In 2010 I ... was surprised!

I hate surprises. If I know about a surprise, like when someone says "I have a surprise for you," I do everything in my power to figure it out in advance. Maybe (probably) it's a control thing. Surprises just makes me downright nervous.

So I was doubly surprised when Morgan and Jennie planned a surprise dinner party for me (surprise 1) and that I really, truly enjoyed the surprise (2!). J invited me to a seemingly casual dinner to include M & Eli, and I had been looking forward to the low-key evening for days. M harassed me about cooking ideas (I crave, he cooks) until I suggested Italian, specifically gnocchi. (I know, I know ... no easy task.)

Late as usual, I almost fell over entering J & E's house to see Alex, Beth and Eric shouting "Surprise!" I was seriously confused for a solid minute as to who the surprise was for. Ha. While I didn't have a camera on me, I hope a few shots from others (before a smattering of Violet's carrots ended up all over my shirt) surface soon. And I can't speak for all, but I grossly over-indulged in M's delicious antipasto, A's scrumptious salad, J & E's incredible manicotti (recipe, please!), M's handmade gnocchi, and B & E's awesome cookies. But, the pièces de résistance was undoubtedly my gift:

So, so delicious.

Thank you doesn't even begin to cover it, as so much more than thanks is due to a group who could ease my mind about the impending birthday. But in lieu of a better sentiment, thank you so very, very much.

In 2010 I ... met Lucia Mae

Yep. Another baby. Hard to fathom, but true! And Lucia Mae is a total cutie. (Embarrassingly, she already has more hair than I've been able to drum up in nearly 27 years.)

I showed up at Emily & Erik's house, paparazzi-style, last week to meet Miss L and shoot these:







Aren't those yawns adorable? If only I looked that cute when yawning after 5 or less hours of sleep ...

In 2010 I ... road tripped, cabin style.

There's something about a road trip with friends you've never road tripped with before. The excitement of getting out of town builds, you cram into the car and hurry up to go do nothing. What's not to like? So that's exactly what Jennie, Eli, Alex, Morgan and I did to join a huge gang that progressively gathered throughout the past weekend in Alexandria for Jake's 30th birthday celebration. We did in fact do a whole lot of nothing. Observe:

Thanks for taking pics, Senor Kamin

While we weren't doing that, the group was swimming, warming up in the homemade sauna, playing badminton and kubb, drinking keg beer, playing card/dice games, and lounging by the bonfire.

Me, Patty & Megan taking care of some serious gossip bench business

In typical cabin style, the weather was mildly crappy on Saturday and stunningly beautiful for the drive home on Sunday. But that didn't stop us from having a fantastic nothing-filled weekend I'm already prepared to repeat anytime.

In 2010 I ... saw Mates of State (& Free Energy)

I love Mates of State. There's something about a husband-wife duo that travel on a tour bus with their kids and nanny (who works the merch table) that just makes me ... well, jealous.

Hayley, Jess, Roxie, Tom and I met up with a posse of showing-going friends at Acadia for delicious beverages (blackberry porter, yum!) before the Mates show at the 400 Bar.

Mates in action

Opening was Free Energy, who I'd not yet seen live and really enjoyed. (Bands that smile make me smile. I can't help it.)

And this is a perfect summer tune, one I have a feeling I'll be listening to often with the windows down in the Mini.

While it was sweatier than I'd ever prefer, it's the price that must be paid for great shows at small bars. Not the first, and certainly not the last.