Fun and Friends

This past month has been very busy for me for a variety of reasons including work and travel, but mostly because of fun and friends:

• I joined a great group of Cancan dancers and performed at a festival in Milwaukee after only three lessons,
• I competed in the North American National Champtionships with my wonderful team in Nashville and we took second place, and
• The Dayton Celtic Festival is this weekend - what a great way to celebrate my birthday!

The two most exciting bits of upcoming fun and friends events happen today and next month, respectively:

• I am getting together with one of my roommates from Prague, Alice, this afternoon before she moves to California for grad school, and
• My best friend, Amber, is coming to town next month (she lives in Minnesota - at least a 10 hour drive)!

I can't wait to see these lovely ladies! It will be so nice to catch up with them!

My first new car

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Originally uploaded by elizabethw

I feel so grown up!

Sounds of Summer

I am watching So You Think You Can Dance, listening to the chirp of crickets and the rustle of wind through the trees.

These are the reasons I love summer.

BVI

Virgin Gorda - Yacht Harbor 012
Originally uploaded by elizabethw

Last month I took a trip with 12 wonderful ladies to the British Virgin Islands. We spent a week on Virgin Gorda in a beautiful villa. It was a great trip - sun, sand, swimming, and lots of island drinks. We're already planning our return trip in two years. I can't wait!

Belated St. Patrick's Day wishes

From the Celtic Academy Adult group, here's hoping your St. Patrick's Day celebration was a good one. Ours was!

Sunset

Sunset
Originally uploaded by sashton

I've been absent from my blog for a long time. Part of it is due to getting caught up in facebook, part of it is busy-ness, and part of it is out of town-ness. I will post photos from my trip to Ireland soon - probably after the craziness that is St. Patrick's Day.

I will be taking another trip in 47 days to the British Virigin Islands. I cannot wait (as indicated by my precise countdown)! I have been browsing Flickr for photos other people have taken, and I found this gorgeous sunset. This was taken in January this year. If it was so beautiful then, I can't imagine what it will be like in April.

I'm so excited!

Ouchless Giving

As 2008 rolls to a close, I've been thinking about what I've done for myself and what I've done for others. I think this year I have donated to charities more than I have done before (which isn't saying much), but giving money isn't the only way to help out, especially if you're experience hard times economically. The Ideal Bite had a great tip on being charitable without giving money. Options include Free Rice (now with options other than vocab) among other charitable organizations. If you've got a couple of free minutes, take a look at the list and click away!

Wassail

Tomorrow is my dad's birthday. As I am the only child living close to my parents now (my sister and brother are in Uni in various cities), I will have the privilege of attending a Madrigal dinner with my parents tonight as part of his birthday gift.

I'm not really sure what a Madrigal dinner entails. (although with my minimal googling skills, I did find the website) We have to be there at 7 tonight for a Wassail Reception. I'm not quite sure what wassail is, even though I know the carol "Here we are a wassailing". I guess I'll be learning some new things tonight!

Vanoce

Though I'm happy to be home in the states a year and a half after leaving Prague, I miss living in Europe for a variety of reasons:


I miss Christmas markets with gift and food vendors and Svařak and Glühwein.


Old Town Square in Prague


Dresden Christmas Market


I miss good friends and times of celebration.




I even miss the Christmas carp (Kapri) vendors. A tiny bit.






I'm super excited to visit Prague and my good friends in February.

Mid-America Oireachtas 2008

Oireachtas 08 007
Originally uploaded by elizabethw

You're looking at the 2008 Mid-America Regional Champions in the adult ceili competition! We worked hard for this, and it finally paid off :)