Jeff and I went camping with Em and Nat this weekend. We had a fabulous time!

This is just too weird: The Vatican has come out with the 10 Commandments of Driving. They include:
1. You shall not kill.
3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.
4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.
5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.
6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.
7. Support the families of accident victims.
8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

This is ME!: (Not really, but it describes me.) "My name is Elise and I take pictures of food. There, admitting the problem is the first step towards recovery. I know my hobby borders on the peculiar, if not the insane." I took more than 80 photos of food in France!

France Photos: Ok, so took over 400 photos on my trip to France. Here are just a few...if you want to see more (including photos of every course at every lunch and dinner) just let me know.

Kim Update: I am going to try to be better about posting, but this summer is going to be wicked busy, so no promises. So, as Em has coined it, this is the Summer of Transition...for me and many other people in my life. In three days, Dr. Feelgood is moving down to Boston to be with me for the summer. This has been a long ten months in the making....and I am so happy that we will finally live together. As of August 1, I will move to Maine as he finishes his last year of coursework in med school. (Then its 2 years of rotations...location unknown...and 3-4 years of residency...location unknown.) I will actually keep my job at MIT and telecommute two days a week. This is a perfect situation because I like my job, will likely have to move again in a year, will be able to stay connected to my friends in Boston, and will be out of Jeff's hair a few nights a week. I will rent out my condo (let me know if you know of anyone) and will look for a room to rent for 2 nights a week (again, let me know if you know of anyone). I am so excited for all of this. Of course, my obsessive self is making lists, creating worries, and over-thinking everything, but I have a fabulous support network, including a very loving partner, who make it much easier and 98% of the time I am thinking about how very excited I am!

Over the summer, I/we will be going to Chicago/Cleveland (visiting family and friends), Connecticut (Jeff's brother), San Francisco (work trip), camping on the Cape, Newport, RI (Reunions with the Class of 1952), Palm Desert (a whole week of r&r), camping on the Boston Harbor Islands, and New York City (Jeff's friend's pre-wedding party). Very exciting!

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?