january 12

life is funny sometimes.  sometimes you end up hanging out with an old acquaintance and  former ex-boyfriend of three of your friends, because you've known each other for along time and it's nice to be reminded of 'home' and to be with someone you've known for a long time.

something about a little nostalgia, a shared history, even it if it comes with different perspectives, and a couple of snarky senses of humor, makes the longing to return to my east coast roots just a tad more bearable.

top it off with an excellent meal at a cool location, and you can call an evening a success.

january 9

sent by colleagues wishing me a happy new year.  
they had no idea how much i needed a little chocolate 
in my life .

been a bit of a rough week here in la la land.

that little romance i mentioned before?  mmm. not so much.

it's not that the thing never really got off the ground that's so disappointing, it's that i was led to believe that it would.

the short version, which isn't so long anyway, is that i recently re-connected with an old flame and discovered a spark still there. i was surprised.  and excited!  it's been a long time since i felt a spark. with anyone.  and it seemed like for the first time, in a long time, i was just starting to make out a picture in the puzzle pieces that have been hanging out, jumbled, on the coffee table that is my life.

suffice it to say, i was given good reason to believe that the feeling was mutual, and it turns out, i basically got played. so, i'm battling a fair amount of frustration and anger right now.  and yet, i also have surprising moments of gratitude.

i'm thankful for the lessons i've learned and the life experiences that have tested and strengthened me.  i'm grateful for perspective, and the knowledge (though not quite yet the feeling) that i dodged a bullet on this one. i'm also grateful for the nostalgia trip this sent me on, causing me to re-visit my past and the incredible people that have shaped it.  and i'm grateful for chocolate.

january 8

2002: our weekly thursday night dinner foursome

i love technology. sometimes, technology doesn't love me.

recently i went looking for some specific old photos, when i discovered that the site i used to host photos on (before smugmug and flickr and the million other sites now available existed)  had been completely redone, and my photos, nowhere to be found.

of course, i had them backed up on an external hard drive. which got corrupted years ago.  and there was no way to re-download them from the site. so, i went on a treasure hunt, not knowing what i had in hard copy form.

i'm still digging through boxes to see what i can find, but the last couple of days have been filled with the re-discovery of so many wonderful memories.

i am so grateful that my dad was taking photos from as far back as i can remember, that i inherited the addiction, and that so many people along the way enabled it. when i look at these old pictures, i can't help but be reminded of the amazing people i have had the privilege of knowing.  i am so grateful for the lessons they've taught, the memories they've shared, the patience they've shown, and the support and the love they've given. i have lived a blessed life, better for having them in it.

january 5

aptly named, this 'based on a true story' movie seems all but impossible.  the idea that that there could be a happy ending in a tragedy that took nearly 300,000 lives, seems beyond reason.

and truly, it is beyond reason.  it can't be explained or justified, it just is what it is.  miraculous.

sometimes i find myself hoping for miracles in my own life, yet lacking faith in their ability to manifest.  a movie (story) like this reminds me just how powerful god is and just how able to work those miracles.

hands down one of my favorite movies of the year.

january 4

i may be a lot of things, but a runner i am not.  in fact, my bum knee is as bum as ever.  but the idea of a 'color run' was something i was drawn to.   i think i fell in love with the idea of creating a team and having some great photographic opportunities.

a graphic designer i work with created a logo for our team, the purple people eaters, and another co-worker volunteered to embroider headbands.

today, the temporary tattoos i ordered arrived and i just had to do some quality control!

here's hoping i survive february 2nd!