Thursday, December 31, 2009

Well, 2009 is coming to a close. Every year I update my blog with a year-end post. Listing where we went, what tattoos I got, etc. THis year I did neither. No trips, no tour, no tattoos. Instead, this year found us doing more conventional things. We moved from our condo to a house (definately better, a yard, a garage, we're much happier). Nate lost a good job due to the economy, but being unemployed led him back to skating so it all worked it for the best. He loves coaching and things seem to be going really well for him. I left my side job so I could focus just on working with the union. Basically 2009 started off okay, then went severely downhill, but by the end of the year, things were drastically improved. 2010 is looking to be really good.

Anyway, here would be my highlights for the year:
Books: I would normally list a top five, but I read so much this year. Now that I'm not touring, I can go to the library again. SO, I'm reading alot more. This year I read alot of series. I read all the DUNE books (yes, all of them). I also read all of the Harry Potter books, the Percy Jackson books (looking foward to the movie in 2010), and the Twilight books. ALso read Neil Gaiman's the Graveyard Book. I love everything Neil Gaiman writes, this was no exception. I'm currently working on getting through the Dexter books and the Sookie Stackhouse books (that HBO's True Blood is based on). Which brings me to...

Television: My favorite series this year
1. Glee
2. True Blood
3. Dexter
4. Dollhouse (I am so sad this show got cancelled, I love everything Joss does)
5. Battlestar Galactica (again, I was sad to see this go, but it had a long run)
And while I didn't put it in the top five, the Torchwood "Children of Earth" miniseries was AMAZING. By far the best television of the year. It had me yelling at the tv, it brought me to tears. AMAZING.

Movies:
1.Up
2.Inglorious Basterds
3. Star Trek
4. Coraline (in 3-d! I love Neil Gaiman)
5. Food, Inc. (great documentary)
There were alot of other great movies this year. Many (like Avatar and Sherlock Holmes, I intend to see soon)

Music:
No top five for this. First, gotta say I am sick of Kings of Leon. I liked "Use Somebody" the first hundred times I heard it, no I automatically change the station when it comes on. The year seemed to be overrun with Taylor Swift, the Black Eyed Peas, and Lady Gaga. I love Gaga, but feel like so many other artists might have missed out on the limelight. oh well. Nate and I went to a couple concerts this year (Richard Cheese, Reverend Horton Heat) but we went to see more local bands than anything else. Rocket 88, Knockdown Dragout, The Nova Rays, Traverser, etc.

Guess thats about it for now. In 2010 we hope to support more local music (and the local derby team!) and are looking foward to some good movies like Iron Man 2, Percy Jackson, Alice In Wonderland, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and even Eclipse (I read the books, cheezy as it may be). Also looking foward to a trip to St Augustine (we were supposed to go today but cancelled due to rain).

Gotta go! Hubby and I have nch plans then are going to the movies.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Christmas Part 1:

Christmas pictures from Nana & Pop's house. The whole family was there, except for Candis who's in Asia (we miss you!!)


We reenacted the Nativity (a family tradition). Nate & I had to be Mary & Joseph. My cousins played the angel, wise men, shepards, and I think a camel(? or donkey?)


Nate tried the wonky bike (where it goes the opposite direction you want to go). While one of my cousins rode Nate's custom.



Everyone played with the Marshmellow guns. Some were snipers/shooters, while others were targets (they tried to catch the marshmellows in their mouths).




The kids sang "The 12 Days of Christmas" complete with hand gestures to go with each verse. It was quite entertaining (particularly "7 Geese A-laying" and "8 Maids a-milking")




Part 2 coming soon!


Christmas time. The picture above is from our christmas card this year.
We went looking at christmas lights around town to get in the holiday spirit. Here are some pics.





I've also got pics from our family christmas. Those will be posted in a day or so.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009



Merry Christmas!

We went out on Sunday to look at christmas lights. I do have a few pics, but my camera currently has a dead battery, so I will post later.

As for this weeks plans, I am looking foward to going to see my family for Christmas Eve/Day. Tomorrow will be spent wrapping gifts and baking cookies in preparation. I'm going to try and relax for the holiday.

THen, working all weekend and into next week on the Rockettes show.

Still haven't decided on New Year's plans.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Happy Holidays everyone! (all 4 of you who read this blog)

We have been busy lately. Nate has been coaching, and I've been busy finishing up the christmas shopping and getting everything shipped off.

We did manage to meet up with some friends for ice skating on Sunday. It was actually the first time I have ever skated. I know, all those years on tour and I never bothered to learn. But, hubby is a fantastic teacher so I figured now is the time to try. Hubby says my balance is good, thanks to my years of danicing. Sadly though, I only managed a handful of laps around the rink though, due to a bad ankle (leftover from my years of dance). I never fell, and I never held the wall. SO I think I did pretty good. Maybe next time I'll actually manage to let go of Nate's hand!

Here sme of us are in the bleachers while we waited for the zamboni.


Hubby and I on the ice.


This is me holding on so I didn't fall on my bum.


Here's Sean and Nate skating while I took a break (so hubby could skate with someone who actually knew what they were doing).


It was fun, though my ankle was quite shakey for a day or too after. I told Nate if he wants me to learn to skate, he should have to learn to dance on pointe!

Happy Holidays!

Friday, December 04, 2009

Hello Everyone! Its been a fun week. I watched hubby teach a "Learn to Skate" class. So cute! Particularly the little kids in their helmets and baby size ice skates. Hubby's already talking about when we have a kid he will special order little skates for him/her.
Wednesday was my birthday (31! Where does the time go?) so we went to Epcot to celebrate. It was a wonderful day. The weather was cool and overcast, and we didn't have any rain until the very end of the night. We started the day on Soarin' which is good, but I do think that it needs a new video (a Florida one would make more sense than the California one they use now). We also rode the new Seas with Nemo ride (though I prefer the old Living Seas attraction instead). Did the old school Energy attraction and Mexico rides (though Mexico did have an update recently as they added animated characters). We ate at France and Morrocco. We wanted to eat at the Canadian Steakhouse, but did not have a reservation (must remember to plan ahead next time). Nate was amazed at the greenhouse tour at The Land (who knew you could go sweet potatoes without soil? and they were HUGE). Anyway, here are the pics:

First is me in my "Happy Birhtday!" button that Disney gave me. I think I had at least 4 dozen people wish me a Happy Birthday, plus it was a great way to meet people from all over the world who share my birthday.


Here's hubby at Canada.


And here are other assorted pics from the day.






Thats all folks! Next week we will be mailing our xmas cards. I hope everyone likes them. We had alot of fun doing the picture.

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I am watching the Macy's parade. Later on, hubby and I are heading over to Amy's house for dinner with her family (my family is celebrating in Alabama this year, which we had to miss due to work).

I am thankful for so many things this year. My husband, our families (particularly my mother), our friends. I am so happy that hubby seems to love his new job coaching, his students, etc. I am so grateful that we are both healthy (especially considering how many people I know who have had swine flu). It has been a hard year (economically) but things have turned around. I hope this holiday finds everyone healthy and happy.

And now I need to thaw the mint chocolate ice cream pie I made to take to Thanksgiving.

Bye all!

Oh, and next week we are going to Disney's Animal Kingdom for my birthday, so expect a picture post to follow.

Sunday, November 08, 2009

I know, I know. I haven't updated in almost a month. Sorry folks. Been busy. Work has been picking up (I just finished a week of "The Color Purple", before that there was a couple concerts and some conventions). Plus, hubby is doing some skating again. He is teaching Learn to Skate classes as well as working in the proshop of our local rink. So, we haven't had much time to update, or really anything exciting to post.

But, we did manage to go to not one, but two Halloween parties. Here are some pics.










So far, it looks like I'm gonna have the next few days off work (unless I get called in). SO I'm going to (hopefully) get most of my christmas shopping done. Wish me luck!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Zombie Walk pictures! Here are pics from the zombie walk that kicked off Screamfest this year. Hubby & I volunteered at the con.













Sunday, October 04, 2009

I just realized I haven't update in 3 weeks. Oops! Sorry Folks!

Here are the highlights of the last 3 weeks:
--We saw Motorhead and Reverend Horton Heat at the House of Blues. Great show. Both Hubby and I are huge Rev fans and loved that he played both new stuff and old stuff (JIMBO). Motorhead was good as well, Lemmy rocks no matter how old he gets.
--We got FREE cheescake from the cheesecake factory. THey had a Fight Hunger promotion. SO we managed to support a worthy cause (the local food bank) and get yummy food (devil's food cheesecake).
--We went to the Orange County History Museum. Learned all about local history. Educational and interesting.
--Worked Fiddler on the Roof @ BCPAC. In fact, we've got load out at 11pm tonight.
--We moved from condo to house.

Those are our highlights. I'm sure we've done other things, but thats all I can think of for now.

Here are some pics of Shiloh Cemetery in Sanford that hubby took. There are more, but we don't have internet hooked up at the house yet (I'm using the neighbor's unsecured wifi). We coulnd't find the oldest (1800s) part of the cemetery, but it is so overgrown, I am not suprised.




Gotta go make dinner before work tonight. Bye all!

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Hello!
Here's another weekend wrapup. Friday we went to the Peacock Room to see some local bands. The Nova Rays played some great instrumental surf rock, followed by Knockdown Dragout with some fantastic rockabilly.

Then on Saturday, we went to Wekiva with mom & her friend Ben. To celebrate literacy month, the Florida state parks system had free admission if you show your library card or donate a book (we did both...what else was I gonna do with the copy of Faulkner's As I Lay Dying that I bought for Highschool?).
We hiked some trails, went to the nature center (right in time to see the gator feeding), and swam in the springs. We were going to canoe, but the weather was kinda iffy, so maybe another time. We also met a group from Guatemala who were very entertaining trying to build a pyramid in the springs. Here are some pics.








Thats all for now. Wednesday, Motorhead & Reverend Horton Heat at HOB.