the year that was, the year that will come to be...

As 2008 comes to a close over here on the west coast, as always, it only feel appropriate to take some time out of my evening of vegetation and relaxation and put some thoughts down on...well, this interweb thingy. It is at this time of year that many of pause to reflect on the previous year and think about plans for the one to come.

Looking back on 2008, what stands out the most to me are times with family and friends...it was a year filled with a lot of great times with people I love dearly. These days I have my fair share of complaints about life and there are things that need changing, but in the end when I look back I'm left with memories of many a good time. It's a nice feeling to know that it's the good that stands out above anything negative. I see ways that relationships have developed and some ways in which I've grown individually...tho I also have spent some time as the year comes to a close thinking about areas for improvement.

Before moving on to 2009 I'd like to stop and thank all of u who made 2008 so much fun...i'm thankful for the continued friendships as well as the ones that really began to develop in this past year. I'm nothing without the people in my life [at least that's the way i feel about life]...so thank u for being a part of it and a part of this past year.

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Looking forward, I hope 2009 continues to bring about change and good things as this part year did. The start of a new year provides a time and an excuse to renew attempts at betterment from before as well as a chance to refresh and start on projects new. Changes are definitely necessary and I hope to make the necessary ones, the ones that will help me grow and develop. With that in mind...some goals for myself:

1. spend more time with the people who matter most and doing things i'm passionate about
2. write more [here, on the music blog, in my journal]
3. create a better balance to my life

I could list many specific things as resolutions [and I in fact started the list in that way], but i find it easier, clearer, and healthier to simple list fewer and broader resolutions for myself. I think the last really encompasses a lot and pertained to many parts of life...from time with friends to work to time at home.

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Anyway, enough about yours truly...thanks again to all those who were a part of 2008 and i wish u all nothing but the best for the year ahead!

weekends away...

So...the weekends since the last post both involved travels as well...first a trip home for Thanksgiving for the extended weekend and then this past weekend a run to the City for a holiday party...and just a chance to get away. Highlights from each...

the long weekend in ann arbor...

• being home
• time with family
  
• the day of the Turkey
• Thanksgiving food...especially the pecan pie
• X-mas tree hunting
• the expanded and finished room
• the first of the X-mas decorations
• time with friends
• SkullSplitter
  
• "You gotta be able to go left so u can co 'click click click'"
  
• Welcome to Portland
• Question: What are we doing?
• Answer: Hanging out, having a good time?
  
• the Hamburglar
  
• darts
• TK Wu
• remembering my headphones
  
• realizing more and more just how much i enjoy being home
  

the most recent City run...

• it being the weekend
• just making my flight
• "Big things moppin'"
• Los' company to get food
  
• SAL
  
• making Ed uncomfortable
• "Sasha"
• "Are you Persian?"
  
• hatin' on Los
• Cybelle's
• stumbling home on my own at 3 am
• surprisingly find a bummed out Los
• beating Duke
  
• college football and Popeye's chicken
• the White Elephant Guilty Pleasures Gift Exchange
• not getting my gift stolen
  
• the new taboo [not that great in the end] and bendy Bob [lots of fun]
• Circus being awful
  
• getting all caught up on Entourage
• a good nite for my boys
  
• catching up with Los late nite style
• Zerzan Bagels
• salmon cream cheese [gross]
  
• brunching up
• tree hunting
• a Target run
• Rubios

a couple of downers from this last trip to the City:

• lint in my headphone jack
• flight delays...ughhhhhhh

at the end of it all, the realization that it's time for me to take the next step in life grows stronger with each of these trips. one could argue it's so many trips away that prevent me from really settling into this phase...but i feel i've become very comfortable during my time here and it really just is time to move on. oddly, trips home make me wonder if there's going to be a stop after the one i hope to make soon. all i really know is that as the new year comes it's time to really put more effort into getting where i know i'm going.