The Summer Wind

This past weekend was "Family Weekend" down the Cape with Andrew's family. We've all had a crazy summer, and they are good people and always have a revolving door down there -- so it was really nice to just kick back and relax with some good friends, food and fun.

Andrew and I drove down Friday night after a pitstop at not one, but TWO Marathon Sports locations to pick up new running shoes. I was hoping to make it until early September with the pair I had but, unfortunately for my wallet, my super flat feet said otherwise. :( I'm planning to do a full review of my new sneaks soon, but since I've only run one long, 5-mile run in them, I want to give them a fair shake and need to do some more mileage before sharing my opinion with the world.

After a bright-and-early wakeup for that 5-miler, we had big plans for the day: a real, true, New England-style Clambake! We loaded up the truck with SO MUCH STUFF, then schlepped it all to a local island. One large hole, a bunch of rocks, some newspaper, seaweed, a wet tarp and 6 hours of fun in the sun later, dinner was served!

The "oven" -- SO COOL!

Cheesecloth packages full of lobster, mussels, clams, shrimp, onions, potatoes and corn.

But it wasn't a rock... it was a rock LOBSTER!

Butta melted in a tin pan over hot coals.

Because Andrew and I don't really care for lobster (it's not that we hate it, but it's "wasted on us", really, because neither of us particularly love it), his mom made us separate bags full of vegetables and the most perfectly, juicy and delicious swordfish. We also each tried a mussel and a clam drowned in butter (still just "eh" to me. I'm going to have my Boston card revoked), and then I gorged myself on shrimp -- both his mom and dad felt bad because they didn't know I LOVE shrimp, so there was none in my bag o' tricks, and they very generously shared their portions with me!

We were all STUFFED afterward, but my family has a saying that, thankfully, Andrew's clan subscribes to as well: There's ALWAYS room for ice cream dessert! After indulging in that classic campfire delicacy, the Smore, it was getting pretty late, and so , salty and satisfied, we packed up and set off into the sunset.

The food, the weather, the company, the sunset, the stillness that settled over the water in the moonlight....

Saturday was sheer perfection.

All You Need is Love!

This was just one of those mornings where I woke up, actually pretty damn overtired from a weekend of cavorting, and just smiled like an idiot. I am, in fact, still grinning:

 

I am a very lucky girl.

Truth be told, I've been having a bit of a rough time of it lately. Winter has ensnared me in its evil grip; it's cold, dark, gloomy and just overall depressing. I've been half-assing my healthy eating goals (actually, "out of control Bingemeister" might have crossed my lips as an accurate description of my eating lately). I've been eating more than my fair share of smoked gouda and not nearly enough green goodness... I literally dreamed of a Green Monster the other night. My half marathon training has been decent enough, but I've been getting bummed that I had to start running all over again, and am still at point of adding a quarter mile to my runs each week. I'm moody, irritable, irrational and totally exhausted, and if anyone dare say the three magic letters (P, M, and S), I might just haul off and sock them.

In short, of all the Charlie Browns in the world, I've been the Charlie Browniest.

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Good grief.

This morning, however, I just happened to wake up thinking of all the things I am thankful for, which brighten my day considerably and just plain make me smile:

- My brothers and sister, who have been there through thick and thin. We have a crazy family, but no one knows how to make me laugh (Or cry. Or scream. Or a lot of other things) like my sister, K, and three brothers, BB&R. You guys are my rocks. And to newcomer Baby Bro G, for being ridiculously cute and a reminder of all the possibilities life has in store for us!

[Note: One "B" is missing, but that's ok. Just imagine two of the tall, lanky dude in the middle. And BG needs permission to be featured, since he's, you know, 1.]

- My niece, Princess, and nephew, Ham. I love those two little monkeys like no one's business. I am definitely *that* Auntie, who sends them rompers declaring that all they want for Christmas is me, takes 300 photos on my camera phone, gives them a million slobbery kisses and is always aiming to make them love me more than anyone else in the world. ;)

[I need to get my brother's permission before posting pics of Ham. You know the drill.]

- A totally amazing and loving boyfriend, known to the interwebs as Blane, with whom I fall more in love each and every day. He makes waking up in the morning an adventure, despite his stinky socks.

 

- An amazing cast of friends, coworkers and family members, who have come together to make my life the adventure that it is. One day, when my memoirs hit the top of the NYT Bestseller list, I'll have all of you to thank.  From middle school misfortune to college craziness, workplace wonders to bar crawlin' buddies, you guys and gals are the family I get the gift of choosing. I love you all!

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- And last, but not least, my readers. Yes, YOU. I know that you're out there (stats don't lie!), and I just wanted to say that I am grateful for you. You guys rock!

Valentine's Day is about love, both romantic and neighborly. So even if you're not feeling the whole "Hallmark/candy/flowers/pukefest" that it's been made out to be, stop sitting on your sad sack and get out there and make someone else's day better -- your family, your neighbor, hell, even your mailman -- and give them a nice, big grin and a "Happy Valentine's Day."

(Side note: I'm so sick of people bitching and moaning about Valentine's Day. Seriously, people, it's one day about love and friendship, not some catastrophic apocalypse. If you are bitter enough to loathe a day dedicated to all the happy interpersonal relationships in the world, then I truly feel sorry for you and wish you all the happiness in the world. Now go forth and spread the love.)