This is my new tradition of past-year reflections. What was your 2008 like?


1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before? ATS performances, Tribalfest (a week-long tribal bellydance festival in California), Under a Desert Moon (UDM) show (Sahara Dance’s big bellydance event of the year), Leofest

2. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008? A better job

3. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Mid May: May 6th—my 40th birthday; May 10-11: UDM; May 13-18 Tribalfest

4. What was/were your biggest achievement(s)/success(es) of the year? Completing four stage shows, a Web Technologies certificate (mid-Jan ‘09), and four websites

5. What was/were your biggest failure(s)/disappointment(s)? Starwood : (

6. What was the best thing(s) you bought? Video racks to hold my every-growing DVD collection and my Moorish scimitar (sword)

7. Where did most of your money go? Bellydance classes

8. What did you get really excited about? Tribalfest

9. What song(s), movie(s), tv show(s) will always remind you of 2008? Odyssey 5, Stargate (Although these were from several years ago, I just watched/started watching them in 2008)

10. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer? Thinner and richer (although it doesn’t feel like it), but a bit sadder at the prospects of the future.

11. What do you wish you’d done more of? Same as last (every?) year: dieting

12. What do you wish you’d done less of? Same as last (every?) year: eating

13. What was/were your greatest discovery/ies? HTML Writer’s Guild eclasses, Tribalfest, Raleigh Ringers concert, poi, Oggz, creative uses for party hats : )

14. What did you want and get? Raqs West (Tribal bellydance troupe) admittance

15. What did you want and not get? A special Starwood experience

16. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? The big 40! Dinner with friends at Cheesecake Factory

17. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A car, more money, and especially more time would have made it much easier and more enjoyable.

18. What kept you sane? Wine and sci-fi nights

19. What valuable life lesson did you learn in 2008? Dispense with the thought that life is fair and you will be rewarded for hard work.

It's been a while since I've posted anything substantial, so I thought I'd start with this weekend's activity and a recap of what's been consuming my time in DC since NYC.

After looking at over 50 or so condos in over 20-25 complexes in MD and DC I came to the conclusion a couple weeks ago that I just can't afford anything I'd want to live in right now. Sad b/c I'm not looking for anything luxurious, just a simple yet spacious 1 bedroom apartment in a good area that's metro accessible and in my price range. Unfortunately that's much too low for the market. So, I decided to clean and clear out the Trance Den and maybe redo a few things to make believe I'm moving and find myself in a new space.

Yesterday I began this monumental task by taking everything down from my loft (my main storage space). Scary what all I found--and I'm a very organized person. But after 6 years, things just accumulate. Like lots of empty boxes and tissue paper for wrapping gifts (I had an entire bathtub full of empty boxes today!), a James Dean doll that a friend gave me when he moved (why did I save that?), and finally my long-lost black summer skirt MIA for 2 years--found just in time for cold weather.

I've filled up almost one complete trash dumpster, the paper/cardboard recycing bin, and the comingled bin outside today. Now I have to wait until Monday for pickup before I can resume my removal activity. So far, I have a collection of broken-down cardboard boxes, and two trash bags. Tomorrow I'll probably more random things to trash and piles of books to recycle.

After working almost 12 hours today, I'm looking around with SO MUCH more to do! Ugh--this really will be this MONTH's task (not just a weekend activity). But, I'm clearing out the old from several years past to prepare for the new. A very necessary task that I really couldn't wait any longer to do.

This is all worth it, right?

I'm back after a while away with yet another quiz and results, thanks to docsavage44

http://www.okcupid.com/online.dating.persona.test

The Maid of Honor Deliberate Gentle Love Master (DGLM) Appreciated for your kindness and envied for all your experience, you are The Maid of Honor. Charismatic, affectionate, and terrific in relationships, you are what many guys would call a "perfect catch"--and you probably have many admirers, each wishing to capture your long-term love. You're careful, extra careful, because the last thing you want is to hurt anyone. Especially some poor boy whose only crime was liking you. We've deduced you're fully capable of a dirty fling, but you do feel that post-coital attachment after hooking up. So, conscientious person that you are, you do your best to reserve physical affection for those you respect...so you can respect yourself. Your biggest negative is the byproduct of your careful nature: indecision. You're just as slow rejecting someone as you are accepting them. Your exact female opposite: Half-Cocked Random Brutal Sex Dreamer Always avoid: The False Messiah (DBLM), The 5-Night Stand (DBSM), The Vapor Trail (RBLM), The Bachelor (DGSM) Consider: The Gentleman (DGLM), someone just like you.

Link: The Online Dating Persona Test @ OkCupid - free online dating.

Just one quiz results posting tonight, though...

Your Ideal Relationship is Polyamory

You want to have your cake... and everyone else's. Which isn't a bad thing, if everyone else gets to eat too! You're too much of a free spirit to be tied down by a traditional relationship. You think relationships should be open and free, with few restrictions.

Looks like DC is good for me...

American Cities That Best Fit You:

65% Philadelphia 60% Chicago 55% Atlanta 55% Washington, DC 50% Austin

I'm having a great Wednesday night: Just got home from a tribal bellydance class with a new teacher. I wanted to take one class with her before leaving NYC, and I'm so glad I did. It confirmed my desire to continue with classes in DC. It's so fun to dance in a group! And I got to use my finger cymbals, which I have rarely used here in NYC.

We had a pizza party for lunch at work today as a goodbye send-off for me. Friday is my last day there at my internship.

It's officially Sangria Night in my VW Parlor. I had to use up my fruit. I'm sure that's a valid reason : ) Dramatic lightening and thunderstorm outside. Hopefully sci-fi in my future tonight. I've watched all my Battlestar Galactica and Stargate Atlantic from ITunes. I feel it's time to rewatch some episodes now. Yes, I'm a sci-fi junkie!

Only 8 more days and counting...