It's Thanksgiving week, which means a slower pace to life (unless of course you're in charge of cooking Thanksgiving dinner, which I thankfully am not). Work isn't that busy, the commute is easier, and everyone is gearing up for time with family.
Tom and I still have some decorations to put out and some lights to hang up, so hopefully we'll get to that this weekend. Other things on my to-do list are finishing my book, and maybe watching a movie?
Let's focus on something good in the world right now, like art - sound good?
One of my favorite things about working where I do, is the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway. It's a long, winding park that replaced I-93 once the big dig was completed. It runs from the North End to Chinatown, and there's always something new to see or do. Farmers markets, food trucks, water fountains, art installations... it really is a fun part of the city.
This kind of seems like a metaphor for how life's been going lately, but this is a sign I saw this morning on my way to work:
ROAD UNDER CONSTRUCTION. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Wonderful. The only problem is that this sign is at the end of the exit ramp from I-93. There is no option to turn around or go another way once you're at this point. Even if you decide you don't want to risk it, you have no alternative.
It's homecoming week for Northeastern. It was always a busy week for me when I was still there - not as busy as Springfest week, but still busy. I was on the student activity board that planned most of the events on campus known as CUP (The Council for University Programming). It was an amazing experience, and gave me the opportunity to meet a lot of cool celebrities. However since I've graduated, CUP has gone from getting cool people, to getting my heroes. I'm not sure why it never occurred to me to try to get these people when I was there, but I have no problem enjoying them now as an alumni.
This year's homecoming headliner was Amy Poehler. Someone I've been trying to get in the same room with for years. So it was a no brainier, even though it was a "past-my-bedtime" event on a work night. And naturally I brought my best friend along.
Sometimes you put off all the things that you need to do, and convince yourself that they're not THAT important.
And then all of a sudden you can't put them off any longer. So today I sucked it up, and off I went to cross things off my list. It actually made me feel a little more at home in our town too. I made some stops that only the locals would go to. Like the library!
Last night was our first Halloween in our new house. We weren't expecting much, but still I made sure we were prepared. It's true we live in a sparsely populated area of the town, and it's true that we don't even have sidewalks or street lights - two usual requirements for trick-or-treaters, but I chose to be optimistic. I wasn't expecting hundreds of kids, but maybe we'd get tenish? And in case we did, I made sure we had a variety of candy, including full sized candy bars. FULL SIZED!
So what did we actually do in Chicago? A lot of things!
It's hard to believe its already been a month since we were there! I guess we've been pretty busy since we've been back, but we're still talking about this trip and how much fun we had. While we were there, we went to Second City, one of my favorite improv houses, and watched future SNL cast members perform some of the smartest comedy comedy sketches I've seen. We also explored the city on foot, ordered room service, and we visited the top of the Sears/Willis tower.
So you know we spent our anniversary in Chicago, but that was part vacation, and part anniversary. What did we do that was anniversary specific? I'll give you a hint, it involved breaking out our wedding shoes!
We realized that the last few years, we've had some pretty good documentation of our relationship and where we were as a couple. Two years ago, we were engaged. And we got some great photos taken in the city where we met and fell in love. We rode a carousel together and started a tradition that has us riding them in different cities across the country.
"Hey, you want to rent one of those quad bikes? It could be fun and romantic!"
I don't remember which of us suggested it, but we got it in our heads that we wanted to rent one of those double bikes that look like carts. I don't think we really had a plan after that though. So we paid for the bike, the guy pointed us down the street, and we started peddling. And then -
A year ago today, we were married! Surrounded by our friends and family, it was the most perfect day. However, that's not where my focus is today. Instead, I want to talk about what the year since that day has been like. After all that's the point, right? It's not the wedding, but the marriage that's important.
Lately the turkeys around here can breathe a little bit easier, because Tom has a new nemesis he's been focused on (and no, it's not me):
PEBBLES!
Yes, that's right... tiny, itty, bitty, rocks. Our back yard is full of them, and while they may look pretty, they don't play well with our lawn mower. We've found that over time, especially after it rains, the migrate from where they're supposed to be, to all over our lawn.
Date nights for us used to look like reservations at a fancy restaurant, meeting up after work, and heading out all dressed up to spend a few hours talking over multiple courses of a meal. Lately, various complications including shifted working hours, longer commutes and busy schedules have meant that it's been a while since we've had a night like that.
So instead, we've been taking dates nights when and wherever we can find them. Recently, that meant date night at a local furniture store after shopping for desk chairs.
There are a lot of things I love about my job. I love the work that I do, I love the people I work with, and I love the feeling that my company cares about me and my happiness at work.
But one of the things that I love the most, is the commitment to volunteering that my company fosters. There are opportunities all year long, for both individuals and teams, and most of them build around a bunch of schools we partner with. Past opportunities I've taken advantage of have included collecting backpacks and school supplies for students, fulfilling Christmas wishes, being a pen pal to a student throughout the year, and working at the annual book fair.
Recently we were invited to Nicole and Stephen's for a party and celebration. Both sets of parents were in town as well as a lot of family friends that I've known since I was a little kid. It was a great opportunity to catch up with everyone and talk weddings, and new houses, and other various life events (like Kelly's new baby who made an appearance at only 2 weeks old!).
If you've been anywhere on social media recently, you've probably seen the hashtag #FirstSevenJobs floating around. It's an interesting exercise to look back at where people got their start, and how they've worked their way up in life. Of course the internet has pretty much agreed that no one can top Buzz Aldrin's list (or have a jump quite as impressive!).