Workshop or conference. Was there a conference or workshop you attended that was especially beneficial? Where was it? What did you learn?
This question made me wish I had the opportunity to attend more workshops and conferences. I’m hopeful that my future librarian career will offer me some chances. Brynn tells me that librarian conferences are the best.

All that being said, I treated myself to an online workshop called Mondo Beyondo in October and it was fantastic. Mondo Beyondo is a 5-week online class taught by Jen Lemen and Andrea Scher about “dreaming big.” You can learn more about the class at the MB website.

Blog find of the year. That gem of a blog you can’t believe you didn’t know about until this year.
My answer is pretty embarassing: Lainey Gossip. I read celebrity gossip sometimes, shoot me. I like Lainey because she’s smart and opinionated and doesn’t take it so seriously. BACK OFF.

Album of the year. What’s rocking your world?
RAH RAH AH AH AH. ROMA RO-MAMA. GAGA OH LA LA.

The best place. A coffee shop? A pub? A retreat center? A cubicle? A nook?
Our big, fun house in the Outer Banks. It was oceanfront, had a pool, and featured an awesome kitchen/dining/living area. We had a relaxing and low-key vacation there in August.

What’s the best change you made to the place you live?
I embraced the color of my living room walls (a mustardy green called “pollination”), bought some curtains and pillows, and rearranged the furniture. It was my least favorite room in the house but now it’s the most comfortable.

Car ride. What did you see? How did it smell? Did you eat anything as you drove there? Who were you with?
West coast road trip from Portland, Oregon to San Francisco, CA with my brother. We saw the ocean, cliffs, starfish, sea anenomes, whales, sea lions, the redwood forest, deer, wild cats, sunsets, fog. We ate fish frys, veggie burgers, red bull smoothies (Josh!), coffee, trail mix.

Project. What did you start this year that you’re proud of?
My photoblog with my brother, melvin.

Web tool. It came into your work flow this year and now you couldn’t live without it. It has simplified or improved your online experience.
Google reader, hands down. It totally changed the way I read blogs and the number of them I get to. I love it and can’t imagine going back to life pre-RSS feed.

Gift. What’s a gift you gave yourself this year that has kept on giving?
Easy: my Nikon D60.

Social web moment. Did you meet someone you used to only know from her blog? Did you discover Twitter? 
I finished reading my friend Courtney’s YA novel, Cracked Up to Be in January. Courtney is a longtime, online friend. We’ve been in touch since I was in high school.

Resolution you wish you’d stuck with. (You know, there’s always next year…)
BLOG MORE. I will try friends, I really will!

Earlier in the day the three of us went on a bayou cruise, during which we got to hold a baby alligatorand admire the lovely back waters of Louisiana. By the time we got back to our hotel we were exhausted. We decided to take a quick nap, and instead woke up hours later. All three of us were groggy from sleep and felt like the antithesis of fun. But, because we were in New Orleans, we got dressed and walked towards the French Quarter.

Not too far in, we walked past the beautiful Monteleone hotel. Inside we could see lights, people drinking, and an elegant atmosphere. I led Natalie and Anna inside to check out the lobby, just to say we did, and after hearing the music coming from the bar we decided to poke our heads in there too. Good move on our part: it was the famous Carousel Bar!

We immediately decided to get a table and after admiring the carousel for a few minutes, we figured out that it was slowly moving around in a circle. Anna and I were still feeling groggy from the nap and ordered Irish Coffee as a pick me up. It worked, we started to feel good. We then ordered martinis.

The previous night, our first in New Orleans, we walked down Bourbon Street. You know, just to say that we did. This night, with its low lights and music and non-plastic cups, was the exact opposite and much more our style. We talked for a couple hours and were eventually joined by several of our best guy friends from high school: Mark, Scott, Brian, and Steve. They happened to be in a town for a bachelor party and sought us out in the Carousel Bar as a break from the non-stop Bourbon Street action (please note: we planned our trip first).

I don’t often get to see these friends, let alone hang out with them at a great bar in a great city. Natalie and Brian live in Boulder, Mark lived in Baltimore then and is now out West, Steve lives in Austin, and Scott is always all over the place (currently in Afghanistan). It was a very special night, the best.

This post is part of the Best of 2009 blog challenge. Please join me!

December 4 - Book. What book–fiction or non–touched you?
I finally finished the Harry Potter series this year, reading books 4 through 7 throughout the Spring and Summer. It’s hard to upstage that adventure. I implore anyone who hasn’t finished them to do so, and give a free pass to those who want to call me a moron for not finishing them sooner.

If I didn’t read the Harry Potter books, Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent would take the cake. Such a good read, I learned an incredible amount from that book.

This post is part of the Best of 2009 blog challenge. Please join me!

December 1 – Trip. What was your best trip in 2009?
I was blessed with a lot of travel this year, both long and short trips, but I have to admit that the best was my two-week, West Coast road trip with my brother Josh. When Josh started high school I told him I’d take him on a trip as a graduation present, just the two of us. As June and his commencement approached, we began making plans to visit Portland, San Francisco, and the coast in between.

It was cool to spend so much time with Josh, and I came back feeling like I knew more about him. He taught me how to really use the camera we both own, and encouraged all sorts of photography-related pit stops. We dined on more Thai food than I care to admit, and listened to hours of music as we drove down Highway 101. There were also surreal moments, like the night we stayed in Marin County and Josh played  guitar while a doe and fawn emerged from the foggy hill to listen.

I’m going to carry that moment and many more with me, and that’s why it was the best of ’09. Maybe even the best ever.

December 2 - Restaurant moment. Share the best restaurant experience you had this year.
Earlier this fall my friend Brynn came to Buffalo for a visit. We hadn’t seen each other in months and had a lot of catching up to do. I decided we should go to the newly opened Juniper, as I’d been there once before and experienced a delicious meal.

Brynn and I ordered a bottle of wine, the falafel appetizer, wonderful salads, and each enjoyed the Yellow Hunger entree. Our meal was perfectly paced and I never felt rushed. It was the first time that I’ve split a bottle of wine and did not feel rushed to finish my last glass. Our “chocolate bomb” dessert was heaven.

Any meal I get to share with Brynn is a great one but this was indeed the best.

December 3 – Article. What’s an article that you read that blew you away?
It’s a tie between “The Big Takeover” by Matt Taibbi and “The Obamas’ Marriage” by Jodi Kantor.