It’s good to be eating again. RV and I grabbed a quick dinner at Banana Island before heading back to the house. We’d been there before, but both of the dishes we ordered were not what we remembered, so sort of a surprise for the palate.

Just showing off the pictures that the new camera is taking. It’s probably not too much different from the iPhone pictures I used in previous entries since I have them at such small sizes. The larger photos are noticeably better. It arrived much earlier than expected, and I’m loving it so far! My other point-and-shoot was about a handful of years old, so it was time to replace it.

I can’t wait to take it up to Sonoma tomorrow! A bunch of us are heading up for Russian River Wine Road’s 32nd Annual Barrel Tasting. Poor RV has been dubbed the DD though, so he won’t be tasting the wines. From looking at tweets about the barrel tasting, DDs aren’t left out at all – some wineries provide lemonade and snacks! It should still be a lot of fun for everyone.

Not too long ago, a friend sent out this article on luck. It’s a pretty awesome read. Basically, it says that luck can be learned. Dr. Richard Wiseman’s research reveals that lucky people generate good fortune via four basic principles:

* Creating and noticing chance opportunities.
* Making lucky decisions by listening to intuition.
* Creating self-fulfilling prophesies via positive expectations.
* Adopting a resilient attitude that transforms bad luck into good.

I totally agree. It’s a matter of perspective. Rather than playing the victim when something happens, one should take things into their own hands. LIVE, rather than let life happen to you. His research is actually pretty interesting, so read the article! But in case you don’t, it ends with three techniques that can help to maximize one’s fortune:

* Unlucky people often fail to follow their intuition when making a choice, whereas lucky people tend to respect hunches. Lucky people are interested in how they both think and feel about the various options, rather than simply looking at the rational side of the situation.

* Unlucky people tend to be creatures of routine. They tend to take the same route to and from work and talk to the same types of people at parties. In contrast, many lucky people try to introduce variety into their lives. For example, one person described how he thought of a color before arriving at a party and then introduced himself to people wearing that color. This kind of behavior boosts the likelihood of chance opportunities by introducing variety.

* Lucky people tend to see the positive side of their ill fortune. They imagine how things could have been worse.

This is the living room that made me fall in love with this house. Seriously, the large sunny window and spacious living area [which is now FULL of stuff] made this house one to remember on my house hunting spree.

Tonight’s the first REAL night in the new house. We have stopped in every day to move stuff in, tear things out, or put stuff up. It’s an amazing learning experience – I found out that you can use a Lowes coupon at Home Depot and vice versa. SUPER USEFUL, considering we’ve made more trips to Home Depot and Lowes than I’ve ever made, and honestly, I’m sick of it.

We got an amazing deal on back splash tile, and we’re going to pick up some nice discounted floor tiles soon too. While I wanted to go for the bamboo floors, it was more than three times the price. This isn’t my dream home, so I don’t need to spend outrageous amounts on the floor. On my off day [thankfully granted by my supportive company], when I should be relaxing at home, I’ll be wading through cabinet styles and granite countertops while waiting for updates on potential appointments at the oral surgeon’s office. Surprisingly, the work we’re getting done will cost significantly less than originally estimated. We tell people we’re on a budget, but basically, the lowest possible $ amount is our budget.

All of RV’s stuff has been moved in. He’s got a lot, and we need to organize and throw stuff out. Mine will be slowly trickling in over the next few weeks. It’s funny how you can fill up an entire house with just a bedroom and a studio apartment as the starting point. MUST minimize! Even though the house is right off the freeway, the sounds are constant enough not to be noticed once asleep. It’s barely noticeable when you’re in the living room at the front of the house, and the doors to the bedrooms are shut.

Enjoying it so far. I’ll love it more when I’m all moved in, and everything is orderly and in its proper place. I’ll love it more when friends come over and celebrate!

It was a Gaga-themed party.

I had no idea what to wear the morning of and really only came up with something once I got home from work. I know at some point or other, she donned a wig of a color other than blonde, so I suppose the purple works. It’s got the obligatory bangs. The mini hat, bracelets, and necklace were purchased the day of the party. Since I wasn’t about to sew some outrageous outfit together, I decided on accessories that fit her “style.” As I couldn’t speak anyway, I took the opportunity to cover half of my face up with random lace/glitter I found in the house. In many photos I’ve seen, half of her face is covered in SOMETHING or other. It served the purpose of hiding any drool that might slip past these still-puffy lips.

Somewhere along the way, I smudged my eye make-up. Oh well.

BTW, I am totally going to have a costume closet in the new house.

I’m feeling inspired to bring people together. I’m so excited to finally have a place for that. Dinner parties. Cooking parties. Game nights. Movie nights. I just hope people are willing to travel a little ways since we are not centrally located. Plus, there’s also trying to figure out who would even want to come over.

Side note: We just realized that the three Safeways closest to us are open 24 hours. How did I not know this before?! It’s a little overwhelming as it means late night shopping is definitely possible. Three-fold!

I’m not feeling so miserable with my face wired. It’s just annoying not being able to have any real food. I went back to work, and it’s been a balance of figuring out where I’ve left off and how I’m going to eat enough meals during the day while remaining productive. Everyone’s super supportive there. Since it’s been raining like the end of the world, RV’s been shuttling me to work because he has the car more suited for this weather. He’s not a morning person, and so the folks at work have said that I can come in a little later, so that he and I both have enough rest. How nice of them! I mean, yeah, I’m being paid by the hour, so every hour not worked is an hour not paid, but they’re so accommodating! If I have to leave early because I’m exhausted, I can do that too. So far, I haven’t felt too tired to leave before the eight hours are up!

088 – Move out of parents’ house.

There was really only one way to cross this item off my list. That would be by completing another item from my list :

070 – Buy another house.

The house closed earlier this month. I’ve not moved in as the place needs a bit of work. Plus, surgery has put my life on hold in some aspects. No more heavy lifting since I’ve lost all muscle. RV’s started moving his belongings over. He finished his lease early, so he would save on a few months of rent. The nice part is that his apartment will waive the penalty of one month’s rent [which isn't so bad to begin with] if he finds a replacement. Pretty sweet deal, considering the apartment manager already had someone in mind who will come by to check out his place this week.

In other news, since I’ve been on antibiotics this whole time, I’ve not been drinking. So that has allowed me to work on: 035 – No alcoholic beverages for two months of the year. and 037 – Do not eat out for two weeks twice a year. Considering that I’m only starting these now, I should really restrain for the next six months! For the record, no alcoholic beverages for one full month is nearly complete, and I haven’t eaten out for about the same time.

In all seriousness, the last week of December, I attended my 10-year high school reunion. It was as odd as I’d expected, but thanks to the wonderful world of social media, most appeared as I’d seen in photographs. So 087 – Attend 10-year high school reunion. is off the list.

From Free Will Astrology : I’m always befuddled by astrologers who preach the gospel of doom and gloom when they talk about the influence of Saturn. My experience is that the ringed planet provides the greatest gift imaginable: motivation to become the person you were born to be. It steers you away from pursuing goals that aren’t in alignment with your soul’s code. It pressures you to give up vain fantasies that even if fulfilled wouldn’t make you happy. That’s why I’m happy to report to you the following good news: As Saturn travels through your sign for much of the time between now and October 2012, I expect that you will be prompted and prodded to cut away the irrelevancies that distract you from claiming your birthright.

That’s right.

I’m on my way to becoming the person I was born to be.

Inspired by a friend’s 2009 recap post, I looked at my calendar and previous blog posts to jog the memory. I was going to include photos to spruce the entry up a bit, but nah, you’ll just have to read through all this blah-blah-blah to find out the news I’ve been withholding… Please ignore the fact that I switch from present to past to present and back again…

January
We rang in the new year with a party at RV’s and then a party at our friend Matt’s place. It was the start of another “busy season” at work, and I would be racking up the hours. Keane and I decide to get a family plan together, so we purchase our iPhones. I also decide to refurnish my room with a loft bed, so that I’d have more space. Months later, it just gave me more room to expand my mess. :p I also flew a kite for the first time after many attempts in the month.

February
Even though it was the shortest month, it was filled with a lot of activities. I attended three Yelp-sponsored events: Burn the Floor, Tru Spa, Project One. RV and I celebrated Valentine’s at the Top of the Mark, and I was inspired by the wetness outside to purchase rain boots. I didn’t receive them until the following month, but I have no idea where they are NOW. My room is a black hole.

March
Sunny days began, so I took advantage of weekends when I could. It was still “busy season” at work, and while it was busy now, we knew it wouldn’t last. I started talking to recruiters in March to explore possible opportunities for someone with my experience. I didn’t seriously start my search though until April after the lay-off.

April
Mid-April seems to be the turning point of 2009 for me. I was laid off from a job that I had gone into right out of school. For four years and nine months, that was really all I knew. So I continue talking to recruiters and started looking online for both jobs and a new apartment for RV. His lease would be up in June. We head down to LA for a weekend for an “alter ego” birthday party, as well as Korean taco truck chasing and the Death Museum.

May
RV signed a new apartment lease, and we began moving his stuff over. It’s much smaller, but the location is nicer, and he’s living alone. It’s more convenient for the two of us in that sense, and since it’s centrally located, we can hang out with friends more easily. During the month, I interview with various companies, and it’s a frustrating process. It seems that the companies look to hire someone with a little less or a little more experience than me, but never the right amount. When Keane mentions wanting to take a quick trip to Fort Bragg and Fort Ross [both places neither of us have visited], I jump on it. It turns into an amazing weekend.

June
Still unemployed. By this time, my severance has run out. To keep my head above water, I kept my calendar full. I planned RV’s surprise party, which thanks to friends, was a success. He was definitely scared – hah. I also put together a birthday party at a local wine bar. Later in the month, we took a weekend trip up to Fort Bragg where we went crabbing and fishing. This was sort of where his obsession with fishing started…

July
I helped plan a benefit for the SF Food Bank called Pig Eat Fest, and it is successful! Meanwhile, I’ve been going to my orthodontist and dentist regularly. My teeth are ready for scheduling surgery, but the hospital isn’t ready to schedule anything for me. Figuring out COBRA puts my head in knots, but I finally figure it out. RV and I decide to go to Burning Man this year, but we want to take RV’s dad’s RV. To do so, I join him on a road trip to Oregon in this RV, and it turns out to be a very frustrating week. RV’s father is not an easy man to coexist with. Somehow, I survive the week…

August
We began preparing for Burning Man. I also learned about the All You Can Jet in August, and because it’s a difficult offer to resist, I buy a pass. Of course, the month couldn’t end without a hitch, so I find out that my house in Portland has caught on fire. Luckily, the damages aren’t too bad, but still, I have to deal with an incompetent insurance agent and all that fun stuff.

September
Burning Man! It’s awesome and fun, and I want to go next year. Of course, right before the week, I’m called in for a last-minute interview. It went well, so I had follow-up interviews… All this went down while I’m getting ready for Burning Man, and as I head out for the first stretch of my All You Can Jet travel. I end up only going to one place because I’m offered a position with the company. It’s on a temp-to-perm contract. Meanwhile, my surgery was scheduled for early October, so I go to my surgery pre-op. I then find out that someone messed up, and my surgery has to be moved due to scheduling conflicts. Not happy.

October
Birthday month! I’m at the new job, getting used to it all. I attended a Kylie Minogue concert because a friend had extra tickets; we were in the very last row, which worked out because we ended up dancing the whole time anyway. As usual, I am frustrated with the oral surgeon’s office. I’m given a December date, which is fine, but they decide to try for a November surgery date, only to find out later that it won’t be possible either. So back to December! We spent Halloween resting up because I over partied the night before. Oops. It’s also in this month that a former coworker of mine asks for a place to stay. Since I live at home with my parents, I ask a friend from high school who agrees… Little did we know, getting her out would be an ordeal.

November
I spent Thanksgiving at RV’s mom’s. Fun parties all month long led up to it, including a Festizishow and a post-Thanksgiving meal with friends. CPA exam on the last day of the month, which I didn’t pass [Found out today - Ugh]. Plus, I started volunteering at the SPCA. The year has not been an easy one, but I am ever so thankful for all that I’ve got.

December
Unusually cold temperatures, so we’re all keeping warm. I’m a fan of the holiday parties with warm and tasty alcoholic beverages. I decide to ask for advice on the blog regarding the former coworker who won’t get her shit together and move out of my friend’s place. I passed the responses on to him, and I think she’s finally out of his place!

As for other news, I’m in the process of closing on a house that I bid on earlier in the month. There was little mention of it before because I didn’t want to jinx it. You heard it here first. I’m buying a house! There’s so much involved though – financial documents, insurance, appraisals, blah blah blah!

I also have surgery coming up in a week and a half. During the early Christmas party at RV’s mom’s place, she gifted me with a care package of Ensure and bendy straws. LOL.

Fingers are crossed that this will ALL go down smoothly. It looks like I’m going into 2010 head first. Or perhaps face first. Hopefully, I will have a new house AND a job that I can call permanent to go with it. This temporary status just isn’t enough!

I was on one of my anti-social trends this week, and I used RV being out of town and me wanting to save money as an excuse. Last night, with a little bit of prodding, I was out and about with a dear friend [Hi Keane!], doing what we do best – crashing ["networking at"] tech parties! He’s in the social media industry AND was invited, so not technically crashing.

It was not too far away [ideal because the weather in SF has not been friendly lately] and a lot of fun. We caught up with a few people I hadn’t seen in awhile. At the end of the night, we threw up his Christmas decorations under the influence of drinks and amusement.

Good times.

Last weekend, we drove down to Carmel Valley to see Melanie and her choir, The Choral Project, sing. We followed the lovely performance with an equally awesome dinner with friends at Passionfish. Of course, some time during that weekend, I volunteered at the SPCA. A few of the dogs that’d been there for awhile have been adopted, which is awesome. I’m skipping out this weekend because I’ll be in LA.

Tonight, I’m hopping on a plane to join RV there. We’re staying with Jen and Alex in their new-to-us apartment that they were in the process of moving into the last time we were down there. Not sure what the plans are for this trip (other than a fabulous wine and cheese party at Amanda’s), but it’s always fun to head out of the city and see some friends down south. We might stop by Pasadena since I’ve always found it a lovely place. It’s sure to be decked out in holiday spirit.

(Parts of this entry were updated using the Wordpress app for the iPhone, and some were updated while on Virgin’s free wifi, courtesy of Google – just sayin’!)

Free Will Astrology for the week: It seems to me that in 2009 you’ve learned to love the fact that all the world’s a stage. You’ve found roles that have been fun to play, and you’ve expressed yourself with the nuanced zeal of a skilled actor in an elaborate theatrical production. I have very much enjoyed seeing you reveal the full range of your inner riches. If I were going to award Oscars to the astrological signs, you Libras would get the prize for “Best Performance of One’s True Self.”

I’m amazed at how quickly time has flown. Another year marked, and I’m a little step closer to whenever the end might be. Last Christmas, I tagged along with RV to Southern California to visit his mother’s side of the family. This year, he’s heading up to see his father, and I’ll probably be at home or find some friends to hang out with. In the meantime, lots of holiday-themed gatherings to attend!

Monday was the holiday party for Yelp. I had my hair curled and make-up done on the spot. Thank goodness because I never know how to pair the rest of myself up with the nice dresses that I buy. I clean up alright, yeah?

As I said, lots of events planned for the next few weeks. All the while, looking forward to jaw surgery and hoping that my three months of work will have paid off, and I secure a permanent position.

*fingers crossed*