In college, I had a spark.  I was creative and had a thirst for new things I’d never seen before.  I was patient and experimental.  I would try new things and wait for something exciting to really grab me.  I distinctly remember the first time I cross processed a picture.  I was in the blackroom, listening to Peter, Paul, and Mary and as the picture came out of the chemicals, I had a photogasm.  After that, I never went anywhere without Diana and Holga, roaming around my campus with my expired slide film.  Sometime after graduation, that spark got smaller and smaller.  Seeing my old pictures makes me hungry for that creativity again.  The full on fire might not be there, but the pilot light is still on.

I still have slide film on Long Island in a corner of my hometown fridge.  My dad is visiting this weekend and is going to bring whatever goodies I have left.  I still have my Holga in a net-a-porter box in my closet.  I sold my Diana on eBay a while back for like 10 bucks — boo.   Plus, I have some fun additions to my film camera family —  just recently bought a Minolta XG-1 with the nifty fifty gold standard that should be arriving tomorrow and Mr. E Christmas gifted me this neat pin hole photo set that you build yourself (thoughtful boy).

New resolution I’m tagging onto my lengthly list — I must make a concerted effort to go on fun adventures and always have my cameras handy.

Mr. E’s picture from NYE

Halfway through! I don’t mind missing someone, but a whole month is definitely pushing it for me. Hurry home!!!!

Next birthday, I will be there with twinnie. Mark my words.

Boston is scheduled for some snow this weekend.  There’s already snow on the ground and a bitter cold in the air.  I’ll risk sounding like an old woman saying this, but I literally feel it in my bones.

What I wouldn’t give for some hot, hot heat.  I am so looking forward to my girls vacation in March. Bathing suits, basking in the sun, fruity drinks at sunset.  Ah serenity.

Until then, I am bundling up.  This weekend may require a trek to L.A. Burdicks for some hot chocolate.

II. Whoa Baby!

On Sunday, I will be attending the Big Ticket’s baby shower.  She and I used to work together, but she moved to NY earlier this year.  She’s back to celebrate her baby, who will be joining us in March, with her family and friends this Sunday in Quincy.

I remember when I first met the BT.  That was more than three years ago.  She was a fourth year senior, the same as I am now.  She wasn’t married, didn’t own her own place, and she certainly didn’t have babies on the brain.  It’s insane to me that in those three years, she was able to accomplish three huge milestones in her life.  Amazing how things can change.  Three years has not felt that long to me since I’ve started my career.  To think that I can have those three things within the next three years is almost unfathomable.  The three of hearts card that Mr. E guessed for me on New Years Eve for his magic trick is suddenly feeling eerily ironic.

You know, there was a point in my life when I thought I was a pretty good writer. That was probably in high school – due in large part to the amount of time I spent writing. Writing, for me at least, is not like riding a bicycle. I’m not just rusty and then pick it up, remembering how second nature it was. It’s been almost 7 years now since I was in high school and it’s like I need the whole kit and caboodle… training wheels and all! Now, I write enough technical accounting memos in my job, but that’s quite a bit different from the writing I’m talking about.

Mr. E has inspired me to document my life with words. Mr. E read me an excerpt of his book two weeks or so ago. His carefully annunciated words filled his living room and conjured happy childhood memories in my head. I’ve always been a big believer in a picture is worth a thousand words, but something about lounging on Mr. E’s big comfy couch with a warm tea in my hands and really digesting his combination of words was far more impactful than seeing a prepopulated image.

I think I’m going to dedicate some time to serious writing and this blog will be my device to do so. What better way to become a better writer than to practice with my own life as my subject!

II. The Boy File

Speaking of the boy, he flew from the west coast to paradise… also known as Honolulu, Hawaii. Lucky ducky. Our relationship as of late has become a routine 10 o’clock phone call. I don’t love it, but he makes an effort to talk to me everyday. That actually means a lot to me, considering that his last trip ended with a question – is this going to work for us? Making time for each other has become very meaningful in this relationship, something I’ve always taken for granted.

Oh yeah, and we’re not moving in together. He will be moving into the city, which shaves 45 minutes off the hour between us. If I could smile big enough at this, I’d have one of those pudding faces. Maybe a step in the right direction toward actually moving in together when we’re ready to go.

III. Happiness Is

• Beets in salad — where have I been, living under a rock?
• Watching American Idol/hiding my face behind a pillow with embarrassment with my Twinnie
• Looking forward to postcards in the mail (they’re like present day love letters right?)
• Having great hair days and feeling like a million bucks
• Finding my box of expired slide film — time to whip out my trusty Holga steed