The Year of the Volunteer!

As I begin my second year of Florida life, I'm feeling really good about a lot of things. Having the dreaded "first year" behind me is allowing some perspective and helping me reflect on what brings balance and happiness to my life. When I lived in Minnesota volunteerism was a unique and nourishing role for me, and being away from it for the past year has definitely created a void. I've been dipping a toe into the volunteer scene in Jax lately to see where I might fit in, and recently signed on with a couple great organizations!

Ronald McDonald House is a charity I consider near and dear, thanks to my previous affiliation with the Rochester House, so I was extremely happy to find a House here in Jax! It's a beautiful 30-room facility situated near the river (yes, this locale requires me to drive into downtown... nerve-wracking, but also good for sharpening my lay of the land!) I went in for my first shift yesterday. I'm not actually working at the House, though - I'm a host in the RMH Family Room located on the 3rd Floor of the nearby Wolfson Children's Hospital. The Family Room is an additional resource to the House, and it's open to anyone with a child in the hospital (whether they are staying at RMH or are a local family just needing a place to hang out while their child receives care). The four hours I spent there were a whirlwind of activity, and I'm excited to go back. ;-) Here's a link to more Family Room info. on RMH's website: http://www.rmhjax.org/our-family-room

Junior League of Jacksonville recently accepted my application for membership. JLJ is volunteer organization I learned about from colleagues who are current members or have been previously involved. It's comprised of a diverse group of women "committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers." (quote from the website ;-) Their primary focus - to provide support for public education and foster care issues - affiliates the group with MANY great initiatives and organizations throughout the Jax community. It seems like a wonderful opportunity to invest deeply in an org. and to develop relationships with a lot of impactful, positive people! As a new member, I'll be kicking off my "provisional year" with a training retreat starting in August. More info. about JLJ an be found here: http://www.jlweb.org/jacksonville/npo.jsp?pg=home

Ending on a good note

Despite dedicating last Wednesday's entire post to rantings about the pitfalls of moral decency and basic human goodness, it didn't turn out to be such a bad week!

On Thursday five of MCF's outpatient buildings experienced a rolling black-out, plunging hundreds of us into a dim, computer-less void with nothing more to do than sit dumbly in our chairs whilst straining our ears in silent prayer for the ongoing hum of air-conditioning. The black-out was not necessarily a good thing, but it was an interesting three hour exercise in adaptability and creativity. Those old reports stacked under my desk awaiting dismantling? Gone! That outdated list of "to-do's" on my white board? Call them current! The mailings being neglected all week? Signed, sealed, delivered! The filing that's been piling up forever? Completed! (by our marvelous secretaries, who worked by FLASHLIGHT). It's truly amazing what you can accomplish without electricity...

Arriving home on Thursday evening brought another noteworthy occasion... the return of my plant! I'm still pondering what on God's green earth motivated my neighbor to swipe the thing for one day, but I'll probably never know. What I DO know is that this leafy number's permanent new home is MY deck -- an enclosed, secure second story area.
So what do you do to celebrate when good wins over evil? You go to a fashion show! And when you realize upon arriving that the size 0 models will be a bit delayed in hitting the runway in their fabulous, barely-there frocks, you head to the bistro next door to slurp up wine and decadent appetizers. ;-)

Friday, as it turned out, marked my one year anniversary of beginning work in Jax. I was so excited I stayed up late baking muffins for the crew. Here's a recipe that seemed to win a few fans (especially Mr. Befort, who walked into my office to hoist his third serving in the air and proclaim, "Well done... well done!").

BANANA NUT MUFFINS
1/2 cup(s) sugar
5 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
1 large egg(s)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 teaspoon each of cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger
1/4 cup(s) fat-free skim milk
4 large banana(s), ripe, mashed
¼ c. small walnut pieces

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line 18 muffin holes with paper liners.

Place sugar and butter in a large bowl; cream with an electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg and vanilla; beat until thoroughly mixed.

In another large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger. Add half of flour mixture to butter mixture; beat well with mixer. Add milk and remaining flour mixture; beat until batter is combined and then fold in mashed bananas.

Spoon batter into muffin liners about 3/4 full. Top with walnuts pieces. Bake until muffins start to brown and a tester inserted in center of a muffin comes out clean, about 25 to 30 minutes.

Current mood: Absolutely livid

It's been darn hot in Florida this week, folks -- I'm not going to lie. Successive days of mid to highs 90s (mind you, those temps become three digits once the heat index is factored in) when your car air-conditioner is hopelessly broken and in need of a $1,000 repair job can cause some discomfort and irritability. Such was my state when I trucked home tonight late from work and from picking Libby up at the groomer where, surprise, surprise it was also time for lots of expensive annual shots and exams!

So I dodged the beams and barricades roping off the recent re-pave job in the parking lot and ascended the breezeway stairs with nothing on my mind but getting into the cool reprieve of my apartment. But as I approached the door I immediately noticed something was awry... my plant was missing! When I moved here last year and was sprucing up my digs, I bought a pot with large, palmy foliage to green things up a bit. It's been with me for almost a year, and when I moved over to the new unit I thought it might look nice sitting just outside my door. And it did... until it was STOLEN.

Honestly, who steals a plant?! And more importantly, who is inane enough to steal a plant and then display it on their deck for your plain view as you walk your dog around the path of the complex where you both live? My neighbor, that is who. Un-freakin-believable. I don't know who lives in the unit directly across the hall from me, but I am 100 percent positive that the individual or individuals took my plant today. I seethed all through my walk and ultimately decided to attempt an even-tempered, proactive reaction. I steeled my courage, positioned myself in front of the perp's door, plastered a smile on my face and delivered two sharp knocks. Light was shining from behind the window blinds and noise could be heard within, but no one came to the door. I knocked again. And again. Whoever was in there had enough time to peek through the peep hole, see my falsely assertive smile and decide it was better not to answer the door.

But I will not be deterred. I personally wouldn't think of walking off with someone else's pen, so the idea of stealing another's belongings absolutely abhors me. Could I skip up the road to Wal-Mart and plunk down another $15 for a new plant? Yep, I definitely could. But I'm going to try really hard to get this one back!!! Even if it brands me "weird, obsessive girl in #308." ;-)

Dress anxiety

So I'm going to the alterations shop in about an hour to have my bridesmaid dress scrutinized. Gulp. No big deal. I've been working out... I've been feeling good... I've been cutting back on sugar... Okay, let's be honest - I'm more confident about the fact that I've got a pair of Spanx buried somewhere in my dresser drawer that have at least half the intended degree of elasticity still intact. Wish me luck!

Hope everyone is having a great week. ;-)

Progress?

So Libby and I have been in the apt. unit for a full week now. I think the new digs are starting to grow on her. In the mornings she no longer greets me with sleepy little eyes peeking out from under the pantry shelf - she's now curling up into a ball just OUTSIDE the pantry door. (I swear there is a comfy pink doggie bed beckoning from the other end of the kitchen - odd how it's not appealing to her).
It's worth sharing that Libby is a pretty decent roommate most of the time; however there are times like tonight where the skill of speech would be greatly appreciated. Accusations like, "What happened to the last jello cup?" and questions like, "Have you seen my i-pod charger?!" and shrieks like, "Stupid baby gate!" as one trips, sprawls and bangs one's knee on the linoleum are somewhat lost. I think I have a couple ice packs in the freezer...

6.6.09

I feel like the biggest poser right now... I'm sitting at a Barnes and Noble Starbucks, plugged into my laptop and headphones with every intention of finishing up a report. The older gentleman at the next table interrupted me to comment on how much he's enjoying my expressions (evidently I wear every instance of frustration and break-through on my face!) Thank goodness the only thing I face at work is a monitor and a very un-inspiring papered wall.

It's the end of another steamy, rainy weekend in Florida, but my thoughts were definitely in Minnesota the past few days. Mikey and Carv tied the knot on Saturday. ;-) Congrats to the only couple I know whose history dates back to the pre-driver's license era! There's no doubt their wedding was an amazingly memorable, wonderful, hilarious affair. Pictures can't come fast enough -- start facebooking NOW, all you lucky attendees who likely gripped and flashed your digital cams through every dancing, druken moment of the night.

A priceless Memorial weekend outing

Discounted tickets to spend 5 hours aboard the SunCruz Casino Boat (the only gambling venue in Jax): $3.00
Picturesque evening view of the Mayport shore as you cruise out into the choppy Atlantic waters: Free.

Bottom-of-the-barrel mixed drinks served up in tiny plastic cups: $5 each.

Realizing half an hour into the adventure you are terribly vulnerable to seasickness and it's too late for dramamine to help you: PRICELESS.

Aaaaand we're off!

Today marks the first official day of Hurricane Season! Thus, I'm staring down the barrel of six months worth of grim-lipped, brow-furrowed, worrisome weather watching -- not by me, but by my nervous mother back in MN. (Honestly, does the national forecast really need to air on Midwestern news stations?!) All kidding aside, I probably do need to give some thought to a personal hurricane plan this year. Last summer I kind of skirted through by purchasing a couple extra gallon jugs of water to plop on my pantry shelf and called it a day. Jax was fortunate, though, (and has been so historically) so I'm going to cross my fingers for another mild season!

Today is also my first full day in the new apartment unit. After a full weekend of packing, lifting, climbing stairs, directing movers, unpacking, breaking down boxes and cleaning, I'm still not completely settled in - but I'm pretty close! I'm running into some storage challenges (no more guest bedroom closet to stash the random/bulky items in) but overall I'm really happy with the new layout and cozier set-up. This morning I came into the kitchen to greet Libby, and found her curled into a ball under the bottom shelf in the little pantry closet. She's obviously going to need a couple days to adjust to our new environment!

Of Mice and Moving

A very exciting day to blog about! This morning at work Jason discovered a live mouse wedged between his file cabinet and cubicle partition. SICK. We all peered in to get a look at the scared little thing, and when I spied its beady black eyes I couldn't help but scream and jump from the counter I was standing on (nearly twisting my ankle landing in heels). Good way to get the whole office tweaked! Maintenace came a bit later on and clobbered it... I was in a meeting at the time, but those nearby reported trauma at hearing the terrible squeals and shrieks. Though general consensus was to donate our furry friend to one of the research buildings, I'm fairly certain he met a different end. First task tomorrow morning? Empty the orange peels and used yogurt containers from the garbage under my desk!

This evening I continued my moving efforts. Nooo, I'm not moving back to Minnesota - I'm only traveling two buildings away to a smaller (cheaper) unit on my current complex. Earlier this year the management office sent me the renewal offer on my current apartment at a much higher rate - and refused to negotiate. ARGH! The letter came the week I was on a big "I refuse to spend money on things I don't really need!" kick, so partially out of defiance and mostly due to frugality, I decided to downgrade to a one bed/one bath. The prospect of a little less space is forcing me to go through bins, boxes and cabinets to purge excess. It's been a good cleansing activity, and will culminate in one large haul to the local Goodwill. ;-) Movers are coming this weekend to do the heavy lifting and hauling. Starting Monday, I'll be in #308. Please feel free to update your contact information!

Jax = spring break for Minnesotans!

Earlier this year Kristi Jean the school teacher got to escape Minnesota while her students were escaping the classroom for spring break. We had a great time bumming around Jax while she was here for nearly a week in late March/early April! Fortunately there were enough nice weather days to do a lot of the things we had planned outdoors as well as indoors... We made it to the beach, pool, baseball game, an afternoon at the Landing and Main Library, a Dueling Pianos performance, and some fun dinners.

Cheering on the FSU/UF players at Jax Baseball grounds (and probably still a little elated from inhaling huge ball park franks with all the fixings. ;-)
Go Seminoles! Er, go Gators! I guess we wanted both teams to have a good game. Unfortunately a winner was never determined, because a huge storm hit at the bottom of the sixth inning, the game was cancelled and the park vacated.
Posing in front of the big blue bridge downtown.
An afternoon at the Jacksonville Landing...

...where we found some very cultured establishments!
Drinks and bruschetta at The American Cafe! Notice our opposing team shirts? We had a little fun with letting people think we were bitter sports rivals (when in reality we'd run out to Wal-Mart the night before and raided the clearance racks. ;-)

We had an indulgent four-course dinner at The Melting Pot... seriously, food has never been such an event. Uffdah.

Pretend it's 4/4/09...

... the day of Lucas's first birthday party! Unfortunately I didn't make it back to Minnesota for the occasion, but I did manage to snag some pictures from Mom's camera. A full house of family and friends came to help celebrate, and Lukie had a great day! Mom told me he didn't know what to do with his "smash cake"... they put it in front of him on his high chair tray, and he just stared at it. They tried to help him out by sticking his hands into it, but having messy frosting fingers made him cry! Poor little guy. He opened lots of wonderful gifts, but the favored item of the day ended up being a balloon-on-a-stick. ;-) Go figure.

Just before turning a year, Lukie gave his Mom and Dad a great present ... he started walking! He's cruising all around the house these days and is accumulating an impressive collection of little sneakers and sandals. I can't wait to see him -- hopefully there will be a couple nice trips back over the summer.

Enjoy the pics...

Happy Anniversary to me (and my mortgage)

Last night during a gab session with Kristi, the topic of Troy's new house in Roch. came up... he finally found a great place on the west side and is beyond excited to close next week, overhaul with new carpet and fresh paint, and get his stuff moved in. As we talked about his plans, I reflected on the date (April 20) and realized it marked the passage of exactly two years since the day I inked the mortgage papers on my beloved Deerhaven condo. WOW. Much has happened since the day I became a home owner...

My home became worth less than what I purchased it for (or will be paying for the next 28 years).
I left my home for a new life in FL (where I'm a renter again... sigh).
My bedroom got a new occupant (Kristi Jean -- who, bless her, has yet to demand permission to paint over my dark purple walls).
I became a landlord. (Well, in the barest sense of the concept. I don't get to cruise by the property to "check on things" or have to pop in to "fix things" -- thank goodness for Larry Tork-Tork).
My association fees went up. TWICE. (Dang economy/inflation).
My insurance coverage expanded to include practically the full gamut of natural disasters (snow damage and tornados in Minn., hurricanes and floods in Flor.)

Life's good when you're a homeowner, huh? Only time will tell if April 20, 2010 marks the same anniversary!

Recap from Jules' trip -- seriously overdue

Julie K. decided to escape the drudgery of MN winter and pay me a visit at the beginning of March. We go way back (friends since high school and roommates for more than half of the college years) so having her here was a real treat! Plus, since she's lived with me before, I knew I could be a little lax on the spic-and-span/proper hostess role. Very nice!

While she was here we decided to drive up to Savannah to spend an entire day exploring the historic district via Old Town Trolley Tour. I had no idea the city was so close by (only 150 miles north of Jax) and so enchanting! The two dozen quadrants that make up the historic district were not touched by the ravages of war -- leaving centuries old stone streets, quaint buildings, river architecture, parks, monuments, etc. for us to enjoy. Some of the highlights of our day included: Touring the home of Girls Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Lowe, visiting the green fountain in Forsythe Park (dyed in honor of St. Paddy's Day), being denied both lunch AND dinner reservations at Paula Deen's famous "The Lady and Sons" restaurant, trolling the shops/taverns/sights along River Street, and gobbling up some fabulous, gooey, warm homemade taffy at Savannah Candy Kitchen. (Side note -- I purchased a half-price pashmigna at a little boutique and STILL haven't worn it). It was a long and tiring day, but Jules and I both loved the time we spent in the city. I can't wait to go back!

After a hard day at the beach (notice the scorched chests), dinner at Bonefish Grill was in order. My plate of portofina chop w/garlic mashed and edamame was so drool-worthy I had to take a picture...

We discovered there is a Budweiser Brewery on the north side of the city that offers free tours and complimentary tastings. We learned all about brewing processes, company history and ingredients like hopps, rice, wheat and barley. (Dontcha know they grow some of those essential crops in Minnesota and ship 'em on down to the South?) During our tour we also got to see areas of production in action. On our way out we met Larry the Clydesdale, a 2,000 pound replica of Budweiser's famous and legendary mascot.

The rain in Spain falls mainly... on Jax!

Sorry, Eliza Doolittle -- can't give you the whole line tonight. The skies of Jax are wide open, the night is a watery, thundering mess, and the ceiling in my kitchen has sprung a small leak. When most people think of inclement weather in FL, hurricanes come to mind, right? Well, give us tornado watches too. Given the icky conditions, it probably wasn't a good idea to run to the store for groceries... there's nothing like unpacking and toweling off boxes of Special K, spaghetti, and Smart Ones. Storms like this mean summer is undoubtedly upon us. Which means I'm officially retiring the hair straightener again. Sigh.

I apologize I've neglected to post for well over a month now. Unfortunately the majority of my photo updates end up on facebook more expediently than the blog, but I'll attempt to catch up in the coming days!

Off to place a pot under the leak, lock Libb-libb in the kitchen for the night, and hit the hay... Libb is a little scared of storms, but I thank heaven she's not as neurotic as Marley of Marley and Me. (A very sweet movie - my most recent redbox rental).

Jules is coming!!!

My first MN visitor of 2009 arrives tomorrow evening for a long weekend vacation. She picked a great time to come... it's been a bit chilly in Jax lately (the coldest winter since 2000/01, in fact!) but the weather Gods appear to be cooking up a beautiful weekend for us with highs in the 70s and 80s. I'm probably putting a bit too much planning and research into our proposed itinerary of activities -- I will not be one bit surprised if my little winter-weary buddy tells me that all she wants to do is lay on the beach or beside the pool. I can definitely swing that. ;-)

I wonder...

How come the Academy Awards don't garner the celebratory frenzy the Super Bowl does each year? No grocery fliers boasting sales on food items prepared in crocks... no one calling in sick on Monday due to partying too late... no buzz about the cost of a 30-second commercial spot... it's all a little disconcerting to me!

When the bugs will return? Not that I'm missing them! Last summer (my first in Jax) was a miserable period of home invasion and reluctant bug-hunting/murdering. The cooler winter weather has been wonderful reprieve, but I fear the days of spotting palmetto bugs clinging to the wall above my bed are right around the corner. **Shudder**

Why FL toddlers keep disappearing? It seems that one case doesn't even close before the news media is all over a new one. It's heartbreaking and very, very troubling.

If Lucas has started walking yet. Baby boy is quickly approaching the one-year mark, and is busy marking milestones all across the board. It's a joy to hear stories and receive pictures, but it's just not the same! I'm hoping to get back to MN in the next few months for an all-Lucas weekend.

If obscure holidays like President's Day merit anything more than a free day for government workers and gangbusters sales promotions for furniture stores/car dealers? Yawn.

When the economics stimulus will start showing up in the form of small increases in our paychecks. Not sure, but this may bode well for a return of Starbucks expenditures to my budget! (I'm not doing so hot with the do-it-at-home coffee maker... meh).

Why I continue to unnecessarily bundle in layers for the occasionally "brisk" weather down here. Do I have terribly poor circulation? Was my hardy Midwestern upbringing a mere illusion? Whatever the reasons, I continue to be grateful I hung onto my collection of coats, hats, mittens and scarves. But don't let that deter you from planning your spring trips to visit me, you winter-weary Minn-ah-sohtans! It's still much warmer here, and it's still much closer to the ocean. ;-)

Ruuuuuuun, Forrest! Run!!!

Last Sunday nearly 7,000 participated in the Breast Cancer Marathon here in Jax, and I was thrilled to be one of them!

All runners were required to be lined up by 7:30 a.m., so the day started quite early. It was more than a little odd to see so much activity and energy congregating in the pre-dawn. Cheryl and Marc signed up to be volunteers, and had to report to campus by 6 a.m. to catch a bus out to their assigned stop. Yikes! I guess the day started even earlier for some of us. ;-)

Doing the race with a wonderful group (pictured below: Yinka, Cayla and Michelle) made for a really memorable experience. In the weeks leading up to the race, the four of us met on Saturday mornings at 8 a.m. to train. The night before the race, Michelle hosted us at her place for a fabulous carb-loading dinner. I'm honestly still having salacious dreams about the heapings of spaghetti, meatballs, garlic bread and red velvet cake. Only when I'm gearing up for a half marathon is it acceptable to eat like that!

Aaaaand we're off! San Pablo Road and the MC campus were transformed into a veritable marathon village for an entire day... it was an amazing and unforgettable sight. The marathon route took us over the bridge and into Jax Beach. The residential streets and beach stretch were full of awesome supporters. Bands were performing at various locations, and spectators young and old were lined along the route with noisemakers, encouraging signs and pink-clad pets.

At one point early in the race (around mile #3, I believe) there was a commotion behind me and I looked back just as another runner took a hard fall onto his front and a group clustered to him yelling, "Runner down!" Seeing he was adequately assisted, I continued on my way, but was troubled by a nagging thought: Did I let Cheryl know I put her down as my local emergency contact in case I have trouble along the route?! I couldn't remember, but was comforted in knowing my drivers' license and medical insurance card were tucked away with my i-pod and chewing gum supply in the plastic baggie wedged into my sport bra.

Crossing the finish line... Kudos to the random 9-year-old kid who unknowingly served as my pacer for that last treacherous mile over the JTB bridge!

2/15/09 was a day to witness and feel many good things, and it will continue to be the impetus for many more. All the proceeds from the race support breast cancer research, with a majority going to MC's programs. With efforts like these, we come closer and closer to finishing breast cancer. And that is a sweet, sweet thing.

I'm still here...

I've just been a little low-key lately. My sincerest apologies to all the fans!

Hopefully the New Year has been treating everyone well so far. According to statistics, most people who make resolutions will have abandoned them by now. Perhaps it's the looming lure of pink-and-red M&M's, heart-shaped cookies and gooey V-Day chocolates. Or maybe it's simply a lack of time to consistently do the things we'd really like to do -- and know are really good for us. Take last night: I'd have LIKED to hit the trails around my complex with Libby, walking to my daily goal of 10,000 steps and further conditioning my legs for this weekend's upcoming half-marathon. I know that would have been a really good way to spend my evening. But somehow my bottom became glued to the couch for an entire episode of American Idol. UGH.

My very best wishes to everyone out there who is diligently sticking to their goals! And to those, like me, who experience the occasional unproductive evening, let's find solace and triumph in some of the smaller accomplishments. For example...

* I finally purchased a coffee maker and am producing my own brew at home. Hallelujah to removing Starbucks expenditures from my weekly budget!

* I organized the piles on my desk yesterday into a slightly less severe semblance of chaos.

* I started the last section of the book I've been trying to complete for over a month.

* I finally re-connected with a dear friend who moved to the other side of the world after college and just recently returned to the states... to live in the SE!

* I vacuumed my car and discovered in it's hidden places: a set of keys I thought I'd lost, my cherished coupon envelope, and my missing lip gloss. Score!

Count all your little accomplishments, and feel great about them. Have a good week, everyone. ;-)

The BIG one

Today, January 26, is a big day for Miss Em Joy... it marks her golden birthday! When I first learned of the "golden birthday" concept as a child, I decided it was probably the most special occasion in an individual's life. And I couldn't believe I would have to wait until age 25 to see MINE. I remember seething with longing and envy at age nine, when my brother was allowed to invite friends over for an afternoon of swimming, egg races, bbq, and baseball to celebrate his golden 10th. Sixteen years later, unaffected by the perspective of adult reality, I continue to regard all birthdays as extremely special. To that end, cheers to Em Joy for a wonderful day and many golden moments in the year ahead!

Speaking of "big ones," my 1/2 marathon training walk held this past Saturday was an ambitious 13 miles. Did I endure the entire route, thus assuring myself I would be capable of such an undertaking on the actual day of the race? Unfortunately, No. Around 10.5 miles the bottom of my right foot began throbbing with the birth of a blister and my toenails ached as badly as if an anvil had been dropped on them. I called it quits early, and by the time I'd hobbled to my car my pedometer read 11 miles. Close - but no cigar. Thankfully, in the few weeks left before the race, there will be plenty of opportunities to give the big one another shot!

Probably Minnesota's biggest wuss

I hope everyone up North is surviving the Arctic chill! Take comfort in knowing your plight is well-observed around the country. The local Jax morning weather forecast often includes an "if you can believe it" segment to share about the temperatures in Minnesota. I must confess I feel a strange swell of hardy Mid-western pride (and wonder if people down here believe there is actually a town called Embarrass).

Many of you have been in touch to report on the horrific magnitude of recent weather misery, and to put forth inquiries like, "Aren't you glad you're not here?" and, "Boy, aren't you lucky you don't have to drive on snow and ice?" To answer: Yes, and Yes! Although the majority of my formative years were marked by Minnesota seasons, I'm beginning to doubt my ability to endure the winter up there anymore.

The worst of winter in Jax has presented itself as morning and evening lows in the 20s and 30s... When I'm outside walking the dog during these lows -- puffing a thin cloud of breath into the air, observing steam rise off the ponds, and contemplating shortening our route to return indoors more quickly -- I remind myself I'm lucky to be breathing outside at all!

Keep on keepin' on, my friends. ;-)

Philanthropists know how to party

Last Saturday the annual Department year-end celebration was held at the Drummond house, and a wonderful time was had by all! But really how can you go wrong when you buy an arsenal of CostCo appetizers and desserts, mark the invitation "BYOB" and throw in a White Elephant exchange?

My Big Fat Minnesota Holiday

I was fortunate to take a very long trip back home to Minnesota over the holidays and got to spend lots of time with family and friends. Before I left Florida I was entertaining all sorts of romantic delusions about snow and all the typical "winter things" I wanted to do once I was there. Cross country skiing! Ice-skating followed by steaming cups of cocoa! Shoot, let's even build a snowman if there's time.

Well it seems my blood has thinned and acclimated to the more favorable climate more quickly than I'd anticipated because I discovered I had absolutely NO ambition to spend a single extra minute outside in that terrible bone-chilling cold. It was frigid even by Minnesota standards, with actual temps one day of -10. Extra layers of pants, socks and sweaters were the name of the game. However I didn't let the weather hold me back from all the indoor things I wanted to do... Here are several pics from the merriment, in reverse chronological order.

I had time to stop into Winona on New Year's Day to visit old friends at CMH -- including my dear switchboard gal Carol.

It was wonderful to be back with the girls for another NYE in LaCrosse! In keeping with tradition, I made sure to don a tacky, sparkly hat. Past years have featured a white plastic top hat and a headband made of cardboard wine glasses.

The whole crowd at The Library (cleverly named bar in a town with a large college population) busted into a massive group dance when the new Kanye song was played. I couldn't figure it out, but it looked kind of like hip-hop meets the Electric Slide meets country line dancing. This is the dress I have to get fit to wear by July 18. Gulp. It's actually been ordered in magenta with really pale lavendar accents -- Tare and Shack's wedding is going to be so beautiful! Brunch with high school friends was like a mini-reunion. While we dined we actually discussed plans for our upcoming 10-year NPHS reunion-- THAT was kind of scary.

Santa came. Lukie sat. Lukie screamed. Santa still gave Lukie a present.

On Dad's side, do we just drink when we get together for Christmas? Heck no! We gamble, too. That big group around the bar played several rounds of a dice game called "654." Not sure why I'm smiling in the background there because I lost EVERY SINGLE TIME. Good thing we were only staking 50 cents a round.
Lucas is too young to formulate these thoughts now, but I fear one day he will come to regard me as "my aunt who lives in Florida and always gives me books as presents." THAT is the face of excitement! (Actually, I think he was focusing on the bouncy zebra horse Grandma gave him and plotting his dash out of my lap).Family smiles in front of the Christmas tree -- always a good photo op. ;-) Russ and Carrie hosted our immediate family at their new place this year, and Grandma and Grandpa were able to join us.
Russ helped model the new Nikes us kids chipped in to buy Mom. Nothing like starting the New Year off with a good, supportive pair of pink sneaks.
Christmas on Mom's side -- I'm noticing that Grandma and Grandpa are almost concealed by their herd of grandkids (and that's not the whole group!). Probably Uncle Mark will never grow up... but that's a good thing. ;-)For whatever reason, when Lucas gets zipped into his snowsuit his little arms stick straight out like a signaling guard in a cross walk. Hehehe.