2007 was an exceptional year of growth. I think I’ve accomplished many things, went many places, met or reconnected with lots of people, moved my body… and I actually feel a little smarter than last year.
Here are some highlights…
I got a new job
I joined a dance company (Loose Change)
Rehearsed a LOT with Loose Change
Paid off my credit card debt
Got a Vespa (and a new helmet is coming soon, yey!)
I traveled to France, Utah, las Vegas, Buffalo NY, North Carolina, up and down California
Hiked about 30 or more times in National Parks, State Parks and San Francisco
Went camping 3 times (in the woods, at the beach and at Bryce Canyon)
Started a family tree
Was on stage 8 times
Not so great (can’t be all great!)… had some claustrophobic instances
Painted a little
I met or reconnected with 3 relatives and their families
I reconnected with old friends from college, high school and even elementary school. I want to blog about this…
I feel more in love with Justin every day
Things I did for the first time…
Make a “blanquette de veau” which was delicious
Went to Paris!
Snowshoed
Dressed up as a Pirate
Dressed up as a witch on a Vespa
Hiked in a river
Had a massage (1st in a VERY long time)
Met Justin’s grandparents
Feel like I have a job that makes me smarter
Saw the ball drop on TV for New Years
… I’m forgetting lots of first times…
People around me also influenced my year in a great way, like my sister having her baby, Luna, and my Dad getting his American citizenship and Eveline having her baby, Zacharie.
What about resolutions? Nah..not for me. I know that if I force myself to make a list of changes, I won’t do it. If I need change, I will feel it in my guts, I don’t need a date to be set for this and I just trust myself to always want to evolve, move forward and keep growing. Staying balanced and happy is my year-round resolution, and it takes work! It’s just not on a list.
Looking back at the year that just went by makes me feel pretty strong and wondering how I can top it off! But at the rate I feel like I’m growing, I think I’ll be just fine.
I will probably not be blogging much this week as Loose Change is preparing our performance at this year’s SF Hip Hop Dance Fest. We’ve been rehearsing intensely for the past few weeks, all last weekend and every night this week. But it’s totally worth it! Our piece is awesome, I love it! And most of all, it’s going to be very different from everybody else’s style.
Come check us out if you’re in the city. We’re in Program B, performing this Saturday and Sunday night at the Palace of Fine Arts.
Of course a show doesn’t come without rehearsal, warming up and making adjustments. Here are a few shots of what it’s like a few hours before curtain call… (pics are taken by Owen Donnelly and Sandy Lee).
Getting warm and feeling out the floor.
Sandy and I have the same smile :)
Laura
Eric giving directions and notes.
Josh, floor sky-diving.
Skits and funny hair whipping.
I have more pictures on my camera… The only issue is that I have absolutely no desire to unpack right now and consequently won’t find the USB adaptor in my suitcase. You’ll just have to wait!
Sunday, we took a walk to San Francisco’s ferry building and surroundings. We took it waaayy easy, had some lunch and an ice cream. It felt so good, after the fundraiser craziness.
It turned out to be a beautiful day and benches looked really pretty that day.
I wanted to go to a fancy hotel lounge with Justin and some other faceless person. But as we got closer, I realized I forgot my shoes at the downtown payless shoes store earlier when I tried some shoes on. So, I was wondering if I could sneak myself in, wearing my very generic white socks, but it didn’t work.
So, I decided to go back to the store and recup my shoes.
I get there and have a conversation sounding like this:
- “Hi, I was here earlier and I seemed to have forgotten my shoes on my way out. Could I get them back?”
- “Oh, the brown shoes? These are payless shoes, so there’s no way for us to verify if they belong to you or to the store. I’m afraid you will have to re-purchase them.”
-”Re-purchase them? Are you kidding me? I’m not going to buy something I already bought!”
-”We need you to fill out some paperwork” and the lady brings me to the back area, looking like a wearhouse, where they have all the shoes. Another lady is in there and carries on the conversation…
-”Yeah, I can’t just give you the shoes, you will have to re-purchase them.”
I sense a slight French accent and ask her if she’s French. Indeed it was the case. So, while she prints out a ton of paperwork and fills out stuff, we talk about our Frenchness. She then looks at me and sighs. She grabs the shoebox where my already purchased shoes were stored in and gives it to me.
-”Here. You should go right now. The cameras are looking away and nobody’s back here. I’ll let you go if you you leave right now through this back door.”
-”Oh… thank you!”
I hold on to the shoebox tightly and leave through the somewhat hidden backdoor. I’m then plunged into the bright and busy downtown scene, with my half-stolen/already paid for shoes, still wearing my socks.
I put the shoes on and we are able to enter the hotel/lounge.
We get there, and apparently there weren’t any spots left for us. So, a waitress brings us to a booth where a guy is finishing up his meal and is talking on his cell phone. Indicating us to sit next to him, she says: “Here you go. He’ll be done shortly”. Weird! So we slide in. The dude is still on the phone. He finally leaves and we’re very confused as far as what sort of fancy place like this would dare mixing incoming people with outgoing ones.
*****
And then the dream went off in weider directions involving being in France and being chased by clouds of angry bees and trying hide from them. Neither here nor there. I just like the shoe part.
“Those lucky pennies have finally paid off…Spirit Airlines just released an incredible “one cent fare” sale. We’re not kidding. You can actually fly between many U.S. cities and even the Caribbean for just a penny! Hurry — though this sale was just announced, you must book your tickets by midnight tomorrow (Thurs., April 19).
Do keep in mind that flights are available on very select dates April 21 - Sept. 30. You’ll often find you can fly one-way for a penny but the return trip will be higher. Regardless, you’ll be getting a terrific deal. ”
The return seems to be no more than $8. Incredible!!
