"we are family..."

(you have to mentally sing the title for it to be effective)

I just got back from dinner with three of my college buddies, which was a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season. I'm lucky- though my friends all live out of state, family and work bring them into town fairly regularly, and sometimes the stars align and we're all in DC together. At this point, we've been friends so long that we can talk about both friends we have in common, and members of our separate circles because everyone knows a little bit about everyone else's family and friends. I am especially lucky that the fact that I often miss out on these dinners when I'm overseas doesn't change my ability to slip back into the mix when I'm home. I don't talk to all these girls on a daily basis, but I know in my heart of hearts that if I were having problems, or needed something, I could call any one of them for help. Thanks for the laughs girls, and for being equally willing to discuss presidential politics and vapid reality TV shows!

I have a similar group of friends from high school that make my life rich. No matter how different our lives are now, I delight in the fact that we are all making the effort to stay in touch and to stay friends. I love that we can all still get together and giggle like silly 16 year olds stalking though the mall in blackwatch tartan kilts. Thanks for getting me through those awkward teenage years, and for making me an honorary aunt to the 2nd generation!

In the words of William Butler Yeats,
"Say where man's glory most begins and ends,
And say my glory was I had such friends."

just what I need- another home improvement project!

The pictures above are of my living room from a couple of different angles. As some of you may remember, I desperately want to change the look of the sofa. I don't want to go the pre-made slipcover route because those always move on me and look bunchy (plus this has a pullout bed). The couch is super comfortable and sucks me into many an unplanned nap, but everytime I look at it I am filled with fabric hatred. I'm thinking of reupholstering it (well, really recovering it because I plan to go over the existing fabric rather than to remove it), but I'm having a hard time picking a color. I found a burgundy velvet that I love the look of, and I can kind of dig the idea of a big soft reddish-purple couch, but will that be too damn much with the rest of the room?

This would be an after-Christmas project because I already have too many projects going on what with the unfinished cure and WT. My family is pushing the "you're crazy- leave it alone" viewpoint (mom, sis, and husband) but I'm kind of excited about the possibilities. Of course, I need mom to sew the cushion covers, which might be why she's less than thrilled!

Oh, and I found this coat online, and am in love...