So long 2008...

Well, it's been a long and interesting year for me. Yet it flew by so fast.

1. I've been unemployed all year. Sure I've been slacking about finding something new, but thought I'd take advantage of the time off while I could. 2009 is the year of the new job, I hope.

2. I had a very fun 5 day trip to Phoenix in January. I got to meet a handful of people from the Arena that I had only chatted with online. We saw a few games, went to the zoo, and just had a good time.

3. At the end of March, I went to D.C./Virginia for my friend Sahar's wedding. I drug Sarah along on the whirlwind 4 day trip so I didn't have to go alone. And I love D.C., so it was fun to share that with someone who has never been.

4. About 3 days after coming home from that trip, our friend Desiree was in town visiting from Saskatchewan. So she, Sarah and I turned around and road tripped down to L.A.. We saw 2 hockey games, went to Disneyland, Hollywood and Santa Monica. We also met more Arena friends on that trip.

5. There have also been many hockey games and meeting of more Sharks fans in the local area, which has
been a ton of fun.

6. I also became more involved in the hockey forum I belong to. It's basically my unpaid job… seriously. www.thenhlarena.com

7. I became re-acquainted with my Great-Aunt this year. Unfortunately it was because she has Cancer and needed rides to chemo appts. But we now just enjoy hanging out, so it was nice to get to know her better.

8. In August my Step-Brother and I headed up to Alaska again, this time to Ketchikan. We spent a week or so up there with my Mom and Step-Dad, and Merlin. We had another nice family vacation.

9. Just last week I got together with some old high school and college friends and it was so great to see them and catch up.

10. I've also… made candles and Christmas ornaments, gone to the coast a few times, watched 2 new dogs join the family, made my dog wear a jersey, went to Yosemite and Mammoth Lakes, watched my cousin graduate from the police academy, got my debt paid off and just generally had a good time.

I don't really make resolutions so nothing really to list. I believe more in putting your mind to changing everyday and not just a Jan 1st sort of thing. So yes, there are some things that need changing, friends I need to spend more time with, etc. But these aren't new ideas. I'm working on them. Well, I'm off to Anaheim tomorrow with Sarah. Going to Disneyland on Friday, then on Saturday we're meeting 10 other Arena folks for the Kings/Flyers game. Then home Sunday. Looking forward to it, catch you when I return.

A hectic, but very fun few days...

So, on Xmas Eve we all go to my Aunts and do the usual Xmas Eve family gathering. This year all wearing Christmas sweaters. Much fun was had, and pics will come later. And some cool gifts such as more Ticketmaster G.C.'s for Sharks tickets :-D, some DVDs (Girls Next Door, Ghost Whisperer, and another movie I wanted), a few books, a G.C. to a gourmet food place, my Sharks calendar, a few random things and then maybe the coolest item.... a ticket stub diary to keep all my concert, games, exhibit tickets in :-D I can't wait to put it together. My Mom always gave me crap for carrying ticket stubs around in my purse saying, "Your purse is not a scrapbook!" So guess this was a hint ;-) I stayed the night at my Aunt's because I wanted to have a few drinks. And after everyone left, we watched Tombstone, Singing in the Rain and the first 15 mins of Breakfast at Tiffany's before crashing around 4am. And that's my Aunt and I, not just me.

Then yesterday I drove to Claire and Bobby's to spend Christmas Day with them and her family. My 3rd year in a row doing so. We had an amazing turkey feast, salads with pear, walnuts, walnut oil and parmesan and too many desserts. The chocolate/ginger torte was really yummy. Then we all just hung out and stayed up till late chatting.

Today Claire, Bobby and I ran out to Fairfield to the mall. Stopping at some Italian restaurant for lunch. It was just ok... Then just made a few random stops in the mall. Then around 5pm when we got back, I got a phone call from my college friend/roommate Brian. He and his wife Deanna were having over Jen (one of my best friends in high school) and her boyfriend Vance (another college friend and roommate of mine). So I drove on over and had a blast reminiscing and catching up for over 5 hours. I had intended to leave 2 hours before that, but was having too good of a time. I really miss all of them and look forward to getting together soon, I haven't laughed that hard in a while :-D

I also got my hotel booked, via text with a friend tonight for next Saturday night in L.A. when I go see the Kings play the Flyers. Since my friend Sarah got the Friday before off, we'll be heading to L.A. on Thursday and staying 2 nights in Anaheim first and going to Disneyland on that Friday. It'll be a fun few days. So home at last for the first time since Wed afternoon. What a busy and awesome few days.

A nice evening with old friends.

So, a few old high school friends and I made plans to go to Cato's tonight, which is a great pub near where we all went to high school. So Lisa, Christie, Mike, his girlfriend Rachel, Darren and I all met up for drinks. Then we kept eyeing this guy at the next table because he looked so familiar. Then realized it was Ben Fendel and he was there with Dylan Kersh (and other friends) so we said Hi. Then we saw Lisa Horner (another high school friend) come in, so she came and hung out with us too. It was a very random evening of unexpected reacquainting with people we weren't planning too. But it was a lot of fun. So, other friends hadn't yet gotten into town tonight, so there is talk of another gathering there Friday night. So will be fun if it happens.

Another nice few days...

On Wednesday I made plans to go hang out with my Great Aunt. The night before, I thought to print out a bunch of pictures on regular paper for her to look at. Some from my day at the coast, some from Thanksgiving, some of the family dogs, some from Sharks games, etc. I also thought to print out the Sharks current player stats and all the league standings. She doesn't watch the games, but she makes a mental note of how they are doing when she hears the short blurb on the nightly news. I think it's kind of our "thing". The one thing she talks about with me and no one else. It's cute when she calls me and says " I heard the Sharks do.... last night." So after we cut out some pictures and put them on her fridge, and I explained to her what goals, assists, points, +/-, etc meant, she took me to dinner for my birthday. We went to Elephant Bar and it was yummy!!!

Then Thursday I went to my Aunts to go bum around. We went to the mall and she picked up a few gifts. Then we went to Michaels where I picked up a green tinsel Christmas Tree with lights for $5.99, which was way cheap. I thought a pink one may be over the top My place is so small that I haven't had a tree in years so thought this would be festive. Then my Aunt and Uncle gave me my Bday gift... another Ticketmaster gift certificate. WooHoo!! I have enough for 2 games now

Then a friend on The Arena had 2 extra tickets to the Sharks/Kings game in L.A. on Monday that she needed to sell. And if Sarah didn't have finals next week, we may have spontaneously drove down there for an overnighter to go see the game and meet the L.A. area Sharks fans. Bummer!! Not like I'm going to drive all the way down there by myself. So maybe we'll plan a L.A. road trip or another trip to Phoenix in the Spring, if we can afford it.

Well, that's it for now. Off to Claire and Bobby's Friday until Sunday to partake in great food, drinks and visiting with a lot of people I haven't seen in a while. So have a great weekend.

How cool is this??

My Bday

So, I had a nice and mellow Bday today. Did a lot of nothing during the day, then went out to dinner with my Mom and Step-Dad. I was having a hard time deciding between 2 restaurants last night, but picked one. Of course we arrive and they are closed for a private party. So we walked around the corner to my Plan B. And honestly, I had been craving dishes at both places, so was happy with either one. But ended up with my Della Casa and Gnocchi Bergamasca (I think the only thing I have ever ordered there because I love it). YUM!!!! I had a few nice texts this AM, many wells wishes on MySpace and Facebook (you guys rock!!!), and some phone calls from a few friends tonight. Including Abby and Nicky calling me from their beds around 9:45pm… long after they should be in bed ;-) But very sweet to hear them say Happy Birthday to me and tell me what they were up to. ....

I also received some nice gifts from a few people… a beautiful green amethyst necklace and matching earrings, a few DVDs, a book, a Ticketmaster gift certificate (yay Sharks game), financial dept paid off (more owed to me than a gift, but happened on my Bday, so I'll count it) and the most surprising…. After I got home tonight, I had a knock on the door and it was one of my Dad’s friends. He is one the ones that had been staying next door for many years now kind of mooching off of us (me). Nice guy,
but you know. Well, he wished me a Happy Birthday and handed me a card. I thanked him and he went back inside. Once I was back inside I opened the card, and he enclosed $100. It was a very nice gesture on his part and I will have to thank him tomorrow.....

So anyway, it was a chill day. Off tomorrow to spend the day with my Great Aunt… going to do some laundry at her place, go out to dinner and just hang out in between. Thursday I’m not sure what the game plan is yet. Either go see ‘Australia’ with my Dad, or hang with my Aunt. Then Friday off to Claire and Bobby’s to watch (and help) them prep food for their annual Christmas party on Saturday, which is always a blast. So the weekend will be fun filled too. Good week :-)....

It's been a fun week

On Tuesday my Aunt and I went to Half Moon Bay for lunch, then on to Pescadero, Pigeon Point Lighthouse and Davenport. Just to take in the views of the ocean, the nice weather and to get out of the house. Then yesterday had to send off my Secret Santa gift to my person on my forum, then did a little shopping. I got a cute grey jacket... but can't find the picture of it online. And today I went to see Australia. LOVED IT!!! I highly recommend it. Think I'm going to go see it again next week, along with The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas. See Trailers in links below, for Australia, if you haven't seen them.

TRAILER 1

TRAILER 2