2015 Catch Up

It's been a bit of a radio silence on my end and a lot to catch up on. So I'll break it up over a few posts to catch up and then I'll still be leaving out too much. Another lesson to stay on top of the posts. 

Last I left off I was on my way to Virginia for thanksgiving. Great to see the new place, catch up with my step-sister, hang out with my niece and nephew and the rest of the family. We ate, played, explored the area, and had an earlier christmas resulting in playing with the new lego set that was given to Mateo. Gotta love the lego. And playing other games, even if made up.  Nick took over and Marianna loved it.

On the way back we got to use the small local airport. It was so strange, only one terminal and limited staff. So the person who comes over to the counter to check us in, a little while announces security is open and runs the X-ray machine where we then wait in another littler waiting room and then the same person then takes our ticket as we walk out to the plane. It was a bit humorous. I felt I was on that show Wings, but smaller and not as many people. 

There was some funky weather. I love the look of the sky after a thunderstorm with the sun coming out. 

I also found that the bed in the back room for Wallace just didn't work. Too much jumping. At least, I got my bedroom painted. Here's the before and after of my back room. Fun slumber room:

Fun regular sun room, with cats wondering where the bed went:

I'll need to buy a dog crate and try full confinement. 

At work I had the brilliant suggestion that our companies green operating group do a cell phone collection and they liked it and took it on. My hidden agenda was to finally off load my old flip phones without having to mail them in myself. How brilliant right?  Only problem is that in I could have sworn I brought my phones in and drop them into the box, but I found them in January... After the drive was over - ugh. The good news is that we donated a ton of phones to good causes. I dug around and after asking the IT guy and a guy in accounting, check out all the old company phones I rangled up!  

And not just phones, cords and accessories too.

And I'm really proud about how well I know my staff. While I was gone for Thanksgiving, the staff that were in town made turkey hands and I was able to identify all of them. I also love that they love to have a good time. I think I have the coolest department. Actually, I know I do, since several folks from other departments have mentioned it too. 

Nick and I went out to see the Martian - good movie, and I like that it was based on a book that was written where most of the science in the scifi is actual science. While we were at the theater, I ran to the bathroom after and stumbled upon this museum:

Yes - the Musuem of Bad Art. I forgot it was there (in Davis Square). I had heard about it on NPR years ago and didn't realize it was in my own back yard. Here's one of my favorites. 

In case you can't read it, it is Madonna with Floss. All real art collected from real artists and rotated often. I'll have to go back and spend more time. Didn't want to keep Nick waiting too long.  He introduced me to a new find Amsterdam Falafal. It was really good. Who knew amsterdam was known for their falafals. I'll have to check them out on my visit to Amsterdam.

I did take some slightly better pictures of my "finished" bedroom. I still have a few final touch ups. I'm not usually wild about light blue but I really like this color and it just keeps growing on me.  It changes with the light and thought the months. I've decided to not go with the navy blue velvet curtains and go with a lighter cream curtain. The room is darker than the white walls so it all balances out better. 

Mom really liked the color and got to see the finished product when she came to visit for Christmas.  Nick  and mom and I had a great visit and I was able to get almost all my christmas decorations out. 

 Including finally my Waterford 12 days of Christmas ornaments my aunt sue gave us in the 90s. Not something you can hang on a tree when you have pets. And after last christmas I picked up this great display at the Crate and Barrel outlet. Perfect, right?

I got to test out my new dining room set up.  Very cozy, but I think it worked for all three of us. 

Well, that's not everything in 2015, but it's what I had pictures of to jog the old noggin. What else, I saw Maggie in the nutcracker, again. Looks like a tradition.  I borrowed by brothers car a bunch to run errands and look for a new car. I like my independence. Although I mostly walk, bike and use public transportation, I still like to know I can hop into a car at a moments notice. Carless is not for me. But more on that in 2016.