I want to be a ballerina

Go to the ballet.
It will make you a 5 year old again.
Who wouldn't want the be the ethereal girl floating and twirling almost magically onstage?

I'm so lucky to be able to attend the ballet (somewhat) regularly each year. I don't think I've ever missed seeing at least one program from the SF ballet since moving to the bay area over 10 years ago. This season started with the quintessential classic, Swan Lake. I've seen it before, but SF just changed the costumes and sets in 2009. It was gorgeous. I wanted so many of the Napoleanic dresses for myself. It was a feast for the eye yet still classic and elegant.
This video doesn't do justice for the pas de deux between Odette and the Prince. In fact, it doesn't show any footage of Odette (in the white swan tutu.) It really was perfection. Yuan Yuan Tan is perfection.
How is it fair that some people are so ridiculously graceful, limber, and tiny?
I know the reality of my situation. I will never grace the stage of the War Memorial Opera House.
(But that hasn't stopped me from twirling in front of a mirror a few times since Saturday.)

The big bang theory

Every little while I seem to get an itch for change....
Change of job?

Change of residence?

Change of lifestyle?
Change of size?
How about the easiest change of all?
Yep.
Hair.
Even in that, I seem to take the easy way.
Bangs.
The bangs are back in town.

One decision down, a million to go

I've made an executive decision for my life : I have no desire to live in freezing temperatures. I am in Minneapolis right now and it's supposed to get to -17 tonight. When we landed it was -4 degrees. No, thank you.
I am so glad that there are millions of people who will brave through frigid temperatures for the winter months.
I have just decided that I'll try to never be one of them. Right now, while I am making my decisions independently, I say no to cold winters. Done.
(At least that's what I say now... Life can change.)

The holiday roundup

A week or so after Thanksgiving, NorCal was hit with a major winter storm. It finally made it feel like Christmas was coming.....

(My parents' home. I was so bummed to miss out on the fun. )

I shouldn't have worried about missing the snow, because I spent Christmas in Utah for the first time in my life. Brrrr. It was beautiful and snowy, but FREEZING.

It was fun to have a family party before Christmas and still be able to visit with a few family members at their homes Christmas morning.

I've missed highlighting my awesome nephew and niece who are 17 and 15. They are a so fun to hang out with.


Tucker


Sadey


Trev, Cody, Tucker, and Sadey


Curtis, Tami, Carson, Summer, Tanner


Laura, Josh, Noah, Clara


Jon and Peg

I inadvertently didn't take any pictures of Lissy and Mark. I am lame. They were one of the main reasons I even came out to Utah in the first place. So sorry.

The other BIG reason to be in Utah was....
little Noelle


Kjelly was really excited to meet his sister. He adores her already.





A new addition to the family was a perfect way to end a lovely family holiday ( and the year! )

fall faces to be thankful for

It was a glorious Thanksgiving weekend. Thank you to Laura's and Adam's families for coming home.
Lively children, beautiful weather, and great company - that's all I need.






















It was a joy to be with members of my family.

Carmel-by-the-Sea

Sunshine.
Ocean.
Shopping.
Good food.
Great friends.
Perfect weekend.

I am in love

with this little guy.



Kjell and I spent the weekend enjoying the sights of San Diego.
( Yeah, we included his mom and dad too.)
Kjell is such a fun little guy! He is funny, sweet, silly, and tender.
I loved that he let me in and allowed me to be his buddy.

Sea World:


The beach/coast was as much fun for Ad as it was for Kjell.






The zoo was awesome too.



I am honored to have been invited on Adam and Darcie's family vacation. It was a wonderful weekend. Thank you A & D for including me and sharing Kjelly. I miss him already.

Once, actually TWICE, in a lifetime experience

Yesterday I went skydiving with a group of friends. This was my second dive at Skydive Monterey Bay. (The first time was about 8 years ago.) It was an awesome experience then and now. I loved it all. It was my second time with Raf as my divemaster too. He has jumped over 12,000 times. Crazy!
We jumped at an altitude of 18,000 feet. That's the highest an inexperienced person can go tandem. I think.
The pictures prove just how much I loved jump #2. I also have the 6 minute video of the jump - if you have the time.