December was a blur. All of the deciduous trees are now bare, and the cold, dark days make the occasional sunny day that much sweeter.
My friend Natalie and I organized a book club with a group of local friends and family. The best part is that everyone brings something different to the table. I admire the unique perspectives and charisma of the ladies, and am looking forward to our next discussion.
My work group held our annual holiday party at Aaron's house in north Portland. As always, it is a loud and fun gathering with endless stories and laughter. I feel grateful for my "pharmily," who brings a lot of joy to my job and my life. That being said, I am eager to transition to part time next year in order to give myself more time and energy to pursue goals outside of pharmacy.
My gift to Tom this year was a date night at the Oregon Symphony. The Holiday Brass performance was superb. We very much enjoyed the opportunity to watch the brass and percussion sections show off, since they are usually hidden in the back of the symphony.
Two weeks before Christmas, I spent a long weekend in Pittsburgh. Despite the brief trip, I crammed in a lot--lunch with high school friends, a small family party, time with the cats and piano, and holiday movies. My parents always decorate to the nines, and Mom is usually in the kitchen cooking or baking something tasty. Food and wine and family.
Leading up to Christmas, a winter storm blew into Portland with sub-freezing temperatures and ice. Luckily it did not last long, and we were able to spend the holiday with Tom's family in Hillsboro. It was a fun day with lots of laughter, food, wine, and board games.
Happy Holidays from Portland!
