2009

This has been a year of adventures! I did a fair amount of traveling, working and celebrating some big events with my loved ones. I feel grateful, loved and like I had a significant amount of growth – whether I wanted it or not. So, here’s a little list of 2009’s highlights…

Trips:
Japan, Mexico, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Ireland, Korea, California, Hawaii, Florida, Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, Pennsylvania and New York

Events:
My brother married a fantastic woman (whom I am thrilled to add to my list of people I adore). She and my brother have three kids between them and one more on the way. Yay!

Three of my dear friends (each of whom I have known for over ten years) married great partners and are happily settled in Newlywed-ville.

Some of my friends moved, married, changed jobs, traveled, traveled with me, shared adventures with me and generally added a lifetime of good in 2009.

I got to visit with my loved ones all over the country. Many of whom, I don’t get to see very often, so it was a good year.

I put some new stamps in my passports, logged some serious air miles, ate some really bad food and some really great food, made some new friends in faraway places, bought a few treasures and thoroughly enjoyed the experiences (once my perpetual state of jetlag waned).

Adventures:
Taking a flying lesson, feeding an elephant, riding an elephant, eating foreign food that looked and tasted really interesting, swimming with a dolphin, snorkeling a beautiful reef, a lot of driving (sometimes on the “wrong” side of the road, which is the “right” side of the road in some places), swimming next to sea turtles, running, rebuilding my garden, hanging wallpaper, attending Governor’s Gala, thoroughly enjoying some spa treatments, taking a ski lesson, learning how to be a production assistant, developing a personal care line for a market in Asia (a hundred mini-adventures right there), and cutting my hair off!

I gained and lost:
My iPod, Blackberry, one sock from a pair, luggage in a foreign country, time zones, sleep, weight (time zones and sleep), job assignments, romantic interests, keys, running pace and my mind

So, I think that means 2009 was a memorable year…bring on 2010.

With love,

Anaphilia

Happy Easter!

Happy Easter Everyone!

We had an egg decorating contest and egg/candy hunt at work on Good Friday - that's almost as good as having the day off, right?

Is my "basket" too big? Does it make me look greedy? Really?

Not even an "honorable mention"! My egg was so cheerful and full of color, but some people played to the judges. Sell outs! What happened to art for art's sake?

Oh well! I hope everyone had a lovely holiday.

New York, New York

After Ireland, it was on to New York. It's a great place to shop, hit a few fantastic art museums and recover from jet lag.

My sister-in-law and niece flew in to meet us there for some fun. We stared at really awesome art - modern, classic and strange. We ate food with flavor (sorry Ireland). We watched Kaela master the art of hailing a cab. We got caught in a massive rainstorm, got completely drenched and then took cover in an Olive Garden (but not before a photo with the Naked Cowboy). We know how to really live it up!

Twirling in the rain. Go Kaela! Uhm... We're dripping!

MoMa, Guggenheim and "Met" - so super!

Life imitates art...or is it the other way?

Emerald Isle Adventures

I really am a lucky girl! I spent a lovely week in Ireland and believe me, it's something remarkable. Everyone should see that country at least once. I have a little posting for each day - enjoy!

Ireland - Day Seven

Day Seven - our last day in beautiful Ireland. We went to Powerscourt. We went out with a bang! It's an old property with incredible gardens (think Versailles without so much walking). Like most old castles with land...skip the house and head outdoors for the real show.
Insider tip - best food we had in Ireland was the cafe here. I know!
The "house"

Lorie is striking a pose
My Knight!

Teeny, tiny Lorie as viewed from the top of the tower

So great!

Last picture of Ann in Ireland

Ireland - Day six

Today's post is all about Dublin!
Did you know that Dublin got its name two Gaelic words: 'dubh' meaning 'black' and 'linn' means 'pool' (or 'mire') - Black Pool? Excellent marketing, if you ask me! Seriously, it's a very nice city with very lousy drivers...welcome to Europe.
Did you know that Dublin has a whole church named after me? Technically, the church predates me by a couple hundred years, but I was still tickled to see a giant church with a giant red door with a giant reputation for serving the underprivileged.
Did you know that there is colorful statue of Oscar Wilde at Merrion Square?

Did you know that Ireland has only two spoon sizes: tiny and giant?

Did you know that I had 15 minutes of fame while in Ireland? Actually, it was 15 seconds...and it was just the news...and only the people traveling with me even knew about my 15 seconds. I will take what I can get.

Did you know that Dublin is lovely at sunset?

Other things I recommend in Dublin: Trinity College, Book of Kells, National Gallery, St. Stephen's Green, prayer service at St. Patrick's, Temple Bar and singing tour bus drivers.

Things I don't recommend in Dublin: driving, eating, staying longer than a day or two (spend your time in the countryside...still wouldn't recommend driving or eating there either).

Ireland - Day Five

Bru Na Boinne - Newgrange and Dowth. Seriously cool structures - that are seriously hard to find and since driving in Ireland is not exactly a treat... - older than the Egyptian pyramids. Newgrange has a really cool winter soltice angle and quite an interesting story in general.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newgrange

Ireland - Day Four

Kylemore Abby is super lovely...with a little church and beautiful wooded grounds. That was pretty awesome. After that, we went to Connemara National Park where I climbed (or rather was hoisted) up on a giant rock for the most spectacular view. We got quite an education on peat bogs too (got your curiosity piqued?).

Ireland - Day Three

It's very cold, wet and there's some fog...

Ennis, Cork, Cliffs of Moher (which was totally fogged in), The Burren, and Irish coastline. I loved it lots.

Ireland - Day Two

Blarney Castle - yes, I kissed the stone. Which is a little gross when you think how many others have too...
The grounds were so lovely. No one does countryside like Ireland!