It's been fun, 2009.

It's been a while, and although I've been busy, I have no excuse for not keeping up on this blog!

I attended my first monthly all-agency meeting this morning. One of our owners started off the meeting by saying, "Good riddance to 2009." From a business standpoint, I get it. But for me, personally, I will not be saying good riddance to 2009 anytime soon. I'm going to borrow a blog idea from A Wooden Nickel for your Thoughts (and also thanks to Gwenbell.com) and recap what an amazing year 2009 has been for me.

Let's start off with something recent: Favorite Book of 2009
Several of my favorite memories from this past year happened at my monthly book club meeting in Chicago. Even though I moved to KC, I'm still in said book club and the girls Skype me in for our meetings (no joke, all they see is my face, on a laptop screen, sitting on the couch). I have my own glass of wine and my book in hand as I try my hardest to figure out who is talking (no peripheral vision on the old laptop). Our last book was my favorite - titled "The Shack." Anyone looking for an insight into religion, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, I HIGHLY recommend this book. It takes a pretty unconventional look at the Trinity - something wonderful to read after 18 years at Catholic school.

Ok let's jump back to July: Best Laugh of 2009
While I wouldn't consider this memory to be just one, big, belly laugh, I do consider it to be one of my best days/nights in Chicago... look at it as more of a long, ongoing laugh with never ending smiles and giggles. My roomies Katie and Al and I had tickets to Rascal Flatt's in July - my sister was coming into town with her friend for the concert as well. I worked part-time at a BrewPub. This all added up to 5 girls plus 10 friends, day drinking on the sidewalk, 1 delicious keg, a rocking concert and one totally amazing night.

Next, we'll take a step back at my year-long accomplishment:
Biggest Challenge of 2009
It all began in February - my roommate Allison and I were sitting on our rank-dank craigslister watching The Biggest Loser. In this particular episode, the few remaining contestants accomplished one of the most physically challenging tasks possible: they ran a marathon. I told Al that my sister had signed up for the Twin Cities Marathon in October. Al expressed interest in running a marathon at some point in her life. 20 minutes and $100 later, we were both signed up to run the TC Marathon. We started training in June and after 4 months of running, eating semi-healthily, and a total loss of our social lives, we both completed the 2009 TC Marathon. What a feeling - and I will be signing up for Grandma's Marathon in January.

To keep this from being a painfully long post, let's dive right into my most wonderful, memorable and obvious moments of 2009:
Biggest Rush of 2009
On October 16, 2009 my boyfriend, Mike, proposed to me at Lake Lavern at ISU. What an unbelievable feeling. A HUGE rush. I was surprised, speechless, everything. It was so wonderful. In a matter of seconds, I felt loved, surprised, amazed and utterly lucky. I wanted to cry and laugh all at the same time and had no way of even knowing how to show anything I was feeling, besides leaning over to Mike and giving him my favorite kiss of all time. I wonder if I'll feel that kind of a rush again. I still get a little rush when I look at him and see our life together...

Best Trip of 2009
I'm gonna go ahead and say that although I've had lots of amazing, literal 'trips' this year, (Aruba, Hilton Head, etc) I've pretty much had one giant lifestyle trip...which if you've been reading my blog, you're familiar with. And I won't even go into the type of emotional trip it has been. But let's take a quick, bulleted look at my year thus far:

• January 2009: Moved to Chicago. Without a job.
• March 2009: Met Mike in a small town in WI where we spent the day at a winery, enjoying local wines....and lots of cheese.
• April - May 2009: Started getting used to Chicago.
• June 2009: Spent a long weekend in Hilton Head, SC with my family. The HOTTEST, most humid place I've ever been.
• June 2009: Spent an amazing, adventurous week with Mike and his family in Aruba.
• July 2009: Made the decision to move to KC in October. Yet again began the exhausting task of job hunting.
• July 2009: Had an amazing weekend with friends, beer and a musical group called Rascal Flatts (see Best Laugh of 2009)
• August 2009: Actually found myself settling in in Chicago.
  
• September 2009: Realized my time in Chicago was coming to an end. Made of list of Must See and Dos before leaving.
• September/October 2009: Accomplished said list (last dinner at Rose Angeli's, drinks at the top of the Hancock, shopping on Michigan Ave., etc...)
• October 2009: Ran the full TC Marathon. Time: 4:50. (see Biggest Challenge of 2009)
  
• October 2009: Trip to NYC with the fam. Twins/Yankee game at the new Yankee Stadium, definitely the higlight.
  
• October 2009: Got ENGAGED! :)
• October 2009: Made the big move to KC.
• November 2009: Found myself having too much fun playing house with my future hubby.
  
• November 2009: GOT A JOB. THAT I LOVE. IN ADVERTISING. Boo-yah!
• November 2009: Bought a dress. Set a date.
  
• December 2009: Turned 24. WHAT?!?!
• December 2009: Had an unforgettable weekend with my bridesmaids.
  
• December 2009: Looking forward to even more happiness and bliss in 2010.

Good riddance, 2009? Wrong. I'm going to miss you, 2009. In one year, I've never experienced more emotion, both good and bad, nor have I ever been so sure of myself and where my life is headed. One year ago, I was about to graduate college and move to a big city without a job. Never thought it would turn out so perfectly, and so quickly. Have faith all you recent college
grads!!! It will all work out, I PROMISE!