Three Takeaways

My Three Takeaways of 2007, as per Zawi's tag. :-) I had already done a review of 2007 in an earlier post, so the three takeaways will be the top three of that review.

1. April Trip to Arkansas and Visit of my good friend from Malaysia

Doug, Duncan and I went to Arkansas, which is the birth place of Doug's mother. My good friend, Esther (visiting from Malaysia), was able to make that little trip with us. Denice was left with her grandparents in California.

The main purpose of that visit was to see what development was taking place to the adjoining property that Doug has in Dardanelle, Arkansas. That 40 acre piece of property has been in Doug's family for over 100 years. His mother gave him her 20 acre share of the property and Doug bought out an Aunt's and an Uncle's remaining 20 acres.

Arkansas is a very pretty state, very green with lots of rainfall, which reminds me a lot of Malaysia. There are two problems that I have about us moving there. Firstly, it'll be a lot further to Malaysia, and secondly, it is hard to find a good Asian supermarket in Dardanelle!

While in Arkansas we were able to visit Doug's cousin and her mother. Her mother had a stroke not that long ago and she doesn't look like she's in the best of health. So we don't know if the next time we visit Arkansas, she'll still be around. It was the first time they had met Duncan. During that visit Doug's aunt and uncle from California were also visiting Arkansas. So we had a nice little visit together in Arkansas.

My friend, Esther's visit was also a good one. It was her third visit to the US since I moved here. I enjoyed her visit tremendously.

2. Blogging for Money, and Friends Made through Blogging

In July I finally succumbed to monetizing my blogs by placing Google Ads on my blogs. :-) Previously I was annoyed by the many ads that people had all over their blogs, especially those popping and flashing ones. I still hate those pop up ads, but I have learned to live with the flashing ads! In August, I started writing paid posts. I admit that the idea of making money from writing paid posts can be quite addicting. I started four new blogs so that I could write more paid posts and hence make more money!

That is why, when November came along and I got penalized by Google for writing paid posts on my main blog, I was thoroughly pissed! When my PR dropped from 3 to 2 and then to zero I decided to get my own domain name for Puteri's Musings (my very first blog). I stopped writing paid posts on that blog. As of a few days ago, that blog has regained some PR, a PR2, which is better than a zero.

Blogging has also brought me new friends. Who would have thought that blogging would bring U.Lee, Zawi, Daphne, Akmal, Nightwing, Asiana, Coki, Beachlover and a few others into my circle of blogging friends? I love you guys!

3. Celebrating Eight Years of Marriage

In August, Doug and I celebrated our eighth year of living together as husband and wife. We survived the critical 7 year mark. We duly noted that fact and thought it amusing. By God's grace we hope to celebrate many more years of married life.

We have two small children and we hope, God willing, to live long enough to see them grow to adulthood.

On our anniversary, Doug took the afternoon off, and he came home with flowers and a new pillow for me. I am on an eternal quest for the perfect pillow. Unfortunately, that pillow did not turn out to be the one. Doug also took me to lunch at a very nice restaurant to celebrate the occasion.

Those are my three Takeaways for 2007. :-)