On blogging

I have found myself with an unprecedented 5 hours of free time. 5 hours till I am surrounded by friends catching up on life which speeds by so fast.

In these 5 hours, I jump online. Do a quick facebook catch up, some emailing, read the news and check out blogs. It is interesting how many people just don't blog anymore. There are apologies for being out of touch for a month, 6 months or a year. Others are taking a hiatus and others have dropped off the radar completely. I am now a hiatus blogger, fitting it in between ... well life ... and wondering why did I start blogging in the first place.

I started when I lived in Egypt, a way for friends and family to catch up on what was happening. I still live abroad but now I feel like I LIVE abroad. My life is here in a city I love and time is best spent with people, laughing, talking, eating - then in front of a screen.

I am sure others don't feel this way. Or that facebook/myspace is the new blog. Either way ... I will blog when I can without guilt or apologies of the life that gets in between!

A Big Apple Wedding

This was my first wedding in the city and I hope it is not my last. I think there is something magical about being wed with the skyline of New York as your backdrop. Maddy and Dave, who also met through Zog Sports, walked down the aisle last night. That makes the second couple on our team - with Jill and Joe (who arguably "met" through Volleyball) are next.

Only 11 blocks from our house, it is thus far, the only wedding I have ever been able to walk to. I suspect it may be the last! The place cards were NYC Metro Cards and tables were marked with subway lines. The take away gift was a bagel with cream cheese. It was as NY as you can get. I loved it!

Oh my ...

Once again life leaves no time for posting. Summer in New York has been as busy as ever. It feels like every weekend is booked - but that is the way summer should be.

Some big things have happened of late ...

- Jesse has entered the American Express Members Project - click here to vote for his project.

- Caroline AND Jill have picked their bridesmaid dresses which means I am now wearing Teal and Ruby. Only Denise left for the international wedding extravaganza.

- Kevin is leaving. Going to Harvard on Friday. I am not sure how I will cope, he has brought so much joy to my life this year -- something I need to tell him in the coming week.

- I am in denial about Jill leaving.

- Jill is not leaving.

- Spent a week in Boston for work, truly inspired by Michael Brown's words (founder of City Year).

- Our basketball team made it to the finals. The finals were the same night at Michael Brown's words. We lost.

- 2 new City Year recruits for the Grab and Snatch Football team. Hoping to make the finals again :)

- "Camping" with Jill, Joe, Missy, Izaz and Jess. Discovery of Izaz's amazing cooking talents. Tubed down the river - beer had its own tube.

- Started a "detox" with Laura. No alcohol, no sugar. All I can think about is adding sugar to a beer and drinking it.

- New work out schedule ... less runs, longer distance ... swimming at the outdoor pool ... outdoor weights with Laura.

- Got a flashy new blackberry! (Previous blackberry died ... sorry for any non returned calls when in Boston).

Summer has sped by ... fall looks just as packed. Wohoo!

More flags, more fun

The 6 Flags tradition continued. Postponed to July, the annual BIG DAY OUT was as fun as ever, if not more, with shorter lines in the holiday season. The weather was wonderful, the funnel cake HOT and the roller coasters providing enough screams to make you go hoarse. (Of course with the exception of the highly overrated "Dark Night" coaster which we do not recommend!).



The fourth year. Maro, Jill and Jen. Jill took the lead with the map and ensured new comers knew the answers to "can we get our face painted?", "can I see the Lions?" with her stern look! I sincerely hope this is not the last time the three of us are in a fun park together. With Jill moving to California, I see Disney in our sights!




Who can resist funnel cake? Jesse tried but soon joined the fun and ensured the boys plate was cleaner then the girls. Of course on the BIG DAY OUT there are no calories consumed ... so it didn't really matter. I don't however recommend funnel cake in the line to the longest roller coaster in the park ... whoops.



New faces! Laura and Kev-o joined us this year vowing to follow the rules of the day.

1. We will go on every roller-coaster at least once. El Torro twice without fail.

2. We will NOT see any Dolphin Shows, Boat Shows, Variety Shows or shows of any kind.

3. There are no calories on the BIG DAY OUT. As a result we will consume funnel cake, popcorn, cotton candy and dippin' dots to say the least.

4. You will have fun or you will be ejected from the group with no refund.

They loved it and are in for next year! Laura sported the day with a bruised foot. Not recommended when you end up walking over 6 miles in the park.



El Torro. Surprisingly the best roller-coaster in the park is not the one with the most upside down loops. It is the wooden coaster that has more dips then any other and that rickety feeling that leaves you wondering if you may fall out :) Loved it.

Cannot wait till next year ...

Jamaica

According to Luly this is my corny Jamaica album :) Yes we cheesed it up and had professional pictures taken. It was my first time and to be honest I didn't like it at all. All visions of me winning America's Next Top Model and doing this full time have sadly flown away. But the vacation was brilliant. Beaches that took your breath away, hospitality that had you smiling all day long and relaxation. It is not how I typically travel but I think I could see a week at a beach every year in my future.

And now ... reality :)

Vacation

Going to Jamaica for a week. The toughest decision of the day will revolve around napping, drinking and eating. Ain't that how life should be!

That's a wrap

So Kevin literally fell asleep at the lunch table and I cannot think of a better way to summarize the end of the year. Since the start of June we spent a week in Boston for our end of year conference, came back for a wrap up week of service and then prepared to bid farewell to the 07-08 Corps. Graduation was on Thursday but it was the closing circle which brought tears to my eyes. 151 young people committed well over 1700 hours to the elementary, middle and high schools within NYC. They changed lives - but mainly their own. But Evie, Bryant, Mark, Kayla, Daren, Shardae and Erik changed mine and will not be forgotten ... ever.

For now ... summer is upon us. A few more goodbyes to come - the ones I really don't want to think about. Until then I will hum the new words to "My Favorite Things" and enjoy each passing day.

On 28

Last night, over a delicious meal, Jess and I talked about everything that happened in the last year. 27, in short, was a great year. I left AIESEC and though bitter sweet in leaving, I know the great times outweigh the challenging ones. I started a new job and fell in love - with the people, the mission and the work I do every day. We (Jess and I) traveled to Ireland and Ithaca and a ski trip in Vermont. My entire family all came to the USA in one year - first Mum and Dad, then a surprise visit from Keith and finally Caroline and Steve who I met for the first time. That is more family time in one year then the four preceding years. I spent about half the year in the Bronx and hung out with Middle Schoolers from the community. I learned more about myself through them then I thought possible. I moved from the West Side to the East Side of Manhattan and renovated an entire apartment. I said goodbye to friends and welcomed back others. And I found new ones who brighten my day, every day. I started running each morning and got a best friend in the process.

I am excited for 28. Things just get better and better.