happy october new year!

alright, alright, i realize that it's november (how'd THAT happen?!) but i've been thinking about this post since september and just didn't quite make it to the posting stage in time.

october, you see, has become my own personal new year's. a time for reflection, reconnection, and resolutions. two years ago in october i moved to california and life changed more drastically than in any of my previous 31 years. october has had its share of other mile markers, so it seems like a good jumping off point for self-evaluation.

you may remember that last year at this time, i posted about some of the things i'd seen, done, and participated in in the prior year. well, it's that time again. this year's list seems different, but it's probably due mostly to the varied locations in which some of these things occurred:) i've categorized the highlights ('cuz i'm anal like that):


athletics
baseball - multiple angels games, including alcs game 6 in NY and two mariners games at safeco field (may and july)
basketball - cousin spencer comes to town with the utah jazz to play against the la clippers
hockey - oh i enjoy the mighty ducks!
soccer - i finally get to see david beckham play, and he scores two goals, winning the game (just for me)
horse racing - breeders cup

arts & culture
emerson home (and grave)
experience music project
hawthorne's grave
huntington library (while deb is visiting)
joshua radin at house of blues (i finally get to see this favorite live!)
louisa may alcott home (and grave)
sheryl crow at the shrm conference
thoreau's grave
walden pond

church sites
adam-ondi-ahman
boston temple
far west
haun's mill
independence visitors center
liberty jail

cities visited (outside california)
baltimore
boston...and again
cedar city
chicago
kansas city
national harbor
new orleans
new york...and again
orlando
phoenix...and again
portland
salt lake city
salem
san antonio
seattle...and again
vegas...and again

milestones and big stuff
got a dog!
moved three times
celebrated two years of living california (october 12)
marked the one year anniversary of my current job (october 20)

national parks (system)
arches national park, utah
boston national historical park, massachusetts
brown vs. board of education, kansas
bunker hill national monument, massachusetts
burney falls, california (not a part of the park system, but worth noting!)
canyonlands national park, utah
crater lake national park, oregon
fort vancouver national historic site, washington
harry s. truman national historic site, missouri
klondike gold rush national historical park, washington
lassen volcanic national park, california
lewis and clark national historic trail, washington
minuteman national historical park, massachusetts
new orleans jazz national historical park, louisiana
salem maritime national historic site, washington
san antonio missions national historical park, texas
sante fe national historic trail, missouri
saugus iron works national historic site, massachusetts
sequoia and kings canyon national park, california
trail of tears national historic trail, missouri
zions national park, utah

worth a mention
airboat tour in the louisiana swampland
balboa boat parade
cheers
christmas in naples (california)
freedom trail
gum wall (seattle)
mission san juan capistrano
monarch butterfly migration
pbr comes to town
space needle
willis tower (formerly sears tower)
whale watching at dana point

so there you have it. it's been a busy year. i didn't get to check many things off my 'hot list' this year, but i saw and did so many things i could have never foreseen. here's hoping for more of the same in the upcoming year...wih maybe just a bit more time in my own bed!