let the year begin!

Ahh 2009 - you have arrived! I'm a bit ambivalent about the new year. 2008 really was a good year for me. Looking back on things, it's been full of life changes, travel, new surroundings, health, Obama, and much much more. But then terrible things happened too - the economy, mmm....I've been sitting here for the past few minutes trying to think of truly bad things. But for me, it's actually been an ok, if not greatly positive, year. I consider myself really lucky. I am definitely looking forward to 2009 though. With my upcoming trip to Nicaragua, my new outlook of feeling healthier here in the rockies, and who knows what else, things will be good I think. And after speaking with friends and family, I really truly believe that this will be a year for positive change for all. And that is the word from me, if it matters at all, which it probably doesn't. But there's my two cents. And if you're reading this blog, that means that my two cents maybe count for something.

So to start off the new year are a few random updates from me, since I tend to not be updating this often (sorry Brooke!) and my mind is all over the place lately...

-My snowboarding is improving. The rumor around town was that after 3 days, things should start to click. And I am happy (and relieved) to announce that it is true! Plus or minus a day or two. But today was the day where I actually started to feel comfortable in the uncomfortable position of going sideways down a bumpy hill with both feet strapped onto a board. Seems so illogical, but that's snowboarding for you.

-Holidays are terrible in a resort town. Get out, people! Or if you are here, calm down! You're on vacation! Don't ask me for too much! I'm not used to doing this much work since there is usually no one here! No one except for happy people who you should aspire to be like! Try smiling, will you?! And PS: don't take up the whole ski run or I'll run into you! (By the way, I'm better now because they are gone. I'm done with the exclamations)

-Tom Cruise is a good person. I say this after much deliberation, as I have always made fun of him and have not taken anything he's done seriously (except maybe Top Gun when I was in high school). BUT. After his very generous donations to the film festival and then for supplying his Valkyrie movie to be premiered here in Telluride to raise money for the local high school theater, I think he's a good guy. He'd be an even better guy if he and the family had shown up to the movie, but I can't be too picky. And the movie was decent. I liked it.

More thoughts to come. I'm exhausted from snowboarding which has affected my stream of thoughts. I will write more. Soon, I promise.

And to sum it all up - HAPPY NEW YEAR!