There’s really not much more to do before Saturday. I keep waiting for some disaster to occur, or for someone to point out some major wedding component that I completely forgot. Call me crazy, but at this moment, less than 48 hours out…. I am quite calm.

Tomorrow Mama Dish and I will head to the florist and give our seal of bridal approval, and barring any loose ends that need to be tied up, we will head to the church for the rehearsal!

It all seems very surreal. Everyone told me how quickly the big day would arrive, but I guess at certain points it seemed like it would never happen. Making several life changes at once was stressful, just like everyone said it would be, (quitting my job, moving, cohabitating for the first time) but that’s the way life is sometimes. For better or worse… everything happens at once.

While I cannot wait until Saturday, I am trying to take everyone’s advice and enjoy the anticipation. I feel so grateful for everyone around us. I feel so fortunate to be entering into this union with total confidence. And of course, I feel so blessed that so many of our loved ones will be there to help us celebrate.

I will share with you one last thing before I go off and get hitched to the man of my dreams. (No seriously, he is.) In my last entry, I believe I mentioned the gorgeous quilt Mama Dish made us for our wedding. On the back, she wrote us a message. I think E.E. Cummings can sum up my feelings right now far better than I can:

I carry it in my heart.

It’s been two weeks since my gut-wrenching good-bye at WNEP, and I feel an overwhelming sense of relief.  (The crew put together the loveliest good-bye for me.  You can check it out here.)  While I miss the newsroom, it does feel sublime to be here.  I am in Philly, I am HOME.  I don’t have to remember whether I left a certain shirt at his place or mine.  No more middle of the night trips down the Turnpike.  I have one set of house keys on my key ring.

Last week, Mr. Dish said to me, “Your bridal shower felt like the wedding to  me.  You had your shower, and now you’re here!  All the time!”  Indeed, as soon as I packed up my car and left Scranton in the rear-view mirror, I was whisked into a whirlwind of pink streamers, champagne cocktails, stand-mixers, and hugs.  It really did feel like a grand entrance into co-habitation.  Allow me to give you a few highlights of the best shower and bachelorette weekend ever!  (By the way, all photos were taken by the marvelous Michelle Hein.)

The shower was at Mama (and Papa) Dish’s house, and the place was completely transformed using our wedding colors – yellow and blue.

The Dishmaids!

The ladies did an amazing job organizing a delightful brunch, complete with french toast, quiche, and a mimosa bar!

Cheers!

I got so many amazing gifts… one of my favorites was the wedding quilt Mama Dish has been working on for months! (blue and yellow, of course)

And a shower wouldn’t be complete without a big ol’ bow hat constructed by a few frenzied girlfriends…

Workkkkkk it!

After the shower, it was bachelorette time!  The Dishmaids and I had spent the night before the shower relaxing and binge eating at the Doubletree in Center City, so we returned with more girlfriends in tow to primp for our night out.  Our first stop – Marrakesh, a Moroccan restaurant tucked in an alley near South Street.  It is truly a hidden gem.  The place has been there for 30+ years, and you would never know it was there unless you were looking for it.

Nine of us shared the seven (?) course meal, eaten completely with our hands!  No plates, no utensils… just towels and our fingers!  It’s a good thing we’re all friends!  The food was to die for!  Chicken, lamb, roasted veggies, cous cous, baklava and more.  I even got a free belly dancing lesson!  From there we hit the town and danced the night away.

It was the perfect “welcome home” celebration with so many of the wonderful women in my life.  Two weeks later, I’m still unpacking, still organizing, still job hunting… and STILL waiting on a few RSVP’s!  (You know who you are, procrastinators.  Deadline’s tomorrow!)

With three weeks to go until the wedding, I’m confident I’ll get everything done… and confident I’ll be a bundle of nerves until the big day!  On tap for this weekend… a bridal beauty extravaganza with Mama Dish and MOH – hair trial, makeup trial, and final dress fitting!

It’s a little rough around the edges, but that’s kind of the point.  You’re probably used to seeing these attached to a microphone.  Like this:

“Intense Team Coverage” faces or “Get me back inside NOW” faces?

I am honored to have my own flag to keep, but it’s also a sad milestone.  It means I’m leaving WNEP.

I got my mic flag on Friday when several co-workers took me out on the town to say farewell.  Our Chief Photographer, Paul, orders shiny new mic flags to use in the field when the old ones are looking a little worn.  He keeps the old ones to present to out-going reporters as a souvenir.  As he always says, “If we like you and you leave, you get one.”

My last day of work is tomorrow.  (Yes, the same as Pope Benedict.  I’ve started telling people we’re going to switch places.  You heard it here first.)  I had planned to write a goodbye post on my last day, but I decided instead to write it today.  Tomorrow will be emotional enough.  I’ve already lost it several times as I’ve started to say good-bye to co-workers.

I’ve done a little bit of a farewell tour, since two local radio stations asked me to visit one last time.  I’ve had the pleasure of working with Rocky and Lissa on 98.5 KRZ…

…and DiRenzo and Prospector on ROCK107…

and it was so nice to have the chance to say goodbye.

I’ve trained the next official Taste Tester, Michelle Rotella…

Michelle takes over the Taste Test next week!

…and notes filled with well wishes have been popping up on my desk.

Working here at WNEP has changed me in so many ways.  It’s certainly made me a better writer and reporter (though I have so much still to learn), but it’s also helped me grow up.  In the past five years, I’ve learned how to tell a story and really make it interesting.  I’ve learned about how the world works and what it takes to survive in it.  I’ve learned how to be sensitive… that interviews aren’t just soundbites.  They are people who will continue living their lives when we pack up and go.  I’ve learned that the truth is always out there, whether officials tell it to you straight or not.  I’ve learned to trust my co-workers, many of whom have become treasured friends.  (Those pesky “treasured friends” are making this goodbye thing almost unbearable.)

I don’t know yet what lies ahead for me professionally.  Whatever that turns out to be, (television or otherwise) I know I will take the lessons I’ve learned from Newswatch 16 with me as I forge ahead.

Fortunately, this is not goodbye to the blog!  My bridal shower and bachelorette parties are this weekend, which I am more excited about than I can express in words.  In fact, there are many exciting things on the horizon.  This just one of those times in life when I have to close one door before I can open another.

I sure hope there are some wheely chairs in the hallway so I can have some fun while I’m waiting!

I hadn’t either, before last week. I’ve now solved one several times, thanks to these elementary school students.

These fourth graders at Fairview Elementary School in Mountain Top have spent part of their school year learning the math behind the Cube. Their teacher, Jimm Zabiegalski, has been teaching them the algorithms that will solve different sections of the Cube without messing up the sides you’ve already solved!

Yes, I said algorithm. I had to ask one of the students what that is. Low point of my week right there.

But shooting this story was a blast, and it will air tonight as part of our 16 Salutes series on WNEP. Some of these kids can solve it in less than 90 seconds!

Mr. Z sent me home with a Cube and the algorithm worksheet (way to send the reporter home with homework!) so I could try it myself. It was frustrating at times, but three days later…

…I had done it! I just sat there and stared at it for a minute. Then, I jumbled it up and started over again.

Mr. Z says the cube is a symbol for other challenges in life. If you do your research, try different methods, or just look at something with a different perspective, the solution will appear eventually. It’s an attitude that is hard to hold onto sometimes. But since I met these kids, I’ve been trying extra hard to remember the lesson they taught me.

I feel as though I have several “Rubik’s Cubes” in my life right now. Unfortunately, there are no algorithms for the real world. But I will keep working at it until all the sides click. I have faith that they will eventually.

1. I have a new PR!  Yesterday I ran in the Polar Bear Walk/Run for Autism 5K in Sea Isle City, NJ.  It. Was. COLD!  Still, I was able to crank out a 23:49, beating my old PR by :06.  (I ran a 23:55 five years ago and I’ve been chasing down that time unsuccessfully ever since.)

Image via Facebook.com

This race was a fabulous out and back on the promenade.  There was even a heated tent in which we passed the time before the start.  Here’s hoping the wind isn’t as brutal next year!  I’d love to do this one again.

2. I got into Broad Street!

The email plopped itself into my inbox this morning.  This is the first year the Broad Street Run is registering runners through a lottery system.  Squeezing in more than 40,000 runners last year, it’s the largest 10-miler in the United States … and it certainly felt that way as we dodged runners all the way to the finish line last year!

Image via blogs.phillymag.com/bewellphilly

The best part?  Mr. Dish and my (future) SIL got in, too!  Will I be able to beat my 10-miler PR of 1:28?  We shall see!

It’s the first Friday in Lent in NEPA, and that means it’s Pagash season! It’s also known as “pierogi pizza.” The Polish (and meatless) treat consists of layers of mashed potato and cheese on a thick pizza crust. This Pagash was from Ferri’s in Moscow.

While it’s very convenient for those of us who go meatless during Lent, the Pagash was actually by special request tonight.  Our night assignment manager, Bianca, is leaving us for bigger and better things. For her last dinner at work, she requested the Lenten treat she has put on TV so many times.

Thanks for the memories, Bianca… and the Pagash!

Ok, I’ll admit I wasn’t that surprised… but that doesn’t make them any less appreciated!

Papa Dish let me in on his Valentine’s surprise for Mama Dish: a dozen brownie batter donuts from Dunkin.

Well THAT looks like a good idea. If only I were around to help eat them.  (Did you know in the 1800′s doctors advised their patients to eat chocolate to calm their pining for a lost love?  True story.)

If you haven’t seen it yet, Google has a fun Valentine’s Day animation… which also pays homage to the inventor of a classic carnival ride. Read all about it here!

I’ve never been one to go all out on Valentine’s Day, but I’ve never been “anti-Valentine” either.  (Full disclosure: I didn’t have any red or pink in my closet this morning, so I went to Target and bought a pink shirt.)  While some call it a “Hallmark holiday,” I do think it falls during a miserable time of year when many people can use a little cheering up.  Whatever you do to celebrate, I hope your Valentine’s Day is filled with love… or at the very least, chocolate.

Getting there was a challenge, but we all made it to our winter haven in one piece.

Because I don’t really love skiing, and I would be that girl who tears her ACL on the slopes eight weeks before her wedding, I decided to stay behind in the cabin and hold down the fort. (Note: there was a fireplace, wine, and a hot tub in the cabin. Don’t feel bad for me.)

But before I settled in, I decided to go out for a short run in the winter wonderland.

Of course, in the whipping wind and drifts of snow, I lost my footing and slammed my knee into the pavement. So much for “playing it safe.” I ended up with a sizeable bruise on my knee.

Fortunately, that’s all it is – a bruise. I was able to run 10 miles the next day with no problem.  Still, this event got me thinking about getting some better winter running gear.  While I have lots of warm clothes and accessories, I really don’t have much in the way of traction.  Has anyone out there used any type of ice cleat, like these Kahtoola MICROSpikes grip crampons?

Image via gearjunkie.com

I love buying new running toys… especially if they make running safer!  Any winter gear suggestions?

In the midst of a hectic and frustrating morning, I stopped to look closely at the snow on my porch:

I had never seen individual flakes so clearly before! I used Instagram to punch it up a bit:

Even in my least favorite season… there is beauty to be found. I hope you find some in this frigid weather!

Mr. Dish and I were invited to a Super Bowl party at our Best Man’s place. Our Best Man makes a mean bowl of chili… but it is incredibly spicy!  My taste buds are usually dead before my stomach is satisfied.  So I decided to bring the yin to my host’s yang… Creamy Chicken Chili!  It’s one of my favorites, and oh so easy.  Enjoy!

Creamy Chicken Chili
1 lb. Boneless chicken, cubed
1 med onion, chopped
1 ½ Tbsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp veg oil
2 cans (15 ½ oz.) Great Northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (14 ½ oz.) chicken broth
2 cans (4 oz.) chopped green chilis
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp dried oregano
½ tsp black pepper
¼ tsp red pepper
1 cup sour cream
½ cup whipping cream
1 cup instant rice

In large saucepan, saute chicken, onion and garlic powder in oil until chicken is no longer pink.  Add beans, broth, chilis, and seasonings.  Bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, simmer, uncovered for 30 mins.  Remove from heat, stir in sour cream, cream, and rice.
 
Serve in 5 minutes. (For thicker chili, let sit for about 30 mins before serving.)  I usually sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese on top, too!
 
7 servings. (It also freezes well if you don’t eat it all at once!)