Friday, January 01, 2010

Retrospective and Resolutions

2009 was the year in which...

I (finally) decided to stop doing development consulting work.

I chose to become a full-time jewelry artist.

I worked the equivalent of 3 full-time jobs during our last months in Mozambique in order to make as much money as possible before the big career change.

I applied to and was accepted at the California College of Arts.

Rico and I decided to leave Mozambique and relocate to the Bay Area.

We bought and moved into our first house, Casa Cali.

We bought our first new car, a Subaru Outback.

I traveled to Brazil (Rio, Angra, São Paulo, Monte Verde), South Africa (Nelspruit, Kruger, Hazyview, Johannesburg, Barberton), Kenya (Nairobi), Mozambique (Bilene, Tofo, Macaneta, Nampula, Ilha de Moçambique), and the US (California, New Mexico).

In all, 2009 was a good year for me (and I believe for Rico as well). I know it was not that way for everyone, so I am particularly grateful for our blessings.

2010 will be the year in which...

I start regularly going to Nia and other dance classes again.

I get a massage at least once a month to deal with my recurrent back pain.

I launch my jewelry website, complete with new product lines and photos of models wearing my creations.

I get my jewelry into at least 3 retail shops/galleries.

I join the Point Richmond artists' cooperative.

I make the effort do my hair and makeup every day.

I learn to parallel park properly. Sigh.

I go to Houston, Providence and Boston to visit my dear friends Hannah, Kyle, Angel and my cousins AJ and Renaud.

Rico, Clauds, Dave and I go to Burning Man.

I actually use the phone to talk to the people I love in this world more frequently instead of only putting the poor thing to use as an alarm clock.

I paint the walls of my office a beautiful color.

2010 will be a year of hard work and changes, but I hope to reap great pride and happiness as a result. Best wishes to all of you for the New Year.

6 comments:

Live said...

this post talks about Art, Cars (driving), travel ... the 3 things i really love in this life :) hope you make it up with all your plans ...
did you take classes for the Jewelery thing or it's just a talent? and what happened with California College of Arts, did you ditch it ??

Ali Ambrosio said...

~Live - I am definitely going to CCA. Classes start in just a few weeks. I am very excited.
I've always been a creative person and have made jewelry as a hobby since I was a child. Now is the first time I will be taking formal classes.

Mystic Indigo said...

Happy New Year and I can't wait to hear about your new classes...and see your new creations that you will be making....Have a great weekend...

NOLA said...

Hair and makeup? Every day? Really? Sounds like a southern belle! :)

Ali Ambrosio said...

~Stacie - Ditto!! Best of luck in your travels and classes, post lots of photos for me to drool over.

~Nola - Ha! Let me clarify. Hair and makeup for me means making the effort not to wear a ponytail every day (I'm talking some cute hairpins, maybe a blow dryer every once in a while) and putting on concealer for the old under-eye circles and mascara. This is all part of the effort not to slip into "I wear my pajamas and go unshowered until 4pm every day" mode because I work from home. :)

Monkey McWearingChaps said...

Congratulations on YOUR third degree! Happy New Year!