cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

I'm not going to do a 2014 Year in Review post. 2014 kind of sucked and I don't want to relive it. I'm going to go with Reverend Mord's (Hidden Almanac podcast) wish for 2015: may it be good. Like how a good lunch prepares you for the work of the afternoon. It doesn't have to be an amazing year, just good enough for you to get done the things you want to get done.

I'm sitting on my couch in my PJs, watching WI in the Outback Bowl. I'm also drinking a mimosa and typing this on my new toy - a Microsoft Surface 3. It's shiny and the kids are NOT ALLOWED to touch it.

Tomorrow I go back to work. Part of the day will be for setting this machine up with access to VPN. This will make my work traveling much, much lighter in the future.



Highlights from my vacation so far, in no particular order:

• My MiL came up on the 23rd and stayed through xmas. The kiddos had a ball with Grandma Suzie.
• On the 23rd, I went and got a super long massage in the morning. Then, that night, Downwood and I had a date night. We went out to dinner and then to a Paint Nite event. It was unsurprisingly nice.
• The kids made out like BANDITS on xmas. Grandma and Grandpa were very, very generous. Emi got more Frozen stuff than she'd hoped for in her most avaricious dreams. Ox got lots of trucks, tractors, and cars. Santa came, but only brought them some small things - a stuffie, a couple of books, and some craft supplies. I read something about making Santa gifts small so the kids don't have to figure out why Santa can brink one kid a bike, PS4, and an iPod, but brings a friend just a pair of mittens.  
• Emi and I made lotion that's theoretically better for her and Ox than plain coconut oil. Emi chose peppermint essential oil for hers, so every night ends with her smelling like a candy cane. It's pretty awesome.
• I finally cleaned out and reorganized my bathroom cabinets. I got rid of a lot of junk and expired stuff and made room for all the things that had piled up on the counter. I also deep cleaned the TV room today, including moving the couches to vacuum behind them. Go, me.
• Emi, Ox, and I spent a lot of time at the kitchen table drawing and coloring pictures. I'd draw something and Emi would color it. Ox was just as chaotic as usual.
• I've played a lot of GW2. Probably more than I should have. But it's fun and something we do together and with friends.
• I did some sewing. I got two Ina maxi skirts done and one Moneta dress. I have another Moneta dress ready to put together. I haven't hemmed anything yet, just serged, but still. Accomplishment.
• Spent New Year's Eve on my couch, cocooned in a pile of blankets. We ate cheap fried appetizers and drank some champagne. I feel asleep there about 11:30, to no one's surprise.
• Every morning this break, Emi has come in and snuggled with me every morning. The best part of every day, to be sure.
• It's been really nice not being at work. My stress levels are WAAAAY down.
• I'm kind of tired of my family. No alone time for the Sabine. I love them, but I'm running out of People Points.
• I'm not actually looking forward to going back to work tomorrow. Hopefully, it'll be really quiet and I can just go through my email and get through to 5 pm,
• Not sure if we'll take down the tree today or on Saturday. I'd kind of like it to be today so that I can move the couch back so that I can get my exercise bike out of the corner.
• Of course, I didn't get everything done that I wanted. There are still places in my room that I need to sort and put away. Also, my computer desk is a disaster. But the kids are happy, Ox is working on potty time, and Emi is running around like a madwoman. We ate far too much junk food, but everyone seems happy. I'm still battling some anxiety left over from last night, but that's unsurprising.

So, yes, it's been both a busy and a lazy vacation. We stay in PJs for a long time, get lots of snuggles and have lots of books and art time. I haven't made our travel plans for Germany yet, but I might start doing that tomorrow at work (don't judge). Life doesn't suck. It's hard and my messed up brain chemistry makes it harder, but it's also bright.

Happy new year. May 2015 be a good year that lets you get done thing things you want to get done.

2010 was not terrible. True, work continued chipping away at my soul, morality, and sanity, but that's to be expected at this point. But Emi is still completely adorable, Downwood and I are still relatively stable, and the greyhound is still a stinky dingbat of a dog.

I learned how to cook vegan-with-bacon food, that I'm closer to being a Real Dancer than I was last year, and that it still sucks when I can only offer words when dear friends are hurting. I spent too much money on little things, but made serious inroads on loans. I didn't sleep or craft nearly enough, but spending that time with the midget instead is totally worth it.

I'm hoping for good news to start off the year. I have a couple of projects in the planning stages that may or may not turn out to be as awesome in real life as they are in my head. My one real resolution for 2011 is to take care of myself and my family so that we all end up happier and healthier.

And now I go make Emi-safe cinnamon rolls. Because if you start out the year with cinnamon rolls, it'll be a good year. :) Also, GO BADGERS!!

It's 2009! Woot!

2008 was not as bad for me as it was for some of my friends. There were some things that seemed pretty bad at the time and hurt a lot, but there were more good things, I think.

Things I'd like to accomplish/learn/try in 2009:

• Buy a house. We don't have a huge list of requirements, but I don't want to live in the falling-apart rental anymore. Bleah.
• Save money. I feel like I've gotten too attached to material things lately. This is not how I want to live my life. Therefore, since we need cash monies for a house and we'll need to pack all our stuff, this is a good time for it. Fair warning: there may be books, craft stuff, and other thingies that will need new homes. If you live in town, you may be invited to take your pick before it goes to Goodwill.
• Have a healthy baby. Working on this one. Still terrified, still excited, still suffering a mix of emotions. Also, I need to figure out which OTC cold medicines are safe. Feeling kind of like crap right now.
• Enjoy the little moments as they happen. If I'm always waiting for a Big Event to feel happy, I never will get there. Even when I'm dinking around and playing silly computer games, there can still be a feeling that I'm doing what I choose to do, therefore it's a good thing. Or something like that.
• Continue with the gym and SparkPeople thing. I know that I'm going to be gaining weight and changing shape with the baby. That's fine. I also know that I feel better about myself and the world when I'm working out and that workouts help me sleep better and have happier headspace.

That seems like enough things to try to do. I tried to make them reasonable this year. Reaching high is a good thing, but I also need to be realistic. These, I think I can do.

Now to see if my stomach is settled enough to have a cinnamon roll for breakfast. It's our New Year's Eve tradition - I make cinnamon rolls during the day and then Downwood and I spend the evening with just us and a bottle of champagne (this year was bubbly grape juice instead). After the crazy of our family holidays, this is a really good time for us to recharge and relax.