2007, I bid you adieu.

As is the case when the year begins to wane, many news outlets turn to the traditional top stories, top ten videos, best music, most outrageous celebrities, top teams, etc., etc., etc. Which is a wise move because not only does news become scarce at this time of year (pending tragic assassinations, and police shootings) but it’s also a natural time of year for people to reflect on the year that was and hope for good things in the new year that is dawning.

So not to break with tradition, here’s my not so much top list of things from 2007 but rather just a bunch of random stuff that the year taught me; the highs, the lows and all the in-betweens.

The year started very uneventfully. Asleep before midnight I didn’t greet 2007 until sometime around mid-day on January 1. Then I kept to my anti-social ways and spent the day cooped up in my Shoe Box, reading, watching television and generally reveling in my own company. As far as I’m concerned it was a fabulous start to the new year.

From there things took off. There were some new boys and some old boys made an albeit brief reappearance. New friendships were forged some old ones were lost (sadly) or badly broken. Betrayals were made and I realized just how far you can and cannot trust some people.

But amongst the betrayals of trust, confessions of love, decisions to move forward, requests to stay behind, I had front row seats to the disintegration of a marriage. Then there’s pregnancy, pure unadulterated craziness in the form of one sister in-law, stupid mistakes, paralysis, unprecedented kindness, championships and one of the most memorable lessons I learned: sleeping with The Drummer will not take away the hurt about Peaches’ accident.

With all the bad comes the good. The silver lining on the year definitely has to be the progress that Peaches has made. His accident has given me a new appreciation of life, which is evident in the traveling I’ve done in the accident’s wake and my general outlook on life.

I make no resolutions because making resolutions is setting yourself up for failure. All I want out of 2008 is a little happiness, some good health and the same for all of you.

With a tip of the hat, 2007, I bid you adieu.

Odds and Ends!

Despite my rage earlier in the day about wanting to instate a rule that wouldn't allow anyone under 18 in Starbucks' I seem to be moving very contentedly into my evening.

Perhaps it was my conversation with Peaches.

His spirit and positivity only serves to make me feel content that I have someone like him in my life. Now that he and the girlfriend have parted ways I feel more comfortable about spending time with him again. It's too bad that my guy friends, girlfriends never like me, so because of the circumstances I decided to leave some space.

It's also good that he is helping me to stop procrastinating things in my life.

One think I truly love about vacations is the ability to disconnect. It was fabulous to be internet free, email-less, mobile-less and facebook free. Now if only I could disconnect a little more in my every day life.

I'm going MIA again for a few days. D is coming to town, Auntie is coming in, and I want to spend some time with Peaches. Rest assured a year in review is on it's way though!

Enjoy the weekend, I know I will!

Mele Kaliki Maka

What a fabulous 10 days. Precisely what I needed to relax and unwind. I just wish that Poppy P would have decided against being a stubborn old goat and come with us, but I digress.

Travelling with Little Brother was fairly entertaining. Now there is someone who doesn't seem to sweat anything. He runs on his own time, doddling along and seems genuinely happy. I think he got all the patient "jeans"!

The only true rage I felt was the flight out of Honolulu with the screaming toddler -- I don't wanna! That was the whiniest voice ever. It also didn't help that with minimal leg room the guy in front of me decided to recline, I felt compelled to ask him if he would rather just sit in my lap! Then my head phones wouldn't work so I couldn't watch the movie. I was hoping to just sit back and tune everything and everyone out with my ipod but apparently it was all out of power. The rage was palpable as I sat between Mum and L. But we made it.

Best airport security staff was definitely in Hawaii as they chanted: "Chug CHUG, CHUG" to little brother as he realized he couldn't go through the checkpoint with his full vitamin water. Then the guard said to me, "what we encourage drinking responsibly".

So many hi-lites and lo-lites that I can't quite wrap my head around all of them because my body is still adjusting to the major temperature swing -- honestly why do I live here.

Now I just need to coast through the next two days of work and get another two off.

Taking three weeks of December off is a goal that I am going to try and attain every year now.

Merry Christmas!

Frankie says RELAX

Why can't I just relax?

I used to be able to go for a massage and just shut down for that half hour, 45 minutes or whole hour (however long I chose to pamper myself). My mind would wander with the soothing, yet un-intrusive music and I would be lulled into submission. Usually nearly falling asleep and feeling like it hadn't lasted long enough.

On Monday I went for another massage and noticed that my trend of not being able to relax unforunately is still on.

It was only 30 minutes and I layed there thinking how long is this going to take...shouldn't the 30 minutes be up yet, it feels like I've been laying here forever. I have a million things to do. That's when I thought to myself, why can't you just relax and take this 30 minutes for yourself. Where no one can get ahold of you, there's no work to do, no one has an urgent crisis or drama to rehash with me, nothing exists but me and person who is making my back feel better.

As much as I tried to just let it go, I couldn't.

Hopefully I'll be able to let go of everything when I board that plane next Tuesday. If sitting on a beach staring out at the ocean doesn't clear my mind and relax me then I'm pretty sure nothing will except for some sweet medication!

Losing my mind, one day at a time.

It took me more than twenty minutes to find my car keys this afternoon.

Normally this wouldn't seem such a big deal but my apartment is the size of a shoe box and I really do think that I'm starting to lose my mind. I knew they were in here but finding them became a real puzzle to the point of my rage winning out and I nearly gave up on leaving my apartment.

The only problem then was to figure out how I was going to drive to the Bridge City tomorrow.

Because I gave up I found them. They were in the pillows of my couch. I still don't know how they got there.