I miss you all very much. After having coffee with a couple of you over Christmas, I realized that it has been way too long since we connected. We must revive this blog. This is my contribution.
FYI I do still monitor post updates from this blog, as it is one of the blogs I follow in my Feedly app. I would highly recommend said app for such an activity.
Without further ado, here are monthly highlights from my 2014.
January
Polar vortex. Enough said.
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| State employees must still go to work, even when the wind chill is like -50 and the governor closes schools statewide. |
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| This was early January. By winter's end, some of the piles were taller than me. |
February
Not a whole lot happened in February. Basically polar vortex again. This was a pretty rough month for me. The weather really got me down. I quit caffeine for awhile to lessen my anxiety and started borrowing my coworker's happy light box.
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| The annual Art Shanty Festival on White Bear Lake. One of the shanties was a curling shanty. |
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| Toward the end of February. |
March
Hope.
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| Self-explanatory. Minnesotans don't do much in the winter months, if you can't tell. |
April
My boss retired on April 1st, I got some new responsibilities at work, so I started to like my job more.
Also, I visited my college friend Christine who had recently moved to the Bay Area. Basically, if I can ever afford to move there, I will.
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| Lake Merritt, near where Christine lives in Oakland. |
May
Sean walked in his graduation. My parents came to visit for Mother's Day and my birthday, and I attended my first Indianapolis 500.
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| Mississippi spring melt waters at St. Anthony Falls, downtown Minneapolis. |
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| Tiptoes. Always. |
June
Lots of rain, but some sunshine too. World Cup, a new lightrail line, and the annual St. Joseph Worker alum night during the closing retreat.
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| The Green Line |
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| Solstice celebration |
July
Summer living is the best.
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| Milk carton float races at the annual Aquatennial Festival. |
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| My soon-to-be sister-in-law Morgan's bridal shower with my family. |
August
So many August highlights. Ireland (which I hope to make a post in itself), Christine's visit, Sean's birthday, Sean actually defending his dissertation and officially graduating, a quick trip to Chicago to surprise my mother-in-law for her 60th birthday, and running my first half marathon.
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| Highest point on Valentia Island, County Kerry |
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| Canoeing on the Cannon River for Sean's birthday. |
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| We didn't see any basketball, but we did see Tom Petty. |
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| Elated and exhausted. Bucket list item checked off. |
September
My first business trip to give a presentation at the North Dakota Department of Health's HIV/STD/TB/Hepatitis Symposium took me to Bismarck. Also took a trip to Cincinnati for the wedding of some dear college friends.
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| Downtown Bismarck is pretty sleepy. I'm pretty sure I found the best restaurant there though. Thanks Yelp! |
October
The most perfect fall in the Twin Cities. It doesn't get better than this. So many bike rides and fall foliage.
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| Playground near Lake Hiawatha |
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| Lake Hiawatha |
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| My sweet Target bike on the Minnehaha parkway trail. |
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| Lunchtime walk through the Minnesota Capitol grounds. |
November
I gained a new sister. Matt and Morgan were married on November 15th in Nashville where they currently live.
Also, I went on my second business trip to give a presentation at Mayo Clinic's TB Intensive course.
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| The Earnest Family |
December
December has flown by in a flurry of holiday parties and preparations, work deadlines, and a wonderful but short week in Indiana.
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| Ice skating at Headwaters Park |
Overall 2014 was very good to me. Here's to an even better 2015! What have you been up to this year?
Love always,
Alicia
Sounds like you had a GREAT year, Alicia! Thanks for the update - I miss your face. I agree that we should revive this blog. I've been curious how everyone has been doing!
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