Better Late Than Never

For a long time now, I've been meaning to give an update of what's been going on in my life.  Unfortunately, as with so many things, the longer one waits on these sorts of tasks, the increasingly daunting they become.  Therefore, I figure the best way is to keep it as short as possible.  So obviously, for me, that means: A LIST!

• I'm still working for Gail at the Hawaii Family Support Institute and Patti at Consuelo Foundation.
• I applied to and was accepted into the UH graduate certificate program for conflict resolution.  I love it.  My last class for it is Community Economic Development, which is fascinating and engaging.
• I've taken Bikram yoga a few times; that's the one in the heated room.  I really like it, but it's expensive, so I take advantage of their 30-day-challenges--I get a discount if I go everyday for 30 days.
• I bought a used (and not so great) car.  It may shortly send me back to the bus.
• I started working with an organization called PHOCUSED.  It's a coalition of health and human service groups advocating for our state's most vulnerable in an effort to give them a much needed voice.  It's keeping me very busy.
• I had a boyfriend (David) for the first few months of the year; it didn't work out, and he moved to the mainland.
• I went back to the Philippines with the Honolulu Rotary club for a few weeks to Baguio.  It felt like a big family reunion.  I wish I could go again this year.
• I've started doing my Shabbat/Unplugged Day again.  That's 24-hours of no phone, TV, or computer starting at 6:30pm on Friday. 
• I'm still thinking about applying to grad schools in the northeast but am no closer to knowing for which program.  Public Policy?
• The biggest news is, of course, that I now have a nephew.  I love him.  I'll not say too much more about him since he has his own blog.   Click here to read it.  It's been so wonderful to have joined Chuck and Krista at the doctors', the infant care class, and now taking care of him.  Becoming an auntie was definitely the best part of last year.

2009 was really great in many ways.  And, after five years being in Hawaii, I'm happy.  After a day at work(s), I look forward to coming home and being with my family.  Weekends spent on the couch watching TV with them don't feel as wasted as they once did.  Maybe that's not the greatest thing, but it sure feels like it is.  It's taken five years, but Hawaii finally feels like home... better late than never.