Productive Day

Last night, Pete and I returned from Jay Peak, Vermont.

Above: Picture is supposed to be rotated -- trees covered in snow

We went out there for a long weekend to go skiing/snowboarding in the Green Mountains --leaving on Friday, and coming home yesterday.
Today, I managed to...
*Do our 2009 taxes.
*Do all the laundry that accompanies a vacation.
*Unload the car (and all of our associated winter gear).
*Play with Hondo, our dog.

Above: Everybody who went skiing

We had a great time out East. We met up with Pete's family out there, and were able to get in 2 beautiful days of skiing (me)/snowboarding (Pete) before we headed home. The days were sunny, the snow was very white, and the trees were somewhat sparkly from ice/snow build-up on the branches. The weather did not cooperate on Monday (50 degrees and rainy)-- but you can't expect beautiful weather the whole time, right? It felt great to get away, and spend sometime outside.

On a side note, this is the first time I remember being in Canada (there are a few pictures of me at the border when I was real small). Seems strange that I've never visited this near neighbor to the North. :)

Fighting Winter Blahs...

This winter, I decided to be pro-active about the winter blahs... The winter blahs are the feeling that sets in around Mid-February or March just before the snow recedes, whispers of spring are seen, and winter begins to feel endless. I decided that I needed to get a hobby, outside of the house (outside of hockey) --just to keep busy, and challenge myself.

I saw an ad in the paper for auditions for a local theater company. I auditioned. And I got a part. I will be playing a hospital worker in the Hartland Players production of W;T (http://www.hartlandplayers.org/index.php?view=details&id=12:wit&option=com_redevent&Itemid=5). The play's content is a little close to my real job, but should be enjoyable nonetheless.I am looking forward to the challenge, as I have not acted in a play in a little over a decade. I have my first rehersal tonight, and am really looking forward to it. It should be fun memorizing lines again; helping put together the set, and re-learning how to take stage directions. But, it should not be such a challenge as to be overwhelming... just a fun experience!

On a side note: the auditions allowed me to meet more of my neighbors. Who knew that so many people living within a few house radius would be auditioning for the same play!?!?!

2009 in Highlights

Taking a nod from Julie's blog... Here is our 2009 highlight reel:

Best Times: 1) Kristen & Todd's wedding -- such a happy time! 2) Having my family out here a few times. 3) My mini, solo vacation to Boston: having dinner with Maria, touring the Freedom trail, and taking long bubble baths. 4) Going fishing Labor Day weekend with Pete's family. 5) Coffee Wednesday nights with the girls. 6) Watching Walter catch his first fish 4th of July time. 7) Having Beth for a few weekends this past October -- it was fun to have some action at our house on the weekends. 8) Trips to the coast this past summer.


Hardest Times: A camping trip in the early summer with our friends. It was a cold, wet, rainy weekend and we were near lake Michigan. Everything was damp, and chilled. I was happy when the weekend was over and I could enjoy the warmth of my own bed. For future years... we will plan the trip later in the year!

Best Restaurant: Any little local place, that's not a big chain.

Favorite Music: In no particular order...
1) "Dance Little Jean" by Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCvWdBuJxP0
2) "Very Busy People" by The Limousines (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuXOao6jBoM ) **Words are not appropriate for all ages
3) "Guitar Town" by Steve Earle (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AINUPFbFpqg)
4) "Fireflies" by Owl City ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zr9EKJatJvA )
5) "Runaway Train" by Roseanne Cash (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aApAFwZRxuU)
6) "Beautiful Day" preformed by World Idol winnder, Kurt Nilsen (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKg7SB-tcdA )
Among much other music!

Awesome TV Show: The Big Bang Theory (Of course!) and True Blood.

Best Books: The Twilight Saga. Quick, easy reading. Recommended for those who have not yet read the series! :)


New Favorite Way to Ingest Chocolate: Hot Cocoa made from scratch (combine 2 Tbsp. sugar and 1 Tbsp. cocoa in a glass. Add about 1/3 cup milk. Heat in the microwave to boiling. Stir until cocoa and milk combine. Fill remaining cup with milk. Heat to hot enough in the microwave. Add a small glug of vanilla extract. Enjoy. -- Have with a piece of buttered toast... mmm mmm good.)

Or peanut butter M & Ms.


Favorite Drink: Chai lattes. Or spiced apple cider. Water's good too.

Funniest Memories: 1) Pete & Ed went golfing... long story short, Pete ended up with a mouse in his shirt! Many funny recounts of this story. 2) Kristen & Todd's wedding weekend! Many funny memories from that weekend... Their wedding was beautiful and both parties were relaxed the whole time! :) 3) Learning how to tan my legs for Kristen's wedding from Pete's aunt Karen... (First step, change out of jeans and into shorts)! :)

Favorite Websites: http://www.peopleofwalmart.com/ -Found from Jan's website! This site kept me laughing from time to time! :) **May contain content inappropriate for small children.
http://www.pandora.com/ -- Music to listen to -- learns to play music that you like.
http://www.youtube.com/ -- You can find almost anything on this site.

Funnest Surprise: A few weekend trips to the coast -- nothing better to do on a Saturday or Sunday, so we spent time on the beach!

Goals Accomplished: 1) House projects: Fixing the holes in the living room walls (thank you dad!). Having new windows installed on the first and second floors. Painting Hondo's room. Spending Saturday's cutting up trees in the front yard. Installing a rod to organize items in my closet. 2) Taking the MCAT, and applying to medical school. Regardless of if I get into school for next fall, it is still a big step to apply and I am proud of myself for even doing that.

Favorite Purchase: The eee PC computers Pete bought us last spring. These things have been really nifty -- portable, internet compatible, and able to be used to watch movies/tv shows online.

Guilty Pleasure: Reading. Ask Pete -- when I read, I have very good concentration (for the book and can tune out almost everything else).


Plans for 2010? Learning to play the guitar. Maybe, finally making curtains for my windows. Hunting squirrels out the window. Re-siding and repairing the trim on our house. Perhaps finishing a denim blanket I started the fall Pete & I were first married. Celebrating our 5th anniversary.