Saturday, November 29, 2008
Happy Birthday to my sweet Mom!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Happy Thanksgiving!
Although I have been away from home on Thanksgiving for six years now, it still seems very strange not to spend the day with my extended family. Steve and I have had a great day together but I have been thinking a lot about my family and some of these happy Thanksgiving memories:
- Snowmobiling up to the cabin with the food being pulled up in a sled behind a snowmobile. My Dad lovingly but sternly making me eat all of my food even though I took waaay too much. Sledding and snowmobiling with my cousins and aunts and uncles after eating. The smell of the snowsuits almost melting as we stood next to the heater to dry off.
-Taking my first commercial air flight at 20 years old on a Thanksgiving trip with my family to Nauvoo to see historical church sights. My mom taking pictures of us on a plane because we were all so excited. Not realizing that the other passengers were probably smiling at our excitement about this. On Thanksgiving, hopefully believing that we would be able to find a restaurant where we could have our Thanksgiving meal. Quickly finding out that we are in a really small town and that nothing is open on Thanksgiving. Luckily finding a resident who knows of a place that is open a few towns over. Ordering turkey dinner at the restaurant and laughing at my brother for ordering a hamburger. Being jealous of my brother when we realize that the turkey is a slice of processed turkey and that the potatoes are fake. Being so thankful to be with my family when noticing that most of the other people in the restaurant were alone. Laughing with my family after dinner and all of us saying that this will be one of our favorite Thanksgiving meals. Realizing 15 years later that we were right.
-Paul and I having our first Thanksgiving dinner together a few months after we were married. As young newlyweds thinking that we needed to start our own family traditions and wondering why my parents still had Thanksgiving dinner with their parents. Making a complete Thanksgiving dinner by ourselves. Eating it and then wondering what to do the rest of the day. Feeling lonely and realizing why family makes Thanksgiving special. Quickly agreeing to have Thanksgiving with our extended families the next year.
-My aunt Shirley's famous rolls. The best rolls in the world. Eating Thanksgiving with our Davies family almost turned in to a treasure hunt for the rolls. She baked hundreds of rolls but had to hide them and dole them out or they would be gone in seconds.
Steve has been telling me some of his Thanksgiving memories too. My favorite is his Thanksgiving in Plymouth when he was 6 years old. Steve's parents and some neighbors decided it would be fun (and fitting) to have Thanksgiving dinner in Plymouth. Plymouth must have Thanksgiving dinner celebrations, right?!? So they decided to just drive down to Plymouth plantation and have dinner there. Unfortunately, they found no turkey dinner anywhere in Plymouth! Luckily one of the neighbors had packed peanut butter sandwiches in case the kids got hungry on the way. Thanksgiving that year was peanut butter sandwiches in the car by the side of the road!
I am so thankful for my family and the many wonderful Thanksgivings we have had together. In thinking about all of these memories, the common thread is the love that I have always felt from my extended family. I miss them today but am so thankful to know that the love is still there. I hope that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving, creating new happy memories!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Winter is coming!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
How about this Diet Coke?
Ok, I wouldn't want to drink it either but it does crack me up! Especially since Diet Coke and bacon are two of my favorite things for breakfast. There's just nothing better than ice cold Diet Coke in the morning. Or any time of day. At least as far as drinks go. :) My most famous saying may be "Diet Coke with extra ice please." I realize that is kind of sad, maybe I should come up with something more inspirational. In the mean time, I'm off to get another Diet Coke!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Little things can make all the difference
This has been a kind of tough week for me. Work has been very stressful, I haven't been sleeping enough, and to top it all off I have a tooth that really hurts. I know, it all sounds so whiney, but still... it's been a tough week. However, I was lucky to have a very bright spot in my week too that keeps making me smile and reminds me of what is really important.
When I got home late one night I found a happy surprise in my mail- an envelope from my nephew Brendan! I was so excited to see it. Inside there were a bunch of drawings from Brendan. It completely turned my day around. The drawings are so cute. It made me so happy to realize that he had remembered me and wanted to send me some pictures. I really miss being able to spend time with my nieces and nephews and hope that as they grow up they will know how much I love them.
I hung up some of the pictures on my fridge, and brought the one on this post to work. Now every time I look at it at work, I can't help but smile and it puts work more into perspective. Thank you Brendan! And Andrea for taking the time to mail them. It meant more to me than I think you would guess.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!
I admit, Halloween is not my favorite holiday. I’m just not creative when it comes to thinking of costumes and dressing up. However, I do have some great Halloween memories and on Halloween I always think of my Grandma B. Not because she is scary (she isn’t, of course!) but because my Grandma always held the best Halloween parties throughout most of my life. She really decked out her house in wonderful Halloween style, and the most fun part was that she and my Grandpa ALWAYS dressed up! We’d play games like “Laugh Witch Laugh” which gave us lots of great laughs. Never heard of it? It’s just “Grunt Piggy Grunt” changed for Halloween. Still never heard of it? Well, it involves being blindfolded, and sitting on people’s laps and… well the description just doesn’t come out right! Anyway, I always complained about dressing up, but it was always fun to see what my extended family came up with for costumes. One of my favorites when I was a kid was when my Aunt Barbara and Uncle Mark dressed up as a couple but my aunt was the husband and my uncle was the wife. I will say that my Aunt Barbara is a much better looking woman than my Uncle Mark was! And then as we all grew up and my siblings and cousins had their own children, it made it even more fun to see these adorable kids in their costumes. So I am thankful to my Grandma B every Halloween for all these memories she created for our family. I hope that she still smiles when thinking of them too. And that everyone reading this has a a very happy Halloween, whether you are trick-or-treating, handing out candy, helping your kids dress up, or skipping it altogether and going out to dinner (like me)!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
FINALLY finished!
This is what Steve's shrug looks like every time I mentioned the book (which he calls Shruggy). :)
I am glad I read this book, but in retrospect should not have started it right after The Fountainhead. I am pretty Ayn Rand'd out. Maybe it was the 60 page speech near the end. That's right, 60 pages!! This book illustrates the same ideas as in The Fountainhead, but seemed more unrealistic and preachy to me. However, Ayn Rand's ideas are provocative and really made me think- even when I really disagree with her philosphy it has been interesting to think about my point of view on the issues she brings up. I found the parallels between this book and current events to be fascinating. I won't bore everyone with a long explanation but the bailout sounds like it could be a chapter straight from Atlas Shrugged. As I was reading it I was wishing I knew someone who could discuss some of the ideas with me... Lisa its your turn! For now I'm happy to be finished and move on to some lighter reading.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Regatta
This weekend I was finally able to see the Head of the Charles Regatta. It is one of those things that I have wanted to do for several years, but always remember right AFTER it happens. Each October they have rowing races with people competing from around the world. Since my office is near the Charles River, I was able to walk down and watch a few of the races. The reason I have wanted to see it because I think rowing looks like so much fun. I just think it looks really neat to see a group of people rowing together. I also love water and imagine that it would be beautiful to be rowing in the morning and to see the sun shining on the water. The side effect of having well toned arms would be a nice plus too! Ever since I moved to Boston I have been telling myself "Next summer I really need to sign up for rowing." Unfortunately, it has remained on the "next summer" list. I wonder if my aversion to getting up early in the morning has anything to do with this...? I still love the idea of it so hopefully next summer I will really do it!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Fun Visitor!
I was so excited last week to have a visitor! Flat Stanley came to visit me with the following note:
"Hi, my name is Flat Stanley. I am a friend of Jordan. I used to be a normal boy until my headboard fell on top of me and left me flat! Now I must get used to a new life. I have found one big advantage of being flat. I can travel very inexpensively in envelopes. That is why I decided to come and see you!
Back in West Jordan, Utah, Mrs. Lynch's 3rd grade class is learning about maps. They would like you to please send them a postcard, letter or photo telling them about my trip to visit you."
Flat Stanley was a great visitor! I had so much fun taking him around Boston and taking pictures of him. He is very quiet and well mannered :) but I think he had a good time too! I was so happy that my nephew Jordan thought to send Flat Stanley to me. I sent him back yesterday with pictures, a couple of books about Boston, some Red Sox pencils and Boston Baked Beans candy. I hope the kids have half as much fun welcoming Flat Stanley home as I did having him visit me! Thank you Jordan!
Imagine how much fun we would have if everyone could travel as inexpensively!
Sunday, October 12, 2008
I wish I could bottle up these days and open them again in February!
Today was a perfect New England fall day. It was so sunny and the fall colors were beautiful. It was one of those days where you don't want to miss a single minute! Especially knowing the cold weather is coming. I took these pictures on a walk in Rocky Woods (in Medfield near my apartment), and also in Lexington. I wished I could share this day with everyone and wanted to capture some of the beauty I was so thankful for.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Jessica's Baptism
My niece, Jessica, was baptized today. When I saw her in July she was so excited about this day coming up. As I thought of her today, I could just picture how big she must be smiling. Doesn't she look like such a princess? I wish I could have been there to share this day with her. I remember the day I was baptized, I was so proud and happy to be baptized and to have all my sins taken away. I wanted to stay perfect the rest of my life. This lasted until that evening when I fought with my sister (and may or may not have said not very nice things)! I had a few hours of goodness at least. :)
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
It doesn't even look real, does it?
Happy 4th Birthday Elijah!
Elijah, I love this picture of you because it reminds me of your great laugh! Grandma sent this to me before I got to meet you and it gave me a glimpse of your fun personality.
I took this picture on my cell phone one day when we went to lunch at McDonald's. You have grown so much since then!
This picture is from the cabin when we were there for Grandpa's 80th birthday celebration. You did not want to leave those horses! I think you must get this from your mom.
You probably won't understand until you are a proud uncle how much it meant to me when you remembered my name and sought me out to play with you when I visited this summer. I was so excited because I realized you remembered me! I am so glad that you are my nephew! I hope you have a wonderful birthday and that you get to eat lots of ice cream. I love you!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
The best place to go after the dentist!
If the sight of this box doesn’t make your mouth water and bring a smile to your face, you really should come to visit me! It's a Boston icon!
It’s a long (and boring) story how I came to have a dentist in the North End, since I live about 30 miles away. But it definitely has its side benefits! I did feel (a LITTLE) guilty going straight to Mike’s Pastry after leaving the dentist. But I dare anyone to go there and then have the willpower to walk by it without going in! The North End is Boston’s Italian neighborhood, and has some of the yummiest food I’ve eaten. Mike’s Pastry is definitely high up there on the list! I’d say it even makes up for having to go to the dentist.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Happy Birthday to my bestest littlest sister!
Lisa,
In September 1979 I started kindergarten and turned five. But what stands out more than anything during that time is how excited I was to have a new sister. I had decided that you would be a girl and that your name would be Alisa. I couldn't wait for you to come to our family! The day you were born I stayed at our neighbor's house, the Ormes'. When Mom called to say that I had a new sister (I knew it!!) I was estatic when she told me that she also named you my favorite name, Alisa! Wow! As you can guess, I heard wrong. :) Lisa's a much better name for you anyway, I just didn't realize it yet!
You are my only sibling that I remember being born. I remember going with Dad to pick you up from the hospital. I was fascinated with your long fingers! When you were a baby I had the chance to hold you and feed you once in a while and that was a great privilege to me. You were such a beautiful and sweet girl. You brought so much sunshine to our house. I remember when you would wake up from naps Mom would be worried about us waking you, and you always, always woke up smiling. I had so much fun being your older sister. I always felt so much love from you. One day, I think I was in 4th grade, I came home from school crying because my best friend Erin and I had been in a big fight. You asked me why I was sad, and as I told you, still crying, you hugged me and were crying too. I couldn't believe my little sister cared so much about me having a bad day!
Through most of my teen years, we shared a room. I didn't spend much time thinking about how it was for you (sorry!) but you were a great roommate for me. I had fun sharing a room with you and you never complained about my New Kids on the Block posters or the music I listened to every night. You were so easy to share with that I wonder looking back how many times I drove you crazy that you never said anything about!
When I moved away for school, I remember feeling that you were so proud of me and that meant a lot to me. During my really lame "I'm too cool for everything now that I'm an 18 year-old college student" phase, I had no idea how sucky this attitude would be for an adoring 13 year-old sister. I wish I could rewind time and that I would have stayed closer to you during those years. I just want you to know that I have always loved you very much even when I have not been good at showing it.
It was such an amazing experience when you became a mom. I loved seeing you with Carolyn and how much happiness it brought you to see her with your family. You brought our family closer by your love of sharing your beautiful daughter with us. I have never seen you happier than when you were introducing your each of your new children to us.
The picture above is from when you and Bella visited me in Boston. It was so great to have you here and to show you around the city. I'm glad we had that chance to spend some time together, and that it also led to us running a marathon together two years later. That was an awesome experience for me that I will never forget.
I'm so glad that you are my sister and I hope that you have a wonderful birthday!
Love you!
Christina
PS- We must have some elephants to celebrate this special day also!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Medfield
1. The building I live in
2. The field across from my building, mostly used for lacrosse
3. The front lawn of the complex I live in
4. Sunflowers from a neighbor's yard
5. A church on my street
6. Medfield town hall
7. Hardware store
8. Library
9. An old house across from the white church
10. Lord's department store
11. Unique building on the corner of my street
12. Medfield common
13. Another church on my street
14. Pleasant Street sign
15. Clouds as the sun was setting
Happy birthday Jeff!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Steve and I love this song!
New playlist
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Green Monsta
Monday, September 22, 2008
Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard
Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket are two of my favorite places. I wish I would bring them with me to visit my family in the summer so that you could see them too! I will happily take anyone who visits me there to see them. :)
This is the hotel where we stayed.
A view of the harbor from Edgartown.
This is the house that I want when I am a gazillionaire! It is so beautiful and right on the water.
Gingerbread house at Oaks Bluff
This is one of the gingerbread houses in Oaks Bluff. Near the center of town there is an area with an outdoor tabernacle and many small cottages decorated in bright colors. There was a Methodist association that used to have camp meetings on this site. Over time families started leasing tent areas and then building cottages on their tent site. The way that the cottages are decorated they look like brightly painted dollhouses. This made me think of my mom when I saw them, I thought she would get a kick out of seeing them.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
South Beach
I think South Beach on Martha's Vineyard is my favorite beach that I have been to so far! The summer that I discovered it I went there two days in a row even though it took me 3+ hours one way! The reason I love it so much is that there is an undertow near the beach that makes really neat crashing waves. I love the sound of it! I think that the sand dunes are really pretty too.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Thanks to my family for making this a special day!
I am so lucky to have such a wonderful family. I love you very much!
My brother posted this picture and I loved it so much I wanted to post it too. I think we were all such cute kids. :) We were great friends growing up also.
My mom makes my birthday very special and I will write more about this later. For now I wanted to say thanks to my family, I have brought you all with me in spirit to Martha's Vineyard and wish you could be here with me too!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
The Patriots' Good Looking QB
I mentioned to my friend Todd that I thought that Matt Cassel was very good looking and he sent me this picture of him in high school. It cracks me up every time I look at it so I thought I would post it! What a perfect 90's 'do! I think Zach on Saved by the Bell would have been jealous! My brother might have been going for a tamer version of this style in high school too. :) (Correct me if I'm wrong Robert!) For everyone not living in New England who might not know who Matt Cassel is, here is what he looks like now:
I feel really bad that Tom Brady is hurt, but I think that Matt is much better looking! This is about the depth of my thoughts about football, which is another indication I must be missing the football gene.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I have the best brother!!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Happy birthday Allyson!
The best book I've read in a long time
First of all thanks my sister Lisa for getting me to read this book even though she didn’t realize it! :) Lisa is in school and my mom mentioned to me that she was reading a book by Ayn Rand. I have thought about reading a book by her for a long time, but always seem to put it off. I vaguely remember hearing that Ayn Rand was a radical author and being told that I wouldn’t like her books. That made me curious about them, but I’ve never followed through on reading any of her books. I figured that this was a good chance because I could talk about the book with my sister once we both finished. Unfortunately, I couldn’t remember which book Lisa was reading and I chose The Fountainhead while she is reading Atlas Shrugged. In the end, I’m really glad I read this book anyway. I will definitely read Atlas Shrugged so we can still talk about it sometime!
One of the reasons that I thought this was a great novel is that it really made me think. Ayn Rand wrote it to illustrate her philosophy, and while there are aspects that I agree with and aspects that I don’t, it caused me to really reflect on what I thought about it. It has been a while since I read a book like that. What I thought was the core message of the book (and one I agree with) is the importance of remaining true to yourself no matter what happens to you, and how rare it is to really remain true to yourself. Another theme of the book is how easily public opinion is led and how many people tend to follow public opinion. The side I don’t agree with is the extreme extent of independence it seems to advocate or the level of importance and value placed on men’s individual achievements (i.e. designing a great building) vs. appreciation of the majestic beauty in nature.
An interesting side effect I experienced while reading this book was the reactions I got from people who saw me reading it. One day the man sitting next to me on the train asked me what I was reading and then said “Isn’t that a Nazi book or something?” What?!?! I’m can’t imagine where he got that idea but it reminded me of how I had a vague feeling that she was considered dangerous but had not been able to remember anything other than that. The cashier at Starbucks when he saw my book told me to be careful, that he had been mean for a year after reading it. I thought that was an interesting reaction also, but I’m happy to say I don’t feel any meaner after reading it! If nothing else, you can still see over 50 years after Ayn Rand wrote this book that she succeeded in provoking people which I think can be a positive thing.
Friday, September 12, 2008
I'm back on the train!
School is back in which means crazy traffic. So, I'm back to riding the train. I love it! It's so much easier than fighting the traffic. I have a feeling that my love for the train might mellow with the cold weather. So I'm recording why I think it is so great now so I can remind myself in the winter. :)
1. I can read during my commute!
2. I know exactly when to expect to arrive instead of planning on one hour and having it take two for no apparent reason.
3. I feel so grown up getting on the commuter rail with all those business people. :)
4. I might actually drive a reasonable amount of miles per year, unlike the 20,000 I put on Phillipe in his first year.
5. I have no temptation to yell bad words at anyone on the train, unlike how I feel when I'm driving.
6. I can play Guitar Hero on my way to work! Possibly someday I will be able to beat Steve's nephew even!
7. My boss thinks its great that I am taking the train because I can work during my commute. I think its great that she thinks I would work and not read or play Guitar Hero. ;)
8. Many less trips to the gas station which means many less $70 charges on my credit card.
9. You can hear the best Boston accents on the T.
For some reason, more than any of the above reasons, I just enjoy being on the train. Maybe I inherited my dad's love of trains. Or maybe my mom had something to do with it to- I remember her coming back from a trip to CA when I was in high school and she had enjoyed riding the train around the city and I thought that was really cool. On my first visit to Boston I bought a 3-day pass and took the "T" all around Boston. I thought it was so amazing that you could easily go anywhere you wanted to go. Its crowded and noisy but for some reason its fun and its great for people watching. I take the commuter rail for most of the way which is more quiet and has better seats. Then in Boston I transfer to the Red Line on the T and take it for a few stops into Cambridge. On the way there is a great view of the city. I think my co-workers think I'm crazy for liking the train, but so far I really do!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Thinking of my 21-year-old self
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Hooray for moving day!!
I have a new home at work! I am so excited to be here. My original cube was in a very busy area and the noise was a big challenge for me. Now I am in a quiet area, with a window! It makes a big difference for me to be able to see the sun. Plus for some reason I love the sound of the traffic below even though it sounds like I am contradicting myself about wanting it to be quiet. :) It is more white noise than distracting noise. The picture shows my view- the building you see is a Residence Inn. I've heard that from time to time other employees have seen some pretty interesting things from the windows of the Residence Inn. I promise to keep you posted if I see anything good! :)