I waited over 6 months to post this....

CONGRATULATIONS! To Merrow and C, who got engaged in Switzerland when we were in Europe last fall.

When I met up with them in Annecy, she held up her left hand and blinded me with the rock, then said "You're not allowed to say anything yet."

The happy couple on our last night in Paris. Note that Merrow is totally hiding her left hand in this picture.

There is quite a story behind their engagement, but let's just say it involves: delayed and then cancelled flights, rebooking of both airline and train tickets, multiple international cell phone calls and texts, stress drinking by Merrow, C pulling out the "but I am going to propose, you HAVE to get me there" card, the Swiss Alps, and one "I just repacked my bag, no I do NOT have room to carry anything of yours" eyeroll.

They are getting married in August and I couldn't be happier for them!

(I'm trying to go back and add some more posts about my trip to France before I completely forget all the details.)

Holiday Tranquility

There is a lot going on in my life right now. Work is busy, social life is busy, I've over-extended myself on projects around the house, and it is the holiday season on top of that. I feel like the brain hamsters have been spinning their wheels especially fast lately.

Last night as I sat at Wine Night, I pulled some scrap paper (actually, a used envelope) out of my purse and started jotting down things I need to accomplish over the next few evenings, plus lists of things I need to tell certain people so I don't forget. Along with notes to finish paining my cabinets, mail some packages, and write my Christmas cards, I decided to put Meditate for 15 Minutes on the list each evening.

After I got home with my leftover wine, I buzzed around the house for about an hour and a half, straightening and painting and crossing things off the list. And then, just before heading upstairs to get ready for bed, I turned out all the lights except for the candles in the window and the Christmas trees. I sat on the floor, looking up at the lights and decorations of Sam the Balsam. I focused on some of the different ornaments, reflecting on where and when I acquired them. Boo came over for some lovings, rubbing his face on my hands and crawling into my lap for a few minutes. Finally, I sang a couple of very off-tune Christmas carols. It took 15 minutes before bed, and really did relax me.

There are 12 more days until Christmas. I think I will be adding this to my nightly schedule.

World Thinking Day

When I was a wee lass, I was a Girl Scout.

Actually, since I was only ever a Girl Scout Junior (never a Brownie or anything else), and back in the 1980s Juniors were girls in grades 4 - 6, I suppose it wasn't so much that I was a Girl Scout as a wee lass, as it was that I was a Scout as a moderate-height-but-still-skinny lass.

I don't actually remember a whole lot about being a Scout. I do remember selling cookies, and earning a bunch of badges (the last of which I just sewed on my old sash last weekend. 23 years later.) I remember going  to day camp and making a really nice woven basket that is still on my dresser to this day. I remember my troop going on a hiking trip to a local mountain on a cold, rainy fall day. I had a uniform - sash, green and blue polyester blouse, and a little button neck tab/tie thing - but I'm pretty sure there are no pictures that exist of me in said outfit.

After 6th grade, I aged out of Juniors and there was no Cadette troop locally for me to join (and I'm not sure I would have kept going at that time anyway) so I figured my Scouting career was over.

Flash forward 2 decades. Four years ago, I was flipping through the local free newspaper and saw a community announcement for an interest meeting for Girl Scouts, both interested girls and adults were welcome. I had been thinking I wanted to get involved with some form of community service, to give back a bit, so I went to the meeting. The rest is history!

Not having a daughter, I've kind of been able to float around and fit in with troops that didn't have a second or co-leader. Last year, I hooked up with Mrs. J and her troop, and I can say without a doubt that I have definitely found my place! It's a Junior troop, just like I was (although Juniors is now only for grades 4 and 5). The girls are fantastic, really active and interested in learning new things, doing community service, and getting out and doing some of the traditional Girl Scout activities like camping and hiking. 2012 is the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouting, and we are planning so pretty big and special ways to celebrate in our troop!

Today, February 22nd, is World Thinking Day. It is the shared birthday of Lord and Lady Baden-Powell, the founder (and wife) of Boy Scouts. They were friends with Juliette "Daisy" Gordon Low, and inspired her to found Girl Scouts in 1912. World Thinking Day is a day when Girl Scouts and Girl Guides around the world take time to think of their sisters in Scouting, and hopefully spend some time learning about different cultures.

So Happy Thinking Day to all the other Leaders, Scouts, and Guides out there! I am happy to be your sister in Scouting.

Troop 12270, getting a little crazy!

Photo Friday

This is my last-minute-change-of-plans costume for a Halloween party last week. My friends threw an 80s theme party. I was originally going to go a "Like a Prayer"-era Madonna, but decided lace dresses and high heels weren't practical in 6" of snow. And thus was born the idea of going as an 80s-era ski bunny.

Please excuse the crappy camera phone photo - when I asked my friends to take my picture with my actual camera, apparently they did not understand the concept of getting a full shot. I know what my face looks like, I wanted a picture of the costume, dammit!

I had the oversized turtleneck sweater, black belt, pearl necklace, and giant hoop earrings. One 20-minute shopping trip later to Target and Dollar Tree for a hot pink puffy jacket, black running tights, knee-high socks with florescent hearts on them, alpine knit booties, pink fingerless gloves, and giant white-framed sunglasses, and I had the rest of the outfit. Not bad for last minute!

How to Crash a New Year's Eve Party

For the first time in 5 years, I have a boyfriend-type person at New Years. And yet, I spent it alone. I knew it was going to happen - Le copain français was at his parents' house and flying back on New Year's Day. He booked the tickets well before we started dating, so, c'est la vie. But not having a specific someone to go out with meant I had no idea what I wanted to do. I had offers from a couple of friends in Boston, and another offer from a friend who rented a house up near Plymouth, but really didn't want to drive. I liked the idea of spending the evening on the couch in front of the fire, watching movies and eating junk food. However, my friend Smalls guilted me into joining him for a house party at his friend H's. Smalls and I both ended up making stuffed mushrooms to take to the party, so we had an appetizer throw-down. After which, food and alcohol were consumed by all, and the hookah was partaken of by most (but not me).

Plan the First involved going for dinner and leaving around 11 to be home before midnight and all the less-than-sober drivers were on the road.

Plan the Second involved sticking around for H's champagne toast at midnight and then leaving immediately so I could go home and crash in bed.

Reality involved leaving H's at 1:30-ish after much food, plenty of drinks, and an impromptu dance party in the kitchen; driving Smalls home; sitting in his parking lot talking in my car for another 45 minutes; and getting home a few minutes before 3:00 AM. OUCH. But also, WONDERFUL.

Scotch + Hookah Smoke = NYE WIN

Let's all blow smoke into our glasses!

Our hostess H, preparing the midnight champagne toasts

Kitchen dance party!

After 1 AM, still going strong