2009.

This feels like a momentous year for some reason.

I know I was busy, I know the children were busy, and I know that Tom, throughout, was calm and patient and steady.

The year began with me in pain and taking a half load of coursework as prerequisite for graduate school. I liked the class, I didn’t like the pain. The year ends with me able to walk some days without a cane and taking a full load in a Master’s program. I am still slowed down, but since we have no answers yet on the hip pain there’s not much to do except keep on with plans while we keep looking for answers.  In between the summer was extra busy with guests, classes, plays, travel and The MEETING.

The children began the year in school, and end the year in school, similar activities and similar results. They are good, solid students with engaging personalities and many friends.

Tom is… Tom. Calm, patient, steady — the rock to which we all cling as we weather life’s storms.

Lucky… began the year at my feet, waiting for me to throw the ball, and ends the year (one guess where and why).

The yard is a mess. But it’s a healthy mess, and it’s ready for me to start working in it again. As long as it stays “normal” for weather, there should be some hope for the tubers, and the trees… well those that are still alive need a good pruning before the spring growth begins.

What I did right in 2009: I kept up with schoolwork and still had time for the family. I made new friends. I established myself as a strong student and good colleague. I discovered another allergy and by eliminating it eliminated migraines as well.

What needs improvement: I want to continue to work on my physical strength so I can dispense with walking sticks altogether. I want to do better with staying ahead of the clutter in the house, not letting it pile up to scary heights before I panic and put things away. I also want to do a better job staying in touch with friends and family. I would also like to be more diligent at writing for myself — blog, story or “whatever.”

And that’s enough.

For the world, I wish a return to some sort of balance — that people don’t feel the need to force their beliefs and practices on others and that we can all learn to trust each other again. Truly, none of us need be tolerant of abuse, but we can let go of expecting everyone to be carbon copies of a single cultural model.

Happy two thousand ten!

Today, at the end of the day, the elder stidkid and I decluttered one counter of the kitchen, washing and cleaning, and getting all the appliances on one surface, ready to use. The table was cleared off after as the large pots and such found their real homes… a little still needs to be sorted, we’ll get to it tomorrow or Wednesday.

Here are one before picture, and two after pics.

kitchen counter before shot, note miscellaneous everything on the one counter!

the counter alone... clean!

stidkid and his handiwork. not bad!

It took two full weeks after the end of my school quarter for me to feel fully recovered and ready to begin reading, cleaning and being creative again. I have another 7 days (exactly) before classes begin again, and am hopeful I will be able to start the second quarter with some measure of organization and comfort.

I found the camera! Here are a few pics of the last month, beginning with supper in Portland with my grandfather and his partner, and a family friend. Oh yes, Tom and the boys were there too!

stidkid#2 and stidmama

november 2009 get-together

a couple videos of December concerts, (hope they came through okay):

the older stidkid enjoys a new book from the stidgrands:

gifts galore (one of many)

and another video, as Tom snags stidkid#2’s gift from the stidgrands… metroid prime; and lounging pants for the boys. It starts out sideways, but I figured it out eventually!

Of course, more happened than supper, concerts and gifts… but these were definitely highlights. Missing are images of stidkid #1’s birthday, the amazing late autumn foliage and cute dog-turtle-bird pics.

Oh well, always room for improvement!