Stolen from Anna...

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Drove around Namibia on my own (yes I lived there but I never got to drive) got a "real" job as a early childhood specialist and started teaching myself the accordion.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any...don't plan to...

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Yes sirree bob!

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Some Namibian friends....

5. What countries did you visit?
US, Namibia, South Africa

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A better understanding of my job....money....a significant other...

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Dec 1 first day of new job!

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Going through 4 interviews and getting my job

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not getting into nursing school

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yep

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn't buy it but I got it as a gift...my juggling clubs!

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
My cool ass neighbor!

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
My ex-boyfriend whom I had been friends with for years and am no longer....

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
My new job! (I'm noticing a pattern) and my pink zebra car seat covers

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Swing and Damn it feels good to be a gangsta....listened to both of them driving around the Namib desert..and Tucson!

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder
Happier
b) fatter or thinner
Same
c) richer or poorer
Richer in a very relative way...

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Even more time with friends...maybe more exercise

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worrying

20. How did you spend Christmas?
With our families

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
With my friends

22. How many one-night stands?
One

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Always Sunny in Philadelphia

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No hating takes a lot of energy...unless you count the idiots that broke into my truck but I don't know them...

25. What was the best book you read?
Hmmm hard to say read a lot....lasts favorite is Little Earthquakes by Jennifer Weiner

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
My wonderful accordion talent!

27. What did you want and get?
Juggling clubs, accordion books and pink zebra carseat covers...oh and I got an awesome stereo for my house

28. What did you want and not get?
A boyfriend

29. What was your favorite film of this year?
Oh I can't think of them....Julie and Julia

30. What did you do on your birthday?
Breakfast with my Dad (it's his birthday too) a massage and dinner then we went to a "flame off"...it rocked!

31.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A job I love sooner!

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Mostly what I had from years ago and recently more conservative for work.

33. What kept you sane?
Fantastic friends and family...the community i helped create around me

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Can't think of a one

35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Health care

36. Who did you miss?
My Grandfather

37. Who was the best new person you met?
I made a few new friends..couldn't say which was the best.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
Persistence pays off

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
"I just want to be ok, be ok, be ok I just want to be ok today"

Ok so its been forever since I updated so here it is in a very quick nutshell....I'm in Brooklyn right now and have been out to long island and am going back tomorrow because I'm hopping a plan back to Namibia for three weeks then Cape Town for one week....I'm visiting all my babies and friends and also the Tarantals in Cape Town....
*some woman named Erica Tarantal is on the news in new york...have to look into that when i'm back
* have visited many relatives so far and have seen a few friends in NYC....I'm seeing more tomorrow :)
*I'm very excited to go back and be able to DRIVE myself around Namibia!
*Can't wait to see all my friends half way around the world!
*Am trying to figure out a way to get there in the future without having to be stuck on a plane for 18 hours (and that's just from NY)
*I'm starting a new photo series on me in New York bathrooms....
*I'm winning a game of standing on one foot, and kneeling down to pick up a bag with my teeth without touching anything else :)
*Saw a wonderful play my little cousin was in
* Hung out with my relatives and had fun!

Ok next update should be on the other side of the world!
Cheers!
C*

www.kold.com/global/Category.asp 

I got over my substitueaphobia and was the 2nd grade teacher to a class of kids on the south side of Tucson today :) I ignored the first phone call this morning but when they called for a second time I figured they really needed me (and two hours had passed)...it was actually rather fun to just pack up and go without knowing what I was getting into besides it was a second grade class. I was very lucky that the teacher left incredibly detailed lesson plans and all the bad kids were kicked out of the class and the gifted kids were in another program so I only had 10. It was great to make some money and help out kids :) now I just need to remember that thought when I run into really rotten kids!
Next week I'm off to Phoenix to work with Dad so besides possibly tomorrow I probably won't sub till february because of gem show and such.
La la la la laaaaa.......

"The Original "Original" Says Goodbye"
It is with mixed emotions that we write to you today to share the news that after a tremendous 22 years of serving our friends, neighbors and guests from near and far, Terra Cotta will close its doors on Saturday, January 31st.

Like so many other businesses, the current economic climate has taken its toll on us too and we can no longer continue on. On behalf of the Luria and Nordin families, we want to express our gratitude to you, our valued guests, who have afforded us the opportunity to pursue our passion these last 22 years. It has been an honor and privilege to open our doors each night and do our best in providing you with a unique Southwestern dining experience. We would be remiss if we didn't also acknowledge and thank the many talented staff that have worked with us over the years in creating and serving the wonderful cuisine that made Terra Cotta the success that it was. Lastly, we want to thank our many vendors (partners really, many of whom are local businesses too) and acknowledge our dedicated and talented peers in the industry - particularly those in the Tucson Originals.

While every story has an ending, this is not particularly the one our family would have chosen. However, in these last few weeks, we intend to focus on what has been and will ultimately be our defining legacy: the many
treasured relationships we have developed with you, our guests.

So, in these last few weeks, we hope that you will come in and dine at Terra Cotta to enjoy one last bowl of Jennifer's Tortilla Soup, the Garlic Custard, our signature Stuffed Prawns with Goat Cheese and of course one
last piece of our famous Chocolate Mousse Pie.

We'll be open nightly starting at 4:00 PM now thru January 31st.

Warmly,

Michael and Maya, Don and Donna

This has been a great start to a new year! The Aussie girls were here for 6 days (with the whole family) and stayed with Ziggy and me! While I found the trip to be overly scheduled and stressful at times...I suppose trying to do anything with 15 people is bound to be challenging.
We ate a LOT, perfected the art of shadow dancing, drank margaritas, danced around, played the accordion, walked Ziggy, laughed, shopped, drank so more, laughed and talked all night long. We also went to the desert museum, the coffee bus, and in and out burger. I'm so sad they left....while we were at my house it was low stress and high fun.
On New Year's Joel surprised us and came by a bit after midnight...I thought it was the neighbors coming to complain about my accordion but low and behold it was a kiss :) A few nights later Peta and I went and hung out with him and his cousins and had a great time......
Now I am typing away at my two essays for nursing school. The application is due January 15 and after that I will interview in February and hopefully get the acceptance letter in March!
That is a nutshell of a new year :)

Christmas=good times with family...led to visiting Joel's family that night....with a few drinks....I was no longer nervous :)

Today Mom and I hung up pictures on the wall going up the stairs....I LOVE them! I'm calling it my wall of adventure!

Tonight is the first "official" date with Joel (ok first official date with Joel in 17 years).... I'm very excited! I just know we are going to dinner...don't know where...my neighbor helped me pick out an outfit but due to unexpected cold weather I have to change from heels to boots tonight or I might get frostbite on my toes!

On Tuesday night our family from Oz will be here :) Yippee!!! That will be five days full of fun!

At some point in-between all of this I have to write my essays for my nursing school application due Jan 15.

That is it...Life in a nutshell :)
Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!
Cheers! C*