moon watching!

A few days ago was Paige's gender reveal party. I was sad to miss it but was able to get out of work early and head up to Eldersburg to be there for the celebration. It took two hours in traffic but was worth it. She's having a little girl come November! I'm so excited to meet her and have another little one in the family. The moon was ridiculously bright, round, high in the sky and beautiful. After most people had trickled out, we sat outside around the fire pit and listened to the fireworks in the distance and I realized that this is the stuff that summer nights are made of and it felt really good to have one.
Saturday night the moon was equally beautiful and after a long day on Locksley Estate, I headed east. It was so great to see Dan - per the usual. I had a new mix CD waiting!  We went to Sam's Waterfront with what seemed like the rest of Annapolis. Eventually we sat outside on the dock right where the boats come in and soaked each other up as well as some dinner and cocktails. It was tough to leave in the rain on Sunday... last night after work, I headed west (I guess its west?). Through rolling countryside and stretches of highway to Winchester to spend the night with Bubi who turned 88 this weekend. She was sitting on the deck when I arrived positioned to watch the moon rise. We ended up in front of the garden bonfire, eating roasted marsh mellows and fruit and watching the moon rise before our eyes. It was very cool to see it partially covered by clouds and then light up the whole sky. Being there reminded me of going to camp many, many years ago.
Bubi shared this with me that she learned when she was in Campfire Girls
I sees the moon
The moon sees me
The moon sees the one that I'd love to see
God bless the moon
God bless me
God bless the one that I'd love to see

breathing...

It will be so very interesting to see what the next few months will bring. Where I will end up from a job perspective and where I will ultimately live... I've been pretty excited about some of the conversations that I've had recently about different jobs - the possibilities are endless and I feel that soon I will find something that truly suits and feeds me not to mention will help me change the rather frugal and vagabondish way that I have been living. 

Time truly flies by. Somehow school is out - and even though that hasn't directly impacted me for some time, I can feel the energy and buzz in the air. Happy for teachers to be done for the next few months and be able to enjoy the summer. They are saints. Kids are everywhere. In the grocery stores. Around town. In starbucks (where I am this very minute. Such a love/hate relationship that I have with this place. Love having a gift card and knowing that regardless of where I am, I can get the same thing. Hate that there a fewer mom and pop coffee shops) Out and about in full effect. Apparently, I am not wanting to write in full sentences today either...weird. 

My Bubi turns 88 this week! Unbelievable. I am planning on spending the night with her Sunday night - in the midst of a 5 days in a row of working at the winery. 

So about this breathing thing --Dan came with me to Michele's rainy, Thursday night yoga class last week. All I have ever really wanted was to be with someone that would stuff like this with me - certainly realize how crazy lucky I am more than just a few times a day! We learned this very cool way to calm and energize through breathing. I can't keep this straight but thought it was totally worth sharing and hope to remember it. 

Breathing through left side (seal right) calms and cools
Right side energizes

Blessed am I to have so many wonderful people in my life that add so much goodness. 

no good excuses for not writing lately...

A week and a half ago, I found out that a close family friend died. I still don't think that this has completely sunk in... he was laughter and life and stood for all things good. He married his high school sweetheart and became a sheriff. He knew how to make a room laugh and was a wonderful father and friend. Truth be told, he was the president of my fan club. The last time I saw him was last summer and I won't soon forget our conversations or his goodheartedness. Perhaps these are reminders of the type of life I should be living, with no regrets and to live each day like it is your last. To love completely and to put your emotions or things that you want to say right out there where they belong. 

Summer is here and has been rolling right along complete with spider bites, mosquito bumps, snake sightings and learning to take this all with a grain of salt. And yes, I have become that girl who now wears boots and long pants in the middle of summer on the farm. 

The weekend before this past was truly awesome. I got to spend time with Derek and Jessica who were in from LA. It was so nice to soak them up and catch up on the past couple of months - or in some cases years. I also got to introduce them to Dan. We all spent Sunday early evening drinking prosecco on the front porch watching the rain...my happy place. Mind you, this was between his mom's retirement brunch in Edgewater, Colin's benefit gig at Diamondback Tavern and before a bison feast with Kara and Brian. I don't get very many weekend days off so we were doing our best to squeeze in as much as possible. 

Recently, I've been able to see Julia who is going to be an aunt! There is absolutely nothing like it. I melt every time I am around Makenna, Morgan and Carter. And last night Carl and Shiv were in town from London and I took them around Fells Point a bit. I had almost forgotten how much I love the British accents, their different perspective and funny words -- like lush, swish and munch. Now if only I can use them properly. 

I'm itching to go somewhere. It has been a while. I was thinking that we would get out to the west coast this summer and was very much looking forward to that but not sure now if it is in the cards. 

I am open. And oh so happy.