January 3rd, 2010
Considering I just asked the boy if today is the 2nd or the 3rd, I would say it’s been a pretty great vacation (even considering our Christmas adventure!) as evidenced by my non-knowledge of the day of the week. This is particularly poignant since we’re only 3 days in. HA!
Most people wrote these guys of posts two days ago, but let’s face it I’m not most people. Still, I wanted to share my favorite memories of 2009 month-by-month.
January brought me to a “little known show” that is the biggest consumer technology tradeshow *ahem*. Normally I go onsite as a second, but given the birth of my counterpart’s son, I was left in charge. It was a doozy, I learned a lot, was overly hard on myself and my skills, and will forever hold it as a mark of pride that I was able to pull it off (with a LOT of help from friends!)
February was the month of love. Honestly there was nothing overly remarkable, but on Valentine’s night the boy made dinner for us. It was sweet and nice. Our (young) neighbors that are on the other side of our duplex however had a party complete with beer keg and loud music. I felt old, and I was fine with it.
March we finally got our living room painted, and the house started to become a home. It was also the month of our company meeting and one of THE worst hangovers known to man.
April was the month that the boy’s Mamaw passed. It was the first death that we experienced as a couple, and odd as it may sound it’s an extremely touching memory for me. One in which my new family fully embraced me as one of their own, and I was able to be the strong one. It also meant that while I had to miss J’s surprise party, we were able to celebrate the twin’s 2nd birthday in person. I love those babies I do.
May was a busy month but oh what a fun one! My sister and brother-in-law came to visit. It was the week in which we became known as the neighbors that sit on their front porch until all hours drinking beer and having long chats about nothing and everything.
June took me away from the boy for 10 days, the longest we’ve been apart since we first started dating and I had to be in San Diego for a month. June took me to Florida, the most humid state on the planet forcing me to pour pounds of hairspray into my head in a futile attempt to keep it in check while I worked one of the most unique show’s I’ve had the privelage of working with. Wrangling lost children, vomit calls, protestors and dancing in the asiles during GS load in.
July brought me home to my sweet husband and straight into the 4th of July festivities, including tubin’ which I once again survived. Those that know me know I have an unrational fear of fish. I choose to believe that the Shennandoah has none (though next year I may wear a helmet in case I can’t avoid the rapids again). More importantly, July brought us our pupper Archie. I love him to bits, kibbles and bits. It was also very quickly that we found out how scary “parenthood” can be as his kennel cough escalated at rapid pace to pnemonia. Scared the bejesus outta me. The stress, however, did make me loose 7 lbs (which I promptly gained back) so you gotta take the good with the bad I say 
August brought our one year anniversary, which we celebrated in Boston. It was hottern’ blazes, but we had a good time. I, ever able to injure myself in unique ways, arrived home with an ankle sprain due to walking too many miles in my beloved flops.
September will forever be the month of the PJ fiasco. I honestly don’t remember the last time I laughed that hard (especially on someone’s kitchen floor) and will remain true to the argument that “simplicity” patterns aren’t so simple.
October we would rather forget….so we will. HA! October was crazy busy with work, and though in the first part I stuck to my “8 hours a day” schedule, that quickly went by the wayside. As it did, the boy helped me see even more just how important it is to take some time to yourself.
November gave me my final show of the year, with a wonderful client. And Thank God too b/c I was t-i-r-e-d! I also was able to visit with my aunt and uncle while out there, which was really a treat. November also took us to Georgia for Thanksgiving, and the puppers first long car ride with us. Little did we know how important this preparation would be. I got to shop on Black Friday with my mom and had so much fun with her that I was sad it had to end.
December will forever go down in history as the trip from hell Those that read my Facebook page already know about our adventure on 81 South complete with National Guard rescue, flat tire, tornado and a wirlwind of fun and love with family and friends (for the record I will forever be indebted to Comfort Inns). One day I’ll write about it all and post it here….but for now it’s just one of those memories that you kinda have to laugh at. It also is (technically still is) the longest vacation I’ve ever been able to take. 16 whole days! There were bets about how long it would take until I got bored. Guess what people? Didn’t happen.
New Year’s was spent with friends in a low-key perfect sorta way. We said goodbye to 2009, and though I know that for others it was a much worse year, I cannot lie. I’m not exactly sad to see it go. It was a long tough year in many ways. But, I’m thankful for what it was, and hopeful for 2010.
Here’s to a fresh start.
