A weekend at the Bay and a sorrowful return to the real world

This weekend we discovered that Lucy, the labradoodle puppy Vin and I forced on my parents in order to have a glorious and as it turned out, stressful, Christmas morn, is bred for absolute obedience in the fetching sticks department. While she bravely swam as far as necessary in the cool waters to retrieve whatever sticks or logs or what seemed to be small trees that had somehow washed up on shore we'd throw for her... Cecilia splashed around in the shallow waters, acting as though, you know, she could go out there to get the thing, she just...didn't want to right that minute... I caught one glimpse of the swan family, and attempted to wake my mother up who has been talking endlessly about the baby swans. She didn't respond to my urgent "MOM THE BABY SWANS!" calls at 7:45 a.m. so this picture will have to suffice... The Blancatos came up for Saturday night. Vinnie grilled and we all relaxed on the deck drinking beer and wine and that's when I started thinking maybe it would be best if I just didn't drive back the next day, because seriously, I could get into living there... especially thinking about Monday morning, after a weekend like this.

Career change

Last night Jen and I went to get our nails done in this place in the mall that had a flowing wall of water and gentle new age music playing. As I chatted with my manicurist and watched other women get pampered, whether it be a pedicure complete with foot massage, nail polish application, or some other procedure to make one feel beautiful, it became very clear to me that I never wanted to leave. Just like I feel when it comes time to leave the warm enclosure of my parent's home, complete with food and good wine, trips to the bay to do nothing but watch movies and the water - last night, too, did I feel the sadness at having to give up something I love. The employees all had perfect eyebrows and nails and were making every single customer happy. They were adored and I wanted to bask in that adoration.