Whiskey Notes and Parachuting Fish
the ups-and-downs and sides-to-sides of the little things that make up life
Closing Out the Decade. Top 10 of 2019
AI these days is better than ever, but it still doesn’t capture the little moments that were actually the big moments. I love looking back and remembering the moments of each year that were most important to me – here’s what colored 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,2016, 2017 and 2018.
While time flies, the pace of life seems to slow down as you get older. The things that mattered in youth fade to the background and you realize that things like health, time with those you love and helping raise up the next generation are the priorities to focus your time and energy on.
- Knocked a few bucket list cities off my list – Seattle (awesome), Portland and Palm Springs which included a quick detour into Joshua Tree National Park. 22 trips, 65k miles and 31 cities colored the year.
- Tried my hand at Improv I and II and had an absolute blast. Yes, and… 10 strangers became friends.
- Settled into my role as LVIMA President and had our strongest year yet.
- Said hello to a new Beetle (#6) on the same day Prince Archie was born. It’s funny how attached we become to our cars. My Green Bug was my “home” for 10 years, 79,986 miles (all stick!) and five cities lived in.
- Through trick training (Advanced Title ADT), Barn Hunting (RATI & RATN), Working Dog (SH-1) and Agility (AKC & NADAC Trials), Emma and I discovered the joys of being a team in sync. We learned over 75 tricks this year! She’s my whole world wrapped into eight pounds of love, curiosity and bravery.
- Enjoyed many a live show, including Jerry Seinfeld, Dear Evan Hansen and my favorite, Come From Away.
- Said “good night” to Grandpa. He lived a grand, adventurous life to a few weeks shy of his 96 birthday.
- Started settling into the routine of suburban life. Having your own backyard is nice, but city, high rise living is more my speed. One day, we’ll return.
- Took a step back from work and attempted a mini sabbatical to focus on my health.
- Time with family always rounds out the best memories of the year. This year, we added another (dog) addition to the family as my brother adopted Kona. Dad is now officially the World’s Greatest GrandPAW.
Top 10 of the Decade
The end of a decade is a milestone to be remembered. Looking back, it’s incredible all the changes, technological advances, industries that were created that happened over the last 10 years. Looking back at my to ten’s, here are the 10 memories that meant the most (one from each year):
- I started a new job… the youngest Director on the Vegas Strip
- Traveled overseas (to Madrid) for the first time
- Many a great lesson and experiences were had (including Skydiving!)
- Watched (thanks iPhone video) my brother be sworn in as a lawyer!
- I made the time to slow down and cherish time spent with family and friends. Thursdays with Grandma were the highlight of my year.
- I quietly made legal something that’s been “unofficial” for 32 years
- Realized a childhood dream and “lived” in NYC for about half the year. It’s been a blast “living bicoastal”
- Got new ink in NYC and took up meditation. Ninety-one sessions and 15 hours of practice in, the beauty of a truly quiet mind is something astonishing.
- Greece helped remind me how inspirational it is to travel to NEW places. Exploring Athens, a pottery class in Santorini and a yoga retreat in Crete made this trip a myriad of adventures. Happy 35th birthday to me.
- Love at first sight. I met and fell in love with 1.4lbs of blue merle chihuahua. In the midst of CES, I couldn’t say no. After a harrowing first 2 weeks and lots of YouTube videos, we started to find our groove. At 36, my goal was to be on track to be a mom. It might not have been the mom I set out to be, but being Emma’s mom is pretty grand.
- Settled into my role as LVIMA President and had our strongest year yet.
The Top 10 of 2018
Ten(!) years ago I started this project because writing your own Top 10 list recapping the year was “trendy”. These days, Facebook, Instagram, etc. all do it automatically based on your most liked posts. But, what they rarely capture are the little moments that were actually the big moments. I love looking back and remembering the moments of each year that were most important to me – here’s what colored 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015,2016 and 2017.
The Year of the Dog according to the Chinese Calendar really was the Year of the Dog.
- Love at first sight. I met and fell in love with 1.4lbs of blue merle chihuahua. In the midst of CES, I couldn’t say no. After a harrowing first 2 weeks and lots of YouTube videos, we started to find our groove.
- At 36, my goal was to be on track to be a mom. It might not have been the mom I set out to be, but being Emma’s mom is pretty grand. Good Canine Citizen, Novice and Intermediate Trick Dog are just a few of the titles Emma & I achieved this year. She knows about 35+ tricks!
- VGK Fans to the max. With the stadium only a 20 minute walk away, we went to almost every game in the Golden Knights debut season. It was a blast. Thanks to Ohio for teaching me the game of hockey.
- A trip to Israel helped crystallize my non-negotiattbles. The weekend of my return had me stumbling on my ideal house.
- Just call me Ms. Prez. LVIMA returned to local leadership with yours truly at the helm.
- While there weren’t any job changes per say, I did pick up 2 new clients + LVIMA.
- Lucky #3. My 3rd offer, I gave up Strip living and bought a house. What can I say? Emma needed a backyard. Three months in, the vote is still out on suburban life.
- In my 2nd year as a Smith Center patron, I’m still loving it. Hamilton and School House Rocks were a few of this year’s favorite, not to mention Harry Potter & the Cursed Child in NYC was an unreal production.
- Became ordained. For realz. Due to crazy Nevada State laws, I didn’t get to put it to use, but I did watch 2 beautiful souls tie the knot.
- I say it ever year and this year was no different, there’s nothing quite like family. From hanging out in Florida to dad helping with the house, these are the priceless moments.
10 Memories of 2017
Ten(!) years ago I started this project because writing your own Top 10 list recapping the year was “trendy”. These days, Facebook, Instagram, etc. all do it automatically based on your most liked posts. But, what they rarely capture are the little moments that were actually the big moments. I love looking back and remembering the moments of each year that were most important to me – here’s what colored 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.
This was a year of creature comforts that passed in the blink of an eye. In a year of “me,” I could only fleetingly hold onto the mojo that once came so naturally. The older we get, the faster time seems to pass us by.
- Officially a Season Ticket Holder to the Smith Center. It’s the gift that keeps giving… Something Rotten and the Curious Incident of the Dog were two of my favorites.
- Became a Big Sister! From volunteering weekly at an elementary school to being an integral part of LVIMA, giving back to the community was an important part of this year.
- Thanks to the awesome people I work for, seeing the debut of Magic Mike Live and meeting Serena Williams, Steve Wozniak and Barbara Corcoran were all realities.
- In one of the few years I didn’t make a job change, I helped make successful a few campaigns I’m proud of – from Power. In the Words of Women to “Your Mother Was Right” and #LessByDesign.
- Just call me a certified chef
From classes at Sur La Table (squid ink pasta anyone?!) to help from Plated, I flexed my cooking wings. - Greece helped remind me how inspirational it is to travel to NEW places. Exploring Athens, a pottery class in Santorini and a yoga retreat in Crete made this trip a myriad of adventures. Happy 35th birthday to me.
- While 139 days, 29 trips, 25 cities and 2 countries might seem like a lot, it was purposely a slow travel year for me. I’m looking forward to discovering new destinations in 2018 vs. *having* to travel for work.
- From continuing to meditate (192 sessions, 32 hours) to talking to career coaches, I’ve been spending several months soul-searching. While I haven’t found all the answers, I did find a few surprising ones.
- I discovered the best way to shut off my mind and sleep. Thanks to some serendipity and a chance meeting.
- In a year wrought with politics, I watched people attempt to overcome differences over dinner tables and more people than ever speak up about injustices both to people and The Planet.
10 Memories of 2016
Nine years ago I started this project because writing your own Top 10 list recapping the year was “trendy”. These days, Facebook, Instagram, etc. all do it automatically based on your most liked posts. But, what they rarely capture are the little moments that were actually the big moments. I love looking back and remembering the moments of each year that were most important to me – here’s what colored 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
This was a year of solitary. If I ever doubted my ability to be alone or enjoy my own company, this year shredded all those concerns. It also gave me the desire more so than ever to put down roots. When you spend 54% of the year on the road and living in a hotel, it makes maintaining friendships and healthy routines an even greater struggle.
- Took a Bucket List trip to the Cannes Lions Festival in Cannes, France. The “seen and be seen” vibe was at an all time high, where I spotted 33 celebrities from Martha Stewart to Channing Tatum and had an intimate dinner with Mindy Kaling.
- Breakfast in Nice, France, lunch and gambling at the real Monte Carlo Casino in Monaco and dinner in Ventimiglia, Italy all in one day was one of my favorite adventures this year. Thanks to a random blog post for the spur-of-the-moment 3-country train journey.
- Attempted to take dating seriously and hired a real life Matchmaker. Unfortunately, it’s been a poor experience thus far, but the stories make great fodder!
- Got new ink in NYC. It’s by far one of my favorite moments of 2016.
- Took up meditation thanks to Amy Jo’s Podcast and Headspace. Advertising really does work. Ninety-one sessions and 15 hours of practice in, the beauty of a truly quiet mind is something astonishing.
- Added 3 new clients this year. True to my nature, I often bit off more than I could chew. To say I worked a lot of hours would be an understatement.
- Once again, I was a traveling fool. According to Tripit, 33 trips had me spending 199 days on the road. New countries and cities included Birmingham, Alabama, Cannes, Nice, Monaco, Ventimiglia, Italy and Park City and Deer Valley, Utah, where I found the most incredible hotel, The Washington School House Hotel.
- Enjoyed a good show; even when going alone. Finding Neverland, Carole King’s Beautiful, Frankie Moreno and Tim McGraw were just a few of the ones I really enjoyed.
- Read voraciously. Thanks to turning to iBooks, I could read anywhere – planes, trains, lines – and I did. Ninety-five books were added to my Goodreads list. Yes, I devoured, on average, almost 2 books per week, every week!
- Family time. Thanks to my regular NYC visits, I was often able to tack on a trip to Florida. Even when you’re just laying around doing nothing, it’s nice to be around family.
- Bonus Lesson! I’m truly grateful for all that I have. I bought groceries, traveled wherever I wanted, stayed in top hotels, etc. and rarely, if ever, had to worry about the cost. While I’m never reckless, I know that not many cannot say the same. In some things, money can buy happiness. Just remember, it never buys happiness in the moments that count. Those are always the ones spent with friends & family.