stuff i'm excited about

all kinds of shenanigans going on as we head into the new year...

1. 1/3-1/11 Road-tripping to Seattle, WA
We're going to pile into Crystal's car and head up to Seattle to visit the lovely Cecilia. (At least I assume she's lovely, we've never actually met in person). I do not envy them their long-distance relationship but I'm glad they'll get to see each other. Asher and I are excited to meet Cecilia and then go exploring in Seattle.

2. 1/12-1/20 Visiting Utah
Asher and I are flying out to visit the fam, see a couple of film festival screenings, and hopefully get a chance to chill out before we go back to school. Let me know if you'll be around SLC or Sundance during that week and we'll try to organize a meet-up.

3. 1/22 Going back to school!
I'm starting school at San Jose State University this semester. I'm really antsy and excited to go back to school. I think I'm in a much healthier place than I have been before, so hopefully the nerd in me can come out and play. The terrified self-critical perfectionist in me should remain in exile... we'll see. It will be fun to go to school with Asher instead of being in a relationship where only one person is in school, which is mostly what I've done in my life so far.

4. 1/23 Starting Rainbow Connections mentor training
Asher and I have both been selected to be part of a group of peer mentors. This is the first year of the program at SJSU. A group of 10 mentors will receive comprehensive training this spring semester and then begin to mentor incoming LGBTIQA students in the fall. We're training on all kinds of topics from internalized oppression and dealing with homophobia to general student skills like time and money management. I'm so excited to be a part of this program and learn these skills. It will also be a great way to connect with people on a campus that is mostly for commuter students. I think all campuses could use something like this program and it's amazing that Angela and Bonnie are putting it together.

5. 20Somethings at the Billy DeFrank Center
I hope to continue facilitating for the 20 Somethings Women and Trans group in San Jose. It was hard to keep everything going over the holidays, but there is a pretty solid group of queer women and transgender folks who show up from week to week. I have so much fun at the meetings hanging out and getting to know people. I hope we can get it up and going strong for 2009.

...that's all for now i think. it's been fun to get emails from people i haven't talked to in a long time and update my address book. thanks for saying hi!