Anti-Pet Peeves: I just saw a meme about anti-pet peeves-- little things that make you very happy. Here are mine:
1. Cards sent with no occassion
2. Laughing so hard I can't catch my breath
3. Holding a baby
4. Snuggling with no urgent need to get up
5. Eating ice cream in a walk/outside
6. Being complimented
7. Eating something delicious
8. A hard conversation that goes well
9. Camping
10. Dancing

Off to the South of France: (good work if you can get it) After attending the Spring Fling at the UNE medical school, I will leave for an MIT travel program in Provence and the French Riveara. I am really looking forward to the trip-- travel, facinating MIT alumni, good food and wine, and beautiful surroundings. So excited!

Kimpossible and Dr. Feelgood Update: Dr. Feelgood moves into my place in ONE month! That is the day he finishes his first year of med school! I am soooo proud of him! The day after he finishes, we leave for Chicago to see his brother and his family, and from there, we go to Cleveland to see my family and Rebecca (and her parents). We have a busy summer planned and then I will be moving to Maine in August! I am currently negotiating whether I will stay at MIT and telecommute 2 days a week, or need to find a new job in Maine. Obviously, I am madly in love and so happy with my life.

A Happy Nine Months:

ME: Happy nine month anniversary sweetie! I can't believe you've liked me for nine months!

HIM: And I have loved you for almost all of it.

ME: Awww! (and a huge grin, knowing I am the luckiest girl around)

Happy birthday to my sweetie! (Well, tomorrow.)

I can't wait to spend tomorrow with you. I love you!

Slacker Repents: I know, I know, you were worried. I am ok.
1. What time did you get up this morning? 7:30
2. Diamonds or Pearls? Diamonds. Not a big pearl fan. I like garnet too, but will want my wedding ring to be a diamond.
3. What was the last film you saw at the cinema? Wow. I can't remember. Em?
4. What is your favorite TV show? The Closer or CSI (with Crossing Jordan close behind)
5. What did you eat for breakfast? Oatmeal with 2 packets of sugar and cinnamon
6. What foods do you dislike? Olives, cauliflower, peaches, tuna fish salad
7. Your favourite potato chip? Probably BBQ. Not a huge potato chip consumer.
8. What is your favourite CD at the moment? Birthday mix from my sweetie
9. What kind of car do you drive? Brick red 2005 Totota Carrola
10. Favourite sandwich? Quigley at Tommy's in Cleveland. (grilled 5 cheeses, peppers, tomato, lettuce on pita with brown mustard)
11. What characteristics do you despise? Disrespect, chronic lateness, hatered, jealousy (mainly in myself)
12. What are your favourite clothes? Black tee-short and jeans, of course!
13. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would you go? Assuming Jeff coudl come, a cruise to Alaska
14. What colour is your bathroom? White tile walls and floor
15. Favourite brand of clothing? Don't got one.
16. Favourite time of day? Snuggling in bed talking on a Saturday morning
17. Where would you want to retire to? Maybe San Fran
18. Favourite sport to watch? Football.
19. Coke or Pepsi? Diet Pepsi. Or Dr. Pepper.
20. Are you a morning person or night owl? I am best from 10:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at work. I hate waking up TOO early but am in a good mood when I wake. I go to bed early.
21. Any new and exciting news you'd like to share? I plan to move to Maine in the fall to live with Dr. Feelgood.
22. What did you want to be when you were little? A teacher or an actress
23. What is your best childhood memory? Summer camp
24. Nicknames? Bo, Kimbo, Kimbolina, Sweetie, Kimi, Kimipie
25. Piercings? Two in my left ear, one in the right
26. Eye Colour? Hazel-ish brown
27. Favourite day of the week? Saturday
28. Favourite restaurant? Oleana
29. Favourite ice cream? Christina's Coffee Oreo
30. Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? Crate and Barrel
31. Bedtime? Talk to Jeff in bed at 10, turn off lights around 10:45.
32. What are you listening to right now? Colleagues talking un the hall
33. How many tattoos do you have? Zero.
34. Next film you'll see? ???
35. Tag anyone? Go for it

Lucky Me: I just was asked the magic question..."Kim, would you be available to accompany a group of older alumni to Provence and the French Riveria?" Um, let me think about it for a minute...yup, I think I could fit that into my schedule. The trip is from April 21 to May 2. I am so excited!

This is a test: As you can obviously see, I have just switched the template of my blog. It as though I can post photos directly to the blog now. Hmmm...so exciting if true. Let's try to post a picture of me and Dr. Feelgood.

I Have a Baby: (Don't get excited Mom) Today at lunch, my friends/colleagues Jamie and Kathryn did a presentation on their volunteer trip to New Orleans over the holidays to re-build homes. It was a tragic trip but so moving. At the lunch, they brought a Kings Cake, traditional to New Orleans during Marti Gras time. "While custom holds that the person who finds the baby in their slice will be rewarded with good luck, that person is also traditionally responsible for bringing the King Cake to the next party or gathering. " Guess who found the baby!?!? ME! I already had in inkling that this might be a great year, but how wonderful that my pastry confirmed it!

New From Planned Parenthood: Last night when I walking through Davis Square I noticed a Planned Parenthood logo. Since I have never seen PP in Davis, I looked closer. They have opened an Express Clinic. "A Planned Parenthood Express Center offers convenient access to a number of Planned Parenthood’s services including birth control, emergency contraception and screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Plan provides clothes-on consultations with experienced medical professionals." I think this an awesome idea! Yeah good sexual health!

Did You Know: Col. Edwin (Buzz) Aldrin ScD '63 , IM Pei '40, John Sununu '87, Benjamin Netanyahu '75, Tom Magliozzi '58 and Ray Magliozzi '72 (Click'n'Clack), and 23 Nobel Prize winners went to MIT? Check out a full list of the extraordinary people who went to MIT!

Special Note: Did you get married last year? Do you take a swallow of soda? Do you NOT have your ears pierced? If so, thanks for the VERY sweet card. I put it up by my computer to remind me how blessed I am to have friends like you. Let's catch up soon!

New York in the News: It was announced that the city of New York is issuing 1 million condoms labeled NYC to promote safe sex. They will most likely be the colors of the subway lines! (I can't find an article that mentions all of the detials I heard on the radio this morning.) And in other news, Miss Em, the stench in New York yesterday is being "blamed" on New Jersey. (the headline made me laugh)

Ringing In the New Year
1. What events shaped your life in 2006? Meeting Jeff (aka Dr. Feelgood), stregthened friendships with several women, continued AMAZING friendships, a less tumultuous relationship with my mom, babies/children, travel, delicious food
2. How about you proudest/biggest achievement of the year? my amazing friendships and my Graduate Alumni Convocation and Reunion
3. Did you keep any of your new year's resolutions? Don't think I made any that I intended to keep
4. What is your fondest memory of 2006? My trip to Istria (Slovenia, Croatia and Venice), winter break with Jeff, Emily's wedding weekend, Shelby's wedding weekend
5. What are you looking forward to most in the new year? See what happens with my love life, work life, location etc...all connect I would assume

VERY Brief Update: Yes, I am still alive...and well. But busy. I had a great eleven days with Jeff over the holidays...which included 5 states (MA, ME, CT, NH and FL), a holiday party, and engagement party, family, friends, playing in the ocean, and some R&R. I am back to reality, and planning a retreat for tomorrow, the registraiton for my two big events go live on Tuesday and life is busy. However, I remain happy and healthly What more is there?

Inspiration: Following in my father's footsteps, I read the obituaries almost every day. Today there was a particularly touching tribute to a man who grew up in Ohio, made a lot of money, and spent the rest of his life sharing his good fortune with others. On the first day of Chanukah, and as I get ready for Christmas in the City this weekend, this is a touching reminder of how wonderful the world can be.

Two Weeks Late But...: List five things you are thankful for and tell us why.
1. My community of family and friends. I have been truly blessed with a family that are also friends, and friends that feel like a family. I am thankful for this each and every day.
2. My sweetie. He is loving, fun, thoughtful, communicative, honest, kind and a great friend.
3. My health. Although I have more headaches than I would like, and my back causes me quite a bit of pain, overall, I am sooo fortunate to be generally healthy and strong. When I really feel like complaining, I think about all the people who REALLY have a right to complain but don't. When you are healthy and loved, there isn't much more to ask for.
4. Living in a free country. Now, at other times I would complain (RIGHTFULLY) about our President, the decisions that this nation is making, and the direction in which we are moving. But again, when I look at the ways some others are living, I am very lucky.
5. Self-esteem. I am thankful that I generally feel good about myself, who I am, who I continue to become, and where I am heading. Always room for improvement and reflection, but there is a lot of peace and happiness in overall feeling good about my life.

Global Orgasm: (see, got your attention) A couple is planning a global synchronized orgasm for peace. By promoting what they hope to be a synchronized global orgasm, they hope to get people to channel their sexual energy into something more positive. The couple have studied evolutionary psychology and believe that war is mainly an outgrowth of men trying to impress potential mates, a case of "my missile is bigger than your missile."

Friday Five: Make a Wish
1. When is your birthday? October 20
2. When you blow out the candles on your cake, do you make a wish? Have any of them come true? Yes, often the same one. Yes.
3. How do you feel about birthdays and birthday celebrations? I love birthdays! Mine, yours, whoever. I think everyone should have a day that their loved ones celebrate them and have an "excuse" to tell them how much they are loved.
4. What has been your favorite birthday gift? What kind of gifts really blow you away? Thoughtful ones. Sometimes that's money from my parents when they know I have bills to pay. Sometimes its a book about girls' overnight camp because the friend knows how much I loved camp. Sometimes it's a phone call or card from a friend who I didn't even know knew my birthday or with whom I had not spoken in a long time.
5. What flavor cake do you prefer? For birthday cake, yellow/white cake with chocolate frosting.

Meme:
1. Explain what ended your last relationship? um, to simplify it I'd say "not in the same place"...in the relationship, not georgraphically
2. When was the last time you shaved? Sunday (3 days ago)
3. What were you doing this morning at 8 a.m.? Putting on make-up and leaving for work in 3 minutes
4. What were you doing 15 minutes ago? sending emails to people I met with last week on my work trip
5. Are you any good at math? Yes. Not fast at doing math in my head but good enough that I took AP math and like numbers.
6. Your prom night? Third time I met a guy from BBYO. Not a high school highlight.
7. Do you have any famous ancestors? Don't think so.
8. Have you had to take a loan out for school? Thankfully very small loan for undergrad.
9. Do you know the words to the song on your myspace profile? Huh???
10. Last thing received in the mail? New charger for my digital camera.
11. How many different beverages have you had today? Water, coffee, Diet Coke
12. Do you ever leave messages on people's answering machine? Yes, often very detailed ones.
13. Who did you lose your CONCERT virginity to? Either Peter, Paul and Mary, Blood, Sweat and Tear (both with parents) or Billy Joel (for bat mitzvah)
14. Do you draw your name in the sand when you go to the beach? didn't know people did this. Maybe I'll try it when I go to Florida in December
15. What's the most painful dental procedure you've had? Uncomfortable-- getting my veneers. Painful-- braces for 6 years!!!
16. What is out your back door? Porch and my car.
17. Any plans for Friday night? Maybe drinks with former co-worker (and current co-workers) and then Dr. Feelgood comes!
18. Do you like what the ocean does to your hair? "Like" may be a strong word, but I love the ocean so don't care what it does to my hair.
19. Have you ever received one of those big tins of 3 different popcorns? My parents did...and I helped eat it.
20. Have you ever been to a planetarium? Yes, very cool. I haven't been to a planetarium since I was a teenager though.
21. Do you re-use towels after you shower? Definitely. Nuf said.
22. Some things you are excited about? Playing with Dr. Feelgood this weekend and Thanksgiving in Cleveland with friends and family
23. What is your favorite flavor of JELLO? red
24. Describe your keychain(s)? Simple circle with keys, nail clippers and car clicker.
25. Where do you keep your change? Wallet, piggy bank, quarters in "ashtray" of car
26. When was the last time you spoke in front of a large group of people? Define large...I led a meeting for 8 last week. Gave a presentation to 50 at the Alumni Leadership Conference in Septmeber. (and another 30-40 the following week at a conference in Tahoe)
27. What kind of winter coat do you own? Many!
28. What was the weather like on your graduation day? Rainy...people wore rain ponchos that made them look like they were wearing a condom
29. Do you sleep with the door to your room open or closed? closed.