New Years + Old Years

Where do I begin? So many things to say about ringing in this new year.

I don't think I've ever been this excited. This is going to be a bit of a long post...

This year I got to spend yet another New Year's with one of my very best friends, Chenoa.

Our third New Year's together in fact.

We have changed hairstyles, apartments, significant others, and Flaming Lips show seating arrangments...but our friendship still remains the same. She is one of those friends you can spend months away from but then when you see eachother again it's like no time has passed at all. I hope we get to ring in more years together.

This year we got all gussied up for our 3rd Lip's show in a row.

But this year was a special show.

This year the Lip's played "The Soft Bulletin" in it's entirety after midnight.

If you aren't familiar with that record, I recommend you go buy it now.

The record is one of the very few that will always touch me, there are songs about the fragile nature of life, overcoming adversity, dealing with losing someone you love, and maintaining your sanity through all the insanity that life has to throw at you.

And even with all those subjects, it makes you want to move on and conquer the world.

The show moved me to tears.

And even in spending time with old friends,

I got to spend time with a special new friend as well.

You might notice that all these pictures were all taken with an Iphone. Let me first apologize for the quality, but I also want to say that because the record and the entire night was so special to me, I decided not to bring my camera.

Some might think that decision was absolute madness considering how many photo-ops would be available at such a show. But I really just wanted to lay back and enjoy the show through my very own eyes and senses and not through those of my camera lens. I also got floor tickets and decided not to chase down VIP passes through friends or friends-of-friends or my old bosses at my internship. I just wanted to be a fan in the audience with nothing between me but people I love and gorgeous life changing music.

With all this being said. It is time for the good stuff... resolutions. And since I have this oldyear/newyear theme going here I might as well revisit some old resolutions. I was shocked at how uncanny some of them had become fulfilled... without being realized.

My resolutions from last year included:

Invest in more camera equipment. Check. Bought 2 lenses and a flash.

Journal everyday. Made some improvement but trying again.

Blog more often. ;) The quality of my posts have gone up.

Take pictures everyday. Trying this again one but once a week. Everyday is a lot of editing!

Get faster at editing photos. Check!

Don't settle for less than I deserve. In all matters of life. Oh man did I fulfill this one.

Explore doing freelance photography and design work more often. Check! Did my first weddings and other freelance.

Travel somewhere entirely new. DING DING DING! When I wrote this I think I had somewhere like San Francisco in mind. If only I knew what was in store...

My resolutions for 2011:

Write/Journal at least once a week.

Blog more often.

Get better/faster at web design.

Do more freelance work.

Cook more and shop locally more often. (maybe join a co op)

Run/do Yoga more often.

Save up for a new camera.

TRAVEL!

Spend more time with my grandfather.

Take pictures at least once a week.

Meditate meditate meditate.

Be in the present moment.

Last year was my first year to make any resolutions. And it worked out beautifully. I dont feel that resolutions are meant to be broken anymore. Or meant to be harshly followed. But can serve as a loose guideline for goals you want to at least come close to touching. Wish me luck!

A very Happy 2011 to all of you!

-Angela