Weekend Wind-Down #37 - Year End Edition

(ultra cute WISH COME TRUE figures I got for Christmas to complete my collection)

Hello 2009!

Things have slowed down a bit here at RANCHO COCOA...mostly, due to post-holiday exhaustion, but also, we just wanted to just NOT DO anything productive for a change! Also, I got sick (again!) while we were up in Pittsburgh. Been sick for about a week now, and I'm hoping to get better before next weekend - we'll be in Atlanta all weekend for work. Anyways, apologies all around. Except for getting sick, Christmas was a blast!

I wish I could be more enthusiastic about the new year (believe me, I am on the inside!), but right now this cold is killing me. I'm all stuffed up, my throat hurts, my chest is congested, and my eyes burn. 2008 was full of incredible experiences and we don't expect anything less for this year. Thanks to everyone who have been following our adventures thus far - Missy and I wish you all the very best for the coming year. Here's to your health, heart, and happiness!


(CRUNKY Japanese candy bar from my sister, Cynthia)

BEST MOMENT OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF 2008?
MISSY - Going home for Christmas!
RAOUL - Having a week off for a real-ass vacation!

WORST MOMENT OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS OF 2008?
MISSY - Raoul getting sick again...that's not good!
RAOUL - Getting sick...I'm sick and tired of getting sick, dammit!

WORD OR PHRASE OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS?
MISSY - "yule log"
RAOUL - "tramp stamp"

FUNNIEST MOMENT OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS?
MISSY - Paul's "Tramp Stamp" song
RAOUL - Paul's improvised southern boogie song, "Tramp Stamp"

FAVORITE MEAL OF THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS?
MISSY - I liked the pea soup my mom made.
RAOUL - Gourmet pizza at Dinette, Pittsburgh PA

PERSONAL SOUNDTRACK FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS?
MISSY - Christmas music!
RAOUL - A Familyre Christmas Volumes 1 + 2, Kindercore Xmas IV, Matthew's "Disco Christmas" mix, Pavement, K Records mix tape, B52's, Jean Jacques-Perry + Luke Vibert, This American Life "Scenes At The Mall"

BEST EXPERIENCES OF 2008?
MISSY - Traveling to China and Hong Kong, Plush You! in Seattle, Tofu Baby at the Flagpole Music awards, hitting 1000 sales on ETSY, your sister Belinda's baby, going home twice in one year, and being with Raoul for the holidays for a change!
RAOUL - Traveling to China and Hong Kong in the spring and then going back to China in the fall, becoming an uncle again for the third time, hanging out with far-away friends at Popfest, road trips to Pittsburgh and Asheville, having Becky and Aitor visit during their nationwide adventure in America, craft sales galore...OBAMA! YES WE DID!

WORST EXPERIENCES OF 2008?
MISSY - The break-ins on our street and at my brother's house; various family accidents and car accidents.
RAOUL - Houses getting broken into during the summer; Lakers losing to the Celtics; various family accidents and being too far away to help out; getting sick over and over again at the end of the year.

CRAZIEST OVER-ALL HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE IN 2008?
MISSY - Easter, I guess, because of the helicopter.
RAOUL - between the huge egg hunt in Homer and the helicopter Egg Drop in Athens, Easter was definitely the craziest and weirdest.

MAJOR GOALS FOR 2009?
MISSY - Make 1000 more ETSY sales in one year; work on new books; use the Wii Fit; eat more fruit; make my bed; get organized; spend wisely.
RAOUL - Eat 365 apples in one year; finally get back into shape; eliminate high-fructose corn syrup from my life; travel to California more than once; get the Super Dorm painted and buy more shelves; buy a new printer/scanner for my computer; buy a new bicycle; become proficient in GarageBand; finally re-launch Popgun Recordings and finish the Popgun blog; learn to crochet.

PERSONAL THEME FOR 2009?
MISSY - "Polka Dots!"
RAOUL - "An apple a day keeps the doctor away!"


(Missy posing with Nilla's cousin, HARRY)