Laptops, Luggage & Leashes: Abby's HERE! I know her, too!

Abby arrived just before Christmas and also got to enjoy a couple days at the cottage before our sit in Eagle (a Boise suburb) over the holidays. My office was closed, so I didn't have to work and we had a lot more quality time. We enjoyed another hot tub and time with two incredibly sweet dogs. Ruby is an 11-year-old Goldendoodle and Odie is a 6-year-old Shitzu. Both animals were well-behaved, had great personalities and were super affectionate. We took them for walks every day and cuddled up on the couch with them for holiday movies and Season 5 of Stranger Things. We did a lot of reading, relaxing, yoga, and cooking during the unseasonably warm week of Christmas.

Being in their home was like stepping into a time machine - the style and décor were similar to my former home in Meridian (another Boise suburb.) The mission-style office furniture, framed vintage ski resort posters, and antique snowshoes and wooden skis on the wall were just like what we curated in our home. This couple got married the spring after I did, and their boys are just slightly younger than mine (and didn't smell like rodents.) Being there was like a window into my former life. It doesn’t fit anymore. It’s too big. Too homogenized. Right for them but not for me. A good reminder...

What does still fit is our friends and family. Abby's visit also included a family game night, brunch with Michelle and Natalya, baking cookies with cousin Amaia, and another gathering with more of her cousins. I used my company's "time to thrive" bonus to do an Asian takeout cooking class with Abby. We made a fusion General Tsoa's Chicken and fried rice meal, which was delicious, but I do have some notes for when I make it at home. We capped Abby's visit with a New Year's Eve dinner and night out with Kate before she returned to college.

New Year's Eve

You may have seen on TV, Boise's NYE celebration drops a giant potato from a crane in front of the capitol building at midnight. But that's not all! They set off a ludicrous amount of fireworks and skiers execute acrobatics from man-made ski jumps surrounded by the fireworks. This year, when the potato reached the bottom, a loud boom ignighted the fireworks display. Much to our chagrin, it did not make the potato explode to rain french fries (we hoped it might.) Instead, it was so loud it caused windows to break in the building across the street, as well as damaged the state capitol building. A young girl was caught under the flying glass that severely cut her face, requiring an ambulance ride to St. Luke's and subsequent surgery. Well done, Idaho. [insert slow clap] We were in the same area, but fortunately escaped unscathed.

And despite urging from her friends, Abby did not steal Odie when she left. Even if he is “dorm-sized.” 😉 I had a few days solo with those sweet pups and got a bonus day when their family’s flight back from Roatan was canceled. I didn’t complain. It was a Very Mary Christmas indeed!