Shrinky Dink

Friends, I have so many thoughts I'd like to share, so many events in my life--and little time, with Christmas tomorrow. So, here's the quick and dirty.

First, my health, and the title of this blog. Yesterday, at a routine checkup, I discovered that I've lost half an inch of height. I used to be five-ten and 3/4, and after being measured twice, I now stand five-ten and 1/4. My weight also is a little lower than what's healthy. My doctor has scheduled a bone scan for the second week of January, and a full blood work-up for tomorrow. She suspects early-onset osteoporosis, which she'll treat agressively with drugs. It still has not sunk in--the fact that I'm a "little less" than I used to be. I really feel like poking a little fun at this, which is why I call myself "Shrinky Dink." But I do want to stay healthy--for my family, and the goals I have for my life. So I accept whatever had to happen to manage my health. Truthfully, I'm more worried about Jeremy--among other things, he's got a killer sinus infection and may have to miss our family's Christmas celebrations.

I was going to call this blog "Welcome Back Kotter"--because my employment situation has finally (finally!) reached a resolution. With the job market being what it is, my original plan of finding a full-time job writing is just not in the cards. After a long, arduous job search, I've decided to make schoolteaching my "day job." And it is a "welcome back," because my college major was education, and I taught music in elementary schools my first 4 years out of college. This will allow me more time to work on my writing projects than any other field. Teaching is hard, but rewarding as well, and with the media field suffering so greatly, I feel blessed to have the schools as an option.

I'm continuing to write for Ningin. Remember the mural of Sung Kang? I interviewed David Foox, who created it, and I think you'll really enjoy it.  Here's a link:

http://elena.ningin.com/2008/12/17/david-foox-on-sung-kang-and-artistic-marketing/#more-99

Also on my Ningin page, I posted news on racism in American car marketing. Coming soon--interviews and film reviews for Asian films "Mental" and "Children of Invention."

Above all else, I am working on finding the joy in every day. Many circumstances in my life are not what I'd planned for, or hoped for, and some days I'm just so tired. But I believe there has to be a master plan that I'm a part of. Every day, I hear about someone who has it rougher than me, and I'm humbled by it. I'm older now. Life is hard. Many people are suffering. But there's still so much hope and joy in life, and I'm working on a greater understanding.

Thanks for letting me share. I pray for a blessed 2009 for all of you.