15,000 Words

I should have waited until I had an even 12 months of blog absence under my belt before resurrecting this page, but I suppose I should at least comment on how quickly my 25^th birthday blog-writing goal fizzled.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then here are 15,000 words to describe the past 10 months:

5,000 Words on Winter

President Obama's 2nd Inauguration, and the best lip-syncing you've ever heard from Beyonce. 

The Two-week Challenge. No, it’s not a couch-to-5k regime, it’s a dating challenge. While things didn't work out between the two of us, I do think we twenty-and-thirty-somethings can learn a thing or two from this type of no-nonsense (or utter nonsense, as you will) dating. 

Traded Winter blues for Jamaican turquoise, and was sorely disappointed to see not one bobsled the whole trip.

 Joined a Fantasy Bachelor League (no, but really). I probably watched 3 episodes total, but at least I got this slick award.

Experienced the joys of mediocre East-coast skiing in Maryland and New Hampshire.

5,000 Words on Spring

My most favorite parents, Swervin’ Mervyn and his cuddly panda wife, came to visit DC! Kimono exhibit during the Cherry Blossom Festival with my little lady.

 And speaking of cherry blossoms, they were neat.

Hoop earrings the size of hubcaps? It must be time for NASCAR Richmond!

Camped out 12 hours for Saturday Night Live with Zach Galifianakis. Zach, don’t say I never did nothing for you.

A travesty occurred just this week in Queens: they whitewashed 5Pointz - the mecca of American graffiti - and will tear it down before the new year. Luckily we got to see it before all this priceless street art is rubble.

5,000 Words on Summer

Had my first Duck Beach experience. And if “Mormon Spring Break” sounds like building sandcastles for hours and playing Mafia to you, then you’re about right.

It’s perfectly acceptable to ride around DC in a stretch excursion in animal prints when your girl turns 30.

Why don’t people staycation more often? My roommate and I blew bubbles in our milk while spying on the White House from our room.  And everything about that is okay.

Took a surprise trip to visit the family in Houston and bored the kiddos out of their minds at their first opera.

If you haven’t eaten a blueberry pie while watching the sunset at Cape Neddick, ME, something is missing from your life. God bless America (and particularly those itty bitty New England states). 

Oh mercy, I can't keep this to 5 pictures. Just one more.

Sister trip to NYC! Cute Court left her husband and kiddos in cold Canada to do all things Swan girls love: a tea party, a Pentatonix concert (we were the oldest ones there by about 10 years), window-shopping at Tiffany & Co., and of course, an homage to our man John (above).

'Tis the Season

 

'Tis the season for decking the halls,

 

the city,

 

and the gravestones, too.
 

Arlington Cemetery

'Tis the season for finding true love . . .

 

Caught my roommate and her brand-new fiance smooching in the balconies at the National Cathedral's Messiah performance.

. . . Or being alone forever.
 

 
Tis the season for magical performances . . .
 

The opening number of Elf The Musical is "I'm happy all the time." How could the show NOT be good?

 

Peter and the Starcatcher didn't win 5 Tony Awards for nothing

 
. . . and Christmas parties with 2,000 accountants.
 

 

'Tis the season for puckering up . . .
 


Well I can't say I'm surprised to see you waiting under the mistletoe. Our house's 2nd annual ugly sweater party. 

Domineau's kiss (left) and mine (right). I need some pointers

. . . and rocking out.

Ashley's rock 'n roll birthday bash

'Tis the season for this country,
 

 

and these children,

Look, they can almost see over the board!



Never mind all the toys and candy, Daphne just kept hugging her Christmas orange



 

World's next T-Swift

Sleepovers with Bieber

 

and subsequently these sicknesses,
 

Every time I go to Canada WITHOUT FAIL I come back with some sticky kid's germs. This year's model: sinus infection, pink eye, and strep throat. Thanks to my brave friends for visiting me and taking every needed precaution.

and a lot of watching this:
 

The humans are dead (or at least this human feels like she is almost there)

And best of all, 'tis the season for welcoming some newcomers to the Swan clan!
 

Little Rosemary and Evangeline, born two weeks apart!

 

 

 

Fa la la la la la la la la.

Miss Swan Goes to Iceland: Part II

When you visit a place as magical as Iceland, you can't help but build up some expectations in your imagination. Did Iceland exceed everything I dreamed it to be? You be the judge.

Who I thought I’d meet:

 

Elves, elves, and more elves

Who I actually met:

Dear Raol, the crepe man who likes to party.

 

Jensen wouldn't stop talking about his new friend Rafi, who gave him a panini one night when he went out alone. We all thought Jensen was off his rocker, until one day who should show up in the city square but Rafi, the panini saint! Jensen was never happier.

 

What I thought I’d eat:

 

 

What I actually ate:



Ok, so we didn't really eat sheep's head soup. But we did eat fermented shark, whale, and reindeer

 

What I thought Eyjafjallajokull would look like:

What Eyjafjallajökull actually looked like:

 

 

What I thought we’d do for fun:

 

Chess, anyone? Apparently Bobby Fischer is the first honorary Icelandic citizen and lived here until his death in 2008.

 

What we actually did for fun:

 

"Don't you think that black-tie party downstairs could really use some jungle animals?"



Initially, people were taken aback by the monkey, zebra, cheetah, and fox who crashed their party...

But pretty soon, they embraced their animal spirit and joined us.



...they even let us up on the stage!

Party animals all tuckered out. Dancing in flanel is steamy.

What I thought we'd wear:

 
What we actually wore:

Rufio! Rufio! Ru - Fi - OHHHHHHHH!

 

The dogs I thought I’d meet:

 

 

 The dog I actually met:

Basically the same thing.

 

What I thought I’d see in the sky:

 

 

 What we actually saw in the sky:

And what we thought about that:  

 

I don't know about you, but sans the northern lights downer, I'd say the magic of Iceland was beyond my wildest dreams, elves or no elves!