I wasn’t even going to entertain this, especially since the talented Jaime Case Ford beat me to expressing similar engagement ring sentiments in her witty Wedding Road Trip blog. However, a good number of you have requested a photo of my engagement ring and so here it is. The text around the ring is in Latin and says, “Nostrum iunctum est Sarcalogos.” (Our unity is Christ.) I had some time on my hands today and decided a quick snapshot wouldn’t hurt anyone. STILL – it is just a ring and since Jaime said it so perfectly on her blog, I’m going to have to ask you kindly to leave my blog and read this.

I thought about doing a month to month review, but have decided to list by categories instead.

WORK: This is what makes 2009 feel most off-beat. I didn’t work as much as I would have liked to and I dabbled in a few new things. As stated above there were the usual local promotional jobs which included Nestea events at the Rays games, the MacDill AFB Airshow, AT&T at the fair in Miami, AT&T at SEC in Tampa, and other day stints across the Tampa Bay area.

Over the summer I worked as an AmeriCorps VISTA Summer Associate at the Homeless Coalition in Hillsborough County. This proved very challenging on the pocketbook, but highly rewarding and eye-opening. I surveyed the homeless population with other VISTA members and helped to put on the Homeless Health Fair in partnership with the VA. The event went really well and the attendance was up from previous years, which means more individuals in need were serviced.

Aside from the above I spent a little time at the Census bureau and now I’m working for a temp agency until my assignment ends in March 2010.

TRAVELS: This is the one area that seems pretty constant. I went out and about to various locales for many different reasons.

1. D.C. / Maryland: In town to work a promo during the inauguration of Barack Obama. I had my first book signing in Wheaton, MD and got to see Adele in concert in addition to visiting the Manifest Hope art gallery. Very good semi laid-back times minus the super cold temps.

2. New York / New Jersey: I went up to visit my friend Tyne and her newborn baby girl. While in town I had my second book signing at the Sister’s Uptown bookstore in Harlem and saw many good friends on my short trip.

3. Rome, Italy: My friend Muna wanted to celebrate her birthday in one of her dream destinations and I was happy to celebrate with her. We spent a week in Rome and saw a number of ruins, museums, basilicas, catacombs, and graffiti. My best memories in Rome were created by the couch surfers who hosted us. Let me not forget the GELATO.

4. Charleston, S.C.: During this trip I had two book signings and got to spend a little time with my family. I took the Amtrak train up from Tampa into Charleston, which made my first (long) domestic train ride.

5. Toronto, ON: For my birthday getaway I decided to cash in my FF miles with US Airways and head up to the north. I had a really great time with my hosts Sara and Davoud. Toronto is a great city I’d love to explore more of in the near future. It certainly put the taste in my mouth for more Canada travel. Here are some of my favorite photos from my trip.

6. New Orleans, LA: Since I couldn’t make it to my friend’s wedding I decided to pop into town for a pre-wedding visit. Had loads of fun visiting my girls from the 6th and 7th grade. Nothing like a little reunion.

7. Key West, FL: Just a little R&R session with my sweetie for a few days. Nice place to photograph, but a bit boring if you’re not into drinking and water sports. I did dig the food a lot!

8. Nairobi / Kisii, Kenya: Spent 17 days in Kenya as a Team Leader for a Global Village project in Kisii, Kenya. It was a hard trip for me, but a much needed experience. You can read more about the trip here.

LOVE: After two years of dating and 11 years of friendship, my significant other decided to ask me to marry him on October 24, 2009. My answer was, “yes” and now I am trying to plan a small ceremony for the two of us in 2010. For those who may have missed our engagement photos you can find them here. I don’t think I should have to say this, but it was a definitely a highlight in this hodge podge year.

LOSS: A good friend of mine passed away in September and he is missed very much. Of course I feel as if it was too soon for him to leave his family and friends, but I am sure there is a bigger reason and needs for him in the heavens. This was probably the first loss in my adult life that really had an impact on me. He was a truly remarkable human being.

SUCCESSES: Whether I became my dream or not — I’m not certain. I did dream a lot. I set small goals and in retrospect accomplished a great many with very little resources aside from a great network of family / friends.

–I was blessed enough to do several book events outside the state of Florida and a few here at home. I shared stories about my family and listened to strangers tell me about their long lost relatives. (So incredibly feel-good.) For the first full year of promoting my children’s book, “Isaac and the Bah Family Tree,” I’d say I did a fairly good job. I just have to keep writing and keep pushing.

–The pages in my first grade Persian book are almost at their end which means I’ll be entering second grade Persian. I don’t think I am perfectly ready yet, but that is what these first few weeks in the New Year are all about. STUDY!

–Although my digital cameras didn’t get much love this year, I did a lot of Lomography and they keep getting better and better.

Officially signing out for 2009. Happy New Year all!