My boy Ira

My secret boyfriend Ira Glass of This American Life came to A2 this weekend - and my friends CJ, her son Jacob, Nicole, Wendy and Jane and I went to celebrate his great story telling abilities - and I was able to get my photo with him...sigh..I love Ira - even though my puffy coat isn't a great look for me :)

Jebuary Feelings

So its southeastern Michigan at the end of January and the beginning of February. This is really the darkest moment of the winter because the glamor and excitement of the holidays is long gone, and the fun festive feelings of spring and St. Patricks day are still 6 weeks away. It is the period where Michiganders tend to bunker down, read books, watch movies and generally just settle in.

I am in a very similar place - though last year I had 3 weeks of watching the TV Series called Alias in every spare minute to enteratain me. I love it when girls kick ass - which Jennifer Garner does in this show. I have not found one yet that pulls me into it, so I guess I will read the many books I have. Ann Arbor is getting slammed with a foot of snow today, which will make for some fun running tomorrow! yeah!

so that is all I have! happy ground hogs day

Stef & Matts Wedding

Stef & Matt

I spent a v. fun weekend in Philly with my friend Heather Chapman-Henry to celebrate our friend Stef's wedding to Mathew Wakeman.

We connected with some old friends - including Christine McBennett and met some new ones! Christine and her husband Chris (sorry about the eyes closed) are in the 1st photo above and the other photo is me, Stef and Heather :) These are all friends I met when I was in Grad School at Washington University in St. Louis. Its hard to believe, but its been 10 years since we graduated with our Master in Social Work Degrees. It was really interesting to hear what everyone was doing 10 years post degree. It was also fun b/c social workers have a way of talking that is inclusive and v. free flowing. I think we covered religion and politics with people we never met before without missing a beat and I don't think anyone was offended. I guess if you hang out with social workers, you better be prepared for a liberal take on things - :)

New Years Day Run and Brunch!

Dave, Kathryn, Ike and Carmen welcomed a bunch of us over for a potluck brunch on new years day to welcome in 2008 with a run in a foot of snow through bird hills! The run was a blast and of course included lots of snow balls!

followed by fun and food and the Michigan Game! It was a great way to start 2008!
T photos are as follows above: Toby Marano; Thien & Carmen; the Klumster; Danny and Lena

Carmen and Lena as princesses!

epic day!!!

Ah - every year there is a great day of skiing - I had some pretty icey cold days up in Tahoe - until my friend Dan decided to meet me for the weekend at a little resort about 2 hours away from my grandparents....apparently in California when it snows in the mountains - chains are always required - which was a bummer for me in my little two wheeled drive station wagon. I was hoping the restrictions would be lifted by the time I was driving up the mountain - unfortunately that wasn't the case. The chain guys who stopped me said - the roads aren't so bad, you're from Michigan and there are no tumble down to your death drop offs on the mountain - so if you want to take the risk go ahead - though you could get a ticket from the police - I said - done - I took the risk - Luckily it went well and I met up with Dan for an Epic day of powder! it was so much fun - my jacket is full of extra clothing as you can see - the photo of the trees is where we saw a GINORMOUS white rabbit and also the sight of the Nirvana run of the day - and finally Dan is skiing off a cliff - good thing he is a pretty good skier - he did take me down a double black diamond (Twice) which if you were watching you would have laughed as hard as Dan did at me - good times - indeed!

Christmas!

Christmas in Reno was full of joy - we celebrated a low-key holiday at my grandparents with my folks, my Auntie Anne and my brother - lots of rest and relaxation and questioning by my grandfather on why he doesn't see any great grandchildren running around - all in all -it was a great holiday!

I left my heart

So I was out west for the past 10 days on a California Tour - I started in Reno - rented a car - drove across Donor Pass - Luckily no hunger pains - (let me know if you don't get that joke) then I went to stay with my buddy Dan who in San Francisco - I described the directions to his house as - take I-80 till it ends and take a right - basically that's all it is -

Anyway - I had a blast - I rode Dan's bike across the golden gate bridge, through the Presidio and Golden Gate Park

I watched the Sun Set on the pacific and walked up and down Haight street - which was very fun and reminded me of a much bigger and funkier South University of Ann Arbor - I did get some funny trinkets though :) I bought some hilarious binkies for my friend's kids -

the last photo is on my way out of Napa Valley where I met my friend Maddy for Coffee - who told me she was engaged!! Congrats Maddy!