A Decade Later

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

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

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

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

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

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!

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