Here & Now

Celebrate MSP

Have you seen this new ad campaign, called "Minneapolis St Paul - More To Life"? I first noticed it at the airport in February. Heading through the basement towards the escalators to the check in desks, I saw two huge banners full of words. A list! Of course I was drawn to it. To read the list and find out it was listing all of the great things to do in Minneapolis/St Paul (I heard that we are trying to move away from "the Twin Cities")? Well, that was icing on the cake. Now, the airport has a few more banners and most recently, I noticed awesome photographs of our great cities throughout the terminals. The website for this campaign is www.mspmoretolife.com. It is basically about living in Minnesota more than activities in Minnesota (I was maybe hoping for a Samantha Brown-like tour of my own city!), but still a really cool and hip way to show off MSP. With winter still hanging on for dear life (come on Spring!), it is fun to take a moment and think of home in a slightly different way.

Already Last Week

Puerto Rico, the Week

In typical Walsh fashion (we have never been on a vacation on which we have not had to face weather dilemmas), the weather here in Puerto Rico has been okay at best.  One day after arriving, a winter storm rolled in, bringing with it cloudly skies, scattered rain showers and rough, turbulent seas.  The thing about these winter storms?  They last for days.  It is now Saturday and we are experiencing our first sunny morning of the trip.  The surf nonetheless remains strong, pounding at the sand just past the gates of our condo.  And by 9.15am, the sun has dipped beneath gray clouds.  This is the island of Vieques, Puerto Rico, for the Walsh family.

The odd thing about this winter storm, though, is that when we find ourselves on one of the many secluded beaches in Vieques, which we've reached by bumpy dirt road, the sun seems to shine.  The coastal breezes, while bringing in rollicking waves, seem to keep the large gray clouds at bay.  At the coast, whether it be at Blue Beach, Red Beach or Navio Beach, we find our one escape from the weather.  It is there that we finally feel we have reached our Carribbean vacation: white sands, crystalline teal waters, sunny skies.  Unforutnately, our skin pays the price for these moments of blinding sunshine: we are all (minus Mom) sunburned after one day in the sun.  I win the prize for most sunburned, of course, and my legs look a bit like that of a lobster.

Friday, we enjoy sunset at Al's Mar Azul Bar.  At this drinks-only bar, we sip cocktails on a wooden patio that hangs over the sea.  At 6pm, "sunset" occurs: over gray skies and dark gray waters, a small break in the cloud results in one peak of the sun.  Hungry, we head to dinner at the place our condo owner recommends as her favorite restaurant on the island.  In the tiny town of Isabel II, it is a tiny storefront.  Inside, we find a modern oasis atmosphere.  On a slightly backwards island, it has funky lights, an art-filled patio and silver walls.  It is anything but backwards.  We enjoy our best meal of the vacation, from baby back ribs to thai chicken and fresh sea bass.  With the memory of sunshine from Red Beach earlier in the day and the taste of chocolate mousse cake in our mouths, we head home after our dinner at the Blue Macow is complete, happy to be in Vieques.

Puerto Rico, Day 1

We start the day, our first day in Puerto Rico, in Old San Juan.  Here, we take a step back in time: tall, colorful storefronts, skinny, rambling cobblestone streets, and spurts of crowds dotting various plazas.  We climb up the walls of an 16th century fortress and then down the hills of the oldest part of the city.  Somewhere in the middle, we find a street of high-end factory stores and spend some time browsing.  There is lunch in a terrace beneath winding fans.  Throughout the day, the sun beats down.  While the forecast called for rain (a standard for a Walsh vacation), we are instead blessed with the average temperature of Puerto Rico, 82 degress, and white puffy clouds with the hot sun.   

By mid-afternoon, we have had enough of Old San Juan: the cruise ships have docked, pouring people into the small streets, and the sun is now high above the city, causing rivets of sweat to swim down foreheads and backs.  Our next destination is outside of the capitol city of Puerto Rico; following the coast, we nagivate to Rio Grande.  We take the scenic route, against the recommendation of the concierge ("so dangerous," he tells us.  We head in that direction).  There are shacks with fried ocean finds on their ancient fires and little homes dotting the seaside.  Palm trees line the one-way road and soon, the vegatation turns more lush.  We arrive in the area of El Yunque, the Carribbean Rainforest, just before 4pm. 

The rest of the day is quiet.  We get to know our new hotel - our home for 2 nights - and we spend sometime oceanside.  The sun sets as we enjoy wine on our balcony and we eat dinner within the hotel complex.  Later, as we stroll between the various pools and the broad thoroughfare to the ocean, the surf crashes onto the sand, the palm trees rustle.  Some of the best sounds on earth fill our ears.  And I think: welcome to Puerto Rico.

On My 24th Birthday...

As I enter my 24th year of life today, a list.  23 things that entered my life during my 23rd year.  23 little and big surprises.  23 things that altered the course of life and 23 things that I hope to always remember.

1. Ate calarmi when out to dinner with co-workers (and liked it)
2. Gave up working out from July to December as work + life overwhelmed me (for the second year in a row.  Note to self: take it slow sometimes!)
3. Gained an appreciation and taste for Diet Mountain Dew.
4. Traveled more times than I could imagine.  Led to Silver Elite status with NWA in January 08.
5. Learned that travel for fun and fun only is still something to appreciate (this year: Arizona and San Francisco).
6. Realized I really like a glass of red wine at the end of a long day
7. Said good-bye to a number of close friends as they moved away
8. Opened a Roth IRA
9. Was into sewing.  By association.
10. Hosted two Christmas dinner parties.
11. Captured 30 days of life in a 30-day photo challenge.
12. Finally owned my own mattress.
13. Started scrapbooking 8x11 pages
14. Lived on my own.  At 610 Summit Avenue, St. PaulMN. 
15. Stayed in place – in St. Paul, in my apartment, at Assurant
16. Was promoted
17. Made friends across the country (and even into Canada) with co-workers
18. Danced to Michael Buble – in my living room and in person at the Orpheum Theatre with John
19. Spent Fourth of July week at the cabin. Time there included my favorite meal of 2007: grilled pizza on the beach at sunset with those I love most
20. Tried to create a life I loved. 
21. Reconnected with old friends through Marcie and Chuck’s wedding (both the bachelorette party and the wedding were great blasts to the past)
22. Hung out most Thursdays with Jeni (and Carley until she moved to Seattle)
23. Daytrips with John are my favorites: Rochester, Duluth, Napa Valley

5 Things

I stole this from my cousin Emily.

• What is your keyring like?
  • I recently changed key rings: my keys are now enhanced by a fabric, homemade key chain, courtesy Colleen.  It has all of my requirements for a key chain: cute (Amy Butler fabric) and makes it easy to find my keys wherever they may be inside my purse.
• What is your purse/bag/briefcase like? 
• My briefcase is a black Swiss brand bag with a striped interior (lots of pockets).  My (current) purse is a black bag, from Jeni and an exact replica of her bag (which I loved for so long!).
• What is your wallet like?
• Another handmade gift -- an amazing wallet made by Colleen that I receive compliments on frequently.  It is gorgeous!
• What is your mouse pad like? 
• My mousepad reads "Delight in the Everyday."
• What are the curtains in your bedroom like?
• Red panels that attempt to keep out the sun in the morning (as well as any peeping Toms from the apartments next door)

MB

I am seriously heads over heel for this guy: Michael Buble.  John's parents borrowed me the DVDs of his shows ... and finally finding an hour or two to put them in tonight, I am falling only more deeply (it doesn't hurt that a co-worker of mine went to his show last weekend and I got the report it was a great one!).  I love his bad-boy attitude, which is somehow unexpected knowing the type of music he sings.  I love the music that comes out of his mouth.  I love the style he brings to the stage.  While Michael in concert is definitely the ultimate Michael experience (okay, maybe meeting him would be the ultimate?), I love having him piping through my apartment.  I love that he will constantly say "I love my life."  And his music, well it is a little reminder to appreciate and love what is in your own life, too.  Love that the most.

**500th Post**

I start quite a few things that I don't follow through with once their new shiny glow wears off: photo websites, sewing, Martha Stewart crafts, consistent exercise. There are things, though, that I start because they seems interesting and then they surprisingly stick: using Aveeno chapstick, scrapbooking, reading Nora Roberts books. Another one of those things that has stuck with me upon conception: this blog. It has stuck so much that with this post, I write my 500th entry at kelliwalsh.typepad.com. A significant milestone for "Here & Now" -- one I'm not sure I ever expected to reach. But one I am very, very glad to have achieved. First, it means I have written 500 times over the past few years. 500 times that were not an email, a work memo, a to-do list. 500 times I have exercised my writing muscle. Second, I am happy to achieve this milestones because it means that I have recorded 500 (and really, many more) moments in time, 500 memories, 500 things about me, 500 life happenings, 500 major and minor milestones. In the time that 500 posts took, certainly much much more happened than the things I managed to capture. But those 500 slices of my life are 500 worth remembering in the future and they are documented here. Of course, I am looking forward to 500 more.

Kicking Off Birthday Week

It is a really cool Monday to come into work to this sight:

From my co-workers to recognize my birthday week .... seriously, how sweet!  This definitely has made my birthday week a very very special one!

March Happenings

It is just eight days into March and it seems like quite a bit has happened. First and foremost, John is, for a brief 10 days, a different age than me. On March 4th, he turned 24. We have been celebrating on and off throughout the week: flourless cake (made by yours truly!), birthday dinners, gifts and time together. Happy Birthday, John. Here's to a memorable year. Other March happenings thus far: work, yoga, family parties, Omnifest, dinner at Manny's, roadtrip to Uptown.

I am also preparing for vacation in these first days of March - departure one week away as of tomorrow - and I came upon a great enjoyment today in the process. One of the best parts of packing for vacation is deciding what reading material to bring. Vacation is a time where you know you will actually have the opportunity to read (on the airplane ride, if no other time), so I plan accordingly. The trip to Barnes & Noble before a trip is so enjoyable. Combing through the aisles, flipping through the pages, searching for that one read that will keep you engaged and entertained. This year, I picked up a few classics and a few new authors. Nora Roberts, of course, will accompany me (if I had it my way, I would always have a new Nora book to read). I have two new books - which could most likely be catagorized as "chick lit" - also in the pile of must-pack and they look highly entertaining. This year, I am also taking along something new: a crossword book. I love the puzzlers from People magazine and I've been working to make their new puzzler book last from Christmas to Puerto Rico. It looks like I will make it with a few more puzzlers to complete.

During the vacation prep today, I had the great pleasure of running into a dear friend from Rochester. Imagine the surprise when I got into my car at Grand and Lexington in front of Cafe Latte and recognized an old friend on the sidewalk. It really made me very happy: I am writing it here so someday, when I read back, I will remember this unexpected moment and its pleasure.

A last note of the evening: I am writing this blog entry on John's new Mac. Yes, he has crossed to the "other" side. And while I swore I would never leave my PC -- and even feel a little sick at the stomach thinking about giving up what I know so well -- I must admit that I will probably always be tempted to give this new slick laptop a try when it sits so conveniently on the coffee table in front of me. So far --- Likes: the widgets. Dislikes: the touchpad. We'll see how these lists grow over the next few months. Hopefully my own computer - 6 years old this year, 100 in computer years - will continue to hobble along as I consider the options of PC vs. Mac.