2006 started out calming down a crying friend, watching the
desperation of a drunk woman without insurance try to spin her tire-free wheels
free from the mess she had gotten herself into and cleaning red wine out of
carpet. Ah, yes. New Year’s is always fun!
January led me to New York where I instantly fell in
love. The city has a magic about it…
from the tall buildings that speak volumes of history to the shimmering,
sparkling sidewalks that do the same.
The trip started out with rainy mornings that turned sunny and warm to
ending with several days of ice, sleet and snow! I feel so fortunate to have gone with the
absolute best travel companion in the world… there is no way I would have been
able to experience half of what I did without her! I loved every exhausting second of my journey
there and can not wait for my return.
February left me playing in more snow than I have ever lain
eyes on in temperatures dipping well below extreme! 38 degrees below zero… isn’t that arctic or
something? Or something, I guess. I learned to snowboard, taught someone to
play poker and met tons of cats way cooler than me along the way.
In March, my world changed drastically again… as it has a
few times in the past year or two… when I moved into my apartment to live by
myself for the first time in my adult life and got transferred from my job in
the same week. The latter of these two
events put me on a very contemplative journey about where exactly I was headed
and made me realize that it was not where I wanted to go… I made the decision
to make another drastic change… one that was over seven years in the
making.
April led me to several new friendships, some of which I
would like to keep for a long time. I
ended up breaking a lawnchair (that I would rather not discuss ;) ), drinking a
lot and working less than I had in years.
In May, I got a huge compliment from a former coworker, that
has since moved on to celebrity status, by way of recommendation… I believe it
was for the position of a ninja. J I finished up my tenure with my former
employer and left without, not surprisingly, so much as a, “see ya,” and moved
on my way.
In June, I started my new gig with my new companion, John
Walsh Walsh. We had a lot of work to do
but had a great time knocking it out. It
was an uphill battle for me from day one at the new digs but, it is really
starting to level out and become a little easier. It helps tremendously that I have some great
people backing me up and being their fantabulous selves… making me seem not
only not all bad but, maybe even kind of okay!
July brought Tony along with his tons and tons of rain. I like Tony.
I don’t like the rain as much.
And neither do the Fourth of July fireworks. Booo. I
spent some time with a funny man and his dancing queen until way too late one
morning and was so happy to see someone that I care so much about so deeply in
love. It really is a beautiful thing to
witness. I swear it wasn’t me that stole
the corn!!
August was supposed to bring another trip north to the windy
city and the land of music at Lollapalooza.
Recent changes in personal finance just would not allow it. Instead, Pio and I went to Port Isabel and
spent a few days meeting and playing with his extended friends and family. We had a blast even if Manu Chao, The Red Hot
Chili Peppers, Gnarls Barkley, Kanye West, Nickel Creek and countless other
phenomenal musicians weren’t around.
That just means the line-up will be better when I am able to make it!
I spent the better part of my birthday month partying as the
Bistro’s opening date got closer and closer.
All the cool kids’ birthdays are in September… Seth, Rach, Ryan, Jerry,
Jerry, me… so, I had a lot of good nights and great conversations during these
30 days. Virgos rule. I learned a new game that I love that almost
forces me to stay true to me… 7 things.
We should play some time.
Halloween for me this year was spent with the same person as
last year but proved to be much calmer… I guess that just makes the memories
that much better! I was the green fairy
in October and spent Halloween in a pretty chill mode with Miss.Cutie.Hotpants
and her pistol and her recently imported friend Ally. Ally reminds me of Frieda Khalo and that
makes me happy.
November left me visually impaired by a plant that had had
enough. It fought me and won. I had no idea that tropical plants could be
a.) so aggressive and b.) so mean. Now I
know.
December brought a furious mix of emotion. I got to witness a brilliant talent, the
lovely Miss Suzanna Choffel, release her CD to a hungry and eager
audience. Her gift of music is an
amazing inspiration and I can’t wait to see her exceed her dreams.
I saw, perhaps for the first time, that youth is fleeting
and escaping the family that I have always known. I found out for sure that my brother is
having a baby with one of my best friends.
I found out that my mother is now battling an extreme case of breast
cancer. I found out how important past
relationships can be in times of need and what it is to be loved. I found out, again, how much it hurts to be
disappointed by the one you love. I
found out, again, how good it feels to be lifted up by the one you love. 2006 has been a hard run and I am confident
that 2007 will bring new challenges, new heartaches and new growth. I end 2006 with new hope, with new love, with
new ambitions and with new goals.
