Christmas Eve

I woke up to a sweet, whispered "Merry Christmas Eve Baby."  It was the perfect way to start the day, let alone a weekend.  See, Husband and I decided to take off the whole week between Christmas and New Years.  I get to spend 10 uninterrupted days with him - and I am SO looking forward to it.  


It was a warm Christmas Eve, like 50 degrees, but a beautiful day.  It started off with a quick trip to the In-Laws during which time MamaH invited me and my mom to the movies. I gladly accepted because Husband was planning on making sausage - an all day event.  Thankfully my brother was in town and was able to play sous chef leaving me available to go see The Decedents with the girls.  


After a quick trip to the gym and a quick shower, we headed off to the movie theatre.  The theatre was surprisingly empty and Margaret (sis-in-law) and I sat smack dap in the middle of the theatre, feet propped up on the seats in front of us and started to catch up.  


I love Margaret.  I am SO SO SOOOOO thankful to have such wonderful in-laws.  I have always wanted a sister and Margaret is perfect.  Seriously the perfect sister.  I love the girl.  Did you know she was accepted into Americorps?  She's got the sweetest heart.  


Anyway, the movie started and we settled in...


...It was an interesting movie.  Not quite what we were expecting, but good.  My advice, wait to rent it at Redbox.  


While I was admiring all the pretty Christmas lights on the way home, I saw a streak of light flash across the sky.  It couldn't have been a plane because it moved really fast and then disappeared.  It was a shooting star!!  Which actually turned out to be the Lovejoy comet.  

{National Geographic}

It was a wonderful day.  That evening we went to church and then headed to the neighbors afterwards for cards and a night cap.  It was a wonderful beginning to the holiday break. 

Quirks

Everyone has their 'quirks.'  For me, it's my feet, more specifically my toes.  I must be able to wiggle my toes and feel like they have room to breathe.  I need the wiggle room.  It puts me at ease.  Not being able to move my toes is one of the only things that will make me panic.  

I remember sitting in Econ class in college one Fall day, cursing myself for wearing such thick socks with my boots.  I had tuned out the professor with thoughts of trying to make room in the toebox of my boots.  I think I was a Freshman or a Sophomore and I was doing everything I could to get my toes to move without losing my cool and running out of the classroom...wiggle violently in hopes my socks would compact and give me some room; not move my toes at all and try to focus on my geeky professor (obviously this one failed immediately), taking deep soothing breaths to slow my racing heart.  Finally I couldn't take it any longer and unzipped my mid-calf brown boots, pulled my foot out just enough and then all the panic faded away as I wiggled my little piggies.

This craziness is not something that set-in in college.  No, this started in elementary school.  I remember sitting on the floor of my baby sitter's house one morning fiddling with my socks to get them just right so that I would have breathing room when I put my foot into my shoe.  But I couldn't get the socks to stay in place and the socks would suffocate my toes as I gingerly slid my foot into my shoe.  I was frustrated and it's very possible there were tears.  And I almost missed the bus that morning.  Seriously.

So when the subject of toe wiggling came up in conversation last weekend I felt like I had met a long lost sister.  Immediately this girl and I started swapping stories about our crazy need to have wiggle room in our shoes.  Pretty soon we had another chick joining in our convo with her quirky tendencies.

Isn't it amazing how the things we find so unique and quirky about ourselves can be the catalyst for making connections with new people?  I love it.

A steal

About a month ago, my manager told me about a Groupon deal where she got a beautiful pearl necklace for $80.  


Well she texted me last night and said Groupon has the deal again!  For $80 you get an "18-inch pearl necklaces in eight color choices with pouch, shipping, certificate of authenticity & two $50 vouchers for future purchases" 


I feel like I should mention this 18" necklace is regularly priced at $450!?!  Crazy - who in the world would pay that?  So $80 for the necklace and $100 towards another purchase is a STEAL.  


I think I am going to get the multi-colored strand with white, lilac and peach pearls. 

From My Pacific Pearls

I also have my eye on this lovely: 

White Floating Pearls

Definitely head over to Groupon.  If not for this deal, there are bunches of others.  

...it ended up being great

Husband and I headed to the Charlottesville Pavilion to see the Trey Anastasio Band play.  After a disappointing dinner we were looking forward to musical awesomeness.  =)  

After a drink or two, we were definitely in a better mood.  

When Trey and the band came out, the crowd roared with excitement.  As soon as they started playing, suddenly everyone was on their feet.  Husband describes them as a 'jam band' with lots of solos and improv and I think it's a great description.  The band's talent was very impressive.  Such incredible control and understanding of instruments and music.  I couldn't help but sway and dance with the music.  

I LOVED that the band had a pianist, trumpet and trombone player!  On top of being showered with fun, upbeat music there was a killer light show.  Lots of pinks, purples and greens.  Oh my!

That's Trey!  SO talented! 

Something I love about music, is how it brings people together.  It's a common thing people can talk about and relate to each other about.  As usual, I made friends while standing in line for the ladies' room.  

It turned out to be an awesome night.  During intermission we met up with Husband's cousins who were at the concert.  We danced, we laughed, and just enjoyed the evening.  

It can't always be perfect

This past weekend Husband and I had a quick trip to Charlottesville.  We were in town to see the Trey Anastasio Band play downtown.  Some of you may not be familiar but he is the lead singer of Phish and incredibly talented.

Anyways we got to our friend's house Saturday afternoon with just enough time for the boys to play a game of chess and drink a few beers.

{my iPhone pic}

Early afternoon, 4:30pm or so, we headed downtown looking for food and drinks before our concert.  We  stumbled into this little Italian restaurant, Sal's Italian cafe/diner.  We looked at the menu, then looked at each other and immediately wondered, 'do you think we can get up and leave?'  The menu was over priced and we weren't impressed with their offerings.  But for some reason we stayed.

Husband ordered mushroom ravioli and I ordered pomodoro fresco.  The Caesar salads - not great...their homemade dressing was poor.  We hoped our entres would be better, but our hopes were trampled.  My pasta needed to be cooked 2 minutes longer, the garlic bits were still bitter, and the tomatoes were no saving grace.  The mushroom ravioli didn't look any better.  We ate quickly and left as soon as we could.  If you find yourself in Charlottesville, steer clear of this place.

Sal's left us with a bad taste in our mouths...literally.  Feeling cheated and deceived, we looked for a bar in hopes of washing away the failure we just ate.  We ended up at Commonwealth Restaurant & Skybar - an open, second floor bar over looking the main strip of the downtown mall.  Thankfully yummy beers helped.  We snagged a corner seat and ordered fries.  Strike 2 of the night.  Our "fries" were not potato as we assumed, they were yuca; a "starchy tuberous root." It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't what we wanted.

We laughed and realized every place has its ups and downs, and we were experiencing the "other" side of Charlottesville that day.

Around 6pm or so we headed to the pavilion and found seats.  We hung out waiting anxiously for the concert.  I hoped this would not be a third strike for the night...

hiatus

Dear Running,

I never thought you and I would become so intertwined.  That my sanity, let alone my health, would rely so heavily on you on such a daily basis.  You allow me to process my thoughts at my own speed without interruption.  You help me to free myself from the emotions that sometimes feel like they are choking me.  You have strengthened my body and my mind.  You're a tricky S.O.B. with the mind games you play, but I have to admit I love it.

Unfortunately you have worn me a bit ragged, specifically my shins.  The sweet, endearing feelings I have for you will never change.  I will always want you.  But right now my shin scream, plead and beg for me to stop.  For about 10+ years they have worked so hard, and I think they need a hiatus. I'm sorry I cannot ignore their burning any longer.

So I'm incredibly saddened that we need some space.

This weekend, I thought I could squeak in a 6k race.  I had hoped that I would be able to run with you, but my shins won and I resorted to being a walker.  I can happily say I finished the race.  I got that cute reddish pink shirt and I even made a friend during the race.

But I can't lie.  I felt a bit of resentment toward all the other running ladies.  It was nothing against them, and I'm sure they too have experienced this struggle, but for the first time in my life I really feel like you were doing more harm than good.  It's been a lot tougher than I thought, staying away from you.  But I think it's for the best.

Please don't forget me, and do not by any means, think you have won.  Because I will be back.  I will be back with a vengeance, strong and healthy and ready to make even more progress than I ever have.

Until next time,
Peach



{photo}

Scatter the dew

The person who doesn't scatter the morning dew will not comb gray hairs.
Hunter S. Thompson

Seize your day.