I started this on New Year's Eve but waited until the next day to make sure it was still good for posting. Some of the tense is all over the place.
This is by far the most strange New Year's Eve Celebration I've ever had. We had made plans with friends for a quiet New Year's and perhaps even a bonfire but it rained all day Sunday and in late afternoon it turned to snow and the forecast calls for anything from 2 - 7 inches of snow. State Patrol is just recommending people stay in tonight.
I was thinking of doing a great end of year blog entry about what I've learned, how life is different, the great people I've gotten to know but I'm having a heck of a time deciding between all the photos--it's been a fabulous year. While going through them I came across a trend:
From Arkansas...
From Maine...
From New Jersey...
I have pretty much eaten my way across the country in the last year and not the healthiest food at that. I think all the Holiday indulgences have finally caught up and I have decided that I need to eat sensibly for the next few weeks so my pants aren't so tight. I started the day after Christmas and have been documenting everything I eat. It's weird, but I've done it in the past to drop a few pounds. It really makes you rethink those hash browns fried in bacon grease when you have to write them down.
That seems to be the general consensus of the party tonight so we have had a most healthy raw dinner and some fabulous home made veggie and fruit juice. It's quiet and low key, we're all marveling at the strangeness of it.
Cut to New Year's Morning: Non Birding Bill found ourselves to be the only people left awake at midnight. A couple of us feel like we've been fighting off colds so everyone played it safe. At first the 15 year old in me was lamenting that this was way too much of an adult way to spend New Year's Eve but NBB found ourselves quietly bringing in the New Year with a 15 year old bottle of scotch. We talked about our mutual surprise at still being married for so long and having such a great time with each other, what it was like when we first knew each other and our hopes for the future. That finally shut up my inner 15 year old.
We're passing around New Year's salutations now and I've been thinking about one in particular that I have received from a few people: "I hope 2007 is better." For the record, 2006 was a fantastic year for me. I love to travel and I got to spend time in 20 states, meet great people and embark on a whole new career.
I watched a late night bittern rescue in Maine...
I learned that when your vehicle is stuck in snow, white millet works to give you extra traction...
I learned that you can find enormous black swans in Ohio. Run, NBB, run!
We got to meet famous celebrities like Chet Baker...
Cinnamon got a book deal!
I found that Utah is one of the prettiest states I have ever visited. I like to think of the above photo as representing 2007. A road off to the beautiful unknown and adventure just around the corner. As always I am looking forward to a new year but I have give props to 2006 being a sweet year.
The biggest highlight and lesson that I have learned this year is that my friends are wonderful, generous people, and I'm blessed to have them in my life. I'm always so surprised how different my life is at the end of each year. It's rare that my life is where I think it will be and how quickly changes come and become normal in 12 months. Last year I was living the dream as a traveling optics rep and now I'm living a new dream of becoming an author. If all goes as planned I will have two books out this time next year.
And I'm grateful for all of the readers of the blog and commenters. I hope all of you have a great new year ahead of you that is full of great times, love and happiness.