I don't really make New Year's Resolutions. Too much guilt and feelings of failure involved if I have trouble following through. I do love a fresh start though, and goals. Septembers always feel like a fresh start too, at least they do while I have kids in school. Anyway, I started off this year with a bang - a 7-mile run with my old running partner, who was visiting the area for the weekend. It felt really good to get out and run (and talk!) with her; just like old times. Neither of us had run as far as 7 miles since she moved away in August. At least she's only up the coast, outside of Boston. Next week it's my turn to visit up her way. As she was also in my knitting group (what a deal, eh? We could run and talk knitting at the same time!), a small group of knitters is driving up to her place next week for knitting group in Massachusetts. It will be a bit tricky to clear the better part of a day for it, but it will be worth it.
As far as knitting goes, my push this year is to finish up all my UFOs, or if they're not worth finishing, frog them and repurpose the yarn. I am not a monogamous knitter, and often go through bouts of startitis, and end up with way too many started projects that then languish in a basket or corner, never to be seen again. I'm close to the end of a project right now, and I have pulled out a few partially knitted projects to put in the queue. Wish me luck.
I haven't done too well in the sewing arena this past year. My main problem is excavating the sewing machine. I don't have a dedicated studio; I have a room that serves as office, sewing room, piano room, and yarn repository. The iron board is usually set up in there too (ostensibly so it is available while sewing), and "stuff" gets dumped there - on the ironing board, on my desk, and on the work table next to the sewing machine. Mending gets laid over the sewing machine. Ergo, I have to "excavate" in order to use the machine. I do this every so often, but there is always more mending and sewing projects that I would like to do and just never make the time. I will keep working at it.
Probably the biggest time issue this past year has been taking on a part-time job. It kind of fell in my lap, and is close to home, and the timing is very flexible. Those are all the pluses. It is, however, not in my field (I worked in publishing - proofreading, editing, typesetting) so I am learning the basics of accounting/bookkeeping as I work. I mostly work alone, which is also not really what I was looking for. That may change, but that would involve a longer commute. And, of course, while adding 8 to 10 hours (or more some weeks) of work time into my week, I have not given up anything else.
This past year we also added Aya, our exchange student from Japan, to the family. She came in August. With her in the family, I have 3 kids at the high school and 1 away at college. Bumping up from 3 to 4 doesn't sound like much, and it is helpful that she goes to the same school as the other kids, but it has required time and energy. If I had it to do over, we would still have chosen to have her come for the year. I just have to give myself a break and acknowledge the extra time and energy required and not beat myself up for not staying on top of the housework or cooking as well as I'd have liked.
It's been a busy, and often a rough year. Dan's father passed away last May, and in the months leading up to his death, Dan was spending almost every other week down in Philadelphia with his brother, so he could be near his father to help put affairs in order and spend time with him. It was a rough spring, and we still miss Dan's father. Now his mother is starting to fail. I don't know how much longer she might have, but it could be a matter of weeks. Another rough time, but we will get through it, and all the family will be there and we will help each other through.
Didn't mean to get so serious. But I guess I needed this time to reflect on the past year so I can proceed with the new one. So now I'm as ready as I will ever be. Ready to finish up projects, clear out the basement, get rid of extra "junk" and organize room by room. Now I just need to get through this week---end-of-month and end-of-year reports at work, and Jeff's last week before he flies back to college. Maybe I'll slip in a lunch date with my son while I can.
May your New Year bring you new energy and focus!
Shelley in CT
