A New Chapter

2011... that looks preposterous in writing. What is even more unbelievable is that it has been nearly a year since we moved here. Almost at the 365 day mark. Insanity. It doesn't even feel like a year has passed. It went so quietly, sneaking around on pointed toes, trying to avoid eye contact as if it were embarrassed. And now we are fully engulfed by yet another year that promises to be equally chaotic. Im not complaining, though. Now that we're down to the wire in our "365 days" I feel incredibly motivated to shape up and get things done. I also feel like we're finally in a good place financially. Before, we were still trying to sort things out and whatever and now it all seems to make sense. I am so determined to make it back for all the fun that 2011 has in store. Even though no matter where you live, life seems to find a way to disappoint you.

I keep in contact with my former life as best I can, trying to live vicariously though the people with whom I associated myself with most. And no matter how much fun they seem to be having in Facebook photos, there is always that underlying drama that never fully settles and constantly ruins your good time. Come to think of it, Will and I look pretty darn happy in all our Washington pics, even if we are lonely. Maybe the key to having a good time is looking good and smiling wide for photos because when all is said and done, photos are all you have left. Maybe if we stop trying so hard to make a memory, we wont be disappointed when the moment passes and you start feeling like a cheap date. Just look at those pretty pictures and remember it being glorious. 

So, the point I was trying to get at is New Years Eve- its never ever super-awesome-good-happy-fun-time. EVER. I spent the majority of the day wishing I was in LA with all my friends instead of making last minuet dinner reservations at a local hotel. It turns out, though, I probably had a better time then my friends in Cali. Mostly because, even if you are spending New Years Eve with people you love, you always tend to have the crazy high expectations, and you always have conflicting interests and you always end up a little bummed out. I had zero expectations. Therefore I pretty much enjoyed myself. And we took some pretty cute pics and I will look back and see smiles and butterflies and sunshine ;)

Now, New years day was a great day for me. i woke up at ten, slightly hungover, had some coffee and then went on a hike with Will and Penny in Washington Park. Gorgeous hike. Its shady and quiet and crisp. All was well until we were 1/4 of the way in and I realized there is virtually no sunlight the entire way... The trees are too tall... It was 27 degrees in the forrest. My nose started running like crazy and my ears pounded and my fingers were numb. Though we tried to keep up a brisk pace, my ears were so freaking cold, it made it impossible to warm up. My only saving grace was the North Bluff lookout that gets full sun a looks out over the channel and harbor. It was brilliantly sunny and a pod of porpoises were playing in the channel below... also, 2 GIANT bald eagles were perched in the trees about a hundred yards below. They may have been the biggest I've seen yet. We took a long nap after our hike and woke up just in time to see Mt Baker blazing as the sun set behind it. It was a brilliant shade of pink. I took it as a good omen for the coming year.

Now, I am on the last leg of my 4 day weekend. We just got back from Trader Joe's in Bellingham and Will is about to make BLT's for his family. I am not going to lie, the pancetta smells amazing in the frying pan. I may have to steal a bite while no one is looking ;) I am looking forward to seeing everyone in 2011... Home seems so much closer now.