see you in 2009

What an insane year!? my goodness. it makes my head spin just thinking about it! Graduation from COLLEGE, Sedona internship, Spain, a Glendale return, a new job?! So many blessings and so much confusion all at the same time. I'm really, really looking forward to January. It's the first time in my entire life that I haven't had to worry about school! So to conclude 2008 on a warm note, I wanted to share a few of my favorite things. I don't think I would have climbed this years hurtles without them. Maybe you can check them out and enrich your early days of 09! Happy New Year everyone! What a gift it is to be alive and get another chance to make it right! God bless!

My Top 10 Albums of 2008 (listen to them ASAP)

1. Radiohead: In Rainbows (sheer brilliance)

2. Portishead: Third (fathers of trip-hop return after ten years with a masterpiece)

3. Cut//Copy: In Ghost Colours (so much fun!)

4. M83: Saturdays = Youth (i've heard this album about 100x and still can't stop playing it)

5. Santogold: Santogold (she is so cool)

6. Chairlift: Does You Inspire You (sleeper gem of 08! such creativity)

7. Dark Captain, Light Captain: Miracle Kicker (dreamy folk pop with british accents!)

8. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes (just get it right now, seriously)

9. Roisin Murphy: Overpowered (i heard this everyday in Spain)

10. Sigur Ros: Med Sud I Eyrum... (gorgeous...everything they do is so powerful)

honorable mentions

-Coldplay: Viva La Vida (i'll always be a fan)

-The Ting Tings: We Started Nothing (fun fun)

-The Dears: Missles (moody indie heartbreak from canada, love it)

-Standfast: Standfast (i couldn't stop singing to this)

-Azeda Booth: Azeda Booth (these guys were on the record label i worked for! support!)

-M.I.A: Kala (this girl is brilliant)

Favorite concerts

1. Duran Duran (life long dream, one of the best shows i've ever seen)

2. The Cure (my second time, 3rd row! robert smith smiled at me!??!)

3. Sigur Ros (so powerful, the energy was incredible)

4. Madonna (hottest ticket in town, always a blast)

5. The Police ( i love sting. too much elvis costello for me though)

6. Coldplay (way better seats than i thought...)

Other favorites:

-80 GB Zune (forever indebted to you rob)
-laptop (cheap but it works!)
-Barcelona (i will never forget what a crazy adventure that was!)
-the Twilight Saga (swooooon!)
-Juice Plus Vitamins (i'm super girl)
-summer in Sedona (so beautiful, 89A is the most beautiful road)
-elvis and priscilla barbies (best christmas gift ever!)

bah humbug

i am a total grinch. i don't know why. my house is a lovely decorated little silk purse of all things yuletide and warm winter holiday and i just wish i had a remote to fast forward december. i've never been so enthusiastic to get to january before. ???? i think a little part of the christmas love died when i slaved away for a certain retail establishment in my teens. retail steals a part of your soul and it never returns. thanks jcpenney. there is a reason i get sick to my stomach walking by that part of the mall.

to add more to my ever-growing Scrooge list... i am in total withdrawal from the twilight saga. it was a beautiful few weeks. i got totally sucked in to those wonderful books. i felt like i was 13 again...just completely in love with fantasy and the power of a good story. those books were a total escape from all the stress--and sadly, i've finished them all and my bliss-bubble has popped. sighhhhhh. i have other good books to read...but still.

this holiday season is so different! Good and Bad. maybe its just because i'm older and completely, for the first time EVER, not governed by anything. for the first time in my life i have no school to think about! no final projects, no term papers, no next semester planning...NOTHING! it is too weird! so weird in fact, i find myself caving and researching graduate school.

i'm making my resolutions a bit early...
i need some real goals! i need to really dig deep and find out what I REALLY WANT.
i want to find some solid ground. i want to be comfortable in this post-college-mind-job that has leeched itself onto my brain since graduation. solid ground. a firm foundation. ;)

luckily there is my music. music ;) always always always puts my mind at ease. it allows me to meditate, pray, dream, relax, trust and hope that everything is going to be okay! it will be. i know this. so, though i'm totally saturated of holiday spirit, i think the greatest lesson this christmas season is teaching me is Hope. It is always about hope. Hope that in the dark, uncertain future there is light...always a light to guide us out, that there will be joy again. ;) That is bringing a lot more comfort than the commercialism, ornaments and gaudy baubles. I think this is a real grown-up Christmas for me. We'll see how the rest of this month develops. In the mean time...

I really love reading right now. What a gift it is to read what I want! I'm off to find my next literary escape. Any suggestions?