1. I took a 4 day road trip out to San Francisco with 3 of my best friends. I will never take the week I spent with them back. It was rough, long, grouchy, exciting, happy, sad, amazing and the list could go on. We stopped at some interesting places, Krystal's car broke down on day 1 in Iowa, we at crap food, I got a speeding ticket...but the most amazing experience and I am so glad I had my besties with me!
Coley, Krystal, me and Beans in Salt Lake City, UT for lunch
2. While in NV we pulled off the interstate onto dark, barley traveled roads to park our car away from the Interstate lights and were able to see the most breath-taking sky I have ever seen. I have always loved stars but I have never seen so many of them and so bright. I will never forget that sky.
3. Once I got out here I was able to work for my idol, Joe Goode. It was amazing, ask me and I will share the stories!
4. Since arriving in SF I have had the chance to perform at: The Cowell, ODC, The Garage, Dance Mission, CounterPULSE, Arts Center, and in San Jose.
5. I was so very lucky to take a trip to NYC to see my brother in May and stop in Chicago on my way back to SF. It was a break that I very much needed and cherished.
6. My amazing friend Beans came to SF to celebrate her 21st birthday! It was a blast! We went out dancing in the Mission, saw The Fray in concert, ate lots of food, laughed a lot, drank some and embraced seeing each other for a week.
7. One of my favorite people from Chicago, Jon, has a little sister who lives in Cali and is a dancer as well. She spent the summer up in SF and stayed with Krystal and me for 5 weeks. It was a blast. We had Saturday morning pancakes, farmers market, making dinner, baking, sex and the city watching... it was so enjoyable having her here. I have actually missed her a lot since she left!
8. Steve and JoHo's wedding. 2 Amazing friends got married in Southern California this summer and I was so happy to have been there helping a hand. It was beautiful and I feel so honored that I could be there to share the day with them.
9. My mom came to visit me. After I lived here for over 6 months my mom was finally able to come out and see where I live. The only thing that felt like it was missing with me out here has been my family. Having her come and see where I live helped it feel a little more like home!
10. I work for an amazing organization called Dancers' Group (dancersgroup.org). Not only are my co-workers some of my closest friends in the city, but the job gives me opportunities to work for people like Anna Halprin. Its a truly amazing organization that I believe in fully and feel totally blessed to be apart of it!
Anna Halprin
13. When my mom was visiting she gave me one of the best gifts I could ever imagine... My "Gerti Butt" also know as Gertrude and further more, my Kitty. She is seriously the best creature EVER. She is loving, playful, cuddly and so much more. Her bday is May 11th 2009 so she is not even a year yet, but she is mommy's little angel. She greats me at the door when I walk in, kisses me often to tell me she loves me, tells me how her days was...she is amazing!
14. In September I started working for the amazing Holly Johnston and her company, Ledges and Bones Dance Project. I am currently her Administrative Director, rehearsal director and training with the company. She is based out of LA so the company splits time between SF and LA. Needless to say, I have made my share of journeys down to LA in the past 5 months! While I don't love LA I love Holly so bring it on LA!
15. In October I had one of the worst injuries I could ever imagine, I broke 2 ribs and fractured 2 ribs. I was replaced in work and couldn't perform....well i couldn't dance at all. I could barely breath and I ended up seeing 3 doctors to verify it. I was in disbelief. I broke them while in Holly's rehearsal but it was also a 9 hour day of rehearsals for me and I was at the end of the day. They are still healing but I am dancing (trying to at least) as much as I can with out re-breaking them... did you know broken ribs can take up to one year to heal? Not what dancers like to hear!
16. In August (or September...I think August) I went to Disneyland with 2 of my "co-wos" (co-workers) and our friend Jane! It was magical! I have been to Disneyworld before but Disneyland was A-Mazing. We flew down, stayed at Mo's moms house, went to Disneyland for 2 days (had free passes because Kegans friend David worked there). Jane was fighting some hip problems so we got her a wheal chair and were able to get to the front of almost every line because of it! (ethical...kinda...don't judge us!) Kegan was amazing and really made my first time there one I wont forget, I got "my first time" "Im celebrating" "honorary citizen" and "Happy Anniversary" buttons (Kegan and I pretended it was our anniversary and it wasn't until our flight back to SF that someone called it out that he was gay and we were faking it!)
Our "Anniversary" photo
Had to include Splash Mt picture!
17. I worked at a production company called RAPT Productions for almost the whole first year I've been here. I was their office manager. It taught me a lot and I made a lot of great friends. The best part of it though was that I got to play ping pong daily! You would think after a year I would be killer at it...but I'm not. I quit RAPT last week and on my last day, I still lost every game I played. Oh well!
18. I was so lucky to go back to Chicago for Thanksgiving and spend 2.5 weeks there for Christmas! I have a great boss who let me work from Chicago which was amazing. And, I was able to bring Gerti back with me. I could have never been away from her for that long so I was very happy. Being home warmed my heart, refueled my soul and fully energized me. Seeing my best friends who are irreplaceable, kicking ass in wii bowling, cuddling with my mom on the couch while she pet my head, and eating LOTS OF YUMMY FOOD! Being 3,000 miles away from home I can't believe I was so lucky to be able to spend so much time with my AMAZING family.
19. I finally did it, I chopped my hair all off! It was liberating and felt so good to not have to worry about it any longer. Ladies, ya'all should try it at least once!
20. I was able to fly over SF on an Ariel tour. Krystal and my friend Joel is a pilot and took us up in a plane for an hour to fly over the Bay Area. It was out of this world Beautiful and made me appreciate even more the amazing land that I call home now.
So, there you have it top 20 things of 2009. I am sure there are plenty more I could have mentioned but as this took me an hour...I think i should probably go to bed since I am now a grown up and have to get to the office in the morning!
3. Once I got out here I was able to work for my idol, Joe Goode. It was amazing, ask me and I will share the stories!
4. Since arriving in SF I have had the chance to perform at: The Cowell, ODC, The Garage, Dance Mission, CounterPULSE, Arts Center, and in San Jose.
5. I was so very lucky to take a trip to NYC to see my brother in May and stop in Chicago on my way back to SF. It was a break that I very much needed and cherished.
Sean and me in NYC May 2009
6. My amazing friend Beans came to SF to celebrate her 21st birthday! It was a blast! We went out dancing in the Mission, saw The Fray in concert, ate lots of food, laughed a lot, drank some and embraced seeing each other for a week.
Beans, K-Dawg and Me when Beans turned 21!
7. One of my favorite people from Chicago, Jon, has a little sister who lives in Cali and is a dancer as well. She spent the summer up in SF and stayed with Krystal and me for 5 weeks. It was a blast. We had Saturday morning pancakes, farmers market, making dinner, baking, sex and the city watching... it was so enjoyable having her here. I have actually missed her a lot since she left!Kristie and Me on the way to Gay Pride in SF...don't worry we have clothes on, it was just hot and Gay Pride so we are slightly bare!
8. Steve and JoHo's wedding. 2 Amazing friends got married in Southern California this summer and I was so happy to have been there helping a hand. It was beautiful and I feel so honored that I could be there to share the day with them.Me, Joho and Steve toward the end of the night!
9. My mom came to visit me. After I lived here for over 6 months my mom was finally able to come out and see where I live. The only thing that felt like it was missing with me out here has been my family. Having her come and see where I live helped it feel a little more like home!Mom and me in front of the Bay Bridge
10. I work for an amazing organization called Dancers' Group (dancersgroup.org). Not only are my co-workers some of my closest friends in the city, but the job gives me opportunities to work for people like Anna Halprin. Its a truly amazing organization that I believe in fully and feel totally blessed to be apart of it!
Dancers' Group staff: Wayne (my boss), Jorge, Kegan, Mo and me
Anna Halprin
11. I never thought I would say this but Iowa has a better 4th of July than SF. Brian and I spent 4th of July in Downtown SF thinking it would be amazing...and it was far from! Bad enough that yes it made the list of 2009 because it was so lame! We ended up saying forget this and went dancing in a club in the mission!
12. Napa Valley...need I say more? I have made 2 trips out to Napa and it is amazing. EVERYONE should go there at least once, but I beat if you go, you will go again. It is beautiful, the wine is amazing, the people are lovely and if you like wine, its a must! I am already planning my next visit (its less than an hour away so its not hard to get there for me, another big plus!)
Mom and me in Napa
My wonderful friend Al and me in Napa (they let each of us have a bottle... for FREE!)
Brian and I waiting for the fireworks...which were awful!
12. Napa Valley...need I say more? I have made 2 trips out to Napa and it is amazing. EVERYONE should go there at least once, but I beat if you go, you will go again. It is beautiful, the wine is amazing, the people are lovely and if you like wine, its a must! I am already planning my next visit (its less than an hour away so its not hard to get there for me, another big plus!)
Mom and me in Napa
My wonderful friend Al and me in Napa (they let each of us have a bottle... for FREE!)
Gerti and me the 2nd night I had her...believe me she has grown a lot since!
Gerti and I on Christmas
14. In September I started working for the amazing Holly Johnston and her company, Ledges and Bones Dance Project. I am currently her Administrative Director, rehearsal director and training with the company. She is based out of LA so the company splits time between SF and LA. Needless to say, I have made my share of journeys down to LA in the past 5 months! While I don't love LA I love Holly so bring it on LA!
15. In October I had one of the worst injuries I could ever imagine, I broke 2 ribs and fractured 2 ribs. I was replaced in work and couldn't perform....well i couldn't dance at all. I could barely breath and I ended up seeing 3 doctors to verify it. I was in disbelief. I broke them while in Holly's rehearsal but it was also a 9 hour day of rehearsals for me and I was at the end of the day. They are still healing but I am dancing (trying to at least) as much as I can with out re-breaking them... did you know broken ribs can take up to one year to heal? Not what dancers like to hear!
16. In August (or September...I think August) I went to Disneyland with 2 of my "co-wos" (co-workers) and our friend Jane! It was magical! I have been to Disneyworld before but Disneyland was A-Mazing. We flew down, stayed at Mo's moms house, went to Disneyland for 2 days (had free passes because Kegans friend David worked there). Jane was fighting some hip problems so we got her a wheal chair and were able to get to the front of almost every line because of it! (ethical...kinda...don't judge us!) Kegan was amazing and really made my first time there one I wont forget, I got "my first time" "Im celebrating" "honorary citizen" and "Happy Anniversary" buttons (Kegan and I pretended it was our anniversary and it wasn't until our flight back to SF that someone called it out that he was gay and we were faking it!)
Kegan, Mo, me and Jane
Our "Anniversary" photo
Had to include Splash Mt picture! 
18. I was so lucky to go back to Chicago for Thanksgiving and spend 2.5 weeks there for Christmas! I have a great boss who let me work from Chicago which was amazing. And, I was able to bring Gerti back with me. I could have never been away from her for that long so I was very happy. Being home warmed my heart, refueled my soul and fully energized me. Seeing my best friends who are irreplaceable, kicking ass in wii bowling, cuddling with my mom on the couch while she pet my head, and eating LOTS OF YUMMY FOOD! Being 3,000 miles away from home I can't believe I was so lucky to be able to spend so much time with my AMAZING family.
My amazing fam
19. I finally did it, I chopped my hair all off! It was liberating and felt so good to not have to worry about it any longer. Ladies, ya'all should try it at least once!
My new Hair cut by Mark Duthu
20. I was able to fly over SF on an Ariel tour. Krystal and my friend Joel is a pilot and took us up in a plane for an hour to fly over the Bay Area. It was out of this world Beautiful and made me appreciate even more the amazing land that I call home now.
So, there you have it top 20 things of 2009. I am sure there are plenty more I could have mentioned but as this took me an hour...I think i should probably go to bed since I am now a grown up and have to get to the office in the morning!
OH Shae...that was great! I miss you SOOO MUCH!! If I didn't have this wedding and honeymoon to plan, I would be planning a trip to visit you! And I want to so bad...love you!
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