A Letter to My Blog

To my dear, sweet blog:

I promise I haven't abandoned you, darling. I've just been away for a while.

Where have I been, you ask? Oh, I've been in France and Switzerland, Seattle and Los Angeles, near and far. I've been with friends and family, acquaintances and lovers, people who make me forget time ever existed. And my travels are not finished, fair blog. Oh no. I am departing for Tuscon as early as tomorrow and I won't be back in your arms until Monday's evening. And a week from Saturday, I will flee to Eastern Washington to listen to the music of old at an outdoor festival where I will camp underneath the stars. And finally, my beloved, I will leave you once more to pay visit to a special friend in Sacramento where we will laugh and lament, reminisce and embrace, but it is only you that I think about in this moment.

It's not without regret that I must bid you farewell, my sweet. But I pledge you all the pictures in the world upon my return. You have my word, oh cherished blog. You have my solemn word.

Signing off with much sincerity and love,

Kelly Anne

Summa, Summa, Summa-time...

I love this time of the year in the Midwest. It's clean, fresh, breezy, warm, and it brings back so many good memories. Like when things weren't so complicated (read: before one needed to work to have money to pay for stuff) and I would spend summers waking up early to practice dance for five hours in the sweltering humidity or barely working at the newly-opened gas station down the road and eating my daily Wendy's Big Bacon Classic with a cup of free French Vanilla "cappuccino" or taking walks with my mom right before dusk when the heat had dissipated and the mosquitoes were ready to bite or laying outside in the backyard on my cat blanket with headphones on and one book, one magazine, one writing utensil, one pad of paper, and new CD...just in case I got bored. Ahhh. Those were all wonderful moments while they lasted.

Seattle just isn't the same. I need the pain and relief of humidity!

A New Low

I exercised in a business park today. At least it had a lake!

I'm in Fishkill, New York tonight. We just drove from Bristol, Connecticut which is the home of ESPN. Interesting, right?

I had a great, GREAT weekend in Boston. I love that city! Before driving to the home of the Red Sox, I ended my week in Portland, Maine. On my way down, I decided to take a little detour and stop in the posh Kennebunks (on the coast of Maine) for a few hours. What a beautiful place! I went to Old Orchard Beach and walked near the Atlantic...


...I got caught in a crazy thunderstorm and got ice cream...


...I made my way to Kennebunkport and did a little shopping...


...and took some pictures of the beautiful seaside town...


I couldn't decide on what kind of (homemade!) ice cream to get, so I got the "sampler" (oh man) with these flavors: Almond Joy, Mocha Chip, Peanut Butter, and Mint Chocolate Chip. I wasn't disappointed!

And in Boston, we went to a great pub called Christopher's in Porter Square on Friday night and then on Saturday, we hit the Boston Harbor Hotel for afternoon tea, the Boston Commons, Faneuil Market, the North End (where Little Italy resides), Newbury Street shopping, and strode along the Charles river. We grabbed a drink at the oldest tavern in the USA (Bell in Hand since 1795), we dined at the infamous Mike's Diner by Boston University Medical Center, we had a little snack (and pink sangria!) on the outdoor patio at Joe's on Newbury.

Overall, the weekend was wonderful and I totally want to move to Boston!

Schnectady, New York

A few fun facts about me right now:

1) I just ate at Chez Daisie Creperie in preparation for my trip to France. Yum!

2) I'm in a ramshackle, depressed city where bizarre behavior seems to be frequent. I think I've seen at least 15 people limp across the (near barren) streets of downtown. One guy tried to cross and literally just stood right in the middle of the right lane while I was trying to drive by. He was on his cell phone (not to be bothered by the 10 cars moving in the road ahead of him) and he was really indecisive when choosing what to do: Move back to the curb or cross? Move back to the curb or cross? MAKE A DAMN DECISION! I'M DRIVING AND I'M IMPATIENT AND I WILL NOT HESITATE TO RUN YOU OVER! I don't really like it here.

3) I really hate it when people rummage through my stuff on the job.

4) I'm drinking flavorless chai tea at this very moment. It's disappointing.

5) Our Holiday Inn sells pints of Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I've been dreaming about them since last time I was here in March. So, last night, I traveled down to the front desk and its adjacent "Sweet Shop" to buy some. I couldn't decide which flavor to purchase (Half Baked or Phish Food?!?) and I happened to ask a young lady who was microwaving a frozen dinner to help me with my decision. I must have appeared to be seriously contemplating getting both flavors because with a quick glance at my stomach, she said, "Are you pregnant or something?"

Uh. No.

Familiar Faces

A few weeks ago, an old friend of mine from Green Bay was out in the Seattle area with her father to visit some family. We made plans to meet up and hang out for the day which proved to be a really great time. When I dropped her off at the end of the night, her dad jumped out of the car, gave me a big hug, and said, "Well, it must be nice to see a familiar face out here in Seattle!"

I thought about this for a long time on my ride back up to the city. What does the word "familiar" mean to me? What did it mean in the past? Who or what actually constitutes as "familiar" anymore? How long do I have to know someone for them to be considered "familiar" to me?

In all honesty, Seattle is familiar to me. It has become familiar to me over time. Seattle is my home. A place I have all to myself - where I endured miserable days, never-ending papers, lots of tears, various roommates, significant life moments, late-night movies, beautifully delicious dinners, memorable birthday parties, deep conversations, and plenty of drinks. People in Seattle are my friends, friends who make this place unforgettable. And I supposed that I'm learning more and more as time passes that it's not necessarily the places you go, it's the people you meet that make those places special. I've enjoyed cities mostly because of the friends who've made those places warm and inviting for me. I'm often asked where are my most favorite places to go in the United States. Well, that's easy. I love going to visit family and friends.

What Paul may not have realized when he mentioned "familiar faces" is that the term is entirely relative. My most familiar face in Cherry Hill, New Jersey is the banquet server at the Mansion on Main. My most familiar face in Oak Lawn, Illinois is Ashley at the front desk of the Hilton off Cicero. My most familiar face in Sacramento is my best friend in the whole wide world for ever and ever times one million for life. My most familiar faces in Milwaukee are my brother and his fiancee. My most familiar faces in Green Bay are my incredibly supportive parents. And my most familiar face in Seattle (among many) is that of JH.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

Don't be fooled, I'm a narcissist at my very core, especially today! And today's no ordinary day.

Have you ever thought of that? Have you ever thought: Today, no one can know just by looking at me that it's my birthday. It's just another day for them. Another ordinary day. What if I treated EVERY DAY like my birthday? Well, I'd be up at 5am, blowing out my hair and primping at an early hour. I'd probably feel like a million bucks because that's how I feel today. But no one would be wishing me a happy birthday or singing to me or giving me presents. That would be sad. You know, I have this thought every year (the "I should treat every day like it's my birthday" thought) and I last for about 2 days. Then, it's the same old story.

Anyhow. There are two reasons why today is not ordinary.

For one: I'm in Podunk, Idaho (Boise actually) and it's a balmy, breezy 80 degrees outside. Absolutely gorgeous. It's practically summer!

For two: Duh. Today's my birthday! I'm 26! (Holy shit, time flies. I still feel like I'm 16 sometimes.) It's my most favorite day of the year! I get to be completely egocentric, boastful, narcissistic, whiny, neurotic, vain and everyone has to love me. Well, or everyone just DOES love me. It's my birthday! I mean, I usually DON'T embody those characteristics on a regular basis (Okay, so I'm a little bit neurotic at times), but today, if I want, I get to be them.

BUT, do you wanna know why I love my birthday THE MOST?

I feel unequivocally loved.

Not only am I basking in the warmth of the (summer?) sun, I'm also basking in the love of my family and friends. It's the best!

So...thank you Mom, for enduring a difficult labor and delivering me safe and sound into this strange world (not without a little amniotic fluid in my lungs, but still). Thank you Dad for contributing your genes and your parenting skills (which have improved markedly over my 26 years, might I add). Thank you Brother for annoying the hell out of me while simultaneously making me laugh (pants over knees, anyone?). Thank you to my other family members for being wonderful and crazy (it takes a village, doesn't it?). Thank you to my dear friends across the country for still being my friends despite being across the country.

Man, I'm a lucky girl. (A birthday girl!)

It's Almost My Birthday!

TWO MORE DAYS!

Can you even believe I'm almost going to be 26?!?!

I love my birthday so much.