Better Late Than Never

Back in November I went to the Chelsea Physic Garden's Christmas Fair.  The Fair part was really just an excuse to get into the garden which is closed all winter except over these two days.  Despite it being a fa-reezing cold day I couldn't get enough of the gardens and wandered around for a couple of hours snapping pics.  I do love the gardens here :)  Next on my list are the Kensington Roof Gardens.

Happy Birthday Doug!!!

People often ask me why I moved to England.  My response is always, "I've wanted to live here since I was 15."  More specifically, I have felt at home here for many many years for many many reasons, not the least of which being my family.  We call each other cousins because that seems the easiest way to avoid having to give any in-depth explanations of our shared genetics (probably because the majority of us don't really know the actual answer, much to our mothers' disappointment).  Despite having grown up a world apart I always feel at home with them.  Everyone is kind and generous and all that good stuff, but more than anything they are funny.  Smart-funny.  Smart-funny and silly.  A combination that makes for the kind of laughter that hurts your sides.  I love spending time with them!

Favorite of 2010

My plan was to write a post about this weekend.  But there was something in it that tied to a post from last year so I began digging for that.  Then that reading turned into wanting to do another post about the posts involving the anticipation of my move to England.  And somehow in all this archive reading I re-read the post from K & J's wedding in June.

I officially dub THIS as the best post of the 2010.  This honor comes not from my judgement of the writing itself being anything special but from the nostalgia of the weekend.  In the midst of a lot of crazy/busy in my life, Alex and I spent a weekend with two wonderful people and a group of their fantastic friends and family in a GORGEOUS place doing all kinds of lovely, relaxing, outdoorsy things.  Sooooooooo much fun :)  

Drawing Music

I can't imagine how long it took to draw this.  What a rad idea though!  (definitely best to see in full screen)

I might be a little drunk...

Dear "cute" MBA student who insists on repeatedly kissing my cheek and telling me "every day is christmas with Noelle," just a few things.....

a) Fist of all! I DON'T want my man clean-shaven, in a suit, at an office.  I want him scruffy, in a T-shirt, in a garden so this is not going to happen.  
b) DON'T call my well-educated, well-read, intelligent friend "darling" in that "oh little girl" way.  Just don't.  And DON'T call her naive and tell her she hasn't read anything about anything, because she has and understands it more than you do.
c) really???? Christmas??? That's all you can come up with????

Dear Jeff Tweedy:  I know you are married with kids and all and I would never want to interfere with that but can we make a deal? Can we agree that three times in the course of my life I can call you up at any time and have you come over, play your guitar, and sing me to sleep with your sweet/sad songs?  Deal????

Dear tiny bottle of Cartier Champagne from Patrick O'sullivan O'rourke O'malley: Thank you for existing!

Dear E: I love the name for my bike :) I miss you and heart you a million zillion times over!

Dear Doc Chiro:  Please please please come and make my neck better.  I will buy you and your sassy gal a round for it!