Roses and Thorns

Happy Friday! I've been working on this post all week, so it would be scheduled and ready to go today. Right now, I am in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, skiing at Bretton Woods.

I love this place, and I'm so grateful I can come back every year.

So, as you can guess, my first rose goes to...

Roses to a long weekend in the mountains skiing!

Roses to Boston University rocking the Beanpot again this year! I love that NU can never manage to pull through, no matter how good of a season they're having.

Roses to my Northeastern fan friend selling me his Beanpot final tickets for Monday since he doesn't want to skip out of work early to catch NU in the consolation game. Bah, NU vs. Harvard... BORING!

Roses to going to above-mentioned final hockey game against BOSTON COLLEGE (woot, woot!) with my college drinking buddy I haven't seen in YEARS!

Roses to finally working on a budget this month.

Roses to four-day workweeks this week, next week and the week after!

Thorns to the BC ice Eagles... I can't stand them! It'll be my first BU vs. BC game, and they better not win!

Thorns to my house being freezing this week. What's up heat?

Thorns to Jed going away Sunday and me not seeing him before he leaves. :*(

Thorns to missing the last five minutes of the Beanpot game against NU because my DVR didn't record it.

Thorns to my dog "forgetting" where to go to the bathroom and using the entire house instead.

(If anyone can help with this issue, please comment, and I'll e-mail you. He's not a puppy, he's one and a half.)

Thorns to spending a lot of money in January. :-(

If you couldn't tell, I'm quite rallied up about this Beanpot tournament. I look forward to it every year because my alma mater pretty much owns it; so much so that even the news media refers to it as the "BU Invitational." It's kinda like the football bowls for all you schools in the Midwest. If you don't know what all this nonsense is about, you can read about it here.

{R&T images and idea from K.Law: Inspired}

Writer's Workshop: Dear Pooh-Bear

Hello my old friend! I have certainly missed you. All of my stuffed imitations of you remain in boxes at my parents' house.

Remember the days when we would cuddle all night? Yes, I know, not that long ago... Four years ago you say? Yeah, that sounds about right. You were also so good at keeping me company. And, remember so many years ago when we would sit on the floor with all your friends and play for hours?

You were always such a good friend, to everyone... even Tigger who would get on everyone's nerves and that uptight prude Rabbit. I think my favorite friendships of yours were with Piglet and Christopher Robin. You always looked out for little Piglet, the way best friends do. And it was so obvious that you were Christopher Robin's favorite, you silly old bear!

Anyway, I guess I'm writing you because a part of me is locked away back in those childhood days when we were always together. The days I dreamed of playing in the Hundred Acre Woods and having tea and honey with you under the Mr. Sanderz sign. (By the way, you should really have that updated. I have some friends who could make you a new sign with your name on it. Then we could paint it together! I love to paint.)

I wish I could go to Disney right now and give you a big hug! You're so cute and lovable, especially when you get rumblies in your tumblies.

Aw... I think my affection for you comes from my father. For as long as I can remember, I was his "Pooh Bear," a nickname I stole from my mom. Before I came along, you were her favorite, and that's what he called her. You're my tie to so many good family memories. Trips to Disney World and Disney Land, watching your videos at my grandmother's house with my cousins, reading your stories with my mom. You represent my innocence, a piece of me I'll carry always.

Your friend (and biggest fan!),
Jen

{All images via Google images}

This post was inspired by:

Apres-ski

Oh, I just discovered Polyvore, friends, and good things are to come! I'm not a fashion girl by any means, and I'm not really into designers. My style buzzwords are practical, comfort, casual and preppy. Of course some occasions call for something a little more formal, for which the buzzwords are classic, elegant and sophisticated. I keep it simple. I keep it real.

That said, this is my first Polyvore set: what I wear post-skiing for dinner and a night out exploring the mountain towns. Like I said, keeping it real, I own all of these items with a few exceptions: my Columbia jacket is more retro than this one, but same color scheme; my Tiffany heart is sterling silver, although I love the red for Valentine's Day; my Fossil wristlet is without embellishment and my Fossil watch has a slightly different wristband. And, I think I'll be taking the blue plaid scarf instead of the pink.

Apres-Ski by niferann featuring GAP accessories

Items in this set:

Columbia - The Zurich Parka (Heavenly Blue/Prussian/Heavenly Blue..., $220

Womens Artist Jeans - Dark Indigo Wash, $40

Bearpaw Eva 12" (Black) - Women's, $68

Sasha Wristlet, $40

Tiffany & Co. | Item | Paloma Picasso® Loving Heart pendant in..., $150

Wordful Wednesday: Some people come into our lives...

"... and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same." 

{source unknown)

"D" and me, circa 2006

This picture brings back so many memories. This picture represents a Moment of Win for me. This picture was the start of a different me.

This picture was taken in Newport, RI, during my best friend's bachelorette party. That man with me is "D." He was a vocalist and saxophone player in the band performing that night -- a band that my friends and I discovered that night and fell in love with. 

During the first set break, I went up to D, and I told him what I thought of his music. I told him I loved his band, that they were talented, and that I should know because I've seen a lot of bands. I was never a girl to go up to random guys and just start a conversation, but I did that night (and I wasn't drunk). I introduced myself, and he asked what I did. I told him I was a writer -- not what my actual job was. I think this was the first time I described myself that way. He told me that he and the guys in this cover band also had an original band, and he wrote a lot of the music. We bonded over writing. He thought it was really cool that I wrote. And he bought me a drink, which is when I found out that he didn't drink, which struck me as odd. A rock musician who doesn't drink... hmmm...

My friends and I spent the rest of that night having such a good time with this band, and before we left, D gave me his business card and told me to call him.

It took me six months to call him. Because I wasn't sure what that meant when he told me that.

When I finally did call him, he wondered what took me so long, and we hung out. I started hanging out with him a lot, in an undefined relationship. I also hung out with his band (both cover and original) a lot. This man inspired me. He wasn't just a part-time writer/musician with a day job; he THREW himself into his passion, regardless of the fact that meant he struggled to pay rent some months. I longed for his courage, and I allowed him to encourage me to write.

He was also a great listener and friend. He knew when something was bothering me, and he'd listen while I vented. He was always encouraging, and he introduced me to such a different world than I had ever known. He even tried to teach me how to play guitar! I loved when he would play just for me. That was always such a girly dream of mine.

Things ended pretty abruptly with us, but he was never less that kind to me. And, I look fondly back on the person I was back that, the person he brought out of me. I was confident, I was bold, I was creative, I was fun, I was real (in a way), I lived a dream, I learned. And I came out the other side better for it.

Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile, like D, and leave footprints on our hearts. And I was never, ever the same.

This post was inspired by:

Making a Difference Monday: Karma

Karma can be a b*tch, can't it? That's why I decided to head her off last weekend when I went skiing. I did a good deed out of empathy and in hopes that the favor will be returned to me one day when I most need it.

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Last weekend, I had a tough time skiing because I was both breaking in new ski boots and trying a bunch of demo skis. My aunt wouldn't let me go more than four runs on the same pair of skis, so I was constantly readjusting, and as a result, falling.

I took a pretty bad spill on a narrow, steep section of a beginner trail, and my ski popped off. It must have taken me 10 minutes to pop it back on. I don't mind falling -- it comes with the territory -- but I hate when I lose my skis.

On the next run after this incident, I was skiing down a wide, beginner trail, and I noticed a ski laying in the middle of the trail in front of me. About 20 feet downhill, I saw a girl lying in the snow, missing a ski and struggling to get up. I picked up the ski and yelled to her, "Is this your ski?" She told me it was, so I skied it down to her.

She was very grateful, and I told her I know how it feels. Having to fight your way up mountain to retrieve a piece of equipment sucks.

I was glad I was able to help this girl, but as I skied away, I realized there were dozens of people coming down the slope who didn't stop to help her. It only took a minute to pick up her ski and give it to her. Why not?

I realize it's no longer Monday, but I didn't get to read Carrie's MADM post until late last night.

Out drinking, don't want to drive, but don't want to leave car?

Photo by Christopher Evans, Boston Herald

Oh don't you worry, if you're in Boston and live within 20 miles! These guys will get you home, for a fee. Designated Driver, Inc., started by a couple Bentley College grads, is who you can call from the bar, instead of a cab, when you've had too much to drink. Unlike a cabbie, they'll drive you home in your own car, and another employee will follow to bring your driver back.

Check out this article in the Boston Herald I found via my friend's blog.

Friend-Making Monday: Inspiration

What is inspiring you right now?

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I FINALLY saw this movie Saturday night in IMAX 3D. I have one word for it: magnificent.

I loved everything about it, even that it was almost three hours long. It was so beautiful, I really didn't want it to end at all! I will definitely be buying it on Blu-Ray AS SOON as it comes out.

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I have not seen a movie that has touched me and changed my perspective so much since I saw Crash.

I am still thinking about this movie, and its message, and I really hope part of the Navi world can be realized right here, right now. I think we are on our way. I know I certainly am.

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To sum it up: the imagery and special effects were breath-taking, the acting was wonderful and the plot was totally inspiring.

If you have not seen this movie, GO SEE IT NOW!

Preferably in 3D.