As the pendulum swings

Well. Radio silence suits the buzzing brain.


I was in a total of four states this break.


First, California--

Break started with Jeff and my annual light-looking, in which we found a nativity scene where Jesus had been replaced by a turtle, and we shook our heads at the other scenes and their premature Christs. I missed Nelly Furtado.

Christmas Day with the cousins is always a joy. We knew we were getting old when we stuffed our faces with the traditional cheesy potatoes, then sat around watching television until about 8:30 when someome finally said, "So, uh, ... should we open presents?"

The rest of California included Crumbs Cupcakes in Beverly Hills, a massive reorganization of my room which resulted in trashbins full of high school paraphrenilia, and some quality bonding time with my immediate family.

Second, Michigan--

It's been a while since I spent that semester long-ago in the snow. Michigan's white landscape served me a brisk reminder. Usually birds go south for the winter. I flew north.

In addition to taking above precious photos, we (Zak's family, anyway, I stared in horror) burned an innocent gingerbread house, completed a puzzle, and watched Avatar in 3D in the local IMAX. AMAZING. I also would like to note that, due to Zak's mother's magnificent cooking, I gained two pounds. No kidding. I am now fat.

Third State: Indiana--

Zak and I road tripped to Josh and Chelsea's wedding in Chicago, driving through Indiana on the way. We stopped at an overwhelming Antique Warehouse, I sang a theme from the Music Man at the sign for Gary, Indiana, and we clogged our arteries with Frozen Custard Double Butter Burgers at Culvers.

 

Fourth State: Illinois--

More accurately, Chicago, for a visit with cherished friends from Westmont at and after Josh and Chelsea's lovely winter wedding. Shane and Sonja housed us in their charming apartment and we spent the first half of a day chatting and warming our hearts with feast and fellowship, then the second half of the day taking a drive-by tour of Chicago, courtesy of Sonja's extremely helpful directions.

 

The only time we got lost was when we failed to find the Sears Tower.

 

Ahem. Yes. Someone misplaced the tallest building and we had trouble tracking it down. I suppose it would have helped if A.) We'd been informed that the tower had been recently renamed and B.) We knew what it looked like to begin with.  

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My final days of break will be spent in my hometown, celebrating my dad and sister's birthdays, then making the long, lonely drive back north so I can get back to work and the real world.

This break was long talks with my mom, dreaming about pirate ships with my dad, snow covered cars through Hartford, snuggles with my sisters, building new relationships, and learning a lot more about the depth of love.

Happy 2010, everyone~