Happy Halloween!

Apples, Autumn, and Upstate.

I love fall on the east coast. Ever since moving to New York, from that "place without seasons" I have learned to appreciate change so much. I still act like a child the at the first snow fall. And have come to appreciate how truly incredible Spring time is after a long winter. The change of seasons is so magical. So Nate, I, and his car Lazareth (who was brought back from the dead) went upstate this weekend to enjoy the fall to its fullest. Nate drove and I took a million pictures and after lots of nyc traffic we got to a little family farm. We bought pie, picked apples, and ate the best donuts I have ever tasted. And on the way home, I may have snapped some of my favorite sunset pictures of all time. I love new york. I love fall. I am so lucky.

Cavalier Puppy Fund

I have always loved cavalier king charles puppies, and always wanted one. They are small, sweet, playful, and such good dogs. They are perfect for city life. And next December when I graduate early I plan on doing everything in my power to get one! I've been researching breeders in the new york area, and Nate, despite how badly he wants a great dane puppy, has agreed to go look at them with me. And is totally warming up to the idea of getting one with me (I have to remind him on a daily basis why an apartment in nyc is inappropriate for a Great Dane). So yesterday morning I decided to take financial control of my future cavalier puppy, Belle, by creating a Cavalier Puppy Fund. It may sound juvenile, but from now on every pay check I make I'm going to take at least $10 out and put it in the fund, weld it shut, and patiently wait till it turns into a beautiful little pup in just a little over a year from now. I am SO excited.

Crostini.

After spending a pretty awesome week with my best friend, today I went back to real life. Midterms have a whole new meaning when your taking an academic semester...papers, tests, and presentations galore! The restaurant I started working for opens this weekend- so all the employees are working and training like crazy. And today we had a first day of food tasting (probably the best part about working in a restaurant!). As I sit here now, in pajamas eating store brand cereal and silk milk (delicious) I realize how juvenile and simple the food I eat on a daily basis is! Today we tasted everything from chicken liver to butternut squash and garlic to ricotta and orange honey atop these beautiful little pieces of grilled ciabatta bread called Crostini! I feels good to know the restaurant I'm working at has delicious food! Not to mention incredible location. I've recently fallen in love with the walk from campus to work up west 4th street in the west village. The streets are tiny, filled with trees, coble stone streets, and little cafes. It's picturesque, quant, and a little neighbrohood of calm amidst the bustling streets of manhattan. I love it.

Goodbye "goodbye"!

Since Nate and I met we've been apart for close to 300 days. And not just a "phone call away" kind of apart, an "on the other side of the world, in the middle of the ocean, 16+ hour time difference, no cell phone, internet, connection to the outside world" apart. We've said goodbye 3 times for 4,3, and 2 months. And tomorrow we'll be all done, hopefully for a very very long time. I am so excited.