totally out of order!

i blogged about this past weekend BEFORE i had a chance to blog about last weekend. zoiks. my life has seriously become a whirlwind.

basically it can be boiled down to two important facts: 1. out of five saturdays in october, i will only be at home for one. double weddings and a trip to VA wiped out my weekends for the month. seriously. 2. it's an interesting challenge to add another important human being to my schedule & life [which is already incredibly full of human beings!!]

so now-- a few fabulous photos from my weekend in rochester. [i'll add some details about kyle & meg's wedding, aka the most unique and awesome wedding EVER, later.]

life in yorktown

i was just sitting in the backroom. reading my book. "watching" the BC vs. notre dame game on tv. on mute. with my lovely mom, my hilarious grandad, and my darling grandmom.

a few hours ago i helped grandad on his new, special "senior" computer.

a few hours before that i walked through marlbank with my mom.

these little things about life in yorktown make me SO very happy.

top 25 from being 24

soooo monday's my birthday & i'm a tiny bit apprehensive about being a quarter century old...

to pysch myself up, i've created a list of the top 25 lessons and/or experiences from my past year. it's been a big year. lots of changes. lots of growth. lots of adventures. just the way i like a year to be~

1. it's fun to plan an event with a group of people. everyone brings different things to the table.
2. my musical tastes always have room for improvement
3. the chinatown bus to NYC is incredibly cheap & convenient. yet not incredibly comfortable.
4. having a non-crappy car isn't essential to a good social life. but it's a nice confident boost on bad days.
5. road trips are more fun with a passenger
6. rhode island is beautiful!! and my parents live there now!!! [lucky me]
7. i can't really ever have enough time to catch up with my brother...
8. living across the hall from your best friend is an absolute treasure <3
9. it's nice to have family dinner a couple times a week. even if family dinner doesn't include blood relatives.
10. weekend reunions are a special kind of glue when it comes to holding friendships together
11. sometimes it's better to experience an event without photographing it.
12. i could eat mexican food multiple meals in a row and be a happy camper.
13. every once in a while a situation occurs where it's good to NOT have planned ahead
14. all the seasons have their good and bad points. fall is my overall favorite, however.
15. if your co-worker is different, you have to stretch yourself. it helps you to become a better person.
16. 25 things makes for a LONG list. i'm running out of steam here...
17. exercise [for me in the form of biking] does a body and a mind good.
18. i used to wish my life was like the movies. this year i realized it's better than the movies. b/c it's real.
19. chain restaurants are over-rated. but they aren't automatically bad just b/c they're chains.
20. it's fun to let a guy drive
21. the world doesn't revolve around me. and it doesn't fall apart without me.
22. friends who have little kids are good friends to keep around for mental health purposes
23. sometimes i don't get the things i wanted. and then i realize i've gotten something far better
24. 250 text messages per month runs out fast when you add a cool guy to the already long list of texting friends.
25. it's funny how a single phone call can brighten a dull day.

a new expression

today i taught my ladies the expression "looking forward to..." it was a good one and most already knew it. i realize that in my current life, i almost always have something[s] i'm looking forward to. so here's the running list:

teaching my students tomorrow [and basically everyday]; driving to upstate NY with meliss on friday; seeing/staying in fan's awesome house; hanging out in rochester; going to heart&soul; lunch with lynz; meg & kyle's wedding; the reception in a barn [basically my dream come true!]; seeing my pregnant friend andrea [<3]; driving home on monday with meliss; celebrating my 25th birthday by eating chocolate chip pie.
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p.s. i've been brainstorming the top 25 things i've learned/experienced in my last year of life. hopefully that will be completed sometime soon*

oktoberfest 2009

about a month ago, we started planning our own personal oktoberfest. it was seriously awesome! we think it might very well be an annual tradition. i've added photos and some crucial oktoberfest elements.

1. apple picking


2. awesome friends!!
3. delicious baked goods


4. a sweet house [our friend chris has an awesome home!]
5. the inner circle [aka oktoberfest planners/hosts]

NYC bday!

today's allen's birthday. [happy 20th, little bro!] we met on saturday in new york city to hang out and spend a little birthday time together.

i took the chinatown bus for the 1st time. it only cost 20 bucks roundtrip and it was super convenient to meet al when he got of his chinatown bus.

after that, we went to the lower east side tenement museum. i blogged about this a few months ago and it was totally worth the wait! we took a tour of an irish family's tenement AND our tour guide who also taught in japan with the JET program*

because i love lists 4: friend edition

top 5 reasons i adore my college crew <3

1. they have brilliant ideas like laying on the ground and tracing around their sprawled bodies
2. they are hilarious. and random. and fun.
3. they give me lots and lots and lots of hugs!
4. we can all be completely ourselves when we're together
5. they are SOOOOOOO good looking!