Claire's walkabout: December 2008

Wednesday, December 31, 2008

For Auld Lang Syne, my dear

Oh, 2008. Did I enjoy you? Sure. Do I remember you? No, not really. Well, the good parts anyways. Here's the best of the best:

Spending my 25th birthday on Galiano, camping in the rain.

Three days in the Amazon rainforest, one of the happiest days of my life. Holding a cayman. That was fun!

Quiet moments in one of the most beautiful and sacred places I've been.

Yelling for Simon. RUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!

New heroes:
Dick Beardsley
Greg Mortenson
Stephanie Nielson

In 2009 I will: Keep It Simple (Stupid if I want to feel self-depricating).

12:05 PM | Permalink |

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Meme from Lindsay

So, you want to know random things about me eh? Hmmmm........

1. Despite crippling childhood shyness, I loved acting in our school plays. My biggest role was Wicked Witch of the West in a version of the Wizard of Oz. To this day I actually love public speaking.

2. I am never lonely.

3. I have two birthmarks, one on my right leg and one on my right shoulder. When I got my tattoo I purposely put it on the right side so it would line up.

4. I met my boyfriend online.

5. Root canals are my favorite procedure to assist for. Always have been. Dentures are my least favorite.

6. I have never broken a bone or been seriously hurt. Knock on wood. The worst injury I ever had was hitting my finger with a hammer and having it split open. But that didn't even require stitches.

7. I can't stand belly-dancing.

Lindsay tagged the same people I would have, so Lindy is the only one I can rely on!

8:12 AM | Permalink |

Saturday, December 27, 2008

Merry late Christmas

Whew! Anyone else glad that's over with? I had a nasty Trojan lurking on my computer for the last few weeks preventing me from posting, so here's a round-up from pre-Christmas. I hope everybody had a restful, no-stress, lovely holiday!

Cookie decorating party that no one could come to because of the snow. That didn't stop us from eating a few too many.

The tree outside my apartment the night of our biggest snowfall

8:04 AM | Permalink |

Friday, December 12, 2008

Redemption

For years I have been handed the short end of the staff christmas party present exchange stick. I have received in past years, a parrot puppet, a vibrator cleverly disguised as and electric toothbrush, and an XL t-shirt that read "I love lap dances". Yeah. This year there was only one present left at the table when my turn came around and it was my boss' present. In years past he has given a whip (a real one) and a back shaver, so I did what any self sacrificing person would do and stole my co-workers gift. Finally, something I can keep in my house.

9:01 AM | Permalink |

Monday, December 08, 2008

Starbucks has NOTHING on me!

Christmas time brings two of my favorite things. I am reluctant to say that both of these things come from Starbucks, seeing as how I'm trying to be all "anti-giant corporations" these days. Anyways, they are Peppermint hot chocolate and cranberry bliss bars. The peppermint hot chocolate is easy to recreate, but I wasn't sure about the bars. But, of course someone's ahead of me. I found the recipe here and it tastes better than the ones in the store, obviously. I used grated ginger since I didn't have ground and I think it gave it a bit of an extra kick. Also, don't look at the calories on these babies. I mean it.

8:19 PM | Permalink |

Saturday, December 06, 2008

Christmas countdown

Ryan bought me this last week.

Does it look like Ariel is gazing lovingly at a bottle of wine to you? Because it does to me.

6:16 PM | Permalink |

Friday, December 05, 2008

Lessons learned

It's been a rough few days 'round this place. I got the worst over with yesterday and went to my parent's. Finley's presence was noticeably still there and it made me think about his spirit and personality. I believe he had a short life because he was so full of good things that his mission had been accomplished. That, and he wanted to be human so badly, I think he got his wish. Here's what I learned from him:

Your heart will expand to encompass more love than you thought possible. After we lost Jenny, I thought that we would never love another dog like we loved her. And we didn't. Instead, Finley taught us that your heart just grows bigger and you create room for a new kind of love.

Life is silly. Be silly.

Life is too full of worry. Be more laid back (no one could be more laid-back than Finley). Enjoy the ride.

1:38 PM | Permalink |

Thursday, December 04, 2008

Tribute

Last night my brother called to tell me that my parents had to put down Finley yesterday. He had lung cancer and it was very fast. We are all heartbroken.

7:12 AM | Permalink |

Claire's walkabout