Well, it is finally that time. I’m leaving for San Francisco this weekend to attend DrupalConSF and can I just say that I AM SO EXCITED! This is the FIRST official “cross-off” on my vision board for 2010 and I’m pretty proud of myself for sticking to my goals and MAKING IT HAPPEN. Not only will I be with my fellow designing and development geeks for a few days, but I’ll be taking some extended time there to enjoy and explore the city with my friends.

I have to say, I am SO HAPPY 2009 is coming to an end. This year has been FULL of ups and downs, tears, laughter, love, friendship, and family, but I am ready to scoot 2009 out the door and wave hello to 2010. As we all know, its prime time to start making those New Year’s resolutions of dieting, working out, quitting smoking, planning to travel, or saving money.

I had a completely different post ready for you today and then with the drop of a dime, or really the ring of the phone, I changed it. On this phone call, we were talking about purging. No, not the kind of purging because we ate too much at lunch, or had one too many M&M’s, but more so cleaning out the closets, sheds, kitchens, or anything else you can think of and just getting rid of it. Saying goodbye to old things that are just taking up much needed and valued space.

Last week, reality slapped me in the face yet again. Five people were injured and one person died in a mass shooting in downtown Orlando, FL (where I live!) I know that this sort of thing happens everyday, everywhere…hell that shooting happened in Fort Hood just the day before. Children are kidnapped and killed, three young softball players drive into a pond and die in North Dakota.

Sometimes I feel like there are certain people who keep moving, who keep doing what it takes to rise to the top – to be better, to grow, to learn, to network, to experience life. And then there are people who are stuck in their time warp. I’m not talking about those people or “friends” you need to take to the trash. I’m talking about the friends that haven’t really done a single thing wrong to you.

Ahhh yes, my good friend, insomnia, has decided to grace me with its unwelcomed presence yet again this week.

My mind is constantly, C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-L-Y running. The events of the day, tomorrow’s to-do list, ideas, schemes, song lyrics, conversations (or lack there of)…worry, worry, worry…think, think, think. Does it ever stop? Am I alone here?

After last week’s post about life’s crazy twists and turns, I really got to thinking about happiness and life. It seemed like a good time to have a seat and try to figure out all this crazy curiosity and questioning.

Ever heard the saying “when one door closes another one opens”? Who am I kidding? Everyone’s heard that saying. And as much as I instinctively want to say “blah blah blah” after I hear that quote, I can’t help but to smile and nod my head in agreement. Lately I’ve really realized that success doesn’t just come knocking on your door saying “Hello! Your success has arrived!” You have to work harder than you ever thought you possibly could, sacrifice some social mingling (trust me, I know all the offers are hard to pass up), and believe in yourself more than ever imagined.