Evette and Richard were set to arrive at the airport here in Boston around 8:20 PM. By the time they landed, got off the plane, went through customs and all that fun stuff I was starving and about to leave without them. Well, not really. But I was hungry. FINALLY they emerged from the gate (the English sure are slow) and life was once again good because I knew within the hour I would be eating. PHEW! Chris and I were also relieved to find out that while Richard does have a thick English accent, it wasn't one of those crazy ones you can't understand a word they say. I was happy to know I wouldn't have to spend the weekend going WHAT? PARDON ME? HUH?From there it was off to the car rental place so we had a way to taxi them around for the weekend. And I am pretty sure they weren't up for riding around in the back of Chris's service van with no seats and various espresso machine parts. Finally the car was in our possession, we piled in and we were off. Have I mentioned yet that I was absolutely starving and was pretty sure I would die if I didn't eat soon??? I had not eaten all day, mostly because I was so excited about going to Chili's. Yes, I know that seems odd. But I love Chili's and I was excited. Leave me alone, I don't get out much. So off to Chili's we went. And it was good. Then it was off to home so Evette and Richard could get some much needed sleep. Of course that didn't come till after they had met Belle AND Wrigley (I was taking care of him that weekend).
Saturday we decided to do the Duck Boat tour in the city. Chris and I have always wanted to do it but never really had a reason (that's a hint to all you slackers who have yet to come visit us, after THREE years), but once we knew Evette and Richard were coming we knew we had to go. The tickets are 25 bucks a person, which does seem a little pricey but it is definitely worth it. The tour itself is about an hour and a half and on land AND water. Fun times. Our tour guide was Sgt. Pepper and he really actually did look like John Lennon. How fitting. Our Duck boat was "North End Norma." They all have names and I think there are about 16 boats in all.
After the Duck Boat tour we took Evette and Richard to our favorite burrito joint Anna's Taqueria. After we inhaled our very large burritos we headed over to the Harvard area and showed them around a little. There really isn't a lot to do on the Harvard Campus itself, but the buildings are beautiful and make for some great pictures.
Saturday night we had our other friends Jeremy and Kristen over for a BBQ. Chris met Kristen through work (she manages one of his stores) and they are from Seattle, so it is fun to have friends out here from back west. We had a great night with friends. Chris cooked us up some great steak and we had plenty of beer to go around. We had just planted grass seed so we couldn't go on the lawn, so we rocked it white trash style out in the driveway. Nice!! Sunday we decided to take the ferry over to Martha's Vineyard for the day. Chris and I have wanted to go over their for a long time and just never got around to it. The drive down to where you catch the ferry in Woods Hole, MA is about an hour drive and then the ferry ride is 45 mins. The weather was perfect (although it was a little windy on the ferry) and we had a great day. When we arrived, we bought day passes for the bus (6 bucks). There are 3 main towns on the vineyard--Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven and Edgartown. We took the ferry into Vineyard Haven and hopped on the shuttle down to Edgartown. We had a lunch at a cute little outdoor cafe and spent the rest of the day just walking around. By the time we got home it was late and we still had not had supper, so at almost midnight Chris BBQ'd us all up some burgers.
The plan on Sunday was to get up early and spend the day in the city doing the Freedom Trail and seeing all the other sites. Well we all slept in and by the time we were ready and out the door it was around noon. We decided to hit up IHOP for a late breakfast and it was already mid afternoon before we got in to the city. We were fortunate enough to find a perfect parking spot and it was off to "Cheers." There are actually two, one is a pub that is actually called The Bull and Finch, it is the pub that inspired the show and all the outside shots etc were used. The other Cheers is located in the Faneuil Hall area and it's a replica of the actual set. 
All in all it was a great weekend. I was so happy to be able to reconnect and catch up with my friend. More importantly I was happy to find out we get along just as good as ever and I am very happy to have my friend back in my life. It was so great to meet Richard, we really enjoyed his company. Chris and I are hoping to be able to attend their wedding in February in Jasper. We are looking forward to many many vacations with these two. If you would like to see all our pictures from this weekend I have posted them all over on our picture blog so feel free to go on over and have a look. You can find them HERE.
And yes that is her bringing me my shoe all on her own.
One dream that I had my entire childhood and even now was to become a veterinarian. It was all I ever talked about, it was the only thing I ever wanted to do. I remember the day I got my childhood cat Sparky. I was 7 years old and he was rescued from a neighbours step in a rainstorm. He was tiny, just a baby and I convinced my parents to let me bring him home. I was convinced that day that it was the start for me and that this small little kitten would be the key to realizing my dreams. As I got older I still wanted it, but doing the work to get there became less and less important to me. By the time I was in high school I was more concerned with hanging out with my friends than studying. But it was still my dream. I don't regret not working harder at certain things back then because my life took a different path and and I am okay with that. 
Aside from being dreaming of being a veterinarian, for as long as I can remember I have dreamt of being a writer. When I was a kid I can remember spending hours each day writing stories. When I would have a project at school that involved writing stories I could hardly wait to get started. I would get out my pencil and paper and start to write. My excitement would rise with each new thought and idea that I scribbled down onto the paper before me. Soon enough I would find myself daydreaming about one day writing full length novels. I would dream of the feelings of joy I would have as I finished one book and began another. The funny thing is, when I was growing up and would write stories I could hardly wait to show people what I had written. My eyes would light up as I watched them read each word of my stories. I would smile when I saw them smile and I would be proud that something I had written and worked so hard on had put a smile on their faces. As an adult, my confidence in such things has wavered a little and I have found myself more guarded. Too often I have asked my husband the question, "but what if they don't like it?" Why would anyone else want to read what I write? I have realized, however, that while I want people to enjoy reading the things I write, I love it regardless. Regardless of who reads it and who does or doesn't like it, it is still my dream and nobody can take that away from me. Confidence and believing in yourself in my opinion is the first step in realizing your dreams.
I still have dreams. I still dream of one day writing a book about my mum and the experiences I have learned from her and in her death. I dream of running and owning my own dog rescue and boarding kennels. I have many dreams and some of them I will realize someday and some I won't, and I am okay with that. Now that I am older my dreams and desires for my life have changed a bit. All the things that once seemed so important to my happiness and success in this life I no longer dream of. My dreams and hopes now are of a much more simpler variety. I dream and hope for health and love for my family. I dream of having my own children and raising them in the gorgeous mountain state of Colorado with Chris. I dream of the futures of my future children, for who they will become and the places they will go. Most of all I dream and look forward to growing old with the man I have chosen to spend my life with. It is those dreams that I want to come true, the rest is just icing on the cake.
