The Pier at Oak Island, NC

The Pier at Oak Island 2, NC, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Looking down the length of the pier off into the horizon...looks like new construction.

Skate, the pier at Oak Island, NC

Skate, the pier at Oak Island 2, NC, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Once, when we were walking up and down the Commercial Pier in Fort Lauderdale, mom and I saw a baby hammerhead shark that had just been caught by one of the fishermen. Now, each time we walk a pier we wonder if we'll see a baby hammerhead.

While we didn't see a shark this time, we did see a skate that had been caught several hours earlier. Here he is. The tail had been cut off, but he still looked threatening.

Frequently, the fishermen told us, these skates are used in place of scallops. They cut round bits out of the skate and use them as scallops. However, this particular skate would be used for shark bait. Scary.

Sunset on Oak Island, NC

Sunset on Oak Island, NC, originally uploaded by da_mere.

The sun was setting as we finished dinner. We just had time for a walk up and down the pier.

Oak Island, NC

Oak Island 6, NC, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Finally, some down time. Mom and I left Kinston for a trip to Wilmington, but we never made it. We skirted Wilmington to check out a lake without any accessible shoreline. Then we stayed near Oak Island, which is where we had dinner.

When we said to the waitress, "There isn't anything around here." She said, "Yup, it's always like that. Even in the summer." We decided we liked that.

mid-March to mid-April

After many weeks of commuting to NYC (and a trip to Miami for my grandfather's funeral), we had to settle down and write my master's paper.

Spending spring break in NYC netted me a job after school. I had a few interviews and accepted an offer with NYU, where I will start in July.

At the end of that week my grandfather died. Which meant that the family would leave NC for Miami. I would miss the second March wedding, but I needed to be with my family. There are no pictures from Miami.

I would not travel again until April when Mom and I would head to the coast.

The Lodge, Mountain, and Snow

The Lodge, Mountain, and Snow, originally uploaded by da_mere.

This is where we stay every year for Ski Trip: Northern Lights Lodge. The treat us right, and we definitely mis-treat them. Love Northern Lights. Hope Rich and Janice come back for Ski Trip next year.

Egg and Mere, drunk

Egg and Mere, drunk, originally uploaded by da_mere.

That pretty much sums it up...

Team USA

Team USA, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Flip cup teams fear no one like they fear Team USA.

Holt and Meredith

Holt and Meredith, originally uploaded by da_mere.

One of my favorite peeps - Holt. We went to the SEC Championship game together in Atlanta. He teaches me about wine, and I act sophisticated. Works well :)

Janice actually poses with Anna

Janice actually poses with Anna, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Anna and the bride, Janice, who had NEVER posed for a picture until the day of her wedding. One week later we were in Stowe drinking it up - again.

West Side

West Side, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Our skip trip group headed to the top of the mountain for a nice dinner and good wine. We were "those people" that ruined your experience because we were having so much fun. Yup. We're always those people.

Susan Asleep, Peanut Gallery Sam

Susan Asleep, Peanut Gallery Sam, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Not a week after the wedding, I was back in NYC for spring break/ski trip. This was Susan's first ski trip, and how does she spend it?

Breakfast no Mimosa

Breakfast no Mimosa, originally uploaded by da_mere.

The morning after the wedding was a bit painful; I had a wee-bit too much to drink. Here's a shot of breakfast (thanks Hampton Inn) without the obligatory mimosa.

Soon after this shot was taken, it was time to run off to JFK where I'd catch a flight back to Raleigh/Durham to make it back to Chapel Hill just in time for the Carolina/Duke basketball game. My last one.

Bus Ride to Ceremony 7

Bus Ride to Ceremony 7, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Me and my date, Egg.

Why does my head look so big?

Skinny Anna and Mere

Skinny Anna and Mere, originally uploaded by da_mere.

At the wedding reception, someone captures a shot of me and Anna.

Z, Mere, and Egg

Z, Mere, and Egg, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Soon after Gatlinburg, it was time to head to NYC for the first of two March weddings.

Waiting to leave for LI, the boys and I hit a favorite EV brunch spot for some "get this party started" drinks. Cheers, bitches!

Yum - Gatlinburg Cabin

Yum - Gatlinburg Cabin, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Good beer. Good people. Good times.

Gatlinburg Cabin View

View2 from - Gatlinburg Cabin, originally uploaded by da_mere.

First a trip to Gatlinburg with Stacy and her friends. Stacy and I have been friends since high school. I would trust Stacy with my life. We've traveled together, we've gone to school together, we've been so drunk we couldn't stand together, and we've almost been killed by an NYC cabbie together.

Thankfully, Gatlinburg was a little more relaxed than all of that. Just some chill folks hiking and drinking and playing board games.

Where to begin...

Since my last post, you'd think I'd fallen off the face of the Earth, and that would almost be true. In fact, I traveled the rest of February and most of March. Somehow, at the end of March and the beginning of April I was able to settle down and write my master's paper. Whew. It was a busy time, and my body simply shut down for the mid-section of April.

Now, I'm back and ready to go again!