Out With 2009.... In With 2010!!
December 31, 2009
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December 31, 2009
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In honor of the new year, I thought I'd list many (though not all) of the things that I did in 2009, and hope to do in the new year. MANY of you are included in the lists I've made, as an fyi. Please feel free to add things that I've neglected to list!!!
Love,
~amy
2009
In VERY random order….
Got my own place!
Got my sense of style back – new haircut, new wardrobe, new attitude… well, working on it
Traveled across the globe solo
Traveled domestically solo
Made it to the west coast for the first time
Played in the ocean at Laguna Beach.... the waves won – right, Mark?
Went on a road trip
Jumped out of an airplane at 15,000ft
Took over 100,000 photographs
Had MANY smiles and laughs
Gifted MANY smiles and laughs
Cried… and WAY too much for my liking
Gave many hugs
Mended some broken hearts (including my own)
Fell deeper in love than I ever have been in my life… with music and art
Used one of 11 cans of silly string
Brought a beautiful leopard creature into my life, Leala, whose name means loyal and faithful
Taught people how to take pictures
Created a new extension of my business (high end couture travel photography!!!)
Gave to the bigger picture in life
Jumped on a bed in a 4-1/2 star hotel… and took a picture of it!
Befriended MANY amazing people
Asked for help
Learned that my neighbor is an old childhood friend
Offered help
Went to the dentist every 6 months (and always do)
Made fondue with Sara K.
Exercised on an empty stomach (BAD idea, everyone!)
Was given a beautiful engagement ring as a gift, yet wasn’t proposed to
Kicked a boy out… more than once
Hired an AMAZING woman to work for me (I heart you, Jacq!)
Became REALLY close friends with my sister in law (whom I ADORE)
Had my photo work displayed in a gallery (THANK YOU, PAUL!!!)
Sold quite a few photo prints
Sang the Spam song with Helen and Josh
Reunited with some of my wonderful friends from the past (Yes, Megster, this ESPECIALLY means you!)
Hung my own Christmas lights
Bought flowers for people
Built my own fire in my fireplace
Constructed my own shelving unit
Began cleaning/organizing my incredibly messy office
Hung more pictures on my wall
Gave Trevor S. crap for moving away
Got a workout routine going!
Got my lunch stolen by a Kea in New Zealand
Became even closer to my wonderful grandparents (REALLY couldn’t have gotten through this year without you both, Pops and Mops)
Made peace with the dude in the sky after 10 years of rejection
Prayed for a friend… a LOT
Said goodbye to a beautiful woman whom we’ll all miss dearly
Bought a new camera… and a few other photo supplies….
Learned a LOT about many things
Cooked a LOT for myself
Drank beer at a rock show… more than once
Walked barefoot in the grass
Celebrated my grandparents’ 50th wedding anniversary
Did appletini shots with Chadberry
Wore LOTS of dresses (YAY!!!)
Chased an escaped convict with the FBI (sometimes my news gig is neat!)
Tried on hats
Became a grown up and bought snow boots
Saw mountains
Conquered my short-term fear of flying in commercial airline jets
Watched the superbowl AND the commercials… but still couldn’t tell you who won… or even who played, for that matter
Drank 1,205 cups of coffee (that figure is totally random… but the point is I LOVE coffee)
Threw a party…. Or two…
Crashed a few parties (thanks all you NARAS folks!!!)
Sang in front of more than two people for the first time since I was 17 (NAHSVILLE WAS AWESOME!)
Got hit in the face by a racist jerk
Celebrated Helen and Josh’s house warming
Took a bubble bath… actually, several
Bought a few bikinis
Took a picture with elvis
Broke a camera lens by accident after slipping on the dance floor, and flashing a table of elders
Befriended my awesome friend Mikey at the O.G.
Went swimming at the clubhouse pool where I live
Hung out with my cousins (which I hope to do more of)
Randomly dropped in to hang out with my aunt and uncle (which I WILL do more of)
Went to Wal-Mart ONCE this year… and STILL vow to never do it again
Tried to do flip flops and learned my back muscles aren’t what they used to be
Got a massage
Made fishy faces with my best friend and my godson
Visited MANY wineries in New Zealand AND the states
Befriended a member of the Columbian Olympic ski team – rooting for you in Vancouver, Cynthia!!
Kissed a stranger
Began replacing curse words with funny ones to make my mom happy
Ignored the news on my days off from working with NBC/Fox
Learned of the death of a few old friends
Went on a few dates
Lost a hard drive, and failed at all recovery attempts (including the expensive ones)
Watched my laptop die
Bought a Macbook Pro
Felt lonely
Suffered from migraines
Applied for a job at National Geographic, even though there weren’t any openings
Admitted when I was wrong
Saw the beauty of New Zealand with Lee, Krystina and Ben
Did shots of Patron with Brinn and Nena
Got my brother to smile for a picture (which I treasure)
Sent holiday cards!
Ran more than 3 miles at a time on several occasions – AND outdoors too!
Said I love you to my family and many friends… and truly meant it
Said thank you – and ALWAYS meant it
Bought myself the ring of my dreams
Ate LOTS of sushi
Walked (and ran) barefoot in the sand more than once
Saw one of my favorite pilots find another job (congrats again, Jim)
Lost 20 lbs in a VERY unhealthy way
Got a free popsicle while on a photoshoot with Polly!
Gained back 15 pounds in a healthy manner
Chose to go solo rather than depend on people to experience life
Told Janitor he sucks and that I hate him… but didn’t really mean it (SHHHHH!! Don’t tell him!)
Had a Chicago adventure with my pal, Shannon and took lots of pictures
Got published in a magazine for the first and second time
FINALLY got to meet Steve Gillis AND Johnny K. (hope to see you both again soon!)
Painted a wine glass – Grandma’s b-day weekend was fun!
Realized and admitted (in a non-vain way) that I am extraordinary
Watched the entire series of Six Feet Under in just two weeks
Visited the Jelly Belly factory
Somehow became a cat person in addition to being a dog person
Got Marilyn Manson’s full photographic attention by wearing a pink summer dress
Took pictures of Nine Inch Nails … and a few other honorable mentions
Saw Nine inch nails with Carly AND Sara (twice with Sara, thanks to Megan)
Got my own personal body guard at a concert – thanks Dave!!!
Hung out with Jerry Bryant at JBTV
Saw never before seen footage of Jeff Buckley – THANKS, JERRY!!!
Saw a pair of concerts with Mikey
Got and drove my first rental car
Drank wine in a hot tub in Irvine, CA with Mark
Strutted around in my sock monkey slippers
Had a photoshoot with Lucy!
Hung out in a recording studio with Robbie (we’re overdue again, btw)
Spent two weeks sans phone usage while in another country (i.e. had a REAL vacation!)
Lost my wallet in Auckland, NZ
Apologized
Drank wine before noon in two countries(yes, Megan, this was with you one of the times)
Found my wallet… well, Air New Zealand found it (THANK YOU!!!)
Called my mother to have her wire me money from my business account while in another country
Bought mom a few special gifts this year to thank her for putting up with a blueberry for a daughter
Received a homemade blueberry cheesecake from my daddy for my birthday cake
Gave random strangers a compliment
Felt disgusted by the actions of others
Asked for more cowbell
Watched my piano teacher perform – Alex is absolutely amazing!
Went to the driving range a LOT
Drank mimosas on Robyn’s rooftop
Went bowling
Slept in til 3pm for the first time since college
Danced with the elevator music
Watched an innocent creature suffer from a congenital illness (poor Miu….)
Played air drums to music
Re-visited the opera, but enjoyed the experience this time
Bought my very first suitcase
Went on my second ever round trip trans-continental flight
Started taking multivitamins daily
Made dinner for my parents
Became self-proclaimed honorary lead singer of Cobia during our photoshoot
Paid too much for gas
I got my first umbrella in my adult life – it’s red, and was given to me by grandma :D
Pretended to have an English, Russian, Spanish, New York-ian, and Canadian accent (at different times, of course)
Received my first drawing a-la-Matt :D
Enjoyed the company and laughter of children (no joke, everyone!)
Threw autumn leaves in the air
Blew bubbles
Took my grandmother to see a musical
Put up a palm tree for Christmas
I smoked a cigarette…. and tasted it for many days after… YUCK!!!
I watched lightning
I smiled at the snow
Was taken care of by MANY
Got a bloody nose… more than once
Cursed the cool summer weather on my first summer with a pool
Unintentionally got a tan
I made peanut brittle for the first time (and with Helen, too!)
Cut back on my sugar/chocolate intake
Randomly quoted MANY lines from movies
Fell asleep in someone’s arms
Walked through a rainforest
Walked up to not one, but TWO glaciers (THANKS, BEN!)
Experienced the most beautiful morning of my life, and have a photograph to remember it by
Was encouraged by many
Was discouraged by few
Made my parents proud (so I was told)
Leaped
Stretched until I could do the splits again
Improvised music on the piano
Made marshmallows at a bonfire
Danced an Irish Jig around this same fire with a new friend – Evan, Chad, Beth… MISS YOU ALL!
Went to the last ever Irish Parade with Robyn
Jumped in rain puddles
Made my own jewelry
Regretted NOTHING that I did
Began experimenting with self portraiture
Asked for (and often took) advice
Packed and unpacked my suitcase more than once
I learned that in general, people ARE inherently good; there are simply a few bad eggs
Saw Trent Reznor perform on his last tour ever with NIN… and cried a tear with Sara and Carly
Matched all of my clean socks without having any left over
Was woken up to sand-papery kisses on my cheek from my kitten
Saw the ballet for the first time!
2010
what I know so far…
Will start off laughing and drinking with some fabulous people
Booked 15 weddings, including one in Seattle and another in Mexico
Booked a trip to L.A.
Booked a trip to Punta Cana
Sending pictures to Monica out in D.C. (the box is already ready – I’m SO sorry for the delay)
Pending a trip to Phoenix
Pending aunt-hood (in June!!!)
Pending creation of a new photo charity in honor of Shannon
Pending a visit to the art museum – STILL have yet to see the new wing
Pending my paperwork for associate membership to NARAS
Will be having a few drunken stories from Punta Cana – Brinn will be my roommate, after all
Planning a special gift for my sister in law in celebration of her motherhood
Will be taking LOTS of photos of my niece or nephew
Will have a CRAZY time in LA with Sara at the NAMM Convention (eeee!!!)
Getting Cathal to pay up the margarita in vegas that he owes me (yes, we’re going to Vegas, Megan!)
Will be going snorkeling :D
I’ll FINALLY make it to both NBC and Fox Studios to meet everyone in person
I’ll see a few wonderful friends become married people
I will not (and never have) knowingly wrong (ed) others
I will laugh a lot
Lots of hugs will be given and received
Working out is not optional or a chore
I will get a new pair of inline skates this year (a chipmunk died in my old pair.. ewww!)
A few rather disturbing photo shoots are going to take place, involving animal hearts
I will be thankful for the many blessings that come my way
I will cry
Will go to the dentist every 6 months
I will be happy
I may be sad
I will be/am loved
I may not take my palm tree down… just the ornaments
I WILL be focusing more on my piano studies, and doing what I can to free more time
I will not (and never have) tell a lie
Will be saving up to buy (rather than rent) my own place
Will be deciding if I want to/should relocate….
Will be cooking MUCH more often
Will be spending FAR less
What I hope/plan….
Pending (fingers crossed) a trip to Poland (I’ll have a pumpkin to meet, right?)
Pending a trip to London (Lucy, I’ve GOT to come visit you!)
Booking several more weddings
Shooting four more album covers (at least)
Hoping to become a voting member for NARAS
Going to Summerfest to hang out with David S. and friends
Visiting a movie set to see David A. in action
To go snowboarding for the first time
My niece or nephew will be born healthy, and remain as such
That I learn to be happy with life as it is
A girls trip (or several) to a few wineries
To see a few loved ones get help for themselves
I’ll see my first hockey game in person – Chad, book the tix!
To play my first 18 hole game of golf
To shoot a gun at the gun range
To visit my family more often
To make snow angels
To get an unexpected, yet pleasant, surprise
To go ice skating downtown
To swim more this summer!!!!
To watch a sunset with a boy
To actually get to see the fireworks from the ground this year
To get my first major photoshoot for a publication!!!
To be found and loved by the RIGHT guy
To figure out a use for the remaining 10 cans of silly string in my closet
To have my work appear in more galleries
To do MORE for the bigger picture than in 2009
Fly a kite
Go on a boat (whether big or small is of no matter)
To drink more water
Contemplating on getting a tattoo…. A dainty vine on my forearm and inner bicep with music note leaves
And of course, world peace, economic relief, and all that jazz.
The most beautiful morning I've seen and photographed in my life so far... many thanks again, Ben, for making this happen.
