Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us."
--Hal Borland
Well, 2009 came and went and I can't believe we're already onto February 2010!! The time is flying along and it has indeed been awhile since my last blog, but these 6 day work weeks plus demanding social life is simply not conducive to weekly (or even monthly) blog writing!! =)

So 2009... It was certainly a year of many new and wonderful experiences and full of fun and laughter along with a bit of pain and sadness. I learned a lot through the year and am excited to see what 2010 has in store. Already, it's been a great January and I've really enjoyed having all my friends back to play with me after the lonely Christmas season!! =( I'm gonna have to come right out and say that Christmas away from home is.... blah. Not being with my family or romping in the snow or hearing the merry Christmas songs I so deeply adore... It was rough. (Okay, except for the 70 degree weather... I did enjoy that.) But I was super blessed to have a few other friends here that could surround me and get me out of my funk and cook delicious Christmas dinner and even accompany me to midnight service at church. So in the end, we found a way to enjoy the holiday season and I even wore my little Santa hat. =)

But you'd better believe my request for time off at Christmas 2010 is going in the books ASAP. A midwest Christmas will not escape me this year... =) I'll just bring the warm weather home with me.

Since the beginning of the year though, it's been all "work hard/play hard" mentality! I'm still up at the front office "doing my thang" with the guests and having a great time getting to know my colleagues and learning more everyday... Which includes overnight shift duties! WHOOOOO! I'm actually just finishing up the tail-end of these overnight shifts which have me working from 11:00pm to 8:20am! It is quite interesting to go to bed at 9:00am and not wake up until 6 or 7:00pm. I think I've officially crossed over into vampire status after 8 straight days of no sunshine on my skin... *sigh* Only 2 more days though!

As for the "playing hard" side of life, even the overnight shift doesn't keep me from my HK buds! Including (but not limited to) Board Game afternoons, Pasta-Making nights, Party Tram fun, goodbye gatherings, and dim-sum brunches! I can't believe how incredibly lucky I am to have such a great group of friends here in HK that keep me smiling even through the 6-day work weeks! =)

And now it's time to look to the future... April perhaps?? A trip home perhaps?? OH YES! =) It's not officially official since I don't have the plane ticket yet, but it is in the works!! Should be getting into Chicago on April 1 and arriving back in HK on the 14th! Ahhhh, I can hardly wait for the family hugs, grandma's brownies, fresh Indiana air, Taco Bell, and diet vanilla Pepsis!! =) Oooo, and pizza... lots of Chicago deep dish pizza... Mmmmm....

So I'm beginning the 2 month countdown and can't wait to see you everyone SO soon!