2017: You were the worst.

Was 2017 good to anyone? I'll be the first to admit I have a curmudgeonly streak, but this year was ridiculous. However, I would be remiss if I didn't take a moment to reflect on some of this year's bright spots:

Maya
Pugs really are a girl's best friend. We hit four years together and each day is filled with fun and love. Here's Maya, dressed as an elephant at our Pugs in the City Pug-o-ween party. 

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David Merino, who played Angel in Rent

The Arts
I was lucky enough to see Rent and Aladdin, two of the Broadway on Hennepin shows brought to Minnesota by the Hennepin Theatre Trust. Even better than seeing the shows, I got to meet the cast members! I still can't get over how young and talented they all are. Bright futures all around.

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Reunited!
My best friend Tiongela moved back to town! Whoo! We've been friends since we were eight. She once saved me from an ice hole - I wish I were kidding. 

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Bob Freaking Woodward?!
Yeah, that Bob Woodward. I met him at a gala in Washington, D.C. Somehow, I became the kind of person who gets invited to galas and gets to meet famed reporters - strange, but I'll accept it.  

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Career: All the way up!
I grabbed my career by the horns and made some great moves. I won the Ralph Cornelia Professional Development Scholarship through my union and got to travel throughout Minnesota and around the east coast. The mentors and colleagues I met helped me take a hard look at where I've been and where I'm going.