walking in a winter wonderland.

Readers, I have to admit that I did something more exciting than organize files in my Dad's storage unit while wearing sweatpants and a baseball cap. I was taken on a surprise trip to... NYC!

NYC, also known as New York City, is one of my favorite places and has been rather magical to me. When I was younger I wanted to go to NYU and live there and basically be Carrie Bradshaw from Sex in the City with slightly less drama (but the same amount of shoes). I loved the fashion, the neighborhoods, the sleeplessness (so not a word) of it all. There is this permanent energy radiating in that city that you don't find in the district. I guess I should explained how I ended up there last Saturday.

A while back, a Ms. Kerri Falkenham (my boyfriend's sister) asked me to come to her birthday party. I said "of course" and hoped it would bring out my youthful side. A sleepover with a bunch of 17 year olds... I am so in. When December 7th (her bday) approached, she explained that it was doubling as my christmas present, and that I would need an overnight bag that included fancy clothes. Ok, what?! I don't like surprises and I do not trust Kerri and Lisa (mom) when it comes to gift-giving. Let's just put it this way, they are super generous and they remind me of my mom and myself when I was in high, some weird adult-child combo involving double trouble.

Well, I went along with it, although I will admit to badgering my boyfriend to death even though he insisted he knew nothing. We were planning to "leave" at 8:30am on Saturday morning so I stayed over the night before and tried to fall asleep. Right on time, we piled into the car with Craig (dad) driving. Yes, I was totally confused. Then we took this strange route leaving NH cutting west across Mass. I was making feeble attempts at guessing and then a little light bulb came on. When I drove to meet my college roommmates for the first time, I took a route that led me out towards sturbridge and then cut down to Connecticut. Of course there is nothing in Conn (sorry to readers from the area) so we must be going to...

Then commenced my guessing, which I assumed was annoying. So at 10:30 they handed me a presend and I unwrapped it to find... a ticket to Promises, Promises! This is a broadway show starring Kristen Chenoweth and Sean Hayes. OMG. If I wasn't in the car I probably would have been jumping up and down and hugging random strangers. Instead, I hugged Kerri which was slightly more normal. Finally, after two more hours in the car, we were on the outskirts of the city. Except we were taking a very strange route. Now, I have been back and forth to NYC a fair amount of times and I never went this way.

My comments included:
"Wow, this is a strange way to go into the city"
"I guess this is a different way than I usually come"

As we were pulling into La Guardia Airport
"Oh, did we make a wrong turn?"
"Are we picking up someone!?"

No one would reply to me! Meanwhile I am thinking, these people are going to kill me with all my questions. Also, who are we picking up? Yes, reader, I am sure you are a little quicker than me and you guessed it. They flew Matthew (the bf) in from DC for the weekend. Ok, this is officially the best gift ever that my parents should never try to top. So know I am totally confused, amazed or something and we arrived at the hotel. We were staying at the Hilton for the night, right by times square.

Now, I won't get you all jealous going into detail about how I saw a hilarious Broadway show, walked aroudn Times Square, marveled at the Christmas tree at Rockafeller center and walked down 5th ave to see all the store down up. This trip also included four great meals, including Burger Heaven, yes I do reccommend. It was such a great weekend and I can't even begin to thank them for such a good time.

I am back to my sweatpants, no make up and baseball cap after a week of glamour. I need to go back to school.

XO

the swim lesson.

Sometime around 6 p.m. last Wednesday night, I decided it would be a good idea to accompany my family to the pool. By family, I mean my step-mom Theresa, and my siblings Ryan, John and Alexis. Now currently the little munchkins are on the Westwood town swim team. However, none of them know how to dive. This presents an issue considering swim instructors and score keepers and judges are all bitches and will disqualify my nine year old sister for diving in like a seal on drugs.

It actually is kind of sad because it really slows them down compared to the other kids. So Theresa hired a kid to teach them to dive, paid him 20 bucks and told him we would be at the town pool at 7:00 pm for open swim.

Considering I have no life (yes, why aren't I blogging more), I decided to join them. Yes, I wasn't thinking I would have to wear a swimsuit, in PUBLIC. I reverted back to my typical attitude when it comes to the Dedham-Westwood-West Roxbury area: Nobody knows me here. If this was Hingham, you would not be seeing my bare body running around the town pool, if we had one. Still, I have some dignity. I rifled through my drawers for a respectable suit, only coming up with the teeny bikinis that I had ordered BEFORE I left for Europe. Smooth one, Camille.

Then I went into Theresa's drawers, where I discovered several halter top one pieces, not the best for all the lap swimming I was going to do (what a joke). I settled on one of those athletic bra sport top thingys and a pair of black bottoms that sort of covered my butt. I put on my sweatpants and we headed to the pool.

The police force (women running this open swim event) made us sign in, pay and shower. Then they lectured us on paying for lessons (that's illegal) and using the diving boards (ok, but no shenanigans) and just general pool crap. All this time, I'm thinking lady, I know I look like I'm caught somewhere between the 80s and the gym, I know how to swim in the pool. I miss the old days at the Hanover YMCA, where you could walk in with ten kids and two pool tags and overrun the place. Did I mention they had the best grilled cheese sandwiches and slushies? I was under a 100 pounds and in colorful one pieces back then.

You may ask, Camille, where is this going? Yeah I don't really know. I'm thinking it was one of those had to be there moments as Lexi and Johnny flung themselves into the water for over an hour. I was amused to say the least.

Basically, since I returned from Europe, I realize that my perhaps my life isn't as exciting to read about.

Wait for these:
I've been duped: NYC for the Weekend.
Six in the Shipyard

XO