Kristin and Heather

Two of my best best Gordon friends are also former Resident Directors. I knew I'd see Kristin when we went up there, because she's still local. But I didn't even mention that I was going to be in the States to Heather, who now lives in California for grad school. But who comes bounding into the BBQ to surprise old me, but Heather. Come to find out, she was home in NJ for the summer and actually was going to the North Shore the following week for vacation, but came the week of MY trip TOO, just to see me. She had to go back to NJ in between trips even! It was wonderful to be with them both again (and everyone, of course).

We used to have a going-out-for-breakfast tradition, back when we had jobs with allowed for such frivolities (and caused us to work all hours of the nights and weekends ...) Well the 2nd day of our MA trip, I left Pete at Nicky's house and met the girls for an early breakfast. Awww. Such a great time. I hadn't been with old friends who know me inside-out for so long.

North Shore junk food (the best)

OK, more vacation stuff yet to be recorded in the old blog.

While Pete and I were North of Boston, we went to a few places I really missed and also wanted him to try.

1. Cherry Hill Ice Cream, Beverly MA

My dad's favorite North Shore ice cream. I think it's 2nd best but definitely amazing. I got kahlua chip, he got some kind of boring thing like vanilla and strawberry.


2. Nick's Roast Beef, Beverly MA


Best roast beef sandwich ever (and Pete loved it). Gordon alums still dream about Nick's 15 years later. They do this thing with bumper stickers where you're supposed to take a picture of yourself with the bumper sticker in exotic locations then give them the picture and they put it up inside. The walls are covered in such pictures, from Egypt and China and West Africa and things like, underwater or a wedding party holding them.
Pete's sense of humor often makes me groan, but I thought this was genuinely hilarious.



3. Jordan's Furniture - featuring Richardson's Ice Cream, Reading MA

Strangely enough, this furniture store boasts a huge area with an IMAX, a trapeze school, a Jelly Belly shop with enormous jelly bean sculptures, and my favorite - "liquid fireworks". My pictures can't capture it, but check out the online tour of the Reading store.
Jordan's website

They also have a Richardson's ice cream shop, which is the undisputed champion of ice cream in the Greater Boston area. This, btw, is a small.

(Pete took this picture, that's why it's so good and there's no thumb in it like most of mine).

Pete's First S'mores

(I must admit, I love this video).

YouTube link to this, if that's easier for you.

Visiting Gordon (even though I said I'd never go back)

Well, two years have somehow passed since I left 255 Grapevine Road. It was great to go back and see people and the campus.

I posted pictures on Facebook of a BBQ we had and here is a link to them if you missed them or aren't on Facebook:

BBQ pictures from Facebook!




Here's a couple of Pete on campus. Talk about Collision Of Worlds! I can't believe the universe didn't implode.

My wonderful friend Nicky

Pete and I spent a couple days on the North Shore of Massachusetts visiting the area I lived for 12 years. We stayed overnight with my friend Nicky who was the World's Most Fantastic Hostess Ever.











At Independence Park in Beverly Mass, one of my all-time favorite spots.






I thought it was really cute that Pete loved the muffins so much he had to take pictures of them!

Something like 60 of my relatives

Last Sunday my dear boyfriend had/got to meet both sides of my family. Somehow I managed to not take very many pictures, probably because I was spending most of the day apologizing to him. (I'm kidding!)

But here's one pic from each party.

My parents made an amazing brunch at their house for the Cacopardos at 11am (33+ of them) and then at 2pm we went to the Veces for Abby's 6th birthday party (where the rest of the numbers come from).

Pete did great, although no one was allowed to speak to him for a full 90 minutes afterwards.

All the accoutrements

My wonderful friend Sarah (all the way in Scotland) sent me these balloons and panda bear at home in Connecticut for my birthday - isn't she the best!





My hilarious grandmother and her husband had these flags for me and Pete when we were home.

















He is an Englishman ...

My grandmothers love Pete

Antea Vece (she's the young one, "only" 81)







Connie Cacopardo-Frinzie (the "old one", 91!)

A minute twenty seven of Dinner At The Cacopardos

My 91 (yes 91) year old grandmother made baked stuffed lobsters for Pete's and my dinner home this evening and I took a little candid video. It's a perfect snippet of us all.



Also, Pete's first lobster!

Happy birthday to me

Yesterday was my 32nd birthday and the day that Pete and I headed to Connecticut for our vacation home. It was amazing to be in London in the morning and with my parents from the afternoon. My 29 hour celebration was wonderful - below is a slideshow with some pictures of our day.