Candlelight Dinner for 3

This is on the highway in Brunswick (town where I work). The wind blew the semi over!

This is a picture of the Kennebec Tavern that sits on the Kennebec River. It's a little less than a mile from our house. This view is from the parking lot looking out onto the river - and the river that is now in the parking lot!

Maybe you heard about our crazy weather yesterday? I don't think I have ever seen it rain that hard with the wind gusts - up to 80 mph in some areas! We lost power sometime during the day while we were at work (of course, wouldn't you know it - we never lost power at work!) and it was still out when we left this morning. Yeah for a warm shower at the gym!

I am SO glad we have a gas stove... I have always liked it for the cooking reasons, but when the power goes out - as it's known to do in Maine fairly often - I can still cook! We were still able to have a yummy, HOT dinner of Brunswick Stew (minus the biscuits, bummer) which was a treat because it was so cold in the house you could see your breath! I said to Steve and Chris "I swear it's colder in here than it is outside!" Steve told me to "open a window" hardee har har

Tonight I going to try my hand at making spaghetti and meatballs by candlelight... and if we are lucky and have power - maybe I will finish our taxes?

Reggae Festival!

It's pretty hard to see me, but I am sure I'm in there somewhere :) This year was the biggest Reggae Festival Sugarloaf has ever had! Usually by this time there aren't many runs open because it is getting so warm, but this was not the case! The mountain was 100% open - and still is! Sugarloaf has had 30+ inches of snow since last Friday... and it's scheduled to close this weekend :(

Who said global warming? (that's just a joke, I have seen "the movie" and am fully aware of the seriousness of the situation)

For Reggae Festival the bands play outside at "the beach" (which is where that picture was taken) during the day and inside at night. As you can see there are a ton of people! Did some good skiing and had a great time with the usual suspects Nancy, Jason, Chris, Stacy, Gus, Skipper, Hippy Jim, and got to know Deb and Chelsea a little better - good times!

Next year is the 20th Anniversary Reggae Festival - book your rooms now!

One of those days

And I don't mean that in a bad way! Do you ever have a day where you feel great because you have accomplished so many things you wanted to? Yesterday was one of those days for me! I don't usually have them so I figured I had better write about it...

Woke up at 4:20 and did not want to go to the gym... I just wasn't feeling it, especially when I started thinking about all the things I needed to do. I dragged my bum out of bed (still feeling tired from watching tv the night before) and got going. I did 3 loads of laundry, dishes, vacuumed and took a walk - all before 7:00am!! After work? Went to the grocery store, finished laundry (yeah, there was that much) made mac & cheese and cupcakes to take to Sugarloaf this weekend and started our taxes! (why rush these things?... I wait until the last possible moment - obviously!) all before 9:30 when I collapsed into bed.

Now I feel I have license to slack off for the rest of the week :)

Guilty Pleasures

I am going to admit it - right here and now. I have been SUCKED into a couple of so-called "reality" tv shows... here are my 4 in the order I watch them and who I want to win:

1. Dancing with the Starts (Ian Ziering or Joey Fatone)
2. American Idol (Blake or Jordin?)
3. America's Next Top Model (Dionne or Jaslene)
4. Search for the Next Doll (Melissa S. - because Anastasia is gone)

In my defence - I never watched these shows until I spent two weeks at Meagan's house where we watched just a little bit of tv ;) But now! I can't miss an episode! I stay up too late watching - then I am too tired the next morning! Next season I am getting digital cable so I don't have to lose my beauty rest over this crap.

But tell me - I can't be the only one, right? Don't you have a guilty pleasure tv show? (we will discuss other guilty pleasures in weeks to come) Please share...

Al-Anon Insight

This post might be too much, too boring or too unrelated for most. I don't know why I don't typically write about this stuff (for the previously mentioned reasons perhaps?)... suddenly I felt like I needed to. More for my own reasons that for people to read. I need to be able to read it later.

I attend Al-Anon meetings. My favorite meeting is on Wednesday mornings at the Seventh Day Adventist Church. (Although Al-Anon is in no way religiously affiliated, it seems like most meetings are in churches.) It is a large group, around 30 people and it stays on track and focused which I really like. A lot of other meetings I have been to felt like a big bitch session about the "alcoholic" and this group doesn't. How is complaining helpful? What is it changing? I have said so many times, I really wish I would have found Al-Anon BEFORE Steve stopped drinking. I could have saved myself years of grief and resentment. I am learning ways to deal/cope with all situations in my life - not just those related to alcoholics.

Yesterday the topic was Detachment, and the concept of detaching with love... something I have yet to master... okay, honestly? really even use. Detaching is allowing a person to be responsible for their own actions - no matter how badly they are hurting themselves (which is the hardest time.) It is not trying to control any and every situation.

I am able to "detach" with manipulation, with nagging, crying and the most used - indifference. The indifference is what I was interpreting as detaching with love... because I wasn't nagging, manipulating or crying, I was just ignoring. But really... is ignoring loving? And I am not actually detaching if I am employing my former techniques, am I? (rhetorical question)

I am FINALLY learning I don't have to fix everything - I can't fix everything, no matter how hard I try. I think that is part of an oldest child thing... or maybe it's just my personality? a combo? I don't need to jump in every time someone makes a comment about something they need to do - I don't have to offer to help. I can wait to be asked! How is that for a concept... I don't have to give "advice" on everything. In our opening it says "In Al-Anon, we don't give advice, we share our experience, strength and hope." Hearing the "old timers" and how far they have grown in their relationships with themselves and others. Gives me hope. :) I have met amazing people in the program and am so grateful for Al-Anon.

Happy Easter!

We had a great time with Steve's family on Easter. We went to Renee & Payne's house in New Gloucester, ME. Wish The Mother could have been there, but she wasn't feeling well. Steve's family cracks me up, we have such a good time together. The nephews are getting so big. If you get a chance - ask me about Simon's (my nephew) fish... a bit of a grown-up story I won't post here so as not to offend anyone :)

A little bunny named Leah (a friend, not The Mother) gave me some pink peeps! I don't think I have had a little something on Easter since I lived at my Dad's house and the Easter Bunny would bring us kids a little something wrapped in white tissue paper and decorated with ribbon and Snoopy stickers... not to mention massive amounts of candy. Mrs. Bartlett (Chris' mother) gave me some adorable dish towels with little chicks embroidered on them... wrapped in white tissue and tied with a yellow ribbon!! - it was just like being a kid again!

Hitched without a hitch

I can't believe it! I FINALLY coordinated a wedding - and got PAID for it!! It went well, only 1 tiny snafu... the deck was supposed to be cleared of snow and it wasn't. I am so pleased, and inspired to start doing it more seriously. My friend Chris teases me about how much I love weddings. He says my being a wedding coordinator is like an alcoholic owning a bar...

Good to be home

Although it was touch and go there for a bit! Flying has become such a hassle... I suppose if I was a person who didn't wear make-up or shower on a regular basis it wouldn't be as big of a deal, but I can't do a carry-on anymore unless I either buy new make-up, shampoo, conditioner, etc. or go without. I can't fit all my products into the 3 oz containers that then fit into ONE quart size bag! I digress...



My sweet little brother Christopher said he would take me to the airport for my trip home, he had his Google map and we were all set to go. The trip should take about 45 minutes and we had left 2 hours early... yeah, the Google map was wrong. We ended up in a residential neighborhood a good 45 minutes from the airport, with my plane leaving in 45 minutes. I called JetBlue to discuss my options should I miss my flight... it (yes, there was really only 1 option) was a flight home the next day for $180. I was FREAKING out inside - but I kept my cool, I felt bad that Chris was so stressed out... once we got there I checked in, and the plane was still there - all I had to do was get to the gate... through the security line from hell. Finally I got through it and ran (as much as I run?) as fast as I could in inappropriate footwear. I got there just in time to see the plane pull away from the gate... at this point I am crying - not for missing my plane, but for the $180 it's going to cost me to get home! The woman behind the counter must have felt sorry for the mascara smeared, sweat stained, red faced freak standing in front of her and helped me out. Booked me on a flight the next day - confirmed seat, not even stand by - FOR FREE!! I was very pleased with my JetBlue experience.



Chris took me back to Meagan's for another last night (and some P.F. Chang's!). The only real bummer was the fact that the airline still had my bag... did I mention I hate not being able to carry-on luggage? :)



As Chris and I were touring some fine areas in Virginia, I was thinking that our little road trip was the most time we have spent together - 1 on 1 - since he was a little boy and we still lived in Utah... a couple of years before the move to D.C. He has grown into such an amazing, smart, handsome young man that I am proud to have for a brother. Thanks again for the ride and excellent conversation big guy.

My Visit with AleBaBa

I spent 10 fun filled days and late nights in Columbia, MD with my beautiful new niece Alexandra, Meagan & Jon. I can't believe how attached to her I am. I love everything about her and can't wait to see her again. She makes the funniest faces!

Meagan & Jon are doing such a good job with their little one. Jon is a HUGE help, waits on Meagan when he is home like her personal assistant, it was so sweet - not to mention the nighttime feedings he does, lots of diapers and some fun carrying techniques.

Alexandra is growing like crazy and is such a good baby, I can't thank Meagan and Jon enough for letting me spend so much time with them. It was such a treat for me.

St. Patrick's Day

I can't believe my last post was the middle of March... how time has flown by! I will back track a bit...

Saturday 3/17/07 we celebrated St. Patrick's Day with our friends the Senecal's and their son Chase who had his first birthday! I can't believe he is already a year old. He is so cute and personable!

That night my girlfriend Nancy Riggs and I volunteered at the Sweetser Auction. We did it last year and had a great time. Our job was to sell the 50/50 raffle tickets so we get to mingle, and talk to a lot of people. What made part of the day/afternoon an bit of an adventure was the power outage at our house! The auction is a bit of a fancy affair so we needed to get dressed up, much thanks to Vivian for letting us get ready (and the wine) at her beautiful home before heading to the birthday party.

I donated handmade gift cards (duh, should have taken a picture of them!) and they sold for $45!! Granted the first bottle of maple syrup made by the kids at the Sweetser School went for over $300... I think people just really want to give. And I am glad they do since it pays my salary! Gotta love a not for profit work environment!