Loads of Laughs

I'm a giggler. I'm naturally happy and ready for a laugh. One of the best restaurant experiences this year was more about laughing than the food or drinks. It's no surprise that I had plenty of laughs all year long.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge

December 29 Laugh. What was your biggest belly laugh of the year?

Best Notebook 2009

I used to fill several journals a year. A gift of a journal was always a safe bet. Over the years, though, I stopped writing in my journal. And then I stopped writing creatively all together; law school and then work always got in the way. If I had something I needed to work out, I spoke to B rather than writing in my journal. If I had an idea, I talked about it and then forgot to write it down.

This year I picked up my journal (started in June 2005) and try to write every day. Sometimes it's just a list of things I need to do, sometimes deep thoughts, poems, or outlines of stories. There is no real rhyme or reason, no threat of structure. I use Moleskin journals and just started my third one this year.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge

December 28 Stationery. When you touch the paper, your heart melts. The ink flows from the pen. What was your stationery find of the year?

Best Social Web Moment 2009

I discovered Twitter this year, and met some interesting people through it. Facebook, though, was great this year. I have been able to re-connect with family and friends that I have not seen or spoken to in many, many years.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge

December 27 Social web moment. Did you meet someone you used to only know from her blog? Did you discover Twitter?

A Ha!

As a couple, it's so much easier to meet people if you sit at the bar rather than get a table.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge

December 26 Insight or aha! moment. What was your epiphany of the year?

The Gift of Travel

It's Not Me

It's not me, it's them.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge

December 24 Learning experience. What was a lesson you learned this year that changed you?

Best Web Tool 2009

I read more and more websites and blogs now thanks to Netnewswire. Somehow, with more RSS feed subscriptions than I've ever had, I spend less time reading on the internet. It doesn't seem like much, but not having to load each webpage individually is really helpful. I talked about how much I loved it for days after I downloaded the application. I am, however, easily pleased.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge
December 23 Web tool. It came into your work flow this year and now you couldn't live without it. It has simplified or improved your online experience.

Best Startup

kayak.com is one of my favorite business finds this year. It usually finds the most flight options, and more quickly than other travel sites.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge
December 22 Startup. What's a business that you found this year that you love? Who thought it up? What makes it special?

Projects

Starting my own business has been the most gratifying project this year.

The Best of 2009 Blog Challenge
December 21 Project. What did you start this year that you're proud of?

A New Partnership

I made new friends this year in various parts of the world. But, the new person in my life is not really a new person to me. B and I have been together 11 years. Aside from some month long trips, we have never spent so much time together. Before we left our jobs, we probably saw each other 5 or 10 minutes a day and at least one day a weekend. Now, we travel together and work together.

I can’t say it’s been easy to transition into all this time together. We work differently, have different schedules and methods. While we have a good balance of strengths and weak areas, it is a work in progress to figure out our working relationship. It’s a new sort of partnership. We’re learning exactly how the other works and what our needs are.

Best of 2009 Blog Challenge
December 20 New person. She came into your life and turned it upside down. He went out of his way to provide incredible customer service. Who is your unsung hero of 2009?