I’d love a dozen hot fresh cinnamon rolls

With a glass of freshly squeezed pineapple mango juice.

You know what I discovered in Amsterdam? There exists juice that tastes like the actual fruit and you don’t need color-coding by the guys in the chemistry lab to give you a hint of what kind you might be drinking. I miss that juice. And the espresso bar in the hotel. And, yes, the five stars that came with it. I’d like my old job to take me back for eight days and eight days only. I hear my group is next headed to Singapore.

The fringe household holidays are going well. Puppy Samantha is adjusting well, enjoying her crate less and less. She likes being out amongst the peoples. Until we find the command for that’s the baby’s toy and drop the pacifier! she’ll have to wait out her training time like any other good dog. I love how she stands at complete attention toward the baby when Ehren is parked in his stroller outside. Guarding him from any and all magazine subscription sellers.

We saw The Blind Side yesterday. I normally don’t like Disney-fied stories of what I am sure was genuinely aggravating  racial and socioeconomic conflict within the real-life family and community, but the underlying themes were handled quite well by the director. A few of the acting choices I would not have made, particularly the scenes with the NCAA investigator who seemed to be learning her lines in the corner of the high school auditorium before reciting them in front of the camera (complete with shoulder shrugs and hand gestures as mock intonation), but overall, it was a touching story with Sandra Bullock playing her strongest lead role. Her body and wardrobe were amazing. She was like Michelle Obama in a blond wig and European shoes.

Can I thank you guys for being here this year? And for those who manage to keep up with me as I constantly disappear then resurface: thanks for being with me every year. Watching my kids grow, keeping one eye on my little romantic comedy with the fantastically gorgeous leads, encouraging and inspiring me to write. I wish for you every happiness and that we continue our friendships for blogging-years to come.

—Erica