Some of my loves

FAMILY

w/ mom and sis at John and Inara's

dad and sis
mom and me
Dad the "Obamaniac" in front of our front door :)

Wine.... Vanessa: "I gave up sobriety for Lent. Let's drink to that!"

FRIENDS!!!

On Tuesday, I drove up to Baltimore to see Nicole! I got "iced" in and she graciously hosted me for the night-- it was so fun to catch up! She showed me awesome pics of S. Africa and this huge giraffe, "Jeffrey" (sorry I didn't take a pic!) that she managed to bring back (in one piece!), as well as her lovely engagement ring.

She will probably be mad I posted this first pic (we went through our own mini photo-shoot at her apt!), but I think it's cute!

Engaged with a wedding in June!!! Congrats, Nicole and Bay.
We had wonderful crab cakes at Mo's, a downtown Baltimore seafood place.

I've gotten a chance to catch up with some other "home" friends- Jesse and his kids (sorry, no pics), as well as Jordan, Beth, Anna, and Susan, friends from HS.

Yesterday, we passed a few fun hours at Lee's, a dive karaoke bar in Arlington. Believe it or not, I went up there-- solo at times! Perhaps now I have the nerve to get up to go karaoke-ing in CA, where it seems very popular...

Anna, Susan, and me... posing...

...and in action!!

DODGIES!!!!

I would have been going through major doggie (aka "dodgie") withdrawal (from Scrubs) if I didn't have my parents' own two little Cairns to play with.

Freya on her window perch

Duncan, on his couch perch
Do you think these dodgies are spoiled?? But look at these puppy eyes!!

RIPE FRUIT!!!!

These are some gifts Nicole saved for me on my visit, which was really sweet of her :)

VACATION

It's been a great visit "home," getting to see many of the people I love! I actually head back to California tonight, but get to enjoy a few more days of vacation (we actually get a HOLIDAY [Presidents' Day] off! Block time doesn't start until Tues.!). It's great to be excited to go back to my other "home," which is about 20 degrees warmer than it is here, and to look fwd to some more exploring (may be taking a day trip or two with Amy this weekend, perhaps to Monterey or the coast. We'll see.) and relaxing. And to see a sweet, sweet person who has offered to pick me up at 1:30 a.m. from the airport! Here's to Valentine's Day (which, this year, for some very strange reason, I am not so bitterly and vehemently against celebrating...) :)