2011 Recap

Time to sum up 2011 and what better way than to look back at my resolutions I made at the beginning of the year. 2011 was a strange year. I manged to travel to Scotland and Puerto Rico, allowing me to put two more pins on my map. I went to at least one game for every New England Pro Sports team (minus soccer, b/c I don't consider that a US pro sport). I said goodbye to way too many friends as they left Boston for new adventures. I became an aunt for a third time, got to show my dad around Boston when he visited me this summer. I banged my knees falling at a Pats game and have had a rough time with my health. I had a roommate briefly and dated someone for 4 months. 2011 was a crazy year and I'm glad to put it behind me.

So, let's take a look and see how I did with those resolutions I made back on 1/1/11.

1. Less status updates and more gym time. Well, I have cut back on my status updates on FB, however, every time I started getting back into a gym routine, I either injured myself [knees from my fall] or was battling stomach and other infections that not only kept me out of the gym, but home from work as well.
2. Travel for myself. This I did do. Edinburgh, Scotland. San Juan, Puerto Rico. Washington DC to see old and newer friends.
3. Drink less than I did in 2010. Well, I did get sick after drinking Vodka shots with Russians, but thanks to my stomach, I wasn't able to drink too much. So, yes, I'd say, I did drink less than 2010.
4. Lose and keep off the 20 pounds I want to lose. Yeah, this did not happen. I did loose some weight, but not enough and mostly b/c I had no appetite while sick.
5. Take better care of myself. Nope, I failed at this. Too many late nights/early mornings, sacrificing sleep for fun. 2011 was not the best year for my health and well being.
6. Do a better job keeping in touch with old friends. Yes, I'd say I did a better job keeping in touch with old friends. I met my pen pal of 18 years at her wedding this year. I got to see old friends I used to babysit for while living in San Diego and met up with an old coworker in the spring to catch up.
7. Spend less money by buying less "things". I cut back on trips to Costco, Kohls, Christmas Tree Shop and Target. I have been pretty good with resisting buying items for the home. While I may have bought some things off friends moving away, I spent more money on travel this year than I did on "things".
8. Work on spending less time on Facebook, the internet and chat and spend more time connecting with people face-to-face. Ok, so I did cut back on posting status updates and thanks to a promotion at work, I have had less time to Facebook, chat and send personal emails to people. I have talked more on the phone or via Skype with family and friends who are far away. I wasn't as social as I was in 2010, but I did spend less time online and managed to meet new people this year.
9. Listen to myself and only do the things I really want to do. (Basically learn to say no and not feel guilty about doing so.) I still need work, but I have managed to say "no" a little more than usual this year. I still did a lot of things b/c others wanted me to or there was this expectation. I still haven't learned to put myself first.
10. Smile more :) I have smiled more this year, despite not feeling 100%, saying goodbye to dear friends and hitting some rough patches. I know others noticed the smiling b/c a colleague asked if I was alright a few weeks back b/c I wasn't smiling like I normally do. This happened to be when I was sick and ended up taking 3 days off for a 5 day weekend to rest. So, yes, I did manage to smile more this year.

So, not too bad on the resolutions this year. Now I have to think about ones for 2012.

Work Holiday Party

So, the past few months have been quite stressful for me. A promotion, pulling two jobs in the same amount of time as it took me to do my old job, dating someone once again who did not share the same socioeconomic status as me, and my body fighting infection after infection without getting 100% well.

I'm still not feeling 100%, my stomach is not happy with me and I have been on pretty much a bland diet for a month now. I've managed to prove that I'm capable of doing two jobs in 35 hours and after giving my heart to someone who didn't want it (which often happens to girls who date someone longer than 3 months), I've managed to rise above and get my sexy back, totally strutting my stuff in my gray form fitting [figure fitting] dress which hugged me in all the right places, wearing my pearls and cute heels tonight. I had so many people compliment me and my dress today. Totally making me feel really good about myself. [I knew buying new lingerie would do the trick!]


Tonight was the annual Harvard Medical School's holiday party. This was really my first MAJOR event I had to plan since my promotion a couple months ago. Everyone at Harvard Medical School, including post docs, researchers, admin, professors, and I think the folks from the dental school. I had to plan the menu, which is kind of hard when you're a vegetarian and have to decide on meat options. I had to help with the layout, the tables, the chairs. Make sure we had flowers and table linens. I added holiday music and a sound system which was missing in years past. It was awesome seeing everything come together.


Tulips in winter...love it!

A few minutes before 4 people started filing in. The setup of the stations, the flow of the passed Hors D'Oeuvres, the two beverage stations. Everything came together and was a HUGE success. I've come a long way since my first HMS holiday party, when I only knew my own office mates. This year I think I've grown the most and know so many people from various departments. My voice is just about gone from all the talking I did tonight. The food was delicious and I had so many people compliment me on the party. People actually stayed until the very end. I had 6 glasses of wine and 3 shots of eggnog with Seagram, brandy and rum [which were my favorite- couldn't even taste the alcohol!]. Despite my stomach, I also ate banana bread pudding [which melted in your mouth], cheese stuffed mushroom, sushi, baked brie, artichoke dip, chocolate peppermint cake, pumpkin cheesecake and some other passed hors d'oeuvres.
Dessert table

After the party, I headed over to the after party, where I enjoyed my water with a dozen of colleagues and significant others. So much fun was had. I also tried a Mars Bar Toastie, which is a friend Irish mars bar and bananas b/t "belgain waffles" [which were actually Eggo waffles, LMAO]. It wasn't nearly as good as I had imagined.

I'm pooped. Another busy day tomorrow and I have to pack for NC. I really hope I don't wake up with a hangover tomorrow!

Holiday Cookies

This is my third holiday season in Boston and I've tried to continue certain holiday traditions that I grew up with. Every year since I can remember, we (my mom and me and my sisters) would bake candy cane cookies and sourdough cutouts (and chocolate chip cookies, but those are made year round). Last year the sourdough cookies were a hit at work, so as holiday gifts and for my holiday party I baked cookies.

I had to make a fresh batch of sourdough starter. A simple recipe that is yeast, warm water, flour and some salt (I think). I had it sitting out for 4 days, stirring a couple times a day. Then, when I was ready to do the baking, I made the cookie batter: sourdough starter, sugar, vanilla and almond extract, eggs, etc. I made 4 dozen cookies out of the dough. I hope that's enough for the party and for gifts.







Next day, I made the candy cane cookies. Flour, powder sugar, egg, butter, shortening, almond extract, and salt. Separate the dough into two bowls and add red food coloring to one. Making strands and forming them into red and white candy canes.


So delicious, you cant just eat one. Make sure you have some milk or eggnog to wash them down with.

Boston Common Tree Lighting

Boy, this has been a season of tree lightings! First I went by myself to the Faneuil Hall tree lighting ceremony, that was fun. Then, up in Nashua, NH, I went with a large group of family friends where which was a fun experience, despite coming down with a cold. Then, there was the Boston Common Tree Lighting Ceremony in Boston on Thursday, December 1.

I missed the Boston Common tree lighting my first year in Boston, and I think I passed last year b/c of weather or not having someone to go with. So, this year, despite being sick with 2 infections, I wanted to go. [Of course, it just so happened that I was given some news earlier in the day that made me feel like I was socked in the stomach, so I wasn't really up for going after that, but knowing Joey McIntyre was going to perform and having missed it the past 2 years since I moved to Boston, I sucked it up and went.]


It was a nice night out and I walked around getting some free samples of Nantucket Nectar and holiday DDs espresso drink. Jet Blue was handing out candy canes. They had the Frog Pond Ice Skating rink open. There was a stage where performs like the Rockettes, Boston Ballet, Joey McIntyre and his fellow NKOTB group mate, Jordan Knight performed and quite a lot of others singing, dancing and performing. That socked in the stomach feeling got worse and I felt like I was going to throw up and had to excuse myself and go down to Macy's because after sitting on a bench park, my stomach was getting worse. I so wanted to be curled up at home sitting on my bathroom floor, but I held it in, managed to get back to the ceremony just before the tree lighting countdown began. Unfortunately, my location wasn't the best to see the tree. It was obstructed by the stage and a few other trees, but, I have the rest of the season to walk there at night to take a photo of the lit trees.

So, yeah, this was not the most enjoyable tree lighting of the season. I booked it to the T right after the fireworks went off and the T seemed to take forever to get to my stop, where I booked it to my apartment's bathroom where I got sick the minute I got in there. Certainly not the best way to end a night I wanted to be memorable, although, it is now memorable b/c I go sick. I think I'm done for memory making this year, thank-you-very-much. And this sign on the T going to Boston Common got stuck...I had to laugh and take a photo b/c I was not having a good day and as my story tells, it certianly wasn't a good evening either.

It's Christmas Time

Tonight the gang and I went up to Nashua, NH for their holiday stroll and Christmas Tree lighting. The temp today was once again in the high 50s to low 60s, so mild that it doesn't quite feel like Christmas time to me (but then again this is coming from a gal who grew up in San Diego and spent many Christmases in shorts riding her bike in 70° weather). They closed of Main Street and had food vendors and stages lined up. We started and City Hall where the stroll started, but instead of waiting for the procession, we walked down the street, popped into a pub for some drinks before checking out the Hunt building that was reopening tonight (we know the architecture who redid the building). The tree was tiny compared to the one in Boston and NYC, but it's a real tree (planted in the ground). When we came out of the bar, the procession to the tree lighting had already started and there were so many people. So we stopped in and ate some appetizers at another place and had some more beers. [I swear, marathon drinking is so much easier than binge (sprint) drinking! But I totally feel like I need to detox after this weekend!] So, we missed the tree lighting (but we did see it before and after they lit it) and we did hear some music but didn't not walk with our candles lit singing carols. It did make me wish that I had a special someone in my lift to share this with, I feel like this time of year is so hard being single b/c I always imagine that being a couple this time of year is so romantic.

I have to admit, I think I might be attracted to the manly men, even if they are red necks who hold blue collar jobs. Of course, my world and their world aren't on the same plane, but I feel more comfortable and at home with them than I do the city boys. I can drink drink drink and not care if my stomach is fat or if I'm wearing a hoodie and jeans with tennis shoes bc they don't care. Man, I think this year may be a tough Christmas for me to get through. My first Christmastime in Boston sucked b/c of a Masshole. My second Christmastime was rough b/c I was reminded of how sucky my first Christmastime was. And this year, I'm done looking at the past, but can't help to think this year's gonna suck b.c I'm still single AND my best friends have left me for the South. We will see how it goes, maybe it will be fine with all the things I have to do in the next month. So happy holidays everyone and enjoy the season.

Relationships

You know that person who makes you smile? The one who doesn't have to say something funny to get you to crack a smile? The one who shares a secret with you? The one you think about when a certain song comes on? I'm sure you do. We all have people in our lives whom we love and care for. We're all part of relationships, whether we define them as such or not. I have the mother/daughter, father/daughter, sister/sister relationship. My relationship with family friends. Then there's the doctor/patient relationships, the professional relationships and then there's the friendships. I always think about relationships this time of year. A Google search for "relationships" comes up in .15 seconds with 510,000,000 results. Relationship definition on Google:

re·la·tion·ship (n)

The way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected


The state of being connected by blood or marriage


The way in which two or more people or organizations regard and behave toward each other


An emotional and sexual association between two people

Relationships are not easy, but we all have them. The closer we are to people and the more we let them in, the more we seem to hurt. I know I take things out on those who are closest to me. I also become more vulnerable after letting people in. I'm known for wearing my heart on my sleeve and caring way too soon for people. This time of year I seem to always get hurt. Whether it's from fighting with family, losing a good friend or a breakup or major fight with a significant other. A time of joy and love has for many years been shadowed by the heartaches and trying times. Sometimes I wonder if relationships are worth it? Would I be better off limiting my relationships to just my inner circle? I know as a Communications major, humans need human contact, but I could think of a few experiments to do if I were still in school that would test some human contact theories of my own.

Anyway, what got me thinking about relationships? Besides the family dramas happening around me? Waking up at family friends house with a 22 year old son who brought a girl home and spent the night on Thanksgiving Eve only to go pick up a second girl to bring to Thanksgiving dinner. That boy, who I used to babysit, is such an asshole. I dislike guys like him and hope that I'm never like either one of those girls he brought home.

Thanksgiving

[Photo of the DVD/Blu-Rays/Video Game bins at Walmart at 10:15pm in Amherst, NH]

Took the T into Belmont, MA on Wednesday after work and rode with my friend up to Groton, MA for Thanksgiving. This is my third Thanksgiving in MA and I am so thankful for having family friends to spend it with, they really are family. I've been drinking nonstop since I got up here Wednesday night. Wine, beer, pumpkin pie cocktail, hard cider, mimosas, more wine, Cosmos (made with a cranberry wine), more wine. We watched the Bruins game Wednesday night at the local bar where I hung out with Townies. Total rednecks up here, I often forget that I'm in the North East b/c it reminds me of Small Town, TX. Everyone knows everyone and people don't seem to leave. I love it up here though.

We started Thanksgiving morning off with some breakfast, I got to see the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade (something that is a tradition for me, I still remember seeing it in person many many years ago). We took a 4.16 mile walk before coming back to peel potatoes and have mimosas. The turkey smelled so good, it not only made my mouth water but my teeth started to aches, like my mouth wanted some delicious, juicy turkey to chew on. I've been a vegetarian for 7 years now and this was the first year I nearly ate a piece, but in the end, I resist [I guess I do have some self control when I comes to dead meat]. I had plenty to eat: mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, stuffing, corn on the cob, broccoli and carrots, wine and my favorite Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter dinner item: crescent rolls!

We ate around 3ish and waited for the inlaws to come over for dessert. [Of course, the football games were one the TV so while some napped, others watched the Cowboy's game.] We had apple crisp w/ vanilla bean ice cream (oh so good!), variety pack cheesecake, pumpkin pie, cherry pie and this chocolate cream pie. I had a few helpings of the apple crisp with ice cream, a slice of cherry and a half a slice of Belgian chocolate cheese cake. I think I had 3 glasses of the Cosmo cocktail (cranberry wine, triple sec, sugar and lime juice) not to mention the glasses of yummy Trader Joe's Chilean Reserve Merlot [totally need to check if my TJs carries this $3.99 bottle]. I scouted out the sales for Black Thursday Night/Friday and there really aren't that great of deals this year. But, rode with Phil to Walmart at 9pm and it was insane with all the lines in certain areas of the stores for those waiting until midnight for the electronics sales.

I love Walmart and since I don't have one in the city to go to, I did some shopping while the clock ticked (since the deals didn't start until 10pm). I didn't get the 600 thread count sheet set b/c people got into those before 10pm, but I got a crock pot [but ended up returning later today after scoring a better one at Kohls for the same price]. Phil wanted to get some Blu-Rays and DVDs and man was THAT insane. I couldn't deal with it, so I just watched. They had cops standing by in front of me watching the crowd, so I felt safe. Phil was worse than me, he has never done a Black Friday, and he bought over $100 worth of movies and some other baking/storage containers because "everyone was buying them so they must have been a good deal". LOL.

We got back to the house at 11:30 and it was so clear out I stopped to look at all the stars before bringing the goods inside. I do miss star gazing and there were so many stars out last night, if I had warmer clothes [and weren't going shopping this morning] I may have stayed out to play the constellation game. But, I went to bed and got up at 7:30, ate breakfast and headed out for 8 hours of shopping. Bought a lot of games [2 of them being drinking games]/entertaining/home stuff, some heeled tall boots, clothes, the babies Christmas presents. I hit 11 stores in all: Christmas Tree Shops, Kohls, Target, Walmart, JCP, Bath and Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Modell's, Jo-Ann's Fabric, Dollar Store, and Costco. I got home at 4:30 and after going more than 8 hours without eating and only drinking a little water, I ate a smorgasbord of food and drank some water and soda before having 2 glasses of TJ's Merlot. It was nice driving around and shopping and I enjoyed listening to the radio.

I feel like I'm coming down with a cold. Started with itchy eyes, sinus aches and a sore throat, now I'm having chest problems and that freakin deep cough and losing my voice. I totally need to take better care of myself. This week's lost sleep bank is pretty full, looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow before we go running around First Night in Nashua, then back to the city for me tomorrow night.

If you're reading this, I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving and took time to reflect on what you're thankful for. I'm thankful for you [b/c if you're reading this you're someone I consider a dear friend]. I'm thankful for having family around the US and even though I wasn't able to spend the day with them, we were able to communicate. I'm thankful for the family friends I have in Groton; I wouldn't be in MA if it wasn't for them. I'm thankful for the fact that alcoholism does not run in the family [I've managed to marathon drink as opposed to sprint drinking and getting drunk/hungover this holiday weekend]. I'm thankful for having shelter and an abundance of food to stuff my face [which ends stuffing my stomach, ass and thighs]. I'm thankful for being employed and able to partake in this crazy Black Thursday/Friday madness that I do more so b/c by now it's tradition, but also b/c I love not paying taxes [and am quite thankful for the opportunity to borrow a car and drive to NH to shop tax free] and of course, I'm thankful for all the great deals I scored. Now it's time to bring out that tree, deck the halls, bake those cookies and enjoy this festive time of year.