sisterlove.

When I was home this past weekend, seeing family, crying with my cousins, and saying goodbye to a wonderful uncle, I also got to see some of my sisterloves. They are scattered on the eastern seaboard, but we all gathered in New York on Saturday and Sunday morning to snuggle and love each other. And it was exactly what I needed.

We snacked on burgers, we drank Blue Moon by the river, “It’s just New Jersey,” we laughed as we watched people take pictures across the river. We ignored people we may or may not have known from a previous life. We walked far and wide to find the right thing for the right person. We stood a little too close on the train and laughed and talked a little too loud everywhere. We celebrated fall temperatures will pumpkin ale over cookbooks. We ate a plate of cheese. We laughed, and laughed, and laughed. We walked Lola the dog, and took a ride with Frank to our countryhouse stay. We snuggled three in a bed. We got up, we went to breakfast to gather our fourth. Or rather, she gathered us. We got breakfast and laughed some more. We stopped for cider donuts, feeling the crisp air on our arms, and we contemplated another visit, and soon. We took a very forced picture, because gd’it, I need a picture of my girls every few years, and NO I still do not think it was SO much to ask for you to take off your sunglasses, K.

 

Downward facing dog.

We’re back at it, loves. Last night marked my reentry into the world of exercise and yoga. Yesterday morning, to prepare, I walked to the farmer’s market with Melissa, grabbed multi-colored vegetables (think green, red, yellow, purple…) and had two miles under my belt before brunch. Oh LA, I will make you a walking city, yet.

Jeff and I headed to brunch at 12:30 with Mary and George at a new place (for us) called Alcove. Which was a delightful, both for the company and the food.

After our brunch, instead of hiking (the original plan) we watched Gnomeo and Juliet. Which was hilarious enough to entertain us, and short enough not to waste the day away. After that, we started cleaning, and before we knew it it was…5:40?! What! But…we had (separate) plans in the Valley, at 6:00! It’s ok, I thought, we could make it. Out the door by 5:45, but it was.too.late. The Hollywood Bowl traffic had struck again, and I did a U-turn around 6:01 knowing I was not to make it to my yoga class.

Downtrodden and now sweaty, I made it home by 6:10 and rethought my options. I could sit down and watch hours of Lost. Or, I could find a Netflix Yoga class. I settled for the latter, and I am (glad?) I did. Although sore today I am SO GLAD I got back to my yoga practice. And, surprisingly, glad I did it alone, in my living room. My finger is not 100 percent yet, and it was nice to be able to pause to readjust or reorganize without feeling judged (which I realize is not the point of yoga to begin with.)

After yoga, I took a shower, made myself some leftovers for dinner, and settled down on the couch to sneak in a few episodes of Lost before Jeff got home. After that Jeff and I laughed and giggled until too late (does anyone out there have those nights with your significant other where it still feels like a sleepover party and you can’t get to bed because you’re laughing or chatting and can’t stop?)

Then it was into work early this morning, and another week at my new job. Where I am finally settling in. Feeling at home. Part of the team. Ready to go.

Here’s to another week. How was your weekend?

this weekend was:

Seeing people I haven’t seen in ages. Seeing people I never get sick of seeing. Red-eye. Picked up at 4:30 am. Laughing by 4:31. Diner by 6:00. Arriving by 7:30, and sleeping until my sister jumps up and down upon me. To the shower we go.

Both sides of the family. Delicious food from family friends. Smiling, hugging, laughing. Taking photographs, making plates. Little ladies helping us open presents. “Hold it up,” and “Can I have another?” Saving bows.

Family, family, family. Small, and large, both sides. Little ones running about, smiles everywhere. And then rain, falling…

Back to the Breen’s B&B, for more laughs. Getting later, later, later…can’t.stop.laughing. Honey-badger don’t care.

Sleep, then rain, rain, rain, and coffee, coffee, coffee. Coffee black. Like it should be. Monsooning, more laughing, more smiles. Getting picked up, heading to camp, sunshine coming out, family surrounding family. Softball game steadily going. More hugs, more smiles, more fun. More food.

Hiking through the woods. “Another one,” spider webs, creepy spiders, every where. “Are we lost?” and “Maybe the yellow trail is red” and “what do the doubles mean?” and “Blair Witch 3: Attack of the Perfectly Normal Nature.” Hiking, walking, hiking, laughing, and sweaty. But so good.

Out of the woods. Onto more snacks. “If you steal a cupcake I won’t tell,” or “How about you just give me a bite of yours?” Still getting some more chocolate, and some corn, and Jax, and…the list goes on. Volleyball, scavenger hunt, and time with babies.

Then, the ladies arrive! Hugs all around, keeping tears back, so excited. Quick showers, and dinner, and snuggles, and stories, and snuggles. Ice cream, and “CAROLYN?” and seeing someone I haven’t seen since I was in seventh grade. Getting a drink, laughing, and smiling, and can’t.believe.I.went.so.long.without.seeing.you.oh.my.

Back home, another night at the B’s B&B. Laughing late. Sleep, then up to repack, and head to the train. To another diner. Then to NYC. Two hours, no lockers? No problem: Little Italy. Pizza and cannoli’s, then ready for the plane. LA, here we come. CT, NYC, we’ll miss you.