a heavy heart on this frigid day

It seems that every time I've been looking at my email the past 24 hours, I've been seeing such sad news that hits way too close to home. Yesterday, I was visiting a few accounts in Baltimore County and I happened to see a newsflash from the Baltimore Sun reporting that a former aide was found dead. His family found him in their basement home in the town that we grew up in. We had gone to middle school together, our families were friends. Our lives went in completely different directions. I hadn't seen him in many years. I hadn't thought about him recently until his name was all over the news last month. But now, I am heart-broken for everyone involved in this whole thing and so very sad that it came to this. 

Today there was a shooting at the mall in Columbia. 3 people - including the shooter - are dead. I cannot wrap my head around this. I don't really care who it was or why. I just am so saddened by this violence and all of the people that were impacted. One of Kendall's friends was working at the mall when it all happened. There were hundreds of innocent people there including many children. I am afraid for future generations. There seems to be an anger, a lack of caring, a lack of love and respect toward other people that I do not understand. It makes me want to hold on tighter and longer. 

snow-day

Snow is falling and has been for the last 7 hours or so. It is beautiful and peaceful as long as you don't have to be out in it. This morning I was thinking of what a snow day meant as a child --- sleeping in maybe, sledding, eating snow, red noses and being so bundled up. Now it means runs to the grocery store with what feels like everyone else and apparently in Canton it means hitting the gym. I had not yet seen it so crowded as when I was there earlier this morning. I love watching the water and being so close to it. The stillness of it and the calm this time of year. Before we know it, it will become a bustling water way. And so earlier today, I threw together some chili and its been slow cooking in the crock pot ever since. I waited for my roommates to walk through the door ---which they did soon after. It has been a comfy, cozy, low-key, lovely snow day.

We booked our west coast adventure for early June! 11 days in the bay area and I am so looking forward to it.

"Home is where we should all be."

a new year

2014 is here --- and with it comes a lot of changes for me. All good stuff, thankfully! I am now a working woman again. I am doing sales for Knob Hall Winery as of last week and am liking it so far. Its a completely different gig than anything that I've done before. I like setting my own hours and the education and commission piece of it. Most people are receptive and although there will be some weekend and evening work, it won't be anything like I was doing last year. I'm in the process now of familiarizing myself with the territory and accounts.

I also had a meeting earlier this week that could truly be life changing from a financial and career standpoint. There was a company that I heard about months ago and we have stayed in touch since then. After much email and back and forth, I was offered a position and signed on as an agent. I am hopeful that I can manage and excel at both positions simultaneously - fingers crossed.

Also, as of a few days before the clock struck twelve closing the books on 2013, I am now a Baltimore City girl again! It feels really good to be back. Last month, Dan and I found this cute little, very reasonable apartment located in Brewers Hill and we signed the lease less than 24 hours later. I love being able to walk to cool restaurants and bars and getting to see him everyday :) Kendall moved into the second bedroom and so it's the three of us navigating the city and trying to take advantage of all that it has to offer.

Dan's holiday party was last weekend at the Museum of Industry and we had such a great time! We've need hosting people occasionally now that we have our own space and thats been fun. I have embraced my inner domestic goddess and clean and cook and try oh so very hard to be organized. It's a good life!