A new project for a New Year

I'm really excited to start a new joint-venture project, with my friend Terri, at the start of 2009. The idea came from a post Terri had seen about two friends who lived at opposite ends of the country and shared a photo blog. You can see the book that resulted from their efforts HERE. Its a very cool idea, and both Terri and I have a love of photography so we thought it might be an interesting project for us as well. You can see our blog here. We hope to upload a photo (each of us, so 2 pictures per day) of something we see in our lives. I hope to refrain from the urge to photograph things like a messy sink or the dust bunnies that are larger than life, but no promises. Terri and I share so many commonalities, and yet our worlds are so different. This will be quite interesting... stay tuned!!

Christmas has come and gone, and the hours of 2008 are dwindling. I'm finally feeling better, thanks to the miracle of modern medicine, and can fully partake in enjoying the last week of vacation with the family. The house is still buried under Ghosts of Christmas Presents, but I think we have a much better handle on it all than we did a few days ago.

We have lots to look forward to in the start of 2009. First, is the visit of one of my oldest friends, Angie. The last time she was in Scottsdale, she and her husband were here for a potentially life-saving operation for their son, Evan. This time.. its all for fun!!! I'm an only child, but am blessed to have two women in my life that I consider to be my un-biological sisters.. and Angie is one of them.

Then, Steve's parents will hopefully arrive shortly after that. Warren is on full time oxygen now, after a nasty case of pneumonia compromised his lung function. They are still planning to drive and sound as though very little will stand in their way of coming out here!

And.... my own calendar turns with the annual one. When the door closes on 2008, it will also close on a decade for me. I turn 40 with the new year, and will honestly say that I am extremely excited about it. I can't put my finger on why, exactly - most women dread turning the big FOUR-OH... but I think it will be a blast.

I hope that you and yours have a most wonderful new year... that 2009 brings prosperity, health, laughter and love to us all ... in abundance.

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

I got tagged... so here you go...

Directions: You have to write a note with 16 random things, shortcomings, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 16 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, leave me comments & choose 16 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you and/or I thought you might actually respond to this silly waste of time.

1. My favorite thing to do currently, is play on Facebook. Perhaps this makes me shallow or silly, but so be it!.
2. I am a political moderate with social tendencies toward the democrats and fiscial tendencies toward the republicans. Basically, I will never be politically happy.
3. I always wanted to be a something.. it changed too much as a kid for there to be one defining thread.
4. I watch more football than any other sport, but its GOT to be college football, or forget it.
5. TV commercials make me look frantically for the fast forward button.
6. I'm dreading my next dental visit.
7. I have a terrible fear of snakes, falling, and vomiting children.
8. I haven't seen any of the 2008 Best Picture nominees - even to date!
9. I used to love red wine but now it hates me and makes me feel miserable. I miss it.
10. I finally stopped biting my nails when I was 35.
11. I could spend all year in the water, assuming its a beach and an ocean at the other end. Sorry - a lake just won't do.
12. I'm afraid I'll get sick and not be able to see my kids grow up.
13. Sometimes I wish I had all the money I needed. That never seems to happen tho - even for those who make 10x what I make...
14. I can read an entire book in one evening. Even big ones..
15. I have a terrible fear of something happening to me or my kids.
16. My life has turned out more or less how I expected it to - only on a very different time table.

From this, I tag Meredith, Nancy, Terri, Brenda, Karyn (yes.. this means you need to blog!), Angie, Brandon, Derek, Tammi, Garfield, Jenn, Robyn, Chrissy, Fred, Kathy, Rachel, and Beth.

Please enjoy the Twitter-feeds while Sam's brain takes a vacation...

Thank goodness for Twitter, or both of you who check out my blog would have had nothing to look at in nearly a month!! Sorry about that everyone...its always crazy between Thanksgiving and New Years. 2008 is no exception!

In the last month, the headlines have included: getting the official notification that I passed the Language Arts test, meaning I can now legally teach a Language Arts class, attending 2 musical concerts, both with Parker in performance, receiving the nod from the admin at my school to teach an 8th grade Language Arts class starting when we get back (taking over a class 1/2 way thru the year.. this could be interesting!), and then there was word that came thru email and Facebook notices that my high school was being sued for harassment and discrimination.

I sort of went off on a tirade for a bit about that last part, and when the holidays are over and I have time to think, I will share with you my thoughts, far removed from the situation as they are, about the whole mess.

There has been lots happening, but it has also been a crazy-buys time. I promise to update the world of the Arizona Jensens very soon!!