I often think about the differences in the passing of time. It goes slow when we’re kids and fast when we’re adults. Is it simply about having a basis of reference? An hour is only 60 small minutes and each one of those is 60 small seconds. I guess knowing how long it takes to do something, takes the fun out of it. When you’re a kid, you have no concept of time beyond being home before sunset. You also don’t care about time. You don’t wear a watch until you get your first one in 10th grade and even then, you often forget to wind it. When the battery dies, you stop wearing it. Or at least, I did. I still have the watch my Dad gave me in 10th grade.

This year hasn’t passed any faster than all those that came before it. So why does it feel that way? Once Christmas is over it’s on to New Year’s Eve and the whole thing starts all over again. Except this time, you’re a year older and perhaps a little wiser.

2008 was the year I started my freelancing career. In January I was liberated from Hot Topic the same day my Grandpa Ernie died.

In February we had a lunar eclipse and I took a really great photo of it. We also fired our gardeners and I took on the yard. I’ve regretted it ever since. Poloroid announced they were ceasing production of their iconic instant film.

In March, I turned 33. I didn’t talk about my birthday and can’t remember what I did. A full year passed since my Dad died. March was hard. I did an amazing photo session with an old boyfriend. I got into an accident on the 5-FWY in which my car was damaged and the squirrel died. My baby brother announced that his (hated) girlfriend was pregnant – this would cause a devastating family rift that is still unresolved.

In April, I went to Japan. A life’s dream come to fruition. April was a good month. I also learned why you shouldn’t get wasted on a long flight home.

In May, a friend I’ve known since first grade got married. I went to the wedding by myself. Gas prices were the highest in my lifetime.

In June, Wall-E came out. It remains one of the most beautiful movies I’ve ever seen. I saw Peter Murphy at the House of Blues. The Apricots on our tree came in. I had this wild idea of making jam, but the fruit went bad very quickly and I missed the boat.

In July, AJB and I went to Chicago to see his mom. The cicada were in full force. That month, we attended Comic-Con in San Diego and even though I wrote about it, I never published the post. I just did. I embraced Twitter and got into more trouble with the law – expired tags and mysteriously missing insurance information.

In August, we had what might have been an attempted break-in or maybe ghosts. My sister visited for a weekend. I made a YouTube video to take part in an online piano teaching experiment. I still haven’t started because the book is expensive.

By September, the heat was getting to me. I didn’t write much and didn’t get a whole lot done over Summer in general. I did some photo shoots here and there. I started up with a cool vintage clothing store that offers self satisfaction over heaps of cash.

In October, Obama-fever was setting in. AJB and I celebrated our 4 year anniversary by getting engaged. I voted early in Norwalk and waited 4 hours. My sister came into town and helped me pick out my engagement ring. On Halloween, we drove out to Vegas to canvass for Obama.

November, Obama won the election and all was right with the world. Mostly. We stayed in Nevada until the 5th. AJB bought my ring and presented it to me on the Haunted Mansion ride at Disneyland. A week or so later, we traveled to Florida for a theme park convention. I had a headache for three days, but got to meet lots of people and saw Universal Orlando and Islands of Adventure. Starbucks unleashed their Gingerbread Lattes as “Ginger Snap Lattes”. My brother’s baby was born. Welcome Micheal Joseph Simental.

In December, we traveled to Chicago and New York. I saw Jersey Boys in Chi-Town and Liza in Manhattan. My brother, my Mom, and I saw Frankie Valli in San Bernardino. Bettie Page and Majel Barrett died. Christmas came and went. I was unprepared but it all came together in the end. I announced to my family that AJB and I were getting married – they all knew something was up, but thought I might be pregnant. LOL.

And now, here we are. The end of 2008. Is it just me or do years get more and more momentous as you get older? A long time friend got married, my grandpa died, I started my career, I went to Japan, Chicago (twice), New York, and Florida. I traveled more in 2008 than any other year. My brother had a baby and I got engaged. 2008 was filled with excitement and many life changing events. 2009 brings new promise, but I am hesitant to say it’s going to be great because I just don’t know. I do know that in 2009 I will be planning my wedding, turning 34, and getting married. The uncertainty of this economic crisis is casting a dark cloud over the new year. Who knows what the future will bring? *We are all interested in the future because that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives.

See what happened in 2007

*Crisswell, Ed Wood

Perhaps because I’m constantly thinking about cataloging my life in this blog, sometimes I think I do, but don’t. Which bothers me.

So why am I obsessed with cataloging my life? It’s not that I have to mark down every insignificant detail, but I love looking back and remembering where I was at a certain time, who I was with, and what I was doing…especially my travels; which I’ve done a lot of in the last four years. It’s all mostly for me. While I enjoy sharing it all with my friends, loved ones, and the occasional random passersby, the major reason behind it all is that I do it for myself. I know that there will come a day, when I’m old and gray…I’ll put on my 3-inch thick glasses (or maybe by then, they’ll have eye replacement surgery perfected), read through the archives, smile, and think to myself, “I had a pretty great life.”

Yesterday: Still in Florida. I woke up with the same headache I’ve been fighting for three days. I lounged around most of the morning, but eventually got ready and went down to the hotel restaurant for lunch. AJB met me and at first, we thought about going to the convention, but we were both tired and opted for an afternoon nap. AJB and I went to another industry event and ate finger foods. I had a Jack and Coke, which miraculously cured my 3 day headache. AJB chit chatted with colleagues and caught up with old friends. I did what I do best in these situations: I smiled, laughed at everyone’s jokes, and made the occasional witty comment. I later watched on as Dave Cobb once again evoked the magical magics of technology and won an iPhone from the company raffle. Don’t ask me how he does it. He has powers. We ended the night with NBC’s Thursday night Must See TV lineup and went to bed.

Today: In the morning, I was a whole bushel of sour apples. I was in a foul mood; one to rival the foulest of moods and one for the books. AJB went to the convention one last time and left me to sleep-in well passed noon. When he came back, ashamed of my rancid behavior, I apologized profusely and we went downstairs for lunch. We’d had the ambition of visiting Universal Studios for a few hours, but found out the park was closing early. We opted for Downtown Disney and took in a movie. We saw Bolt, which was as delightful as I thought it would be. A languid walk about the shops in the cold Florida night air, and dinner at Wolfgang Pucks; for lack of a better option. AJB showed me around (as he does) and reminisced about the days he spent working on some of the area’s finer amusements. Waxing nostalgic like Doc Brown who said, “Things have certainly changed around here. I remember when this was all farmland as far the eye could see. Old man Peabody owned all of this. He had this crazy idea about breeding pine trees. Back to the hotel and packing early – which is a new experience for us. Since we didn’t get out to Universal today, we’re gonna try and hit it before we fly home tomorrow. 4 years with AJB and I have yet to see anything he’s worked on. We’ll see how it goes.

I’m glad to be going home. I miss my kitties. On Thursday, we’re flying out to Chicago for Thanksgiving. This is a crazy month. I’m loving it.

The Simpsons ride took the place of the old Back to the Future ride (which I’ve never been on) and makes use of some new technology that involves lenses or something or other. Eh, I was tired when they explained it to me. It’s actually a pretty cute ride that takes you and the Simpson family around Krustyland and Springfield crashing through things, falling twisting, bumping, jarring, flying. It’s pretty intense and you get jostled around a lot. I’ve never seen so many health warnings on a ride before; including claustrophobia. The best way I can describe it is: Star Tours on crack. If you like Star Tours, you’ll like The Simpsons Ride. I do actually like Star Tours, but I don’t like roller coasters. I get motion sickness pretty easy, but not to the point of actually vomiting. I can handle Star Tours, but always end up feeling a little light headed afterward. The Simpsons, on the other hand, really threw me for a loop and I had to close my eyes quite a bit. Not because it was scary, but because the motion was fucking with my head.

Anyway, I haven’t seen or done much while in Orlando. Mostly we’re here for IAAPA and I haven’t even seen that. I think my role here is “arm candy” and I’m actually pretty good at it. Kidding. I like supporting AJB and I especially like seeing him schmooze with his colleagues. He’s really great with the people skills and has this miraculous ability to remember people he hasn’t seen in 30 years; first and last names and where he first met them. I don’t know how he does it. In fact, people who haven’t seen him in 30 years remember him too. Don’t know how that works seeing as I can’t remember people I met last year. Mnemonics? I must learn.

Today, I think I’m going to see the show floor and we’ve got another party to attend. I dig the free food and drinks. I’ve also been battling a headache since we got here day before yesterday, since when my allergies have also been giving me grief. It’s cold here in Florida, but the air is clear and the sky is real blue.

I’m sorta out of it. I guess I’ll take a shower and start my day.