Sometimes You're a Jellyfish

says my friend, Vicky. She's right. Right now I'm just floating along in life. I've taken steps towards freedom but not there yet. Soon enough. I started reading everyone's end of 2009 post and when I looked at my photos, I hadn't realized how 2009 was the year of Travel. If I don't make Elite status this year, I never will. Oh the Places You'll Go: Grand Cayman, New Orleans, ROMA, Netherlands, Chicago, Boston, Bahamas (twice), Long Beach - all for work. I fell in love with Rotterdam and Driehuis. That doesn't include our great summer vacation when we started in New Orleans and had the most fabulous grilled oysters at Dragos, lazed on the beach in Destin and Seaside and drove through antique stores in Mississippi, and shopped at Canton's First Monday. My kind of week, for sure. Some of the best things in life.

This great craft of scrapbooking took me to St. Louis for Scrap St. Louis. With some of the best peeps ever and great projects and teachers (Cheryl Mezzetti) - Jeanne, Nan, Cathy Doyle, Kathy N, soon-to-be momma Kathleen, Melissa, Barb, Julianne, Tanya. Oh, I love all those people. North Carolina for Inspired where I. fell. in.love. with Susan Edmonton's sewing. And Carol Wingert's project, not to mention spending time with more great friends, Ronda. For the fourth straight year, Phoenix was fantastic with my favorite Canadians, Heather and Charleen and non Canadians, Ronda and Tanya and Nancy. I can still feel the energy in the room when Tim Holtz's lamp went for $29k. It is so great to be a part of that experience. And rounding out the year with a fantastic Silver Bella and three of the best teachers, Rebecca Sower, Charlotte Lyons and Pam Garrison - what a trifecta! Spending time with some great people there - old friends and the serendipity of dinner with new friends. Good times. Oh and Swaps! I did my first swaps ever - Year of Tags, Saint Tags and Alphabet Tags - I was proud of what I created.

With shopping I had fun at Round Top, all 3 of the Urban Markets and Canton and got to go to the Long Beach flea for the first time ever - loved it, of course. Found some great stuff at MAM and the Guild also. Oh, and my new collection, which is vintage photo albums, thanks to shopgoodwill and ebay.

And Thanksgiving was so memorable because my sweet niece, Nancy made an incredible meal as good as any chef. We were blessed.

My favorite You Tube of the year was Pink Glove Dance. I watched it a gazillion times.

I want to hold on to all of those great memories because the year ended so badly. My marriage ended and that's not what I wanted. What can you do but live and learn? There were some great lessons and great experiences. So, I'm ready for 2010! Bring it.