We started the year relatively quietly- no noisemakers, firecrackers or loud music of our own, although we certainly enjoyed enough of that from our neighbors.

At midnight we kissed.

For lack of typical New Year’s Resolutions, I have a list of “plans” for 2010. Plans sound so much better than Resolutions, no?

Improve and expand my online bakeshop. This little business is closest to my heart, but I’ve often had to let it take a backseat to larger projects.

Write more. Because I’m fully aware that to continue calling myself a writer, I must write. I recently discovered the very awesome Ommwriter, which has given my writing a much-needed kickstart.

Be a better web designer. I recently posted New Year’s Resolutions for Web Designers, and have every intention of keeping them myself.

Be a better wife/daughter/aunt/person. I’m extremely grateful for the people closest to me, though I may not always show it. That changes this year.

It sounds like a joke, even as I write it now, but I was completely serious. Mom, to her credit, didn't laugh- didn't even question why a 7 year old girl preferred Basic Computing over something like tennis or art or theater (which I also did, in later years). Instead, she signed me up for the course, and I spent my summer vacation learning to write BASIC on an Apple IIe. Mom rocked.

I remember being the youngest in the class, and the only girl. My classmates were mostly in their teens, and they didn't talk to me. During breaks, and sometimes when the teacher wasn't looking, I fired up Lemonade Stand, thrilled whenever I was given a weather report of hot and dry, because it meant I could jack up the prices on my virtual lemonade.

For years after that, I asked for only one thing every birthday or Christmas: my own computer. I wanted an Apple IIc, because it was cute and small and girly (and hello, Lemonade Stand!) and the year I turned 15, I got one. It was secondhand, but that meant that it also came with an ImageWriter and- be still my beating heart!- a Koala Pad.

This was me. This is me. It's why I've never been afraid of computers, why, despite knowing better, I see computers as so much more than just a "tool". I am a geek- a lovely, hip, beautiful geek.

What I didn't realize was how much it would change my life. I don't just write when I'm out there, see, I also read and meditate and plan my day. Out there, when the sky is still dark, the air fresh and cool on my face, with only Jonah our basset hound as my companion, I prepare myself for a wonderful day ahead.

And you know what? When I plan to have a glorious day, I always do. Things fall into place. Projects get completed. People seem to smile more. I smile more.

I've always been a "night person", and proud of it. For years, I described myself as a "tireless insomniac" and thought it was even a little cute. But I'm so much happier as an early riser- so much so that I've been waking up at a quarter to five these past few days and jumping out of bed in glee.

Today I woke up, started getting dressed, then looked at the clock and realized it was only 3:46 a.m. How excited am I?

If you want to be an early riser, I recommend reading Steve Pavlina's How to Become an Early Riser, Part II, and How to Get Up Right Away when Your Alarm Goes Off. All good stuff.

Growing up, I went out of my way to be different from everyone else. This explains why I was known for dressing a little, um, out there, in high school, streaking my hair purple and gold and (my favorite) bright green, brushing my eyelashes with yellow mascara. I took three dates to the prom, painted "Anarchy" on the back of my jean jacket, and- perhaps most telling of all- staunchly refused to tease my bangs. In a room full of Filipino teenagers in the late 80's, you couldn't miss me.

When did this change? When did I start to try to blend in with other women my own age? When did I decide I would trade in my flouncy colorful poets blouses for little black dresses, my loud fancy jewelry for smaller, understated pieces?

It's 2007, and it's time to let my daring self out of hiding. Different doesn't have to mean tacky, colourful doesn't have to mean obnoxious… and daring can be absolutely darling.

   1. A pink iPod Nano from the husband. He rocks.
   2. Special editions of two of my favourite books, Oliver Twist and Great Expectations. Also from the husband!
   3. A leather-bound blank book for recipes from my sister and her husband. Simply gorgeous.
   4. Mistletoe-scented liquid soap from my niece and nephew.
   5. Two sets of fruit forks from my aunt and uncle. Very cute, and will come in handy the next time I serve fruit (which I resolve will be more often!)
   6. Chanel lipstick and Laura Mercier face powder from my mother. Lovely!
   7. A transparent desktop digital clock from another aunt and uncle. Very modern and chic.
   8. A decorative glass bowl filled with potpourri from my grandparents- perfect for our foyer table.
   9. A cat-shaped ceramic plate from a cousin. Adorable!
  10. A cat-print makeup bag from another cousin. Very cute.
  11. A dozen chocolate chip cookies from my sister in law, which we polished off in a day.
  12. A bottle of Pinot Noir and a nice amount of cash from my father and stepmom.
  13. A set of Dior perfumes from another aunt and uncle.
  14. A silver fortune cookie filled with a heartwarming message from a dear friend.

I'm such a lucky girl!