Bowling and Air Hockey. Can we say 122?

Saturday day, my friends Josh and Janice invited us (Darin and I) out for some celebratory bowling - our engagement bowling party, per say.

Other friends came along: Meghan, Suzanne and Rick, and Janice and Tony.

Rick and Suzanne



Janice and Josh



Darin and Del

For some reason I didn't get a picture of Janice and Tony - I did get a movie of Janice bowling, but she'd kill me if I put it online... Meghan had her eyes closed in a group picture. Don't worry though, next time.

(I love that I have two friends named Janice. I just think it's so cute. They get confused because it's not a common enough name, but not super strange like mine. Ahh, enjoyment.)

Anyways, we met at this place called Firkin and Keggler. It's like a Dave and Busters, but with a different name. And it's always packed. Crazy. I guess people bring their kids there for bowling and then they drink beer? Confusing. I always thought it was just a Chucky Cheese for adults.

And we bowled.

Oh, did we bowl.

I looked kickass in my shirt because of the black lights.
Go white stripes...

Now in case some of you don't know this, Darin was a freckishly good bowler. He has his own ball and shoes (which he stole from his father) that were quite stylish thirty years ago. Amusing.

We all had a great time. (I feel like I say that a lot in my posts, but I really do mean it. We always have such a wonderful time going out and doing stuff. Sorry if it makes things boring...)

And I got a turkey.

Sorry it blurry. Can you see it?

Almost (but not quite) beating Tony.

Yeah!

Unfortunately, we had to leave early because we had an early day on Sunday (next post).

Fun times!

More Congratulations

Last week, we finally celebrated our very good friend Kucku's PhD gettin'.

That sounds, ahh, strange. But how do I say that she passed her dissertation and received her PhD in a more exciting way? I can't. It's just a lot of words...

But we are VERY proud of her. And happy that she accomplished this GREAT goal.

Go Kucku!

A group of us (the normal group, actually) got together and ate at Olympia, which we've been to time and time again.

Paul, Del, and Peter: laughin' at something...

Cathy and Anu

It was fun, and we got a free bottle of wine.

The group (L to R):
Paul, Cathy, Steve, Del, Anu, Kucku, Frank, Peter, and Darin

Side note:
I've known Kucku for over six years. Yes, six. She has been a wonderful friend to me and I know is a great friend to Darin as well. Wanted to compile a montage of the moments/memories we have shared. (She'll just love this.)

Congrats Kucku. May you get out of Florida soon.

Book List 2008

Wanted to somehow keep a record of the books I have read this year (or since I started this blog in July).

Sorry, not too exciting... must read more.

Reading Log:
Heat Lightening, John Sanford
Dead Until Dark, Charlaine Harris
Daughter of York, Anne Easter Smith
Eat Pray Love, Liz Gilbert (reread)
The City of Ember, Jeanne DuPrau
Phantom Prey, John Sanford
Certain Girls, Jennifer Weiner
Chasing Harry Winston, Lauren Weisberger
Breaking Dawn, Stephanie Meyer
Eclipse, Stephanie Meyer
New Moon, Stephanie Meyer
Twilight, Stephanie Meyer
Daisy Fay and the Miricle Man, Fannie Flagg

Listening Log
Devil Bones, Kathy Reichs
The Exile, Allan Folsom
The Betrayed, David Hosp
Machiavellian Covenant, Allan Folsom
A Good Year, Peter Mayle
The Black Dahila, James Ellroy

Vacation In Winterland: Seattle Part Two

Back to our Christmas trip.

Thursday we woke up opened presents, ate breakfast (that I made - quiche!), and then hopped into the car for another trip to Washington Park.

All seven of us. Plus Cricket. In one Sonata.

Good times.

Queen of the Mountain!

It was so beautiful outside - twilight-esque because of the dark snow and clouds, yet with a little sunshine peaking through. We just walked around looking for eagles and seals. Saw a seal in the water - Darin initially thought it was Cricket! Picked up rocks that were pretty, looked for slugs at no avail.

Went back home and ate Christmas dinner of white lasagna and played dominoes.

How was that not a great Christmas day!?

***

Matt and Glenda had to leave the next morning for work (boo), so we all got up and went shopping. Even Darin! We all kind of went crazy with the shopping.

I got a cute new pink Coach purse. Darin got two pairs of shoes. Dad went to pick up Dru's tent from REI. Went to eat and then home for more games/tv watching. Might have made Darin watch Mama Mia.

***

Saturday, got up early and went to Friday Harbor! It's a little harbor town in the San Juan Islands and you take a ferry boat to and from it. (Can you imagine having to take a ferry to get to your home? Crazy!) Dru decided to sleep in that day and play with Cricket, so it was just Mom, Dad, Darin, and I. Went to the ferry terminal (which you can see from my folks deck) and proceeded to ride the ferry. (Sigh)

The San Juan Islands



It was uber windy.



We're there?!



First restaurant (they were out of chowder)...



Second try.
Numm. Blackberry lemon drop and draft beer!

Friday Harbor was one of those towns that you can just bring a book, sit in a restaurant, and let the day slowly drift away. It's peaceful and simple. We just walked around and went into shops, then had a nice lunch (of chowder, no less). And I was attacked by a killer whale.

Help!

Coming back.

Though there was no sun, it was very windy, and quite foggy, it was still beautiful.

More to come. Up next, Dad tried to snowboard!

Looking Back.... 2008

I stole this from Carrie and Kara.

(Haven't had the time to upload pictures from our trip yet. So enjoy this randomness.)

In my 2008...

What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before? Got engaged.

Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I really just try to be happy and not get mad at myself for being myself. So yes, I did! Next year - same thing.

Did anyone close to you give birth? My cousin, Jill, had a baby girl Daley. Tons of old friends from college and high school. But none here in Orlando.

Did anyone close to you die? My Uncle Paul (in November) and my Aunt Betty (in December). They both led very blessed lives.

What countries did you spend time in this year? USA.

What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? Not sure yet. Pretty happy with what I have now.

What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April 2, 2008 - got engaged!

What was your biggest achievement(s) of the year? Being happy. (I know that sounds silly, but I've been trying a long time to just be.)

What was your biggest failure? Not doing more.

Did you suffer any serious injury or illness? Nope.

What was the best thing you bought? P90X.

Whose behavior merited celebration? Friends and Family.

Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed? Don't know.

Where did most of your money go? Dinner. I really like food.

Compared to this time last year, are you,

a) happier or sadder? Happier

b) thinner or fatter? No idea

c) richer or poorer? Richer

What did you get really, really excited about? Seeing friends when they've come to visit.

What do you wish you'd done more of? Travel. Must. Travel. More.

Did you fall in love in 2008? Even more so? Yes.

How many one-night stands? None.

Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No.

What was the best book you read? Eat Pray Love.

What did you want and not get? New house. New car. New everything.

What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was 28, and Darin and I were driving back from a Clemson football game.

What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If Darin was more happy with his progress - but he's doing great. Wish I could show him somehow.

What political issue stirred you the most? Science. Who was going to keeping giving government funding to science/research. It's important because it's what both Darin and I do.

Who did you miss? My good friends that have moved away who I don't get to talk to regularly anymore (or as much as I used to.)

Who was the best new person you met? Suzanne! We have so much in common - it's great to listen and share with her.

Tell us a valuable life lesson(s) you learned in 2008: Things just happen. And you have to deal with them as they happen. So just deal with them. (Simple, really.)

What sums up this year? (a word, a quote... ?) "I won't worry my life away" Jason Mraz

Fiery Night - New Years Eve

Happy New Years, Everyone!

Darin and I went to our good friends' house to celebrate and bring in the New Year. My good work friends, Janice and Tony; Darin, Jake, and I; and Mike, Carrie, Honey, and Blackjack all enjoyed a wonderful night of fondue and Partini. And bonfire.

Fun fun.

And the girls won. Even better.

Note on the game - Carrie had gotten it for Christmas and it was all of our first time playing. Darin got a little annoyed because we had to read the instructions. We found out that Darin can't hum worth shit. Well, neither can Janice (though she did get us to guess the songs...). I thought it was a really fun game - like Cranium/Apples to Apples/Pictionary.

Janice and Tony



Carrie and Mike



Darin and Del

Joyous. Simple. Fun.

After midnight and me taking lots of stupid pictures, Darin and Mike continued their obsession (Rainbow Road on Mario Kart Wii), and Carrie and I talked.

We were so grateful to be able to spend an evening together with friends.

It's as simple as that!

Here's to 2009!

The Madness: Seattle Trip Part One

This year, we decided to try out my family 'together' for Christmas. Previously, I would go home, and Darin would come later. It was okay, but I missed being able to celebrate with him and have him enjoy my wildly-crazy and fun family get togethers.

So we headed off to Seattle.

On December 21st.

You know, when this happened. When Seattle got 8 inches of snow.

We ended up in Houston. With a lot of other travelers. Thinking, we'd get out. Our plane would make it.

It didn't.

So we left the next day (after spending a night in Houston at a Hotel 8) to go back to Orlando and try to fly out another day. Thankfully, my sister had gotten us a flight on Southwest or else we wouldn't have been able to get to Seattle until the 26th.

Yeah. It sucked.

And that day seemed like it lasted for.ever. Crazy how time does that to you.

But, we did end up getting to Seattle safely, on Christmas Eve. So it turned out okay.

(And that's all I am going to say about that because it was not fun.)

Okay. Christmas Eve!

Arrived in Seattle and saw all of the bags that had gotten stuck there. Do NOT know how this happened, but I guess they had over 1000 bags or something like that.

And got our bag (it had arrived right on time. Yep.)

Drove up to my folks house and were greeted by my sister, Cricket, Matt, and Glenda!

Sweet Puppy.

And presents. Snow. Slick roads. Snow chains. Cookies.

Though tired, Darin and I had a good night just getting adjusted to the new house (Darin's first time there) and all that jazz. Ended up doing our (my sister and mine) stupid/fun holiday tradition of giving Santa a shot of some interesting drink and a platter of cookies/carrots for the reindeer.

Tangerines for the reindeer.
They didn't particularly care for them.

We're creative.

Went to bed and got up to a white Christmas and Santa!

The stockings, filled with care. (And socks.)



Presents!



The best present. Poor Crick.

More to follow!