Related posts:

1. Looking on the Bright Side 7/365
2. Looking on the bright side 10/365
3. Looking on the bright side 9/365

1. A friend asked to do a photo shoot at our place which prompted a massive cleaning session today. This makes me so happy because our apartment is looking pretty sweet right now.
2. Pandora in the morning on the weekends is the sweetest thing in the world. She cuddles, snuggles and is nothing but a bundle of love.
3. Gary finished his prints for the miniature art show and they look absolutely awesome!
4. Our friend Vincent and I have the most awesome sarcastic relationship where things we say to each other would probably make other friends and family cry.
5. Last week at work was really tough, but in a fantastically challenging kind of way. I also got some pretty good news that I’ll share with people shortly.

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1. Looking on the bright side 1/365
2. Looking on the bright side 9/365
3. Looking on the bright side 10/365

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1. Looking on the Bright Side 8/365
2. Looking on the bright side 10/365
3. Looking on the Bright Side 5/365

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1. Looking on the Bright Side 8/365
2. Looking on the bright side 3/365
3. Looking on the Bright Side 6/365

Some days you need to remind yourself that there always is a bright side.  Also, it will get me into the habit of using this space again. Something I’ve been meaning to do for a very long time now.

Now on to Looking on the bright side 1/365

1. My husband is my best friend and probably the most amazing person I have ever known. I love him more than words could ever express.
2. I am really lucky that I can work from home every now and then when I need to because my company….is awesome
3. Nuzzling the neck of my little rat terrier, Pandora, after she has been sitting in the sunshine for an hour and is all sleepy immediately calms me down if I’m feeling stressed out
4. I have to say that I’m pretty damn happy with my Mac. It has problems, but the overall experience for me really is a lot better than working on a PC
5. Mixing things up in my wardrobe lately has allowed me to come up with some nice and unexpected outfits that are warm enough to handle this cold spell we are in.

Related posts:

1. Looking on the Bright Side 7/365
2. Looking on the bright side 9/365
3. Looking on the bright side 10/365

I got engaged! – That’s right, Gary asked me to marry him in April and I said yes   The wedding is planned for September. See, really I’ve been doing you a favour and have not blogged about the wedding planning experience

We went to New York City….again! – Right after we got engaged, Gary and I flew to New York City to celebrate his birthday in a city that we both love.  It also helps that we know some pretty amazing guys from the work he’s done with Royal Flush there and we were lucky enough to spend some time with them. 

Pandora turned 7 this year and had a few set backs. -  She had an unexpected surgery and an infected ear but all in all she’s doing fantastic and is still my beautiful little girl.

Rich and Telma got hitched! – That’s right, two of our best friends tied the knot this summer and Gary and I were lucky enough to be a part of their wedding.  And girls, I actually DID wear the bridesmaid dress again…that’s what happens when you have a fucking rad bride!

Gary and I quit smoking – That’s right, we quit in June (I think) and haven’t looked back.  My lungs are so much happier with me now and my asthma is almost under control.  Yay for non-smokers!

Gary had his first Art Show! – Considering it was right before Christmas and in shit weather a lot of people came out to see Gary’s art.  It was an amazing night and so many people helped make it come together, so once again thank you to everyone!

The Creepshow rocked! -  Gary and I became a lot closer with the The Creepshow and I ended up doing their website using Gary’s design.  They are an amazing band to see live, so if you ever have a shot, don’t miss it!

My Dad has been on a health roller coaster this year – But of course he’s always positive and upbeat so please keep your fingers crossed that this year will be much easier on him

Ruby Nite finally launched – My new website, finally launched after a year of futzing around with it.  Digital Masquerade was way too hard for people to type   I still really love the design but of course I want to change it now   It’s not quite finished but I’m not sure I’ll ever really finish it to be honest.

All in all this has been an pretty fantastic year.  Despite a few set backs and a couple of melt downs,  I have to say that I am a very lucky woman.  I am marrying the man I love, we are both healthy and about to start a new chapter of our life together.  Cheesy, sure it is, but what can I say, I’m a big ole softy.

I really hope that I use this site a lot more in the new year and also get back into photography. I have thousands of photos on my hard drive demanding my attention and my goal is to get them online.  I’ve missed taking photos and sharing them.  I got a new camera for my birthday and I plan on making some heavy use of it this year.  So I apolgize in advance if you start seeing  a lot of bad photos

I hope that 2008 was good for you and I wish you all a kick ass 2009.

Related posts:

1. 2008 Holiday Relief
2. I’m 31 today!
3. Happy Birthday to my baby Sister!

Unfortunately Gary came down with a case of strep throat and after an afternoon wait in the walkin clinic and some antibiotics he’s feeling much better.  But it meant that we had to stay another night in London.  At least Gary’s parent’s place in London is incredibly comfortable and spending an extra night here is by no means a hardship.

I do have to admit, however, that I am looking forward to coming home.  I miss my own bed and having my things around me.  We haven’t been home since Christmas morning and tomorrow when we walk through that door I’m going to breath a huge sigh of relief.

This will be the first time in quite some time that we’ll be able to relax.  There is no art show to deal with, no immediate wedding things that we need to accomplish and no family to visit.  We can actually just chill out, and watch some Dexter and The Office.

Tomorrow will be a good day

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1. Holiday time!
2. 2008 in Review
3. He’s sleeping like a baby

I have several deadlines looming at work, Gary’s website to finish, my Halloween costume to finish, planning for our trip to New York, plus the usual laundry and friends and family to call that I’ve been neglecting. These are all due before the end of the month or sooner.

I find when I feel this overwhelmed the first thing I tend to do is remove myself from everyone. I don’t call family or friends because honestly I’m so wrapped up in my own crap that I can’t really focus on other people and I don’t want to burden them with what is going on with me. Then I tend to feel selfish and the guilt starts to weigh so heavily on me that I don’t contact them for even longer because I feel like a shitty friend/sister/daughter. It’s a downward spiral and it’s all I can do to claw my way out of it.

Last night Gary listened to me have a mini meltdown at 2:00 am because of all this pressure I feel. It was nice to have him just listen and hold me. We had a snit earlier because I was being a bitch and he called me on it. Frankly he was absolutely right. I love that we can tell each other when we are being a bitch/ass/whatever and then work our way through it so that two minutes later we are forgiven. That was one of my major problems in my earlier relationships was that I never felt secure enough to express my anger. I never wanted to cause any conflict or upset the waters. I can say, without a doubt, that that is no longer the case. I don’t let things sit and fester. If something is wrong I say something and so does Gary. We talk it out and we never go to bed without resolving an issue or telling the other person that you love them. You never know what might happen.

In other news I’m debating if I should go to a Tenacious D concert with Gary at the end of November. I don’t like Jack Black but I’ve never really given Tenacious D a real chance. We’ll see, if I bail he has someone else that wants to go. I do want to go and see Blue October on November 9th, they are playing a show at the Opera House. There is just enough vulnerability in his voice and his lyrics to touch me. I was going to say it makes me want to comfort him but I’m sure there are about a million 15 year old angst ridden girls in Texas that want to do the same thing and I didn’t want to be lumped into *that* category.

I should get back to work. The pile is getting larger and every minute I waste is another minute I have to stay later tonight. At least Gary won’t be waiting for me tonight, he’s going to be hanging out with Thor and the Rue Crew after Cinemacabre tonight. I’m not kidding.

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2. Blue October Pictures
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