Its About Freakin Time!

Its about freakin time I post again. . . And its about freakin time I go on vacation. . . . I just worked the last 13 days straight. And 11 of those days were either in Atlanta or Florida. Im so glad to be home again. But even more glad that my Christmas Vacation is oh so close.

For Christmas I will be seeing this for the first time:

And this:

Notre Dame

And even this:

For New Years, Im going Here:

Gothenburg, Sweden

IT CANT COME FAST ENOUGH!

Rowing Partner

Yesterday I was visiting with two of my cousins. And enviably the conversations comes to dating/marriage. When with two of the three are single, its bound to happen. . . .

My married cousin made the analogy of getting married to rowing a boat across a sea. That sea is unknown prior to the trip as to what the weather and sea will be like. Therefore, are you going to pick a rowing partner that looks pretty as you sit on the shore? Or are you going to look for a rowing partner that is going to help you cross that sea no matter what may happen out there.

This might be my own perception, but I feel like the longer we are in this dating/single life, we more we loose sight of the reality of life and what we really should be looking for in a spouse. I know I do. I feel like Im starting to think of married life as a fairytale, and I just need my knight in shining armor to take me away from this "horrible single life." Ahh. But my fairytale doesnt allow for reality, that married life is hard too. This I have seen and felt through those around me. Illness, heartbreak, sadness are not immuned to the married. Therefore, I need to find someone that can weather those storms of life, along with the good, the happy, and prosperous times.

Seeing is believing

Its been a month and I feel bad that I dont have much to write about. I have been super busy with work and traveling for work. Lame, I know. But the truth is sometimes lame.

I must say, even though its been tiring to travel so much, there are some benefits. And top on the list has been seeing friends and family that I havent seen in years (or months).

Cheata and Kaiya for lunch in Alexandria, ME and Morgan for dinner in Irvine, CA, Jon & Launi Walker family for dinner in Portland, Jon & Alison Toronto for dinner in Minnesota, Dave Walker for a wedding reception in Kansas City, Peter Walker in San Francisco, Keith Neagle in Chicago. Sam Hansen in NYC. And that has just been this fall, so far.

Visitings with all these old friends and family members have provided me with some amazing lessons, realizations, and enjoyments. Some of those being 1) I have some of the funniest family members this side of eternity, 2) I have some of the most amazing friends this side of the Mississippi. Dang, which side am I on at the moment?!, 3) Life is short. Enjoy it. Take advantage of it. 4) Im pretty confident to say that I was favorite cousin in Minnesota! Atleast for the day, 5) Make an effort for the important things in life.

Im sitting in S Ca. Going on my 90th different bed this year alone. Im realizing that I have a very limited social life. And Im not sure what to do about it. In this "hard economic times," Im just grateful for a job and Im willing to do what I need to keep it. But then there is a part of me that ask if this is worth it all. I miss hanging out with friends and experiencing the life of Boston. I miss being able to go and visit my family in the area. . . . Humm. Anyone? Thoughts?

Fall 08, thus far

Apple Picking with Friends, Amy, Carolina, and Vicky at

Tougas Farms in Northborough, MA

Happy Birthday James! With Taylor and Jack

Melia, enjoying ice cream and cake at James' birthday party. She is definitely a Midgley!

Ahh. Me and My dad!

House of Cards

I walked out of work on Friday, and found this:

http://greenfield-studio.com/artwork/471511.html

I saw some people out in a boat at lunch putting it together, but didnt really know what they are doing. I love that my work is in this up-and-coming part of Boston. It is an old factory district, that is now an arts district. There are always the most random displays. I wish I could find it online, but there were these plastic bubbles with plastic people. All of the cracks in the sidewalks have old pottery cemented inside.

Courage with Age

So. Another birthday has found me. And Im still not liking this getting older thing. After about 21, I become very found of not having birthdays. Oh wait! They come no matter what I do! Never really liked having parties after about 12. Sept Birthdays are a hard one. Its the beginning of a new school year and lots of new faces. Especially since I have moved to Boston, it seems like all the friends move over the summer, and, therefore, the friend count to celebrate with is less than I would like. And this year seems like it was the worst. Dont get me wrong, my special day was great. Spent it with my family and with a long and dearest friend. But no party with the local friends. Many have left this summer and Im very excited for their new adventures. . . .

Something hit me this time around. I cant be passive about life. Life is to be experienced, and not just lived. I have made a few efforts in that. Not that Im really up to sharing all those stories at the moment. But I do have a few quotes that have been mulling over in my head:

Without courage, wisdom bears no fruit. ~ Baltasar Gracian

"And in the end, it's not the years in your life that count.

It's the life in your years." ~Abraham Lincoln

"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments,

but what is woven into the lives of others." ~Pericles

Faith

I had a weekend on the random side. I wasnt looking forward to a particular lunch I had plannned with an old friend. We were to talk about religion, and I knew that it wasnt going to be a calm, open, friendly discussion. I should have just cancelled, but didnt.

It was the least unjoyable hour and a half that I have spent in a long, long time. I love my religion with all heart. There isnt anything that anyone can say that will deter me from it. I know that I dont have all the answers when it comes down to specifics. But I think that that has been the reason why I have never whined in my testimony. Im very simple in the idea that I do not have to know all the answers to know where and how I feel peace and happiness in my life.

In the end, lunch was good. Simply because it got me reading into topics and areas that I havent lately. It caused my testimony to grow more. So for that, Thanks Friend.

But I cant say that I will purposely seek out situations that I discuss religion with a Baptist again though!