2008 was an eventful year. It was my first year of marriage. There were births and deaths. I started a company. We elected a president I actually like. It hasn't been the year of hell for me that it was for many people, but it certainly was intense. Overall, I'm a lot more comfortable in my skin than I was a year ago, and I attribute that mostly to the necessity of letting go of control that comes with starting a business, and to my marriage, which has been a tremendous blessing.
This year we flew to Los Angeles on Christmas Day, and drove to Santa Barbara. I love not having to take multiple flights. We had celebrated my birthday with friends the previous Saturday, and Christmas with the Quimby clan on Sunday:
On Christmas day we flew to California and spent a few days in Santa Barbara with family and friends. Meeting my new niece Saraphina was especially fun:
Isn't she a doll? Speaking of dolls, check out Miss Maxine, now approaching the ripe old age of two:
It was foodie bliss at my parents' house, as per usual:
Beef Wellington with Celery Root Mashers and Port Reduction
Hoshigaki White Chocolate Truffles
Tortilla soup with fried shrimp
Cajeta Ice cream with Mexican Cookies
And we found some time to get out and do some nature photography:
Shaun and I (mostly Shaun) cooked a dinner for our parents' 40th anniversary:
Then it was off to LA for a couple days of sightseeing and catching up with friends. We had lunch at a dumpling house in Arcadia with Rheia and Dave:
And dinner in Hollywood with Elender and Bergen, who treated us to the Amazing Cat Show:
The next day we did some sightseeing, ate at a fabulous restaurant in Glendale called Carousel, and it was back home again.
We're happy to be home, and happy to be spending time with our Austin friends and family again. Happy 2009!
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