Goodbye Good Year

Despite my current illness, and the rather rough bout of depression through the summer, 2008 has been without a doubt one of the best years of my life. Here are just a few of the things that make me feel that way.

-Wonderful trip to Manhattan: Ellis Island, Pizza @ John's, Central Park, and 59th street bridge
-Marking 10 wonderful years with Josh
-My first jazz concert: sublime!
-Participating in the political process: caucusing, delegate at District 10 convention, and voting on a cheery election day morning
-Fun visits to the Amon Carter and Kimbell Art Museums
-Trying 4 new restaurants and finding a couple of favorites
-Getting more exercise: walking and pilates
-Eating better: Start making salad for us throughout the week, try more vegetarian recipes
-Making new friends and finding old ones
-Cruising along on our second wedding anniversary: lazy day on the beach, hiking Mayan ruins, good eats and good times
-Saving over $18K this year!
-House-hunting: maybe depressing at times, but a marker of a new phase in our life
-Celebrating with friends their weddings, birthdays, new births, etc.
-Supporting Josh in his new job that he loves
-Accomplishing half of my New Year's Resolutions
-Feeling positive about the year to come

Very much hoping that 2009 will be very jealous of this list and set out to top 2008! I'll share my new resolutions in the new year. Right now I'm hoping I'll be feeling well enough to drag myself out of bed to go by the party being thrown by Josh's bosses and then to the DeMeglio casa party.

Update

The rest of our Christmas celebrating went reasonably well, aside from me catching a bug from my cousin on Christmas Day and being stuck at home in bed for the past few days. Still stuck in bed as I type this actually. Everyone really liked their presents, which makes me very happy. And I of course got wonderful things from my loved ones. I was lucky enough to get the Marx Bros. collection, 30 Rock Season 2, Across The Universe and I'm Not There on DVD. I got the latest Sarah Vowell book, which I already finished and loved, and Eric Lax's book of interview's with Woody Allen which I'm just starting to read. Best of all I got lots of stuff to boost my interest in photography. Josh's mom got me the Complete Digital Photography 4th Edition, my brother and family got me the 2nd and 3rd books by Ansel Adams, my mom got me a book on shooting people from a National Geographic photographer, and Josh got me all sorts of goodies. He said he wanted to get me photography stuff since I've needed a hobby as long as I've known him (which is absolutely true). He got me a set of filters for D40 lenses, a lens pen for keeping them clean, and the Holga that I really wanted. Josh's brother got me a package of 120 film, so I was able to take pictures right away. Now I just need to find a place to get it developed! I'm very excited to use all the tools everyone has given to me to learn more.

I've been working on my resolutions for 2009 and am almost done. I'll share them when I am. Now I go back to being sicky, laying in bed and watching more 30 Rock.

I Heart America

I got up bright and early this morning, donned my white shirt, favorite red hoody and best blue jeans and walked down to my polling place. I saw a lot of familiar faces from the caucus and convention earlier this year. Being there early allowed me to witness the poll workers take their oath, which was actually quite moving to me. And now I'm sitting here in my red, white and blue pajama pants watching election coverage. I love election day. Nothing makes me so proud to be an American like participating in the political process that marked us as something new and different in the world. Go democracy!