this year. a prayer.

Happy New Year's Eve. Here's my favorite song for the day.(email readers must view online to hear)
Auld Lang Syne :: Mairi Campbell & Dave Francis

I started to write a post about the year, but decided to simply write a prayer.

From this year which passed quickly I am thankful

...for my constant community of family and friends

...for the beautiful earth, sunsets, beaches, and waters

...for the ability to witness that beauty

and the opportunity to live so closely to it

...for time

to explore, learn, grow

...for continuing traveling mercies

...for life lessons

in grace, love, openness

...for daily bread

In this next year may I be ever thankful

ever aware of our bounty

ever willing to share

ever hopeful

ever broken to constantly be rebuilt

ever stronger

ever a dreamer

in Peace.

Amen.

...a hint of what next year this time may bring...

2009 :: my year in photos

This year was quite a blur, but I was able to experience a lot of new things. Faces, Places, Events. I thought the best way to sum up some of these things was through photos. Here are my picks, in chronological order, of different cities I visited throughout the year...either one of my favorites, an interesting texture, or a telling image from each place...

Atlanta, GA • Miami, FL • Santiago de Cuba, Cuba

Guantanamo, Cuba • Baracoa, Cuba • Havana, Cuba

Zapata Peninsula, Cuba • Las Vegas, NV • Elkton, FL

Tampa Bay, FL • Umbria, Italy • Perugia, Italy

Assisi, Italy • Florence, Italy • Vernazza, Italy

Rome, Italy • Vatican City • Tulum, Mexico

Cobá, Mexico • Chicken Itza, Mexico • Merida, Mexico

Teotihuacan, Mexico • Mexico City, Mexico • San Diego, CA

Las Vegas, NV • Flagler Beach, FL • New York City, NY

Brooklyn, NY • St. Augustine Beach, FL • Hamer, SC

There are still a few places we'll hit before the year end as we're heading out for Christmas. This year brought traveling mercies and more plans for this coming year. And I am thankful.

"The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page." - Saint Augustine

my most hearted tunes of '09 :: a mix

Last couple weeks of the year...it has me summing up some of my favorite things from 2009. I like to make lists so maybe I'll get to stick a few more of them up here before the year end (although don't hold your breath, looking at my sad blog-upkeep this year).

For my first list, its my "Hearted Tunes of 09". There were no rules for this list, and some of these didn't necessarily come out in 09, but I listened to them a lot this year so it counts. They all got lots of air time, ♥s on my last.fm, unashamed car singing, plenty of dancing, and distinctive memories from the year.

A pretty varied mix. It should make you smile for 58+minutes. Here we go:


right click HERE to download

Hold the Line (LehtMoJoe Remix) :: Major Lazer (Untitled)
City Dreamer :: The Go Find (Miami)
Roche :: Sebastien Tellier (Sexuality)
No Excuses :: Air France (No Way Down)
Animal Animal (The Sound of Arrows Remix) :: Penguin Prison (Untitled)
Something Special :: the Tough Alliance (New Chance)
Daily Routine (Phaseone Remix) :: Animal Collective (Untitled)
Paper Planes (DFA Remix) :: A R Rahman (Slumdog Millionaire Soundtrack)
Daylight :: Matt & Kim (Grand)
El Pico :: Ratatat (Ratatat)
Inní mér syngur vitleysingur :: Sigur Rós (Me› su› í eyrum vi› spilum endalaust)
Space Bass (Jamie xx's Remix of The xx) :: The xx (Untitled)
Little Bit (AutoErotique Bootleg Remix) :: Lykke Li (Untitled)
Swing Tree :: Discovery (LP)
Any Fun :: Coconut Records (Davy)