Joy to the Small World

1.11.11

- to some it's read as today's date

- to others it equals 5

- and even then it could also equal to 23

I pick 5 as in High Five!

Eleven days into the year, I struggled to give this blog a title. I normally write about my New Year's Resolution way before the new year approaches or give my yearly review a day or two before the year ends. However, I was hard pressed to find the time to sit down and write about it until now.

And so it goes - My 'New Year's Resolution' is 'Now Here's Resolution'.

I resolve to take the 'positive thinking' further into 'positive articulation' and eventually 'positive action'. Its about giving voice to the positive thoughts , sharing it with others and then putting it into action.

This year's New is Now. I'm not doing anything new so to speak but instead doing it Now. I resolve to volunteer more and taking it one step further by picking my own cause, creating a group and collectively make a difference.

I resolve to shift my thinking paradigm from the "have to" to the "get to". More often than not I find myself saying - I 'have to' go to work. I 'have to' do groceries. I 'have to' go see my mom. I fail to see the importance and the privilege of being able to "get to" work because I have a job. I "get to" do groceries because I have the resource and most importantly, I "get to" see my mom because I love her so much and I am very fortunate to have her in my life Now. Let's all make the conscious effort to catch ourselves from saying "have to" instead of "get to" and in return open the possibility for more gratefulness in our lives.

All is Well. All is Love.

My favorite moments in 2010:

January -

This picture was taken on one of my Saturday morning Farmer's Market trip. My favorite noodle place is right behind me (Imperial Tea Court). I was staring off the distance looking for Azmeera and Brian to have lunch with them. It was a good day.

March -

Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC is my absolute favorite garden. I have been there three times and in different season each time. The Sunken garden behind me is breathtaking in person. This was the garden that first introduced me to the wonderful world of Dahlias back in 2003.

This was a very bittersweet day. Azmeera and Tanya joined me for my usual Saturday Ferry Building walk while consoling my aching heart. In the afternoon, we stopped at a coffee shop and Azmeera gave us our bridesmaid presents. I loved everything. I received my favorite gold J necklace and have been wearing it almost everyday since.

Azmeera's bachelorette party was the craziest night of my life and I was completely sober. The party fell during Lenten season, hence no drinking for me. This was definitely the funnest party I've ever had the opportunity to plan and host. To this day, the girls and I still find ourselves referring to that evening with such great delight and it still garners plenty of giggles whenever the topic comes up.

Naked man on the bed, whip cream on the floor, room full of screaming girls... Chaos!

April -

Azmeera gave us the perfect pre-wedding pampering. I had so much fun getting a mani-pedi while drinking Champagne. We were all pretty tipsy by the time we walked out of the salon. We even got a Tarot card reading. Although the lady was full of shit and pretty much gave us all the same generic reading, it was still a fun experience.

I have been to many weddings before from the huge, elaborate, no expense spared to the small, budgeted, i'll race you to the altar ones. Heck, I even planned my own at one point although it didn't happen which by the way is a very good thing but Azmeera and Brian's was my favorite of them all. It was the perfect union of family and friends with abundance of love and good energy. Such a beautiful wedding.

Tanya and I were coming back from the bathroom when this picture was taken. I have no idea what we were laughing about. I make up that our conversation went something like this:

Me: Traffic should be spelled with a U instead of an I.

Tanya: If we had an 8th day of the week - we should devote it to sleep and call it "Drool's Day"

or something like that :)

My most favorite wedding I have ever had the privilege to dance. The only thing that could top this off in my book is to dance at my own.

“This is love: to fly toward a secret sky, to cause a hundred veils to fall each moment. First to let go of life. Finally, to take a step without feet.” Rumi

May -

My first Bay to Breakers. This was such a fun day full of laughs and bathroom breaks both public and private... shame-shame, I know.

This was taken on my 32nd birthday at Cat Club. Everyone made it out that night although we couldn't fit all of us in this picture. I felt so loved. I spent a wonderful day with my mom, saw Peter Pan at Ferry Park and partied all night with my beloved friends. When I finally got home that evening, my mom who spent the night at my place made me tea because I was SOOOO DUHRUNK! hee hee

June -

Go BoSox! - enough said...

July -

Zairina took this candid shot - we were in Carmel and I just had a creme brulee which I got to torch myself. I like travel size torches - they make me happy or it could be the sugar high from having a full ramekin of creme brulee all to myself - no sharing needed.

This picture was taken after a long day of rafting. We were tired, hungry and my eyes have gone all doolally - good times

August -

This picture still cracks me up to this day. I attempted to finish that burrito 3 times to no avail. I finally gave up around midnight when I could not possibly take another bite. It was good but ridiculous!

This was a fun bike ride. I've never pedaled so hard in my life. I was depleted by the end of the day but I've never felt better. This day opened up the possibilities for other bike rides later on -

This was taken on our way back to the car coming from the best picnic ever. We were at Tomales Bay and was treated to amazingly fresh oysters and yummy food. My favorite dish aside from the oysters were the grilled veggies, particularly the stuffed eggplant - delicious!

LOL!!!! This is what finishing a bottle of Champagne, 2 dozen oysters and a Saturday with nothing on the agenda, can do to you - it was a warm and glorious day in the City. Ms and Mrs. Feeman-Pandile. She shops for dresses while I peruse the kids aisle. I guess neither of us wears the pants in this relationship (^_^)

Aaaawww, I HEART this picture SOOO much. The genuine happiness, the gentle embrace, the invisible bond that holds us all "In Love" -

Tanya's 70's themed bday party was totally Far Out! I love dressing up. Any reason to bust out my platforms and bell bottoms is a party I want to be, without fail.

September -

Volunteered at the Dahlia Dell - I got a bunch of dahlia trimmings that day and they brightened my place for close to a week and a half.

This was my first and last long bike ride with Aubergine. It was the perfect first and last -

Tu me manques -

Yes, my butt was sore after riding for 3 hours and I had about another hour after this silly picture was taken -

I think this was taken on Labor Day weekend. We went to Dolores park and had a picnic. This was a favorite moment because I had a huge lunch, a pint of honey lavender ice cream from bi-rite, and watermelon for good measure - I literally passed out and took a disco nap in the park :)

Volunteered at the Ghirardelli Chocolate Festival - YUM! I was sugar high all afternoon -

October -

My lil' stud muffin at 6 weeks old - this was the first time I ever laid eyes on him. I was only supposed to watch my sister's kids for the night and I came home with a puppy the next day.

Volunteered for the SF Senior Center during Fleet Week. This was my favorite volunteer event last year. It was great to have the girls show up and my special someone reserved the seats.

This was taken at LAX club at the Luxor in Vegas. We spent most of our evening on this couch. Giggled, talked and people watched. It was a fun weekend with the girls.

November -

Volunteered at the Rose Garden in Golden Gate Park - I also went home with a bunch of trimmings that day and gave mini rose bouqets to the girls.

It's not so much that the roses have thorns, more like the thorns have roses!

Ah yes, the puzzle. Who could forget my favorite project of last year? So, so fun!

Zairina and I went on a full day hike. We started at Mt. Tamalpais and made our way down to Stinson Beach and then back. We had a picnic on the beach, gossiped like school girls, got tipsy and called it a good day.

Someday...

I remember this moment in detail for it was the day that lit my ass on my fire to get up and make a difference. That I have the resource to give back to my community. I have my friends, family and the Source to make it all possible. I am moved.

December -

At my new favorite bar (Smuggler's Cove) with the girls and my special someone. I was so drunk when this picture was taken. I tasted about 3-4 different kinds of rum that night on top off the regular cocktails I had.

Her name is Chloe and she's an in vitro baby. It took her mom and dad 16 tries with her being the 16th. She's the sweetest little girl I have ever met. I can only hope and pray that I will someday raise a child of my own with such sweet demeanor... Hmm, what do you think bloggies? I think mine would be a spaz monkey just like me (ha ah ha!). She is so precious -

I rung in the New Year with my nearest and dearest. I was with my beloved family up until midnight to ring in the new year and then hopped in my car afterwards to make my way back home to meet with the girls and my special someone. I've always believed that how you spend your NYE and New Year's day sets the tone for the rest of the year - 2010 ended on a very positive note. I was present, immersed in the moment, covered in embrace, blanketed in love.

Hugs and Licks -

Jakey and Tugboat

Thank you for reading