If you will permit me to be a little sappy (and if you know me, then you  know that is a very rare thing!), I have truly amazing friends and family.  Actually, as far as I’m concerned my really good friends are also my family.  And none of them–friends and family alike–ever cease to amaze me.

The last few months have been, to say the very least, adventurous.  I mean, my entire life has been adventurous, but the last few months have really been a roller coaster ride.  And aforementioned friends and family will attest that roller coasters are something I abhor.  Although I will admit that at the end of the ride, I’m quite drunk on adrenaline and want to ride again.  Which, actually, as I’m thinking about it really can be said about life.  But digress because I don’t want this to be about the meaning of life, I want it to be about how truly luck I am to have such great friends.

Most people, I think, will say that I have never known a stranger…and while that is true, I am a novice compared to Momma or Teresa.  But those in my inner circle are truly some amazing people.  We’re all different and we all live in different places and met at different times in our lives.  Some are related to me and the rest probably thankful that they are not!!  ;- )

But this post is about my wanderlust alter ego, April (yes! of Pics by April fame).  I met April in Australia and by some divine intervention (and probably a similar sense of humor and love of movies, photography, and traveling) we became friends.  She is, by far, one of the most amazing and generous people I know.  She goes above and beyond to take time out of her day to spoil someone.  I’m not entirely sure what I did to warrant befriending April, but I’m exceptionally glad that I did.  For many, many reasons but this birthday was certainly over the top.

Why?  Glad you asked!

At the beginning of October, I get an email from April that said (basically):

Your birthday present is going to be arriving a bit early because I got a really good deal on it, but I had to buy & ship it now.  And don’t fuss at me either.  You’ve been through a lot in the last few months and I wanted to splurge and get you something special.

Hmmm…this piqued my interest.  What could it be…what could it be???  LIGHT BULB!  The week or so prior to this cryptic email we were discussing splurging on buying all the Harry Potter ebooks.  But, wait that doesn’t need to be shipped. Think, think, think.  April also likes to get stuff off my Amazon wish list.  Could it be…Bond, James Bond?  As in the Collector’s Edition will all the movies?  No.  Surely not.  But maaaaybe.  Perhaps size and weight of box will offer a clue.

Box arrives.  A big box.  A big, heavy box.  With the words KITCHEN AID stamped on the outside.  No.  Surely not.  No…no…she didn’t…she…DID!!  EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE [that’s me squealing like a 5 year old girl!]!!!!

Actually, at the time I didn’t squeal like a 5 year old.  I may have teared up a little.  Or a lot.

So, without further ado, let me introduce Lucille, who is a ginger (like her namesake) and my favorite color and, ironically (not), the accent color in my kitchen.

So of course, I had no choice but to break her in with cookies and cream puffs and banana bread oh my!!  Yes, yes…posts to follow!

Thanks April!! :- )