so it's the new year (i know, i'm waaay behind already!! good grief, it's mid-march!)

first of all, i guess i should wrap up '08? this just seems ridiculous, but i'll stick to "tradition" and here's my list of 2008 *favorites*... w/ completely arbitrary categories:

Books:
- Fun find: No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency series by A.M. Smith (set in Botswana) - just delightful
- Hilarity: sections of the Portuguese Irregular Verbs series by A.M. Smith - not as endearing as Mma Ramswate from the above series, but there were sections that had me in tears laughing!
- Fad find: Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer
- "Historical": I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles - this actually launched me into reading several books set in the 1500's
- Re-read: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
**(wow, that entire list of books looks so girly!)

Media-ish stuff:
Website: hulu.com
Hook-ups: free 2-hr wi-fi @ Starbucks (w/ a registered gc)

Food discoveries:
- Clyde Commons in Portland - wow!
- Baby Blues BBQ in Venice, CA - didn't think i'd find bbq i liked outside of TX!
- The fact that you can order more than one entree per dinner on a cruise! (haha...i didn't do that, but D and his dad sure did!) i did, however, take advantage of being able to order >1 dessert each evening!!

Travel:
13 total trips: Thailand, Tahoe, Catalina, Costa Rica, Bay Area, China, Houston, PCC retreat, Idyllwild (Astrocamp), Lompoc, Santa Barbara, Portland, Florida + Caribbean

Discoveries about myself:
-I spend more $ on traveling than anything else. I even "collect" traveling accessories like suitcases and bags, etc.
-I am really adamant about the Asian no-shoes-inside-the-house policy
-I think about purchases > $50 for at least 3 wks before purchasing the product
-I don't read books, I read entire series
-I am a great deal LESS spontaneous than I thought...
-One can vacation while on vacation! It never occurred to me before to rest while I was some place new...but it's not all that bad! You come back really rejuvenated from the trip! =)
-My favorite times are no longer exhausting series of events... they're the quiet, mundane-filled moments at a cafe with D.

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i can cheat and already tell you some of my '09 favorites:

Media-ish stuff:
Website: librivox.org - yay for this WEALTH of free audio books! which leads to...

Book:
Fun yet deep: Father Brown series by G.K. Chesterton

the books about Father Brown are compilations of several mystery stories wherein this nondescript Catholic priest solves them with peculiar insight into the human spirit. when another character asks him how a priest could understand the criminal mind so well, Father Brown replies, "Has it never struck you that a man who does next to nothing but hear men's real sins is not likely to be wholly unaware of human evil?" He has a level, non-judgmental appraisal of man, and every-so-often drops a delightful nugget of his rational and yet awe-inspiring view of God. i am such of fan of this little, humble man who understands the potential for evil in all and yet also acts with such grace towards the guilty.

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Anyways, back to present day life:
2009 so far has been pleasant. not too many pictures b/c so many of the "special" times have been the "usual" w/ D, in building community w/ my small grp, or at tete-a-tete's w/ wonderful girlfriends.

i think there are few greater pleasures than in chatting w/ a kindred spirit. i've also recently experienced the wonderful discovery of new kindred spirits, which always takes me by surprise. but while i'm on the subject of fantastic things: the look on d's face when i show up to cheer for him at his softball games. (haha, am i just dripping w/ goo during this blog?)

here's a recent pic of us up in the Bay Area.

this is probably the worst one to upload b/c you can't even tell where we are (on Treasure Island w/ a view of the City), but it's my favorite of us on this quick wked trip. look at his new specs! military-issued so not the most stylish, but it's hard to mess up that handsome mug. haha...

i'm actually in a bit of a melancholy mood.
i thought i lost my last grandfather '04, but it's just as painful being close to someone who's losing a grandpa. the last wk has been a chaotic one within me, watching d begin the grieving process for a man who completely embodied generous, unconditional love. every word and story spoken about d's grandpa displays his self-effacing ability to laugh at himself and build up everyone around him. but in the sadness, a definite peace of where exactly his soul is now - joyfully with his Maker!

fortunately paired w/ the passing of life, i was able to celebrate the coming of NEW life!

my beautiful niece!that's my momma holding her first grandchild... my mom has E's picture up on her computer and kisses it whenever she turns the computer on or off. =)

i'm a baby-lover, so this doesn't surprise me, but i always love how much love a baby inspires. complete adoration, no expectations but just simple love, togetherness... a baby is a miracle in SO many ways. and i can't wait to meet this little one when i go home for spring break!!

with all the ups and downs, i'm tired so that's all for now...