Angela Reads::Recent Reads

In between, during or after re-reading Eclipse and Breaking Dawn, I read/listen to these books.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks - Oprah told me to read this book. So I did. Incredible. I can't stop thinking about it. The NY Times wrote a great review. Given that I work (will have worked) in a research environment the book was very compelling.

Committed - I loved loved Eat, Pray, Love. I told every women that they must read it. With Committed I would say people should read this if they really want to take a sobering look at the concept of marriage. I personally enjoyed the book and liked the mix of personnel chitchat, coupled with areas of research.

Note: I actually listened to this on CD as read by Elizabeth Gilbert and loved her voice.

This is Where I Leave You - This book is full of family dysfunction and written like a screenplay. I could easily visualize the characters and scenery. Am a fan of Tropper’s quirky style - may not be for everyone.

Random iPhone Photos

SF Marathon

Sunday morning Annmarie and I went out to cheer on the runners and more importantly Bonnie. The race runs right by our place.

AM was very excited. Wanted to run with them. Also, I think she thought she was going to see Dad. A couple times she said 'Daddy's shirt'. I mean they all looked like Jamie's running shirts.
Maurino also joined us. And here is Bonnie looking awesome. Not sure how anyone could pull off a smile like that at mile 23.4! Annmarie got a little upset that Bonnie took off so quickly, but that is how it goes with running.
Bonnie made her goal time and I think even wants to do another one. Silly runners.

For Jamie

Because he is here.

This sound clip is for him. Picture is unrelated.

Eclipse Extravaganza

**WARNING! Incredibly long Twilight Post**

I don’t know what to say, other than I guess I’m going to say it……and I’m going to say a lot.

The party. The movie. ROCKED!

I felt a little pressure going into this party and that it wouldn't live up to the New Moon Party. But it did. It was great. I’m thinking as long as Edward is there watching over you, it makes for a good party. And good friends, friends that like having fun and don’t take themselves too seriously. Because really, we're talking vampires here.
The details.

Guests received a little card in the mail that could be used as bookmark to get them excited for the party. I think it’s a good contrast to add to the refrigerator where most people have baby announcements and kid art.

I was fortunate enough to have Susie and Vanessa come over Saturday morning to help with the prep work. Thank you girls.

The menu for the party was loosely based on a ‘camp’ type theme inspired by the Tent/Camping Scene. We had artichoke dip, fruit kabobs, egg salad bites (thanks Ashley), prosciutto wrapped melon, potato salad (thanks Lauren), chili beans, and s’more cupcakes. There was also plenty of wine. Pretty much an all vegetarian menu. I took zero pictures of the food, with the exception of the cupcakes, because those are what really matter.

I didn’t even get a picture of final cupcakes topped with a warm melted ganache. Oh my. Make these cupcakes – recipe here.
The place was decorated with Twilight inspired themes and quotes that I found here.
The little trees were given out as favors to ‘green up’ the party and are inspired by the story.
Oh hello me! Now this is a fairly decent and respectable picture. Take note, because after this picture all madness ensues. At least there is one.
Not five minutes later Vanessa captured this photo – Angela, the vampire wine bottle opener. Who knew I was so dramatic when opening a bottle of vino.
My awesome party guests and more importantly great friends.
After enjoying some food, drink, and deep Edward talk we gathered for a fierce game of Twilight Pictionary.
Vangie below probably had the hardest clue – Wuthering Heights.
Intense I say. See Ashley there in the middle with her fist clenched. Well, she just happens to be a total rock star. She is the one who created the ever so popular petition to make Breaking Dawn rated R. The petition has been circulating all over Facebook and blogs. We all felt privileged to have her at the party.
Michele probably got the second hardest clue – Mortal.
The game went into a speed round and the team that won received small Edward Sparkling Wines and the losing team got Jacob Hot Tamales.
The laughs were good.
And what would a party be without a recreation of The Meadow? Well, it would be......um, er, let's just say it wouldn't be a party.
I’m telling you - madness. And I will spare the rest of my guests the meadow scene pictures. You know, in case they ever want to work again.

Why you ask am I standing on the sofa? Well, to get good pictures of course. Why am I posting it? I want to remember all the good fun that was had. This picture says fun. And in twelve years when my daughter wants to go to the whoever the next Justin Bieber is concert; all she’ll have to say is ‘but Mom, you wore skinny jeans - skinny jeans to your party - a Eclipse party’. Ok, you win. And I’ll remember what it’s like to have good silly fun. On second thought maybe I should take the picture down.

Group shots.
I love how Ashley is holding Edward’s hand. She is a good Southern girl.
(And yes this post still has a ways to go)

We saw the movie at the Kabuki Theater. Which may possibly be the best place ever to see a movie.

Drinks and Edward - need I say more.V and I. She told me she liked holding the tree because it made her feel like Bella in the first movie holding her cactus.
Hello Edward. Let’s hope I don’t get thrown in jail for any copyright violations. And thanks Susie for the brilliant idea.
After the movie we headed to the Wine Jar to celebrate some more and discuss the movie.
Love this pic of Vanessa – I’m thinking new profile picture.
Michele and Lauren. Right around this time I took Lauren’s hand and asked her what if I don’t meet any friends in Australia that like Twilight. She kindly assured me I would, but that I should probably take it slow. Got it, thanks Lauren. Man, I’m going to miss these girls.
And now we come to the end. I hope you enjoyed yourself.

Cheers! To an amazing evening! Oh wait – one more.

Really. The End.

The Weekend

Sunglasses. Check.
Purse. Check.
Digger. Check.
BIG girl underwear. Check.

It's been an intense weekend, but we got through it and made some great progress.

Thoughts on Moving Half Way Around the World

"People tend to think that happiness is a stroke of luck, something that will descend like fine weather if you're fortunate. But happiness is the result of personal effort. You fight for it, strive for it, insist upon it, and sometimes even travel around the world looking for it. You have to participate relentlessly."

—Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

I suppose this would be as good of a time as any to write out some of my thoughts about moving. Moving half way around the world is something I’m going to assume may never happen again. I think it’s worth documenting.

People keep telling me I appear to be so cool with the move and for the most part I am. I have had a few panic attacks, but those have been more along the lines of; what if I don’t meet any friends that like Twilight? The mechanics of the move are all slowing coming together. Annmarie has a passport and we all have our Visas. And thanks Australia for the work permit, but hopefully I won’t need that. We’ve met with the moving company and they are doing all the work as far as that goes. Dude, they even pack our dishes. Met with the property management company and they’ll be helping us rent our place. We’ve been cleaning closets and purging stuff that we should have gotten rid of a long time ago. We’re getting our banking in order, maybe selling a car early and try living with one for awhile. So you see all of that stuff is working it’s self out and I’m trying to be as zen as I can about it all.

This is the harder stuff.
Annmarie’s first break-up - This is going to be hard. I couldn’t have imaged a better arrangement for Annmarie than her getting to spend her days (when I’m at work) with Colin and our incredible Nanny. AM and Colin adore each other. They may often have fierce arguments over the train track and food envy, but they insist on holding hands when they walk outside and will often resolve matters by hugging it out. And while I know Annmarie will get over the break-up, my chest cannot help but ache when I think about what I’m going to say to her when we say good-bye to Colin. Then will come the subsequent days when she keeps asking to go to Colin’s house. Ug. It’s almost too much.

Friends and Family – It goes without saying that we are going to greatly miss our friends and family. A new appreciation for family overwhelmed me when I had a child and their help and support has been incredible. It will be hard being so far away, it’s just that simple. But webcams are being installed and visits will happen. We are excited for the opportunity to meet new people and I’m working on my Mom pick-up lines and holding out that friends will visit too!
Leaving San Francisco – I love San Francisco! And I’ll say it again I LOVE San Francisco. I am going to dearly miss this city by the bay. What originally started out as “let’s live in the city of a couple of years” has turned into a eight plus year home. Jamie often mocks my San Francisco experience because I have always enjoyed the luxury of parking. I get the spot at home and for a mere $12 a month I get to park at work. This is really un-thinkable. I’ve never dealt with the daily ciaos of public transportation, other than the occasional times I’ve taken it for social reasons. I’ll miss the obvious picturesque scenery, the countless number of fantastic restaurants, the close proximity to nearby getaway places, and yes, I will even miss the fog. The list is long of all the little things I’m going to miss. I often forget the uniqueness of S.F., and while I only grew up an hour outside of this city, the two are a like night and day. There are not many places in this country where you can experience so much diversity in a city the stretches only seven miles. I’m feeling more nostalgic about this place because odds are when we do come back to California it will not be back to S.F. We knew this move was coming and we would be uprooting our urban living for the burbs, but it still saddens me. I’ll always feel a connection with this city. There is magic in this city.
Staying Home – Not working. Not collecting a paycheck. Whatever you want to call it, I’ll be spending the majority of my time caring for Annmarie, and I guess Jamie too. I’m ecstatic about this opportunity. I couldn’t be more excited for this, but I know it’s going to be different. This will be an adjustment for me and our family, not only financially, but in other ways too. I always hear that line “the days are long, but the years short” and I think how fast these two and half years have gone by with AM. I’m so grateful that I will have this time in Australia with her. I’m keeping my figures crossed that we don’t drive each other too crazy and the resulted therapy is minimal. I kid. I kid.

At the end of the day or should I years – we’ll be back! This isn’t a permanent move. However given the U.S. economy and the state of our government a foreign land often feels quite appealing. Ok, I’ll stop with the kidding. We’ll be back in no time. We feel so fortunate to have this opportunity. To us it would be crazy not take it and try it out. It’s something we have always dreamed about.

These years in a different land will provide us with a lifetime of memories. And most likely the most tortuous plane ride ever.

-Angela

Better than Christmas

There was a party on Saturday!

Can you guess what for?
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Here’s a hint. It's in the shirt.

(Annmarie enjoying cupcake batter)

Eclipse Party!
Waiting for friends to upload and send pictures to do a full post.
It was Epic.
Too much fun.

When Jamie asked me Sunday morning how everything went, I told him it was “better than Christmas.” He always uses that line about the football draft. If he only knew.

Recipe :: Olive Oil Granola

Not your hippy dippy granola. Great with plain yogurt or just as a snack. And does not have all that icky stuff that store bought granola has. I know I know the maple syrup is all sugar, but it's goood. Very easy to adapt to your liking and can easily be turned into bars.

Adapted from, The New York Times.

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 1/2 cups raw nuts (I used walnuts. Almonds and cashews would be good too)
1 cup raw pumpkin seeds, hulled
1 cup shredded coconut
3/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. In a large bowl, combine oats, pistachios, pumpkin seeds, coconut chips, maple syrup, olive oil, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and cardamom. Spread mixture on a rimmed baking sheet in an even layer and bake for 45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until golden brown and well toasted.

2. Transfer granola to a large bowl.

Happy 4th

Uncle Jon's house on the 4th.
Annmarie with her new pool. Missed out on getting pictures of her when she was actually in it and of all the great food.
Annmarie lovin on Wally.

More fun on Monday with friends and their "big" pool.

Annmarie had on a permanent smile the entire time she was in the pool with Dad.
A happy 4th.