bring on the snow.

Today is a cold sort of day.  My toes are curled underneath the frayed fabric of my once-pink, now-gray socks, desperately hunting for some imaginary source of heat on which to cling.  My fingers trace the skyline of Boston, delicately printed on the ceramic of my now lukewarm mug of coffee, the frosty air having defeated it within minutes of brewing.  It is snowing outside, the first of the year, reminding me how quickly October has danced by.  Winter is approaching, along with its shorter days, blustery winds, and bitter chills.  I listen as friends curse the early arrival of this wintry weather, who groan at the impending snow-shoveling and extra minutes of car-defrosting.  Even as my cheeks and the tip of my nose start to take on a rosy hue, even as my teeth begin to chatter and my breath starts to show itself in front of my face, I cannot help but laugh a little to myself... for this winter is met with a new source of warmth, a warmth that cannot be stolen by polar temperatures, that cannot escape through worn boots or drafty windows.  This warmth comes from within, it fuels my heart and soul with an energy, a fire, that no rainy day can extinguish.  Ladies and gentlemen, I am in love.  I am so happy... just thought you should know.  So, take your best shot, Jack Frost, I am ready for you.

glimpses.

happy birthday to me.

So, once again the earth makes its way round the sun and we end up at the 8th of July, quite possibly the most important day of the year: my birthday!  Yes, loyal readers, today I am twenty-six years old.  I have to say that I am not quite sure how I feel about being twenty-six... it does not have the same pleasant ring as twenty-five and might just be a bit too close for comfort to twenty-seven, which marks (gasp!) official entrance into my "late twenties."  Whatever the reason, it hasn't quite sunk in yet.  We shall see how it goes.

This year, I was lucky enough to have my lovely friend Carolina share the special occasion with me.  We had a nice day walking around Hoboken and I cooked up a scrumptious dinner for my family, finished with strawberry shortcakes.  Yum!!  It was a very nice day, ending with a few drinks and a few new friends.  Maybe twenty-six won't be so bad :)