looking ahead

2012 is only a few hours away at this point. I could go on and on about how quickly time has flown by and how I am not quite sure where the days/weeks/months go...I feel ready for the new year that is fast approaching and all that it will hold.

I arrived back in the states two weeks ago and have been lucky enough to have been surrounded by family almost every moment since then. The support system that I have is remarkable - it truly blows my mind.

My time in London was an experience that I am glad to have had but it was by no means easy and what I thought it would be. The people that I met, getting to live abroad and the beauty of the city inspired me.

I came back a different person that I was when I left. I am working on finding myself again and living the life that I imagine.

Happy new year! May it hold countless blessings and much health and happiness

new blog name needed?

Bi-coastal living no longer seems applicable...or maybe it does and it is just a matter of what coasts.

It has been two weeks since I have been in London. My home is now Swiss Cottage area near St John's Wood, I commute via the tube and live in a corporate apartment. I am working on getting used to the accents and fashion and checking both sides of the road because I have no idea which way the cars are coming - or what side they are driving on for that matter. It's been a fairly easy adjustment for me - maybe because the past year of travel I often didn't know where I was going. It sometimes feels very similar to my sf experience. I love playing tourist on the weekend and taking advantage of this city and all it has to offer. I've made it a ritual to go to Primrose Hill every Sunday and take in the views of the city from the hilltops. This past Sunday I discovered camden loch market - unlike anything that I have seen before with hundreds of stalls set up as far as the eye can see. I spent hours wandering and taking it all in. I had lunch by the water and watched the boats maneuver through the loch. I've toured Kensington Palace and got to see the secret garden and the enchanted exhibit. I've learned to reach out to friends of friends and others that I haven't seen in a long time. I've tried cider, eaten more asian and mediteranean food than I thought possible. I am picking up a new ways of saying things - incorporating words like keen, proper, bit, brilliant, mates and pence.

officially a working girl

Well...my days of leisure are over. I am now a working girl. Back to the real world. Today marked my 3rd day with Tidal and I must say it is so great to be among familiar faces and super smart people. I was dropped off at the Baltimore office on Monday morning (thanks to mom and Kevin who returned from their European honeymoon this past weekend and have now had to shuttle me back and forth). I sat at the "bar" while people came in and helped unload the dishwasher. My boss arrived from NYC and before I knew it I had a working laptop and fun email address: kelly@tidaltv.com - yay! I just love start ups. The mentality, the family feel, the absence of red tape and the friendless of everyone - yes, I must admit, I did miss this. The office lost power twice that day. I sat in on a call or two and was transported back a few years. All of the sudden it was as if nothing had changed...ahhhhh, work.

It was a great first day! I was dropped off at Penn Station with my bag packed for New York later that night and headed up on the train which was so very easy. Got to see Christina who happened to be in town - :)! Yesterday I took a cab to my new office. The cab driver was so nice and we talked the whole way. He asked if I was from Texas (must be my southern accent) - ha. I told him that NYC would soon be my home and that it was my second day of work. He dropped me smack dab in the middle of Times Square. Seriously?! This is where I will go to work everyday? It is the next building over from where the ball drops on New Years Eve. Right near the NYPD and all of the crazy lights and ads that light up the whole city and where people stop for the perfect photo of them in front of one of the busiest blocks in the world - which is now where I will be working. Oy! So I tried very hard to not be distracted by the lights and crowds and mob scene that I am hoping will soon just blend in. Work was...overwhelming. I realize that I am new and still getting ramped up (obvi) but I really don't like not knowing things and I want to be GREAT.

I took the subway down to happy hour with Maria, Jason, XT and crew - it was so good to see them! Made my way over to HB's part of town just before the storm set in. We waited it out a bit and then headed over to a little, neighborhood spanish restaurant where we shared a bottle of wine and everything we have been up to the past few months. It was a great night!

Somehow my time off already seems far away...how is the possible? I am feeling fairly confident with Amtrak after riding the rails a time or two. Day 3, Week 1 - check. T - four days until I fly across the pond. My list of stuff that I need to get done between now and then is crazy long - and growing. Yup, back in the swing of things - look out world!

the big day

July 9th started bright and early and almost felt like any other day - oh, expect for the fact that after 40 plus years, two people that are truly meant to be were finally married! Kendall and I headed for the club early afternoon. The sun was shining. Birds were probably chirping. We knew it was going to be quite a day. We arrived at Hayfield's where we met mom and were shown her bridal suite which was a great big room where we stored our stuff and after checking everything out, went down to the bar for a glass of wine. Kara and Makenna arrived soon after and then the afternoon just started flying by. Seeing mom's gorgeous, flowing dress and pretty shoes waiting to be worn made us all of the more excited. Lindsay started Val's make-up, Kendall perfected mine - the prep had officially started. We got to hear Lindsay practice singing "At Last" which was amazing. Makenna loved it as she does most musical things in life. Soon there were people coming into the room to see and hug mom and it was really almost time! We ushered people out to help mom into her dress. She looked breath-taking. Everything had come together perfectly. It was 5:20 before I knew it. I ran outside to make sure that the harpist was playing. Father Nick and Kevin were ready and that people were sitting. To say it was hot is an understatement - it was sweltering. Guys were in suits melting. I was a bit caught between daughter of the bride, photographer, coordinator and wedding guest but managed to get myself together and run inside to tell Val, Willie and mom - we are ready to get married! I know it seemed like a long walk for them. Everyone took a breath in when they saw how drop dead gorgeous mom looked. She was glowing and Kevin was beaming and every single person there could not help but feel their completeness and how ready they were to do this. They went around the long way through the crowd which really just gave everyone a better look at the bride. I totally got choked up during my reading. They said their vows and intentions with love and clarity and soon were declared husband and wife. Wow! The ceremony wrapped shortly and Dave, the Washington Post photographer and I took photos/video of the newlyweds et all. It was steamy and we were all pretty much ready to continue the celebration so we soon headed inside. Dante and Val were announced by the DJ and then Mom and Kevin looking spectacular. I think they literally took everyone's breath away. They started with their first dance and the rest of the next few hours flew by as speeches were made, songs were played, old friends were hugged and a new, long-overdue life together was started.

Everything was not necessarily perfect (the DJ totally ignored the playlist that we spent hours on, the event coordinator got a little snippy) but it was really the reason why we were all there and the love that you could just feel that made the day one for the record books.

waeber wedding festivities

Before I forgot details, I want to write about how awesome Mom's wedding weekend was. The festivities started on Thursday - deemed girls day - and that it was! We did a private yoga sesh at Chrissy's in the morning followed by lunch. Mary (one of my mom's dearest friends) arrived in the afternoon. It was wonderful to see her and their reunion and for me that is when the emotional piece of everything kicked in. Mom and all of her girls - Ken, Val, me and Kara - plus Mary headed over for manis and pedis before we hit up The Cork. It was the perfect place to celebrate. People started arriving around 5 pm and for the next few hours we cheersed and relished in the amazing-ness of everything. Kara and I decided to take advantage of the wine specials like we have been known to do a time or two and as a result were a tad slow moving on Friday. So many of mom's peeps were there - it was great! Special thanks to Lynn for coming and for my new bff Karen and Mary for picking up the tab - you ladies are the best! Apparently, I thought it was my party -oy..I woke up with Makenna between Kara and I and our party dresses still on :) You know its been a good night when... ha

Friday we ran errands and tried to take care of last minute stuff. Mom and I headed to Snickerdoodles to pick up a hundy cupcakes. I asked her who she was most looking forward to seeing at the wedding - and she said Kevin! True love fo sho. It started down pouring. We witnessed a car totally lose control and do several 360s just ahead of us on 83. We went to get her ring cleaned - of course right then was when I heard from my future boss and we spoke details - and then made a mad dash to Loehman's for shoes (on clearance in my size - woohoo!). 6 o'clock snuck up on us and we made the crawl up York Road to the club. The sun came out and the view was pretty spectacular. It was just a small group of us - but it was perfect. We met Shaye and Kali who were in from Alaska. Willie practiced walking mom down the isle and said thank god for Kevin. Father Nick was the master of ceremonies and did a great job - he was funny and just knows mom and Kevin so well that it was tailored to them. Tears were definitely shed. You can't look at them and not feel love radiating...Soon it was time to head up the road to the house where the celebration continued with bbq, family and friends. To be continued....

my big news

I have the bad habit of sometimes reaching for my phone when my eyes are barely open and its way too early for anything exciting to have happened. To my surprise, this was very much not the case last Thursday. In my inbox was my much anticipated offer letter! O...M....G....I had almost thought that it wasn't coming and yet there it was bright and early and ready to greet me before I even got out of bed. After a day and a half or so of phone tag, my future boss and I finally connected on the way to mom's rehearsal dinner Friday evening. And so I went into the blissful weekend having most of my questions answered about my package, the company, etc. Fast forward to tonight, dad and I had just pulled up to where we finally decided to eat and my phone rings. Hope you are sitting down for this one. It looks like I will be starting at my new job two weeks from today! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! So after just about a year and a half of being on my own time, traveling and soaking people up -before the end of this very month I will be a working woman. Thrilled that I had the time that I did. So excited to start the next adventure with a company that I am super excited about. In awe really of how everything is playing out!

my last name

Growing up, I never gave much thought to my name. I always had it. It followed me around and I was used to being "KellyChoy" in a world with other Kellys I never realized it was even the slightest bit different that anyone else's. There were many in my classes with names like Jones/Brown/Smith. Maybe even at times I wished that I was one of them...but nowadays, I wouldn't change it one bit. I have found that it is a conversation starter, a surprise. People will expect to see someone that doesn't look anything like me and get me instead. I like the fact that my grandparents' parents are from places far away. I like that although my dad is one of four boys and had four daughters, it is something of his that he gave us.

hfd!

Happy Father's Day to all of the great dads out there... we wouldn't be who we are today without you. I missed seeing mine today. And to think, last year at this time we were in Barcelona still dealing with the shock of his stolen wallet and getting ready to embark on our European cruise. This year (oh wow, I am starting to really sound like my latest and greatest youtube obsession JohnRoberts who does the last year, this year and hey, happy new year bit) he and Joanne are cruising their way through Greece. I love my dad and our relationship. He gets me and is always looking out for me. I am thankful for all of the time that we get to spend together, the trips that we have taken and that I get to be his daughter.

I always think of Pop-pop today and how he shaped our family. He was truly an amazing person and I wish I could know him at this point in my life. I so loved his sense of humor and perspective. His life was by no means easy but he always put family first and made the time to tell you a crazy story/teach you how to parallel park/cheer you up. I miss him so.

It was a terrific weekend spent in Ocean City celebrating Kendall's 21st birthday. The fact of the matter is - we will never get this right. I have tried repeatedly in several countries now and it is never the thrown down that I imagine or that she deserves but practice makes perfect, right? So we hit BJs, Fagers, Seacrets and Fish Tales and got to sit on the beach and hang with lady baby and just be - one of my favorite things to do. My pictures turned out pretty fantastic if I do say so myself - is it too late to be a beach photographer? We hit the outlets and a lunch spot on the bay on our way home and got to have dinner "on campus" and catch up on our weekends. I can't help but think that everything is going my way - and it is damn good feeling. I should know more this week about what is going on work-wise but after talking to MM and RJ last week, I feel excited and about ready to do this! (Regardless of not knowing exactly what "this" is and where it would be) I know, finally, right?

"stuff happens"

I pretty much only have one job for the wedding - and that is to take care of the hotel room block. I thought that I had done this until we were spending a near perfect summer day at Chrissy's with Kate and little Lucy and the phone rang. Apparently one of Kevin's friends tried to reserve a room and was told that there was no group under that name. Ahhhhhhh! I panicked a bit and was able to get the girl on the phone that I had talked to about a month ago when we set all of this up - or I thought that we had. Needless to say, there was a bit of paperwork that followed, a few emails and now bada-bing we are all set and back in business - errr - in business :) I was telling my soon to be stepdad this later and his response: stuff happens. I had to actually take a step back and think about how right he is. There were a gazillion different ways that one could have responded to this and his way was just perfect and unexpected considering the circumstances. He is someone who has been through so much and seen things that I cannot imagine at such a young age. He was forced to grow up cruelly on the other side of the world while fighting in the Vietnam War. His stuff happens attitude and his overwhelming love and embracement of our family is mind-blowing. Stuff does happen - and its all about how we deal with it.

bad blogger

I have been so bad about blogging lately - I really need to step it up and hope to. No promises though.

The past week on recap backwards. Yesterday ended up being quite a perfect Sunday evening. It amazes me how small the world really is and how you can connect with someone at a certain time in a certain place and then get to reconnect across the country and its almost as if you just blinked and not that so much has changed and months have gone by. I got to hang in a different part of DC that I loved and even see some fire dancing that let's face it doesn't happen everyday. Or maybe it does and I just am not where it usually happens. Was able to return the favor and take Dad and Joanne to the airport for their European cruise...oh Europe. It has only been just over a week since I have been back and yet I could go back already :) Saturday was mom's bridal shower at this adorable tea house. It was such a fun and celebratory afternoon with some fabulous women who all mean so much to her. I love seeing her this happy. I love their story and I love that this time next month they will be married. I got to hang with Makenna who is eating baby food now and if its even possible just seems to get cuter and cuter. I am obsessed. I spent a few days last week at the beach which was rather last minute but so nice. I spent a lot of time by myself and got to catch up with Kristen, Shelly, Rick, Grace and Helen. In a few days we are headed back to OC to celebrate Kendall's birthday beach style!

scottish highlands

My Scotland trip has come and gone and while it was wonderful, it was so very different than what I expected! For starters, it was so crazy rainy. I did an amazingly poor job of packing and thought that the rain that I saw on the weather forecast actually meant nice, light, caribbean-like showers. Not so much. It down poured almost everyday. I guess this is the reason why the countryside is really so green and beautiful, but try telling my feet and body temperature that!

I did the Wild in Scotland 6 day tour because it included the Isle of Skye. There were 9 of us that started in Edinburgh and headed north to the highlands for sheep and hairy coo spotting :) (No puffins - I have no idea what this even is or looks like and so I didn't know what I was missing.) The places we drove, saw and stayed were extremely remote with waterfalls, standing stones and lochs all around. One of my favorite spots was the Isle of Harris where we stayed in thatched roof cottages and were introduced to Harris Tweed. Of course, I couldn't help dropping a few dozen pounds in the tweed store :) We weaved our way down The Golden Road which was the most expensive road to build in Europe because of the terrain and rock. Around every bend was another picture spot but with all of the twists and turns and the crazy way that the Scots drive, I was happy when we came to the other end of the island. We got to go scallop fishing in Plockton on a small fishing boat. The very best part of that was eating the live scallops and then enjoying some cooked right there with garlic and oil - not a bad mid-morning snack. I may have even learned a thing or two about myself and certainly more about different parts and cultures of the world on the communal, backpacking trip. Thankfully, it was a good group and I totally made everyone share their favorite part of the day...ha

Edinburgh was an adorable town and a nice contrast to the highlands. I spent days navigating the streets and people watching. I did note that no one seemed to be wearing flip flops like I was...hmmmmmm....I loved the views of the castle, Princes Gardens, the cathedral and all of the downtown spots that are hundreds of years old. I liked learning about the history of the town. I learned what stag parties are and how very seriously they are taken in the U.K. I also learned that sometimes the accents are so thick that it really could be a completely different language all together. When it was time to move on to Paris, I was sad to say good-bye to this patriotic and charming country that I had grown to love.

27 hours in nyc

You know you are in New York when you have three cups of coffee at three different places in just over three hours. Then you get to the bus stop line (where you have been telling people the bus really isn't that bad) and the buses are running over an hour late - and then the two bus coordinators start yelling at each other. Just another day, I suppose. I arrived in the city Thursday evening and was relatively proud of myself for finding the closest subway stop and hightailing it downtown - did I mention I passed the downtown signs several times, knew that I was going downtown and yet still kept searching for uptown...I made it though to the West Village area and was reunited with Meredith. We hit up this cute little neighborhood spot for dinner - Moustache (pronounced not at all like you would think), stopped for necessities at the corner store where we most definitely saw a mouse -ewwww, then hit up an adorable little gelato spot. My nerves had subsided a bit thankfully.

Today I got myself together and set off for Grand Central station to meet two very smart and funny guys and talk work stuff - we will see what happens from there! I for whatever reason decided it would be a good idea to just do some exploring and putz around in the rain in heels weaving through tourists and wet umbrellas. Ended up in a cute little cafe in Chelsea where I could rest my barking dogs and people watch. Then walked 14 blocks uptown to meet Heather! It was so good to see her - she is just coming off of her 30th birthday and the celebration in Vegas (so not my favorite place but I think that I am in the minority there). After I gave up on walking and rode the subway back to Todd and Meredith's/my NYC home.

In two days I leave for Scotland to join a 6 day backpackers tour which should be an interesting experience. I am challenging myself to not check any bags...so we will see how that goes. I am excited for the beauty that awaits and of course to meet up with Kendall and have a few days in Paris before we fly back to the states. I always think that each trip is going to be my last and am pleasantly surprised that I have managed to squeeze in a few more than expected :)

hmd!

Mother's Day morning...where would we be without our mothers? I cannot even begin to imagine.

My mom has taught me so much about everything that matters. She has given me more than I can list or recall. She says 'I was just thinking of you' whenever I call. She passed down what she learned about values and family and perspective from her own parents whom I love so dearly and so wish that I could spend time with. She relishes in the little things and never leaves the house without lipstick. She wraps me in blankets and constantly feds me and my soul. The greatest compliment that anyone can give me is to tell me that I am like her. This is happening more and more. The last time it did, it made me cry.

The first time her laughter unfurled its wings in the wind, we knew that the world would never be the same.

Last week little Lucy Anne was born in Oxford. My heart is so full and bursting with happiness for Kate, Phil and all of their extended families. What an exciting time for them! The pictures that I finally got to see a few days later which may have seemed more like months were absolutely breathtaking newborn photos. I cannot wait to meet my cousins first little bundle of joy.

Its been a great springlike week - or actually, maybe less like spring and more like 90% humidity but such is the east coast this time of year I suppose. Last week, Paul was in town and organized a happy hour in Baltimore. It was so great to see him and others and drink asian beers while catching up. I got to see Makenna and spend some time there which I always love. The happy hour trend continued the rest of the week whether it was at our favorite Glover Park hipster bar or old faithfuls down on Eye/I Street. Saturday I headed up to Gettysburg, PA by way of Petersburg....who knew....for TJ's last lacrosse game ever. Unfortunately, they lost but it was fun to be there with everyone. I spent the afternoon and into Easter Sunday late morning with mom and Kevin. We dyed eggs, spent some time cruising 83 and went to church. Their wedding day is soon approaching - less than 3 months! Mom found her perfect dress and I cannot wait for the celebration that will be! I swung by Kara's to take some photos of little miss and family in the yard. Seeing her all decked out in her Easter get-up just melted my heart - she was a trooper. We headed up to Frederick early afternoon and spent the day visiting and watching the kids find eggs out back and eating insane amounts of chocolate. I found out yesterday that the whole London thing is mostly likely not happening. I am disappointed. That is really the only good word that I can think of to describe how I feel. The visa process is just too complicated and the company is not yet set up for it and so we are going to explore some other options in the states and go from there. So...it has been a little bit of a shift in way of thinking since I already had one foot there and the other here but I know that there is a reason for everything and so right now this move is not in the cards for me - and I think that I am okay with that. Not exactly sure where that leaves me at the moment but that will come too :)

Watching planes fly in on the roof top before the girls come over for book club. Also, totally procrastinating finishing packing. Headed to NYC tomorrow for Meredith's wedding! I am so excited and know that it will be an absolute blast...going to squeeze in an afternoon on Long Island and maybe some work stuff afterwards...good times to be had by all! Congrats to MVT and Todd :)

passover

April 18, 2011

What are the things that you would do it it were not for fear? Where would you go? What might you dabble in and discover that you love? I just started a book on this and it is intriguing and makes me wish that I would have read it years ago - perhaps when I was a teenager even. The author states that for women to take their rightful place in society, they must become fearless. Sign me up! I must work on silencing my inner worry wart and instead step fearlessly into the great, big, beautiful world.

I spent the past few days in and around San Francisco. It was a pretty last minute trip - I had a free flight and decided to take advantage before things get nutty and everyday is not a weekend day. And so I arrived at Oakland airport and was able to visit with Aunt Marguerite and Uncle Bud for a bit before training downtown. I went into the sf aol office for the first time in about a year and it was great to see everyone. Its amazing that although things felt familiar, a lot has changed in the past 12 months. I thought briefly about all of the countries that I have visited and what I had seen in my travels and how I very easily could have still been sitting there at my old desk working on something seemingly important. Christina and I completely indulged. This is a word that I am working on becoming more comfortable with. I actually don’t think of myself or my behavior as indulgent, but I am not so sure that others would agree. Truth be told, I don’t care too much or shouldn’t care too much what others think but that is something else that I am working on ;) We did a lot of waiting to get into places - but each one was totally worth it. I finally got to try Mama’s on Washington Square which I have been hearing about for years ...it lived up to its hype. I won’t soon forget our brunch there, wine tasting, soaking up the sunshine, people watching, shopping in the haight, the daily entertainment that is the bus, catching up with friends that used to be a regular part of my every day and now we don’t see each other often enough.

It was a really early morning...in fact, I arrived at the airport before it was open which is a first for me! I hope that I can rally this evening for our first Seder dinner at Val’s. Crazy to me that Easter is this coming weekend, then Meredith’s wedding in nyc!

Scored an exit row seat on my flight from Phoenix to Baltimore. This combined with my computer, book, jams and random assortment of snacks makes these couple of hours on an east bound aircraft fly ;)

safari insert

March 28, 2011 - safari

Today was our extend safari! Eljane took us around the reserve for almost six hours. We were on the “road” at 6:30 am and it was quite chilly but thankfully no rain and a beautiful start to the day. (Why is it that we only enjoy the things like the morning sky on days when we are out of our element?) We rode for miles scanning the long grass and hills for any movement. Our first spotting were a tower of giraffe! Also called a journey of giraffe...these guys were near the same bend in the road as we had seen them yesterday and are just so graceful. We sat and watched them chew and turn their heads to see what we were up to - apparently, they are curious animals and somehow almost blend in the bush. We crossed into a different part of Pilansberg reserve that we hadn’t been to before and it was very misty at first and hard to see very far. Soon enough, we turned onto a sort of main path and to our left was about 8 elephant! They were tearing the trees down and eating them. There were several babies - we sat for about twently minutes watching them. Several got pretty close to the road and we were able to get some great shots of them walking with their floppy ears and swaying trunks. I was torn about viewing everything through my lens or in real life. To our right were several rhino but they were not nearly as interesting or magnificant as the elephant. They communicate in low tones that humans cannot hear and feel vibrations through their feet. Another jeep totally manuevered closer and even blocked our views at some point which we were annoyed about. After continuing further down the path, we saw a herd of zebra and wildebeast and they were close enough for us to get some awesome photos. The zebras probably photographed best of all of the animals making them among my favorite! We drove down to a pond and heard two hippos although they did not fully get pit of the water and so most of my shots were attempts at the very tops of their heads. We had breakfast there - tailgate style - yogurt, cereal, tea and muffins before continuing on. Its amazing how just sitting and watching can make you hungry...The nests and spider webs and splashes of colors from flowers was all very pretty and I am still amazed by how well the animals are able to blend in with the lushness that surrounds them. We were lucky to see all that we did and are now back at our deserted lodge soaking up some of the last bit of African sun before we head out tomorrow. . .

SO we were just laying out this afternoon when we hear from our guides that a lion was spotted just down the road, hurry, come quick if you want to see it. We quickly grabbed out cover-ups and went as we were. Luckily I had my little digital camera (although of course the battery was almost completely exhausted). We jumped in the back of the jeep and off we go racing faster than we thought possible. Sean was driving and Eljane was seated next to him and we could tell they were really excited. Not very far at all down the road we see another jeep stopped and sure enough there us a lion sitting to the right very still and patiently just watching and waiting. And then to the left we see two more waiting to see what the other was going to do - it was 3 pm in the afternoon and a very odd time to spot these big 5 animals. They were youngish males and one female and practicing their hunting skills according to our guides that high fived each other. The one crossed the road very slowly and gracefully showing us just how muscular he is. Of course I only got 4 photos before my camera died but they whole experience was crazy. I could not believe we were so close to them! And Jen was so excited because she had not stopped talking about the lions since we had arrived.

Great day!

city vs. country

The past week has been a blur of getting back to reality. figuring out this whole England thing. celebrations, appointments, etc. I think I am no longer jet lagged (yay!) but am having a hard time with not being somewhere as beautiful as South Africa with wonderfully elaborate breakfasts prepared for me and everyone saying it's my pleasure... so now I am getting used to wearing layers a bit and not having to convert into Rand.

Yesterday I headed east and am now at Shelly and Rick's. Its been fun to spend time with them and Grace and get ready for the weekend festivities - Mer's bachelorette party kicks off in just a few hours. Last night after dinner we drove down to oc where we checked out the beach house. This place holds such a great memories for me. It smells so familiar and I can hardly believe it has been years since I set foot inside. Our next stop was King Kone - Shel and Rick bought it this past fall and its now open weekends. How perfect for Grace - oh yeah, and me as I got to chow down on several scoops. At this point, I think we are in pretty good shape for the girls to arrive and the celebratory weekend to begin. Todd's answers to my questions were super cute and made me think that they are even more perfect for each other than I already thought that they were. It will be so fun to all be at the beach house and together for the first time in eons!

Now I have always considered myself both a country and city girl. I like to think that I blend in with my surroundings and am uber flexible. This afternoon I found out that just maybe this is not the case! We went to Bed, Bath and Beyond in Salisbury - #1, I could have bought much of the store and I don't even have a place, #2 - I could not believe how slow the check out process was. I realized how impatient I can be and although that is not the most favorite of my qualities, I sometimes cannot help it. So just maybe, I have evolved into more of a city girl than I realized. I mean I am not a fan of the traffic and the congestion but sometimes the customer service aspect and just being able to have whatever you want at your finger tips is nice. And I guess if you look at where I have been the last few years - first Baltimore, then San Francisco, now DC and soon to be London- it is not all that surprising.

Crabs might be in my immediate future!

thoughts while in sa

You sitting down for this one? At this very moment Jen and I are at our private game reserve lodge far away from anything familiar or civilized and we have the entire place to ourselves! It is very funny and kind of crazy…we arrived mid-day yesterday to be greeted by the staff with goblets of peach iced tea and a waiver to sign – ha. We went out on our first game drive Saturday not really sure what to expect. In our jeep was our guide Shawn, 4 women from South Africa and a 3 and a half year old that was a trooper and what a cool experience for a child! We spotted black rhino, wildebeest, kudu, impala, etc. and watched the sunset somewhere out in the bush with only nature surrounding us for as far as the eye can see – and beyond. We were able to get out again this morning at 6 am before the rain started dumping buckets from the sky but not before we saw buffalo and a giraffe up close which was absolutely incredible and we have the pictures to prove it! Today we answered the question of what would you do if you were out in the middle of no where with no one around and no money and couldn’t leave the lodge grounds because of whatever might be out there and it is pouring down rain – I guess that is really what vacation is all about. The answer to this question was eat, sleep, read and make the best out of it and this is just what we did. We napped and read (lets put it this way I have already started and finished a book and it is now only early evening) and had lunch served in the main lodge and hours later the rain stopped and the sun came out but not before our afternoon drive was cancelled – here is hoping that we are able to get back out there tomorrow to see some lion, hippos and elephants! So now we are sitting out on our loungers by the pool without a soul around fighting off the bugs and listening to whatever random song comes up next on my ipod mixed with the sounds of birds.

Cape Town- aahhhhh, how I love thee. We had the most amazing time there from our first few days of wine tasting in Stellenbosch (oh and celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with the university students) to our last unbelievable day of hiking Table Mountain, chilling on Clifton beach and then stumbling upon La Med on the list for sun downers J The pictures that we have are ridiculous, the vastness and beauty that we saw each day was indescribable and the memories made – unforgettable. It was truly a wonderful vacation and I am so glad that we are right here where we are all relaxed and covered in bug spray and sun block after having seen such places as Cape Point, Camps Bay and Robben Island. I truly do feel that I might cry when I have to get on a plane in a few days not because of the long plane ride that is ahead but to leave somewhere like this behind. The sky has never looked so blue or sprawling, the clouds haven’t appeared as beautiful, the local spots we discovered in Kalk Bay still seem made up, I have never stood somewhere like on the cliffs of Cape of Good Hope and not seen anyone around and seen clearly where the mountains meet the sea. It’s hard for me to put this all into words. We spent a few hours in a township that one and a half million people call home. Tin shacks are everywhere and the children line up at school to get a spoonful of soup. It was a similar experience to the one that I had this winter in Siem Reap. I literally had to be pulled out of the roomful of kids with their big, brown eyes and little hands.

I love so much about this part of the world. Hope to come back again sometime soon already and really think there no where else that I would rather be at this very minute.

south africa bound!

Well my bag is almost finally packed - seriously. why doesn't this get easier? And tomorrow night at this time we will be somewhere over the ocean on our way to AFRICA! Who would have thunk it?! I cannot believe that I have gotten to most of the continents this past year...what a dream. So Jen and I are headed to the Winelands for the first few nights to taste South African vino and then off to Cape town before heading north for a 3 night safari - should be interesting! I am getting excited for the upcoming adventures and beaches.

Had such a fun and exhausting weekend with Heather...loved hopping from spot to spot and celebrating St Patrick's Day. It never, ever is dull and was so great to catch up with her.

Some of my favorite hours this week happened when Kara put Makenna in bed with me Monday morning. She is so sweet and makes little bull dog noises and I could just eat her up. We did a 3 month photo shoot and the pictures turned out so freaking cute.

Some things I do not how to respond to or what to say to make anything better. My heart hurts when hearing about loss and I need to have faith in the fact that everything works out for a reason. But I cannot help but be sad at what might have been.

Until April, one more country down!

We wander for distraction, but we travel for fulfillment. ~Hilaire Belloc

Like all great travellers, I have seen more than I remember, and remember more than I have seen. ~Benjamin Disraeli

catching up/ the haps

The first week of this month was a complete and utter whirlwind. Let’s just say things completely have a way of working out exactly as they should.

It has been 14 months since I have worked, 13 months since I have worn a bra, 12 months since I jumped out of a plane, 11 months since I packed up and moved back to the east coast.

This time last year I had never been to England - now it seems that I will be moving there in the next few months.

It is a dream opportunity for me and will allow me to continue to travel. I never imagined that things would play out as beautifully as they are - I am incredibly lucky and grateful. I know that there is an amazing road ahead and I simply cannot wait to see where it leads!

This past weekend we all headed to Berkeley Springs, West Virginia for dad’s 60th birthday. It was a lot of fun - hiking, exploring, hanging out by the fire pit, swaying in the hammock, playing with the kids, grilling out...lots of family time in this cute house out in the middle of nowhere. We were so far removed that I had no access to email or the internet for days which isn’t the worst thing but gee wiz am I fairly addicted. The wine tasting on Saturday night was so fun. I must admit that I enjoyed my time in the great outdoors and know that dad did too. Tonight I am staying for the first time overnight in the house that I grew up in. That I haven’t stepped foot in for several years but holds so many memories. For 20 + years this was home and now Kara, Brian and Makenna are almost all moved in and getting settled. I love when life comes full circle like that.

looking forward, looking back

I am blown away by the fact that at any given minute something life altering can happen to each and every one of us. Sometimes this is something we never see coming and leaves us sadder than we ever thought possible. But there are other times that you just want to pinch yourself. I am having one of those days. Something was brought up to me out of the blue several weeks ago and ever since then I have been wondering - could this possibly be? Its a great feeling to know that the precious time that I have had - delicious moments spent with family and friends and strangers alike and moments where I stepped out of my comfort zone or did something that I never expected I would - were all exactly as they should be and so very worth it and just maybe I can pick up where I left off career wise. Uh - so this week there will be no skipping out of class. I need answers! thoughts! opinions! Please inquire within.

Last night was a walk down memory lane. I decided to go through hundreds of photos that have been in boxes for years. This was a bigger project than I realized and confirmed several things:

1) I have always loved taking photos - this is not a new thing

2) I am certainly somewhat of a hoarder and need to work on that

3) I've had some really wonderful times and my hair has most certainly turned browner as I have gotten older

I loved looking back at shots of my family through the years, seeing everyone gathered and smiling and sporting whatever haircut they thought was in at the time...

I loved seeing photos of when I was in college and met my life-long friends and all of the nights out and trips and fun that has been had over the years.

I want to do something with the travel photos that I have taken this year so that I can just as easily pour over them and be taken back to a different time and place.

May your days be many and your troubles be few. May all God's blessings descend upon you. May peace be within you may your heart be strong. May you find what you're seeking wherever you roam.

new, addicting purchase

I have been wanting the iphone for some time - to put it mildly. Trying not to salivate when I see them all over the place and all that it is capable of doing. Yesterday was the day that I gave in. After a really fun Friday night spent partially at the Capitals game - I know, I know - I am such the hockey girl, I decided there is no time like the present and to just do it. Spent two hours in the verizon store (no really, a guy asked me if I work there because I had been so long) and left with my contacts fully loaded and ready to explore the new app world! The things that I can do and have access to instantly is just ridiculous. Makes me wonder why I held out as long as I did. Definitely takes some getting used to and I wasn't loving it this morning considering I cannot figure out how to silence the thing so it woke me up bright and early but I am still in love with it. Spent last night hanging with little miss thing and one of my last nights in the Canton house. I will miss this place and all of the awesome memories it holds.

Gotta go continue geeking out...

lucky

I've been missing my sf peeps and lifestyle lately. The farmers market, countless new spots for me to check out - even the bus. Might have to plan a trip out west before I go doing anything crazy like becoming more settled....wherever in the world that might be.

I love friendly people and think that life is too short to be anything but. I want to live my life a certain way - to put good stuff out there and connect with those that I come in contact with in the most random ways. I want to feel free to do what I want when I want and with people that I love and find interesting. Even with no obligations, I sometimes have a hard time doing this 100% the way that I want to. Not sure if that even makes sense.

This week marks one year since we found Val! Its gone by so very quickly. I cannot believe it still and we are all gathering on Sunday for our anniversary :)

I might bow out gracefully (who am I kidding? I do little to nothing gracefully) from my Wednesday weekly job seeker meetings. I really like the people that are in the group so its kind of a bummer but let's face it: I don't do the homework that I should be doing and think that my life is going in a different and beautiful direction.

Lately I have been feeling so lucky! Thats the best word to describe this overwhelming sense of love and contentment and peace. I feel so fortunate to have done everything that I have thus far, to have made the connections that I have, to have been the ridiculously fun and non-conventional family that I do, to be open to new possibilities and be part hippie, to stumble upon some of the things that I have...life just amazes me.

friends of the family

Last week there were a number of things that happened that made me think about how precious life is. Who we choose to spend it with and how we are all connected in ways that sometimes blow my mind are all pretty amazing.

For decades, the Wyatt's have been in my life. They were always a huge part of my summer vacations and time in college. I am treated like I am one of them and although I don't get to see them as much as I used to, I love knowing that whenever we do get together it is just like picking up where we left off.

I found out that Steve's parents died within two days of each other. I realize that this is a blessing - they had been together for 63 + years and it would have been incredibly hard for the one to survive without the other. Not only that, but his dad had just been diagnosed with cancer and was getting ready to go through chemo and he did not have to undergo this treatment because he went naturally just days before his wife. The hardest part is the grief of the family - I cannot imagine losing two people that mean so much to me so close in time. My heart went out to them. I kept thinking back to Bobbie's funeral this summer when Steve was introducing me to his brother and said: "this is Kelly, she is a really close friend of the family. But she is more like family." And that is just how I feel about them.

And so Thursday, I set out with my camera, my zagat guide and my check card to St. Michaels - somewhere I have never been before but always wanted to go. I spent the afternoon wandering around, taking photos, eating oysters, sampling wine at local winery and relishing in the gorgeous spring-like day. I spent the evening in Easton with the Keefe's and we had a great time catching up before I headed down to Salisbury for the service the next morning. I saw Dana and Lynn as soon as I entered the church. I was so glad that I was able to be there and instantly felt at home as soon as I was with them. I hope that the family finds strength in this difficult time. Grief was described as an ocean where the waves continue to crash and every so often, one can knock you over.

She said she usually cried at least once each day not because she was sad, but because the world was so beautiful & life was so short.

I 'm back

February 13, 2011

I am back stateside after a freezing but wonderful few weeks in Europe. Kendall and I did a lot of running around, ate our way through every city that we visited and tried to see as much as we could while popping in and out of cafes.

Highlights included hanging with my travel buddies and soul mates in Cologne, sigma sigma uhhhhh, gingers on the loose in amsterdam and every city there after, traipsing through the streets in search of joes, lattes and the perfect spot to dine, sipping frothy belgium beer, snails...and so much more! It really was a great few weeks - and I have almost a thousand or so photos to prove it.

Lowlights were almost getting separated by the metro in Paris, walking in circles a time or two, williamena’s knee, tartare de beouf and paper thin walls- ha.

It was hard to say goodbye to her just one week ago today in the Paris train station and know that it will be a few months before we are reunited - either here or there :) After missing my train to London and temporarily losing my passport, I finally made it to the UK. Getting to spend a few days in Oxford with Kate and Phil was awesome. I wish that I had more time there to mosey down the streets peering in door ways that lead to little hidden gems of courtyards and clusters of colleges. The next time that I see them they will have a sweet little girl that I cannot wait to meet.

I can honestly say that everything happens for a reason. I was blown away by my last night in London. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world and literally was singing in the rain on the streets the next morning before having to tube to Heathrow to fly back to my loved ones and all things familiar at home.

bonjour

Kendall and I have spent the last few days in Paris - and wow. I was not expecting to love this city as much as I almost instantly did. Well, maybe not instantly considering we were frozen in the middle of the train station with a flurry of activity around us really not knowing which was way was up. We are staying in the 12th district right near the gare de lyon station in what is most definitely the most orange room that I have ever been in. It is seriously so bright and Kendall says it matches her hair which isn't completely accurate but it is not entirely wrong either:) So we have been trying to see all that we can - and really there is just so much. Every time I turn around there is another picture spot whether it is over the Seine River or of a 1,000 places to see before you die spot like the Notre Dame Cathedral. And the food! Absolutely as good if not better than I imagined. We have had delicious meals in local places where we have left warm, full and happy. Some streets may be hard to walk on, you could not pay me to drive here, the metro and bus system are confusing and I don't understand what people are saying or know how to properly pronounce anything and yet still I am very much captivated by the city of light and already cannot wait to come by sometime soon (if its in the cards which I am hoping that it will be in June to pick up little ginger louise).
Our train tickets to different destinations are beside me. Tomorrow Kendall starts her semester in Dijon and I am so excited for her and all that these next few months will hold! I am off to England for a few days. First to get to spend some time with Kate and Phil in Oxford and then London which I am excited to see. It is looking like I will get to see S in just a few, short days - ahhhh!

amsterdam

had planned on staying only 2 nights in this beautiful city - but it simply would not have been enough! kendall and i arrived bright and early tuesday morning weighed down with all of our luggage in the middle of rush hour @ centraal station. good times. there is something almost magical about this part of the world. people are laid back, the streets are cobblestone and there are endless canals, the buildings are gorgeous, the shopping plentiful and the food and beer are superb and just beg to be sampled.
staying @ consious vondelpark which is a new, green hotel right on the tram line. here our suitcases have exploded and we are able to deal with the jet lag or rather the not sleeping on the plane (seriously, i used to be so good at this not sure what is going on now). we have done a canal tour, toured the anne frank haus, sipped lattes, celebrated kendall's birthday and tried to absorb as much of the culture and surroundings as we possibly could. speaking of...going to get going - want to fit as much in today as we can.
the gingers move on to near the rhine river in germany tomorrow afternoon to collide worlds with travel friends. what a trip so far...xo

stuff and travel itinerary

Why do I have such a hard time getting rid of stuff? Whether it be digital photos that are already downloaded, text messages, ticket stubs and all sorts of paper - I tend to hold on tight for as long as possible. I don't know what I expect to do with this stuff or why it is all so meaningful to me and difficult to just hit delete...but it is. Current state: I have over 30,000 emails in my inbox (ridiculous) , my text messages are 99% full (of what?) and I just spent the past 30 minutes going through to try to determine which photos I can live without seeing on my camera screen. I seriously have problems! The paper hoarding - or whatever you want to call it - is over the top. I am sure there are boxes of receipts, cards, mementos in most drawers that I have and that just seem to multiply endlessly.

Tomorrow at this time, Kendall and I will be trying to catch some shut eye on the plane in preparation for the start of our European holiday. I am tickled pink that we get this time together. I love that I have had the past year to come and go as I please and take advantage of opportunities like that. I am beyond blessed for the two sets of parents that I have: Dad for pouring over hotels for hours and trying to figure out the best ones for us, Joanne for always encouraging me to take the next trip and helping me pack, Kevin for making this trip happen and Mom for all of her support and running around.

The agenda looks like this: Amsterdam our first two nights, train to Cologne to stay for three nights with Markus, spending a few nights at a hostel in Brussels, and end our time together in Paris. From there Ken will go on to meet her French host family in Dijon and I will chunnel over to the UK. I hope to write and reflect and soak every delicious minute up.

"Some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle or end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best out of it without knowing without knowing what is going to happen next, delicious ambiguity." Gilda Redner

vertigo and the power of an email

I am not sure when it started...maybe sometime in the past 2 years or so...but vertigo certainly does take its toll on me. Usually it is some inopportune time like when I am griping on for dear life descending on the escalator at Dupont Circle metro (one of the longest I have ever encountered!) or when I am walking down the steep, skinny, make-shift steps of an ancient ruin in the jungles of Cambodia. In any case, it sinks its teeth into me and makes me feel like I am going to tumble at any moment. Weird, right?

Lately, I have been reminded of how even the briefest email can trigger all types of emotions. Whether it is from someone that you met when least expected to and one of the only things that you had in common was the English language - and even that was debatable, or it was from someone that you hadn't heard from in eons...it can be a very strong and emotion-provoking medium.

Took Kendall to get her visa yesterday so it looks like it is all a go! We are leaving in 5 short days and I have even started packing a little bit which is way ahead of the game as far as I am concerned.

Still need to figure out which direction my life is going to go once I return to the states ...time for another trip? Time to get serious about finding a job that I love? Time to visit some friends in other parts of the country that I haven't seen in a while? Time to go through stuff and try to clear the clutter that doesn't seem to be going away on its own...options and the unknown can be a beautiful thing.

"Sometimes you are aware when your great moments are happening, and sometimes they rise from the past. Perhaps it is the same with people."

good friends

Spent the past few days on the eastern shore with great friends that I don't get to see enough of but love our relationship and popping into their world for a bit whenever I can.

First I did something that I have not in a long time. I went shopping. Wasn't really planning on finding anything spectacular but was pleasantly reminder how many great deals are at the outlets and much was too good to pass up. So I picked a few things up for my winter european galavant (leave in 9 days!), bought pajamas for some of my favorite kids and even found a winter coat on sale for under $20 for K - all in maybe an hours time. I stopped by the Keefe's in Easton to spend the afternoon drinking hot tea on their couch and catching up on all that has been going on since the holidays. Swear that they have a busier social calendar than me! Love getting their perspective on things. I made the mistake of following the gps to take the back roads with Rick and Shelly's and knew I was in trouble when it announced that I had arrived at my destination and I was in the middle of no where. Awesome. We had two great and full days together - marveling at Grace who turns two in a week and is just as sweet as can be, jamming to Cee Lo Green and Annie tunes, popping in and out of stores in Rehobeth, eating, drinking coffee, catching up, figuring out the future and soaking each other up. It was hard for me to leave them last night after dinner to drive back to the other side of the bridge. Soon after I got back to DC, Jen came over and we stayed up talking and trip planning until wee hours. She had an interesting proposal that I cannot stop thinking about and it is amazing how truly addicting travel is. I am lucky to have the people in my life that I do whether I went to college with them and they can tell me things that I have forgotten or I have been lucky enough to meet them through my sisters or other friends. they are all beautiful people that add so much joy to my every day.

"The trick of it is to be courageous and bold and make a difference. Not change the world exactly, just the bit around you. Go out there with your double fist, your passion and work hard at...something. Change lives through art maybe. Write beautifully. Cherish your friends, stay true to your principles, live passionately and fully and well. Experience new things. Love and be loved if at all possible. Eat sensibly. Stuff like that."

quote obsession and snow day

I realized recently how much I love quotes. Whether it is something that I come across when reading a book, a certain lyric in a song or what someone says that sticks with me - I just want to compile them all and have them in this endless treasure chest of things that speak to me. Came across "people don't take trips, trips take people" and so believe that to be the case.

I finished my first book* [One Day, highly recommend and quotes to come] on my new kindle! I must admit, it has become somewhat of a staple in my purse. I love being able to have it with me wherever I go and whip it out when and wherever. I read on the D2 bus, at endless coffee shops, in the car, at the store - borderline crazy - I do realize this.

It's been an interesting week. I decided about this time last week that I want to stay in the same ever-changing and muy interesante industry. It was literally as if suddenly a bulb went off and I was like - oh, yes, this is right. I am feeling better about where I am going and what I will be doing career-wise than I have in quite some time.

The first snow fall of the year started tonight. Of course it was way hyped up with counties closing schools early and everyone expecting the snow to fall at any minute. It is pretty to look out and see the trees lined with a sparkling white frost. Its almost as if time freezes for a bit and things just stay quiet and peaceful and just as they are. (That all being said, I hope that it is all gone by tomorrow and doesn't interfere with any plans/traffic/or the roads but that seems highly unlikely) and so I will sit back and relish in the fact that there is no where that I have to be and that these are some of the best days of my life.

"If you hold onto the handle, she said, it's easier to maintain the illusion of self control. But its more fun if you just let the wind carry you"

the start of a new decade...

The new year is here - and with that a new decade. Many possibilities, celebrations, get togethers and a future that I cannot yet imagine awaits.

2011 rang in fairly quietly (or maybe there was a reason that I hardly noticed...) I spent it in Georgetown and headed to Old Town Alexandria on the 1st for Kristen and Bob's football party. Great friends, good food, a plethora of games and cocktails - not a bad way to start the year. The next day I headed up to Baltimore and spent the afternoon marveling at my niece. I got to see Suzy, Bill and Colleen who has gotten so big and is just presh. Afterward, I met up with a certain someone whom I had not seen since the summer of 1996 and had the biggest crush on in high school. We had a great time attempting to summarize the last 12 years - no wait, I am so horrible at math 15 YEARS oh my! - of our lives that have gone in very different directions. I was not ready for the night to end. Hung with K, B and M that night and got to spend some quality time with Makenna when we both should have been sleeping. She loves her some night hours though - as soon as it is dark and quiet, her eyes open big. We were dealing with some French Embassy visa yesterday and today and hopefully it will be in Kendall's hot little hands very soon so we can all take a deep breath. 3 more weeks until we leave for our European adventure! I am having to choose between the lesser of several evils for a lot of these hotels/hostels... forgot how much fun and stressful trip planning can be. I know that it will be great though and can just picture us gingers frolicking in squares and indulging in cafes.

I have been blogging now for two + years. I am doubling my posts from the previous year by the looks of things. Maybe this year I will write even more...

Sometimes I feel too much to a fault. I want to do great things and for everyone to feel loved, be happy, warm, kind to one another. I want to make a difference in big and small ways; to be and spread sunshine.

“Let your light shine. Be a source of strength and courage. Share your wisdom. Radiate love.” – Wilferd Peterson