Today was a wonderful day. It started out with cleaning and cooking. . .which is fun in some ways. And by that I mean that the cooking part was fun. . . .not so much the cleaning. However, it was extremely necessary. Our friend Zack Strait was coming to town!


We originally had planned on going to visit our good friend Christina Congi and her family for Thanksgiving, however plans changed. Which was fine, but we still missed our Christina and her family. All is well, we had a wonderful time with our good friends Kevin, Rae, and Zack! My contribution to our Thanksgiving wonderfulness was Sweet Potato Casserole, Mimosa materials, and my Banana Pudding!

Kevin and Rae prepared a table full of yummies! It was wonderful to sit at a table with our loved ones even though we are all hundreds of miles from our families.



We laughed and ate delicious food. I must say. . . my plate was a masterpiece of delectable items.


After dinner we lounged on the couches and watched a few select episodes of the Chappelle's Show. It wasn't long before we were ready for dessert! Rae had prepared a pumpkin pie, Zach brought in some cupcakes from Magnolias in NYC, and I brought out my good ol' Nanna Puddin'.



This was mine and Zach's first Thanksgiving together . . . .did I mention that? January 10th will be our 1 year anniversary! YAY!!! We still love each other. . . yes even after one whole year!

We are thankful to be so incredibly blessed by love wherever we go. Hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! We love and miss you all!

Job well done.

These past few days have been just lovely. Let me tell you why. Friday I had the day off. On my days off I typically head to Starbucks to pick-up my aprons so I can wash them. On this day off I also had a paycheck to pickup so that right there makes the day great! Afterwards I called Zach and we decided to meet for lunch since we were both downtown (he was there for class). We went by Olive's and picked up delicious food. We picnicked in front of a Princeton building.


I still don't know what the building is used for, but it's beautiful. I don't actually remember what we did Friday night, but I'm sure it was very relaxing. Saturday I had to open for work. Despite opening, I still had a very delightful day. Everyone was in a pretty good mood. Saturday morning Zach left for Pennsylvania to see his mom and grandparents. I knew I would miss him but I was also very excited for him. Sunday I woke up and went to NYC with my friend Theo from work. We drove to the ferry and took it into the city.



From there we met up with Dan---Theo's friend----and then headed into the Guggenheim to see Kandinsky's exhibit.



The exhibit was exciting to see, however my favorite piece was by Anish Kapoor. You looked into that giant metal piece and saw nothing but darkness.


It was mysteriously wonderful. Knowing that I was looking into something that I just walked around. . . but not being able to see the other side. It's like when you find yourself in complete darkness and you try and make out whatever is in front of you, but you can't. There's just space. I loved it.

Moving on. . . after the Guggi we went and met up with Megan (my dear dear friend from high school) for lunch/dinner. We found a cute place with outdoor seating, burgers, and beer.
Our food was delicious. . .there was even a crazy man with a martini glass and a fantastic voice. He spoke about the wonders of alcohol. It was funny. Theo and Dan were not amused.


After that we went to another exhibit at the New Museum on Bowery which was also really great. The picture at the top of this blog was taken from the top floor of the New Museum building. It was really pretty.


After that we took the Subway to Times Square to ---well---to look at all the pretty lights.


A wonderful and very relaxing trip to the city. Good job us.

My Daily Daydream

So everyday I dream about this wonderful place.
The daydream only lasts about 15 seconds. But I have this whole image of a "perfect world." This "world" actually only consists of this tiny town that my old Saint Augustine community calls home.


It would be amazingly quaint and cozy. This is how it starts. . . I tell my daydream to Zach who tells it to Josh who tells it to someone else. etc. etc. Then we all get curious and no one really has any amazing job that keeps them in Saint Augustine. So we all start researching. . . and then someone finds a quaint wonderful town that just needs a little love. The town is either in north Georgia or Tennessee. Somewhere wonderful and secret. Not like Asheville or even Elizabethton----yes even more secret and cozy than that. So we all decide to take a big risk and move there. Miraculously we all get a house there and everyone is married or living with a roommate.


Oh, do not fret, we all have wonderful jobs. Zach and I run the art/magic store.


Dan and Meg run the Outfitters store. Zack Carson works there because he loves the outdoors and gets to do what he wants.


Zeke owns and runs the local hot dog joint. He also sells burgers, fries, and milkshakes.


Cally and Dani begin teaching classes at the local schools. Enabling the schools to integrate hearing and deaf students.


Christina also teaches there. She loves her history students but prefers her art classes more. Do not fear, our tiny town is not effected by the bad economy. Our schools are not only able to offer art, but also Music and P.E. Cally also teaches music and Jenni is the P.E. coach and Health teacher. Jenni also created our very own Running Club!


Nicole---because we all know she belongs in Saint Augustine--- works at the church as the youth pastor and interprets in both the contemporary and traditional service. When she's not busy with those crazy kids. . . . she interprets for Josh at town meetings. Josh is the town planner. He ensures that we all live in a wonderful efficient community. Because we live in such a wonderful town we have a lot of people passing through to get a glimpse our perfect community. Since there are some crazy strangers out there---we have Jeff! Jeff is the Sheriff in town.


He keeps us all safe ( Andy Griffith style). Every Thursday night we all meet at our favorite restaurant. I don't know what it's called yet, but Adam is the chef and Laurie is the hostess/deals with people person.


It's delicious and there is a different special every week. Though we are a tiny community we do have a local paper. Our local gazette features the photos and editorials of Halie. She is very busy reporting on the events for the upcoming weekend and the future of our little piece of heaven.

Stephen is always giving her leads. He is the president of our chamber of commerce. He makes sure that new comers feel welcome in our little community. He also does boring business things that he loves while economically maintaining our town.

We live 2 hours away from the closest International Airport. So all of our families have no problem visiting us. Plus, Florida is only like 4-5 hours away.

Our M.I.A. friend Brittany still updates us on her whereabouts. She is currently living in North Dakota teaching Sunday school.

When my day dream is over I remember my Once Upon A Time Saint Augustine community. I miss the town and everyone who made it my home.

Halloweak.

That's right. This week/Halloween was pretty dang weak. Let me tell you why:

1. This week is "Reading Week" for Zach which means that he doesn't have classes, yet is basically forced to do nothing but study. So that's not fun.

2. I contracted a nasty cold at some point in the beginning of the week. Today is Sunday and the cold is still very much here.

3. I have been one of the openers at Starbucks for the last 2 days. This entails me showing up to work at 5:15am which means waking up no later than 4:30am. Booooo

4.Though I did get to dress up as a cat at work for Halloween. . . .I still had to be there so early (wah wah wah). By 6:30 pm I was ready to be in bed. In fact I did go to bed at 7:00. . . .I fell asleep around 9:00.



5. Speaking of sleep. . . . .the night before my first opening shift I didn't sleep. Nope, not one wink. Not sleeping on top of having a cold is no good!

6. Not one trick-or-treater came by the house. Probably because I thought I turned the porch light on (welcoming sign) but I later found out that the light was off. I did walk around with my neighbors Sarah and Karen and handed out candy to little chitlins.

And that is why this week was just not that great! However, there was a bit of light that among all the poopy darkness. Yesterday Zach and I received a loving Halloween care package from my wonderful parents. In an overly stuff Manila envelope we found 2 scarves, 1 bad of Werthers candies, 1 bag of Jelly Bellies, 2 3-packs of holiday dish towels (which my step-mom Cathy is famous for), a pair of Halloween socks, and a card signed by my parents, my sister Lindsey, and our pets.


On another note. . . for Halloween Zach was a low-profile lumberjack by day and Batman by night.