So long 2009...

This year has had its up and downs…

1. I've been unemployed all year. That’s good and bad. But that’s all I have to say about that.

2. I went back to Juneau this last July with my Aunt to see my parents on their boat. We were popsicles, but had a great time ;-)

3. I started a diet about 3 months back. Lost 25 lbs… gained 2 back (in only 4 weeks of slacking, not bad) and will continue on.

4. Whole heartedly welcomed a new member of the family… my cousin’s fiancée Savannah. She was always family, but it will become official in February. Being there when she found “The” dress, helping with invitations, seeing the venue, etc, has been awesome.

5. Attended the memorial service for Officer John Hege. He was the brother of a close friend growing up.

6. Road tripped down to L.A. with Sarah, and spent a few days down there visiting with friends from all over, going to Disneyland and to a game.

7. Spent a few fun weekends down in San Jose with out of town friends and seeing some games.

8. Spent a few fun days on the coast and got to see a newborn harbor seal be rescued.

9. Saw the new California Academy of Sciences and the Faberge exhibit at the Legion of Honor.

10. It’s been a financially tough year, so here’s to winning the lottery in 2010 :-)

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Ryan from The Real World Brooklyn, Return to Duty and Iraq

So because of the fact that over the holidays, every show is a rerun, I have been re-watching The Real World Brooklyn online. Actually just finished the reunion episode a little bit ago. And I never knew MTV made a follow up show called 'Return to Duty' about Ryan. I just started it a little bit ago, then felt inclined to write this.

I admit to finding him a likable guy on the show, and balling the first time I watched the season when he found out be was recalled to the Army and was going back to Iraq. I know I don't "know" the guy. And I know he isn't "technically" a celebrity. But having watched The Real World, I feel Like I know him a little. I know some people whine about why people morn celebrities, for example, when you never actually met the person. But when you learn a lot about a person and get to know their story, it feels personal.

Anyway, after watching the episode where he got recalled last night, I added him on MySpace (and tonight on FB). Not sure why, I'm never on MySpace. But looked him up on there out of curiosity. Then tonight I just read his new blog dated today, about his close Army friend (RIP Darren) who just died 3 days ago of an overdose of pain medication. I just re-watched the scene from The Real World where Ryan, Darren and his child attend the 9/11 ceremony at Ground Zero. It's just so sad to see their interaction, now knowing what happened.

Ryan seems like such a good guy, and has a personality that makes you think he can overcome anything and still have a smile when it's all over and done with. For someone I have never, and will never, meet... I truly respect the guy in a lot of ways. And I hope he returns home safe, and on schedule, this Spring.

Auschwitz and other thoughts...

I'm so irritated about the sign at Auschwitz being stolen. Some may find that odd. But I have always been fascinated by what happened during the Holocaust. Why? I don't know, but I am. I am hugely sympathetic to those murdered and their survivors. Truly awful what happened back then. Part of me thinks, that maybe I was in a camp in a past life. The same way I am so fascinated with ancient Egypt. Maybe I lived in the days of the Pharaohs. Not sure if I do or do not believe in that stuff. But the thought crosses my mind sometimes as to why I (or anyone) has a deep affinity to a person, culture, location or place in time. But I digress. As far as that sign being stolen, I compare it to any significant artifact being stolen from a country during wartime, or peace. And also the fact that there are certain things I want to see before I am no longer able to. One in the past, was the Berlin Wall. I would have found it so impactful to have seen the Wall, prior to it coming down. And every once in a while it comes up that "they" are worried that Mt Vesuvius will erupt again, and once again cover the city of Pompeii. I would regret not having seen it. So the same thing with this sign. I did just read that they immediately replaced it with a replica. But it's not the same thing.

Holiday in San Francisco

Today my Mom, Aunt and I went to San Francisco to have lunch, shop and look at all the pretty decorations. We had 11:45am lunch reservations at Kuleto's right near Union Square. It's a very pretty Italian restaurant adjacent/inside the Villa Florence Hotel. I said screw it to my diet and had the saffron risotto with scallops and shrimp, and an affogato for dessert. So I splurged. My Mom treated my Aunt and I as part of out Bday presents.

Then we headed to Holiday Lane in Macy's, which wasn't as big as normal, but still nice. Then my Aunt decided we needed to go take a picture with Santa, so we did. I'm waiting on my Mom to scan the picture.
We had to head to Neiman Marcus after that to look at their beautiful tree, all 4 stories of it. So took some pics from the bottom floor, then headed up to the 3rd floor balcony to see it from up there.
I saw some beautiful Christian Louboutin pumps there that would go perfectly with the dress my Aunt got for my cousin's wedding. But At $725, she decided to pass ;-) It was these, only in a royal blue.

After that we went and looked at the kittens in the Macy's window and then headed to Gumps to see their beautiful ornaments. I spotted this blood orange syrup there that looked so good. Guess you can use it in drinks, on waffles, over ice cream, etc. So I bought a bottle for my Step-Dad for Xmas. Maybe he'll let me try some :-)

I treated myself at this jewelry store to a leather rhinestone bracelet.
I liked it, so I got it. We ended the evening just sitting and watching the ice skaters on Union Square and taking some pictures. It was a really nice day.

The cold... and my diet...

The weather has changed quite a bit. I started using the heater in my house about a month ago. The weather started cooling down and I thought it was time. But not needed more than in the last few days. Snow all over the Bay Area and lows around 30 degrees. Brrrrr!!! We have these spells every year, and I actually enjoy them. It’s nice to have a change in climate every once in a while. Reminds me of when I lived in Mammoth Lakes, having moved there New Years Eve, having never lived in the snow before. My biggest “cold” memory of that time, was the feeling of first waking up all warm in your bed, and having to walk to the bathroom to take a shower in the morning and shivering like crazy. When I walked into my bathroom earlier I had that thought. I keep the window in there cracked almost year round, and just keep the door closed. But boy if it isn’t 20 degrees colder in there than the rest of my house right now. Seriously. BRRRR!!!

Anyway… my other thought was my dinner tonight. I was craving Taco Bell, sick I know, but true. So I decided to screw my diet for the night and get 3 crunchy taco supremes for dinner. They tasted good at the time, but funny how your system changes after not eating fast food for a while. I wasn’t feeling so hot afterwards and wondered why I did that to myself. Not that I haven’t cheated on my diet here and there, but almost every time, my body know it’s something I shouldn’t be eating. It’s kind of interesting. But regardless of the cheating on my diet a little, I lost 5 lbs last week. And that was the week after Thanksgiving. I was amazed. That was week 8. My weight loss in lbs has been like this over the 8 weeks… 7, 5, 0, 1, 4, 2, 1 and 5. 25lbs in total. I still haven’t really been exercising like I should, so that is just a diet change only. I’m happy about that. This is going to be another tough week however. I am going to dinner with a friend on my Birthday (Wed). Then my Great Aunt is taking me to a Birthday lunch on Thursday. Then I have a friend’s Holiday party on Saturday. In a restaurant, I do my best to order the most sensible option. But at the party this weekend, the food cannot be resisted, so I will indulge.

Anyway, those were just my random thought for the evening.