The past year has been full of ups and downs (is that a cliche’ or what?) and lots of items of historical significance. I’m going to focus solely on what was significant to me in my personal life, otherwise this could take for-ev-er.

• January: Rang in the new year in the Caribbean, on an island called Dominica. It was gorgeous, saturated with color and the kind of light you only see on the islands. My brother’s going to med school down there. Must suck to live in a tropical paradise!
• February: Traveled to Lawrence a couple of times, helped plan and attended a ridiculously fun Mardi Gras party (I wore green tights). Studied for a stupid exam I should have been done with months before, but life got in the way. Booked flight to San Diego for April to visit Kristen.
• March: Took said stupid exam (I passed). March Madness! Booked flight to Durham, North Carolina to visit Kelly. I wish I could remember more, but the first part of the year wasn’t terribly exciting.
• April: Traveled to San Diego to see Kristen and Jordan, went to LA (Santa Monica and Sherman Oaks specifically) to see one of K’s friends and see LeVar Burton do a play. It was a fun trip and the weather was gorgeous. Traveled to North Carolina the next weekend to see Kelly and Nate and take a look at the Duke campus (..eh). When I remember both trips, I can feel how warm, lush, green, exciting, and wonderful spring was in both places. Lovely. I also spent a great deal of time in a courtroom in April, but it wasn’t a trial I was presenting or anything. It was interesting, and would have been moreso if it hadn’t hit so close to home.
• May: The LOST season finale (fade to white!) and the Spelling Bee. I booked a flight for a two week stay in Washington DC for June. Spent a lot of time intensively searching to job postings for work in DC. Bought my ticket for Lollapalooza. Got addicted to Modcloth.com. Was pretty sure I would be moving away from Wichita within a few months. Became aware of a significant Wichita presence on twitter (I had been on twitter since October of 2008, but only followed friends and a few news sources until this point). Little did I know what was to come of that.
• June: Attended my very first tweetup at Caffe Posto. It was a hot, Sunday afternoon and I was walking into a room of people I had never met. I had no idea what to expect, but I ended up meeting some great people, having a good time, and making some new friends. Went out dancing with some of said new friends later that week. Spent two weeks in DC. It was awesome, every part. I wish I could have stayed longer. The only disappointment was the reality check I received in the form of one more rejection letter from yet another job wanting prior experience. That, and the realization that the cost of living in DC is insane. Astronomical is an understatement. But I had a phenomenal time exploring that city all on my own, meeting up with far-flung friends, and spending time with relatives I hadn’t seen in ages.
• July: Attended a tweetup at Heroes where I met a few more new twitter folks, including one @joshdutcher. Almost got killed (or at least injured) by a rogue firework at the Fourth of July party. It was supposed to shoot straight up in the air and explode awesomely, and instead, fell over and shot right into the crowd of onlookers, just barely missing me and another person. Yikes. Spent a lot of time scouring the job postings for DC again, but realized that there were fewer opportunities for what I wanted to do than I would have liked. Began (reluctantly) considering staying in Wichita. Booked flight to Chicago for Lollapalooza.
• August: Made the decision to start looking for work in Wichita. Went to Chicago to spend time with Kelly and Nate and go to Lollapalooza. There were many things about that trip that left much to be desired, but in the long run, it was a good time. So nasty hot and sweaty and dirty, but a lot of fun in the end. Discovered how many Wichita tweeple were also on tumblr. Started dating Josh :-) This was a big deal. I’d been actively single for two and a half years, after a failed series of relationships with the same guy (on-again off-again doesn’t even begin to describe that mess). I hadn’t dated anyone new for so long that I was pretty sure I’d forgotten how. I wasn’t even sure I wanted to get involved in something serious. But the universe wouldn’t let us consider anything else, and constantly threw signs at both of us that we should consider pursuing this. So far, I can say it’s the best thing that happened to me in 2009. Baseball game where I met a bunch more new tweeps. I’m so glad I did!
• September: The Birthday Month. I milked this for all it was worth. Also my best friend’s birthday, and so many others. It’s a great month. Fall!! KU Football season (what a disappointment that turned out to be). My first First Friday. Spent a week in Lawrence housesitting and babysitting for one of my favorite families of all time. Got part of my Halloween costume. Heard “Fireflies” for the first time. Went to my first Horizonz event at Lizard Lounge. Became even closer to Josh. My first Final Friday. Had a fantastic birthday party at The Garage Bar (before that place became skeezy).
• October: NASCAR in KC with my dad! Haha! ArtAid. Young Lawyers Trolley Trek. Tallgrass Film Festival. Basketball Season officially began. Planned my Halloween Costume well in advance (I was a mod PanAm flight attendant). Attended various Halloween parties, including more than one combination Halloween/Birthday party. Joined the Wichita Bar Association, went to some receptions and meetings and started the process of “getting involved.”
• November: Spent a lot of time thinking about the things I was thankful for, over the past few months, and overall. The first KU Basketball game of the season!!! Rock Chalk! Ranted a lot on tumblr about things that really grind my gears. Went up to Lawrence for Bassnectar. Thanksgiving! It was a total success, and oh so yummy. So much family around, it was great. Did I mention yummy?
• December: Star Trek party! Wichita Women Attorneys Association Christmas luncheon, Volunteer Training for the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center, Young Lawyers Christmas Party, My dad’s office Christmas Party, shopping like a fiend for everyone, spending time with far-flung law school friends at a reunion in Lawrence, spending time with far-flung high school friends here in ICT, spending time with Josh, spending time with my family. Christmas eve and Christmas morning with Josh and son. New Year’s Eve in Lawrence with friends and KC with Josh’s friends.

When I look back at the good things from last year, I get excited about all the good things to come this year. I’m all inspired now. Ready to kick ass and take names! Holla.