The year 2009 will be dedicated to . . .

Randy - who was so sweet and shy when he asked if he could kiss me.
He who shall not be named - because he is now the very dear husband of a very dear friend.
Edward - who wrote me love poems and songs in our trig class.
Anonymous - for leaving "anonymous" notes in my locker.
Jimmy - for being so obvious, he was borderline stalker.
Travis - who first taught me what love could feel like.
D.Y. - for making fun of Travis for having a crush on me and with that, crushing my self-esteem.
Gene - who showed up at my apartment to ask my out in his mascot uniform because he believed it was cool.
Justin - who fed me well and frequently.
Jim - who helped me realize that a girl could get anything she wanted with a cute smile and a sly look.
Brad & Patrick - who taught me how much fun it was to be fought over.
Alex & Rhett - who taught me the same thing, all over again.
Brady - who reminds me that true love really does exist, every time he looks at MJ.
Jaris - whom I had to stop dating because our names were too similar and it was just too cheezie for me.
Lee - who thought he could get away with kissing one of my best friends and then come cuddling up on me when she left the room.
Mike - who will always be the one that got away.
Joe - (the security guy) who protected me from all of the crazy guys that were shopping. *gasp*
Bill - who was just fun to look at.
Carlos - for shamelessly flirting with me even though I was WAY too old for him.
Joe - (the other one) who first opened the door for me into other cultures.
Scott - who was too shy to do anything about it.
Adam & Jethro - who were never more than friends but have meant more to me than any other guys in my life.
Josh - who was way too excited about the concept of marriage.
Jered - who gave me free film and developing so he could butter me up to ask me out.
Dave - for letting me be his first "real girlfriend".
Eric - who taught me that love isn't always enough.
The guy with the dreadlocks whose name I can't remember - for reminding me why I'd never date a smoker (like licking and ashtray, I tell ya).
John - (28 day boy) who showed me that some people really do just want to get married and it doesn't matter to whom.
Jared - (the other one) for lacking the logic that would give him any sense of commitment (see true story).
Larry - for always asking the hard questions.
Chuck - for always making me laugh.
Hector - for giving me the chance to win over his friends.
Vic - for his formality and old fashioned way of thinking.
"Rick" (not his real name) - for giving me one of the GREATEST bad date stories of all time.
Joel - for teaching me what TRUE heartbreak feels like.
The dude that taught at my gym - for making me feel self-conscious in class, but in a good way.
Andy - for getting jealous every time I'd talk to one of his friends.
Tejus - who fizzled quicker than he sizzled but always made me feel better about myself.
My brothers - who helped me develop a thick skin and an easy-going sense of humor.
My Dad - who taught me that I deserve better.

So here's to 2009 and to a year full of love and laughter and the good kind of tears and a year free of heartache and pain. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and has an even better new year!
xoxo
Jj

I miss . . .

making mud pies and believing it was chocolate.

climbing to the highest branch just to look down.

believing my father was a superhero.

road trips with my sister, because she would sing with me.

going shopping with my mom, and getting something new.

knowing that I could never fail.

the time before I realized that we were poor.

being able to see my best friend everyday.

the plans we made for our futures.

playing hide and seek with my nieces and nephews.

the way he used to look at me.

trusting him when he said he would love me forever.

believing that he could never tell a lie.

lying on the patio to dry after running through the sprinklers.

jumping so high on the trampoline that I felt I could fly.

believing it would all end happily ever after.

being excited about the idea of losing teeth.

having butterflies in my stomach on Christmas Eve.

believing that it really is the thought that counts.

the excitement of the first kiss.

sitting by the phone, knowing that he would call.

being innocently optimistic about the future.

homemade meals around my mom's kitchen table.

feeling the cool breeze off the bay in San Francisco everyday.

seeing the sunrise over the ocean each morning.

laying in the sun reading magazines and eating red grapes with her.

the one-on-one help I received in high school.

having homework assignments that my mom could help me with.

knowing that my father believed I was perfect.

believing that I was doing everything I could to be perfect.

having the body of a 22-year-old and not just the face.

being able to eat anything I wanted and still maintain that body.

believing that one day, I really would succeed.

knowing that true love really did exist.

trusting that he was out there.

being small enough to ride our dog like a horse.

playing make-believe with my paper dolls.

knowing that I could call any time of the day or night and the phone would be answered.

making Christmas wish lists from the Sears catalog.

building forts in the snow with my brothers.

feeling agonizing heartbreak and knowing that I'd get through it.

having faith that prayer can solve all of my problems.

knowing that to that one person, I was that one person.

really believing that blood really was thicker than water.

holding onto my baggage with white knuckles.

being able to let go.


This is open to everyone - what do you miss?

entertainment . . .

I've been reading the blogs of various friends and families members and they're all so entertaining because the majority of them have hilarious children and fumbling spouses to write about. And all I have is Chuck the Wonder Dog (who I'm very happy to report has figured out that the big plastic dome in the backyard is indeed intended to be shelter for him) and while he's funny, I'd really rather have something more to write about. So with that, I've decided to make a list of things that I think I need to get in my life to make my blog more entertaining for the masses . . .
1. A handyman husband with his own TV show where he has a plaid wearing assistant who is really the brains behind the operation.

2. 2.5 children: a daughter that's an honor student, a son that's a womanizing trouble maker and . . well, we'll leave the .5 up for interpretation.

3. A really cool, really expensive high tech car that talks back to me with whitty comebacks and snide remarks.

4. Absolutely adorable twin Feti who will one day take over the world by becoming President and Vice President making the country a bit of a Hansen Family Monopoly.

5. I'm totally stumped but I'm sure there are more things that I need . . anyone got any suggestions? Maybe I should try cyberdating. (insert uncomfortable, self depreciating, slightly sob like laugh here)