one-way mirrors

Coming home always ends up being a time for reflection.

This time around, the big realization that hit me in the face is we are growing up. This Christmas it was just me, Mom, and Dad. With significant others strongly in the picture, it's never going to just be the five of us again; I have to share my siblings with other families. It depressed me for a little. But I've gotten over that. I'd still be depressed if I didn't like these pending additions to the family, but it's quite the contrary. They are absolutely wonderful.

Doing a quick recap in my head, this year presented significant challenges, introduced exciting opportunities, and resulted in a lot of evolution. Looking ahead, 2011 promises to continue this trend. Here's to the fruits and pains!

I'll be back in Boston in a few hours with some good company. I'm totally impressed with my packing skills and cannot wait to keep working on the apartment. Taking two weeks off was the greatest idea ever.

too busy chasing sheep

What Google thinks of me, courtesy of googlism.com

amelia is a single mexican woman from hermosillo
amelia is trendy
amelia is cool
amelia is awesome
amelia is annoying and so are all the l/z shrines
amelia is the second most popular pair when you are pairing up
amelia is open 7 days a week
amelia is probably the most controversial of all the good guys in slayers
amelia is often tagged with such undesirable names
amelia is a total freak when it comes to her father philionel
amelia is always cause for celebration
amelia is not writing and teaching workshops in animal communication
amelia is a very beautiful maine coon
amelia is president of faces
amelia is a friendly little tail
amelia is in love with him
amelia is down in a position remote from travel by ships
amelia is out looking for a better life
amelia is very fuzzy
amelia is enchanting
amelia is actually two places in one
amelia is now a much sought after child model and has appeared in numerous commercials including panadol
amelia is an innocent looking girl
amelia is seven when the book opens in 1969 at the very start of the present troubles
amelia is full of adventure
amelia is a 36 foot rival
amelia is prince teran
amelia is a champion of justice
amelia is on a stagecoach deep in the arizona territory in april of 1879
amelia is too busy chasing sheep
amelia is too possessive to send georgy to school
amelia is a princess
amelia is in the garden of the grimaldi palace
amelia is horrified
amelia is the only girl in all of nasel
amelia is streaking it from mexico

saint nick

Merry Christmas, world.

It's been a while. I guess I could say "things have been crazy busy", which would be true but that's not the reason I haven't written. It's really because I feel like I don't have any good photos! Maybe it's time I invest in a new camera, and channel that asian in me (i.e., start snapping some photos already!)
I still owe a post from Thanksgiving, but now that the next holiday is upon us I figure I'll delay more and just think about Christmas.

It's a little unusual this year - just me and the parents. We drove down from Boston today and will be spending tomorrow / Christmas just the three of us. I suppose this is what happens as us kids get older and start having our own lives.
Part of me feels sad to not celebrate Christmas as usual this year. But it's also never been a huge holiday for us; really it's just been a time to come home and be with family. And that's just what I'm doing. There will be lots of cooking and feasting. And while there may not be a huge thing with piles of gifts and Santa Claus, I think it will be pretty great.

Plus, my parents already gave the invaluable gift of visiting and helping decorate! The apartment is still not photo-ready, but here are some new (or planned) additions:

(some assortment of west elm, ikea, pottery barn, cb2, etc...)

warszawa

Warsaw Photodiary, Part II:

(24 hours of warszawa)

Saying goodbye to Warsaw was bittersweet. It would have been ideal to extend my stay to truly explore the place... the museums, the parks (although summertime would have been ideal in this case), all the history and culture - Chopin, Cracow. Regardless it was a lovely whirlwind.

Photos above of my traipse through Old Town, the Royal Castle in all its gilded opulence, the Palace of Culture & Science, and other things:

Things that caught my eye (ornate clock-urns, men precariously cleaning snow from roofs, sparkly shiny things)...

Things that made me laugh (Ossolinski's great hair, free willy?)...

And things that made me happy (fuzzy fur hats, pastel reconstructed buildings, fun money, new passport stamps, and aerial sunsets).

hello, poland

Warsaw Photodiary, Part I:

(my seat bos->zurich, breakfast, airport in zurich, new passport stamps, hotel & view in warsaw)

Monday afternoon. My phone rings. It's my manager. "Hey Amelia, how's it going? How do you feel about going to Poland on Wednesday?"

So here I am. Hello, Warsaw.. you are cold and grey. (Well below freezing and I think the sun set while I was in the shower at 3pm). Hopefully the gloom is just because it's dark out - daylight will offer some opportunities for exploration before I have client obligations, I hope.

Flight over was pretty nice. Swiss Air is great, especially when your boss gets you an upgrade to Business (thanks, John). Fully reclining chair made for decent sleep, plus there was good food, and my own tv made it complete.

Was met at baggage claim by my hotel limo service (Mercedes, cute driver) and took in some of the scenery enroute to the hotel.

I had an early dinner and some ginormous beers at some local joint with a few Americans I met in the hotel. Three UPS pilots, really fun guys. It's great meeting people with totally different lives.. adds a little perspective.

More photos will come soon.. of Thanksgiving in Baltimore and of (surprise!) Warsaw.