a year in pictures
JANUARY
january was a quiet month; i turned 33 and celebrated with a few friends at coach sushi, went to santa cruz and took some really cool pictures and went to the crucible fire ballet for the first time. (i was also skinny. look at my ass! dammit! i'll get there again. *sigh*)
FEBRUARY
high points of february included triple karmeliet glass night at the trappist, reverend horton heat at the fillmore and my trip to hawaii with mom and dad.
MARCH
the best event during march was the adventure sail on the Lady Washington with elusis. my employment at backbone also ended march 31st.
APRIL
april brought not only warmer weather, but also alot of free time. i spent a wonderful day with my best friend doing the barbary coast walking tour of san francisco. i also attended my at the time boyfriends brothers wedding, went to a party at pixar, won the toilet paper bride contest at a friends bridal shower. and began work on a freelance commercial.
MAY
may was pretty exciting. i went to my first ever clothing swap, threw a bachelor party for my friend frank, attended the wedding of dear friends frank and julene, went to see UP at pixar, brainstormed co-op business ideas with two very intelligent women, went to maker faire and purchased my first evar laptop.
JUNE
june was by far the most eventful month. i definitely had alot of hubba hubba and costuming activity. i attended zombie beach party at DNA, donned retro green girl zombie makeup and sun dress and was actually entered in the costume contest. i went to britex for the first time. i put a marionette costume together and wore it to hubba hubba circus sideshow, which i also did some freehand drawing *on a person* for elusis' rendition of lydia the tattooed lady. and i put together a new pirate ensemble for the vallejo pirate festival.
non costumey events included my best friends 27th birthday party, for which i made tiarmisu cupcakes, and attended two separate barbecues.
JULY
july... i completed the freelance commercial, which meant no more extra moneys coming in. i also went to tennessee and am still working on "spotless minding" that trip (ugh... right wing christian fanatic family that obsesses about skinniness). there were good parts though; i began spending my days working on my alice project and went to the berkeley kite festival. i also went to see jon lajoie at cobb's, which was awesome, but aafterward i ran into the ex and his new girlfriend.
ya know what, i don't think i really liked july very much.
AUGUST
august pretty well made up for july. i got to spend some time in virginia visiting my most dear friend and her now two year old girl. it was wonderful. nothing else really happened that month. i think i just worked on alice and tried not to spend money.
SEPTEMBER
my favorite annual event happens in september: oktoberfest at speissakammer. however, this year, proving once again that 2009 was made of FAIL, they changed the format; no longer blocking off the street, stretching the event out over several weekends, and making us use a waitress instead of beer booths. *stab*
i also took up jogging, had the Intensely Painful Dental ExperienceTM, and failed an art test for a perspective job.
OCTOBER
october is always the best month. even when everything is going wrong. even when you've been unemployed for 7 months, are broke and have no job leads. even when your love life is only slightly better than non-existent. even when your ass is spreading despite your best efforts. october is magical.
the contrast of near-black tree branches and golden hued leaves against a sky that seems bluer than any other time of year creates stained glass windows wherever you look.
the crisp air wakens the mind and the spirit and puts a little spring in your step.
the smell and feel of your wool pea coat fresh out of the closet. fuzzy scarves and gloves. changing over the summer shirts for winter sweaters.
pumpkin curry makes its appearance in thai restaurants, and gourds are plentiful in grocery stores. rosemary roasted root vegetables. butternut squash soup. coming up with a cool design for the pumpkin carving party this year.
and of course, COSTUMES! this year i had not the money to make something new, so i reused the marionette costume from hubba hubba. seriously, i could do halloween every weekend.
NOVEMBER
i didn't really have any good pictures for november, so i put in some kitty pictures, which are always good. i heart my kitties so much. they provide endless hours of entertainment, love me unconditionally, and even in my darkest hours, give me a reason to keep trying. i love you boys.
november was my friend andrea's 30th bday, my friend susannah house/dog sitting for her cousin at his amazing apartment in san francisco (i stayed the night 3 times and we went to the cat club, dna and wandered around the haight and went to alembic which is awesome! we also spent an afternoon playing video games) and the very last day of the month i had a job interview at Sanzaru.
DECEMBER
december definitely gets the WIN! on for the year. the very first day i was offered a job at sanzaru, which i started on the 7th.
i went to dickens fair with some very wonderful friends, and because i now have a job, got to buy myself some fun presents.
my best friend threw a very fun, and very drunk holiday party.
my mother came to visit me for christmas and we had our first ever vacation with just the two of us.
and i spent NYE at a chillaxin not gonna try and force myself to have this super fun dynamic exciting new years eve night celebration which included just a small gathering of friends, two working fireplaces, a couple bottles of champagne and a balcony with an awesome view of the grand lake area and fireworks at midnight.
yeah!
SUMMARY AND PROJECTIONS
well 2009 was definitely one of tumult and change.
i got laid off for the first time, which was a blessing in disguise. the time off allowed me to consider options and come to the conclusion that yes, this is the career path i truly want, and no, i do not want to go back to school. i left a company that undervalued me, had some pretty poor ethics and very bad organization and spent time working on projects for myself. i started drawing again. i made necklaces and started an etsy store. i got alot done on my alice project and did work that i'm exceedingly proud of. i started jogging. napped, snuggled kitties and played video games.
i feel that the next year is going to be one of quiet fruition. i have goals and a plan. the interior struggles i've faced in the past all seem to have settled and i'm looking forward with hope and tranquility.
for the first time in my life i am comfortable being alone. i have wonderful friendships that i know i can count on. i have people in my life i can trust. i love myself and am happier with myself than i have ever been.
i have a solid financial plan for the year, a list of craft/sewing projects, and a plan to vacation in new york (i've never been). i'm going to keep this year simple. keep myself focused. and as long as i don't lose my job, i know that 2010 will be wonderful.
bring on the monkeys and monoliths!