Atlanta here I come!

So my first "official" business trip begins on Thursday in Atlanta, GA. I can't wait! I will finally get introduced to all of the people I have been coordinating with and talking to over the past 2 weeks (which is how long I've been here at NWP, but it feels longer!) There's a lot planned for the weekend, including 3 full days of conferencing. In between I'll get to catch up with an old friend from Alabama (who Kristin and I met almost 10 years ago in high school!) and catch a live soul/blues/r&b show in downtown Atlanta. I can't think of a better way of spending Martin Luther King Jr. weekend!

Portland time

Before my traveling for work begins, I thought I would kick off my frequent flyer miles by visiting my friends Nate, Jasmine, and their adorable son Malcolm in Portland. We spent the weekend browsing downtown...my favorite Powell's bookstore (dangerous! hard to leave w/out spending your paycheck), Peet's coffee, the Fulton Pub, and some fun kitchen gadget shops (also very dangerous!) We headed back to the cottage and made lemon cupcakes, ate yummy soup, and lounged. A perfect weekend. Thanks friends for the hospitality!!

What a guy!

Some pics from Paul's pre-birthday celebration in Santa Cruz (thanks Ernie, for being the cameraman!)

Need anything ironed?

I have a cat that does ironing really cheap :)

Happy New Year!

Just a quick post to show ya'll some pics from our Tahoe trip. I've had a nasty cold all week, so we just hung out around town, drank coffee and wine, and ate yummy food. New Years was fun - nothin' outta the ordinary, just stayed in Alameda with our friends Martin and Emily and had a great time at Lucky 13 bar. Happy New Year to you all!



P.S. if you look really closely at this picture, you can see a snowman!

Christmas in Alameda

My little gingerbread house












Jazzy and the Charlie Brown Christmas Tree

















Paul's new leglamp
















My tablescape in our little apartment












Happy Birthday Paul!

















mmm...ice cream cake!

Let it snow!

I'm so excited, Paul and I are going to Tahoe this weekend to visit my friend Kim in Truckee, and stay with Jenny and the Cole family in Carnelian Bay. I love Tahoe! I love the snow! I'm so looking forward to cozy-ing up by the fire with my man, drinking hot cocoa and playing a rousing game of Scrabble with Jenny and the fam. Oh yeah, and partying with Kim in Truckee! What a way to celebrate me leaving my job...and starting the new year off right! Don't worry, we'll be back for the New Year's Party in SF (if we're not snowed in...). And I promise, Christmas pics are coming tonight. I haven't had the time to catch my breath from the holi-DAZE!

Photos to be revealed

...soon! I promise! I took lots of great pictures both from Paul's 26th (Christmas Eve) birthday AND photos of presents being unwrapped. We can't forget about the gifts I made to be revealed as well! And no, thank goodness none of us looked like Ralphie this year....although there was a leg lamp involved!!

Get me outta here

I'm bored already, can't I just go home??

I'm starting to feel like this guy....

I really can't help myself...

This is what Jazzy is getting for Christmas :)

Exciting news!

I have so much to report on friends, and I apologize for not blogging sooner!
Some recent happs in my world:

- Paul is home for good. Yeah!
- We had a fantastic Christmas party on Friday night, complete with games and homemade treats and Boggle.
- I passed the CBEST test. Watch out kiddies, I may be coming to a school near you!
- I've been sewing and knitting away on Christmas gifts. I will reveal them as soon as they are unwrapped by their new owners!
- Jazzy has begun to drink out of glasses on the table, and knocked at least 2 full glasses of water all over the floor

and the best news is...

I got a new job!!!

Yes, this time around I promised that I wouldn't rush into anything that didn't feel right. And I even made back-up plans in case nothing fell through (i.e. taking the CBEST). But this new position seems great, and the folks who work there seem even better. I'm sooo excited, I feel like all that I've gone through over the last 4 months has been worth it!

More pics to follow!

New beginnings!

I know, I know...

It always seems like I'm on the move. Like I can't make up my mind about where I want to live, where I want to work, etc. And I'm sure you have about 10 different addresses for me in 3 or 4 different states.

Well, I like change. Yes, yes I do. That being said, I have a new change I'm making. I'm looking for a new job. A new gig, yes, but didn't I just start a new one? Well, let's just say it's not the right fit. Like, when you try to squeeze yourself into size 4 jeans, and you might be a size 12? Something like that. Just not fitting well.

But there is good news! Interviews are on the horizon! There's a shimmer of hope! Some great opportunities are out there. So I'm takin' on the search this time with a better outlook. No more accepting a job when my gut says it isn't right. No amount of money can make up for a bad workplace....

Wishlist my friends!

So Sophia and I (well, really Sophia since she's the computer geek) started this little amazon site, where you can buy things and we get a fraction of the profit. This will go towards startup materials for our nonprofit.

Here’s the “wish list” of what we plan on purchasing in the next few months, just in case you want to know where your $$ is going - or if Santa happens to leave it under the tree:

•“Non-profit kit for Dummies” by Stan Hutton and Frances Phillips

• "How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation in California" (book with CD-Rom) by Anthony Mancuso

•"Effective Fundraising For Nonprofits: Real World Strategies That Work" by Ilona M. Bray

•Flipchart paper

•markers

These books have all been suggested to us as “must haves” for planning and organizing purposes.

Click on http://astore.amazon.com/ebyouthorg-20 to shop and help us out!

Giving thanks....

What a mellow Thanksgiving I had this year!

Paul and his family were able to make the trek up to Groveland, where it was crisp and cold (perfect for the hot tub!) We were lazy all weekend (in a good way, of course. We even made it up to Yosemite, where Paul showed off his ice skating skills in the rink at Curry village. I hadn't ice skated since I was in 7th grade (at the same rink, no less!) I'm proud to say that I didn't fall or get a concussion, though my ankles hurt a little bit!

Enjoy the pics...


mmm....turkey....


The Bolings (minus dad and Jean)


Cadence got to meet Reggie

I need your help!

In case you haven't heard yet....

We (Sophia Teper and Shannon Fulton) are going to start our own nonprofit. Pretty big step, right? This is where we need your help. We're just in the beginning planning stages now (and maybe for the next year), but have developed a survey to get a sense of what you think about the idea, how you could be involved, and any advice you may have. Like we said, it's just the beginning stages...

A little about our idea: After working with each other just for a few months, we've realized that we both have amazing ideas that can be developed into something bigger. With Sophia's knowledge in marketing, web development, and general worldliness, and Shannon's background in nonprofits, social work, and the outdoor industry, we feel that our combined efforts can change our small portion of the Bay Area.

We envision taking East Bay area youth (Oakland, Alameda, Berkeley, San Leandro, etc) on outdoor day/hiking trips in the area. Our focus is to introduce the wonders of the natural (and local) world to disadvantaged youth. We would develop a small curriculum for the students, and have the trips lead by volunteers with a variety of expertise (from Shannon's rafting buddies to Sophia's film friends).

Please fill out the survey now: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=h4W4IM2jlqOr6RgpQvBpqg_3d_3d

Please pass the word along to your friends!

pssst! don't tell paul!

I think I'm going to get him a leg lamp for Christmas. Some of you may not know the story...

When we moved into our place in Alameda, I really wanted to get a cat. Paul wasn't a fan of Uintah (my cat currently residing at my parent's ranch) so we had to get a new one. He told me that if I got a cat, he would get a leg lamp. Not just any size leg lamp, but the real McCoy...I shuttered when he mentioned it, but I really wanted a cat! And now we have Jazzy....

Paul has yet to buy the leg lamp. Maybe since Christmas is coming, he'll remember the deal. I'm hoping not. He's not getting the 6ft tall one, no way! But perhaps Santa will leave him a nice desk-sized version...

we made it!

I was just browsing on the One Brick page (an awesome volunteer organization here in the bay) and noticed that my friend erin and i are on their photos page! we "volunteered" (i use the term very loosely) to serve beer at the beer fest back in april. yes, we drank beer and got free t-shirts. isn't volunteering awesome?

I love my island city

Alameda is the shit. It calls itself the "Island City" even though it is just a man made island (but who's keeping track?) Since moving here in June, I've found all of Alameda's secret spots, from the natural grocery store (with an amazing selection of herbs and sweet peas) to a spicy vegetarian restaurant (that even Paul loves) and an old french bakery (that my mom visits every time she's in town!). I've been trying to get to know the city more, since I plan on staying here for a while. So in addition to trying out new bars and restaurants (there aren't too many we haven't hit...I mean, it is an island after all!), I am tackling the thrift stores. There are only 3 or 4 that are listed on Yelp.com, but I may snoop around a little bit more to find that treasure lurking on one of Alameda's dead end roads. Wish me luck!

7 truths meme

I've been tagged by my friend jasmine, (malcomama), to do the 7 Truths meme...and since I'm bored at an unnamed location (hehhe) I thought I would answer the truths now...

1) I am passionate about helping people...the world...animals...

2) I secretly love decorating my house, making yummy treats, and being martha stewart-esque

3) I love my family and friends more that words can say, and would do anything in the world for them.

4) I can play the guitar but can't sing for shit.

5) I want to start my own nonprofit within the next 2 years.

6) I am infatuated with my cat. It's sad, and it's true, and I have embraced the fact that I will be a "cat lady" in my old age.

7) I am so happy to have met my boyfriend, Paul, and look forward to many many years with him....

It's foggy in LA

I thought southern california was supposed to be sunny - the beach, the palm trees, the girls with blond hair? Not so much the case this weekend when Paul and I drove down to LA to celebrate our 1 year anniversary....

After buying a huge tres leches cake from the mexican market down the street from Paul's house in Van Nuys, we headed south to the O.C. (bling bling!) I found a sweet deal at hotwire.com and we stayed at the shee shee Hyatt Regency in Newport Beach. Holy dolla-bill! No wonder there is a show called "The Real Housewives of the OC". We spent most of our time inside because the weather was pretty shitty....the hot tub wasn't so bad, but it definately wasn't pool weather!

After that we headed up to Redondo Beach, where I was staying for a few days for work. Paul liked the Best Western better than the Hyatt (what the fuck?) but he's just weird like that. We met up with my cousin Ali and Bubba, and again, hung out in the room since it was cold and BLAH outside. My work site visit went really well...
I would say the highlight of the whole trip was eating at the same Cuban restaurant 3 times in a row! I became a local instantly. You know I love the mojitos!!

Debauchery...

Yes, I was Amy Winehouse for Halloween. Tattoos, cigarettes and all!

Jenny and I got ready at her house while watching the Red Sox win another World Series Game - she was dressed as a 50's housewife, and I as the famous rehab singer. There weren't too many people dressed up in Berkeley, on this Saturday night before Halloween, which we found unusual. Even though we were the only ones dressed up, people commented on the authentic-ness of our costumes. Jenny had her pearls and oven mitt too, which made the outfit!

Hope you enjoy the pics...it was quite a debaucherous night, with a long cab ride to the bars, and an even longer cab ride back home (or so it felt like). I woke up this morning a little sore...maybe that was from sleeping on the bathroom floor (but now that's a whole 'nother story!)

Sweet Caroline....

It's just not the same watching the Red Sox in the world series if you're not in Boston. People just aren't that into it around these parts...

If I were in Boston...my world series schedule would look something like this: Leave work early to pre-party, get my finest jersey on (and the hat, of course the hat!). I'd take the T to Kenmore square and be instantly swimming in a sea of people, all chanting "Yankees suck". There'd be vendors lining the streets with Red Sox apparel (most of which is anti-Yankees). I'd push my way through the crowds to whatever bar had room - the Cask and Flagon, the brewery or that other sports bar on the corner that I don't remember the name. I'd be drinking many beers with fellow-minded friends...cheering and yelling and jumping at (almost) every play. We'd sing "Sweet Caroline" when the game was over, and "Love that dirty water" in between....
After that, I'd party into the night and cab it home 'round 3am. (and really, this WAS my schedule when they won in 2004).

...but I'm not in Boston. I'm in the East Bay Area, CA - where talk is of the Oakland A's relocating, and the recent shootings at a Raiders game. I went over to my friend Martin and Emily's house. There we ate pizza, drank beers, and watched the game. It was fun, no doubt, but not the same.

By the way...I couldn't resist...

Who would you vote for?

The mountains RULE. I just spent a nice, relaxing weekend at home with all 4 parents, drinking wine, dancing at the iron door, listening to an awesome blues band, and of course eating yummy mexican food. My mom and I did have TOO much fun dressing the 3 dogs up in the Halloween costume I bought.

Tell me, who would you vote for as top dog halloween costume model??


Sophie

Ruby

Reggie

P.S. I'm watching the Red Sox as we speak and they are kicking ass! Go Red Sox!!

I can't help myself....

Okay, here's the good news...

Reggie can always get a job being a dog halloween costume model if his "ranch dog" job doesn't pan out.

Here's the bad news....
I'm obsessed with dog costumes!

Costume for Reggie

Anyone who knows me knows I love animals. Any kind...you name 'em! (except for horses, I'm still getting used to them. They are so big!)

I also love dressing up my animals. Not the Paris Hilton or Britney Spears way with ugly pink bows and such. Just silly costumes on special occasions (ie. christmas, the red sox winning the world series, etc)

Here's the costume I got Reggie for Halloween. I'll post pics when I bring it to him this weekend. And no, do not report me to PETA or anything...no dog was harmed in any way while wearing this outfit.

Trick OR Treat!

It's that time of year again...spider webs and pumpkins, candy corn and ghosts...

In an attempt to be festive (and original), I've decided to be Amy Winehouse for Halloween. Now for those who have been living under a rock for the past year or so, Amy is a brilliant British singer with a soulful voice. Oh yeah, and she's cracked out, literally. Supposedly, she's gotten clean, but I'm not too sure about that. Now I have no intention of getting cracked out on Halloween, but I will be wearing Amy's signature beehive, cat-like eyeliner, and many, many tattoos.

I had an exciting weekend visiting many friends....Kim came down from Truckee, where it's already snowed 3 times. Yeah for snow! Yeah for water! We spend the day walking in downtown Alameda, shopping, checking out the "Classic Car Show", and drinking Mojitos at La Pinata. It's not a trip to Alameda without going there!

After that I headed down to the Cruz to see Kristin, Jill, and Tracy. We had some great Sushi at Mobos (yum!) and of course, drank some beers at the Red Room. Ahhh...the Red Room! It was fun as always, though not the same that I remember it. Sure, I recognized some of the regulars there, (and Blaine, the bartender remembered me)...but I still felt like a stranger there! Oh well, guess that's what happens when you move on....

It's been a long time baby

Has it really been more than 1 year since I've last blogged? Ughh, that's disturbing. Anyhow it's on my new list of things to do in order to keep in touch with people, and share my ideas with the world.

First off....

Since Paul has been gone in LA, I've had a lot more time on my hands (you know what they say about "idle hands"...) Anyway this has renewed my interest in doing all of those crafty things I used to do in high school. I have to warn you, you may be receiving macrame pot holders and crocheted ipod holders (again) real soon. With my current (and future) lack of funds, it's looking like I'm going to make some gifts for Christmas this year.

Secondly...
What's up with Oakland drivers, huh? I left the island today with my coworker, Sophia, as we were craving In-and-Out for lunch and the closest is in East Oakland. I think we almost got side swiped twice, run over by a semi once, and there was an accident right behind us on the 880. I also heard that this morning there was a body in the middle of the highway in Hayward that people were just running over. Really? Come on people! There are no racoons in Hayward! This is not "roadkill"!

Okay, enough of my rant, I should get back to work :)

sometimes the best cowboy.....is a woman

hello from utah!

man, am i tired! i just got finished teaching a 9 day junior whitewater school to 7 teenagers. it was super fun, hot, lots-o-mosquitos, but definately worth it. the highlight of the trip may have been seeing my grandparents on the side of the road on the last night at camp! (it's a long story...i'll write more later).

so now i just finished 2 days of preparing for our next trip. i have 1 on the water with 6 guides and 24 people, and we're launching the same numbers tomorrow. CRAZY! it never gets this busy in utah! it's good for work, but man am i tired! and i don't get to hang out with uintah as much as i want. luckily she has some amazing grandparents next door that love her to pieces....they spoil her rotten, even more so than me!

i just wanted to let everyone know that i'm surviving out here! having a lot of fun for sure, trying not to stress out about stuff, and enjoying the summer! more later, i promise...it'll have to wait for my next day off :)

hello from utah!

i know, i know...it's been WAY TOO LONG! the joys of living in utah, no wireless access anywhere, and it takes days just to get dial up. so i'm sitting here in the library, trying to get work done on my couple days off.

so i'm HERE! and life is great! the first couple trips have launched and we've had some really good people, good weather, and just fun in general. i got to row my own boat on the last trip, and it was SO nice to be on the river again...the canyon hasn't changed and is still as gorgeous as ever. it reminded me of why i spend my summers in utah....

when i'm not on the river i've been cleaning up the guide house. it's kind of white trashy (which is unavoidable in utah), but could use a lot of work to clean it up a bit. so i've been painting the inside (the kitchen and the office) and the outside (the chicken coop where some guides sleep). i've also landscaped the whole yard so it doesn't look like a trailer park. and i cut the grass with a beer in my hand. i'm in heaven:)

and i'm sure most of you have heard that i've adopted a sweet little orange kitty that i named "uintah" (the name of the mountains around here). she's adorable but loves to play. and i mean at 4:30 in the morning when the roosters across the street start crowing. that kind of sucks, but otherwise she's great. i accidently rolled over on her last night when i was sleeping and she let out the cutest little "meow!"...awww, poor baby :)

so saturday my friend isaac and i are teaching an 8 day junior whitewater school. i'm SO excited, i think i'm one of the only guides that has never taught a school! hopefully the mosquitos aren't out in full force, otherwise we will be lucky to escape the put-in without getting west nile. i'll let you know how things go!

another post will follow as soon as i get my internet running...hope all is well my dear friends!!

goodbye beantown

yes, i've said my goodbyes to the best city in the east....

i had quite an eventful last week in boston. i finished my wilderness first responder (WFR) class on an island off the coast of south boston. it was a pretty rad place, and we even got to do a night time search and rescue. i was a secondary responder, which meant i got to talk on the radio. it was awesome...who doesn't like ending every sentence with "copy?" or "10-4"!!

then i basically partied for 2 days with my BC friends to celebrate our graduation and my goodbye. i was in charge of picking the venue, and of course i picked the shady-est dive bar in boston. now what did you expect?? some of the higlights include:

eating lots of free popcorn

taking shots of whiskey with my professor

beating 2 guys at pool

and getting beer poured on my head by a guy who was pissed off that i wouldn't go home with him. (it was a good thing that i wasn't in a bad mood, otherwise i would've kicked him in the balls! but in my stupor i didn't realize he had intentionally poured it on me...i thought it was "spilled". oh well, the bartender felt bad and gave me a free shot. SWEET!)

after a semi-hungover flight home, i made it to my mom's house. we've been putzing around the property...she bought this little go cart 4 wheel drive looking thing called a "mule". we took it out 4 wheeling and i thought i would tip it for sure! i've been spending some quality time with reggie, and preparing for my flight to utah. i wish i had more time to hang, but the river calls!!

viva las vegas.....

what a weekend! jenny, my mom, my brother, and i ventured into the hot desert to spend a weekend tanning and gambling in las vegas. it was the shit, seriously :) i won $150 playing the quarter slots, and my mom won $300 playing the craps table! and i got to see some old friends from santa cruz which was AWESOME.

we basically spent the weekend lounging by the pool, playing bocci with my grandparents, drinking special mojitos, and gambling. and i'm not a big gambler, but i was winning. now i know how people become gambling addicts! anyway the only thing that sucked was the fact that my flight home was delayed. i was supposed to get into boston at 7pm and i didn't get home til 12am. yeah, sitting in the airport sucked for sure. but at least they have fat tire beer on tap there!

now i'm back in boston, trying to pack my stuff up and get ready to go. i start my wilderness first responder class tomorrow off the coast of boston. it should be fun, but the weather was been REALLY nasty and i'm supposed to take a ferry out there that could be cancelled. it's too bad, my friend clarissa has been visiting and it's been pouring rain. we haven't been able to do anything but go down the street to get coffee and groceries. we came home soaked tonight, but brightened our spirits with a bottle of wine, yummy dinner, and office space.

only 1 more week to go in boston! i'm sooooo sad but excited at the same time. i can't believe these past 2 years have gone by so fast!!!

the light...the tunnel...

so i've just recovered from a case of strep throat. doesn't that sound like fun? like what you used to get when you were 7 years old and got to stay home from school? although now it's not that fun to stay home from work, knowing it's piling up on your desk. and assignments (i.e. FINALS) aren't writing themselves. but i'm proud to say that i've recovered...the nasties in my throat are gone, the phlegm is almost out, and i'm not sleeping for 18 hours a day. it's a lovely world, ain't it??

so i've come up with a really good metaphor to describe how i'm feeling about this whole i'm-finishing-grad-school-what-the-hell-am-i-gonna-do connundrum. it's like when you first see the light at the end of the tunnel, you get all excited because, hey, you're gettin' out! that's how i'm feeling now. but you know once you get closer, and the light gets brighter and brighter...so bright that it blinds you and you get all anxious and worried because you're not quite sure what's outside of the tunnel? like what makes you think the tunnel is so bad, anyway? well that's my prediction of how i will feel in approximately 3-4 weeks. scared as hell because i'm blinded by the light. (hey, isn't that an 80's song or something?) i digress. anyway, the good news is that the blindness lasts only for a split second, because pretty soon your eyes adjust to the outside world, and you have a better idea of where you are, where you're going, etc. my prediction of those feelings = approximately 5-6 months. i guess that's not a "split-second" blindess, but oh well.

only 1 more week of classes. it's pretty stinkin' unbelievable!!

maaaa-tha's vineyard

yes friends, it's time to see some pics from the vineyard. i've been so busy with school that i didn't get a chance to post 'em when we got back. but needless to say, monkey and i had a really great time! we took the ferry out, and checked into our (GHETTO) motel in vineyard haven. yeah, it was ghetto for sure! then we walked down through the little streets and went into the shops. alot were closed becaues it was sunday, but we probably couldn't afford anything anyway so that was okay. with all the shops closed, we decided to have a photo shoot on the beach. yes, a photo shoot! we took pics on the beach, in the water, on the dock. many looked like they were straight outta dawson's creek! after that, we were very much the "early bird" old married couple becase we went to go eat dinner at like 5pm. i went to order a beer, but it turns out vineyard haven is a DRY TOWN! you know what that means? no alchohol! so i was sad to say the least that i couldn't have a beer with dinner! oh well, it was ok.

so the next day we got coffee and rode the little bus around the island. we were surrounded by 3 old couples from tennessee who were concerned with "what time the bus would pick them up", and kept saying so EVERY 2 minutes in their southern twangy accent. i was getting super annoyed and i swore to monkey that we would NEVER be like that when we're old and travelling. we stopped at the oldest town on the island (edgartown) and took pictures next to the lighthouse. it was so east coast and so pretty! if anyone ever comes to the east coast, you've gotta go to the island for a day, just to check it out! all in all it was a great trip. i didn't buy a floppy hat as promised, but i did get lots of pics in my searsucker pants :) enjoy!





isn't this a great pic? hahahah the view form our hotel. i told you it was ghetto!

floppy hats and searsucker pants

floppy hats and searsucker pants, you ask?

well....this weekend monkey (my partner in crime) and i are taking the ferry to martha's vineyard. or as they would say here in massachusetts "the vineyard" or "maaah-tha's vineyaaahd" (crazy accents). anyway we're leaving on sunday night and just staying one night. but i definately have envisioned what our trip will be like there: it's gonna be sunny and warm, we're gonna rent some cruiser bikes and ride along the coastline and have picnics on the beach. i'm going to be wearing a big floppy white hat, very large jackie o. sunglasses, and blue searsucker (striped) pants. and we'll stop at bakeries and marvel at the victorian "gingerbread" houses.

in reality it will most likely be raining and/or foggy. i'll have my down coat on and no floppy hat. and the bakeries will be closed. and the bike store will be burnt down.

the good news is, it's supposed to be at least 50 degrees and partially cloudy. and we've got a hotel right on the beach. who needs bikes anyway? :) i'll definately keep ya'll informed. in the meantime, i gotta go get some big jackie o. sunglasses....

almost like an orgasm....

yeah, so that's how my friend shannon (and fellow intern and social work student) described her feeling of accomplishment after our lobby day today. and i have to admit, it was quite a relaxing and very joyous moment in my eyes as well! yes my friends, the event that we put on was a success! we had over 500 teen parents there from all over massachusetts, and a whole bunch of legislators, reps, and press. they even covered it on the 5pm news. (now...don't say it was a slow news day!) it was great to see all of the girls we visited and presented advocacy training to. they were representing themselves and it made me feel all warm and gushy inside. go social work! :)

speaking of being warm...or NOT being warm, it's frikkin' FREEZING here in boston! it's almost april for christ's sakes! but monkey and i battled the cold for the annual south boston st. patricks day parade on sunday (aka drunken irish-fest). there were bagpipes and all...and no i didn't witness any puking in the streets, but then again we left a little earlier than most. i have to say that as much crap southie gets for putting on the parade, it made me feel all patriotic or something. must've been the cute policemen in their uniforms...



oh yeah, and my brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin alison were in town 2 weekends ago. was that fun! we went to the sam adams brewery, fenway park, a celtics game, and to the aquarium. i swear i must've gained 5 pounds when they were here, since we drank a lot of beer, lounged around and ate, and kept going to get pastries (on aaron's request). don't ever ask him about mike's pastry shop in boston. he'll go nuts.


only 2 months til i go home! (well, to utah....) despite the cold, i am gonna miss this place...

vegas party 2.0

well, you know you're getting old when you spend st. patricks day eating cupcakes, getting drunk off of 3 beers, and find joy in swiffering the floor at 12 am. yes friends, that was the extent of my st. patricks day celebration! well, i told myself that i couldn't go out because i have a mess of things to do this weekend, and i couldn't afford to be hungover (i'm saving that for sunday, when i head off to southie to watch the world famous boston st. patricks day parade!) so yeah, monkey and i were pretty pathetic....we ended up trying to watch law and order but it wasn't on. damn!

anyway i wanted to let everyone know that i will be in vegas the weekend of may 5-7th for my birthday, version 2.0! for those of you who don't know, i spent my 21st birthday in vegas. and yes, it was as crazy as you would expect, with me and 7 other girls! you know it was a success when someone had to puke before getting on the plane on the way home (sorry, judy!) it was great. and i'm inviting everyone that can make it to join me in the fun this year! i don't really promise a puking-ly good time (although you never know!) but i am getting old. we'll be on the strip, but i plan on spending most of my time lounging around the pool at my aunts house, drinking cocktails all day, and maybe even dancing at night?? please let me know if you can attend :)

slideshow...

march madness

march madness is RIGHT! it's friggin' grand central chaotic station here in my life as a grad student, policy intern, babysitter, beer drinker, reader, etc....

in between midterms (1 due last week, 3 due in the upcoming weeks) my co-intern at the Alliance on Teen Pregancy and i are putting together a Lobby Day. march 21st at the MA state house. mark your calendars folks! right now we're busy running around trying to get speakers, getting rsvp's from legislators, calling catering companies, ordering displays, etc. and doing advocacy trainings for teen parents all over the state of massachusetts. tomorrow we have 2 in worcester (pronounced WOOO-sta!) and 2 next week in the wee corners of the state. crazy, i know.

AND.....my brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin are coming to visit in 3 days! yeah, i'm so excited! i'm trying to put together a little itinerary for us, since i figure this may be the last time i'll really get to toot around boston. i'm thinking the sam adams brewery for sure, fenway, some clam chowda, you know the usual boston thing. if any of you bostonians have any suggestions, let me know!

....it's back to working on midterms for me. hope everyone else is enjoying this crazy month of march. oh yeah, where did february go, anyway???