What a year it has been. Big things happened in my life and the world. So here are the highlights of the year for me.
February: Every day had something planned. It was a crazy month. I was going to info sessions and interviewing for some hotel company or another almost every week. Sure, I didn't get the jobs, but I got interviewing experience, which is just as valuable. This month also brought new life into this world. Emilie Taniguchi was born on the
24th. She's my "brother" Ryan and his wife Janet's bundle of joy. I have been lucky enough to see her when I come home for breaks. She's a dear little baby and so cute!
Me and Emi in August
March: I turned 20. Two decades of life. Not much happened on the actual day, but my friend (and now roommates) threw me a birthday party to make up for the lack of events on the actual day. I went to Las Vegas for the first annual Vegas trip with HTMSA. It was fun and I'm looking forward to this year's trip when I'm actually of age to do things.
May: Finished off my best semester at SDSU thus far, finishing with 4 As and 1 C. I think the As counteract the C. Haha. This month Mom and I went off to Tennessee to visit Robbie and Paul. I found the Knoxville Airport to be entertaining as it has rocking chairs of various sizes all over in front of the windows. I also got to see Dollywood. In said park I saw some interesting characters and their even more interesting dental work. It was a fun trip though, and we got to play with her new puppy, Goldie. And I got to see the cat that in all the years she had her and we went to their house we never saw, yet this trip I got this cat to sit on my lap and pet her and made her purr.
The Knoxville Airport
Goldie
June: Took care of Mom after she opted to break her foot. Took it as a sign that I wasn't supposed to get a job and earn money because I was going to be needed to care for Mom. Went and did archery for the first time. For future reference, it's fun, but I had some issues. Let's just say the chest got in the way a time or two and whipped me. I also lack aim and depth perception, so never entrust me with a bow and arrow and ask me to like aim for something. I won't make it. Unless you want me to hit the ground. Then I'm your girl.
July: Stepped into a bridal shop for the first time in my life to go with Hannah for a dress fitting. Fun moment I was happy to share with her. Found out the cream cheese wontons I thought were amazing had crab in them. That was a rude awakening. I moved again! From the huge, empty, somewhat ghetto apartment on Montezuma to a nicer, furniture filled, apartment in Mission Valley that gave me three roommates and a dog.
Hanging out in the new apt. before Cayla and I moved our stuff in
August: The month of Michael Phelps and ABBA. Quite the combination, I know. But as we all know, the Summer Olympics in Beijing happened this month nad reintroduced me to Michael Phelps. I remembered him from his previous Olympic appearances, but he made more of an impact on me (and like millions of other people as well) this time around as he set world records and had the most intense races I have ever seen in my life thus far, and maybe the most intense I will ever see. I spent my afternoons watching soap operas and random sporting events on NBC, MSNBC, CNBC, etc. and my evenings cheering on Michael and others in the big events. I stayed up watching replays of the big races and obscure events like Speed Walking until 3 or 4am. How does ABBA fit into all of this? The movie release of "Mamma Mia!" put the songs of ABBA into my head daily. I'd listen to the cd my parents have, watched illegal clips of the movie on Youtube, all things to hear the songs the way they were in the movie. It also just made me want to go to Greece more, and dance to 'Dancing Queen' all through a bar or club or something. The end of August brought me back to school. I usually go back the day before school starts, but this time around I went back a week before and had time to unpack and bond with the roomies.
September: I started school the Tuesday after Labor Day, which was a change as we usually start before Labor Day. One of my classes this past semester was only 2 days a week on Monday and Wednesday. So I went to the first class on that Wednesday, but I missed the next Monday. Why? Well I made the awesome decision to skip class, hop a one way train to Los Angeles, where Evelyn met me at Union Station, and we went to see a taping of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" because Michael Phelps was the guest. It was a lot of fun. Bradley's friend had gotten me two tickets and had me on the list to get in. So we went and got there pretty early, so had a yummy lunch at Porto's a few blocks away. Then we went and got right in and saw the taping. It was so much fun and so worth it.
October: Here is a big month in my life. I was a big girl and took a flight by myself from San Diego to Fresno for Hannah's bachelorette party. This is definitely a big step for me. I get nervous enough taking the bus from LA to Fresno and also the train from San Diego to LA, so to fly was a huge deal. I flew from San Diego to Vegas to Fresno. Then Hannah, her bridesmaids and I headed to Santa Cruz where we got her wedding dress and shoes and jewelry for the wedding, hung out downtown, and visited the reception site. It was a fun time and I was really glad I went. My flight home was strictly on those little 25 person airplanes, flying from Fresno to LA and LA to San Diego. It was a whole day of traveling for not that great of a distance. I also pierced my left ear again up top on the cartilege. It was all in the name of roommate bonding night. Haha. My regular piercings are doing well, lasting longer than the other times I pierced them when I was younger.
November: Not too much this month. It was nice and short when you think about it with Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. Of course the biggest news this month was that Barack Obama was elected President. I got to vote in this election, which was really exciting. I'm part of history that was made.
December: Another big month. Took my finals and had my first overnight guests ever in all three years of school. Evelyn and Sterling took a train down and saw my apartment and school and met my roommates. It was fun and I hope they come down again. We came back on the 20th. Then came Christmas, which was a lot of fun and relaxing. The day after Christmas, Mom and I hit the road and drove to Santa Cruz for Hannah and Ryan's wedding. I was the wedding coordinator so I ran the rehersal on Friday night and then did the ceremony and reception on Saturday. It was a really beautiful wedding. I cried a little and was so happy that I was able to be there. We came back on Sunday. Then Monday I went to dinner with some of the Las Moras girls for a reunion dinner. We moved from restaurant to Starbucks to Cha for Tea, talking about everything and still leaving feeling like we weren't done. I really miss those girls and had a lovely evening with them.
Roomies and I celebrating Christmas
Newlyweds and I at the reception
