2008 in Review

As we shed 2008 like an old skin I want to take a moment to reflect on my personal progress and accomplishments of the year. First off, I must note that this blog, in it's current state, is exactly one year old today. I started this blog on December 31, 2007 with great intentions of writing every day in 2008. However, I have to applaud my effort anyway. I wrote often in 2008 and my goal will be to keep the blog a little more active in 2009 with at least weekly posts if not more often.

It has also been almost a year since Chris and I first started playing disc golf. We have both improved immensely but even with all that improvement I still sort of suck at it. The thing about disc golf, though, is that for me it's not really a sport or a competition - I like to play. It's fun. It gets me off my ass and outdoors walking along some really beautiful courses for a couple of hours with Chris or whomever we are playing with. For me it's like a thing to do to be social and have fun. That said, it does feel so nice when I hear those chains and my frisbee sinks into the basket. I'm really looking forward to playing this weekend sometime.

The long and glorious road to electing Barak Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America began early this year for Chris and I. We caucused for him in March and became elected Delegates for the Senate Convention which was held later that month. We posted signs and got involved this year with BAND - Bay Area New Democrats. We voted, Chelsea voted for the first time, and we elected Obama. He's my hero and because of Barak Obama the world is a different place, a changed place, a better place. I have such high hopes for his presidency and for my country, now that it is in his hands.

Chris and I moved into the rent house at the end of May and have been "officially" living together for 7 months now but we were pretty much all living in the apartment at the Waterfront for about 8 months prior to that so moving here was like spreading our arms wide. I still love the amount of space we have and still can't wait to move into a more permanent home - one we buy. Chris's house that he owns in Seabrook continues to sit un-lived-in and relatively un-cared-for. For a couple of years now I've attempted to encourage Chris and offer to help him to do something about this house that isn't doing anything for anyone but I feel like I just sounded like a nag so I've given up. It isn't appealing to know that there is this massive hole in the picture of responsibility and put-together-ness that comes with my boyfriend as a package deal but you can't make people do things they don't want to do.

A few new babies were born this year - Julie & Matt's baby Caleb, Penny & Steven's second son Neil, Dawn & Jim adopted again - James' little sister Bailey, Jay & Joanne had their second daughter Jill just this month.

Hurricane Ike, September 13th, 2008. There's been enough said about the damages inflicted to this area from Ike already. Suffice to say that the hurricane was the catalyst for a multitude of things including but not limited to: my change in jobs in late November to the University of Houston which I absolutely LOVE; me hiring Kimberly at UH; many businesses being closed for good now; the island not being a great vacation spot anymore; change of plans for the annual beach house crew in April since every beach house we've ever stayed in no longer exists and there aren't any for rent on Bolivar; my brother Brian and sister-in-law Sheryl seeing wild success in their restoration business such that they have now employed my other brother Kevin and his wife Sophia who, incidentally, also graduated this year with her Bachelors from Sam Houston State University.

My dad's knee surgeries have affected us all since the staph infection and the modification needed to his life. He's not working and he hates that a lot. Between my siblings and I, we don't feel that my dad will ever get back to work so we have been having a lot of discussions about what to do and how to proceed with taking care of my parents as they age and become more frail. It's more difficult than I thought it would be and I know I'll be dealing with this more in the new year. Please send positive thoughts my way and may God grant me the strength that I will need in the trials that lie ahead in having to take more care of my parents.

Chelsea turned 18 this year and is now a legal adult. She wants to get a tattoo tomorrow. I am against tattoos as a general rule but I'm not getting one myself so my opinion is rather moot. At least she has a great idea for a tattoo and it's small - a yin yang symbol on her shoulder blade. I like the yin yang and the idea of an interconnectedness between male and female, light and dark etc. On one hand I'm excited for her. On the other just nervous that she's doing something permanent that she might not like down the road.

So there you have it - we all turned another year older; Chris and I both changed jobs this year, we moved in together for the most part, I've paid off 4 credit cards this year and am now down to only 2 credit cards and less than $4,000 in credit card debt - which is absolutely awesome and amazing to me! Chris and I are very happy and I love him as much as ever. I feel like we're stronger now than we were last year - we've been through some ups and downs and stood together through them. We survived another NaNoWriMo as the MLs last month and wrote another novel each. I'd say we're doing okay.

Looking ahead into the new year I see a lot of promise. Having to take care of my parents more this year will bring about a level of chaos unprecedented in our family from which we will emerge bonded even closer; I want to enter 2010 debt free so I'll get rid of my remaining debt; Chris and I are looking to buy a house; I'm finally going to get rid of my PC and become a mac-head; I plan to write more and blog more; get more fit; and I think I will get involved with a cause. I really liked being actively involved in the campaign but I haven't done anything for my community or the world since the election so I'll be on the lookout for something philanthropic to do.

Until next year - all my LOVE.

New Years Eve

A new year and a new blog. aahhhh! it feels good.

2008 is going to be an awesome year. Chris agrees. Tonight we're going to a party over at Matt & Julie's place. There will be a Texas Hold'Em Poker Tournament also, at which I'm meant to be the dealer. I think this is because Chris likes the way I shuffle cards. I'm going to send Chelsea into the game since I can't play and she's better at poker than me anyways. I hope she wins some cash!

We're taking both of the kids with us due to so many changes in plans about what they were going to do that nothing sounded very stable so we decided to just suck it up and bring them with us. In a way I hope we leave early so we can catch the fireworks over the lake we live on and in another I want to party with the people. So we'll play it by ear.

Today I made a Turkey Pot Pie with leftover turkey - totally from scratch. Nothing in this pie came from a can.
I'm hyped about it and hope that it tastes delicious. I would also like to take a bath and a nap before going to the party tonight.

My holidays have been wonderful! I'm in love and have felt the love of my family and Chris'. We have a beautiful tree as well as gave and received several perfect gifts. Chelsea got an electric guitar and her first lesson will be tonight - at the party.

I got a new digital camera which I love and a beautiful new necklace shaped like a flower made of hearts with a diamond in the middle. I also got lots of totally awesome bath and pampering stuff and some pretty cool bake ware. I got Chris a cool jacket with lots of yo yo patches that I've been collecting and a watch and a yo yo case. Colin got a ton of stuff. I can't even start on all of that. But they were all very happy.

Here's two totally happy kids at the end of 2007: