trying to remember and forget 2008

New Years of 2008 I was in the West Bank. My roommates and I had dinner and partied Palestinian style. The bombs started dropping shortly after midnight and that was a real buzz kill. It was strange to have bombs instead of fireworks, but it was a memorable New Years anyhow.

1. January I stayed in the West Bank, made great friends, travelled around, and learned a bunch.

2. February was about the same, but I had to say bye to the West Bank and my friends.

3. March I returned to Orlando, returned to my Orlando friends, returned to my waitressing job, started school again, and then left Orlando again. Azuree let me borrow her car to go visit my dad for spring break. There was a crazy snow storm and I ended up in Nashville, TN with a very welcoming Casey McBride. From there I met my dad in Memphis TN and drove to Houston. I dont remember anything else from March, but it was a really awesome spring break.

4. April I started hanging out with Doug a lot and continued that throughout the entire year. Such good times. Final exams for the spring semester.

5. May I went to Chicago and was a bridesmaid in Azurees wedding. Shared a room with Amy and Austin, best room ever. I flew back to Orlando the day after Azurees wedding for Dylon and Ruthies wedding. Wedding weekend marathon. Summer school started, worst semester ever.

6. June I went swimming a lot and canoeing a lot. I loved that, but somehow I also worked a lot and was at school a lot.

7. In July I was a bridesmaid in Nathan and Annas wedding. That was fun. Austin left. I had an amazing landfill adventure.

8. August I drank a lot of wine and snuggled a lot. I finished the worst semester. I went to Mexico and loved every second of it. Came back and started my last semester of school.

9. September I got laid off from my job and that really killed me. Although it was hard on me, getting laid off from work meant Hang Out Mania 2008 was to begin! The race for the U.S. presidency was in motion and driving me crazy. Started training for a half marathon. Made a bunch of new friends and spent a lot of time with them.

10. October I went to Chicago and visited the Wiitalas. Had so much fun! Went and saw Louis Farrakhan. Still didnt have a job. Saw Bryan and Jenna get married!

11. Not really sure what happened for most of November, but I know I went to St. Augustine for Mexican Thanksgiving with the Hamels and then went to Atlanta and saw Nathan and Rachael get married. That was wonderful. The first part of the month was mostly spent in BBQ bar, I think. Oh, and Obama was elected president of the U.S.A.

12. December I turned 23. Graduated from College. Went away. Partied for all 3 occasions. Ran a half marathon. Said bye to a bunch of amazing friends. Said bye to someone I probably shouldnt have. Flew to London, went to Oxford, and spent Christmas working in a homeless shelter with Aby. So good to see Jack and Aby. Went to Switzerland after Christmas and watched the snow fall.
December 31 I was in Switzerland and really sick. I just went out to a fancy 6 course dinner and drank champagne with my godmother and her boyfriend. Wanted to not be sick and to be with my friends, but it was nice. Huge snowflakes had my attention the entire night.


2008 went by really fast. It was a huge transitionary year and I partied a lot, so its mostly a blur.
Its the first day of 2009 and I dont really know what to make of it yet. Its going to be a lot different than 2008 though. Im going to Paris in a few days and then heading to the Middle East.