1. Read two books for pleasure each month.
I finished 38 books this year – not always 2 per month, but sometimes more than 2 – and did a reasonably good job posting about them on Good Reads.
2. See 12 movies in the theatre.
We saw maybe 6? 7? Quantum of Solace, WALL-E, Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Iron-Man, Atonement, There Will Be Blood, and Michael Clayton. It seems like there was a lot that I wanted to see this year, but we just didn’t get there.
3. Take a trip west of the Mississippi (and also west of Iowa).
Conference presentations took me to Denver and Monterey, a work meeting took me to San Francisco, and we just got back from almost a week in San Diego and Carlsbad with my family (pictures coming soon!).
4. Go to Bonnaroo or Coachella.
We had a quality time with Mark and Mike at Bonnaroo, and are hoping to go again this year.
5. Put $5,000 in savings by the end of the year (sub item: and leave it there).
Um, no.
6. Finish Couch to 5K and run a 5K.
In June I ran the Kelley Cares 5K. I’m really proud that I’ve kept up with running, and actually enjoy it!
7. Continue weight training and do an unassisted pull up.
Yes on the first part, no on the second. I’m hoping to start weight training with a coworker after the holidays – I’m pretty good at staying motivated, but having someone else with me will help.
8. Finish my CAS.
I was on track to finish, but came up 1 credit hour short, and so have extended it into the spring. I’m taking my last class via LEEP, and will be defending my thesis in March.
9. Get published.
Nope, but I think we’re going to be included in the ACRL conference proceedings, and we have an article in peer review. Fingers crossed that this’ll happen in the next year.
10. Find a church.
We’ve been sporadically attending services at Del Ray United Methodist Church, which we both really like.
11. Reconsider therapy and/or medication.
After a few sessions with the Employer Assistance Program therapist, I gave up on that, but have had pretty good luck with medication. I went back to my doctor for evaluation recently – we upped the dosage slightly, which I think will help.
12. Beat SB at Zooloretto or Alhambra.
Done and done – at least in Zooloretto.
13. Finish 2007’s Bond-watching resolution.
Still working on it – currently, in fact!
14. Bring a new friend into our family.
We adopted Miss Mina Miyo aka Mina Tiger Pig on my birthday. She’s been a fantastically funny little friend, and we’re so glad to have her.
December 31st, 2008
- Build up an emergency fund to cover my half of 3 months’ worth of the household budget (approx $4500).
- Pay off laptop loan to SB.
- Finish my CAS.
- Get published (something, anything).
- Start eating beef again. (after almost 13 years!)
- Run a 10K (or two 5Ks).
- Do an unassisted pull-up.
- Make one craft project per month.
- Take a trip with SB.
- Reduce magazine subscriptions to 5 or fewer.
- For the third year running – complete my Bond resolution!
Tonight Shane and I will ring in the new year with a four course prix-fixe dinner at Bastille, then maybe drinks at Rustico? or maybe Prosecco on our own couch while the ball drops. Happy 2009, friends!
December 31st, 2008
Subject: Does anyone
Happen to know where that banging is coming from.
Continue Reading December 22nd, 2008
epitaph:
The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl – Fairytale of New York (via WarioTBH)
I feel like I post this every year, but it never loses its magic. My internet connection might be sporadic the next few days as I’m heading up to Canada, so I thought I’d better post this now.
Happy holidays, all.
You took my dreams from me
When I first found you
I kept them with me babe
I put them with my own
Can’t make it all alone
I’ve built my dreams around you
Continue Reading December 19th, 2008
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Tolerability Index – December 17, 2008 | The A.V. Club
I’ve decided that the true sign that you’ve made it is when you hit the Tolerable end of The Onion’s Tolerability Index – as our friend Jeff’s BetamaXmas has done this week. Good job, dude!
Continue Reading December 19th, 2008
This is a pretty good representation of how I’m feeling these days – a little tired, a little out of sorts, a little reflective, a little grey. I met with my doctor to discuss my medication on Monday – we’re upping the (still quite low) dosage to see if that helps with the blues until the abundance of natural light comes back in a few months. For years my dad has experienced SAD-type symptoms – I don’t recall that my mental or emotional state has been so affected, but the last couple of winters have been hard, so I’m willing to consider that my disrupted circadian rhythms might have something to do with it.
How do you combat the winter blues?
December 16th, 2008
Reposted from my FB.
1. I once responded to a spanking from my parents (the cause of which is lost to the ages) by saying “I’m surprised that didn’t even hurt!”. I was inspired to say this because I’d just read the Little House on the Prairie books, which I guess discussed the power of positive thinking? My Mom wasn’t amused.
2. I don’t like fish. I don’t like them swimming by me, and I don’t like eating them. Well, most of them. I’ll make exceptions.
3. One of my very favoritest movies is Strictly Ballroom.
4. My in-utero name was “Wayne-O”. I’m not sure if my parents knew my gender.
5. I sucked my thumb until an embarrassingly advanced age. It just occurred to me – just this very moment – that perhaps the thumbsucking actually did good things for my teeth by preventing me from grinding at night.
6. I wear a night guard now to protect my teeth because of the grinding.
7. The first computer my family owned was a Leading Edge, and I recall my sister chewing on rocks in the parking lot when we went to pick it up in Beloit in 1987.
8. I think I might have perfected chocolate chip cookies this year.
9. I’m really fascinated by Robert Cotton.
10. I was briefly married.
11. I have worn glasses or other corrective eye-wear since age 10, and contacts since age 13. I had coke bottle glasses. I might even post a picture of them.
12. I never believed in Santa or the tooth fairy, in part because the tooth fairy’s handwriting was suspiciously like my dad’s.
13. When I graduated from college, I tried to find a publishing job by basically cold-calling every publisher in the Chicagoland area, except that I only got through about the Cs before giving up.
14. I quit ballet at age 6 because it hurt my feet.
15. I signed up to “adopt” one of those kids from the very sad tv commercials, but then had to un-adopt by sending a sad note about how I had unexpected expenses and couldn’t afford to do this.
16. The unexpected expenses resulted from me breaking my clarinet. Because I whacked it against the case. Because I hated it. I was 12 (or so).
17. I’m a bit concerned that my children will never be as cute as Oscar.
18. I’m also a bit concerned (and SB can back me up here) that there’s a 50% (give or take) chance that whatever children I do have will be boys.
19. I did not vote for Blagojevich.
20. I also did not vote for Al Gore. In fact, I didn’t vote at all in that election, because I didn’t actually realize how important voting was until it was too late.
21. I have been commuting primarily by public transportation or foot power for four solid years.
22. I made an attempt to whiten my teeth once, but then I realized that I like coffee and red wine too much to make a difference.
23. I quit smoking three years ago, though I still have the occasional social smoke.
24. I thought about minoring in computer science, but that was mostly for a boy. In retrospect, I probably should’ve done it.
25. I really, really, really, really, really love being in the water. Or on the water. Or by the water. Maybe it’s a result of growing up with all that corn.
Continue Reading December 13th, 2008