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Ox to Tiger.
Dec. 31st, 2021 02:48 pmI'm really not sure what to say about this year. I'm kind of afraid of saying anything for fear of jinxing next year. There were some good things this year, but overall I'm not sorry to say goodbye to 2021.
In no particular order, here are some things that happened this year:
- We are safe and healthy. No one in our immediate families got sick or injured, and we're all vaccinated. Rory and I got our booster shots in November, so we're as protected as we can be.
-I worked from home until August, then went back to the office (but still working from home one day a week). It's been really nice to be back in the museum, but also weird. We held two in-person Family Days, three virtual Family Days, and at least ten other virtual events. I filmed several craft videos and interviews with experts (I got to interview a NASA scientist!), did a ton of work on the website, helped with a space science summer camp, and all sorts of other random stuff.
-In July we went to Tacoma to visit my sibling and nephews. It was a stressful trip, but it was good to see them for the first time in almost two years. Then Rory and I went to Juneau for three days. I hadn't been back to Juneau since I lived there as a little kid (except for one brief visit), and it was interesting to go see my old neighborhood and relive memories. We also went to the glacier, several beaches, a brewery, and the state museum.
-In September we visited Rory's family in Syracuse. It went fairly well, but still stressful. Family is complicated.
-I started counseling (again), and have been working very hard with my counselor to not take on too many responsibilities, manage anxiety, deal with stress, and not take on other people's emotions.
-I didn't have any serious health issues, but I did have a series of minor annoying issues, including a bladder infection, a sore throat, a very bad reaction to a medicine that left me dizzy and full of rage for days, and a bunch of shenanigans with the sleep doctor and dentist. I did stop using the CPAP machine, and instead have a mouth device that's supposed to help with sleep apnea.
-I started watching the BBC show Waiting for God, which is fantastic, and the Canadian show Murdoch Mysteries, which has sucked me in.
-We got a new couch, which we really needed. I think it's the first piece of new furniture I've ever bought (from an actual furniture store).
-The year ended with a series of massive snow and ice storms; three in a week, including freezing rain that covered everything in a thick layer of ice. We lost power, my mom and nephews were stranded at the airport, we couldn't get out of the driveway for several days, and it was a giant mess. It felt like the apocalypse. Not a good end to the year.
-Leopold continues to be adorable and weird and brings us so much joy (and confusion). He sits in the sink and lets the water run over his head, keeps trying to jump in the shower, lays around on his back with all four paws in the air, is a terrible hunter, and dances on our chests at 3 am. He gave us a scare back in March when he didn't eat for a couple of days and seemed lethargic, but when he gave him wet food he started eating again and has been perfectly fine ever since. I'm convinced he staged the whole thing to get wet food.
-Rory and I have been working very hard on communication skills and strengthening our relationship. It's been really hard, but we're both committed to trying our best. Our relationship isn't in trouble, but there's always room for improvements.
This year I had five things I wanted to do:
Start fencing again: Pandemic permitting.
More goals this year than last, but I think they're doable.
I'm not making any predictions or wishes for the new year. I just hope the Year of the Tiger is kind to all of us.
Happy New Year.
In no particular order, here are some things that happened this year:
- We are safe and healthy. No one in our immediate families got sick or injured, and we're all vaccinated. Rory and I got our booster shots in November, so we're as protected as we can be.
-I worked from home until August, then went back to the office (but still working from home one day a week). It's been really nice to be back in the museum, but also weird. We held two in-person Family Days, three virtual Family Days, and at least ten other virtual events. I filmed several craft videos and interviews with experts (I got to interview a NASA scientist!), did a ton of work on the website, helped with a space science summer camp, and all sorts of other random stuff.
-In July we went to Tacoma to visit my sibling and nephews. It was a stressful trip, but it was good to see them for the first time in almost two years. Then Rory and I went to Juneau for three days. I hadn't been back to Juneau since I lived there as a little kid (except for one brief visit), and it was interesting to go see my old neighborhood and relive memories. We also went to the glacier, several beaches, a brewery, and the state museum.
-In September we visited Rory's family in Syracuse. It went fairly well, but still stressful. Family is complicated.
-I started counseling (again), and have been working very hard with my counselor to not take on too many responsibilities, manage anxiety, deal with stress, and not take on other people's emotions.
-I didn't have any serious health issues, but I did have a series of minor annoying issues, including a bladder infection, a sore throat, a very bad reaction to a medicine that left me dizzy and full of rage for days, and a bunch of shenanigans with the sleep doctor and dentist. I did stop using the CPAP machine, and instead have a mouth device that's supposed to help with sleep apnea.
-I started watching the BBC show Waiting for God, which is fantastic, and the Canadian show Murdoch Mysteries, which has sucked me in.
-We got a new couch, which we really needed. I think it's the first piece of new furniture I've ever bought (from an actual furniture store).
-The year ended with a series of massive snow and ice storms; three in a week, including freezing rain that covered everything in a thick layer of ice. We lost power, my mom and nephews were stranded at the airport, we couldn't get out of the driveway for several days, and it was a giant mess. It felt like the apocalypse. Not a good end to the year.
-Leopold continues to be adorable and weird and brings us so much joy (and confusion). He sits in the sink and lets the water run over his head, keeps trying to jump in the shower, lays around on his back with all four paws in the air, is a terrible hunter, and dances on our chests at 3 am. He gave us a scare back in March when he didn't eat for a couple of days and seemed lethargic, but when he gave him wet food he started eating again and has been perfectly fine ever since. I'm convinced he staged the whole thing to get wet food.
-Rory and I have been working very hard on communication skills and strengthening our relationship. It's been really hard, but we're both committed to trying our best. Our relationship isn't in trouble, but there's always room for improvements.
This year I had five things I wanted to do:
Read three books every two months (18 total): I did well on this one! I read 30 books (although several of them were very short), which is an average of 2.5 books per month.
Do something crafty/creative regularly: Did well on this one too. I finished a needlework project, started a cross stitch project, made several friendship bracelets, and made a whole bunch of folded fabric ornaments. I feel like there was something else, but can't think of it right now.
Physical activity three times a week: I took walks and rode my bike regularly in the summer, and went skiing several times in the spring. The last few months of the year I didn't do so well, it was too cold and dark to take walks. But I did sucessfully start doing yoga three times a week, and kept that up for the whole year (I did miss a few days, but too a lot). It's not extensive yoga, it's just following along to a YouTube video for ten or twenty minutes, but it's something.
Practice mindfulness: Ehhh....I tried? Our counselor really wants both of us to practice this, and gave us a lot of resources. I've been doing a lot of research about mindfulness, and started trying some breathing exercises, but I could do better.
Go to hunting camp: Pandemic and the need to visit Rory's family meant I couldn't do this one.
These are the things I want to do next year:
Get an answer about ADHD: This is a long story, but the short version is that I want a proper answer about whether Rory has ADHD, and getting to the bottom of this is one of my biggest priorities.
Work with Rory on communication and relationship skills: This one's probably the most important. It's an ongoing process.
Read 20 books: I think I can do this one. I could probably read more, but I want to keep the goal achievable. :)
Commit to mental health: This one has several sub-goals:
These are the things I want to do next year:
Get an answer about ADHD: This is a long story, but the short version is that I want a proper answer about whether Rory has ADHD, and getting to the bottom of this is one of my biggest priorities.
Work with Rory on communication and relationship skills: This one's probably the most important. It's an ongoing process.
Read 20 books: I think I can do this one. I could probably read more, but I want to keep the goal achievable. :)
Commit to mental health: This one has several sub-goals:
- Continue to do crafty things on a regular basis.
- Keep seeing a counselor.
- Physical activity at least three times a week, plus continue to do yoga.
- Really practice mindfulness.
Start fencing again: Pandemic permitting.
More goals this year than last, but I think they're doable.
I'm not making any predictions or wishes for the new year. I just hope the Year of the Tiger is kind to all of us.
Happy New Year.
