New Years Eve

We had no snow left on the ground after the rain washed it all away last week, so it was a welcome surprise today when we got a few inches of snow!

Here are some pictures from around our neighborhood:

Good-Bye 2009

10 years ago my family was camping in Fort Bragg and my dad woke me up at sunrise on New Years Day 2000. I remember being so irritated to be woken up so early, and I am sure I was grumpy and not-so-pleasant to be around. He told me to appreciate how beautiful the sunrise over the ocean was, and that it would be something I would remember forever. In my teenage mindset, I just remember thinking "Dad, this is so stupid, I could be sleeping!" He was right though, I remember the sunrise 10 years ago this week. Time flies...

I have no idea where this year went. Last January, we started off the new year celebrating with our best friends in Turlock and then heading back to LA. In February, we found out Nick had been accepted to MIT and in March we visited Boston. We both loved the city and we decided we would move. Graduation weekend was perfect and we were able to have both of our families in the same place for the first time! We then moved out of the apartment we spent almost 3 years in and began our summer traveling from place-to-place. We had an incredible summer and then headed on our journey to Bean Town. 

 Nick convinced me to talk to a counselor at Simmons about starting nursing school. I am so grateful that he encouraged me to go, because I ended up being able to begin classes much sooner than I thought and was accepted into the program. We acquired a new member of our crew when we got Gillie, and we both adore her!  We spent our first Thanksgiving and Christmas alone with just us, and although it was quiet and we missed our families immensely, we were happy to be with one another.

It is hard to believe we have been here for 5 months already. Nick has become more comfortable at MIT and his advisor is extremely happy with the work he has done thus far. I am looking forward to beginning "real" nursing classes next fall and coming one step closer to becoming an RN! 

What will 2010 hold? I am anxious to find out and I think I am starting off on a positive note. I am off to Colorado in a few days, and am fully equipped now that my jacket came! I'm so excited to see my family and spend quality time with all of them! 

Here is to a new year filled with health, happiness, and cherished memories with those we love!

White Christmas

Nick and I had a very laid-back Christmas. Our Christmas Eve was slightly less laid back, and a little more comedic when we look back at it. There is a jacket that I have been dreaming about ever since the temperatures here dropped below freezing. Nick's family got me a gift card and I was thrilled to be able to go get this jacket! It took us 2 buses and a total of over an hour and a half to get to this store, which is probably less than 10 miles away. At one point, the second bus stopped in a crowded mall parking lot and I asked the bus driver if it was the stop I was looking for. I told her the name of the stop I needed, and she replied very angrily that she did not have any idea where my stop was.  I was not feeling the Christmas spirit and I couldn't believe how rude she was. We ended up wandering that shopping center and then got back on the bus again, where we finally found the store we were looking for.

I walked into the store hoping to just grab my jacket and head home. I couldn't find it, so I asked someone and she basically laughed and said those jackets flew out of the catalog months ago.  I assumed they would be re-ordered, but according to them, they do not re-order when popular items sell out quickly. We then headed to the grocery store before it closed, and we took another 1 1/2 to 2 hour trip home on the buses. We were both ready to relax when I stopped to get something on the way home and I told Nick I would be right after him. As I walked up to the apartment, Nick was walking the dogs. I went on the walk with him, and then we all headed back inside. We got to the door of our building and Nick asked me if I had my keys. Of course I didn't, I had given him my keys and he accidently left him inside. We waited for a while to see if anyone would enter the building, and then I got desperate and rang every buzzer in the building. Someone let us in! I think there were about 3 lights on in the entire building, so we got very lucky that someone let us in!

On Christmas day we walked the dogs around the reservoir and made dinner together. It was gorgeous outside and snow was still everywhere. We relaxed and talked to our families on the phone and talked about how strange it felt to be here. It really did not feel like Christmas at all. We are such family-oriented people that I think we couldn't imagine Christmas without family and friends. Nick's mom sent us a TON of cookies and fudge and I think we polished off a vast majority of the fudge, it was so yummy! That night we watched "It's a Wonderful Life" and it reminded me how much I love that movie. It just makes me grateful to be alive. Around 11pm, it began to lightly snow and it was a beautiful sight on Christmas. 

The day after Christmas I called every store in the Northeast looking for the jacket and I finally found one on my 6th try! They are shipping it to me and I am hoping it gets here in time for me to take to Colorado!

Despite the fact that we weren't with our families, I was able to be with Nick and the dogs and spend quality time just the 4 of us. I am leaving this week for Colorado (yay!!) and Nick leaves for California about 8 hours after I come home for Colorado. This means we will see each other for 8 hours in 2 1/2 weeks.  We are both thrilled to be able to see our families, and to get out of Boston for a few days. The snow is all melted now and we are headed into what is expected to be a very cold week.  I am on a cleaning spree today and in a few hours I'm going to meet Nick to work out after consuming several pounds of fudge this weekend!

Here is the jacket that was the source of so much hassle over the weekend but is finally on its way to help me survive the rest of winter!

Merry Christmas

1st Official Day of Winter

I headed over to MIT today and I snapped some photos of the Charles River on my way. The river is frozen and it is painful to walk across the bridge due to the cold air and high winds. I am not sure how else to describe it other than being slapped with needles or something. Ya, it was painful. It doesn't look like the cold is going away anytime soon, so I need to learn never to leave the apartment without my ears covered! 

Last night the sunset was a beautiful shade of pink.  

 

The dogs were cuddling together and I had to capture the sweet moment. 

These photos were taken in the Back Bay area of Boston, on the way to MIT.

Sunday Snowfall

It is Sunday morning, and typically I sleep in, but this morning I woke up early to see the snow falling and was enamored and couldn't go back to sleep. I feel like I am in a snow globe. We have gotten almost one foot of snow and are expected to get another 4-6 inches throughout the rest of the day. I took the dogs out and Gillie literally disappeared in the snow. She enjoyed hopping through the snow for about 30 seconds, and then I could tell her little paws were probably freezing because she ran back to the door and begged to go back inside. 

Our Christmas tree is up against our living room window and the tree looks even more beautiful with snow falling behind it. I am sure that in a few weeks, the novelty of winter may wear off but I am trying to appreciate the beauty of winter at this moment. 

Fast forward a few hours: Nick and I decided to go out and brave the elements to wander around Boston. We walked around some shopping areas and had soup for lunch while the snow continued to come down outside.  There were kids with sleds on the T, and we passed a hill where dozens of kids were sliding down. It suddenly feels like the holidays and today was gorgeous. It was nice to spend time wandering with Nick and then come home to a warm apartment. It finally stopped snowing, but there is still plenty of untouched snow outside to look at. Hopefully it stays that way until the end of the week!

Waiting for the Storm

We are expecting to get a large snow storm tonight and MAYBE even a blizzard! It is perfect timing for this storm. We are both done with classes for a while, it is a weekend, and we don't really have anywhere to be. I am actually excited to sit and watch it snow. Our Christmas tree is lit up, I am listening to Christmas music and I am feeling the holiday spirit!

I went out shopping today to use some gift cards and I love the lights and the sound of Christmas music in each store. My friend Lexi had given me a gift card to Anthropologie for my birthday, and I found some cute red bowls. I also found a lot of random objects there today. They were selling chemistry flasks and beakers, which made me laugh. After a 16-week chemistry lab, I was tempted to get them as gag gifts for girls in my lab, but I couldn't bring myself to waste my precious gift card on anything related to chemistry! 

I then saw a cute dog boutique and was completely amused in there as well. They actually sell puffy coats for dogs. It is ridiculous, but very entertaining to walk around and see the frivolous dog items. They also had a dachshund ornament and I think I need to return to buy it. It was cheap and looked just like Gillie, so it would be cute to have it on the tree. I told Nick that I should open my own dog store and have a dog store/dog photography studio where I could bring Trouble and Gillie to work with me everyday. I guess if the nursing career doesn't work out, I have a back-up plan. ha! 

Here are some photos of our tree. We didn't get any ornaments, but I think it is beautiful as it is. Tomorrow's blog should be filled with photos of fresh powder outside and I can't wait to wake up to the gorgeous view!

Gillie is always hungry

A Moment to Brag

I have to take a moment to brag about Nick. He has had a rough first semester at MIT, and he has had several days where he seems to wonder whether he should have stayed at UCLA. He has put in more hours every week than I can imagine working, and his study skills have taught me a lot of useful tips. His thermodynamics class has especially been stressful, and today Nick found out he got an A+ in the class!! 

I know he worked hard and earned it, and I hope Nick gives himself the credit he deserves. I am so proud of him! Hopefully now he can relax a bit over the next week!

Baby It's FREEZING Outside

 I am officially done with chemistry FOREVER! Chemistry and I have never been very close friends, but I am so relieved that this class is completed. I had my final Tuesday morning, and it's great to know I can get rid of this huge stack of papers, over 400 flash cards, and I already sold my textbook on Amazon. I also finished my microbiology class, which was actually a great experience. I gained a lot of knowledge about bacteria and viruses, which will play a big role in my career as a nurse eventually. Nick's final was Monday and although he thought it went better than his midterm, he is anxious to find out his grade in the class. 

The only way I can describe the weather today is BITTER COLD.  It is about 15 degrees, but with the 20 mph winds, the news says it feels like 6 degrees. The wind is the worst part and as soon as it hits my face, I literally cringe. I am done with work for the day and I do not plan to step foot outside for the rest of the day. The dogs and I are going to be lazy and I will probably drink some hot chocolate until Nick gets home. 

It is amazing to come home and not rush to a textbook! I have been browsing the web for recipes and I came across a biscotti recipe. I have becoming somewhat obsessed with coffee and hot chocolate, due to the freezing temps. Maybe it's about time to make my coffee a little more interesting. I will not be rushing out to the store today, but maybe this weekend I will get the ingredients and try it out. 

Monosacharides and such

Sorry for the border-line nerdy title. I am just consumed by thoughts of chemistry. This Sunday was not our typical, laid back Sunday. It was a study-filled Sunday. My least favorite. Nick has his thermodynamics final tomorrow, and I know he is anxious to take it and be done. As of this moment, he is watching the 300 in an attempt to get "pumped up" for the final. I guess I lack the testosterone to truly appreciate the method to his madness. 

Last night we went to my friend's Christmas party and it was a fun night. There is a group of about 8 of us who consistently study together, and each of the girls went to the party. It was nice to see everyone out of the normal context of chemistry, and Nick had a chance to put faces to all the names I talk about when I get home from class. 

After Wednesday I will have a school break until the end of January! I am hoping to do a lot of cooking and baking during my break, and enjoy the time off of school. I really want to make some Christmas cookies and possibly attempt to make fudge, which I have never made before. Of course, if I make it I will take pictures! We still haven't decorated the tree, but that should happen in the next week as well.

The temperatures continue to drop here. By the end of the week the HIGH will be about 20, the low will be around 10. I have been looking through L.L. Bean's website like crazy and drooling over their gigantic coats.  On the way to the party last night, we walked half a mile to the house from the train station and I literally lost feeling in my toes. Silly me, I wore flats without nylons of any kind and my poor feet were dying. I am slowly learning what to do and what not to do in this cold climate. 

I will blog again after it's over and I can focus on things other than the oxidation of monosaccharides and the structure of triacylglycerol (blogger thinks that is spelled incorrectly, so it has obviously never taken biochemistry).   Three more days!!!!!

If I were a Goose...

If I were a goose, I would be have flown as far South as I could get. Actually, I take that back, I would fly WEST until the continent ended, then I would stop. The geese are still around, which makes me think geese are not very intelligent creatures. It is insanely cold, despite what Bostonians say. I have been told several times that this is not actually cold, but anything below 50 is cold to me! Tomorrow our high is 30 and I will be dressed in my blimp-ish attire. You should see what I look like when I have to wait for the train. I am in so many layers already that I must look hilarious. Then again, it is about survival to me at this point, so looks aren't my main concern!

Yesterday morning I woke up to it snowing and everything was coated in white powder. It was absolutely gorgeous and I drank my coffee and stared outside, wishing I could enjoy it that way for the entire day. Unfortunately I had to go to work and when I left that afternoon, the rain had melted all the beautiful snow. All that remains now is slush and mud. 

I have only a few days left until my finals and I will be so relieved to be done! Nick has his final on Monday, and I know he is looking forward to a mental break. We are looking forward to spending some quality time together, instead of simply studying together all the time. I recently figured out what to do for his Christmas present, and I can't wait to see how it turns out! I don't think he will have the slightest clue, so it will be great to see his face when he sees it. 

Saturday night I have a Christmas party with some girls from my nursing program and it will be great to unwind and de-stress in the middle of a weekend full of studying. These girls are sure to throw a great party, so I know I won't be disappointed!

Oh Christmas Tree

We got our tree!!!! I found a little floral shop just down the street from our apartment and they had about 6 trees in the front. I was so excited! It was about a 10 minute walk, but luckily Nick has strong muscles. haha

The apartment smells wonderful, and I will post pictures once I buy some decorations. It has lights on it already, but it will look more complete with ornaments. As we were putting the tree up, I realized how nostalgic the smell of a Christmas tree makes me. I have all these wonderful memories of being little and decorating the tree with Christmas music playing in the background. I can remember walking past the tree and wondering what was in each of those boxes, and sometimes sitting in front of them to try to figure it out. The feeling of Christmas morning as a kid is something I don't think I will ever forget. There is really nothing like the smell of a fresh pine tree. 

In light of this season (and the fact that I really can't look at chemistry anymore tonight), I decided to post some pictures of the last few Christmases. 

How adorable was his baby face???

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Last night it began snowing lightly around 6 o'clock, and then around 10 o'clock, it was coming down quickly and covering the street and everything else in sight. I baby-sat, so I walked home in the snow and I was freezing, but at the same time it was a beautiful sight to look around. I sat at the T-station and watched the snow quickly melt as it hit the pavement, and then it began to stick. I walked in the door, with snow in my hair and all over my jacket, and Nick handed me a cup of hot chocolate. We sat on the futon and watched the snow come down, then decided we wanted to take the dogs outside to see how Gillie would react. No surprise, she just wanted to eat the snow. I attempted to take a few pictures last night, but it was difficult to keep my camera dry.

This morning I woke up to the sound of people shoveling drive-ways and sidewalks. [I just want to add that I really don't think they needed to be cleared as early as they were on a Sunday morning...]

I got up to take the dogs out and then brought them back inside so I could snap some pictures of the beautiful white fluffy snow before it melts.  Now I am drinking coffee and enjoying the scenery outside. It seems like it is going to be a very cold week here (highs in the low 40's) and I am hoping to minimize my traveling from place-to-place to stay as warm as possible. 

Today MIGHT be the day we get a Christmas tree!!! Next weekend will be the crazy before-finals studying, so I think today would be ideal. *Fingers crossed!*

Nick has had another long, stressful week. He still hasn't heard back about his rough midterm from a couple weeks ago, and he has a big project due tomorrow, followed by a presentation to his sponsors. His advisor is in Saudi Arabia with his sponsors, and they will be watching Nick via Skype, or something similar to it. Then he has a final in just over one week, and then he will be solely researching until February. 

Sorry I haven't been blogging much, I have been a little down. I have just been missing family and friends, and each time I sit down to blog, that seems to be all I want to write about. School is almost over, and I am thrilled to have a month off from class. Next semester I will have anatomy/physiology, and I have been told the class is a bit tedious and you just have to get through it to get to the more exciting anatomy class that I will be taking this summer. I am just about one year away from doing clinical rotations, and it will be amazing to set foot in a hospital as a nursing student. I went into a hospital a few weeks ago for a study, and I felt my heart race as I passed by the various departments. I really feel that I am going to love this career, and I hope I am able to enjoy nursing school in the process of getting there. 

Here are a few of the pics I took this morning: 

This is the same spot we took our pictures last weekend:

Then Nick and I headed over to the reservoir to get some pictures there:

MIT Potluck

Last night we had our MIT potluck dinner, which was interesting to say the least. Karan and Brandon  cooked everything with bacon in it. They made fried chicken-with bacon, green beans-with bacon, brussel sprouts- with bacon and cooked in the bacon grease, and corn bread-with bacon. I brought mashed potatoes, which turned out to be the only not-meaty item on the menu. Greasy foods are typically not anywhere on my list of favorites and I am convinced I would starve to death if I lived in the South. Karan and Brandon are both fun to hang out with and extremely entertaining, so it was certainly not a dull evening. They are both genuine and typically provide non-stop comedy, so when we make plans with them, we know it is bound to be a good time. 

After dinner Nick and I went to Starbucks, where they were playing Christmas music and the entire place was already covered in decorations. I absolutely love Christmas lights and music and the peppermint mocha I had reminded me of the holiday seasons of the past. It put me in a happy mood, and so did the Christmas decorations all over the city so far.  We got quite a bit of rain yesterday, and the wind was eerie last night. The sun came out for about an hour this morning, and then quickly went away again. I am missing sunshiny days! If it would just snow, maybe I could focus on the beauty of the snow instead of the gloominess of the current weather.  I know I should be careful what I wish for-soon I will be trudging through snow and wishing it were dry again! haha

Tonight we are going to watch the epic UCLA vs. USC rivalry football game. We are keeping our fingers crossed that the Bruins can pull off a win, but it is always cautious optimism when it comes to our football team. The UCLA alumni group has been a fun group of people, so it should be a good night...even better if the bruins can win!

I took these pictures of Gillie the other day and I had to share them. Anytime we turn on the shower, she gets excited and she tries to jump into the bathtub. I have no idea why, but she loves the water. Once in a while I just toss her in there, and she plays in the tub. Weird dachshund.