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 :)

It only took four years...

...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.

Its a Rough Gig....Really

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 Hotel 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. :)

The Home Stretch

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.

Bad Blogger!

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

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.

Quote of the Week

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

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.

Let the Travel Begin!

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!

The Katahdin Adventure

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