year in review

it's been a wild year.

my sister got engaged at the end of january, and we've been awash in wedding talk since.

my mother, having learned she had breast cancer in late 2007, underwent radiation treatment in the first few months of the year. following her last treatment, i surprised her and some of her girlfriends by joining them for lunch at macarthur park in palo alto. meals there are usually excellent, but this one tasted especially good knowing that we were celebrating something that she would hopefully never have to go through again.

i took a cake decorating class and a sushi making class, learning skills in both that i have yet to put to good use. i still prefer to eat baked goods and sushi made by others, apparently.

i traveled to vancouver, british columbia and seattle with my friend matt in april. we drove from seattle into canada, and it was my first time in vancouver. although we didn't explore the city extensively, it was a great trip and i have many fond memories of our international road trip, photoboothing, and exploring.

i was laid up with a back injury that still hurts on occasion, especially after too much sitting. physical therapy and chiropractic care from my friend lisa helped speed my recovery.

i volunteered for two film festivals, learning a lot about how festivals are organized (or disorganized, as was the case sometimes) and just how many people are needed to make something run seamlessly.

i bought a new camera in april, and i've fallen in love with little photo junkets with friends.

i went to some of the best concerts i've ever been to, including rilo kiley, jay-z, and jenny lewis.

i was elected to the board of my condo complex in may, and these past few months have had me learning more about working with a group than ever before.

both of my parents had knee surgery this year, and are recovering well after both having complications post-surgery. we had a scare in june when my father was hospitalized with blood clots in his lungs. seeing him frail, attached to oxygen in a hospital bed was frightening, but after spending several days in the hospital, he was released and stayed at my home for a week. i'm glad to say he's no longer on his blood thinning medication and is back to his usual self.

i traveled to long beach in july for the wedding of a family friend, a young lady for whom i used to babysit. although i was invited, i didn't attend the wedding and instead drove north into santa monica and further east for photo ops.

i traveled to boston and to cape cod with my friend greta in august and attended a red sox game on my birthday.

i traveled to orange county for my cousin's wedding in september and went to disneyland with my family. there were lots of good memories made while riding rides, and very little drama.

i did a little 5K for breast cancer, and am looking forward to participating in another one next year.

i drove to los angeles in november with T and had fun exploring places i hadn't been to in years.

we got good news in november from my mother's radiation oncologist that there was no sign of her breast cancer returning. she continues to take her oral chemotherapy drug on a daily basis.

i traveled to florida in december and went to walt disney world, my first visit to both places. tres exciting that i visited both disneyland and disney world in the same year.

i am going to ring in 2009 on maui, one of my very favorite places on earth.

i know i am very fortunate to have had the opportunities i've had this year, and i look forward to what 2009 will bring.