TGIF

That stands for "Thank God It's February," not Friday.

I wouldn't say this January was the worst start to a year I've ever had. There have definitely been some bright spots:

• The visit of my niece Nicole and her girlfriend Esther (and our ensuing trips to Chateau Ste. Michelle, Redhook Brewery, The Bottleneck Lounge and the Wild Rose)
• The return of my beloved American Gladiators to TV (Yes, really.)
• Oliver's first six-word sentence ("Oliver have Dadda's Costco Card please?")
• Graham's and my new puzzle addiction (See photo below.)
• Finally buying some more yarn and starting to knit again after a year-plus hiatus (A baby blanket for bullet #9 is project #1.)
• Attending a very timely workshop about Secondary Trauma (and buying the trainer's book, I highly recommend Trauma Stewardship: Caring for Self While Caring for Others, by Laura Van dernoot Lipsky.)
  
• Participating in our friend and neighbor's potluck and "Salsa 1/2" class (Thanks, Destiny. Graham was actually counting his steps out of the blue yesterday, and seems much less intimidated ...)
• Eating dinner (for free) at at Flying Fish, one of Seattle's fanciest and most expensive restaurants (Thank you, GlaxoSmithKline!)
• An unusually high number of semi-sunny days (mixed in with the more season-appropriate gloomy rain and cuts-right-through-to-your-core chill, of course) and
  
• The birth of Aidan Michael Carr (Jacob & Julie's son/Ru's nephew)
  

to name a few.

But it certainly hasn't been the best ever start to a year for me, either. Graham was sick for most of the month, and I've been doing my best to cope with a mixture of anxiety and depression that kinda blind-sided me. But mostly, this year has just flown by, without us really noticing. And I hate that.

Anyhow, what follows is a photo gallery of sorts, full of pics emblematic of our January 2008--the good, the bad and the messy!

(Esther & Graham go gangsta in the Redhook store. Yes, this photo was taken after touring the brewery.)

(Nicole, Emily & Esther enjoy dog-inspired drinks at the BNL.)

(Graham and I were really excited to do this puzzle ... until we realized that almost all the pieces were green!)

(Some insight into where my head has been lately ...)

( I guess that's the last time we ever leave a biodegradable compost bag on the porch overnight Who knew Squirrels liked avocados?)
(Mmmm, Flying Fish Chocolate Volcano ...)

OKay, well, Happy Groundhog Day, everybody. Here's hoping Punxsutawney Phil didn't see his shadow, and that the rest of the year--or at least February--is a little more in focus.