the top ten of the second half of twenty ten

So remember when I used to blog? Me neither. Although the documentation has stopped, the fun certainly hasn't. I'm going to breeze over the months of Aug-Dec 2010, then jump right back in. So here, in no particular order (like I needed to make the post any harder to complete than it already was) are the top ten activities of the second half of 2010, or in other words, what on earth I've been up to:

1. Rachel married Ken!

It was a beautiful wedding, and now maybe I believe in happy endings afterall.

Photo of Rachel and Ken by Jonathon Canlas. He's amazing, although their wedding was, in fact, this beautiful.

L to R: Meg, Kirst, Lauren, me, Kristen. It was awesome to see these girls and catch up-- sometimes I feel like too much of my heart is spread too far apart, and I don't know what to do about it, except keep growing the size of my heart I guess.

Another highlight of the wedding was giving an impromptu wedding speech. I am always ready at a moment's notice to commemorate any of my friends in a toast, I just want you all to know that.

2. Whistler Break 2010 with Jamie

A bunch of the Seattle YSAs go to Whistler the first weekend in December every year. Jamie got me on the list this year, and we had an amazing time. I loved the slopes, the town, and the company.

Upon arrival (about 2am after a very long week at work), I met up with Jamie, then we headed to our condo. All sleeping arrangements had been made, so Jamie and I were left to divide the couch and one spot in a half occupied queen bed. I had already begged Jamie to get us anywhere but a couch spot, so she took the couch (thanks lovely) and I took the spot next to a guy I hadn't met, but was assured he was both attractive and a fireman. When we got into the condo, everyone was asleep, and there was a note written on a ripped off pizza box lid that said, "Courtney, your bed ------->. (You're the small spoon.)" YES. I don't know you note writer, but I already love you. There was clearly nothing for me to do but out on my p.j.s and climb into bed. That pretty much set the tone for the rest of the weekend-- I didn't behave much better on the dance floor!

Jamie and me, olympic rings, obv.

3. Skydiving!

My brother loves to skydive, and goes all the time (he's even certified to jump by himself-- intense). I have never had any desire to go skydiving. So when my mother decided she wanted to go for her 50th birthday, you can imagine my unhappiness. But I was not about to let her show me up!

I spent the morning quiet, grumpy, and largely in denial. I stood where they told me to stand, wore what they told me to wear, moved when they told me to move, etc. After all preparations were made, we were shuffled onto the airplane. At this point I was still very much in denial: my game plan was to close my eyes, survive the experience, then get to brag about actually doing it.

As soon as we reached altitude and they whipped open the door, I suddenly, and very involuntarily, processed what was happening. I was about to die. I started screaming, a scream I couldn't reproduce on command for a million dollars. Once people started jumping out the door, my screams turned into shouts of, "I don't want to go! I don't want to go!" My brother turns to look at me, laughing and smiling (bastard) then falls out the plane door. Then it's Kirstin's turn. I begin clutching the walls of the plane as my tandem instructor pushes me forward. He tells me to put my hands on my harness, and I do. We stand up, I shut my eyes, and we're out the door. One, two, three, I can feel us do a flip. Then I open my eyes, and begin having one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

You guys, I loved skydiving. It wasn't anything like I expected. I had been told it wouldn't be, but like I could take the word of a bunch of hateful, lying, adrenaline junkies (kidding, you guys were awesome). I've been wondering ever since how many other experiences in my life could be like that, if I could just get out of my own way and put my fear aside long enough to try something new. Great material for a church talk, which I've already used once, of course.

Feeling like rockstars, because we are.

4. Hawaii

Tropical vacay with mom, sis, bro, in early October. We missed dad like crazy, who's been working in Israel since the fall.

In the dream world in my head, where I own as many pretty things as I can dream of, there will be a serenity pool in the backyard of at least half of the houses.

5. Halloween

This holiday, being my favorite, is a highlight of every year. In 2010 I sewed my own costume (skirt). I was the cutest 26-year-old Minnie Mouse ever, and it was so worth the hours I spent drowning in tulle trying to make the petticoat for this thing.

Re-using my Minnie Mouse ears from Tokyo Disney was definitely the inspiration for this costume. I didn't dare attempt an entire dress (I need less time working and more time at home sewing), so I found a pattern for a short poodle skirt and used it for Minnie. Perfection.

6. Joint 59th birthday party with Jon Jon

We went to Big Al's for bowling and arcade games. It was delightfully fun, and 26 is feeling great!

Lucky for Jon, maybe I have already planned our next birthday too. He will probably have to move to get out of this annual obligation. Kidding, my friends can tell me no, and I promise to quit pouting in ten minutes or less. Maybe fifteen.

7. Sabbatical

I didn't show up to work, everyday, for an entire month. It was so fun and revitalizing, and I didn't accomplish a single thing I told myself I would. My firm has a sabbatical program where you can take a month (or more, but good luck finding room in your schedule for that) off, in addition to your allotted PTO. You get 20% pay, which covers taxes, health insurance, 401(k), etc. I spent most of the time visiting my family in UT. I can't believe how quickly the weeks went by, and using this program at work was definitely one of my best decisions of the year.

8. Thanksgiving w/ siblings

My mom spent Thanksgiving week visiting my poor, lonely dad who couldn't get away from work. So I flew to SLC and spent the week with Kirstin and Daniel. We had a lovely time, and I am so happy that my siblings and I are such good friends that a week of just us could be so enjoyable. Kirst and I have always been besties, but my brother and I needed a few more years of growing up and settling down (can you guess who needed which?) so now we can be besties too.

We had many kind offers to spend Thursday with family andf friends in the area. We politely and graciously declined all offers and ate Thanksgiving dinner at The Grand America. And grand it was. I ate way more crab legs and artisan cheese than any traditional foods, but didn't feel disappointed in the least. Every time we came back with a new plate we decided we had to share three things we were grateful for. There was a lot of gratitude expressed, to say the least.

9. Christmas w/ fam bam

Everytime I visit my family, I think about how nice it would be if I lived closer and could see them more often. If that didn't involve me living in UT, I would more seriously consider it. For now, a short flight will have to suffice. We spent the holidays playing, relaxing, cooking, eating, skiing, gifting. With only five of us, I can't believe how hard it still is for all of us to gather in one place. But I'm always glad we make the effort.

10. Drivers license suspended

Apparently the last time I moved I never updated my address with the DMV. And apparently I got a photo speeding ticket. And apparently it went unpaid for like six months (you know, because I didn't know about it). I got a call from my dad, who said they had gotten a letter for me from the OR Dept of Rev. I told him to go ahead and open it, thinking it couldn't be anything important. Then he told me it looks like I owe the state several hundred dollars and my drivers license is suspended. Eff. I try so hard to prove to my dad that I'm not mismanaging my life, and that moment right there put me back several steps, and out way more money than I cared to spend on a ticket.

You may be wondering why this is a hightligt of the second half of 2010. I think it's because it makes a good story, and one more go-to fact for two truths and a lie, which is always a weirdly hard game to play. Have you ever had your license suspended? Yeah, I didn't think so.

So that's it for 2010. Now I can move all my energy into enjoying 2011 (ha, like I haven't been already). Work is nuts, but I'm also traveling a lot, so I know I'll have stories to share between the long days auditing away!