I'm a two-faced fundraiser.
I have one foot out the door at The Joyce, where I am only going to be employed for another 13 days. But that foot is stuck in the cement that is my Auction (aka second most exhausting benefit event of the year), and I can't seem to escape. It's fine. I've been doing this for years. It means late night, working weekends, not sleeping, and needing someone to remind me when to eat. It's a process that involves minor mental breakdowns, but always ends up being a great event that I actually enjoy in the end.
But there is something different this time.
That one foot that is out the door at The Joyce is already finding its way to my new job. I've started going to their donor events and being notified about meetings and such. It's actually great to get a feel for the place and meet the staff and Board and such. Just last night I attended an event that was lovely and made me relax. And it was super Irish - a room full of about 25 people and there were two other Maureens there. And they serve Jameson. Love it. But the problem was, I had to go from that evening event BACK to work on the Auction.
I'm exhausted. There aren't enough hours in the day as it is. And I am trying to do two jobs at once. Oh, and train the new person who will be taking over my job in 8 hours spread over 2 days. And write a guide for her to do my job.... all in my spare time.
And so ends my venting session. Back to work.
PS - This is a preview of what I've been working on!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
More updates? Sorta?
Small updates about my 101 list. And a non-update that will serve as a public service announcement.
The Broadway list continues to grow! (#19). Saw Scottsboro Boys last week, with plans to see several more works in the coming weeks (hectic schedule permitting. Seeing an Off-Broadway show tonight (counted) and another one next week (not yet counted). So that's good. Still haven't managed to take anyone to their FIRST Broadway show (#15), but I'm working on it.
This weekend is the weekend away with the ladies in my life (#1, as previously posted) and I am just so excited to get away and relax outside the city!
Aaaand, my PSA about #44: I am not counting this in my list, because it was a very isolated incident, and not something I plan to continue... but I noticed in the drug store the other day that they had green toilet paper! Brilliant! So I bought it, thinking that it is something I am just going to flush anyway, and it could help me be more green. Terrible decision. If you see it in the store, keep on walking and make a conscious effort to find another way to save the environment. A few that have worked out well for me are carrying collapsible bags in my purse so I can use those instead of plastic bags when I am running errands, and recycled coffee filters and paper towels at work. My company has also started using all-green cleaning products, so everything around me smells like cilantro and citrus. But I can't take personal responsibility for that, so I am not counting it. Seriously, though. Stick with the Charmin.
The Broadway list continues to grow! (#19). Saw Scottsboro Boys last week, with plans to see several more works in the coming weeks (hectic schedule permitting. Seeing an Off-Broadway show tonight (counted) and another one next week (not yet counted). So that's good. Still haven't managed to take anyone to their FIRST Broadway show (#15), but I'm working on it.
This weekend is the weekend away with the ladies in my life (#1, as previously posted) and I am just so excited to get away and relax outside the city!
Aaaand, my PSA about #44: I am not counting this in my list, because it was a very isolated incident, and not something I plan to continue... but I noticed in the drug store the other day that they had green toilet paper! Brilliant! So I bought it, thinking that it is something I am just going to flush anyway, and it could help me be more green. Terrible decision. If you see it in the store, keep on walking and make a conscious effort to find another way to save the environment. A few that have worked out well for me are carrying collapsible bags in my purse so I can use those instead of plastic bags when I am running errands, and recycled coffee filters and paper towels at work. My company has also started using all-green cleaning products, so everything around me smells like cilantro and citrus. But I can't take personal responsibility for that, so I am not counting it. Seriously, though. Stick with the Charmin.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
The longest blog post ever.
You had fair warning. This will indeed be a lengthy blog post. Mostly because I have been neglecting my blog in writing, but not in spirit, as I have checked off a number of tasks on my 101 Things To Do in 1,001 Days list.
Let's begin and the beginning of the list, and then go on until we reach the end. And then stop.
#1 - Plan another GODDESS Weekend with the girls
The original GODDESS weekend was an acronym. Something corny that we never really settled on, but it was along the lines of Girls Out Doing Disney Enjoy Silly Situations or Special Seconds... something like that. It was a long weekend trip with me, my mom, and my aunt in Disney World. We managed to hit every park, do everything we wanted to do, and throw ourselves into the biggest laughing fits we could imagine. I consider myself lucky that my Aunt has been one of my closest friends to me since I can remember. My mom was a phenomenal mother when I was growing up, and an even better friend now that I am an adult. The three of us had an amazing time, and it was a break we all needed to relax, unwind, and have an exorbitant amount of fun. In two weeks, I am happy to say that we are taking off again! This time to a cute little town in New Hampshire, along with cousin Donna. I am looking forward to changing leaves, endless laughs, a little R & R, and no tax on alcohol.
#6 - Visit an out-of-state friend or family member that I have never visited before
Andy and I just went on a trip to the lovely state of Maine to visit his (and now, my) Aunt Susan, Uncle Paul, and the one-and-only Grandpa Izzy. We had such a nice visit - relaxing, outlet shopping, visiting Old Orchard Beach, and eating until we were just about ready to explode! It was great to visit without a million other things going on at once, since normally we only get to see this part of the family for weddings, birthdays, or other occasions where there is lots of hustle and bustle. And while those occasions are always a treat, it leaves very little time to sit and talk, which was one of the best things about our trip! Thanks for hosting us, Susan, Paul, and Izzy!
#19 (sort of) - See one Broadway show for every month of this challenge
Perhaps I should have made clearer rules for myself when I began this challenge. The ultimate goal was to see a total of 33 Broadway shows in my 1,001 days. I decided early on that it didn't actually have to be one per month, as long as the total was 33 or higher. What I didn't include in the rules was whether or not to count shows that I had seen before. Or, in some cases, multiple times. Technically, I am still going to see a Broadway show. But I don't know that I want it to count. I am adding a sub-counter to #19 for just this reason. I am also adding to my Just For Fun, Off-Broadway count. All good things.
#56 - Do something amazing and unexpected at work
I am pretty sure this counts... I am changing jobs! The unexpected part came when I resigned from my current position. The amazing part is the job that I am going to be taking on, starting in a little over a month. I have to be honest, this was kind of what I had in mind when I created this goal, but I am more excited about my new position than I can put into words. I am going to be taking on a lot of responsibility, and really exploring Irish culture in a way I've never explored it before. I was thrilled to log into the website of my new theater company recently and see that they have an upcoming show by my favorite Irish playwright which begins in just a few weeks. It will be a big change for me, but hopefully a good one.
#68 - Play hooky from work all day and don't feel bad about it.
I won't go into detail about this one. Suffice it to say it was a while ago (before I accepted my new job) and that it was relaxing and delightful. I don't really take much time off from work for sick days and things like that, so this is out of character for me. But I am glad I did. Everyone should take a mental health day, once in a while!
#82 - Go somewhere that's haunted
Andy and I had a delightful visit to Maryland to spend time with my dear friend, Chris. We had a phenomenal weekend, but would expect nothing less than a glorious time when then three of us are together. One of the things Chris planned for us while we were there was a haunted walking your of Annapolis. If you've never been there, it is a wonderful town to just go walk around as it is. It's picturesque and perfect, with old houses, beautiful views of the bay, lots of boats, and buildings that are steeped in history. The Naval Academy is also there, so lots of chivalrous folks who say "good evening" and take off their hats when they go inside anywhere, and hold doors. And somehow manage to stay clean while dressed in head-to-toe white. I don't understand. But that's beside the point. The walking tour was great - not only because if was a gorgeous evening for a walk after the sun set, but because the guide knew all the history of the families that lived in each of the places we stopped. He was great about pointing out things that are old wives' tales, or things that we take for granted. He stopped our tour when a black cat crossed in front of us on the street and told us it was a sign, since we were standing outside one of the "haunted" houses. He made sure that everyone in the group said "bless you" when someone sneezed, since sneezing is a sign that the devil was on your shoulder, which is why you need people to give you their blessings from God to get him off. He took us into the sickroom of the William Paca house, where his daughter died. And then left our tour group in a cemetery in the the middle of town, where there were ginormous spiders that must have been on steroids crawling all over only one of the graves. It was a great time!
And because of these tasks, I have to contribute to...
#27 - Transfer $20 into my savings account for every goal completed from the list
So, here goes another $120 into my savings account. I think this was a smart "reward system" for me to give myself as I checked off goals from my list, since I like to just leave my savings account alone. But being broke makes this more painful than rewarding. Oh well... I am the one who made these rules, right?
There is more to come, I am sure. I feel like I've told myself several times recently that I had something that I wanted to put in my blog, but I figured I would start with just the list.
Let's begin and the beginning of the list, and then go on until we reach the end. And then stop.
#1 - Plan another GODDESS Weekend with the girls
The original GODDESS weekend was an acronym. Something corny that we never really settled on, but it was along the lines of Girls Out Doing Disney Enjoy Silly Situations or Special Seconds... something like that. It was a long weekend trip with me, my mom, and my aunt in Disney World. We managed to hit every park, do everything we wanted to do, and throw ourselves into the biggest laughing fits we could imagine. I consider myself lucky that my Aunt has been one of my closest friends to me since I can remember. My mom was a phenomenal mother when I was growing up, and an even better friend now that I am an adult. The three of us had an amazing time, and it was a break we all needed to relax, unwind, and have an exorbitant amount of fun. In two weeks, I am happy to say that we are taking off again! This time to a cute little town in New Hampshire, along with cousin Donna. I am looking forward to changing leaves, endless laughs, a little R & R, and no tax on alcohol.
#6 - Visit an out-of-state friend or family member that I have never visited before
Andy and I just went on a trip to the lovely state of Maine to visit his (and now, my) Aunt Susan, Uncle Paul, and the one-and-only Grandpa Izzy. We had such a nice visit - relaxing, outlet shopping, visiting Old Orchard Beach, and eating until we were just about ready to explode! It was great to visit without a million other things going on at once, since normally we only get to see this part of the family for weddings, birthdays, or other occasions where there is lots of hustle and bustle. And while those occasions are always a treat, it leaves very little time to sit and talk, which was one of the best things about our trip! Thanks for hosting us, Susan, Paul, and Izzy!
#19 (sort of) - See one Broadway show for every month of this challenge
Perhaps I should have made clearer rules for myself when I began this challenge. The ultimate goal was to see a total of 33 Broadway shows in my 1,001 days. I decided early on that it didn't actually have to be one per month, as long as the total was 33 or higher. What I didn't include in the rules was whether or not to count shows that I had seen before. Or, in some cases, multiple times. Technically, I am still going to see a Broadway show. But I don't know that I want it to count. I am adding a sub-counter to #19 for just this reason. I am also adding to my Just For Fun, Off-Broadway count. All good things.
#56 - Do something amazing and unexpected at work
I am pretty sure this counts... I am changing jobs! The unexpected part came when I resigned from my current position. The amazing part is the job that I am going to be taking on, starting in a little over a month. I have to be honest, this was kind of what I had in mind when I created this goal, but I am more excited about my new position than I can put into words. I am going to be taking on a lot of responsibility, and really exploring Irish culture in a way I've never explored it before. I was thrilled to log into the website of my new theater company recently and see that they have an upcoming show by my favorite Irish playwright which begins in just a few weeks. It will be a big change for me, but hopefully a good one.
#68 - Play hooky from work all day and don't feel bad about it.
I won't go into detail about this one. Suffice it to say it was a while ago (before I accepted my new job) and that it was relaxing and delightful. I don't really take much time off from work for sick days and things like that, so this is out of character for me. But I am glad I did. Everyone should take a mental health day, once in a while!
#82 - Go somewhere that's haunted
Andy and I had a delightful visit to Maryland to spend time with my dear friend, Chris. We had a phenomenal weekend, but would expect nothing less than a glorious time when then three of us are together. One of the things Chris planned for us while we were there was a haunted walking your of Annapolis. If you've never been there, it is a wonderful town to just go walk around as it is. It's picturesque and perfect, with old houses, beautiful views of the bay, lots of boats, and buildings that are steeped in history. The Naval Academy is also there, so lots of chivalrous folks who say "good evening" and take off their hats when they go inside anywhere, and hold doors. And somehow manage to stay clean while dressed in head-to-toe white. I don't understand. But that's beside the point. The walking tour was great - not only because if was a gorgeous evening for a walk after the sun set, but because the guide knew all the history of the families that lived in each of the places we stopped. He was great about pointing out things that are old wives' tales, or things that we take for granted. He stopped our tour when a black cat crossed in front of us on the street and told us it was a sign, since we were standing outside one of the "haunted" houses. He made sure that everyone in the group said "bless you" when someone sneezed, since sneezing is a sign that the devil was on your shoulder, which is why you need people to give you their blessings from God to get him off. He took us into the sickroom of the William Paca house, where his daughter died. And then left our tour group in a cemetery in the the middle of town, where there were ginormous spiders that must have been on steroids crawling all over only one of the graves. It was a great time!
And because of these tasks, I have to contribute to...
#27 - Transfer $20 into my savings account for every goal completed from the list
So, here goes another $120 into my savings account. I think this was a smart "reward system" for me to give myself as I checked off goals from my list, since I like to just leave my savings account alone. But being broke makes this more painful than rewarding. Oh well... I am the one who made these rules, right?
There is more to come, I am sure. I feel like I've told myself several times recently that I had something that I wanted to put in my blog, but I figured I would start with just the list.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
God? Is that you?
I am not sure if this is a testament to the caliber of people who keeps blogs, or if I am looking at signs from a higher power.
Last night, I had a nice little chat with myself about my beliefs, sparred by a little research I was doing. I asked for my husband's opinion, and even caught my dad online for a quick thought about the overall topic. But it was the underlying issue that I was really grappling with. I am not a particularly religious person, but I live by my own sense of morality and righteousness. I don't preach; just as I don't respond well to others preaching to me. I let myself stew in my thoughts until I am inspired one way or another.
Completely unrelated (I think), I was recently having a conversation with a few of my co-workers about blogger and how you can stumble upon basically any blog in the world that's open by hitting the "next blog" button at the top of the screen and just reading whatever page it brings you to. In light of this recently discussion, I decided to try it out. Next blog: something very religious where the words "damned" and "eternity" caught my eye right away. No thank you. Next blog: something that has Jesus right in the title. GAH! Next blog....next blog....next blog....
SEVENTEEN BLOGS IN A ROW ABOUT GOD. Are people who are fulfilled by their religion just really excited to share their beliefs with the world? Or was I supposed to read those blogs to find out the answer to the question of ethics I've been debating?
Last night, I had a nice little chat with myself about my beliefs, sparred by a little research I was doing. I asked for my husband's opinion, and even caught my dad online for a quick thought about the overall topic. But it was the underlying issue that I was really grappling with. I am not a particularly religious person, but I live by my own sense of morality and righteousness. I don't preach; just as I don't respond well to others preaching to me. I let myself stew in my thoughts until I am inspired one way or another.
Completely unrelated (I think), I was recently having a conversation with a few of my co-workers about blogger and how you can stumble upon basically any blog in the world that's open by hitting the "next blog" button at the top of the screen and just reading whatever page it brings you to. In light of this recently discussion, I decided to try it out. Next blog: something very religious where the words "damned" and "eternity" caught my eye right away. No thank you. Next blog: something that has Jesus right in the title. GAH! Next blog....next blog....next blog....
SEVENTEEN BLOGS IN A ROW ABOUT GOD. Are people who are fulfilled by their religion just really excited to share their beliefs with the world? Or was I supposed to read those blogs to find out the answer to the question of ethics I've been debating?
Monday, September 6, 2010
New Goal
I want to be professionally snarky.
It is no secret that I love some pretty trashy reality shows. My DVR is set to record entertaining gems like Bachelor Pad, Project Runway, The Biggest Loser, Rock of Love, Real World/Road Rules Challenges, and basically anything that will have contestants crying in a confessional booth at least once per episode. While some of these are clearly more grounded in actual subject matter (Biggest Loser) than others (Bachelor Pad), there is a special place in my heart for each of them. I eat that stuff up. Heck, I even put on Jersey Shore last night to find out what happened with 'the note'. I love it.
This love is not only shown through my recorded dedication to these programs (side note: I like more substantial shows also... they are just not as much fun to blog about), but also by my READING about the shows afterward. I wish I had more time in my day to do this regularly, but I get a huge kick out of logging into Entertainment Weekly's online blogger reactions to my favorite reality shows, and reading the snarky play-by-play of the week's episode. I can't even tell you how many times I have had the same reaction (if not a worse one) to the nonsense that goes on during these shows! I can't help but think that if I were able to get paid to write my reactions to TV shows, I would be one very happy girl.
This is my new goal. Become a paid, supercilious blogger for ew.com and share my "are they serious?" moments with the world.
It is no secret that I love some pretty trashy reality shows. My DVR is set to record entertaining gems like Bachelor Pad, Project Runway, The Biggest Loser, Rock of Love, Real World/Road Rules Challenges, and basically anything that will have contestants crying in a confessional booth at least once per episode. While some of these are clearly more grounded in actual subject matter (Biggest Loser) than others (Bachelor Pad), there is a special place in my heart for each of them. I eat that stuff up. Heck, I even put on Jersey Shore last night to find out what happened with 'the note'. I love it.
This love is not only shown through my recorded dedication to these programs (side note: I like more substantial shows also... they are just not as much fun to blog about), but also by my READING about the shows afterward. I wish I had more time in my day to do this regularly, but I get a huge kick out of logging into Entertainment Weekly's online blogger reactions to my favorite reality shows, and reading the snarky play-by-play of the week's episode. I can't even tell you how many times I have had the same reaction (if not a worse one) to the nonsense that goes on during these shows! I can't help but think that if I were able to get paid to write my reactions to TV shows, I would be one very happy girl.
This is my new goal. Become a paid, supercilious blogger for ew.com and share my "are they serious?" moments with the world.
Monday, August 30, 2010
No posting
It's almost September.
How did that happen? No posts in a long time. Just not much to report, I guess. I've seen more shows, but that's about it.
(sigh)
How did that happen? No posts in a long time. Just not much to report, I guess. I've seen more shows, but that's about it.
(sigh)
Friday, July 9, 2010
PICTURES
No, I will not fill up my entire blog with pictures. But I did create a share website for photos from the honeymoon. None of them are labeled yet (give me a break, I'm busy), and I don't have the snorkeling pictures, but it's better than nothing.
Check it out! http://maureenandyshoneymoon.shutterfly.com/
Check it out! http://maureenandyshoneymoon.shutterfly.com/
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Cheating the blogging system
I am cheating the blogging system by backdating almost 2 weeks of blogs. This is not an effort to look like a more active blogger. Instead, I am transferring my hand-written entries that I wrote on my honeymoon into digital format and backing them up to the day that they were originally written. Read backwards to find out how the honeymoon went. And check out how much attention I paid to the food, using words like "amazing".... it will make sense later when I tell you I gained 8 lbs over the course of the trip.
I am quite pleased to report that I was able to check off a few things on my 101 in 1001 Days list also! Gotta read to find out what... or not. Whatever.
I am quite pleased to report that I was able to check off a few things on my 101 in 1001 Days list also! Gotta read to find out what... or not. Whatever.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 10
We got up early (again), rolled out of bed, and decided that today could be a lazy day... as if the rest of the trip wasn't. We made coffee and watched a movie (the Proposal) while we slummed around in our pajamas. When we decided we couldn't spend any more time indoors (though the air conditioning was lovely), we decided to do a little shopping. We went to a few local stores to buy the Belizian hot sauce we had been using all week. If it were possible to bring in Belikins, we probably would have done that too. But alas, we had to settle for a year's supply of various kinds of hot sauces. Then it was back to the Phoenix to hang out by the pool and enjoy our last full day of vacation.
After laying by the pool for a while, and realizing that we had eaten nothing for breakfast except coffee, we decided to walk down the beach to Estel's... rumored to be famous for their chicken burritos. Perfect! We sat down under palm branches at Estel's and asked for menus, only to be told that they don't have any. Instead, they have everything written on a chalk board inside. It was pretty impressive. Never before have I been so tempted to go into the ocean, get completely soaked, and lean against something. But I behaved. We both ordered the chicken burritos, and were shocked when they came out and were about 16" long! Absolutely delicious, but super filling! Good thing we had some Coke Light's to wash them down!
Being so full, we didn't want to jump back into bathing suits, so we thought it would be wise to plan ahead and start packing for our big departure the next day... and enjoy some Belikins while doing so. Now that we're married, I guess we're supposed to be responsible adults. Hmm..
For dinner we decided to go back to El Divino, where we had gone with Mark and Brooke a few nights before. Well, when you ride there in a golf cart, it seems much closer than it is. Because when you WALK there, you realize it is over 3 miles away. And you get sweaty. It was a very long walk, but we were rewarded with lots of air conditioning, ice water, and a waiter who was off the wall. Andy ordered the wedge salad, and I got the caesar to start. Then we both got massive burgers - 3/4 lb. monsters that were so delicious! To accompany this huge burger, we got an overloaded basket of fries and a pool of ketchup to dip it in. YUMMMM. Luckily, we found a taxi to take us back.
It ended up being another early night for us. Watching the stars and clouds from the balcony, flipping through the TV, before drifting to sleep in our big comfy bed on the last night of our honeymoon.
After laying by the pool for a while, and realizing that we had eaten nothing for breakfast except coffee, we decided to walk down the beach to Estel's... rumored to be famous for their chicken burritos. Perfect! We sat down under palm branches at Estel's and asked for menus, only to be told that they don't have any. Instead, they have everything written on a chalk board inside. It was pretty impressive. Never before have I been so tempted to go into the ocean, get completely soaked, and lean against something. But I behaved. We both ordered the chicken burritos, and were shocked when they came out and were about 16" long! Absolutely delicious, but super filling! Good thing we had some Coke Light's to wash them down!
Being so full, we didn't want to jump back into bathing suits, so we thought it would be wise to plan ahead and start packing for our big departure the next day... and enjoy some Belikins while doing so. Now that we're married, I guess we're supposed to be responsible adults. Hmm..
For dinner we decided to go back to El Divino, where we had gone with Mark and Brooke a few nights before. Well, when you ride there in a golf cart, it seems much closer than it is. Because when you WALK there, you realize it is over 3 miles away. And you get sweaty. It was a very long walk, but we were rewarded with lots of air conditioning, ice water, and a waiter who was off the wall. Andy ordered the wedge salad, and I got the caesar to start. Then we both got massive burgers - 3/4 lb. monsters that were so delicious! To accompany this huge burger, we got an overloaded basket of fries and a pool of ketchup to dip it in. YUMMMM. Luckily, we found a taxi to take us back.
It ended up being another early night for us. Watching the stars and clouds from the balcony, flipping through the TV, before drifting to sleep in our big comfy bed on the last night of our honeymoon.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 9
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!
We woke up and went out to breakfast at the Sail Away Cafe. Ironically, with a name like "Sail Away", it was one of the only places we ate that was NOT on the beach. This place was very cute though. There are two guys running the show. One who was taking the orders and cleaning the plates and glasses, right at the bar, and the other who was making every order...one at a time. It sounds tedious, but it was really sweet and not at all inconvenient since there were about four people in the place. Andy got a huge canadian bacon and jalapeno omelet, and I got a rather large tomato and mozzarella panini, which I washed down with an iced almond coffee. YUM. Noticing how delicious my coffee drink was, Andy decided to order one also. I think the man behind the bar had his eye on Andy, cause he made him a special one.... in a long stemmed, large wine glass, and coated with swirling layers of chocolate and caramel sauce. It was fancy. Andy had a few sips and then we swapped glasses. Cause Andy's a man. And it was my birthday, so I get all the fancy stuff. That's a rule.
After breakfast, we walked around and wandered into a few stores that were clearly geared toward tourists like us to check out the "You Better Belize It" t-shirts, shot glasses and magnets. Nothing really caught our eye, so we headed back to the Phoenix to spend some time by the pool. As we were lounging around, reading and listening to iPods, a staff member from the resort came up and said they wanted to update their photo of the day on facebook, so they snapped a photo of Andy getting another delicious frozen mojito. Man, those things were tasty. And just like that, we were internet super stars! (Ok, perhaps a slight exaggeration, but we are on the Phoenix's facebook page!). Andy chivalrously gave the frozen mojito to me - cause it was my birthday. And that's the rule.
We did some more swimming and lounging, and in the afternoon, we were approach by a member of the staff again while stretched along our in-pool lounge chairs. Our friend Efrain walked up and wished me a 'happy birthday' on behalf of some of the staff members, and handed me a 6-pack of Belikin Beer. Just what I wanted!
For dinner, we went back to the fabulous Red Ginger to sample all the goods on their tasting menu. Five courses of culinary delight, perfectly accented by a really nice bottle of Argentinian Sauvignon Blanc. Mmmmmm....
Course One: We both had the crispy shrimp with a lime habenero sauce served atop a green plantain with guacamole. Wonderful.
Course two: We both had the black bean soup with mexican cheeses and herbed croutons. Heavenly.
Course Three: Andy had the pulled pork empanadas with chipotle pepper salsa. I had the grilled chicken salbute with spicy cabbage on a fried corn turnover. Yum.
Course Four: Andy got the grilled lobster tail with garlic lime sauce, mashed potatoes, and gingered broccoli. I got the honey-chiptle glazed braised beef short ribs with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans. WOW.
Course Five: Andy enjoyed the milk chocolate mousse with roasted walnuts and raspberry sauce. I devoured my coconut creme brulee. I almost had to be rolled out of the restaurant.
The amazing food led to an amazing food coma, and after another glass of wine back in the condo, we were out.
We woke up and went out to breakfast at the Sail Away Cafe. Ironically, with a name like "Sail Away", it was one of the only places we ate that was NOT on the beach. This place was very cute though. There are two guys running the show. One who was taking the orders and cleaning the plates and glasses, right at the bar, and the other who was making every order...one at a time. It sounds tedious, but it was really sweet and not at all inconvenient since there were about four people in the place. Andy got a huge canadian bacon and jalapeno omelet, and I got a rather large tomato and mozzarella panini, which I washed down with an iced almond coffee. YUM. Noticing how delicious my coffee drink was, Andy decided to order one also. I think the man behind the bar had his eye on Andy, cause he made him a special one.... in a long stemmed, large wine glass, and coated with swirling layers of chocolate and caramel sauce. It was fancy. Andy had a few sips and then we swapped glasses. Cause Andy's a man. And it was my birthday, so I get all the fancy stuff. That's a rule.
After breakfast, we walked around and wandered into a few stores that were clearly geared toward tourists like us to check out the "You Better Belize It" t-shirts, shot glasses and magnets. Nothing really caught our eye, so we headed back to the Phoenix to spend some time by the pool. As we were lounging around, reading and listening to iPods, a staff member from the resort came up and said they wanted to update their photo of the day on facebook, so they snapped a photo of Andy getting another delicious frozen mojito. Man, those things were tasty. And just like that, we were internet super stars! (Ok, perhaps a slight exaggeration, but we are on the Phoenix's facebook page!). Andy chivalrously gave the frozen mojito to me - cause it was my birthday. And that's the rule.
We did some more swimming and lounging, and in the afternoon, we were approach by a member of the staff again while stretched along our in-pool lounge chairs. Our friend Efrain walked up and wished me a 'happy birthday' on behalf of some of the staff members, and handed me a 6-pack of Belikin Beer. Just what I wanted!
For dinner, we went back to the fabulous Red Ginger to sample all the goods on their tasting menu. Five courses of culinary delight, perfectly accented by a really nice bottle of Argentinian Sauvignon Blanc. Mmmmmm....
Course One: We both had the crispy shrimp with a lime habenero sauce served atop a green plantain with guacamole. Wonderful.
Course two: We both had the black bean soup with mexican cheeses and herbed croutons. Heavenly.
Course Three: Andy had the pulled pork empanadas with chipotle pepper salsa. I had the grilled chicken salbute with spicy cabbage on a fried corn turnover. Yum.
Course Four: Andy got the grilled lobster tail with garlic lime sauce, mashed potatoes, and gingered broccoli. I got the honey-chiptle glazed braised beef short ribs with roasted garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed green beans. WOW.
Course Five: Andy enjoyed the milk chocolate mousse with roasted walnuts and raspberry sauce. I devoured my coconut creme brulee. I almost had to be rolled out of the restaurant.
The amazing food led to an amazing food coma, and after another glass of wine back in the condo, we were out.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 8
Rough morning. Andy jumped out of bed at about 8am and went down to the pool. I stayed in bed. Wasn't ready to move. Around 10 am, I finally felt like I could handle getting out of bed, and slowly got myself into a bathing suit to go down to the pool to meet Andy. In the two hours I was missing, Andy had no one to put sunscreen on his back, and managed to fall asleep in the sun. Hello, sunburn. The two of us sat in the pool for a while, just taking it easy in the water since it was so hot outside.
For lunch, we took a walk down the beach to visit the Phoenix's sister restaurant, Blue Ginger. Nothing fancy - burgers and chicken fingers and fries, with coke light. While we were eating, the cutest little kids came by and started playing the bongo drums. We gave them money. We walked back to the Phoenix, stopping to get homemade banana and coconut ice cream from Manelli's on the way. It was a pretty laid back afternoon from there.
We went to the front desk for dinner suggestions, since we had been exploring all sorts of places around San Pedro and had yet to have a bad meal. Our dear friend Efrain told us about a place called the Hidden Treasure, which was an open air resturant that this family started in their back yard, but the food was amazing. What the hell, we're good sports! He called a taxi for us, who drove us to The Hidden Treasure. We went there half expecting to sit under a tarp and eat on mismached flatware. What we got was a beautiful wooden restaurant with lanterns on every table and a palm roof that was lovely and elegant. And once again, wonderful food. Andy got the coconut shrimp for an appetizer and then a large T-bone steak for dinner, with rice and beans. I started with a caesar salad, and then put on my brave face and ordered a fish entree! (This is a big deal for me). The almond crusted grouper was absolutely delicious, and the garlic russet potatoes were the perfect match for the sweet fish. Wonderful.
After dinner, we took a cab back to toward the Phoenix, and decided to get out and have a drink at Fido's before turning in for the night. I ordered a dirty banana, and Andy had a pina colada as we watched some of the world's most tone-deaf individuals sing karaoke. (Literally, not a single half-way decent person. None of them could sing... or hit notes that didn't make my ears bleed). When it got to be more than we could take, we headed back to the hotel and watched Hot Tub Time Machine until we were ready for bed. We like to keep things classy.
For lunch, we took a walk down the beach to visit the Phoenix's sister restaurant, Blue Ginger. Nothing fancy - burgers and chicken fingers and fries, with coke light. While we were eating, the cutest little kids came by and started playing the bongo drums. We gave them money. We walked back to the Phoenix, stopping to get homemade banana and coconut ice cream from Manelli's on the way. It was a pretty laid back afternoon from there.
We went to the front desk for dinner suggestions, since we had been exploring all sorts of places around San Pedro and had yet to have a bad meal. Our dear friend Efrain told us about a place called the Hidden Treasure, which was an open air resturant that this family started in their back yard, but the food was amazing. What the hell, we're good sports! He called a taxi for us, who drove us to The Hidden Treasure. We went there half expecting to sit under a tarp and eat on mismached flatware. What we got was a beautiful wooden restaurant with lanterns on every table and a palm roof that was lovely and elegant. And once again, wonderful food. Andy got the coconut shrimp for an appetizer and then a large T-bone steak for dinner, with rice and beans. I started with a caesar salad, and then put on my brave face and ordered a fish entree! (This is a big deal for me). The almond crusted grouper was absolutely delicious, and the garlic russet potatoes were the perfect match for the sweet fish. Wonderful.
After dinner, we took a cab back to toward the Phoenix, and decided to get out and have a drink at Fido's before turning in for the night. I ordered a dirty banana, and Andy had a pina colada as we watched some of the world's most tone-deaf individuals sing karaoke. (Literally, not a single half-way decent person. None of them could sing... or hit notes that didn't make my ears bleed). When it got to be more than we could take, we headed back to the hotel and watched Hot Tub Time Machine until we were ready for bed. We like to keep things classy.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 7
We got up around 8:30am, and took it easy with coffee and cereal before heading down to the pool, where we hung out all day long. Literally all day. We even ordered our lunch poolside from Red Ginger so that we wouldn't have to leave the glorious water and sunshine. We got coconut shrimp and panko chicken fingers with a few orders of fries, and experimented with a new kind of Belikin - the Stout! Every bit as delicious as we dreamed it would be. Then, more pool time with books and iPods.
We went inside in the late afternoon and took showers and got ready to go out with the director of the resort Mark and his fiance Brooke for the evening. The original reason for going out was to talk about wedding planning and things like that, we since obviously just got married and I am an event planner, and Mark and Brooke are in the middle of the planning process. We quickly discovered that we had a lot in common, and were like old friends half way through the night. They took us to a restaurant that was outside the main part of town called El Divino, Mark and Brooke's favorite ceviche place on San Pedro. We started the meal with an order of shrimp ceviche, which was excellent. We also started with a few fun martini's, since it turns out it was 2-for-1 night. Okay, El Divino, if you insist. I had the lemon herb chicken with mashed potatoes and a salad. Andy had an enormous jalepeno and blue cheese cheeseburger. After dinner was over, we hopped back into Mark's golf cart (everyone drives golf carts down there) and headed to a few of their favorite night spots. Crazy Canucks was the first stop, a beach bar that plays loud music and is famous for people punta dancing in the late ours of the night. The dark rum was tasty, but the music was too loud for us to keep talking, so we moved. Next stop, BC's. Another beach bar that was a little quieter and had room for us to sit down. That dark rum went down easy, and we had our latest night of the entire vacation --staying out until about 12:30am! WHOOOOOAAAA! We're party animals. We went home, stumbled into the condo, and made some macaroni and cheese to eat before we went to bed... just in case.
Awesome. Night.
We went inside in the late afternoon and took showers and got ready to go out with the director of the resort Mark and his fiance Brooke for the evening. The original reason for going out was to talk about wedding planning and things like that, we since obviously just got married and I am an event planner, and Mark and Brooke are in the middle of the planning process. We quickly discovered that we had a lot in common, and were like old friends half way through the night. They took us to a restaurant that was outside the main part of town called El Divino, Mark and Brooke's favorite ceviche place on San Pedro. We started the meal with an order of shrimp ceviche, which was excellent. We also started with a few fun martini's, since it turns out it was 2-for-1 night. Okay, El Divino, if you insist. I had the lemon herb chicken with mashed potatoes and a salad. Andy had an enormous jalepeno and blue cheese cheeseburger. After dinner was over, we hopped back into Mark's golf cart (everyone drives golf carts down there) and headed to a few of their favorite night spots. Crazy Canucks was the first stop, a beach bar that plays loud music and is famous for people punta dancing in the late ours of the night. The dark rum was tasty, but the music was too loud for us to keep talking, so we moved. Next stop, BC's. Another beach bar that was a little quieter and had room for us to sit down. That dark rum went down easy, and we had our latest night of the entire vacation --staying out until about 12:30am! WHOOOOOAAAA! We're party animals. We went home, stumbled into the condo, and made some macaroni and cheese to eat before we went to bed... just in case.
Awesome. Night.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 6
We woke up to find that the storm had passed, and immediately went outside to check out the damage. From the balcony outside our bedroom, we could see the Phoenix grounds crew already hard at work, raking the broken branches and leaves from the grass. Even the director of the resort was in the pool, cleaning it out himself to make sure that everything was ready for the guests as quickly as possible again, and the Phoenix was back to its gorgeous self again. We decided it would be a good day to go out to breakfast, so we took a walk on the beach to check out other damage. Not as bad as we thought. Branches down, leaves everywhere, a few signs for snorkeling were knocked down along the beach. There was one section of town where all of the lamp posts were knocked over and the wires where exposed, but that seemed to be the worst of it.
We decided to have breakfast at a little beach place called Lily's, where Andy ordered a meat lovers omelet with hot fig jam, and I enjoyed two amazing breakfast burritos. (The order came with two, I am not just a fatty who wanted two breakfasts). We finished up our coffee while watching some World Cup action and then headed back to the resort.
Since our first snorkeling trip was such a blast, we decided we would sign up to go again, knowing that it would be a whole different experience the day after a big storm. We met up with Alfonse once again with a few other snorkelers and went back out to the reef. This time, the waters were rough, and the current was very strong, making it a little more tiring, just to swim around. It was a totally different scene. The big fish like grouper were all over the place, but the little tropical guys were a bit more scarce. Since we were being tossed around by the sea, we didn't spend as much time by the sharp coral this time around. Before long, we headed over to Shark Ray Alley to see what was going on over there. When we showed up, our boat was the only one there...along with about 35 nurse sharks and 15 sting rays. Unbelievable. I couldn't wait. I was the first one to jump in the water, noticing right away that there were not only many more sharks than last time, but some of the sharks were much larger than last time too! Andy jumped in...right on top of one of the 7' sharks. Luckily, he was heading over to the food that we'd dropped off the boat, so he didn't stop to maul Andy for jumping right on him off the boat. Phew. I would have been the quickest widow in history. We had lots of time to swim around and play with the sharks and rays, both having the opportunity to hold them again. Before we left, another giant sea turtle came to visit. These animals are truly amazing. We got back in the boat, and headed back along the very choppy seas to return to the resort.
We were totally drained from fighting the currents all afternoon, so we spent the late afternoon napping, lounging in the pool, and sitting inside watching TV (so we didn't fall asleep outside and get sunburned). For dinner, we decided to check out the other side of the island and walked to a place called the Sunset Grill. This was a lovely restaurant over the water that is famous for the tarpon that hang out in the water and are fed by guests to the restaurant. Tarpon are giant fish (about 3' long each) that jump clear out of the water when there is food on the line, which is a pretty amazing sight to see. The food was pretty amazing as well. We decided to be brave and try the lobster fritters (neither of us eat lobster), and were very pleased with how delicious they were! We enjoyed a few Belikins to help us wash down our dinners - Shrimp scampi with veggies and pasta for Andy, and shrimp with linguine in a garlic cream sauce and garlic bread for me. After our long day of snorkeling, we treated ourselves to dessert as well, and split a piece of the richest coconut cream pie ever made. As we finished the meal, and the sun went down, we noticed a very large crocodile (or alligator?) in the water next to us, where the tarpon had been swimming. Whoa.
We took the long route home (to help us digest) and walked along the beach. Eventually, we made it back to the condo and passed out together on the couch. What a day.
We decided to have breakfast at a little beach place called Lily's, where Andy ordered a meat lovers omelet with hot fig jam, and I enjoyed two amazing breakfast burritos. (The order came with two, I am not just a fatty who wanted two breakfasts). We finished up our coffee while watching some World Cup action and then headed back to the resort.
Since our first snorkeling trip was such a blast, we decided we would sign up to go again, knowing that it would be a whole different experience the day after a big storm. We met up with Alfonse once again with a few other snorkelers and went back out to the reef. This time, the waters were rough, and the current was very strong, making it a little more tiring, just to swim around. It was a totally different scene. The big fish like grouper were all over the place, but the little tropical guys were a bit more scarce. Since we were being tossed around by the sea, we didn't spend as much time by the sharp coral this time around. Before long, we headed over to Shark Ray Alley to see what was going on over there. When we showed up, our boat was the only one there...along with about 35 nurse sharks and 15 sting rays. Unbelievable. I couldn't wait. I was the first one to jump in the water, noticing right away that there were not only many more sharks than last time, but some of the sharks were much larger than last time too! Andy jumped in...right on top of one of the 7' sharks. Luckily, he was heading over to the food that we'd dropped off the boat, so he didn't stop to maul Andy for jumping right on him off the boat. Phew. I would have been the quickest widow in history. We had lots of time to swim around and play with the sharks and rays, both having the opportunity to hold them again. Before we left, another giant sea turtle came to visit. These animals are truly amazing. We got back in the boat, and headed back along the very choppy seas to return to the resort.
We were totally drained from fighting the currents all afternoon, so we spent the late afternoon napping, lounging in the pool, and sitting inside watching TV (so we didn't fall asleep outside and get sunburned). For dinner, we decided to check out the other side of the island and walked to a place called the Sunset Grill. This was a lovely restaurant over the water that is famous for the tarpon that hang out in the water and are fed by guests to the restaurant. Tarpon are giant fish (about 3' long each) that jump clear out of the water when there is food on the line, which is a pretty amazing sight to see. The food was pretty amazing as well. We decided to be brave and try the lobster fritters (neither of us eat lobster), and were very pleased with how delicious they were! We enjoyed a few Belikins to help us wash down our dinners - Shrimp scampi with veggies and pasta for Andy, and shrimp with linguine in a garlic cream sauce and garlic bread for me. After our long day of snorkeling, we treated ourselves to dessert as well, and split a piece of the richest coconut cream pie ever made. As we finished the meal, and the sun went down, we noticed a very large crocodile (or alligator?) in the water next to us, where the tarpon had been swimming. Whoa.
We took the long route home (to help us digest) and walked along the beach. Eventually, we made it back to the condo and passed out together on the couch. What a day.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 5
We've been married for a full week! And I gotta tell you, married life is awesome! When you're married, you get to hang out in Belize!
We did our little curtain trick again so that we could sleep until after 9am. Which is great since we were up so late the night before (ha). We woke up to rain once again, and we knew that Tropical Storm Alex was officially coming to meet us, but we didn't care. We decided to go out to breakfast, and found a Cuban Cafe that was serving a great breakfast, playing the world cup broadcast, and catering to the 9am beer crowd (there were several). We met a stray dog along the way, and he followed us and waited while we ate. This breakfast was delectable - fresh fruit, amazing coffee (seriously delicious), toast, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, fry jacks (like little pancakes), and the best orange juice I have ever had in my life. You could tell they probably squeezed the juice 5 minutes earlier back in the kitchen. The rain was steady most of the day, but falling relatively lightly. (Maybe moderately). But when it is 99 degrees outside, the rain just makes things more refreshing, so Andy and I decided to go for a walk in the rain and check out what the island looked like when it wasn't bright and sunny. Our walk ended up being just under four miles long, all in the rain. The dog followed us for a good part of it. We left the main streets that we'd been exploring and walked all the way to the airport. (Sounds impressive, but it is less than a mile from the resort). Then we kept going, and walked in the less populated area until we found the San Pedro schools - three little buildings that looked like tiny houses right next to each other, in bright blue, yellow, and green. Kept going - we found a store that actually sold xD cards so I could replace the one in my digital camera and start taking more pictures! Awesome! Kept going - we found a nice little wine store! Kept going - we started to find private homes, so we decided we'd gone far enough. We cut through someone's pathway to the beach, and then walked home, in the rain, along the beach. The rain was making the little fishies that live along the shore scramble, and we took our time getting back to the condo.
We dried ourselves off and decided to contact our parents to let them know that the storm didn't seem to be too bad, in case they were worried. I mean, we just spend hours walking around in the rain! Yes, it was going to get worse, but it would be fine. We met up with members of the staff who told us about their hurricane plan. These folks at the Phoenix are so well prepared! They took in all the outdoor furniture of all the units that had glass tables. For folks that had big wooden outdoor sets like we did, they helped us move everything to the corners of the balcony where it was less likely to be picked up by any wind. Then people came to every unit to deliver emergency lights in case we lost power, buckets of water in case we lost water, and a list of emergency phone numbers in case we needed them, after making sure that the cell phones they provided for us were well charged. We were all prepared. I even had a dumb moment in my own preparations, but it is not one that I wish to post on my blog. It was dumb, though. When we were all set for the storm, and the wind and rain started to pick up, we went outside again to check it out first hand.
Water was starting to crash over the retaining walls between the ocean and the resort. The sky turned black. The wind really started whipping. And there I was, trying to take pictures of it. We met a few folks who told us they had come to the Phoenix because they were staying at another hotel on the island (a much smaller establishment) that basically told them "storm's coming. You can't get off the island. Good luck. You're on your own." So they felt comforted by the readiness of the Phoenix. And more comforted by the insane amount of booze they had clearly already imbibed. They took off for a walk/stumble down the beach. We are pretty sure they all made it back eventually.
We borrowed a couple of movies from the resort, knowing that it would be a 'stay-in' night, and then headed to dinner at the Red Ginger restaurant on site, since we learned that the island was given an 8pm curfew and everything on the island would have to close early. And no alcohol could be served. We both ordered the largest french onion soup imaginable as an appetizer. It was great, but large. While Andy enjoyed his honey chipotle glazed ribs and I dove into my breaded chicken with capers and white wine sauce, the lights in the restaurant began to flicker. Because it looked like we were about to lose power, we wrapped it up and the restaurant shut down.
Thinking that we were about to have a power outage, we stayed in the condo and just watched the storm for a while. When the wind and rain got so bad that we could no longer see out the window, and we still had power, we popped in a few movies. Shutter Island. Without giving much away, it takes place on an island that no one can get off of due to a terrible storm. Hmmm.... it was decent. Then we watched Nine. It was just plain awful. I hate to say that about musicals, but it was. We tried to open the doors to the balcony at one point to check out the storm again, and after using our body weight against the door just to open it against the wind, the rain came flying in and we were instantly soaked. The door was shut and we decided it was a good time to call it a night.
Our first tropical storm! How exciting!
We did our little curtain trick again so that we could sleep until after 9am. Which is great since we were up so late the night before (ha). We woke up to rain once again, and we knew that Tropical Storm Alex was officially coming to meet us, but we didn't care. We decided to go out to breakfast, and found a Cuban Cafe that was serving a great breakfast, playing the world cup broadcast, and catering to the 9am beer crowd (there were several). We met a stray dog along the way, and he followed us and waited while we ate. This breakfast was delectable - fresh fruit, amazing coffee (seriously delicious), toast, omelets, breakfast sandwiches, fry jacks (like little pancakes), and the best orange juice I have ever had in my life. You could tell they probably squeezed the juice 5 minutes earlier back in the kitchen. The rain was steady most of the day, but falling relatively lightly. (Maybe moderately). But when it is 99 degrees outside, the rain just makes things more refreshing, so Andy and I decided to go for a walk in the rain and check out what the island looked like when it wasn't bright and sunny. Our walk ended up being just under four miles long, all in the rain. The dog followed us for a good part of it. We left the main streets that we'd been exploring and walked all the way to the airport. (Sounds impressive, but it is less than a mile from the resort). Then we kept going, and walked in the less populated area until we found the San Pedro schools - three little buildings that looked like tiny houses right next to each other, in bright blue, yellow, and green. Kept going - we found a store that actually sold xD cards so I could replace the one in my digital camera and start taking more pictures! Awesome! Kept going - we found a nice little wine store! Kept going - we started to find private homes, so we decided we'd gone far enough. We cut through someone's pathway to the beach, and then walked home, in the rain, along the beach. The rain was making the little fishies that live along the shore scramble, and we took our time getting back to the condo.
We dried ourselves off and decided to contact our parents to let them know that the storm didn't seem to be too bad, in case they were worried. I mean, we just spend hours walking around in the rain! Yes, it was going to get worse, but it would be fine. We met up with members of the staff who told us about their hurricane plan. These folks at the Phoenix are so well prepared! They took in all the outdoor furniture of all the units that had glass tables. For folks that had big wooden outdoor sets like we did, they helped us move everything to the corners of the balcony where it was less likely to be picked up by any wind. Then people came to every unit to deliver emergency lights in case we lost power, buckets of water in case we lost water, and a list of emergency phone numbers in case we needed them, after making sure that the cell phones they provided for us were well charged. We were all prepared. I even had a dumb moment in my own preparations, but it is not one that I wish to post on my blog. It was dumb, though. When we were all set for the storm, and the wind and rain started to pick up, we went outside again to check it out first hand.
Water was starting to crash over the retaining walls between the ocean and the resort. The sky turned black. The wind really started whipping. And there I was, trying to take pictures of it. We met a few folks who told us they had come to the Phoenix because they were staying at another hotel on the island (a much smaller establishment) that basically told them "storm's coming. You can't get off the island. Good luck. You're on your own." So they felt comforted by the readiness of the Phoenix. And more comforted by the insane amount of booze they had clearly already imbibed. They took off for a walk/stumble down the beach. We are pretty sure they all made it back eventually.
We borrowed a couple of movies from the resort, knowing that it would be a 'stay-in' night, and then headed to dinner at the Red Ginger restaurant on site, since we learned that the island was given an 8pm curfew and everything on the island would have to close early. And no alcohol could be served. We both ordered the largest french onion soup imaginable as an appetizer. It was great, but large. While Andy enjoyed his honey chipotle glazed ribs and I dove into my breaded chicken with capers and white wine sauce, the lights in the restaurant began to flicker. Because it looked like we were about to lose power, we wrapped it up and the restaurant shut down.
Thinking that we were about to have a power outage, we stayed in the condo and just watched the storm for a while. When the wind and rain got so bad that we could no longer see out the window, and we still had power, we popped in a few movies. Shutter Island. Without giving much away, it takes place on an island that no one can get off of due to a terrible storm. Hmmm.... it was decent. Then we watched Nine. It was just plain awful. I hate to say that about musicals, but it was. We tried to open the doors to the balcony at one point to check out the storm again, and after using our body weight against the door just to open it against the wind, the rain came flying in and we were instantly soaked. The door was shut and we decided it was a good time to call it a night.
Our first tropical storm! How exciting!
Friday, June 25, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 4
After learning how early the sun comes up in full force in Belize, we thought ahead and closed all the blinds and curtains before going to sleep so that we were able to sleep late in the morning... all the way til 9am! We recently learned that there was a tropical depression somewhere in the Caribbean, so it was no surprise to wake to a rainy day.
We bummed around the condo for a bit, having breakfast, watching movies, working on 'thank you' cards, and generally being bums. The weather started to clear, so we headed out to do a little more grocery shopping before going back to hang out at the pool. At some point during the afternoon, we spoke to the Director of the resort and he informed us that the little tropical depression in the Caribbean had turned into a tropical storm with 65 mph winds that was supposed to hit Belize directly. SWEET! We don't get that kind of weather in New York!
We decided to go to Caliente's for dinner to take advantage of their taco night and 1/2 price margarita special. This was an excellent idea. We each had three big, yummy margaritas to help us wash down the shrimp tacos, beef tacos, and chicken quesadillas. During the meal, all hell broke loose outside, and we watched out the window as some of the hardest rainfall we've ever seen pounded the beach. It was a pretty amazing sight. Before too long, there was a little break in the action, so we ducked out and headed to Lola's Pub to grab a Belikin and see our friend Anna. We sat next to a lovely gentleman who lived in San Pedro, but was originally from Dublin. He didn't stay long, but apparently took a fancy to us, and bought us drinks before he left. We never had the chance to express our gratitude, since he left so quickly, so "Thank you, lovely Irish fellow!"
It turns out we didn't want to stay too late either. We were asleep by 10pm.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICHAEL! (my big bro)
We bummed around the condo for a bit, having breakfast, watching movies, working on 'thank you' cards, and generally being bums. The weather started to clear, so we headed out to do a little more grocery shopping before going back to hang out at the pool. At some point during the afternoon, we spoke to the Director of the resort and he informed us that the little tropical depression in the Caribbean had turned into a tropical storm with 65 mph winds that was supposed to hit Belize directly. SWEET! We don't get that kind of weather in New York!
We decided to go to Caliente's for dinner to take advantage of their taco night and 1/2 price margarita special. This was an excellent idea. We each had three big, yummy margaritas to help us wash down the shrimp tacos, beef tacos, and chicken quesadillas. During the meal, all hell broke loose outside, and we watched out the window as some of the hardest rainfall we've ever seen pounded the beach. It was a pretty amazing sight. Before too long, there was a little break in the action, so we ducked out and headed to Lola's Pub to grab a Belikin and see our friend Anna. We sat next to a lovely gentleman who lived in San Pedro, but was originally from Dublin. He didn't stay long, but apparently took a fancy to us, and bought us drinks before he left. We never had the chance to express our gratitude, since he left so quickly, so "Thank you, lovely Irish fellow!"
It turns out we didn't want to stay too late either. We were asleep by 10pm.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MICHAEL! (my big bro)
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 3
Good morning, 6am. Nice to see you again. We once again tried to bring back the wonderful land of sleep for a while, and gave up around 8am. Coffee, toast and cereal made for a balanced breakfast before heading down to the pool for the morning. We enjoyed the sunshine and the warm water all morning, then went back to our condo for a quick lunch because we had big plans for the afternoon - SNORKELING! (#90 on the list! YESSS!)
We went snorkeling with Alfonse, the awesome guide who took us to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, two stops along the 175-mile barrier reef. Belize is home to the second largest coral reef in the world, and we were so excited to explore it! The first stop was Hol Chan, where we saw tons of little tropical fish, enormous eatin' fish, and several types of coral. We also managed to find a moray eel, a few sting rays, and the cutest green turtle! It was a crystal clear day, and the tides were working with us, so Alfonse took us into open water, past the reef. We ran into a little baby shark, but he was too far away to pay us much attention. After some shallow water snorkeling over the reef on the way back to the boat (and seeing more amazing fish), and lots of under-water picture taking, we hopped back on board and headed over to Shark Ray Alley. We quickly realized how this location got its name as we were told to "jump right in" to a sea of about 10 sharks and sting rays. No problem! Hey, did you know that the skin of a nurse shark feels a lot like a synthetic basketball? It was quite an experience, holding onto that shark (and #97 on the list) and I am really hoping those underwater pictures came out so I can post them!
After about 3 hours of snorkeling, we headed back to the Phoenix for a well-deserved nap. (Actually deserved this time, not like the other days). We wandered around town when it came time for dinner and found El Patio, a delightful little outdoor restaurant under a palm roof and sandy floors and a fountain in the middle. Another phenomenal meal. We started with drinks (warning kids... this post is not for you). I ordered a "panty ripper". Still not sure what was in it, but it was easy going down and not hard to order a second one. For dinner, I had the zesty grilled shrimp with a salad and fries that was sooo good. Andy had the garlic and white wine shrimp plate with a baked potato and slaw. It was then that we realized this trip would trigger us to eat more seafood (especially shrimp) than we ever had before.
We left El Patio and kept wandering around town until we found a little pub called Lolas, where I am pretty sure we were the only tourists. Anna, the bartender from Holland, provided us with Belikins, friendly conversation and advice about the town, and introductions to other bar owners that were enjoying drinks at Lolas. It was nice to be in the little "local" joint.
We headed back to the condo for some night time swimming, which was great. Perfectly quiet, lots of stars out, and a nice end to a busy day.
We went snorkeling with Alfonse, the awesome guide who took us to Hol Chan and Shark Ray Alley, two stops along the 175-mile barrier reef. Belize is home to the second largest coral reef in the world, and we were so excited to explore it! The first stop was Hol Chan, where we saw tons of little tropical fish, enormous eatin' fish, and several types of coral. We also managed to find a moray eel, a few sting rays, and the cutest green turtle! It was a crystal clear day, and the tides were working with us, so Alfonse took us into open water, past the reef. We ran into a little baby shark, but he was too far away to pay us much attention. After some shallow water snorkeling over the reef on the way back to the boat (and seeing more amazing fish), and lots of under-water picture taking, we hopped back on board and headed over to Shark Ray Alley. We quickly realized how this location got its name as we were told to "jump right in" to a sea of about 10 sharks and sting rays. No problem! Hey, did you know that the skin of a nurse shark feels a lot like a synthetic basketball? It was quite an experience, holding onto that shark (and #97 on the list) and I am really hoping those underwater pictures came out so I can post them!
After about 3 hours of snorkeling, we headed back to the Phoenix for a well-deserved nap. (Actually deserved this time, not like the other days). We wandered around town when it came time for dinner and found El Patio, a delightful little outdoor restaurant under a palm roof and sandy floors and a fountain in the middle. Another phenomenal meal. We started with drinks (warning kids... this post is not for you). I ordered a "panty ripper". Still not sure what was in it, but it was easy going down and not hard to order a second one. For dinner, I had the zesty grilled shrimp with a salad and fries that was sooo good. Andy had the garlic and white wine shrimp plate with a baked potato and slaw. It was then that we realized this trip would trigger us to eat more seafood (especially shrimp) than we ever had before.
We left El Patio and kept wandering around town until we found a little pub called Lolas, where I am pretty sure we were the only tourists. Anna, the bartender from Holland, provided us with Belikins, friendly conversation and advice about the town, and introductions to other bar owners that were enjoying drinks at Lolas. It was nice to be in the little "local" joint.
We headed back to the condo for some night time swimming, which was great. Perfectly quiet, lots of stars out, and a nice end to a busy day.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 2
If you ever go to Belize with the idea that you will sleep in.... you won't. With the sun blaring in the windows and the day already heating up, we woke at 6am. Surprise! Realizing that it was 6am, we tried to go back to sleep, and finally gave up and got our of bed around 8am. We made coffee and had some nice toast out on the balcony and then quickly headed down to the pool with books, iPods, and sunscreen in hand. We spent most of the morning lounging by the water and took a break to go back to the room to make sandwiches for lunch. While we were eating, there was a vicious rain storm... for 10 minutes. Sunshine, pouring, sunshine. Lunch time turned into nap time, since it had clearly been a stressful day and we needed a break.
We found out that it was $5 mojito night at a little beach bar called Mojitos (clever name, huh?) so we decided to check it out. $5 BZE, I might add. That' $2.50 US. After our pre-dinner drink, we headed back to the restaurant on Phoenix property called Red Ginger. Holy delicious. Steak skewers for an appetizer. I ordered the orange-bourbon shrimp with coconut rice and green beans. Andy got the blackened chicken with pasta in a chipotle garlic cream sauce. We both got pina coladas. Amazing. Absolutely incredible.
We digested our on our balcony, watching the clouds drift by in the moonlight. A little hot tub and we were ready for bed... by 10:30pm. Passed out.
By the way, a friend once told me that if you pour shampoo in a hot tub, the jets make it bubble up and overflow - the bubbles will just never stop. Turns out, he was right.
We found out that it was $5 mojito night at a little beach bar called Mojitos (clever name, huh?) so we decided to check it out. $5 BZE, I might add. That' $2.50 US. After our pre-dinner drink, we headed back to the restaurant on Phoenix property called Red Ginger. Holy delicious. Steak skewers for an appetizer. I ordered the orange-bourbon shrimp with coconut rice and green beans. Andy got the blackened chicken with pasta in a chipotle garlic cream sauce. We both got pina coladas. Amazing. Absolutely incredible.
We digested our on our balcony, watching the clouds drift by in the moonlight. A little hot tub and we were ready for bed... by 10:30pm. Passed out.
By the way, a friend once told me that if you pour shampoo in a hot tub, the jets make it bubble up and overflow - the bubbles will just never stop. Turns out, he was right.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Honeymoon - Day 1
It is never easy to spring out of bed when the alarm goes off at 3:30am... unless you know you're about to hop a flight to Belize for eleven days. That's how our day started. The car service came at 4am to bring us to LaGuardia and we were on our way!
The trips from LaGuardia to Miami and Miami to Belize City were fairly uneventful. But the trip got monumentally more interesting when we saw that the trip from Belize City to San Pedro Island would be made by a little 8-seat puddle jumper! Andy, who is not so fond of small planes, was most surprised when the one extra passenger they didn't have a seat for was allowed to climb into the co-pilot seat. Andy prayed he wouldn't get curious and push any buttons.
We arrived at the Phoenix Resort (http://www.thephoenixbelize.com/) and were amazed that the resort looks EXACTLY like the photos on the website. We were greeted with a tropical drink, tour of the grounds, and the exciting news that we had been upgraded to a 2-bedroom condo. The place was huge. Two massive bedrooms, including two huge bathrooms , a large balcony with lounge chairs, and a table with seating for 6 (in case we made friends), and a comfy livng room, also with balcony access. The condo came equipped with flat-screen tvs, purified water, full kitchen (stove, oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, garbage disposal, pots, pans, plates, etc.). A dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, and sweeeeeeet hot tub were also handy additions to the room. Immediately, we headed down to the pool. Belize was pretty warm, so even I went into the pool to cool down. Frozen mojitos in the pool? Don't mind if we do.
We took a walk along the beach later for some food ad stumbled into Caliente's, where we enjoyed chicken quesadillas, tacquitos with four different types of hot sauces and salsas, and "Dirty Bananas", a banana daquiri with a little kick and some tasty chocolate accents. YUM.
Grocery shopping in the afternoon was interesting, as we figured out what kinds of food Belize does or doesn't have, as well as tried to figure out what everything actually cost. ($1 US = $2 Belize, so we had to remember not to be sticker shocked when we saw that juice was $15). This would make for some easy (and cheaper) breakfast and lunch options throughout our stay.
Dinner was at Fido's, a nice walk down the beach. We had an amazing popcorn shrimp for an appetizer. I got a lime glazed chicken with potatoes and vegetables with a strawberry banana daquiri while Andy enjoyed English fish n' chips and a banana daquiri. This was definitely going to be a good week for eating and drinking. Especially when we popped open our first Belikin Beer (from Belize) that night. Amazing.
We were asleep by 9:00, Belize time.
The trips from LaGuardia to Miami and Miami to Belize City were fairly uneventful. But the trip got monumentally more interesting when we saw that the trip from Belize City to San Pedro Island would be made by a little 8-seat puddle jumper! Andy, who is not so fond of small planes, was most surprised when the one extra passenger they didn't have a seat for was allowed to climb into the co-pilot seat. Andy prayed he wouldn't get curious and push any buttons.
We arrived at the Phoenix Resort (http://www.thephoenixbelize.com/) and were amazed that the resort looks EXACTLY like the photos on the website. We were greeted with a tropical drink, tour of the grounds, and the exciting news that we had been upgraded to a 2-bedroom condo. The place was huge. Two massive bedrooms, including two huge bathrooms , a large balcony with lounge chairs, and a table with seating for 6 (in case we made friends), and a comfy livng room, also with balcony access. The condo came equipped with flat-screen tvs, purified water, full kitchen (stove, oven, microwave, fridge, freezer, garbage disposal, pots, pans, plates, etc.). A dishwasher, washing machine and dryer, and sweeeeeeet hot tub were also handy additions to the room. Immediately, we headed down to the pool. Belize was pretty warm, so even I went into the pool to cool down. Frozen mojitos in the pool? Don't mind if we do.
We took a walk along the beach later for some food ad stumbled into Caliente's, where we enjoyed chicken quesadillas, tacquitos with four different types of hot sauces and salsas, and "Dirty Bananas", a banana daquiri with a little kick and some tasty chocolate accents. YUM.
Grocery shopping in the afternoon was interesting, as we figured out what kinds of food Belize does or doesn't have, as well as tried to figure out what everything actually cost. ($1 US = $2 Belize, so we had to remember not to be sticker shocked when we saw that juice was $15). This would make for some easy (and cheaper) breakfast and lunch options throughout our stay.
Dinner was at Fido's, a nice walk down the beach. We had an amazing popcorn shrimp for an appetizer. I got a lime glazed chicken with potatoes and vegetables with a strawberry banana daquiri while Andy enjoyed English fish n' chips and a banana daquiri. This was definitely going to be a good week for eating and drinking. Especially when we popped open our first Belikin Beer (from Belize) that night. Amazing.
We were asleep by 9:00, Belize time.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Wedding = Great success!
We did it! Andy and I got married! I'm someone's WIFE! (whoa.)
The day was shocklingly perfect. I had myself prepped for a disaster of some sort throughout the day, and was almost surprised at how much I was able to enjoy my own wedding. The day was perfect for us. I had told a few of my friends during the planning process that the wedding was turning out to be more formal that I had thought - the venue (which we looooooooved) was more formal than we thought we'd go for. The dress that I found was more princessy than I thought I would want (but I loved that too). So we tried to add some fun aspects as well. Turns out, we had some surprise fun thrown in. Some highlights:
Starting with the ceremony...
Seriously, I loved all that. It was so appropriate for us, since we hardly ever act seriously for an extended amount of time... especially with an audience.
Though we didn't get as much time to mingle during cocktail hour as we would have liked to, (man, those pictures take a long time, huh?) we loved that we did have a chance to get out and say hello to some of our friends and family. I even managed to score myself a mini grilled cheese with tomato soup shooter or two. SCORE.
Then, the reception. We wanted to start things off with fun entrances, and I think we accomplished just that. Even the DJ remarked that he got a kick out of our request to enter to House of Pain's "Jump Around". We wanted to get people in the mood to party and get on the dance floor.
As it turns out, that wasn't much of a problem. People were on the dance floor ALL NIGHT LONG. We actually ended up having to extend the party with the head waiters, bar tenders, and DJ because it was clear no one was leaving before midnight... or MUCH later. Between the power slides, air guitaring with crutches, dance off's, chair lifts, Call On Me dance routines, and sing-alongs, I think I can put our wedding in the "win" column.
The day was shocklingly perfect. I had myself prepped for a disaster of some sort throughout the day, and was almost surprised at how much I was able to enjoy my own wedding. The day was perfect for us. I had told a few of my friends during the planning process that the wedding was turning out to be more formal that I had thought - the venue (which we looooooooved) was more formal than we thought we'd go for. The dress that I found was more princessy than I thought I would want (but I loved that too). So we tried to add some fun aspects as well. Turns out, we had some surprise fun thrown in. Some highlights:
Starting with the ceremony...
- Our very talented friend played us down the aisle on the piano.... but when everyone stood, he could no longer see us, so he kept on playing, not knowing whether or not I'd made it to the front of the room yet. When no one tipped him off that he could stop playing, Andy made the decision to yell to the back of the room that he could cut it. Excellent tension breaker to an already emotional ceremony (between me and dad, a few tears were shed.)
- The rings made a distinct :clink: as the hit the floor during the ceremony. Our precious ringbearer, Lucas, was trying to be the best ring bearer he could be by making the ribbons on the pillow even, not realizing that those ribbons were the only thing securing the rings. It was kind of adorable.
- After all that, the exchange of rings portion of the ceremony was somehow missed, and we had to stop the pronouncement of husband and wife so that we could swap rings. We will have to play back the video when it comes in to find out if we were ever actually pronounced husband and wife.
Seriously, I loved all that. It was so appropriate for us, since we hardly ever act seriously for an extended amount of time... especially with an audience.
Though we didn't get as much time to mingle during cocktail hour as we would have liked to, (man, those pictures take a long time, huh?) we loved that we did have a chance to get out and say hello to some of our friends and family. I even managed to score myself a mini grilled cheese with tomato soup shooter or two. SCORE.
Then, the reception. We wanted to start things off with fun entrances, and I think we accomplished just that. Even the DJ remarked that he got a kick out of our request to enter to House of Pain's "Jump Around". We wanted to get people in the mood to party and get on the dance floor.
As it turns out, that wasn't much of a problem. People were on the dance floor ALL NIGHT LONG. We actually ended up having to extend the party with the head waiters, bar tenders, and DJ because it was clear no one was leaving before midnight... or MUCH later. Between the power slides, air guitaring with crutches, dance off's, chair lifts, Call On Me dance routines, and sing-alongs, I think I can put our wedding in the "win" column.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
To Do Lists
I live by my to-do lists. It is the only way I can keep all my tasks straight at work. It is the only way I remember what I need to pack or finish doing before a big trip. It is how I am (attempting) to keep myself from freaking out about what needs to be done for the wedding. (Check in with me in about a week to see if I managed successfully).
I came across this adorable little number today, and instantly became jealous of the kid who wrote it. Oh, to have this life again...
I came across this adorable little number today, and instantly became jealous of the kid who wrote it. Oh, to have this life again...
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Gearing up!
There is a lot going on right now.
The baby graduated from college last weekend. I don't remember allowing him to get that old.
My mama's birthday is today - and it's a big one! There has been a lot going on with her lately... just a little reminder to let her know how much I love her - birthday or not. Looking forward to seeing her again soon to celebrate her birthday (since last weekend was overshadowed by graduation fun).
My bachelorette party is in a week and a half. I really cannot wait to spend some time with some of my favorite girls for fun in the sun!
Which means that as of tomorrow, I am a month a way from being Mrs. Neufeld. Maybe I should be practicing my new signature or something.
And in the midst of all of it, there are changes going on at work too! My to-do list is becoming massive, but with everything else going on, how can I possibly be expected to work??
It is an exciting time, and my head is reeling, but I'm ready. I just have to get myself settled into some sort of schedule to make sure everything is taken care of with the attention it deserves. It is a little exhausting, and hard not to push little things to the side with a dismissive "I'll take care of this later". Later always comes too soon. And those little things start to manifest themselves into a big long list. Organize yourself, Maureen! Come on, you can do it!
The baby graduated from college last weekend. I don't remember allowing him to get that old.
My mama's birthday is today - and it's a big one! There has been a lot going on with her lately... just a little reminder to let her know how much I love her - birthday or not. Looking forward to seeing her again soon to celebrate her birthday (since last weekend was overshadowed by graduation fun).
My bachelorette party is in a week and a half. I really cannot wait to spend some time with some of my favorite girls for fun in the sun!
Which means that as of tomorrow, I am a month a way from being Mrs. Neufeld. Maybe I should be practicing my new signature or something.
And in the midst of all of it, there are changes going on at work too! My to-do list is becoming massive, but with everything else going on, how can I possibly be expected to work??
It is an exciting time, and my head is reeling, but I'm ready. I just have to get myself settled into some sort of schedule to make sure everything is taken care of with the attention it deserves. It is a little exhausting, and hard not to push little things to the side with a dismissive "I'll take care of this later". Later always comes too soon. And those little things start to manifest themselves into a big long list. Organize yourself, Maureen! Come on, you can do it!
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Dancing Towels
Growing up, there were a few things I could always count on for family gatherings around any holiday at my grandmother's house.
#1 - There would either be some kind of "Sing Along with Mitch" album playing on repeat, or something like the Boston Pops that would inspire a well choreographed dance party or foxtrot, jitterbug, and polka moves. Mostly just involving the girls. And, involuntarily, any unlucky man that was careless enough the try to walk through the red-carpeted living room.
#2 - The dish full of broccoli would begin cooking at the same time as the turkey.
#3 - At some point just before every meal, usually while the dining room was full of the hustle and bustle of setting the table and propping up the card table for food, the smoke detector would go off. Without fail - breakfast, dinner, didn't matter. And because of this, everyone seemed to know where the nearest dish towel was at all times.
I had this dream last night that was all about those dish towels, watching as they performed a spirited dance as they were waved in the air near the ever-present smoke detector outside the kitchen door in my Grandmother's house. Flashes of color appearing and disappearing in mismatched rhythms.
Sort of an odd thing to dream about. And I'm not sure what it meant. But it made me happy.
#1 - There would either be some kind of "Sing Along with Mitch" album playing on repeat, or something like the Boston Pops that would inspire a well choreographed dance party or foxtrot, jitterbug, and polka moves. Mostly just involving the girls. And, involuntarily, any unlucky man that was careless enough the try to walk through the red-carpeted living room.
#2 - The dish full of broccoli would begin cooking at the same time as the turkey.
#3 - At some point just before every meal, usually while the dining room was full of the hustle and bustle of setting the table and propping up the card table for food, the smoke detector would go off. Without fail - breakfast, dinner, didn't matter. And because of this, everyone seemed to know where the nearest dish towel was at all times.
I had this dream last night that was all about those dish towels, watching as they performed a spirited dance as they were waved in the air near the ever-present smoke detector outside the kitchen door in my Grandmother's house. Flashes of color appearing and disappearing in mismatched rhythms.
Sort of an odd thing to dream about. And I'm not sure what it meant. But it made me happy.
Friday, April 23, 2010
The Life I Was Meant to Live
This is the life I was meant to live. Now that my work schedule has back off slightly (or at least stopped demanding such crazy hours), I can actually do things at normal "after work" hours like regular people. My first week of freedom is including 3 Broadway shows in the span of a week.
This is why I moved to New York.
It is invigorating. Sometimes when we have a dinner with this person, and a work event on that night, and we're supposed to meet up from drinks with friend X,Y, and Z, plus go to the movies for a "quiet night", it just gets exhausting. When I have something going on all the time, I feel like time passes me by too quickly. This statement, of course, has exceptions. Theatre is always one of them.
I've seen a lot of shows. But somehow it never gets lost on me. The opposite, actually: the more I see, the more I crave it. And especially lately, the more I feel the need to be back in it. Recently, I had a chance to talk to someone who was telling me how almost everyone in her office was involved in some kind of outside art - they all belonged to theater groups, improv troupes, dance classes, something.
It's missing. All of it. From my life. I read scripts for shows that I know I am not a part of, watch rehearsals for dances I am never going to do, sing along to songs in the car that will not be performed anywhere, and haven't even had time to entertain the idea of designing anything in ages.
At least going to see shows brings me back into the mix - it gets me close to what I love and where I want to be. Not quite there, but close enough to feel it and make me contented for a while.
For now.
This is why I moved to New York.
It is invigorating. Sometimes when we have a dinner with this person, and a work event on that night, and we're supposed to meet up from drinks with friend X,Y, and Z, plus go to the movies for a "quiet night", it just gets exhausting. When I have something going on all the time, I feel like time passes me by too quickly. This statement, of course, has exceptions. Theatre is always one of them.
I've seen a lot of shows. But somehow it never gets lost on me. The opposite, actually: the more I see, the more I crave it. And especially lately, the more I feel the need to be back in it. Recently, I had a chance to talk to someone who was telling me how almost everyone in her office was involved in some kind of outside art - they all belonged to theater groups, improv troupes, dance classes, something.
It's missing. All of it. From my life. I read scripts for shows that I know I am not a part of, watch rehearsals for dances I am never going to do, sing along to songs in the car that will not be performed anywhere, and haven't even had time to entertain the idea of designing anything in ages.
At least going to see shows brings me back into the mix - it gets me close to what I love and where I want to be. Not quite there, but close enough to feel it and make me contented for a while.
For now.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
::insert sigh here::
I just wrote a very long blog entry. Decided against it. Erased and tried a different route that I've been thinking of. Erased that too.
Now this is all I'm saying. Got nothing else for right now.
Now this is all I'm saying. Got nothing else for right now.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Going a little stir-crazy...
THERE IS ALWAYS SO MUCH TO DO! AHHH!
Here are a few facts and figures for you...
87 - The number of days until the wedding
26 - The number of days until the Gala at work
$229,900 - The amount of money I still have to RAISE for that Gala (No pressure, Maureen)
44 - the number of things on my To-Do list right now that need to be taken care of immediately
150 - the number of times I say "I'm tired" throughout the day (estimated)
0 - the amount of patience I have with some of the vendors I have been working with
0 - the number of times I have been running this week because I just don't have enough time
100% - the amount I am excited to be getting married soon!
I feel like I am going crazy all the time cause there is just so much to do and there never seems to be enough time to do it! Between the craziness at work and the amount that needs to be done for the wedding, I feel like I am losing out on sleep, amping up my stress level, and totally neglecting other things. I was doing sooo well with running, but I just don't have the time. Yes, the die-hard runners out there say you can always MAKE time. Well, you know what? Not when everything else is so damn time consuming! I realize it is my own fault cause I wanted to write out all of the wedding invitations by hand with my pretty little calligraphy pens so that I could be totally "traditional", but now that I am half way done, I need to finish! It takes a LONG time! But I am happy with my choice - this wedding is going to be everything I want it to be, damn it! :o)
I feel like I have a lot on my plate right now, but I have a lot on the horizon as well, which is very exciting to me. I knew going into this that I always get a little crazy (and lose a little sleep) around Gala time. Without fail for the last few years, I start running on autopilot 24-hours a day to make sure that this thing gets cranked out, and everything else sort of takes a back seat to my work. Fact of life. But there has never been a WEDDING to compete with before. Normally the things I am ignoring are drinks with friends, lunch at normal hours and (God bless him) Andy. Things get different when you throw your own wedding into the mix. And when you throw a list of goals in there as well. How am I supposed to get any of that stuff done?
I'll find a way. Somehow. Until then, I will just keep my fingers crossed that something comes along to magically give me a new opportunity to make my life a little easier. Fingers crossed.
Here are a few facts and figures for you...
87 - The number of days until the wedding
26 - The number of days until the Gala at work
$229,900 - The amount of money I still have to RAISE for that Gala (No pressure, Maureen)
44 - the number of things on my To-Do list right now that need to be taken care of immediately
150 - the number of times I say "I'm tired" throughout the day (estimated)
0 - the amount of patience I have with some of the vendors I have been working with
0 - the number of times I have been running this week because I just don't have enough time
100% - the amount I am excited to be getting married soon!
I feel like I am going crazy all the time cause there is just so much to do and there never seems to be enough time to do it! Between the craziness at work and the amount that needs to be done for the wedding, I feel like I am losing out on sleep, amping up my stress level, and totally neglecting other things. I was doing sooo well with running, but I just don't have the time. Yes, the die-hard runners out there say you can always MAKE time. Well, you know what? Not when everything else is so damn time consuming! I realize it is my own fault cause I wanted to write out all of the wedding invitations by hand with my pretty little calligraphy pens so that I could be totally "traditional", but now that I am half way done, I need to finish! It takes a LONG time! But I am happy with my choice - this wedding is going to be everything I want it to be, damn it! :o)
I feel like I have a lot on my plate right now, but I have a lot on the horizon as well, which is very exciting to me. I knew going into this that I always get a little crazy (and lose a little sleep) around Gala time. Without fail for the last few years, I start running on autopilot 24-hours a day to make sure that this thing gets cranked out, and everything else sort of takes a back seat to my work. Fact of life. But there has never been a WEDDING to compete with before. Normally the things I am ignoring are drinks with friends, lunch at normal hours and (God bless him) Andy. Things get different when you throw your own wedding into the mix. And when you throw a list of goals in there as well. How am I supposed to get any of that stuff done?
I'll find a way. Somehow. Until then, I will just keep my fingers crossed that something comes along to magically give me a new opportunity to make my life a little easier. Fingers crossed.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
DOUBLE BLOG!
Part one will be an explanation of where I've been (for those of you who have asked me why you are now "blocked" from this blog. Part two will be an update as to what I have been up to with my 101 list. Aren't you excited?
Part One: Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Moesying through life is an open blog (normally). I am happy to have my friends follow along as I post my progress through my 101 Things in 1001 Days list, or ramble on about my everyday life. I don't even mind if some bored bloggers out there are using the "next blog" function and happen to run across my blog. I can't imagine they would be terribly interested, but I don't care if they read it! I even included a link to my blog in my email signatures so that friends and family could follow along! Unfortunately, I forgot about this on a few occasions and sent out emails to a bunch of people that do not fall into the "friend" or "family" categories without deleting the signature. Not that it would be the end of the world if wedding vendors or people I was contacting for work read my blog, but I would just be more comfortable with them NOT reading that I want to ride a mechanical bull in a filthy bar. Just saying. So I temporarily made the blog private until I think enough time has passed that those folks will no longer be referring to my emails. Lesson learned.
AND, there was a problem with one of my widgets (what?) and I tried to fix the HTML code for my blog myself. I ended up permanently screwing with the formatting and had to recreate the blog back to its nearly original form. Way to go, Maureen.
(You will all see this when I unblock the blog again).
Part Two: 101 Things in 1001 Days
So much progress to tell you about! First off, I have been running for OVER A MONTH now, three times a week! Task #24, check! And I continue to eat breakfast before work every morning. #48, I'm kicking your ass! Yesterday, Andy and I spent the day cleaning the apartment. Really cleaning it - as in moving furniture, loading trash bags full of junk we don't need, and generally de-cluttering our tiny space. In the process, I managed to re-organize my drawers (and include the new set of drawers that I built all by myself... ok, from a kit, but whatever), and find over 50 items that I could donate to the Salvation Army. Since I have already gone through the clothes left in my closets and dressers back at my parent's house, I am crossing #45 off my list! It is a good feeling! Also, through our de-cluttering, we were able to turn our 2nd bedroom into a den. We have the desk all set up, the futon set as a couch again (it's been laid out in bed position for MONTHS), a TV is now set up in that room, and the pièce de résistance, we have a Total Gym set up in that room. Hello, healthy living! And goodbye #52 from the list!
It looks like I have some money to transfer now, according to #27!
I am feeling pretty good about my progress. I even have a few things that I have done over the past few weeks that ALMOST count, but not quite. I visited someone that I have never visited before in another state!! (#6). But they weren't a friend or family member. I was going with a friend of mine to visit HIS family. Awesome trip, but I don't think it counts. While I was there, I had my first lesson in Jump Stilting! The spring-loaded metal stilts that let you jump like you're tigger and run up to 20 miles per hour! I don't know if they count as an extreme sport or not, but my cautious walking on the with two men by my side in case I fell takes away any "extreme" factor there might have been. For now, I won't count them as #86 on the list, but I might reevaluate if I ever go back for more "training". We also just starting using Skype as an Instant Messenger program at work, so I talk to people on skype all day long, but it is all in text, not video skyping. Plus, it is for work, and I only talk to colleagues, so it doesn't count toward #60.
And even though I have not had the chance to adventure with my Daddy yet (#2), he is off having quite the adventure himself now with his Geezer pal (and my Godfather), Al. If you don't already, you should follow his journey at www.geezersgosouth.blogspot.com!!
HAPPY BLOGGING!
Part One: Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Moesying through life is an open blog (normally). I am happy to have my friends follow along as I post my progress through my 101 Things in 1001 Days list, or ramble on about my everyday life. I don't even mind if some bored bloggers out there are using the "next blog" function and happen to run across my blog. I can't imagine they would be terribly interested, but I don't care if they read it! I even included a link to my blog in my email signatures so that friends and family could follow along! Unfortunately, I forgot about this on a few occasions and sent out emails to a bunch of people that do not fall into the "friend" or "family" categories without deleting the signature. Not that it would be the end of the world if wedding vendors or people I was contacting for work read my blog, but I would just be more comfortable with them NOT reading that I want to ride a mechanical bull in a filthy bar. Just saying. So I temporarily made the blog private until I think enough time has passed that those folks will no longer be referring to my emails. Lesson learned.
AND, there was a problem with one of my widgets (what?) and I tried to fix the HTML code for my blog myself. I ended up permanently screwing with the formatting and had to recreate the blog back to its nearly original form. Way to go, Maureen.
(You will all see this when I unblock the blog again).
Part Two: 101 Things in 1001 Days
So much progress to tell you about! First off, I have been running for OVER A MONTH now, three times a week! Task #24, check! And I continue to eat breakfast before work every morning. #48, I'm kicking your ass! Yesterday, Andy and I spent the day cleaning the apartment. Really cleaning it - as in moving furniture, loading trash bags full of junk we don't need, and generally de-cluttering our tiny space. In the process, I managed to re-organize my drawers (and include the new set of drawers that I built all by myself... ok, from a kit, but whatever), and find over 50 items that I could donate to the Salvation Army. Since I have already gone through the clothes left in my closets and dressers back at my parent's house, I am crossing #45 off my list! It is a good feeling! Also, through our de-cluttering, we were able to turn our 2nd bedroom into a den. We have the desk all set up, the futon set as a couch again (it's been laid out in bed position for MONTHS), a TV is now set up in that room, and the pièce de résistance, we have a Total Gym set up in that room. Hello, healthy living! And goodbye #52 from the list!
It looks like I have some money to transfer now, according to #27!
I am feeling pretty good about my progress. I even have a few things that I have done over the past few weeks that ALMOST count, but not quite. I visited someone that I have never visited before in another state!! (#6). But they weren't a friend or family member. I was going with a friend of mine to visit HIS family. Awesome trip, but I don't think it counts. While I was there, I had my first lesson in Jump Stilting! The spring-loaded metal stilts that let you jump like you're tigger and run up to 20 miles per hour! I don't know if they count as an extreme sport or not, but my cautious walking on the with two men by my side in case I fell takes away any "extreme" factor there might have been. For now, I won't count them as #86 on the list, but I might reevaluate if I ever go back for more "training". We also just starting using Skype as an Instant Messenger program at work, so I talk to people on skype all day long, but it is all in text, not video skyping. Plus, it is for work, and I only talk to colleagues, so it doesn't count toward #60.
And even though I have not had the chance to adventure with my Daddy yet (#2), he is off having quite the adventure himself now with his Geezer pal (and my Godfather), Al. If you don't already, you should follow his journey at www.geezersgosouth.blogspot.com!!
HAPPY BLOGGING!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
#48: Most important meal of the day!
Well, not only was I able to eat breakfast before work every day for two weeks, but I kept it up for the entire month of February! Fine, this is not the most groundbreaking accomplishment, but it is another thing checked off my list! It is less about completing a goal than it is about creating a healthier lifestyle. Go me!
In other news, I am only a few days away from being able to say that I have completed # 24 on the list, because I have been running 3-4 times each week since early February! Woot woot! And for the first time this week, I ran two miles! Once again, this is nothing stunning in the great land of monumental goals, but it was a big deal to me! I was a sweaty, nasty mess who could barely walk afterward, but I was a PROUD disaster. That's what counts.
AND.... my wedding dress came in this week! YAY!
More news to come, so stay tuned!
In other news, I am only a few days away from being able to say that I have completed # 24 on the list, because I have been running 3-4 times each week since early February! Woot woot! And for the first time this week, I ran two miles! Once again, this is nothing stunning in the great land of monumental goals, but it was a big deal to me! I was a sweaty, nasty mess who could barely walk afterward, but I was a PROUD disaster. That's what counts.
AND.... my wedding dress came in this week! YAY!
More news to come, so stay tuned!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Almost there!
This is the third week in a row that I have exercised three days a week or more. Just saying...
I'm on fire. Running like the wind. Can't stop me now.
I'm on fire. Running like the wind. Can't stop me now.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
I like to misinterpret Lent
I know that Lent is supposed to be a holy time, but I like to treat it more as a challenge period. What can I NOT do for several weeks? What can I give up that I will actively have to try to maintain?
This year's answer: Alcohol.
Dear Alcohol,
What can I say? We've been such good friends for many years now. I guess all that's left to say is farewell Guinness, Wine and Stoli. It's been real. See you on April 4th.
Love,
Maureen
This year's answer: Alcohol.
Dear Alcohol,
What can I say? We've been such good friends for many years now. I guess all that's left to say is farewell Guinness, Wine and Stoli. It's been real. See you on April 4th.
Love,
Maureen
Monday, February 15, 2010
Let's do this.
Plan for today:
- Start a new book.
- Try a new recipe.
- Get laundry done. (Thanks for helping, Andy)
- Go for a run. (Trying for the #24 streak!)
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Motivation in unusual places....
Most people would think that a snowy day that causes one to work from home would be a "work from home" day that included hot chocolate, Maury, and a nap. The term work is a loose one that often involves checking work emails throughout the day and not much else.
Today was my work from home day. And today was the most productive day I have had all week.
Honestly, I think I am MORE distracted in the office because it is tooooo quiet, which causes me to seek out distractions. Also, I hear folks in the office mention other projects which either cause me to check in on those projects also (taking me away from whatever I was working on), or chime into the conversations because I love to chat. Either way, it takes me away from my work. Today, with the constant, built-in distraction of a TV in the background, I was able to get sooooo much done, and I feel really good about it. I was able to complete a few projects, do some solid writing for work, and just check things off the to-do list that have been hovering on the list for many days. What a great feeling.
I love days that are super productive and I really feel like I accomplish something. I love it even more that I am able to have days like this while sitting on my couch in comfy pants and catching up on my DVR list.
I wish I could work from home EVERY day!
Today was my work from home day. And today was the most productive day I have had all week.
Honestly, I think I am MORE distracted in the office because it is tooooo quiet, which causes me to seek out distractions. Also, I hear folks in the office mention other projects which either cause me to check in on those projects also (taking me away from whatever I was working on), or chime into the conversations because I love to chat. Either way, it takes me away from my work. Today, with the constant, built-in distraction of a TV in the background, I was able to get sooooo much done, and I feel really good about it. I was able to complete a few projects, do some solid writing for work, and just check things off the to-do list that have been hovering on the list for many days. What a great feeling.
I love days that are super productive and I really feel like I accomplish something. I love it even more that I am able to have days like this while sitting on my couch in comfy pants and catching up on my DVR list.
I wish I could work from home EVERY day!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Slight change of plans...
Now, I don't want to say that I am a quitter, but I am going to make a little revision to #23 (Go to the gym every day for a week... three times) and #24 (go to the gym three times per week for a solid month). I am still motivated to do these things, but well, I just quit the gym.
Trust me when I say that this is for the best, cause my gym is full of douche bags (and I am talking about the staff, not the clientele. Although...) BUT, I am determined to get through everything on this list, so from this point forward the list shall read "exercise" in place of "go to the gym".
And while we are on the subject, let's brag a bit. I have worked out TWICE in the last three days! This is nothing of note for some people, but for ME it's huge. I even impressed myself on Saturday when Andy and Chris (who was visiting from Maryland) decided it would be a great idea to all go running together.
Maureen no run.
So Andy decided to create a "shorter" run for us than he was originally planning (in the snow) and HOLY SHIT. I made it a full mile without stopping. Yes, I know there are 9 year olds out there who can run a mile, but I usually quit. Not this time. I didn't stop, even when it hurt. Small victories. They count.
So stay tuned for more "exercise" reports that do not include the gym.
Trust me when I say that this is for the best, cause my gym is full of douche bags (and I am talking about the staff, not the clientele. Although...) BUT, I am determined to get through everything on this list, so from this point forward the list shall read "exercise" in place of "go to the gym".
And while we are on the subject, let's brag a bit. I have worked out TWICE in the last three days! This is nothing of note for some people, but for ME it's huge. I even impressed myself on Saturday when Andy and Chris (who was visiting from Maryland) decided it would be a great idea to all go running together.
Maureen no run.
So Andy decided to create a "shorter" run for us than he was originally planning (in the snow) and HOLY SHIT. I made it a full mile without stopping. Yes, I know there are 9 year olds out there who can run a mile, but I usually quit. Not this time. I didn't stop, even when it hurt. Small victories. They count.
So stay tuned for more "exercise" reports that do not include the gym.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Good week for #19
What a great week for keeping tabs on my Broadway list. Earlier this week I saw A View From The Bridge; which is definitely my favorite Arthur Miller play. It was a really good production, and though I had reservations about getting rush tickets for standing room, I was really happy that I went. Solid performances, nice scenic design, good evening of theater. Worth the three days of back pain since then. :)
And today, I got tickets to see Rock of Ages tomorrow afternoon while I have some dear, dear friends in town! TKTS did me right by offering center orchestra, row K aisle seats for 40% off. I love that these kinds of options are available in this city.
Also tentatively making plans to do some more theatering next week, so look for the tally to keep changing! WAHOO!
And today, I got tickets to see Rock of Ages tomorrow afternoon while I have some dear, dear friends in town! TKTS did me right by offering center orchestra, row K aisle seats for 40% off. I love that these kinds of options are available in this city.
Also tentatively making plans to do some more theatering next week, so look for the tally to keep changing! WAHOO!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Will power
Which is a better test of will power: Doing something even though you HATE the idea of doing it and would rather do anything else in the world? Or NOT doing something, even though you really want to more than anything else in the world?
Which one is the greater test? Which one shows more character? Which one can you grow more from at the end of the day?
I wonder....
Which one is the greater test? Which one shows more character? Which one can you grow more from at the end of the day?
I wonder....
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Update: #66
I think my dad would have been very proud of the way I tackled and (to pat myself on the back) mastered his shepherd's pie recipe. I've been doing a bit more cooking these days, and I am excited to do even more.
There are a few recipes that I'd like to try, and I think Andy found a few he might have been interested in as well, when he was thumbing through my cookbooks. So far, (knock on wood), all of my experiments have gone fairly well, with the exception of one or two "You won't believe how easy and tasty this meal is with only 3 ingredients" recipes. At least they were easy. But eew. I do much better when I stick to real recipes. Even though I make a much bigger mess in the kitchen. :)
There are a few recipes that I'd like to try, and I think Andy found a few he might have been interested in as well, when he was thumbing through my cookbooks. So far, (knock on wood), all of my experiments have gone fairly well, with the exception of one or two "You won't believe how easy and tasty this meal is with only 3 ingredients" recipes. At least they were easy. But eew. I do much better when I stick to real recipes. Even though I make a much bigger mess in the kitchen. :)
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Old Men Really Make My Day!
For all my friends that got such pleasure out of following my Dad's adventures last winter/spring, he's going to be at it again! You know what that means!?
(Well, really what that means is that half my friends are going to start every conversation with "awww, your dad is so cute" or "your dad's blog cracked me up yesterday" for about a month. I'm ready.)
So clearly, I am dedicating this blog to my favorite blog in the entire world. Welcome back, you old geezers! Best of luck on your Southern Walkabout!
geezersgosouth.blogspot.com
(Well, really what that means is that half my friends are going to start every conversation with "awww, your dad is so cute" or "your dad's blog cracked me up yesterday" for about a month. I'm ready.)
So clearly, I am dedicating this blog to my favorite blog in the entire world. Welcome back, you old geezers! Best of luck on your Southern Walkabout!
geezersgosouth.blogspot.comWednesday, January 13, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr. is sneaky!
Did anyone else know it was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day this coming Monday? If the answer is yes, shame on you! You should have told me!
I don't know if my brain is turning to mush because of the cold, or still hasn't recovered from the holidays, or is just in wedding/gala mode, or what, but I thought I had another week!
Actually, Andy and I were just talking about how we both have Monday off for MLK Day, so we should do something like go away for the weekend and visit friends or go skiing or something like that. It would be nice to get away for the long weekend. In the next breath, we were talking about how many THIS weekend, we should go meet with a few wedding photographers, since we have the get that all squared away and maybe making a quick weekend trip up to Albany. But that we should still plan on doing something fun over the long weekend.
No idea we were talking about the same weekend. Didn't even occur to us.
This is silly. Snuck up on me. (sigh) Maybe it is time I start using that day planner...
I don't know if my brain is turning to mush because of the cold, or still hasn't recovered from the holidays, or is just in wedding/gala mode, or what, but I thought I had another week!
Actually, Andy and I were just talking about how we both have Monday off for MLK Day, so we should do something like go away for the weekend and visit friends or go skiing or something like that. It would be nice to get away for the long weekend. In the next breath, we were talking about how many THIS weekend, we should go meet with a few wedding photographers, since we have the get that all squared away and maybe making a quick weekend trip up to Albany. But that we should still plan on doing something fun over the long weekend.
No idea we were talking about the same weekend. Didn't even occur to us.
This is silly. Snuck up on me. (sigh) Maybe it is time I start using that day planner...
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Motivation
Is the feeling of motivation a chemical reaction in the body? And if so, what causes it?
I am feeling motivationally torn right now, and it's got me wondering... is there something that we can do that will result in feeling a little extra motivated, or is it really just a (sometimes fleeting) frame of mind.
I wonder....
I am feeling motivationally torn right now, and it's got me wondering... is there something that we can do that will result in feeling a little extra motivated, or is it really just a (sometimes fleeting) frame of mind.
I wonder....
Monday, January 4, 2010
2010!
Now, my life is really nothing to complain about, but I am happy to have 2009 be over and move on to 2010. Big things this year, big things! Foreseeable 2010 highlights include:
- Several landmark birthday parties
- "The Baby" graduating from college
- Lots of new life potentials (to be elaborated on at a later date)
- Checking off a ton of items on my 101 List
- A few friends having babies
- Lots of friends getting married
- Umm... a wedding of my own. That should be sweet.
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