, so we feel so lucky to have already been to two games this year!

My mom turned 50 a few weeks ago, and had never in her life been to Fenway Park, or any other major league baseball game for that matter. For a while now we've been wanting to get her Red Sox tickets. She's a huge fan herself, and drools over her boy Mike Lowell on a daily basis :) So this year we had no wedding to pay for or house to buy so we decided what better time to treat mom to her first Red Sox game. She was thrilled to get the tickets and decided to bring along me and Jim (ok, I may have begged to go), and her best friend Lynn.

The day was excruciatingly hot!! It was 95 degrees at game time and we thought for sure we'd all fry to death. We got to the gates at Yawkey Way around 11 and hung out until 11:30 when the gates finally opened. After checking out the scene at Yawkey, we headed inside the park. I swear there is nothing like walking up that ramp into the park..it almost takes my breath away every time, even though I've been in several times. Mom was thrilled to watch batting practice and quickly walked her way around the park, taking it all in. It was awesome.

When we decided to go find our seats, I realized that they were a bit higher up than I had thought. In fact they were SO high that we were all the way up UNDERNEATH the jumbotron!! I was initially really disappointed. I wanted Mom to be able to see the screen, but I have to tell you it was such a blessing in disguise. We were in the shade and had a constant breeze the whole time. I don't think we would have had much fun had we been stuck in the sun.

The game was a good one and yippee! the Sox won it! Mom had a sign that we made the night before to hopefully get on NESN, but I don't think she ever got on. Maybe next time mom!

Overall the day was so fun, and it was really special to be able to treat Mom to her first game and hang out with her and Lynn for the weekend. I hope she looks back on it as a great day and an awesome 50th birthday present.

New Address

2008-06-09T12:15:00.002-04:00

So with the change to the blog, my web address doesn't make much sense anymore, so I will be changing it. I'll wait a few days, but probably by the end of the week I will be changing it to

http://www.jimandkristina.blogspot.com

So creative isn't it? :)

A Change to the Blog

2008-06-09T11:55:00.002-04:00

So, I've decided to switch things up a bit on here. The weight loss thing comes and goes in spurts and its great while it lasts, but its an ongoing process for me. I really like this whole blogging thing, so I've decided to kind of transition this blog into something that is more about life happenings. I'll probably still talk about the weight loss, but it won't be the major focus. Instead, I'll share the stories and happenings of what's going on with me and Jim. For those of you who don't know us, get to know us..(we're kinda cool :) ), and for those of you who do, you know that I am awful at keeping in touch, so this is my way of letting you all know what's going on with us. I'll share recipes, stories, and probably a hundred pictures taken with my trusty cybershot..haha. I hope people don't mind the change, and I hope that people still read (if anyone was reading to begin with!) and comment!

I'm Back!

2008-05-12T10:27:00.004-04:00

Yes, I know I've been a bad blogger. The past two weeks have been insane, but I problem. Its hard when you go from work to work on the house, and then get home at 9pm ready to pass out. I haven't even have somehow survived it all. First of all, we closed on our house on May 1st!! We've spent every day doing work, which means long days of painting and lawn work. We move in this Saturday and we are very very ready!

Also in the past two weeks I've had two job interviews (one on the same day we closed), and Jim graduated college!! So, needless to say we've been a little nuts. Sticking to the diet has been pretty much non-existent during this time and I'm paying for it on the scale. I've only gained back 2 pounds, but I'm not losing, which is a had time to do real grocery shopping so I'm just grabbing whatever I can, whenever I can. I know its not the right way to be, but its the best I can do right now. Once we get moved in next weekend things will settle tremendously and I can get back on track. Its still so important to me to be healthy and lose some weight, I just need to be able to make it a priority and right now I'm struggling. I'll get back on track very soon though.

Stats - Week 3

2008-04-24T10:42:00.003-04:00

I am a day late writing this, but I did weight and measure yesterday...with NO change. Not a pound, not an inch, nada. BUT, I'm ok with this. My birthday was on Monday and it was an eventful weekend. Thursday night I had margaritas with my girls, Saturday night my hubby treated me to dinner at a local grill, and Monday night we had ice cream and a yummy chicken alfredo for dinner. I know, I know..that's too much cheating!!! But its also why I'm not disappointed in my results. I'm relieved, actually as I thought I would get back to my starting weight.

I'm trying to get back on track this week, and its a struggle. Things are so insanely busy right now that finding the time to count points and diet is so difficult, let alone get any exercise. But I am proud of myself for not giving up completely as I usually would during a crazy time like this and I really am doing the best I can.

Next week is going to be nuts. I have to turn in my final project for school on Tuesday, Wednesday night we have the final walk through in the house, Thursday morning I have a job interview, and Thursday afternoon we are closing on our house!!! If I survive, I'll be sure to let you all know. :)

Deep-Dish Pizza Casserole

2008-04-19T08:13:00.006-04:00

Talk about a recipe that even your husband will drool over!! I made this casserole the other night for dinner and it was amazing! Making 6 servings, at 6 points a piece, it is the perfect dinner size, and one serving is enough to make you (and any men in your life) nice and full!

Again, I apologize for the numerous steps. I'm a timid cooker, so breaking it down to every little step is so helpful to me!

Deep-Dish Pizza Casserole

Ingredients
1 pound lean ground beef
1 (15 ounce) can chunky Italian-style tomato sauce (I used Ragu tomato, garlic, and onion)
1 (10 ounce) tube refrigerated pizza crust dough
6 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese

1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.

2. Cook the meat in a medium non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until browned and crumbly. Drain and return to skillet.

3. Add tomato sauce, and cook until heated

4. Coat a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with cooking spray.

5. Unroll pizza crust dough, and press into bottom and halfway up the sides of the baking dish.

6. Line the pizza crust with 3 slices of mozzarella cheese (I cut them in half to cover more area)

7. Top with meat mixture, and bake at 425 degrees for 12 minutes.

8. Top with remaining 3 cheese slices, and bake an additional 5 fimunes or until crust is brown and cheese melts.

9. Cool 5 minutes before serving

6 Servings
6 Points each serving

A Sure Sign of Summer

2008-04-19T08:10:00.004-04:00

Besides the AMAZING 75 degree day we saw here in Maine yesterday, while shopping last weekend, I saw real, yummy, FRESH strawberries!! Strawberries are by far my favorite fruit, and are just horrible during the winter months. So all week long I was treated to this yummy breakfast and reminded of the warm weather ahead! And the best part?? Strawberries are one of the lowest point fruits..at 1 point a cup. :)

The Biggest Loser

2008-04-16T09:25:00.020-04:00

If you have never seen this show, you MUST tune in when it comes back next October. This was my first full season watching, and I have been more inspired by this group of individuals than I ever have been before. The HEALTHY transformations these people make in their bodies, their lifestyles, and their minds are just incredible. Its easy to say "Well I could do that if I had trainers like Bob and Jillian to kick my ass too" but all over the country people are using this show as inspiration and losing tons of weight. Over the past few months I've learned more types of exercise, ways to eat healthy,and most importantly, that weight loss CAN happen.

I can't get over the before and after pictures of these people. Maybe they mean more to me because I watched the show religiously and feel like I got to know them, but I just had to share,and hope that they inspire some of you like they did me. This isn't everyone..for a full set of pictures go to http://www.nbc.com/The_Biggest_Loser_5/photos/index.shtml but here are my favorites:

Ali (the winner!)
Before
After

Roger (Runner-Up)
Before

After

Mark and Jay, Brothers from Massachusetts (Yay New England!)
Before

After (Aren't they SO cute???!!!)

Kelly (Second Runner-Up)
Before

After

Dan and Jackie (Son and Mom)
Before

After

Brittany, (my hubby's fav..hehe) and Bernie
Before

After
Bernie was the At-Home Biggest Loser!

Curtis and Mallory (Husband and Wife)
Before

After

Amazing! Thanks for the inspiration!

Stats - Week Two

2008-04-16T09:08:00.005-04:00

So after two full weeks of my new program, I decided to weigh in and measure. Much to my surprise I am seeing some results!

Weight: 163 (-2)

Bust: 37 in (no change)
Waist: 33.5 in (-1.5)
Hips: 42.25 in (-1.25)

BMI: 25.5 (-.3)

I am so excited to be seeing some change! I'm definitely on track, and this keeps me motivated!

Can't....give.....up.....

2008-04-14T09:25:00.003-04:00

So I am almost two full weeks into my new weight loss adventure, and man, its HARD. I think losing weight would be a cinch if life just didn't get in the way. This weekend my friend Kristen came to town and we ended up enjoying beverages and going out to eat and I didn't even attempt to count my points. While I know I went over, I am really proud of myself though for making healthier decisions, out and at home. At home, instead of making really bad for you dip, I enjoyed chips and salsa (0 points for the salsa). Saturday morning we went to a diner for breakfast. I LOVE diners, and I LOOOOOVE french toast at diners which is definitely not the healthiest choice. Instead I went for an omlette with raisin toast, and it was just as great! Saturday night we went out for wings, and instead of wings I got a grilled chicken wrap. So, while I didn't 100% stick to it this weekend, I think I did a good job of making better choices while having a friend in town.

The hardest part for me right now is definitely getting the exercise I should be. I like the gym, I used to despise it, but this winter I was going pretty regularly and started enjoying it, much to my surprise. But the past few months, (WARNING: Here come the excuses!!), life has gotten insanely busy. I'm taking the hardest class of my life. One three credit, should be 10 credit, class takes up many of my evenings with extensive reading, group work and papers. We're also closing on our first house on May 1, so we're really busy with getting ready to move on top of the end of the semester craziness. Finding time to go to the gym, is just really hard. I am trying to walk more though just to get moving, but (I can't believe I'm saying this), I miss the elliptical and weight machines at the gym..I just always felt so good about myself after..and that's something I've been missing for several weeks now.

This week is supposed to be gorgeous outside. I know I'm struggling to fit into my warm weather clothes, so hopefully this will give me the kick in the butt I need. If I could just get to the gym once......better than none right?

Red Sox!!

2008-04-10T13:04:00.009-04:00

So Jim and I are both really big Red Sox fans, and last week, our friend Eric called Jim saying he had gotten tickets to Opening Day and that he wanted to treat us! So on Tuesday we played hookey, drove to Boston, met up with Eric and Jon, and off to Fenway we went. It was a blast. We got to see the World Series Ring Ceremony, hear the Boston Pops, see Bill Buckner throw the first pitch, see Steven Tyler sing "God Bless America," and best of all, see the Sox blow out the Tigers at their home opener. Thanks again Eric for such a great day!

Here are some pics I took!

Me and My Hubby

The whole crew, Eric, Jim, Me, Jon

All lined up for the ring ceremony

2007 World Champs!

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Corn Chowder

2008-04-07T11:59:00.003-04:00

As I write about my adventures in weight loss, I'd also like to add on here the yummy recipes I'm finding along the way, one because if its here I won't lose it :), and two because hopefully those of you who read this blog will enjoy some of these two.

The first recipe is from my friend Angie. It's a delicious corn chowder that I made last night. While I was cooking, Jim was raving about his mom's yummy chowder and I was very nervous that this wouldn't be up to par, but by the time he finished his first bite, he was raving, and didn't stop until a good hour after dinner. So, thumbs up on this one..its a keeper!

Corn Chowder

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons + 2 teaspoons water
1 onion, chopped
2 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth (about one can)
2 medium all purpose potatoes, peeled and cubed
2 cups whole corn kernels (about one can)
1/4 cup light cream
salt and pepper to taste

1. In a medium pot, over medium-high heat, saute the onion, 2 teaspoons of water (or olive oil) until soft, about 5 minutes.

2. Add the chicken broth and potatoes, bring to a boil.

3. Reduce the heat and simmer, partially covered, until the potatoes are almost tender, about 10-15 minutes.

4. Stir in the corn, simmer 5 minutes longer.

5. Remove from heat, cool slighty.

6. Transfer 2 cups of soup to food processor or blender, puree.

7. Pour back into the saucepan, stir in the cream and heat to serving temperature.

8. Add salt and or pepper to taste (optional) and serve warm!

Makes 4 servings at 4 points each. Yummmy!

Grocery Shopping

2008-04-07T11:44:00.005-04:00

So part of getting healthy is learning how to grocery shop right. And for me, that means having the right recipes. My husband and I are on a really strict grocery budget, so when I go shopping on the weekend it is just for meals for the week and a few snacks. Lately, given the lovely economy, I've noticed the pile in my cart getting smaller by the week while the total grocery bill gets higher. This week, as I am trying to get both myself and my husband healthier, I decided to try some new things for lunch, dinner, and snacks. When I made out my grocery list it was almost double the length it normally is and I was definitely panicked. At the grocery store though, I noticed that I was spending most of my time in the fresh foods, and far less time in the aisles where all the processed food lives.

Even so, as I wrapped up my shopping adventure and put all the food on the belt, I was definitely feeling nervous. My cart was much more full than usual, and filled up the entire lenght of the belt.

The verdict...$6 UNDER budget!! I was thrilled! Yay for fresh food! That's definitely motivation to keep shopping like this!

Moral of the story: stay away from the pre-packaged ickies, buy fresh, and save money!

The true verdict was to come when I got home however. Now, I love my husband, but he's not a big fan of much that isn't round with chocolate chips in it, or covered in cheese. While most of the stuff I bought was for meals, the hard part is figuring out how to make healthy snacking enjoyable too. We're still working on that, but I've found that if I make baggies of veggies, and even bag up the crackers in the house into smaller portions, snacking isn't so bad. And ice pops are awesome, at only 2 points each. Jim loves to eat little sandwiches for snacks, so some low-carb wraps at one point each, definitely make a difference when compared to two slices of bread at 2 points each. If anyone has any good healthy snack ideas and tips though, I'd really love them!

I've also discovered that healthy lunches come SO much easier if you just do a little prep at home over the weekend. Saturday I chopped up all the peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, and fruit that I bought, and this morning, I was able to whip up some wraps for us (4pts each) in the same amount of time it takes to throw together a peanut butter and jelly sandwich (8pts each). When you put in a little extra effort, this eating right thing isn't so bad after all. :)

Me :)

2008-04-04T16:00:00.004-04:00

So I realized I haven't posted a picture of myself yet. I honestly don't have a single recent photograph of myself, which is weird because I take pictures all the time. Maybe that's the problem..I'm always behind the lens :)

So here is a picture of me, from my rehearsal dinner last July, (with my two studly bros). This is me at my thinnest, and about 15 pounds lighter than I am now, at 150 pounds. The difference always shows in my face, my arms, and my stomach and love handles. Awesome.

So, I'd very much like to look like this again soon, and hopefully be a little thinner in the end. Think I can do it? I do :)

I'll try to take a picture of myself this weekend and post it..it might make for some good motivation :)

Finding My Groove

2008-04-04T15:33:00.003-04:00

Well, I've gotten through the first five days of my new diet, and I'm still really excited about it!! Counting points has been a lot easier than I thought it would, and with the support of some awesome friends, my hubby, and even writing in this blog, my motivation is way up there.

I did work out twice this week and I'm going to do some tonight too. Yesterday the weather was gorgeous and I went for a nice walk with just my ipod and my thoughts, and it was perfect. I can feel it in my legs today. I know that getting to the gym is really important too, but I'm going to take advantage of the new nice weather we are getting!

I've stayed in my points range every day this week except for that day we don't talk about with the taco salad..lol. I'm really hoping to see some results when I weigh in and measure next Wednesday.

This weekend should be interesting. I know overall I either don't eat enough or eat too much on weekends so I really have to pay attention to what I'm doing. I also don't drink enough water, so I need to pay attention to that too. Next week we are traveling to Boston for opening day at Fenway Park (oh you know you're jealous!), so it will be interesting to see how I do on the road too.

Stats - The Start

2008-04-02T09:05:00.006-04:00

So this morning I did my "official" weigh-in/measurement taking. When I weighed myself the other day it was at the end of the day which they say not to do, and low and behold, I'm two pounds lighter in the morning! So mornings will be my time to weigh in :)

So, here are the beginning stats. I'll update every Wednesday and pray they are going down!

Starting Weight: 165lbs

Bust: 37 in
Waist: 35 in
Hips: 43.5 in

Calculated BMI: 25.8 Officially overweight :(
Normal BMI range is 18.5-24.9 as per the Health and Human Services Calculator (http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/)

So, there's my motivation. Yesterday I ate a total of 25 points, my maximum alloted points for the day, but I'm really proud of myself because I was starving during class and forced myself to just drink water instead of eating more..and it worked! I was also very tempted to snack after dinner but held off and stuck to my points.

Next week I'm going to try some yummy new recipes which are low in points so keep an eye out!

Big Oops!

2008-04-01T14:13:00.005-04:00

So yesterday, my first big day of counting points, I went to bed thinking I had nailed it! My total points for the day were 22, out of my allotted 20-25. I ate moderately throughout the day, and made a oh-so-yummy 10-point taco salad for dinner. I drank water with dinner, and didn't snack before bed.

So today, just because, I decided to double check my points on the taco salad to make sure I had it right. Um, yeah, I read the wrong line for "beef" and my 10-point taco salad quickly became a whopping 22 points!! Ooops!! So I actually finished the day with 34.5 points. Not such a great start after all.

I also didn't exercise yesterday like I planned, but in my defense I went to bed at 7:00pm with an awful sore throat and unfinished homework. I know though, excuses, excuses (this is where you yell at me).

I joined a program at work to get people active, and you qualify to win a sweet prize (I want to say like $200 bucks?) if you meet your goals for 8 of the 12 weeks. My goals are to work out for 30 minutes a day, 4 days a week. So far, I haven't done any. And I have to meet my goal this week or I'm out of the running, since this is week 5. So, tonight is class, and tomorrow I'm working out. I swear.