06 February 2008
Happy New(ish) Year!!!
It’s getting a little late for wishing you a happy New Year but what the heck: Happy New Year! I hope 2008 is treating you well so far.
Our year started off quietly. I was sick on New Year’s Eve…Joe enjoyed Chinese take-out and a glass of champagne, while I had tea, oatmeal with blueberries and a thimbleful of champagne. To make up for this, we threw a New Year’s bash that ended ALL New Year’s bashes on 19 January. It was a great excuse to try new appetizers (smoked salmon on baked potato slices) and pop a bunch of bottles of Henkell Trocken. And an even better excuse to get right smashed with our friends and ring in a happy, happy new year. I kind of want to do it EVERY month!
Yum!
Joe’s Christmas vest is almost done (pictures to come once the camera batteries are charged up)! The front and back are complete but I mis-measured (pretty sure I’m missing the “measurement” gene) so I’m adding 1” panels down the side in navy (the main colour) and then I’ll block it ‘til Joe rocks it! I was hoping to finish it in time for Winterlude but I was in BC for work last week and didn’t bring it with me. I’m confident it’ll be done by next weekend…after my midterm I’ll go like crazy ‘til it’s done! It looks great on Joe… which makes it my first wearable article of clothing (not counting accessories).
The new year also means I'm back at school. I’m taking a third-year class on Enlightenment Literature on Tuesdays after work. Three hours of school after a full day at work is tough but lately I’ve been doing well at seeing the big picture (Masters in English!) rather than grimy day-to-day details. We’ve been reading Pope, Swift and Gay so far and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the texts as much as I do. I’m not sure quite what I expected, but I’m finding our readings funny, biting and relevant today.
Besides school, work is keeping me really busy. I’ve been getting new responsibilities that make use of my writing skills and I’m planning a workshop that will be really interesting. The downside is that I’m finding it tough to manage the different projects that I’m working on. This spills over into my everyday life too. It’s a real challenge to balance writing (blog and creative), reading (for fun and for grades), knitting and all the other things that make my world spin round. Some days, I end up feeling like an elastic band that’s stretched to its limits; a little raw and like I’m starting to fray. That’s why one of my new year’s “non-resolutions” is to learn more about transcendental mediation. The idea is to learn a how to relax ANYWHERE, thus giving myself a relaxation outlet wherever, whenever.
While I’m at it, why don’t I share all of my "non-resolutions" with you?
* Build my self-discipline muscles
* Learn about Transcendental Meditation
* Learn how to do lace and cables
* Start Christmas knitting early so I can give my whole family handknits this year!
* Learn how to do a great home pedicure…My poor feet need some love for getting me to and from work every day and for putting up with those pointy-toed heels of mine.
I call them “non-resolutions” because they are not focussed on a specific goal but instead they’re a touch more abstract and they’re generally applicable to many areas of my life.
I’m about to sign off but before I do, two things:
* If you’re in the Ottawa area, come down to Confederation Park during Winterlude and check out the B.Goods cookie truck. Joe and Brad are there from 10 – 10 Wednesday through Sunday until 17 February!
* Congratulations to Katie and Chris!! I'm so happy for you both and I wish you all the happiness in the world!!!
‘Night,
Erika.
Our year started off quietly. I was sick on New Year’s Eve…Joe enjoyed Chinese take-out and a glass of champagne, while I had tea, oatmeal with blueberries and a thimbleful of champagne. To make up for this, we threw a New Year’s bash that ended ALL New Year’s bashes on 19 January. It was a great excuse to try new appetizers (smoked salmon on baked potato slices) and pop a bunch of bottles of Henkell Trocken. And an even better excuse to get right smashed with our friends and ring in a happy, happy new year. I kind of want to do it EVERY month!
Yum!
Joe’s Christmas vest is almost done (pictures to come once the camera batteries are charged up)! The front and back are complete but I mis-measured (pretty sure I’m missing the “measurement” gene) so I’m adding 1” panels down the side in navy (the main colour) and then I’ll block it ‘til Joe rocks it! I was hoping to finish it in time for Winterlude but I was in BC for work last week and didn’t bring it with me. I’m confident it’ll be done by next weekend…after my midterm I’ll go like crazy ‘til it’s done! It looks great on Joe… which makes it my first wearable article of clothing (not counting accessories).
The new year also means I'm back at school. I’m taking a third-year class on Enlightenment Literature on Tuesdays after work. Three hours of school after a full day at work is tough but lately I’ve been doing well at seeing the big picture (Masters in English!) rather than grimy day-to-day details. We’ve been reading Pope, Swift and Gay so far and to be honest, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the texts as much as I do. I’m not sure quite what I expected, but I’m finding our readings funny, biting and relevant today.
Besides school, work is keeping me really busy. I’ve been getting new responsibilities that make use of my writing skills and I’m planning a workshop that will be really interesting. The downside is that I’m finding it tough to manage the different projects that I’m working on. This spills over into my everyday life too. It’s a real challenge to balance writing (blog and creative), reading (for fun and for grades), knitting and all the other things that make my world spin round. Some days, I end up feeling like an elastic band that’s stretched to its limits; a little raw and like I’m starting to fray. That’s why one of my new year’s “non-resolutions” is to learn more about transcendental mediation. The idea is to learn a how to relax ANYWHERE, thus giving myself a relaxation outlet wherever, whenever.
While I’m at it, why don’t I share all of my "non-resolutions" with you?
* Build my self-discipline muscles
* Learn about Transcendental Meditation
* Learn how to do lace and cables
* Start Christmas knitting early so I can give my whole family handknits this year!
* Learn how to do a great home pedicure…My poor feet need some love for getting me to and from work every day and for putting up with those pointy-toed heels of mine.
I call them “non-resolutions” because they are not focussed on a specific goal but instead they’re a touch more abstract and they’re generally applicable to many areas of my life.
I’m about to sign off but before I do, two things:
* If you’re in the Ottawa area, come down to Confederation Park during Winterlude and check out the B.Goods cookie truck. Joe and Brad are there from 10 – 10 Wednesday through Sunday until 17 February!
* Congratulations to Katie and Chris!! I'm so happy for you both and I wish you all the happiness in the world!!!
‘Night,
Erika.
