Hey everybody! I’ve been awful about writing, but that’s because I’m in the Middle East…and spending most of my time on the beach (not the computer!) Ahh, withdrawal. This is good.

I’m having a great time so far! Dubai is like Miami + Vegas, but women wear robes instead of stripper shoes, public kissing is illegal, and of course, there is no gambling. It’s super expensive here (drinks at the Burj, pictured behind me, can run into the thousands – they boast the most expensive drink in the world!).

Tomorrow I am taking a camel ride and 4-wheeling adventure in the desert! I’m so psyched. Saturday, I leave for Amman, Jordan.  I’ll try to update once again while I’m there.

T

I know this has been a really tough year for a lot of people. Many of my friends have lost their jobs these past few weeks (MTV just laid off hundreds of employees, and many other companies are filing for bankruptcy or closing down departments.)

So, if I may, extend a giant THANK YOU, to everyone out there who keeps a smile on their face during such a difficult time. And to those who have supported me during my hard times, I hope I can return the favor.

I am so blessed to have healthy friends and family, and a place to call home (yes, LA is now home sweet home!!) I’m also so fortunate to be able to take time off for a solo adventure to the Middle East this December. I know I will come back home inspired and motivated, as I always do when I take a soul-searching trip. To say the least, I am so incredibly excited to start anew in January and see what 2009 will bring. We have a brilliant new President to look forward to, someone who I believe can really better our social, political, and cultural attitudes toward each other and the rest of the world. Our world is changing, we just have to remember that sometimes things have to hit the bottom before they rise back to the top.

Best wishes to everyone and Happy Holidays :)

Taryn

Hey everybody – oh my gosh darn goodness….(ode to Palin…)…I have been the WORST blogger every for the past few weeks. I know, it’s inexcusable, but – my trips to NY, family coming into LA for Thanksgiving, a web series in which I was shooting 12-16 hour days, and non-stop pitch meetings have left me…officially exhausted and ready for my December vacation.

Nonetheless, I have FINALLY gone through all the photo submissions for the Sarah Palin Contest, and the winner is Beth from Fort Worth, Texas! She is a dead ringer!!

Beth wins a free costume for next year from my friends over at Leg Avenue – http://www.legavenue.com/costumes/ – the best place for awesome, unique Halloween costumes!

Thanks to everyone else who entered! Here are some of the other great entries below—-