A bouquet of color

This is what color looks like

When I look at pictures of tropical scenes during this time of the year, I am always amazed by the amount of color in them. I know this is because our Winter scenes here, although often beautiful, can be on the grayscale side of things. I've been feeling a little stressed out by life lately, so I thought I'd post a splash of color and remind myself about some things that I'm thankful for:

• My always early bouquet of flowers from Doug for Valentine's Day
• 5 years with the love of my life and planning our future together
• I have a tropical vacation to look forward to
• The best family and friends in the world
• I'm finally enjoying my job again even if it is a little overbooked
• I used my rewards points to get a little food processor
• I've discovered toasted walnut butter again and more (I heart you, food processor)
• Spinning class - you literally kick my butt/crotch, but I've grown me some hamstrings
  

The long Winter, the local political corruption and having a cold that makes me lose my voice off and on (when I'm completing 200 phone interviews at work!) have hurt my perspective on life a little. However, after watching a documentary on what Egypt alone had to go through and knowing what the Middle East and North Africa are currently enduring for freedom, I know I have never truly suffered in my entire life. I think it is important to remember what we are thankful for and also what we need and what we don't - but that's a post for another day.

Winter Storm 2011

Sidewalk Avalanche!

One week ago tonight, Doug and I were experiencing the blizzard of the season. I thought we might be nuts to go out in the thick of it, but it was awesome. The sky was a pinkish bronze color and the snow was whipping my face so furiously it felt like a micro-derm abrasion and a swirly all at once. Of course I couldn't resist yelling almost soundlessly to Doug in the wind "We have to GO BACK!" (thank you LOST). After a few minutes outside, I was startled when I found myself thinking "You can't take this for granted as Spring will be here before you know it."

Almost a Cotton Candy Steamboat tree

We made it on a walk around the block that night, mostly based on memory since our senses were inferior, and eventually settled in a semi-sheltered part of the park. It is hard to describe what it feels like to be experiencing something for the first time with the knowledge that you may never experience it again. I tried to make mental notes about all of the energy spinning around us in the storm - the dark trees swaying against the pink/bronze sky, the sound of the loudest wind you've ever heard and the snow sculpting a new form for everything. Awesome.