Just another day (journal entry from 1.1.2010)

New Year...what a strange idea.

I approached New Year’s Eve this year with a fairly casual attitude, mostly because it snuck up on me. I was excited to go snowboarding then party into the morning hours with close friends. We had our 50s attire ready (per the theme request), and I was excited to not spend a lot of money but instead have a lot of fun.

Later in the night it dawned on me that it really was a new year! That may sound ridiculous, but I also sustained a mild head injury on the mountain so that might account for some of the confusion. Overall I was just shocked that another year went by so fast. (My friends with children swear that it just gets faster the older we get…probably true.)

Even later in the night someone mentioned it was a new decade. What?! How did this happen?! I started thinking back to the last change of decade: the dreaded Y2K. I was home from college and went to a “formal” party at a friend’s house. Actually, it was her parents’ house and I was still underage. A boy I knew kissed me at midnight and this made me blush because in 2000 I was still quite naive.

In ten years I have moved more than 500 miles 3 times, and lived in 5 different states. I have traveled outside the US 3 times and within the US for 4 months by myself. I have been homesick and happy. I made a few bad friends and a lot of great ones. Most important I have experienced heartbreak and love. Real love.

I have said that I do not think I have changed much since high school; my core is still the same. I value my friends and family above work and material items. I love art and practice less than I should. Nature still blows my mind and I am constantly looking for new challenges. The point is, that core is definitely still there, but it is so much stronger now. Every moment I have experienced (and sometimes endured) has affirmed who I am. I know that I can choose who I want to be and what I want to do. I am confident and happy with the foundation set for me and now I am building upwards.

I do not do the resolution routine because to me New Year's Day is just another day. Real goals will be achieved regardless of the last digit tacked onto the date. Instead of looking forward I tend to look back and today I am grateful for the time passing quickly. It has been a wonderful decade and I look forward to the next.

A good find

Big news...
We got a puppy! Not really...
Neebs got a puppy!

His name is Ezio (EZ E for short) and he is cute and cuddly. So far he has no idea how to lie down, shake or give kisses. He is teething and that makes him extra nippy. He can not sleep without being on top of you and his breath stinks...super funky. BUT he rocks at running with you, even if you happen to be on a skate board or bike. Dylan took these pictures. I made the dog bed.

Love him.

'Tis the season

Actually I suppose it no longer is the season. More like 'twas the season, and here is a little recap of how it went...

I finished up the Go Love Tour in mid-December and returned to Portland on a mission to get ahead of the curve. In order for you to understand this mission, you should probably understand my interpretation of the idiom. I know that "ahead of the curve" is actually referring to a bell curve and being above average. However, when I was a kid I pictured a foot race and a curve in the road. If you were ahead of it you were doing well because you could see the road still ahead of you. Maybe I combined "ahead of the curve" and "ahead of the pack". Either way, I've been working hard and I am at the curve. I may be purely average, but I can almost see the future!

Dylan and I became incredibly domestic at the tail end of 2009. I would say we got an A+ in organization (ahead of the curve). We determined that one household does not actually need to own 5 tents. We bought new pots and pans (hopefully now our lives will not be cut short because of flaking Teflon). We also sorted out the coat closet...it is shocking how things fit when they are on shelves instead of piled on the floor. I feel caught up and that is amazing. My 3 page to do list is about 1 page. Incredible.

Christmas was in Portland this year. Low key. Just me, Dylan and Neebin hanging out. Since I am technically unemployed now I need to be smart about the monies and plane rides are not cheap! The day after Christmas, we did take a mini vacation...to Portland. I guess that is now classified as a "staycation". It is amazing how the pearl made us feel like we were teleported to San Francisco. Where did all these stylish people come from and what happened to all the hipsters? Here are a couple shots from our walk around town...

In total, we attended 11 holiday parties in 3 weeks including 4 in one night and 3 fugly sweater parties. We attempted to take one "serious" picture for my mom. Not so good...now we are a little boring. We tried.

New Year's Eve was a riot with a 50s party at my old house. We slept in the NEW (to us) Volvo. This is always a viable solution to avoid drunk drivers. Warning: the police may think you are homeless. Totally explainable.

All in all, the holidays flew by and now I am flying out. I am going home to PA for about 3 weeks to help with Granny-duty.

Being at the curve is good. I still can't quite see what is coming, but judging from the amount of light pouring around the bend it is going to be amazing! It will be a bright, bright future!