That. was quite a year, and quite possibly the best one yet. As the last of our visitors leave us, we’ve finally managed to have some downtime and even, dare I say it, a moment to reflect on the 365 days that have been 2018.
I didn’t really start this blog with the intention that people would read it (thank you, if you are) but I did think it would be a great thing to have for when we leave NYC and look back on all the experiences we had here. So here’s 2018 in dotpoints:
- I wrapped it up with my MTV & Paramount Pictures family, said goodbye to endless ‘straya jokes and had my first and last bloomin’ onion
- Shifted gears from lazy 10am (sometimes 10:30am) starts in downtown Manhattan – Soho – to chirpy early morning Midtown starts at Salesforce
- Headed back home for exactly one week in April. After traveling for 32 hours and after we had just recovered from the jet lag, it was time to head back again. Note to self: one week is 100% not long enough.
- Hopped back to NYC to see Kevin and Mary who were visiting from back home
- Travelled to San Fransisco for a week of Salesforce “Bootcamp” where I met a bunch of my favourite mugs and explored the West Coast
- Discovered Puppyforce
- Hung back for a couple more days on the West Coast to road trip from SF to LA & checked out LA for a day
- Popped into Sam & Becca’s place for some Mexican and met Maeve, Zeke & Fin
- Spotted Santana at the airport
- Sam came to visit from LA with margaritas in hand
- Became friends with darling deaf Banjo (dog) and provided endless tummy rubs
- Sat in the American Airlines lounge with Willem Dafoe
- Traveled over to Chicago for Connections (a Salesforce event) and saw the Killers live in concert – and then saw them at the airport the next day
- Lost foodie gram loving Sarah to Seattle
- Caught up with Thuc & Jordan from Radelaide
- Ran marathons with Guy and Liliane over 4 days
- Georgina Van & I had a heap of dumplings with a heap of soy sauce in white tops and both lost
- Remi and I went to our first NYC beach and had to pay $15 entry fee – each
- Marched, danced and sung our guts out in the 2018 Pride Parade with Salesforce
- Went to Miami, hired a boat, had fresh coconut juice daily and drove a Mustang down to Key West
- Explored Astoria and discovered delicious Greek food
- Almost lost Remi to Melissa Benoist at Jeremy Jordan’s show at Sony Hall
- Changed my hair colour, changed it back, changed it back again, changed hairdressers – and was left with no spare change
- Saw Beyonce and Jay Z in concert at MetLife Stadium after being delayed for hours because of a storm and got home at 4:30am on a school night
- Showed the Reynolds family around town – minus Scott
- Lost my favourite NJ girl Tahmeeka, to those Southern speaking boys in Texas
- Tried Humming Puppy Yoga classes
- Started Zocco workouts with Remi & committed
- Gaped in awe at the natural beauty of Vancouver and Whistler
- Got engaged to my main squeeze ?
- Finally was able to setup FaceTime for my 89 year old Grandma
- Dipped my toes in Toronto for a whirlwind weekend
- Went to see the Tennis at the Rod Laver cup with Simon and Laurence in Chicago
- Spent another week in San Francisco for Dreamforce
- Saw Macklemore, Janet Jackson and Metallica live
- Caught up with Garrick Simeon on his annual trip to NYC
- Explored NYC all over again with Mum dad & Lek over 3-4 weeks and celebrated big!
- Every year Salesforce employees are encouraged to give back to the community and volunteer time towards a cause we care about, so I headed to the Choose Love store with my champion boss
- Headed to a Mumford and Sons concert spontaneously on a Tuesday night
- Had some Toronto mugs come visit me for the NYC World Tour & we karaokied until 4:30am. 10/10 will not start a band. 10/10 would do it again.
- Felt fancy at the non-denominational Salesforce holiday party
- Ate my body weight in cheese, chocolate, potatoes and bread through Switzerland for Christmas and New Years
- Spent new years in the mountains with our own fireworks and gluhwein
Books Read:
- The Third Door – Alex Banayan
- A Fortunate Life – A.B. Facey
- Bad Blood: Secrets and Lies in a Silicon Valley Startup – John Carreyrou
- We’re Going to Need more Wine – Gabrielle Union
- The Life and Loves of a He Devil – Graham Norton
- The Nix – Nathan Hill
- The Devil in the White City – Erik Larson
- When Life Gives you Lulu Lemons – Lauren Weisberger
- Little Fires Everywhere – Celeste Ng
Unfinished Books:
- Homegoing – Yaa Gyasi
- Home Fire – Kamila Shamsie
Shows on Broadway:
- The Book of Mormon
- Angels in America
- Hamilton
- Boys in the Band
- Sleep No More (twice)
- Waitress (with Kathryn McPhee)
- The Lion King
- The Band’s Visit
- The Prom
- Once on this Island
- Stomp
- Jeremy Jordan & Ashley Spencer
- The Play that Goes Wrong
