2009: The Rundown

By the numbers:

Trips to the emergency room: 1

Medical personnel who laughed when told the reason for our visit was a potato-peeler injury: 5



Moves: 0, though we're hoping...

Weddings: 2, one as family member, one as 2nd photog

Quarters of school attended: 1

Diplomas earned: 2



Total years in search of a degree: 12

Candles on the shared Lawlis birthday cake this year: 29

Justin's raquetball wins: 100%

Photographs taken: oh, thousands



Writer's Conferences attended: 1

Seahawks Games attended: 2



Moments of sheer agony this season: 98.2% of the time the Hawks played

Fantasy football leagues: 2 per person

Cash winnings: $180 (Justin's)

Additions to the "family": 1 (Welcome baby Isaac!)



Teepees slept in: 1

Home-businesses launched: 1

Number of Macs purchased: 2

Hours spent in front of those Macs: LOTS

Highlights:

Another loved-up year married to my buddy.  It gets better and better.

And we're getting better at it.  This is good.



Learning to let go of troubling relationships while pulling the good ones closer.  Realizing I have a choice.

Learning to make bread.  And crepes.

Graduation.  Finally.

Riding our bikes around Bellingham.

Relief that my Dad wouldn't need big, scary heart surgery.  (Heart function is continuing to improve!)

Extra time spent with the fam.

Getting a poem published.

Dates at Boulevard Park.



Lawlis Creative & my cool clients.

The Oxford's escaping Boise and getting back to Seattle, where they belong.

Watching my friends' beautiful sons, Drew & Isaac, grow.



Camping in The Blues with the Palooza Crew.  And the Bacon Blast.



Attending the Port Townsend Writer's Conference with Justin.



U2 Concert in Vancouver.

Dear Friend Daniel.  In our home for an evening.  Mocking/scoffing.

Halloween at our house.



Making the playoffs in our big fantasy football league.

Watching The League.

Ocean Shores for our 3rd anniversary.



Turkey-palooza (Thanksgiving with friends in Monroe).

Corn maze & Christmas tree hunting with the LeBlanc's & the Lucaii.

The annual holiday coffee date with Julie, up from Bend.

Things I'm looking forward to in '10:

Being able to say '10 rather than oh-nine.  It's so much easier.

Turning 30, and having Justin join me in our 30's three days later.

Maui with my folks in April!



Living closer to friends and family.

Working full-time from home or any place with a wi-fi connection.

Being surprised.

* * *

Lots of love to you and your families... may you find plenty to be thankful for in '09 and in the year to come.