Last year, I made a resolution to be more grateful. I did manage to keep a gratitude journal through the first part of the year but waned through the second half. I set a few goals, here is how I did.

Learn to play the piano, again. I played my keyboard once or twice but did not relearn to play. However, I did relearn to play the flute and even performed in public in December.

Take more photos. I uploaded 1286 photos to Flickr in 2008, which is an increase of 146 photos over 2007.

Paint something at least once a month. *Groan* I was doing pretty well there with music and photography, but with painting I fell way short of my goal. I’ve painted 4 paintings this year, none of them are finished and two of them are simply canvas backgrounds.

All in all not bad results for a set of New Year goals. I wanted to be free of the weight of my weight in 2008. I’d say I still have some work to do in that area but it’s always getting better and I’m not willing to give up. Here is recap of my year.

January 2008
I spent half the month in Texas, spending time with my family until Chris came down and we drove back to Washington together. It was a wonderful road trip that helped us reconnect after being apart for a month. I read three books in January:
- Beasts by Joyce Carol Oates.
- Identity by Milan Kundera.
- Hanna’s Daughter by Marianne Fredriksson.

I enjoyed spending time with my niece Payten while I visited Texas.

February 2008
My inner creative cook was in full force in February. As I struggled to get back on track with my fitness routine, I started exploring natural foods. I experimented in the kitchen and found a lot of pleasure in simple foods. I read one book in February, A New Earth by Echart Tolle. I wouldn’t say it changed my life as Oprah said it would, but it did reinforce many beliefs and philosophies I already try to embrace.

To Be Pasta a delicious pasta dish I concocted in my culinary inspiration.

March 2008
I finished my favorite painting (see photo below) to date in March. It took me a year to complete it but I love it and it hangs over my computer desk now. I took some time for spring cleaning, dying Easter eggs with natural materials and cooking up something organic and delicious for Easter. The cherry blossoms bloomed bringing color back after a long winter. I went to the Emerald Rain Belly dance competition to support my mentor and to perform as a filler dancer between sets of competitions. In March, I read one book, World Without End by Ken Follet. I was crazy about the first book, this one just satiated my need for more from the story of the cathedral city of Kingsbridge.

One year in the making, my favorite painting to date.

April 2008
To work on my photography goal, I participated in a 30 day Macro challenge in April. I was diagnosed with borderline low thyroid, and tried medicating for it. I also started Medifast, take shape for life and lost 11 lbs. Flickr started hosting video and I began exploring moving photography. Amenia and I debut our duet performance and it was a hit at Holland Happening in downtown Oak Harbor. Bobby turned 10 years old. Also, Chris got a shiny new bicycle. I read five books in April:
- The Darkest Road by Guy Gavriel Kay.
- The Wandering Fire by Guy Gavriel Kay.
- The Summer Tree by Guy Gavriel Kay.
- Survivor by Chuck Palahnuik.
- Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kinsolver.

Handmade clogs lined up at the Oak Harbor, Holland Happening Festival.

May 2008
After a road trip to Portland, visiting visit friends, and a long conversation on the way home, Chris and I got engaged. The wedding is planned for Apr. 4, 2009 in Texas. I read four books in May:
- Rant: An Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk.
- The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho.
- Such a Pretty Fat by Jen Lancaster.
- A Long Fatal Love Chase by Louisa May Alcott.

An example of one of my moving pictures, here we are at the Portland Saturday Market enjoying the live music.

June 2008
After losing 15 pounds in five weeks, the doctor changed my thyroid medication because it did not impact my blood work. The medication I was switched to knocked my body for a loop. I was overly fatigued and achy. So, I stopped taking it and switched to a natural supplement. After this blow, I struggled for the rest of the year with getting back on program and gained back most of the weight I lost. I also went through a bit of a slump creatively, but Chris and I did get out to Fort Ebey State Park and shot some beautiful photos and a fun little movie. I read three books in June:
- Snuff by Chuck Palahniuk.
- The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho.
- Blood Ties by Pamela Freeman.

There were so many of these bird flying around at Ft. Ebey State Park. I was lucky to catch some of them in action.

July 2008
We took two major trips in July. First, we went to Port Angeles to celebrate my birthday. I turned 32 years old. It was a wonderful weekend of food, fun and playing in the sunshine. Later in the month, Chris and I went to Montana. We visited friends in Bozeman and the drove to Kallispell for a wedding reception near Glacier National Park. It was amazingly beautiful and our best trip to Montana yet! It was on that trip we decided, Chris is going back to school and we are moving to Bozeman Summer 2009 after our wedding. I read one book in July, Villa Incognito by Tom Robbins.

During a street concert, Chris pesters Becky while she’s on the phone. We had a great time visiting everyone is Bozeman and Kalispell.

August 2008
On 8, 8 of oh-8, I participated in “A Day In The Life” on flickr, documenting my day with photos. This month was a relaxing month, the culminated with my annual Belly dance retreat in Grand Coulee, Washington. The retreat is quite intense with yoga and dance classes all day, including swimming, hanging out and staying up way to late for the hafla. I performed with Amenia this year and felt really inspired. By the time I go home I was wiped out but I can’t wait to go again next year. I read one book in August, Thud! by Terry Prachett.

Me and my camera on a regular day in August.

September 2008
Chris turned 32 a few months after me and we headed back over to the Olympic Peninsula for his birthday. Again, we had such a wonderful time. It is very beautiful and we really enjoy getting off the island and exploring new people and places. The economy started taking a turn for the worse and we both decided it was time to scale back and take a look at our budget. Also, politics were a hot subject as the first debates got under way for the upcoming presidential election. I read one book in September, Juicy Pens, Thirsty Paper by SARK.

Chris enjoys the view at Elwha River Park on the Olympic Peninsula.

October 2008
Reuniting with old friends is the theme of October. Early in the month, by best friends came up to visit me and we stayed at an amazing cabin near Mt. Rainer. The three of us hadn’t been together in over 3 years. We laughed and talked and talked and talked and had a wonderful time. Then, at the end of the month, I flew back to North Carolina for training and got to spend a lot of quality time with my co-workers for the first time in over 4 years. We laughed and talked…well you get the picture. I read one book in October, The Sword of Shannara by Terry Brooks.

Good Morning from Sydney Powell on Vimeo.
A short artistic video from the cabin at Wellspring.

November 2008
We elected a new president! It was a crazy election year. I intended to vote for Ron Paul, but switch my vote at the 11th hour. I was impressed with Obama and the things he wanted to do for the country, so he won my vote. Also, a kitten adopted us on Nov. 8th. I was walking Bobby and this tiny (very hungry) kitten ran up to us. I scooped her up before my little terrier could go all terrier on her and she snuggled into my neck. I was hooked. It’s has been a delight to have a new animal in the home and she and Bobby have made friends and even play together sometimes–although Bobby likes to pretend she annoyed. I attempted Nanowrimo again, but only got 1500 words into it. I did, however, decide that I had enough short pieces to really consider putting together a book of short stories. I’ve worked on it intermittently since then. I really tried to get on track with my fitness and diet program and did well most of the month. Around Thanksgiving I faltered and floundered ever since. We saw Henry Rollins at the Moore Theater for Thanksgiving and had a wonderful time in Seattle. I read one book in November, Twilight by Stephanie Meyer.

Chris and Guenhwyvar share a quiet moment.

December 2008
For the first time since I was 17 years old, I played my flute for live audiences with a little gypsy band my belly dance friends and I put together including drums, violin, flute and vocals. I got to sing in harmony with one of the women and it was really quite wonderful. It was a real thrill to fulfill my musical inclinations with these wonderful women. As Christmas approach, Chris and I had planned to drive to Texas to celebrate with my family. Alas, Old Man Winter had other plans, dumping several inches of snow and ice all along the western coast. We spent a quite Christmas at home with Bobby and Gueny instead. I read two books in December, Priestess of the Forest by Ellen Evert Hopman and The Plot Against America by Philip Roth.

The Jazeerah Gypsy Band from Sydney Powell on Vimeo.
Five minute video of our gypsy band performance at December 2008 1st Saturday Hafla in Mt.Vernon, Washington.

Now, 2009 approaches. This year promises many changes including a change of name and address. I’m looking forward to moving to Bozeman and marrying my soul mate. I think despite potentially hard times with the economy, 2009 will be a year of growth and true happiness.