I can't believe I haven't blogged since last year. (Last night, I said to Nathan, "I haven't been to the library since last year!" and he replied, "You love that joke, don't you?" Yes, yes I do. Even though I know it's pretty lame. So here I go, using it again.)
Among my other strange quirks (and horrible taste in jokes, based on above), I don't like odd numbers. Not even a little bit. (Well, except 5. I consider five to be an even number in my further strangeness.) But despite that, I've learned in my short-ish life that the odd years tend to be better than the even ones.
That's not to say that 2012 was bad. 2012 had a lot of good moments going for it: we were able to travel a ton (let's see if I can get it all in here: Denver, Washington, D.C., Key West, Denver (and Chadron and Rapid City), Denver, NYC, Key West. I feel like I'm missing a trip or two, though.) We spent lots of time with family and friends and had lots of visitors. Shelby learned how to be an agility dog and swim, and we learned what it was like to have a dog with no energy a few times. Our house got a lot of love--a new kitchen and landscaping most significantly--and our list of projects to complete is almost completely checked-off. (Does that mean we have to start over?) And we were able to celebrate weddings and babies and all sorts of other good news for our family and friends.
But. 2012 was still not my favorite year. It was a weird year, and it was also harder than other years, despite its greatness. I think that so far, 2013 seems like it will be pretty good. This year, we're going to Chicago. (and that's all we have planned so far. We are open to suggestions.) I'm going to finish my NaNo project. (33,000ish words to go to 50,000, so let's just say, 50,000 words to go!) And as far as resolutions, that's the only one I have, because it's the only thing that I know I really need to do.
(Though after looking over this post, maybe one should also be, use less ()s.)
(And learn how to spell parenthesis--is that right? Oh wait, spellcheck says yes. Now back down to one resolution again.)
Happy new year, to my readers. May 2013 be great for all of us!
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Snow-magedon
Apparently there is snow in the forecast. A lot of snow. I just finished shoveling the driveway for the first time this year, a slushy wet mess that seemed to be something other than snow. Who knows whether we will get the foot of snow they are predicting.
I am probably one of the few people that enjoys shoveling snow. I don't enjoy it, in that I would love to do it every day, but since I took over the job willingly (as Nathan is at work generally when the snow starts and it seems to me that it's awfully unfair to have to drive home in a mess and then spend another half hour plus scooping the sidewalk), I find that I don't mind it. (Unless there is a ton of snow at the end of the driveway and I get splashed while hardly able to move the icy gunk.) The sound of the shovel scraping the driveway, sidewalks, and walkways remind me of being home, at our house in Colorado, and waking up to it and knowing that it had snowed. My dad carefully clearing the front walk, and driving us to school, except the one time I was too stubbourn to let him. I know I can do it, then sliding into a tree hardly halfway there. Now I am lucky enough to be able to stay home when it snows, cuddling with my puppy and shoveling the driveway.
I know that Shelby is not a child, but it seems to me that dogs have the same innocence and excitement over everyday things that makes me feel the same way, best illustrated by my little's time in the backyard. We spent a few minutes when I was done scooping running around the backyard in the dusk that was quickly turning to dark, and I watched her run around, so happy, with just some snow and basketball. I think we can all learn a lesson from that, finding happiness in everything around us.
I am probably one of the few people that enjoys shoveling snow. I don't enjoy it, in that I would love to do it every day, but since I took over the job willingly (as Nathan is at work generally when the snow starts and it seems to me that it's awfully unfair to have to drive home in a mess and then spend another half hour plus scooping the sidewalk), I find that I don't mind it. (Unless there is a ton of snow at the end of the driveway and I get splashed while hardly able to move the icy gunk.) The sound of the shovel scraping the driveway, sidewalks, and walkways remind me of being home, at our house in Colorado, and waking up to it and knowing that it had snowed. My dad carefully clearing the front walk, and driving us to school, except the one time I was too stubbourn to let him. I know I can do it, then sliding into a tree hardly halfway there. Now I am lucky enough to be able to stay home when it snows, cuddling with my puppy and shoveling the driveway.
I know that Shelby is not a child, but it seems to me that dogs have the same innocence and excitement over everyday things that makes me feel the same way, best illustrated by my little's time in the backyard. We spent a few minutes when I was done scooping running around the backyard in the dusk that was quickly turning to dark, and I watched her run around, so happy, with just some snow and basketball. I think we can all learn a lesson from that, finding happiness in everything around us.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Book Review: Wild
Book: Wild: From Lost To Found On The Pacific Coast Trail, by Cheryl Strayed
Wild, From Lost To Found On The Pacific Coast Trail, is the story a journey--a journey of a woman hiking from California to Washington state, and a journey of a woman finding and understanding herself during the hike.
Even though I am not what you would call a "wilderness" person, I was immediately drawn in to her experiences hiking, and could easily visualize not only the places she went but the experiences she had on the way. She weaved in her personal life, too, and what experiences had gotten her into this situation. It was also interesting to read about the logistics of planning such a trip and how these plans often got changed based on the trail. She talks about the people she met and the different relationships along the way, which provided different perspectives of the same journey and added to the story. I also appreciated how it really was just a snapshot of this moment in time for her, rather than a long-stretching memoir of her life. While we did get some of her past, it was mostly as it related to the how and why she was on this journey, and she didn't explain too much of her life afterward. I think that can be hard for those writing memoirs to do, and it was very refreshing.
Wild, From Lost To Found On The Pacific Coast Trail, is the story a journey--a journey of a woman hiking from California to Washington state, and a journey of a woman finding and understanding herself during the hike.
Even though I am not what you would call a "wilderness" person, I was immediately drawn in to her experiences hiking, and could easily visualize not only the places she went but the experiences she had on the way. She weaved in her personal life, too, and what experiences had gotten her into this situation. It was also interesting to read about the logistics of planning such a trip and how these plans often got changed based on the trail. She talks about the people she met and the different relationships along the way, which provided different perspectives of the same journey and added to the story. I also appreciated how it really was just a snapshot of this moment in time for her, rather than a long-stretching memoir of her life. While we did get some of her past, it was mostly as it related to the how and why she was on this journey, and she didn't explain too much of her life afterward. I think that can be hard for those writing memoirs to do, and it was very refreshing.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Book Review: Heaven Is Here
Book: Heaven Is Here, by Stephanie Nielson
One of my favorite bloggers mentioned that she had been reading Heaven Is Here and loved it, and since I generally love everything she posts, I decided to check it out when I found it at the library. I decided to do a review for this book this week, with Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday, because it's about being thankful, not just for the life you have, but the experiences that have brought you there. Nielson is also a blogger, and blogged about her everyday life. In 2008, she was in a plane crash, and the book is the story of her life before the crash and her life since: her recovery. Her story is a powerful one, and while it ends well, she discusses her struggles, too, and how she found the faith necessary to go on. I spent several nights bawling my eyes out while reading this book, but they were mostly happy tears, happy tears for her and the life she is getting back, even though it is changed. I love how the story is also about appreciating the joys in everyday life and being grateful for those you love.
One of my favorite bloggers mentioned that she had been reading Heaven Is Here and loved it, and since I generally love everything she posts, I decided to check it out when I found it at the library. I decided to do a review for this book this week, with Thanksgiving coming up on Thursday, because it's about being thankful, not just for the life you have, but the experiences that have brought you there. Nielson is also a blogger, and blogged about her everyday life. In 2008, she was in a plane crash, and the book is the story of her life before the crash and her life since: her recovery. Her story is a powerful one, and while it ends well, she discusses her struggles, too, and how she found the faith necessary to go on. I spent several nights bawling my eyes out while reading this book, but they were mostly happy tears, happy tears for her and the life she is getting back, even though it is changed. I love how the story is also about appreciating the joys in everyday life and being grateful for those you love.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Book Review: Gone Girl
Book: Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn
It seemed like everyone was talking about Gone Girl this summer, so I was very excited when I found a copy at the library. It's easy to see why. It's for sure a page-turner. While I would definitely say that the mystery of Amy's disappearance is the heart of the story, the characters really steal the show. Flynn does a fantastic job of writing such deep characters and making us love and hate them all at the same time. Generally speaking, I prefer plot to character development, but the two were so intertwined in this book that it was hard to separate them, which did a lot for the story itself. The book didn't end nicely either--you are definitely left with an "icky" feeling that seems to be unresolved even though it is resolved. Definitely worth checking out, if you are able to find it at the library.
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Book Review: Runaway Girl
During NaNo, I'll be posting a book review on Tuesdays and my NaNo update on Friday. So be sure to tune in for all reading, all writing, all the time.
Book: Runaway Girl: Escaping Life On The Streets, One Helping Hand At A Time, by Carissa Phelps with Larkin Warren
I was immediately drawn to this book because of all of the statistics I hear in my professional life: how important it is that every child has a caring adult in his or her life and how much of an impact it can actually make on that child. Runaway Girl is about Carissa and what her life on the streets as a runaway was like. But more than the shocking truth about her life on the streets, the book is about how certain people can impact others, especially children, and change the course of their lives by providing them with resources they need to succeed, particularly being a presence in their life. What's amazing is how much she accomplished because of the role certain individuals played in her life--even with setbacks on her path to scuess, she graduated from college and earned an MBA and is now reaching out to help other children. This story is very educational and inspirational and written in a way that really makes you aware of what some children are experiencing every day, and what resources are available to help them.
Book: Runaway Girl: Escaping Life On The Streets, One Helping Hand At A Time, by Carissa Phelps with Larkin Warren
I was immediately drawn to this book because of all of the statistics I hear in my professional life: how important it is that every child has a caring adult in his or her life and how much of an impact it can actually make on that child. Runaway Girl is about Carissa and what her life on the streets as a runaway was like. But more than the shocking truth about her life on the streets, the book is about how certain people can impact others, especially children, and change the course of their lives by providing them with resources they need to succeed, particularly being a presence in their life. What's amazing is how much she accomplished because of the role certain individuals played in her life--even with setbacks on her path to scuess, she graduated from college and earned an MBA and is now reaching out to help other children. This story is very educational and inspirational and written in a way that really makes you aware of what some children are experiencing every day, and what resources are available to help them.
Thursday, November 1, 2012
NaNoWriMo: Third Time's A Charm?
Today kicks of National Novel Writing Month, and this year I am a participant. Again-ish. As you might remember, I started NaNo twice and lasted maybe a few days (OK, one, ONE day, both times). I'm feeling a little better this time--I've had years to think about my book, have the framework in place, and have done a little research on actually writing a book and some of the questions I need answered. I'm not thinking it's going to be easy, but I feel a lot more secure in my planning. Turns out all you need is a little planning to feel better about life.
I'll be sure to keep you updated every Friday with my progress. Until then, happy writing.
I'll be sure to keep you updated every Friday with my progress. Until then, happy writing.
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