Tag Archives: a month in review

September 2013: In a Nutshell.

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Hostel in Ocean Beach, San Diego.

Hostel in Ocean Beach, San Diego.

Although I’m still mildly jet-lagged, it was nice to get up this morning and get back to work. A body at rest will stay at rest, and as relaxing as my mini-vacation was, I don’t like staying “at rest” for too long. I go stir crazy. I rather enjoy being productive and getting things done. That sense of productivity and accomplishment seemed to be a reoccurring theme over the course of September. I went into overdrive at the firm, more so than usual- up until the mere hours before I caught my flight out West last week to make sure my workload was either finished, up-to-date, and/or organized. This wasn’t only for my boss and co-worker’s benefit for while I was away- but for myself, as well, for when I got back. It was a rather rewarding feeling when I got into the office today and knew exactly what needed to be done and exactly where everything needed to go. It freed up what I call “clutter time,” which is just minutes or hours wasted on trying to locate things or figure out what needs to get done and when and created more free time for me to focus on other things, instead.

I had mentioned in a recent post while I was in California that October is shaping up to be a very fun, and very busy month. Halloween, which I think may be my favorite holiday, ever- brings a lot of fun events with it. Scary movies, costume parties, cheesy/scary attractions (haunted hay rides, anyone?) horror-themed conventions, the return of “The Walking Dead,” and so much more. I think I’ve been in the Halloween spirit since around April, so needless to say, I’m excited. I have a few themed posts in mind to celebrate, and my camera ready to capture everything.

And I can’t wait to share my costume with everyone.

August 2013: In a Nutshell.

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September is right around the corner, but the leaves are already starting to change! Taken in my yard earlier today.

Parting is such sweet sorrow, especially with Summertime in New England. The sunshine. The warm weather. Being able to swim in the ocean without getting frostbite. Knowing that snow and frigid temperatures are on the way yet again, it can get a little depressing to see this Summer leaving us- BUT– there is, of course, my favorite time of year in between now and then- and yes, I really do feel like I say that about every season. Autumn truly is my favorite, though, for lots of reasons. The weather is just right- not too hot, not too cold- and without that pesky pollen that comes with the similar temps in the Springtime. The scenery is gorgeous once the leaves begin turning rich shades or orange, red, and yellow (they’ve already started the process in my yard.) Salted caramel lattes are back in season, as are boots, leggings, and cozy sweaters. Pumpkin patches and apple orchards are open for the picking, and best of all- Halloween- undoubtedly my #1 holiday of the year- is on the way- which means costume planning & designing, and an abundance of horror movies until the season 4 premiere of “The Walking Dead” (October 13th. Don’t forget!)

But first I have to bid adieu to August 2013, a month filled with relaxing lazy days and exciting weekend adventures in the stifling Summer heat. I had originally planned to take a couple of weeks off from work this month to drive cross-country on what’s left of Route 66 to Santa Monica and back, but with recent changes in the office resulting in my current case load being, well, a lot- I’ve had to postpone the trip until a not-yet-determined date that would be more convenient to our clients, my boss, my co-worker, and myself (there’s nothing worse than taking a vacation, coming back to work, and being completely swamped!) I’m not fretting too much, though. I have a couple of mini-trips planned in the coming weeks to hold me over. Route 66 is still very much on my “to-do” list.

August, and really my whole Summer overall, was an amazing time. I met some incredible people, visited some incredible places, saw unbelievable concerts and shows, soaked up some sun and some waves at the beach, and enjoyed my fair share of late nights and sleepy mornings.

I’m excited for the coming cool, crisp days. I’m excited to break out my Fall wardrobe and build a dreamy playlist to match the impending grey and dreary days (which are still beautiful to me.) And I’m excited to share this most lovely and cherished New England season here with everyone who reads this.

xox

July 2013: In a Nutshell.

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I had the pleasure of catching an acoustic set from Frank Turner the other afternoon for Radio BDC at the Boston Globe studios. I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my lunch hour. Frank was fantastic (as always) and the whole performance was such a treat. Thanks so much to the good folks over at BDC for the invitation. I really appreciate it!

Well, August has arrived! Just one more month (well, a month and a couple of weeks, if we’re getting technical,) left of Summer- and I’m determined to cram in as many warm-weather activities as I can before Autumn shows up. July was lovely, and for the first time in a long time, the month didn’t seem to fly by so quickly that it made my head spin. Whether it be because of the week-long heatwave we got slammed with here in the Northeast that seemed to briefly melt the space-time continuum, my lazy days in the picturesque White Mountains and Ipswich, or just because I made it a point to force my usually busy self to pump the brakes and really take it all in- July was slow and steady- and I enjoyed every minute of it.

On a more somber note, this past month marked one year since my father passed away, and while the actual day of the anniversary was indeed a sad one with more than a few tears shed, it wasn’t without it’s good moments. I spent most of the day reflecting on my dad’s life- my memories of the time we spent together, his unyielding humor that he carried with him up until the mere minutes before he passed- and all the lessons I learned from him in he 20-something years I was fortunate enough to have him.

It also gave me a chance to really reflect on myself, as well- how I’ve grown and changed and how much stronger I’ve become in his absence. There have been bumps along the way, of course, but I have yet to let them stop me. I do my best to keep my head up and keep moving forward, and I hope wherever my dad is, he’s proud of me and all that I’ve accomplished so far.

August, as I said at the beginning of this post, is crunch-time for end-of-the-Summer fun. I’m in the midst of planning the last days of digging my toes into the sand at the beach, and the last nights of making s’mores by a bonfire- as well as a couple of other adventures.

I’m just hoping August will take it’s time and ease on by slowly the same way July did.

xox

June 2013: In a Nutshell.

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If I could describe June 2013 in one word, it’d definitely be “frenzied”. Work, my cousin’s high school graduation, The Rolling Stones show, attempting to soak up the sun in between running errands and plotting out plans for July, and a Walking Dead-filled day in NYC (I’ll get to that in a few minutes)- I felt like I rarely held still for more than a couple of hours at a time. As much as I like keeping busy and staying active, I’m looking forward to some rest & relaxation in the coming month. I have a couple of weekend getaways planned with friends that I’m excited for. Of course, I’ll have my camera with me (I always do) to capture all the good stuff.

Frenzy aside, I also took a great personal leap forward in June by choosing to share my story about my struggle with panic attacks & Hyperventilation Syndrome, a disorder I’ve been recovering from and that I’d been keeping mostly to myself for close to two years now. I received feedback: on here, on Twitter, and other forms of social networking- and I’m truly touched by the support and kind words. I feel more in control, stronger, and above all else- hopeful- with every day that passes.

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To close out the month of June, I headed to NYC yesterday to participate in the Wizard World Comic Convention, which was going on from Friday ’til tonight. For the past few years, I typically attend Rock & Shock, the horror movie convention held in my hometown every October- but I’ve never been to anything quite like this before. The entire Basketball City Facility in the Lower East Side was filled wall to wall with artists, celebrities, vendors, people in elaborate costumes, and fans. I had met up with my friend Ali who was also attending to spend the day checking things out, and apart from the lack of air conditioning in the building, resulting in uncomfortably stifling, sweaty conditions- we had a good time and met a lot of fun, interesting people:

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The highlight of the day was by far being able to hang out and goof off with some of the cast of “The Walking Dead”- Norman Reedus (who took my no-holds-barred personality in stride, made me blush something fierce, and completely cracked me up), Michael Rooker (who only encouraged said no-holds-barred personality and who also completely cracked me up), Danai Gurira (MY GIRL-CRUSH), Laurie Holden (breathtakingly beautiful. Absolutely stunning in person), and Chandler Riggs (total sweetheart.)

Despite the heat and what I can only describe as exhaustion, everyone seemed to be in good spirits and didn’t miss an opportunity to crack jokes or answer questions. Such an amazing group of people who made the day an experience I will cherish forever.

“The Walking Dead” cast weren’t the only people we saw: Stan Lee, Patrick Stewart, James Marsters, and the Fonz himself, Henry Winkler- among a few others- were also milling about:

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At the end of the day I was a tired, sweat-covered, frizzy-haired mess- but I couldn’t stop smiling. Even now, 24 hours later, I’m just so grateful (and still a little shocked!) for how wonderful the day turned out.

I also scored some cool stuff to take home, including autographs, a special edition of the first “Walking Dead” comic book, and a dress I’ll be showing off in an entry later on this week.:

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After grabbing dinner with Ali, I was walking- with a spring in my step- back to where I’d left my car, and I happened to glance up at the Empire State Building. I had to stop and take a photo. I couldn’t think of a better way to cap off the night than with a beautiful display for marriage equality:

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xox

May 2013: In a Nutshell.

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May2013NYCJust when those of us here in New England were adjusting to Spring finally showing up, we’re thrown into unseasonably scorching temperatures. Less than an hour ago, the heat spiked into 90+ degrees, resulting in me frantically setting up not one, not two, but three different air conditioners around my place so that my pets wouldn’t get sick. I’m currently vegging out in front of one typing this post and it feels awesome. I love Summer, and I don’t mind that it’s here a little earlier than expected. Bring on the bonfires and the beach.

May was filled with rooftop dance parties in Manhattan, breathing in fresh air and discovering some lovely abandoned places to photograph in Western Massachusetts, re-connecting with friends around the state that I haven’t seen in a while, being blown away by the newest “Star Trek” movie (it’s AWESOME- one of the first and best blockbusters of the Summer movie season), and attempting to make plans amid some of the graduations, cook-outs, and parties coming up in June.

May also saw one of my co-workers (and friends) leave our firm to pursue new goals and aspirations, and myself getting acclimated to her not being around the office anymore, which has been sad- since she was fantastic at her job and will sorely be missed- but has also kept me busy with taking on the tasks she usually handled in her position.

Despite the fun I had, May wasn’t without catastrophe for some others. In Oklahoma, a level EF5 tornado (the strongest on the Fujita Scale) all but wiped the town of Moore off the map, killing 24 people, some children, injuring hundreds of others, and causing more than a billion dollars worth of damage. As I’m writing this, another series of severe storms and multiple tornadoes are steamrolling through the state- including Moore again. Although it’s too early to determine what the damages will be when it’s over, it’s clear that the residents of Oklahoma, some of whom are still trying to recover from the last tornado, are going to need help. I urge anyone who is able to donate to please visit the Red Cross website to stay updated on different ways they can donate and contribute to the disaster relief funds set up for situations like this.

And to my friends in the Midwest who are bracing themselves for these storms- please take shelter as advised and stay safe! You’re in my thoughts!

April 2013: In a Nutshell.

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April was the month we finally saw Spring prevail over Winter (after taking quite a beating for a few rounds), and with temperatures consistently climbing day by day, I’m hoping it’s here to stay and that we won’t get a freak snowstorm or anything (it’s happened before!) It’s been wonderful being able to wear skirts and dresses without having to layer on leggings or sweaters over and under them.

Sunny days and warm weather aside, April was truly the month that the city of Boston showed the rest of the world exactly why it’s the best. In the wake of a cruel and unfathomable terrorist attack, regular, every day citizens became heroes as they rushed to aid those affected in any way they could (the ONE FUND to date had raised over 20 MILLION dollars!), and tireless authorities and officials made sure they tracked down those responsible in less than a week following the bombing at the Boston Marathon. The city rallied together to show everyone watching that “Boston Strong” was more than just a phrase to help get us through a crisis- but a longstanding and deep-rooted way of life.

There have been so many benefits, charities, fundraisers, raffles, vigils, and other gatherings to support the victims, their families, and the Greater Boston communities, and on Sunday afternoon, I headed down to Lansdowne Street for the sold out “For Boston!” benefit show put together by the Dropkick Murphys. All of the proceeds from ticket sales, merchandise, etc. went directly to helping those affected by the attack, and with performances by Dropkick themselves, State Radio, Big D and The Kids Table, The Parkington Sisters, Old Brigade and Barroom Heroes- all of whom had the most sincere and inspirational words to say about Boston and it’s residents- it turned out to be a really fun, sometimes emotional, but very successful and rewarding day.

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Kudos to everyone who participated in the show and for everyone who came down to show their support!

Finally, April ended on a high note. I received some great news at work today (one word: promotion!) and I’m hoping that the luck and good fortune will carry into May as I prepare to attempt some semi-late-in-the-season Spring cleaning, get ready to reboot my diet and fitness regime, and gear up for a little bit of travel and adventure within the coming weeks.

See you all there!

xox

March 2013: In a Nutshell.

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[Photos 1 & 2 – The floral arrangement I put together for Easter.]

[Photos 3 & 4 – Peeps Sunflower Cake, an actual thing that exists, courtesy of my Aunt.]

Happy Easter, everyone. I spent the afternoon at my mom’s house with cousins, aunts, and uncles, having dinner and hoarding chocolate bunnies like it’s my job. Now I’m settling in for the night to enjoy (see: scream and cry at) the season 3 finale of “The Walking Dead” (how can it be over already?!), getting ready for opening day of the 2013 Red Sox season, and bracing myself for the work week ahead.

March was a blast. Between a wild St. Patrick’s Day Weekend to closing out the month with an equally wild trip to San Diego- it seems I was going non-stop, and loved every minute of it. With the seasons changing, I also experienced a bit of a personal transformation in terms of re-evaluating and reflecting on myself, my friendships/relationships, and my future: including re-discovering my aspiration to eventually make the move out to the West Coast once and for all after I had put it on the back-burner for nearly two years.

April will hopefully be as lovely and as busy as March was. I have a couple of mini-road trips planned for early on this coming month, which should be fun now that it’s nearly warm enough where I can drive with the windows down and my music playing nice and loud.

xox

February 2013: In a Nutshell.

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I think this month can be best summed up in one word: SNOW.

SO. MUCH. SNOW.

We got off easy last year. If memory serves me correctly, we had the occasional flurry, but I don’t remember a state of emergency being declared or mass cancellations going into effect for days at a time. It seemed February 2013 was payback for all those weeks we spent last winter blissfully leaving our shovels in our garages and being able to drive on the highway without sliding all over the place.

When I wasn’t attempting to build an igloo or a series of tunnels to get around my neighborhood (neither plan worked) this month, I was putting my nose to the grindstone at my job, scouting new urban exploration locations, learning new recipes, and planning for what looks to be an eventful March. I’ve got a couple of really good shows coming up, as well as a mini-vacation in Southern California near the end of the month that I’m looking forward to.

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I’ve also been doing some extensive research for something I have planned for this Summer (as if the titles of the books aren’t total giveaways as to what it is).

Bring on Spring! I can’t wait to for the flowers to bloom, and to be able to go outside without having to wear 3-4 different layers of clothes so I don’t freeze.

January 2013: In a Nutshell.

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At my old blog, near the end of every year, I liked to do a “Year In Review” post that summarized some of the biggest news stories, pop culture phenomenons, personal reflections and thoughts, and other random oddities from the previous twelve months before I dove headfirst into a new year.

I thought I’d do a mini-version of that here, albeit a little more personal, at the end of every month to reflect on some of my own highlights from the previous few weeks. I decided to call it “In a Nutshell” instead.

So here’s January 2013:

January, and 2013, couldn’t have started off better. I was in NYC having the time of my life with my best friend- and I will admit I was, in the back of my mind, a little worried that the fun and good vibes wouldn’t last much longer than our weekend (because it’d be hard to top our New Years Eve festivities), but much to my surprise and delight, the month proceeded to stay on an incline of awesome. Despite the Arctic Tundra-like temperatures, I got to see and photograph some beautiful urban exploration locations, I had an incredible birthday that was full of fantastic surprises, I learned a couple of new recipes, and I got to catch a couple of really kick-ass last minute shows- including my favorites- The Dropkick Murphys!

(.42 seconds in- watch the beer. There I am!)

And even though this blog has only been up and running for a month now, and I’m still getting a feel for it, the feedback I’ve been receiving, both on here and on other social networking sites- has been really positive and lovely. Thank you all so much for the sweet, encouraging words and support. This blog is still taking it’s first baby steps, but I’m having a lot of fun writing it so far, and I hope you’ll all continue to enjoy it.

I’m looking forward to February, and not just for obvious reasons:

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SO excited.

See you all there!