A good time was had by all

As discussed and debated on this very blog a few months ago, I rented a cottage in Nantucket for Christmas. Originally it was going to be just me, but in the end, the Dude accompanied me. The cottage I went with -- the Wild Rose -- turned out to be much cuter in person and just the right fit.

Unfortunately most businesses were closed while we were there, but I did get to show the Dude some of my favorite Nantucket spots, such as the Brant Point Lighthouse (decorated with a huge wreath, above) where I took my mom's ashes.

Once home, we celebrated with our critters:






Hope everyone else's holidays were as merry and bright!

Getting a leg up on the resolutions

The Dude and I (mostly I) have been talking for a while now about getting home exercise equipment. I had hoped to do so pretty soon after I moved in, but other things tend to get in the way. Anyway, the Dude, knowing it was important to me (and also seizing an opportunity for an easy gift), decided to get it for me for Christmas. I suggested it would still count as a Christmas present if we got it early, so we went Friday and picked out a PaceMaster Bronze Basic with a free Schwinn recumbent bike. They are being delivered and set up this Friday morning.

I'm posting about this so I will feel accountable to my vast, vast readership to actually keep up with my workouts on these. Someone mentioned recently that she likes to accumulate TV show seasons on DVD, as is currently the fashion, and that she is only "allowed" to watch episodes while working out. If she takes a break, she hits the pause button. So wanting to see the next episode is great incentive to work out. When I used to go to the gym, I loved watching reruns while on the treadmill, so this should work well. The TV, VCR, and DVD player are already set up by where the equipment will go. And I have a few DVD sets already waiting. (And perhaps more coming off of my Amazon.com wish list?)

So...let the home workouts begin!

Tag, I'm it

OK. Anna tagged me, so I will play along, but I don't really expect all seven of my taggees to keep it going.

1. Link to the person who tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

2. Share seven random or weird things about yourself.

a) As a kid I was such a good swimmer, my instructor told my parents to start training me for the Olympics. (They never did.)

b) There are rumors in my family that we are descendants of Mussolini.

c) I can't whistle.

d) I used to be mildly allergic to eggplant.

e) I was one of two designated hand-shakers (at the Sign of Peace) at my class's First Communion ceremony. The other is my friend whose maid of honor I will be next September.

f) I was an extra in Hackers. Angelina Jolie smiled at me on the set. She had boy-short hair then.

g) I talked on the phone with Jay Leno when I was 15.

3. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

First of all, I'm guessing they don't mean random-random, but a random selection of your blogging friends. So OK, I will tag: Hoyden, Lyneidas, LaFlacaD, GoudaGirl (who will I guess have to share seven random/weird things about herself as they pertain to living in Europe), Tracey, Phil even though he hasn't blogged in a year, and Melissa.

4. Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.