So much to do, so little time - 2009 in review

The year went by quickly, again. It seems time flies after you turn 15, and hits the speed of light once you turn 30.

2009 started with a blow - my grandfather passing away. And it ended really well, with Sean Goldman returning to the US and the fact we were able to spend the Holidays with my family in Brazil (something I hadn't done since 1998).

One of the highlights of the year certainly was seeing Cate Blanchett live doing a Streetcar Named Desire at the Kennedy Center, in November. Okay, I'll rephrase that: one of the highlights of my life!!!

I also bought a new car in July and have been driving around quite a bit - all the way to Toronto, for example. Spent Memorial Day week at the theme parks in Orlando, went to NYC and had a blast with friends, been around quite a bit. Oh, that includes my first time ever protesting - at the Bring Sean Home rally in March, in front of the White House; first time at a press conference - Congressman Chris Smith introducing HR 3240 in July; and my first Congressional Hearing - Left-Behind Parenting testifying before Congress in December.

Of course, let me gush over my little T, who started kindergarten and turned 6 in a great Spongebob-themed birthday party prepared by yours truly.

I am also happy to report I read more books than in 2008, which included the Twilight Series (not Saga), which I have a love-hate relationship with.

Push (Sapphire)
Water for elephants (S. Gruel)
The Weight of Silence (Gudenkauf)
Middlesex (Eugenides)
Breaking Dawn (Meyer)
Kabul Beauty School (Rodriguez)
Eclipse (Meyer)
New Moon (Meyer)
Twilight (Meyer)
The Other Queen (Gregory)
A Reliable Wife (Goolrick)
The Virgin's Lover (Gregory)
Color me Butterfly (Marlow)
A Long Way Gone - Memoirs of a Boy Soldier (Beah)
Fahrenheit 451 (Bradbury)
Watchmen (Moore)
The Vampire Lestat (Rice)
The Sleeping Beauty Proposal (Strohmeyer)
The Queen's Fool (Gregory)
Letters to Ebay (Farkas)
Smoke Screen (Brown)

Seen in theatres in 2009, but not written about due to lack of time...

New Moon
Couples Retreat
Toy Story 1 & 2 (3D)
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Julie & Julia
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs (3D)
The Proposal
Up! (3D)
Night at the Museum 2
Monsters vs. Aliens (3D)
Coraline (3D)
Marley & Me

It was about one movie per month, which is pretty good for a parent. Best movie was Up! Pixar does it again, and Carl reminds me so much of my husband's late Grandpa. I was in tears during the beginning of the movie - who wasn't?

Well, Happy New Year, everyone! Health, Peace, and $$$ in your pockets as well (cause we need it, right?). Here's a wish for better days!