Happy New Year!

Oh, there you are... Happy New Year! 2009. Here it is. So my 2009 started at a great party at the State Theater in Kalamazoo, Michigan. The line-up included: Greensky Bluegrass, Steppin' In It, Seth Bernard and Daisy May Erlwine, and the man behind the madness, Jake Robinson. (It was great, THANK YOU JAKE! That was super dope.) The music was fantastic and it was a beautiful place to see a show. We did note that the security staff was particularly quick witted for such a small team, but all in all it was a great experience and I hope to attend again some New Years Eve.

I made a couple of "resolutions" you could say... I made the resolution to write in a calendar everyones birthdays so I could send birthday cards. I want to be less of a scatterbrain. So far I've done good, and I already managed to get in the 2 birthday cards I never seem to get to. Off to a good start on that one. I also made some health resolutions, which I make every year, but this year I really just want to feel good. My friend Kelly made the comment that this is the "winter of Dani," which I chuckled at. It kind of is though I guess. New year, Benn is in Michigan logging off the countryside, I'm kind of on sebatical from feeling "obligated." Its weird and nice. Its weird because I cant sleep, and its nice because I can do what ever I want. Overall I'm pretty bored so far and have managed to stay on top of all my social networking...

I have a new design project I am doing host research for right now. Its an informational website for the International Female Flame-Off in Berkely, California. My friend Kristina is a glass blower, and attended this all female glass extravaganza. The event is for charity, this year they donated to The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan. It brings ladies in a primarily male dominated field together to compete, work with other girls and women age 14-40 and learn from each other. I'm excited to help out on the design of this project. I love glass and have always been fond of campfires. Ha ha.

Anyway the year is off to a decent start aside from the lay-offs of 8 more people from my company. A few of my good friends were laid off in about the third or fourth round of layoffs that have occured over the last year or so. I feel very, very fortunate to have a job in this very saturated market and the state of the economy world wide. I'm sure all of them will bounce right back, they are all amazing people and I feel greatful to have met and worked with all of them.

So with great HOPE and entusiasm, I forge on into the depths of 2009, a year that is already full of changes and great opportunity.

Cheers!