Here & Now

Photo Challenge: Day 20-21

Day 21: A look over St. Paul from the Lawton Steps.  A crisp and cool Halloween.

A side note: I am amazed at the decorations up on the houses in this area for the holiday.  This isn't your tradition pumpkins and a ghost here or there.  This is lights, howling draculas, intricate pumpkin carvings, skelton graveyards.  While I could forget about Halloween and be happy, I like feeling the festiveness in the air.

Day 20: I was freaking out on Tuesday morning about the fact that I chosen to spend the weekend in Chicago (I have a business trip Thurs-Fri and couldn't resist spending the weekend)...how could I when there is so much going on?  Then I saw this postcard I bought on Saturday and the quote made me go: "Duh.  That's why you are going to Chicago."  The quote says it all: "Life delights in life."  What a great statement...one that couldn't be more true.  I may have to rearrange my weekend plans, shuffle some work around and cram in a few things in preparation...but well worth it.

Photo Challenge: Day 18-19

Day 19: A walk down Summit Hill.  The cold-ish (I think it's passed just 'cool' in the a.m. hours here) mornings are already a ball of dread in my stomach...I'll keep the leaves and the green grass and the almost warm days as long as I can.

Day 18: Jenna applies to college!!!!!  At St. Thomas!!! Enough said!!!

Financial Morning

Take a look at these great financial articles & tools:

• Fidelity.com > My Plan.  A really cool (and easy!) retirement calendar
• The 2007 Best List: http://www.kiplinger.com/magazine/archives/2007/11/best.html

Photo Challenge: Day 16-17

Day 17: Cabin Time.  The last time of the 2007 season.  The water is high, the leaves have fallen and it is time to say good-bye.

Day 16: Jack-O-Latern Pizza, courtesy Papa Murphy's.  My type of Halloween fun!

A few small changes half way through the photo challenge: I realized the titles of my blog were backwards and I was told oh-so-kindly that the photos should be listed in the opposite order.  So here's to a little more order to the Daily Photo Challenge!

Day 14-15: Photo Challenge

Day 14: I adore Summit Avenue.  Fall ended up being a very brief season along the boulevard this year (the rain, unfortunately, beat many leaves to the ground before they could actually turn)...but there are still a few great mornings and nights mixed in there.

Day 15: Whoa.  It is such a weird sight, me in glasses. But it is going to be such a relief when my eyes don't want to fall off after looking at a computer so long every day!

Day 13: Photo Challenge

My senior year of college, I took a writing course, over the course of which we had to write down five observations for each class period.  The first few days were difficult - what on earth is interesting enough to write down?  Would it be as interesting as the observations of the person next to you?  Could you accurately describe an observation, as to bring it to life in the eyes of another?

Something happened, though, days into semester.  The observations suddenly started appearing.  Then, they came naturally.  Finally, there was a point where you were observing and you did not even recognize you were doing it.

I am finding over the course of my Daily Photo Challenge that the process that occurred during Writer's Workshop is happening again.  The first few days, what was I supposed to take a photo of?  What was photographic besides the monumental weekend events when you are waking up and working most days of the week?  How was I supposed to feel comfortable in the everyday places taking photos? 

Now, on day 13, I find myself taking not just one photo but a few over the course of the day.  I catch myself thinking "That'd make a good photo."  Photography, just like writing, is honed and developed with practice.  And, just like writing, it becomes more enjoyable the more you practice.

Day 13: My first trip to Trader Joe's (the new one in Woodbury).  Not my first time drinking "Two Buck Chuck" though and I stocked up.

Day 13: A wok of my own! 

Day 13: Scarf weather arrives.  My favorite way to wear it: European style.

Day 12: Photo Challenge

Day 12: Heading home.  The best sunset I can remember in recent history.  I love the drive into St. Paul, particularly at dusk.

Love in the Fall Air

It is no secret: I love weddings.  Something about them just strikes the spot in my heart reserved for romance.  Yesterday, as I sat in the most amazing church in celebration of Jessica and Brandon's wedding day, I thought about how much seems right and good and perfect on the day two people are married.  All of that stuff - that useless, less important life stuff - seems to take a step back and it is only what is true that shines forth.  It is about love and friendship and a good party.  Jessica and Brandon's celebration last night was no exception.  It was a fabulous and well-enjoyed evening in Edina.

A major highlight of the evening: enjoying it with Lindsay and Eric, in from Boston/Connecticut!

Day 8-9-10-11: Photo Challenge

Day 8: Chocolate awaits.  While I am not a huge straight-up chocolate girl, when I saw four bars of this "intense dark" chocolate on the kitchen table, my eyes lit up.  John made homemade chocolate ice cream with it.  So while it was enjoyable to look at, I ate not one piece of this good stuff.

Day 9: Swiss Fondue Dinner at the Lowell Inn's Matterhorn Room.  Good things: the fondue!, the wine with each course, the Swiss atmosphere and, of course, the company.  I highly recommend this dining experience!

Day 10: A day at the Spa in celebration of Colleen's birthday (Happy Birthday, Colleen!  What a great weekend!).  A great indulgence!  I enjoyed my massage the most.

Day 11: A random fact about me: I love magazines on the table.  I love seeing them & I love reading them.  This week, these are on the table in my bedroom.

Day 7: Photo Challenge

Day 7: My day in photographic summary.  Lugging around too much stuff.  Bringing in breakfast for training.  Remembering to take a photo.  A cluttered desk means a hectic day.