I know I am a few days late on a review of last year..as most people are doing... but I wrapped up the year with more travel and thus no opportunity to write. 2009 was a year that brought changes, opportunities, and challenges to my life. Overall, it was a good year...but I am glad it has passed and that 2010 has arrived. I'm really excited for the new year... for several reasons I will write about later. First, a look into 2009.
I entered 2009 with a bit of a whimper, one of my roommates was out traveling, and the other was working that night, so for the first time in years we did not host a party. In fact, I dont even remember exactly what I did. I'm pretty sure it was relaxing and with a friend or two. That start seemed to foreshadow a year that would lack some excitement, well at least the start. Nothing memorable happened in the first few months of 09', but as time shifted into spring and summer 09' was about to become more interesting.
In May, I learned that I would most likely have to relocate for work due to the reorganization we were going through. As you can imagine, I was not happy at all! Right before my bday, I was finally told my new role and location, Electronics Channel Lead in Minneapolis! From sunny and warm california to cold and unknown minnesota. things happened pretty quickly as I arrived in minnesota at the end of July. More on minnesota in a bit. June brought some fun, as I attended my first ever NBA Finals; going to both games 1 and 2 of the finals between the Lakers and the orlando magic. That knocked the nba finals of my life to do list.
The transition to living in Minneapolis went a lot smoother than I expected. Carmen came out to help me move in and it was much appreciated. Having good friends in town, Ronnie, Jenny, and Jessica, also helped as I got to meet the new hires through them relatively quickly and learn about the city. Props to P&G for having a great set of new hires here in minneapolis. The cold arrived early, with snow in mid October. Quite a rude awakening! However, the snow didnt stick around too much and didnt return until December. I think i've done quiet well with the cold so far. There have been a couple of tough times through the transition, but nothing out of the ordinary as I explore a new place. In fact, I am glad that I have had to move, it definitely has forced me out of my comfort zone a bit, but it brings out the excitement of new things. Something, that I really haven't felt since leaving the US to study abroad in Italy.
Another great thing happened in the back half of the year, I reached the 5yr mark of remission! its been 5 yrs since I finished chemotherapy and I am very happy to announce all is clear! Seems a lot longer than 5yrs as time just seems to get faster and faster. Definitely a great milestone. The back half also included my 5yr reunion at stanford! Such a great time. My class, 2004, is definitely knows how to get together. We had the largest attendance of a 5th yr reunion in the last couple of decades. I ended up wrapping up the year with another stanford event, the school's first trip to a bowl game since 2001! The Sun Bowl in el paso. Although we lost, it was a blast. I have definitely decided that I will attend as many bowl games as possible!
El Paso also brought something else... an fun and exciting start to the new year! I toasted the new year with Paul, Danny, and danny's friends Jennifer and Javier. Great downtown bar/club in el paso! Definitely makes it more exciting to enter a new year. I'm sure at the end of 2010 I won't have trouble remembering how I rang in the year. There are exciting things I am looking forward to this year:
At the top of the list is my trip to Vancouver in February for the winter olympics! Should be a blast, and another item to check off on my life list. Also in the works, is a trip to Boston to watch the Dodgers play the red sox @ fenway. Less extravagant things that I'm excited for include: playing broomball, improving my ice skating skills, playing ice hockey, and exploring more winter sports and more of minneapolis! Another plus of this year is that now I get 4 weeks of vacation! 3 from the company, and the extra week i always buy back. :) Ideas on how I should spend some of that vacation time?
Although resolutions are cliche and overrated... I still think the new year provides us a good opportunity to take a breather and reset on things we want to do and accomplish. Thus, I have come up with a few... you can all keep me honest on them ;)
- recommitted to the gym
- did a great job of going to the gym in 09, but got away from it after moving to mnpls and especially with the amount of travel i had in nov and dec. Need to get back into the groove again.
- continue reading and averaging at least a book a month
- write more... i keep meaning to get back to this and i keep failing.. i would like to write at least once a week on here.. but i think realistically i'll hold myself to 2-3 times a month.
- learn something new...
- not exactly sure what yet, maybe a new language, etc. but i want to learn something new.
- continue to check things off my life to do list.
