Goodbye 2009. Hello 2010!

As you may have noticed, Bond's Blog is going through a New Year's refurbishment.  So stay tuned, while I work out the html and finalize the tabs.  And all this on it's 300th post!

With the end of a year comes reflection.  I thought I'd take a moment and recap 2009 from a Peter perspective.

Reflections on 2009:

• It is over a year since I've been back in Vancouver, after living abroad for the previous 3 years.  I've been effectively "stable" for the past year, but I still don't feel "settled."  I'm sure it will come with time.  Just as long as I can repress the urge to grab my pack and run to the airport!
• I did run to the airport once in 2009 though!  Las Vegas, Baby!  A fun Vegas trip with a couple of buddies, along with some camping and cabin-ing around British Columbia, is the extent of my travels this year.  Quite a reduction from 2008, which included Korea, Japan, and the Philippines...
  
• Upon returning back to this beautiful city, I returned to my substitute teaching job.  While I am planning to get my own classroom someday, I was given the opportunity to teach Science 9 in summer school in July!  Quite satisfying to teach an entire course from beginning to end...
  
• 2009 has also seen me in two different apartments - the first: an expensive bachelor with a view, the second: a less-expensive one-bedroom ground floor with a garden (and fireplace!) 
  
• A huge benefit of the Stable Life is an increase in the amount of art I do.  I've painted more this year than any previous, and that makes me happy!
  
• What also makes me happy is my formation of the paleo-art website ART Evolved.  Along with Craig, we've managed to create an expanding community of artists and scientists, who create, discuss, challenge, teach, experiment, and appreciate all things prehistoric art!  ART Evolved has er.. evolved and grown more then either of us expected - culminating with a featured interview and article in EARTH Magazine!  (My thanks to all the talented friends I've made on this adventure this year!)
• With great highs also comes great lows.  2009 was the year we had to put down my dog Toby.  This was one of the most painful experiences of my life, as Toby was part of my life for 13 years.
  
• This was also a great year for visiting friends.  My English roommate Emily came to visit for a few weeks in April, as did a couple of my Lookout Crew friends Marianne and Duncan in the summer!  It was a blast seeing them and catching up.  Miss you all!
• For the past 15 years, the local theater group I belong to, SMP Dramatic Society, has been putting on traditional pantomimes every January.  This year, it is The Wizard of Oz and I've delved headlong into the production - not only as Set Designer, but also acting as the classic Dame, Aunt Em!  Yes ladies and gentlemen, this role requires a bit of cross-dressing, but don't fret - this is classic pantomime!  But I'll tell you, double H-cups are really big!

So ends 2009, a transition year.  A creative year.  A year of coming together.  But what of 2010?  What do we have to look forward to next year?

• The Wizard of Oz run at the end of January...
  
• A month of artistic collaboration with Craig, as he visits for the Olympics in February...
  
• And of course, the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games! 43 days until the torch is lit...
  

Hmm, after February, 2010 is quite open...   Suggestions?  Come visit!  This is an open invitation to you to come see this beautiful city of mine.  Happy New Year!