Longing.

I know, I know. I shouldn't complain. We've basically had a heatwave for the past week (yes, 25 in January is considered a heatwave in MN- I guess we just have bigger balls then the pansies on the East Coast...), but on gloomy, cold mornings like today I can't help by long for the days of summer.

I can't wait for weekends at the lake, no snow, outdoor festivals and markets, warmth.

So, bring it on Winter! Give me your worst! Because, I know that in just a few short months, you will be gone and the spring time's soft, sunny glow will be upon us.

Dale.

Today we are going to a church to remember a man I've known all of my life. A man so full of life and the spirit of living that the world has felt a little empty and colorless since he passed last Sunday morning. If you had ever met Dale Nelson even just in passing, you'd know what I was talking about. He was so full of an exuberant passion for so many things (most notably his two sons) that it was almost addicting to be around him. As if his passion and love of life and all the things you could create while living just might rub off on you if you were to be with him just a little longer. I wish he would be here just a little longer.

Dale was such an amazing creator and lover of many things. Food, wine (I can't count the number of evenings spent with the Nelsons, my parents, good food and ALWAYS great wine), baseball, photography, writing, and a passion that some of you may not remember- landscaping. mmmhmmm. For the longest time, Dale Nelson had the most amazing front and backyard I had ever seen (not saying it's not beautiful now, but you should have seen it before his love of photography came along). Everything from exotic flowers and trees to the fountain and shed in back to the meticulously laid brick patio (that my dad still talks about laying with Tracy's dad on the hottest day that the world has ever known) was Dale. He had so much pride in his yard and it truly was beautiful.

That was one of the many beauties of Dale. He didn't just have fleeting interests that came and went, he truly studied and perfected the art that he was creating. He took so much pride in his life, created such beautiful things and always wanted to teach anyone who had the slightest interest in what he was doing. He was so engaging, intelligent, funny, loving and just cool. Saying goodbye is going to be really hard.

I will miss you very much Dale, but remembering you fills my heart with so much happiness, laughter, and love.

Merry Christmas to All!

I hope that everyone had a Christmas filled with laughter, joy and tons-o-love... I know I sure did! Chrismas is always such a chaotic time of the year-loads of people in town, year end at work, shopping for gifts- that at times it feels like the crazy will never end, but as the festivities slow down and people start to go back home, it's bittersweet. You shed tears as loved ones get back on the jet plane and just wish for a few more days. So...........

I bought myself some new boots!!!

These warm, waterproof, 20-below-proof boots will be keeping me warm through the snowiest December on MN record and what is sure to be an even snowier rest of the winter season.

Christmas is the season of giving, right? No one's ever said the giver can't also be the getter...
;)

Deep Breath... Ahhhhhh

I have been gone for a long time- an unacceptably long time and I'm sorry. I've just been crazed and stressed and blah! I'm trying to make myself accept personal responsibility in EVERY aspect of my life (for instance~ it's not Ben & Jerry's fault for creating such a delicious variety of ice creams, therefore making me fat- but it is me who decides to eat 5 of those containers...for breakfat, I mean breakfast that has added two full sized watermelons to my chest, 7 lbs of ricotta to my thighs, and stuck a midget's ass on my stomash)... BUT... year end at work sucks, I turned 26 this past Friday, it's Christmas in 2 days (what?!?!) and I'm still presentless for my 3 main squeezes, and the original Grinch is on right now.

SO THERE!

I do love this time of the year though. As hectic as my schedule is going to be for the next three days, I am going to suck up every last minute that I get with my family and friends. With everything that we have gone through in the past year, you really learn to take what life gives you, love every minute of it and share that love with everyone who is there to experience it with you.

My Christmas wish is this: Dale Nelson is one of the most intelligent, inspirational men on this little planet of ours and I am honored to have been able to grow up with him as a role model next door for the passed 25 years. Dale has a chemo resistant cancer that he has been bravely fighting for the better part of a year and after 7 separate, unfortunate chemo trials, he has moved onto radiation. This is where YOU come in... Please send all of the prayers, meditations, good juju, anything that you can muster to the care of Dale Nelson and if possible, please pass this message to anyone... everyone that you know that would like to send a piece of themselves to help this amazing man. All that I can give you in return is gratitude, from the bottom of my heart.

I leave everyone with this lovely little quote:

Welcome Christmas, bring your cheer. Cheer to all those far and near. Christmas Day is in our grasp, so long as we have hands to clasp. Christmas Day will always be, just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand to hand.

**Please feel free to post my Christmas wish for Dale on your wall. The more readers, the more thoughts of him, the better. Merry Christmas!**

.

Urga-la-shmurga-la... I have a secret... a really big secret... and for anyone who knows me... they know that I'm not good with secrets... I promised Roo I wouldn't tell it... but it's just SO big...


Ahhhhhh... That feels much better : D

Gimme! Gimme!! Gimme!!!

Mmmmmmmmm...

Since we've moved, I haven't done a lick of grocery shopping = I haven't had this delicious delicacy in fooooorever. Every little bit of this beautiful little package knocks me off my socks. My mouth is honestly watering right now... ewww... I just drooled on myself.

SO JEAL!!!

DIE DIE DIE!!!! I wonder when my invitation will come...