Pre and Post Christmas

So much for my goal to post at least once a week. Here's what's been going on...

Me, along with a group 7 others (friends, coworker, family, friends of family) went to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra at the Meadowlands on the 15th. The concert was excellent. The lightshow was really cool, along with the pyro. I'm in the process of uploading them to YouTube. I'll post when they're up.

On the 16th, my friend Armand came from PSU to see NY for Christmas. We saw Times Square, the very bottom of Central Park, and walked down 5th Avenue to see the lights. We stopped off in Rockerfeller Center (of course). I'm glad Armand got to see NYC before Christmas; it really is a great time to go.

Jonathan and I in front of the greener LED lighted Rockefeller Tree.

The following weekend I went to State College to see my best pal Julie graduate from dear Old State. She's moving on up to Alaska in a few weeks to start grad school in Fairbanks. I've already started saving money for Alaska Trip '09!

Some expected (and unexpected) Penn State alums in State College

Julie and Donati waiting for the ceremony to start. I'm so glad Donati was on time to his graduation!!

I got to see Sara and Todd as well, because the next time I see them probably won't be until close to their wedding next July!

I headed off to Hazleton after that, to see Jonathan's family. A rainstorm kept me there overnight, and I got to bowl with and hang out with some of his Hazleton buddies.

Onward home for Christmas Eve-day after Christmas. I spent Christmas between my grandparents' house to see my grandma (who is sick right now) and my grandpa at a rehabilitation center in Middletown. He's recuperating very well after his two strokes in July. I also saw Sierra, Scyler, and my dad on Christmas, and Renee and Sara the day after Christmas.

I worked on Thursday and Friday, and I work again tomorrow. There was hardly anyone in the office, and I expect the same tomorrow.

Overall, a good and travel-filled break. I wish everyone in my family was healthy, and that everyone had a million dollars to be able to fly home, but we've gotta make due.

Christmas Christmas time is near

Jonathan and I were at the house together for a whole weekend...for the first time ever!


That meant putting up the Christmas decorations. And buying a real Christmas tree!

We also got a lot done around the house, including getting the hot tub set up. We tried it out yesterday, but it wasn't warm enough yet. 90 degrees just isn't warm enough.

On Friday, my office had its White Elephant gift exchange, as well as the holiday dinner. A white elephant works like this: everyone brings in a wrapped gift and then picks a number out of the hat. Number one picks a present and unwraps it. Number two can steal from one, or pick a present. Number three can steal from one or two, and so on. I had a high number, about 5 from the end. So, I had a good selection of stuff to choose from. The best gift (in my opinion, and many others) was a $100 gift card to Victoria's Secret. I stole it from a (male) coworker, and I was GOLDEN until the last person stole it from me. Also a male coworker!! I was stuck with an Office Space gift box, which I'll be regifting, since my coworker that sits in the cubicle next to me also received one.

Afterwards we had a nice, yummy dinner at the Saddle River Inn, which is a cool converted barn. And then we started the weekend!

We also sent up to visit Molly at New Paltz Saturday night, where she made her stage managing debut at FreshDance. It was a dance recital featuring college students and local dance companies. It was really cool---all different kinds of dancers, including one of those Cirque du Soliel-type ribbon acrobats.

Ooooooh, it's wicked

Surprise! A weather related post. I was cruising around the internet this morning, and checked out the CoCoRaHS website. And LOOK, New Jersey is PENDING!!

CoCoRaHS is a non-profit org based out of Colorado State. It's a collection of weather observers across the country. I helped spread the program in Pennsylvania during my first summer at the Climate Office. I immediately emailed the national coordinator and asked him to pass my info along to the NJ Climate Office. I'm really excited! I hope I can get involved as a county coordinator.

Jonathan left me last week for Charlotte, NC and Knoxville to visit grad school friends. I was left to paint the trim in the house. Once we put up Christmas decorations (I KNOW it's much later than usual, but I want all the painting done first), I'll give a room by room tour of the house.

Other than that, the weather feels like winter here. We got 2 inches of pretty, fluffy snow yesterday. Mostly gone today after the freezing rain overnight. Today it was WINDY, my car was blowing all over the road on the ride home.

Time for Chuck! If you haven't watched it yet, catch up on old episodes on NBC. It's pretty good!

Giving Thanks

I spent Thanksgiving in Hazleton with both Jonathan's family and my mom and sister. Jonathan's family was kind enough to invite us all down for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday. I helped his mom make some of her many many Christmas cookies. Jonathan's aunt cooked at his grandma's house, so we showed up and ate lots of yummy food.

I went home with mom and Molly and saw my dad and Sierra and Scyler on Friday, and visited my grandpa in Middletown. I had a lovely visit with Sara as well. No matter how old you get, I think most conversations with your dearest female friends will involve boys and clothes.

I only spent a short time at home. My dad drove me back from PJ to NJ to see the new house. My brother helped me rake leaves and skim the fish pond, and my dad tried to fix some things around the house. Hopefully all the random broken things will be fixed soon!

When I was driving back from Middletown on Friday, I realized that I didn't even think about the true meaning of Thanksgiving on Thursday: giving thanks. In addition to boys and clothes, I think this will also be constant through my life: I give thanks to my loving and patient family, friends and boyfriend.

The requisite welcome post

Hello blog readers!

I've decided to start a blog to keep in contact with friends and family.

I had a livejournal back in the day, and I kept it mostly for amusement and to let my adolescent angst out. I still have plenty of angst, but this isn't the place for it. This is more of the "where is alexis this week" kind of thing.

I hope to show pictures of starting up my life, setting up the rental house with my boyfriend Jonathan, getting used to commuting, and work, and having my friends scattered across the country.

I appreciate comments of any kind, but I hope you'll leave your name.