Signs from the Universe

My hairdryer started on fire this morning.  Mid-dry.  I was a quarter of the way through.

I gathered my hair into a loose pony, effortlessly creating a wind-blown, just-stepped-off-a-motorcycle look.  Or so I thought, until I caught a glance of my reflection in a window as I walked to the courthouse.  Shockingly, I looked like I had blow-dried a quarter of my hair (the front quarter) and then simply thrown in the towel.

That's a super hot look, especially when you have court first thing in the morning.

This is clearly a sign from the universe that the weather needs to be warmer so we can all revert to our non-blow drying ways.

Hear that, universe???

I'm lucky...

...that I have friends and family that made my holidays really, really special.

It all started in early December when the girls took a little trip to Ten Spa for some wine, chatting, pedicures and manicures.  No question, this needs to be a tradition.

Then, after we got all prettied up, we headed to Es and Mark's for engagement toasts. 

Cute face Rob.

Hot. 

Skip to the week of December 15th -- Ty and I got our act together and put up our tree.  This happened much later than I would have liked, but man, December is fun because it's so BUSY.  And there's a lesson here for me:  everything does not need to happen on a schedule. 

Clare and Anna came home for the holidays and practiced their Christmas card pose for 2011.

Ty got in the swing of it.

After spending a Christmas eve full of love with Ty's mom's side of the family, we trekked to Kenora on Christmas morn.  And what a morning.  Beautiful blue skies.

Anna looks super happy with her new gift.  She got me a watch (orange) and I got her a watch (red).  Did I mention that having a sister like Andrea makes me lucky?  And happy?

 

You have no idea how difficult it is to take a decent picture of my family. 

My father actually thinks he's smiling here.

He still thinks he's smiling.

A few days after Christmas, An, Ty and I hiked across the foot bridge to Coney Island for a little exploring.

Always love winter pictures of the ice road (as opposed to summer pictures of the ice road, obviously).

An -- helping to make sure no building fell over on that particular day.

Ty in the background: "can we please go get an egg mcmuffin now?" (note:  we didn't allow Ty to fulfill this bizarre craving.  we made him a healthly alternative)

Bet you think this is the same picture as above, right?  Nope.  End of hike picture -- check out the sun.

January 2.  Stopped in West Hawk, met Nat and Ry and headed to Falcon for a cross-country ski and some really great live music at Falcon Resort. 

I'm so lucky to have friends that are friends AND family.

Oh K-city, I love you at all times of the year.

Long December

I love December because I can be as sentimental as I want without fear of judgmental eyes.  Watch Remember the Titans and cry all day Sunday as a result of watching it?  Check.  Hug every friend that comes within a 5 metre radius?  Check.  Bake shortbread cookies while listening to Christmas music and occasionally stopping every once a while because one of my all time favourite Christmas songs just came on and I need a moment to really listen and appreciate it?  Check.

So, in keeping with that theme, here's a quote I love.  Don't roll your eyes at it.  Or where it's from.

"Happiness is the consequence of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings. And once you have achieved a state of happiness, you must never become lax about maintaining it. You must make a mighty effort to keep swimming upward into that happiness forever, to stay afloat on top of it." - Elizabeth Gilbert

Bean Town

Ty headed to Boston in mid November for some learnin', and I joined him on the back end.  He flew in on Wednesday; I hopped on a flight on Friday night.  And we had a fantastic time.  Remember how I gushed about Chicago not that long ago?  Boston = Chicago on the awesome scale.  

Ty's course continued on Saturday, so I had the whole day Saturday to myself.  I slept in, then hauled myself out of bed and hit the gym, and then grabbed a tea and walked and walked and walked (could a day be any more perfect?  It was also a perfectly quiet day -- I seriously think the only words I spoke to anyone occurred when I ordered tea.  I highly recommend days like this every so often).

And then on Saturday night, we headed to a Bruins game (surprised?).  We went early and headed to a sports pub that was named the number 1 sports bar in America by SI (that's a pretty serious billing, no?).  Ty wouldn't let me take a picture (he thought I was going to make him look uncool.  Yes, he thought I was going to make him look uncool).  So -- no picture.  

But, he acquiesced on my request for pictures inside the Garden.

 

After the game, we walked into the North End -- and found an incredible little Italian Restaurant.  Pomodoro.  I'm not exaggerating on the "little".  The restaurant had 8 tables and a bathroom that was so mini that had Ty needed to go, he would have been out of luck (he truly wouldn't have fit).  We sat at the counter facing out onto the street at the front window and we had a clear view of Mike's Pastry.  The crazy part of this photo?  It was taken at 11:30 pm.  And there is a line-up out the door, down the street. Cannoli is apparently a very popular post-Bruins game snack.

On Sunday, Ty and I took in some history.  We walked the Freedom Trail.  We started at the Bunker Hill Monument (side note:  the battle of Bunker Hill didn't actually take place on Bunker Hill, but rather on Breed's Hill, where the monument actually stands today). Breed's Hill is where the first major conflict occurred between British and Patriot forces (the battle occurred on June 17, 1775).

Ty's heart rate = through the top of the monument.  He just hiked 294 very steep steps.

Views from the Bunker Hill Monument.  See the USS Constitution?  She's nicknamed Old Ironsides (apparently cannon balls bounced off of her in battle).

Where the lanterns were hung:  One if by land, two if by sea.

A pew inside the church.

"For strangers and wardens".  Ty and I sat in here.  I'm strange, he's stranger.  We were warden-less.

Paul, doing his thing.  His lantern hanging place in the background.

Ty, strolling along the Freedom Trail. He's got one hand in his pocket, and the other is giving a peace sign carrying my mitts while I take pictures.

After our long and winding walk, we stopped at an Irish Pub for a Sam Adams winter ale 

(of course, it had to be a Sam Adams after walking the Freedom Trail).

And on Monday, we hit the Museum of Fine Arts.

 

And then we dashed off to the Airport to fly home sweet home.  

I am overjoyed to report that we are staying put for the next while (except for our Kcity Christmas). 

We love houseguests.  Please come and visit.

The Great Pumpkin Carve Off

Any guesses as to which two are mine and which are Wirv's?

shiny new in-laws

These people are going to be in my life forever.  And I couldn't be any happier.  They bring love, fun, great friends, new perspectives, good shopping knowledge...and did I mention fun?

Change

I think I’ve become Winnipeg Ainsley.  Formerly, Calgary Ainsley (I always liked Calgary Ainsley).  Before that Ainsley, there was London Ainsley and Kenora Ainsley (I liked these Ainsleys less.  But I’ve learned they have merit).  There was also Pembina Highway Ainsley (she didn't quite deserve the full title of Winnipeg Ainsley at the time). And for a snapshot in time, there was Australia Ainsley, too.

How did I do it?  How do we all do it?

Change.  

"Life is hard and you have to change"