An event came through this past week to be posted on Artsopolis that I thought was totally different and fun. It involves Photography, but mostly it just sounds like a fun event if you had a bunch of silly girlfriends, money to burn, and wanted to produce some fun photos for that special man in your life... with Valentine's Day coming up and having been to a bachlorette party recently...I'll chuck this website at you for fun...
http://www.bayareapinups.blogspot.com/
Decadent. Yes.
=]
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Anatomy of a Year
Apologies for those out there, that haven't given up on the webfooted blog palace. This last month here has been wacky to say the least. Last year at this time I was recovering from the first illness I had had in years, and this year I have avoided all physical ailments, though certainly pushed the limits of the mental. Lots happened, much of which I probably have written about, so we will do the ever popular top ten 2008 list as I take a few minutes to reflect on the brisk passing of yet another year.
10. I got to to know my adorable nephew Alex in his first year of life on this planet (that we know of.) Watching my brother glow with pride at being a father (and his wife Espe too) is almost as adorable as Alex himself and a close 3rd would be seeing my parents with him. He's a JOY. Very well behaved and I am lucky to be able to witness this tremendous honor.
9. I saved, literally hours from being put down, Queen Victoria, my first of 3 cats this year to foster and my first cat fostering experience ever. I am happy to report she is doing GREAT, as is Melody in her new home (now named ShaSha) and I am hopeful Sadie, who I had for two weeks as a foster (more on her in another blog) will be adopted soon. I was so happy to not only be able to save these kitties, but also that they went to PERFECT homes. I know how much I love Paxton and Lincoln, and I can't image anyone could love a cat as much as I love them, but people do. And that is a beautiful thing. I had no idea I would take their adoptions so personally and though none of these three cats was one I wanted to adopt myself, it surprised me how much it hurt when someone didn't want them, and how touched I was when they found thier homes. Everything has a place, and it reconfirms that I will find that place too. That unconditional love karma settles in eventually and I will know it.
8. I moved downtown to San Jose. This is my first URBAN living experience, and though I will never get used to the noise and population of weirdos in such proximity, walking everywhere is awesome. The place which was inherited by my boyfriend at the time, is slowly becoming less cluttered and more reflective of me, I hope to be able to afford, and lucky enough if a unit becomes available in May or June to the new complex next door called the globe. Fingers are crossed. Regardless, this has been an overall positive experience as I feel part of a community with my "regular" market staff, baristas, and homelss vets who eat better than me when they hit me on a generous day.
7. It was a year of new things for me, so NEW is number 7. Among the most notable new, I organized a fundraiser for Maine Coon Adoptions, I had a garage sale (2 in fact) for the first time, I treated myself to a full day of spa and holistic healing treatments, went to a fashion show for the first time (2 in fact), went to a conference for work, met many of my Houston relatives, posted videos to Youtube, did wedding reception decorations, and sculpted styrofoam rocks. In the following year I hope to learn to play Banjo, cook 6 different types of food, take Bikram Yoga, complete a 26 mile bike ride, and get to Africa, my last continent aside from Antartica to visit.
6. My original play Pandemonium was completed and produced. This was a big old check mark and what made it especially awesome was my entire family was there to see it. It was a great learning experience, one that tested me on so many levels, so many times, but was a challenge that I felt I rose to and made the best of. The next step is to edit, format, shop it and try to publish it, something which may or may not happen this year. Writing again, maybe two more plays max is also certainly a possiblity.
5. My salary increased my by over 30% from the start to the finish of the year. This is great but of course I also more than doubled my rent and took over custody for the adorable Paxton and Lincon. This and I inherited about 60 % more work, not accounting for the learning curve involved with this newest promotion. All in all my new postion as Director of Local Marketing, Princess at Artsopolis is shaping up to be very challenging but stimulating in ways I have been lacking. I love to learn but I was never a huge fan of grades. This job thing is a good change all around so far in the department of intellection enhancement or rather more aptly, brain cell awakening and reassignment. And this is the year I feel I will not only be able to be debt free, but be able to travel becuase of the hard work and dedication through thick and thicker that's been put in for the last nearly 5 years. Hopefully the work will indeed PAY off. I jsut need to stay on target.
4. 2008 awarded me one of the most rewarding directing experiences I have ever had. Northside's Over the River and Through the Woods, introduced and reintroduced me to some amazing, wonderful, talented, entertaining, and just overall beautiful people, and produced a show that was touching and well received. The bonds will last. And just when I thought I was burnt and no longer any good at it, the universe gifted me a reminder that I'm on the right track, I still can learn and teach from my passions. How lucky for me.
3. Reconnection was a theme as well this year. I got to see many people I had not seen for ages. Friends from college, highschool, swimming, and theatre were in town and catching up was great. Facebook, and I HATE to admit it, has played an instrumental part in introducing me to old and new faces. Obama also seemingly inspired people to pick up the phone and shoot emails to a certain degree as well. Virul or not, at I time where I thought maybe I was alone a little too much, and talking to my cats maybe a bit too earnestly, I was reminded what great friends I have. Lucky indeed.
2. The discovery this past year that not one, but BOTH of my very oldest friends (23 years+) are pregnant and due less than two months apart is fantastic. My role as Aunt is ever increasing, and I love that growth and joy that vicariously flows from them to me is more cathartic and healing than I can probably put into words. Knowing children are being brought into this world who will be loved and raised responsibly, and that they will no doubt be solutions to the many problems that plague our planet, is a wonderful thing. I have mysteriously grown closer to Erin and Laurina as they transitioned from friend to mother. We don't question why, we just bask in the glow, and eat our tacos.
1. This year friends lost parents and we all lost loved ones, some survived cancers and surgeries, and others did not. There were unexpected layoffs and bankruptcies filed. Hearts were broken and mended, and unions were officially declared. An administration was voted out, and a new one in, dreams were accheived and hopes were dashed, but the highlight of the year for me was the understanding, and really revelation that it's the balance of all the good and not as good, and the distance left to go to acchieve maximum fulfillment that is memorable and most important. Plenty of lessons learned. Many blessings counted. Plenty of growth charted this year for Susannah thanks to everything that all happened for very clear and precise reasons. In previous years I think there was a frustration and not being able to see (or justify) the negative. This year for once it seemed crystal. And through it all, the pigtails, flipflops, yellow jeep, freckled sassy baggage still seems to dominate. I guess when you get to the end of a year and you've changed for the better without really changing, you can count that as a good one. Here's to another in the making!
10. I got to to know my adorable nephew Alex in his first year of life on this planet (that we know of.) Watching my brother glow with pride at being a father (and his wife Espe too) is almost as adorable as Alex himself and a close 3rd would be seeing my parents with him. He's a JOY. Very well behaved and I am lucky to be able to witness this tremendous honor.
9. I saved, literally hours from being put down, Queen Victoria, my first of 3 cats this year to foster and my first cat fostering experience ever. I am happy to report she is doing GREAT, as is Melody in her new home (now named ShaSha) and I am hopeful Sadie, who I had for two weeks as a foster (more on her in another blog) will be adopted soon. I was so happy to not only be able to save these kitties, but also that they went to PERFECT homes. I know how much I love Paxton and Lincoln, and I can't image anyone could love a cat as much as I love them, but people do. And that is a beautiful thing. I had no idea I would take their adoptions so personally and though none of these three cats was one I wanted to adopt myself, it surprised me how much it hurt when someone didn't want them, and how touched I was when they found thier homes. Everything has a place, and it reconfirms that I will find that place too. That unconditional love karma settles in eventually and I will know it.
8. I moved downtown to San Jose. This is my first URBAN living experience, and though I will never get used to the noise and population of weirdos in such proximity, walking everywhere is awesome. The place which was inherited by my boyfriend at the time, is slowly becoming less cluttered and more reflective of me, I hope to be able to afford, and lucky enough if a unit becomes available in May or June to the new complex next door called the globe. Fingers are crossed. Regardless, this has been an overall positive experience as I feel part of a community with my "regular" market staff, baristas, and homelss vets who eat better than me when they hit me on a generous day.
7. It was a year of new things for me, so NEW is number 7. Among the most notable new, I organized a fundraiser for Maine Coon Adoptions, I had a garage sale (2 in fact) for the first time, I treated myself to a full day of spa and holistic healing treatments, went to a fashion show for the first time (2 in fact), went to a conference for work, met many of my Houston relatives, posted videos to Youtube, did wedding reception decorations, and sculpted styrofoam rocks. In the following year I hope to learn to play Banjo, cook 6 different types of food, take Bikram Yoga, complete a 26 mile bike ride, and get to Africa, my last continent aside from Antartica to visit.
6. My original play Pandemonium was completed and produced. This was a big old check mark and what made it especially awesome was my entire family was there to see it. It was a great learning experience, one that tested me on so many levels, so many times, but was a challenge that I felt I rose to and made the best of. The next step is to edit, format, shop it and try to publish it, something which may or may not happen this year. Writing again, maybe two more plays max is also certainly a possiblity.
5. My salary increased my by over 30% from the start to the finish of the year. This is great but of course I also more than doubled my rent and took over custody for the adorable Paxton and Lincon. This and I inherited about 60 % more work, not accounting for the learning curve involved with this newest promotion. All in all my new postion as Director of Local Marketing, Princess at Artsopolis is shaping up to be very challenging but stimulating in ways I have been lacking. I love to learn but I was never a huge fan of grades. This job thing is a good change all around so far in the department of intellection enhancement or rather more aptly, brain cell awakening and reassignment. And this is the year I feel I will not only be able to be debt free, but be able to travel becuase of the hard work and dedication through thick and thicker that's been put in for the last nearly 5 years. Hopefully the work will indeed PAY off. I jsut need to stay on target.
4. 2008 awarded me one of the most rewarding directing experiences I have ever had. Northside's Over the River and Through the Woods, introduced and reintroduced me to some amazing, wonderful, talented, entertaining, and just overall beautiful people, and produced a show that was touching and well received. The bonds will last. And just when I thought I was burnt and no longer any good at it, the universe gifted me a reminder that I'm on the right track, I still can learn and teach from my passions. How lucky for me.
3. Reconnection was a theme as well this year. I got to see many people I had not seen for ages. Friends from college, highschool, swimming, and theatre were in town and catching up was great. Facebook, and I HATE to admit it, has played an instrumental part in introducing me to old and new faces. Obama also seemingly inspired people to pick up the phone and shoot emails to a certain degree as well. Virul or not, at I time where I thought maybe I was alone a little too much, and talking to my cats maybe a bit too earnestly, I was reminded what great friends I have. Lucky indeed.
2. The discovery this past year that not one, but BOTH of my very oldest friends (23 years+) are pregnant and due less than two months apart is fantastic. My role as Aunt is ever increasing, and I love that growth and joy that vicariously flows from them to me is more cathartic and healing than I can probably put into words. Knowing children are being brought into this world who will be loved and raised responsibly, and that they will no doubt be solutions to the many problems that plague our planet, is a wonderful thing. I have mysteriously grown closer to Erin and Laurina as they transitioned from friend to mother. We don't question why, we just bask in the glow, and eat our tacos.
1. This year friends lost parents and we all lost loved ones, some survived cancers and surgeries, and others did not. There were unexpected layoffs and bankruptcies filed. Hearts were broken and mended, and unions were officially declared. An administration was voted out, and a new one in, dreams were accheived and hopes were dashed, but the highlight of the year for me was the understanding, and really revelation that it's the balance of all the good and not as good, and the distance left to go to acchieve maximum fulfillment that is memorable and most important. Plenty of lessons learned. Many blessings counted. Plenty of growth charted this year for Susannah thanks to everything that all happened for very clear and precise reasons. In previous years I think there was a frustration and not being able to see (or justify) the negative. This year for once it seemed crystal. And through it all, the pigtails, flipflops, yellow jeep, freckled sassy baggage still seems to dominate. I guess when you get to the end of a year and you've changed for the better without really changing, you can count that as a good one. Here's to another in the making!
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