Long, wet day

So the trip to see the baby pumpkin was long, but well worth it. Heeding the doomsday snow warnings, my mom and I took the train, and had to walk about 6 blocks in freezing rain to get to Melissa's place. It was a nice day, though. Very relaxing, and of course it's thrilling to hold my niece. I am still thinking to myself "don't drop her," and that's a little bit unnerving, but so far so good. Does that make me terribly paranoid, or does everyone feel that way about babies?

Much as I enjoyed bonding with the baby, I got a real sense of how all-consuming it is being a mom, and I am glad I haven't done it just yet. I have a lot of other things I am thinking about and doing, and I saw that it just wouldn't be possible to do any of that if I were taking care of an infant. Don't get me wrong; there's no doubt I do want to do it some day, but I want to enjoy this awake feeling I've been having lately with all the reading and thinking that goes along with it. I know that motherhood doesn't mean death, but it definitely does require slowing down. And it also seems sort of isolated. But boy that baby smells good.

My Favorite People

Here are some of my favorite people on the planet.

Here's my boyfriend, John. We were in Jamaica here, which is why we look so happy. I think

My sister, Melissa, and my brother-in-law, Jeff! They are looking very well-rested in this shot, which may not the case since they had a new baby a couple weeks ago. Alexis Riley is a new challenge for them, and a new passion! 

This is Crystal in an uncharacteristically "gangsta" pose at a bar in New Hope, where she and her husband, Rob, spent a weekend with John and I. Crystal and Rob are our neighbors, and they get us into all kinds of trouble.





















And another "gangsta." This is Rob. He acts pretty tough, but he watches scary movies through his hand. He's got 'ho's in different area codes, but that's just because Crystal's cell phone is a 201.

This is my friend Matt looking very silly, but the picture is so typically him that I couldn't resist. I've known Matt since I was 11 years old, and he remains one of my favorite people.
















And here is Matt with his wife, Jessica. I am so lucky that my two best friends from high school married each other. Jessica has been a partner in crime and a in fun for me since we were about 16. For the two years before that we didn't like each other. For no reason at all.
















That's me with the ears on the left, but more importantly there is Joe in the middle, and Caitlin (aka Cakers) on the right. Joe and I met in study hall in 1993, and I begged him to try out for the school play when there weren't enough guys to make a good cast. He agreed, and the rest is history. Look how tantastic he looks in this photo taken on the water taxi! Cakers is Jessica's sister, but I like to just call her my friend. She was around for a lot of our high school hijinks, including a living room wrestling match in which I bit her toe. Caitlin and I have always understood each other pretty well, and I love her for her sincere and spunky personality.

Intro

Well, since I might actually use this blog, I'll do a brief introduction.

I am a 28-year old woman living at the Jersey Shore with my boyfriend, and working in politics. I like spending time with my friends and family, reading, writing, and watching movies. Since it's winter, I am spending a lot of time at home not doing too much, but I do love going to the beach in the summer and travelling whenever I get the chance. I just got back from a trip to Jamaica a couple weeks ago, and considering the frigid NJ weather right now, I would love to be back there. You should go there!

I have an idea for a book, which means I am spending a lot of time dreaming and scheming these days. I'm also trying to figure out a plan for graduate school (history? theology? women's studies?) and a slightly more adventurous life in general, which might include spending a little (or a lot) more time in New York.

I am an aunt! Just became one on February 13, and I love my niece to pieces, even though I have only been able to see her once so far.

That about covers my story right now. Let's see if I can stick with this blogging thing.

And John always gets mad at me for not putting this one online. I think it's silly, but I'll humor him. Check out the huge vein on my forehead! 

This is John at Chez Philippe, a beautifully clean and charming vegan B&B in Montreal. Please go there. It was really relaxing and wonderful. And Philippe makes a beautiful breakfast. 

I'm just playing around with the pictures right now. This is a French Canadian pigeon. How dare you look into his face. 

New and Improved WandaCrab

Not that I really did much on the old diaryland page, but Blogger just looks way cooler. Although I object to the long format, I couldn't resist it.