All this snow…

There’s something about an impending snowstorm that, I think, makes everyone excited. Whether you are a little kid hoping school is closed or an adult looking forward to a day off from work, it’s fun to see the white stuff pile up.

I was pretty disappointed this past weekend because Andy and I were supposed to have a bunch of friends over to celebrate winter birthdays. We’ve been working on the basement over the last several weeks and are really happy with the way it turned out. I love to entertain so we were bummed when it wasn’t safe for people to come over. We decided to make the best of it and had a really enjoyable day at home. We shoveled, I made a fantastic dinner, we had some drinks, watched TV. Being snowed in makes everyone slow down and relax and sometimes that’s a good thing. We braved the roads in Philadelphia on Sunday and drove to East Falls to watch the Superbowl with Josh & Lauren. Trying to drive (and park) on those streets made me thankful King of Prussia does a good job plowing! We had quite the walk from where we eventually parked to their house, in a way it was kind of fun.

We got home Sunday night to find out ANOTHER STORM was on its way, hard to believe! 1-2 more feet, are you kidding? Indeed they were not, we learned, as snow fell from early Tuesday evening through late Wednesday night. Andy and I shoveled the sidewalks and driveway and I decided to build a snowman. My hands were about to fall off when I was putting on his face because I had to take off my gloves. That is why his eyes are in his forehead and he only has half his buttons, ha-ha!

It was so quiet outside, the snow was still falling. Building Frosty brought back great memories of the 90’s snowstorms. I remember building forts and igloos with my sister, Mom & Dad, and all of the neighborhood kids. We would walk down to the soccer fields and go sledding and then come home and have hot chocolate. There was even a time we were able to ice skate on the front lawn! I’d imagine these snowstorms have been just as exciting for kids. As adults, we dread the shoveling, cleaning off the cars, trying to drive---but if you slow down and just accept being “snowed in” there is a lot of beauty and enjoyment you can get out of a great snowstorm.

With that, I have to say I’m ready for warm sunny days at the beach.

2001

WINTER:

• I rang in the New Year with my three roommates Lori, Erin & Sarah. We got all dressed up and went to several different house parties. It was a fun night!
• I decided to join Phi Sig. I didn’t know then I’d meet some of my best college friends through the sorority (I didn’t even know Adrienne yet!) Pledging was a great experience and I was so excited to be involved in something---joining the sorority was a turning point in my college experience. I was starting to feel like West Chester was home.
• My 20th birthday party at our house was an interesting night, Claire came up for it and I remember there was some roommate drama. Things were never boring at 224 E. Nields St.
• Concerts: Barenaked Ladies 

SPRING:

• I started baby-sitting for Alix and Noelle. I was waitressing and had Noelle & her mom at one of my tables. I thought she was the cutest little girl I’d ever seen and said if they ever needed a baby-sitter to give me a call. I heard from Laura shortly after and baby-sat for them the rest of the time I was in college.
• Went to the Woodlands for the first time for the Phi Sig spring formal. Some of my best Phi Sig memories are from the formals, they were the best!
• I drove down to VA to see DMB in their hometown with Mary. It was A LOT of driving for one weekend. It was cool to see Charlottesville although the show wasn’t the best.
• Concerts: Dave Matthews Band, David Gray

SUMMER:

• Spent my days baby-sitting and working at the Pepper Mill. It would get so hot in there I’d sit in the freezer when I had a few free minutes. The $ was worth it though!
• Visited Ocean City and Stone Harbor for the first time.
• Dance Marathon- a long 24 hours for a good cause!
• Good times going to a bunch of DMB shows with all different people.

• I introduced the Outer Banks to two friends I worked with at the Pepper Mill. We were supposed to have a big group but everyone backed out. I was just Steve, Dave and me until some visitors arrived later in the week. We drove up to the house and thought we only had half because it was so big. Nope, it was all ours! HUGE house, with a hot tub on the top deck, two houses off the beach. It was heaven---we had the best time. Steve and I still reminisce about that trip.
• Concerts: Tom Petty, Madonna, Barenaked Ladies & Vertical Horizon, Trey Anastasio, Janet Jackson

FALL:

• Back to school, it was hard to believe I was going into my junior year already. I was still living on Nields St. with Lori, Erin & Sarah
• I was the assistant recruitment chair and assistant pledge mom that semester, so many good times. 

•  I took a “little sister” in the sorority this semester, although that’s not how I think of her now. I remember sitting in Becky’s apartment just talking and talking one night, she had just decided to join Phi Sig and asked if I’d be her big. We weren’t supposed to promise anything but I told her then and there I’d love to. We started to spend lots of time together that led to a really incredible friendship. She was someone I never wanted to let down or disappoint, and I sort of think she felt the same way about me. She lived next door to the Phi Sig house so I got to see her a lot and also had somewhere to “get away” when I needed to get out of the house. She moved to CA and over time we sort of drifted apart a little. We can always pick up where we left off and I’m so happy we’ve been talking more often these days. Although I never really thought of her as my “little” since we were the same year, I do believe it’s what made us so close in the beginning. I love you Becky!
• September 11th- It will be the day we will never forget. We won’t forget where we were, what we were doing, who we were with or how we felt. I had an 8am class that was cancelled and I decided to walk home since my next class wasn’t until 11:15. I remember coming in the house and put on the TV to see live news coverage and something about planes hitting the Twin Towers. It was hard to understand what was happening. My dad called as the second plane hit, what the hell was going on? The TV was on for days, it felt funny to watch anything but the news. I remember the silence outside, a weird kind of calm. Everyone around me was stunned, the events of that day were so hard to comprehend. It was amazing to see the way people came together, differences were aside across the entire country. I never knew the significance this picture would have, taken in 1996 during a visit to the Statue of Liberty.
• Adrienne & I didn’t know each other too well until this semester. We realized at the same time we were basically the only ones in our group of friends that hadn’t turned 21 yet. It was a Friday night and we decided to hang out. We played beer pong for hours in the Phi Sig basement and the rest is history. She’s been one of my best friends ever since.

• I surprised my Dad with U2 tickets for his birthday. It was the first time either of us ever saw them and they were unbelievable. I was lucky to be able to give him such an awesome gift.
•  Concerts: U2, Barenaked Ladies, Elton John

2000

WINTER:

• Ringing in the new year, and new decade with some my best friends from high school. I remember sitting on Dennis's couch watching Billy Joel's "Millennium Concert" with Mary. It was before we all really went our separate ways, before we found home to be where we were going to school instead of where we grew up. That was a special NYE.
• Adjusting to college life, living on my own and learning how to share close quarters with a roommate.
• Finding a way to forgive someone that hurt me badly, I never thought I could do it.
• Ramsey Hall: partying in our dorm rooms. We had the best times, the guys even had fake snow one time.
• My first time skiing- my friends thought it was funny to bring me up to a black diamond trail. I had no idea what I was doing, almost killed myself getting off the ski lift. I had to walk down the entire mountain because I couldn't ski (I did have a partner since it happened to my friend Kristen too.) I don't know if I've ever been more pissed off than I was that day.

SPRING:

• Wawa Fruit Punch and cheap vodka was my drink of choice at this time. I hated beer and would play beer pong at parties with my own cups and the red stuff. I carried it all in a backpack, pretty funny.
• I made one of the biggest financial mistakes of my life (thus far, hopefully I won't be making anymore.) I purchased the biggest POS car, my little blue Toyota Tercel. I thought I didn't need anyone's help and made the decision to buy it without even talking to my parents or a good friend of mine at the time that knew a lot about cars. That car almost killed me when I was driving on the PA Turnpike and the transmission blew. I was going 70 m.p.h. and my car stopped...just stopped. I was in the middle lane, my car stopped, I looked in my rear-view mirror and saw a tractor trailer behind me. I said to myself "this is it." One of the scariest moments in my life. God was watching over me that day because I somehow was able to idle into the shoulder.
• Longest Flyers playoff game ever! We went to a party to watch the Flyers vs. Penguins and the keg ran out before the game ended. It was a long game! I think the entire dorm was up watching, and when the final goal was scored the whole place went crazy. One of the most exciting sports moments I can remember.
• Concerts: Third Eye Blind

SUMMER:

• My little sister graduated 8th grade, I was starting to feel like maybe we'd have more in common.
• Spending a week in the Outer Banks with Katie, Melissa, Jess & Gregg (before it was so popular to go down there.) We had the cutest house right off the beach and had a wonderful vacation. I did get my first speeding ticket on our way home though, I was devastated.
• I spent the whole summer babysitting for a great family who are now my close friends. Sarah and I did so many fun things--went to the beach, Great Adventure, took their dog to the park a lot. I was very lucky to have that job instead of being stuck inside the mall or a restaurant.
• This year would be the last time I ever spent a summer in my hometown. I spent so much time with friends "from home" and really treasure those summer nights, even though I hardly talk to any of them anymore. We grew apart, and almost 10 years later I understand that's ok.
• Concerts: Bruce Springsteen, Dave Matthews Band, Counting Crows & LIVE, Creed, Pearl Jam

FALL:

• I moved into my first real house on Nields St. in West Chester. I loved that house—it was pretty nice for a college house, finished basement and all. We had the best parties there (almost every night!)
• One of my roommates decided to join Phi Sig and I started to become friends with a lot of the girls. I was her “date” for Homecoming and started to think joining a sorority might be fun.
• I experienced waitressing for the first time at The Pepper Mill. I worked my butt off but made great money and met one of my favorite friends in the world there (Hi Steve!)
• My Dad graduated from Thomas Edison State College. What a huge accomplishment for him, we were all so proud!
• Concerts: Blues Traveler, Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band

10/4/96: Dave Matthews Band

Madison Square Garden: New York, NY

I am 15 years old, I am going to New York City with a group of friends to see the Dave Matthews Band. I've never been to a real concert before, I am so excited. My dad is excited too because he introduced me to the band and now they are one of my favorites. He walks into my room that morning and tells me the concert is "his treat", he then hands me money for the ticket and train fare.

I've never been to MSG before and I am relieved it's connected to Penn Station, no chances of us getting lost. We have our tickets out and find our seats, right behind Carter's drums! It's amazing! We can see everything on the stage, we're only about 20 rows back and find a way for our group to sit (stand) together. I watch the time clock near Carter's drum set as the band plays song after song, hear True Reflections for the first time (that I can remember) and John Popper comes out for the encore!

We catch the train back to Princeton Junction, I am in awe of live music---especially this band. It's Naoma's 15th birthday and we sing to her on the train at midnight.

I had no idea that night, what role this band would play in my life. I had no idea their music would get me through some really hard times throughout my teens. I had no idea that I would visit some of the most amazing places in the U.S. because I was going to their shows all over the country. And I certainly had no idea I would meet some of the most amazing friends and the love of my life, all because I fell in love with DMB.

Thanks Dad, for bringing home Under the Table and Dreaming. I'll never forget you playing "What Would You Say" and "Ants Marching." This guy was singing about monkeys on strings and ants---you loved them, and soon enough I did too!

Take me back...Stay with me...

Lately I've created a whole bunch of projects for myself---I think it's because I feel like I need to do everything I've wanted to do while I have some extra time since now that I'm in school. Soon enough I'll be teaching and won't have as much time.

I've spent a few long days in my Mom's office scanning alllllll of my pictures from when I was little through the end of college. I realize how lucky we are to have digital cameras these days! I've scanned thousands of pictures and now I'm trying to organize them by years. Somehow I can remember when the majority of them were taken from about 6th grade on.

Looking through all of these pictures got me thinking, I've had a really good life so far. I've had a lot of fun! I've been to amazing places, I've met amazing people and I love being on the go. These pictures have triggered so many memories, and at times have made me sad about the people I was once so close to that are no longer in my life (for one reason or another.)

My goal is to make a photo book of my first 30 years, so I guess my deadline can be about a year from now. It's amazing to me how moments in time come back to you when you look through pictures. Photos take you back, and they allow the memories to stay with you.