One last post before the new year...

I wanted to post one last time before the new year arrives. I'm not sure where this blog is going to take me over the next year. I've had fun writing it and sharing my pictures, so I hope I'll be able to continue to keep up with it. And maybe someday it'll help me build a writing and photography career.

I am heading to Miami tomorrow to spend New Year's Eve with Nora, Julio, Ann, and Tara, among many others. I'm really excited to spend the next few days with friends. My friends are truly my family in many ways. And I'm extremely thankful for all the wonderful friends that I have in my life!

End of the year holidays are not an easy time of the year for me. I spent my childhood and many adult years having a love-hate relationship with the holidays. I loved them growing up because I loved the idea of tradition and a family celebrating together. I loved the idea of everyone coming together to spend time with each other--playing games, catching up over coffee, decorating the tree, eating big fancy meals, and laughing over old stories. I always thought it should be the one time during the year where quality time was at its height. However, that was not always the case with my family. While I have many fond memories of various holidays over the years, I also have many memories of fighting, slamming doors, yelling, screaming, leaving, returning, and crying. The days or hours that my family spent together were never quite what I had hoped for or wanted (as a child or an adult). But it was still time with my family, so I cherished it despite all the crumbling, shattered pieces that returned each year. Eventually I learned how to appreciate our time together over holidays for what it was, instead of what it wasn't.

Now, my perspective has shifted yet again. After finally learning how to accept and cherish my family for what it was, it was most recently, literally, ripped apart by my parents' divorce. I spent last Thanksgiving and Christmas with my mom and sister. I spent this Thanksgiving with my mom and sister, and Christmas with my dad in Florida. Both last year and this year, I would have rather just skipped November and December altogether. I'd be perfectly content jumping from October 31st, a wonderful holiday, to January 1st, another wonderful day. Unfortunately, I can't do that. So, next year I'll let you know what differences I've decided to make to help me get through the holiday season a little more smoothly. Let me know if you have any suggestions. I'm always willing to listen to thoughtful advice.

Despite my somewhat negative holiday attitude, I do have some superb (well, in my opinion) pictures to share, so I hope you all enjoy them. (Beware, there are A LOT of pictures!!!)

I am looking forward to an awesome time in Miami and a fun ending to 2009.
Happy New Year, and I'll see you back here in 2010!!

Christmas Eve in Naples--ah, Campiello--my favorite restaurant in Naples!!!


It's snowing in Naples!! Who knew that was possible? It was beautiful, 70, and snowing. What a great Christmas Eve!




I love Christmas lights. It reminds me of the Chevy Chase Christmas Vacation movie. I was so excited when dad said we were going to drive through this neighborhood where everyone decorates their houses!! It was AWESOME.








Santa: "I'm on a BOAT! I'm on a BOAT!"


Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall...Humpty Dumpty had a great fall...here he is...they put him back together!


Can you see the steam emanating from my sister's beautifully designed mug?



In Key West--the Hemingway House...


And, one of the bathrooms inside the Hemingway House--check out that rockin' chandelier!


The original wrap-around porch...


My art shot...


And what would be a picture collection on my blog without a cloud picture?


A cloudy, but somewhat picturesque, sunset out on the water...










Coconuts!










We flew from Marco Island to Key West on this plane. It's the smallest plane I've flown on in my life! It seats 6 people, including the pilot. I thought I was going to get sick, but it was a smooooooth ride.


When we landed at Marco Island airport, we couldn't leave because of this accident. I decided to be the on-site photographer. :)

More Apartment Pictures...

I love my new apartment! I just love it. I happily spend hours and hours here. I have even gotten rid of my microwave and have started learning how to cook! AND...I'm sure those of you who know me will be thoroughly surprised...I am actually REALLY enjoying experimenting and cooking all on my own! It's a whole new adventure for me. My apartment is warm and cozy, which is something that the Cinderblock Palace, with all its charm and glory, never quite had. I can sit on my couch curled up under a blanket in just pj pants and a hoodie--my favorite at-home gear. If you recall, sitting around the Cinderblock Palace always included socks, slippers, scarves, hats, 4-6 layers on top, and possibly two pant layers, and I was still never quite warm enough. It's quite a miraculous change to live somewhere that I actually enjoy all the time. I heat up water in my tea kettle almost every night to enjoy a nice glass of peppermint tea before bed. I crawl into my bed upstairs, where the heat pumps out of the vents and rises up from the floor below, in mere pajamas--no layers and no more than a comforter on top--and sleep soundly through the night. It's a great feeling to wake up in the morning, go downstairs, walk to the bathroom, and still not know what the temperature is outside because of the insulation and no cinder block walls. It's even more amazing when I decide to leave my apartment with no coat because I am sweating as I hurry to get ready. Then as I walk outside to my car, I am suddenly shocked to find out that it's jacket weather, but I have no jacket with me. Oh well. No jacket is better than living in a state of constant fluctuation because the inside and outside of the house are the same temperature. No more Cinderblock Palace = one happy winter season for me.

I took some pictures tonight with all of my pictures hung and cozy lighting all around. Enjoy!

Exciting news...

I finally have my pictures hung, all my boxes unpacked, and internet at my apartment! It's been a great day today!! Hopefully updating my blog will be happening on a more frequent basis now!

The long awaited apartment photos...

I know I promised these pictures many, many weeks ago to all of you out there that are reading my blog. I have fallen down on my job of updating as frequently as I would like because of lacking internet at my new apartment. It's difficult to update my blog without ready access to the internet when I get home from work.

Luckily, I finally had a chance to take some pictures today of my new apartment. I have unpacked all of my boxes except for a few lingering ones that are milling around under the stairs. However, I think that's pretty good considering I've been out of town three weekends out of the past two months and working the other weekends. I have yet to hang any of my pictures so the walls are still bare, but most everything else is in order.

When you first walk into my apartment, the study is off to the left. It's small but perfect.


The great part is that the study has this skylight above it since it has no windows. The skylight brings in a ton of natural light during the day, which is wonderful.


The next room along the entry hallway is the bathroom. It was already conveniently painted this lime green color, which matches my shower curtain perfectly!


After leaving the entry hallway, you enter into the big open kitchen/dining room/living room space. I love the open-ness of it! AND I absolutely LOVE the floor to ceiling window!




Here is my bedroom--upstairs in the loft. I didn't make my bed today. My bedroom is still kind of a wreck so this is the only picture I have of it for now. At the other end of my bedroom, that open area looks down into the study and out the skylight. I am seriously considering curtains for that area because the skylight is much too bright at 8am on Saturday and Sunday mornings!


Looking down from my bedroom...


Another shot of the living room...


The kitchen and entryway, taken from the living room...


One last shot...

The Michigan 1969 football team...

The weekend after Alison's wedding, I flew to Michigan to spend the weekend with my dad and attend the Michigan vs. OSU rivalry game. (On a side note...it was probably my ninth round trip flight this year. That seems crazy to me but is true. I love traveling!)

Last year my dad and I went to a Michigan football game too--my first one in the Big House--so maybe we are starting a yearly father-daughter trip? Possibly. This year was the 40th anniversary of one of the years my dad played football at Michigan--1969. That was Bo's first year coaching Michigan football and they beat OSU, against all odds. (Here is an article and some video footage about the '69 team and the OSU game that year: http://www.annarbor.com/sports/forty-years-later-build-up-to-michigans-greatest-football-win-still-evokes-memories/ )

It was really neat to hear all the stories about Michigan football during Bo's time as coach and to have an opportunity to meet so many guys my dad played with during his time at Michigan! It was a memorable and priceless experience.

(Here is another article too: http://www.detnews.com/article/20091119/SPORTS0201/911190411/Bo-s-triumph-in-1969-should-inspire-2009-Wolverines )

We flew in Friday afternoon and went out for lunch after dropping off our suitcases. We saw this car on the road, and I couldn't resist capturing a few shots of it.


Friday night there was a dinner for the '69 team players. These are all guys my dad played football with at Michigan (at least the ones that made it to the reunion). Can you find my dad?


These pictures are from before the game started. My dad and his previous teammates were on the field waiting for their introduction. My dad's wearing a blue hat, in case you want to locate him. :)


The Buckeye marching band...




The Wolverine marching band...




This is when my dad and the rest of the'69 team were introduced and crossing the field under the "Go Blue" banner.


This is an up-close shot--my dad is jumping up to touch the banner.


A shot of the stadium...


The other side...


And the game begins...






At the second time-out, the '69 team was honored on the field. They gave some background information and showed some video footage of the game on the scoreboard screen. It was all very moving.


My dad's on the right hand side...


Here we are after the game. Even though Michigan lost, I had a great time with my dad reliving some of his really special memories from the past. Thanks for taking me dad!