First order of business for 2008

Organizing my Google reader. Yes, I got up this January 1st, and promptly set to work organizing myself electronically. I’m starting with the feeds, but hopefully before the day is through I will also have my calendar and task lists up to speed. These are important first steps in keeping myself on a less time-wastey path this year. And it helps that I can achieve them sitting on the couch in my pj’s

It’s the last day of our little vacation. Neil goes back to work tomorrow, the boys go back to school, and I have to stop ignoring my email. Usually I am more than ready for this, but for some reason the break seems shorter this year. I need a few more days!

The boys both made it to 12:00 last night, and I dug out some wine glasses we never use so that we could bring in the new year with class. And a can of Strawberry Lime soda, split four ways. It was the first time all four of us were awake as the ball dropped, which was nice. And even nicer was how fast the little people fell asleep after their heads hit the pillows. Usually we hear them still talking an hour after bedtime, but not last night.

I’m not generally one to get reflective on the passage of a year, and I don’t think I have ever referred to any year as a “bad” year, even when bad things have happened. But 2007 had its share of challenges both on a personal level, and for several friends and extended family. Given the unhappy place in which I spent a good portion of 2007, I’m really tempted to label it a “bad” year. Still, there is always something good in every situation. My creative life was very fulfilling in many new ways (sewing, blogging). My little family of four is intact and healthy. Our home is much less cluttered than when the year began. And I have started to slow down and be more appreciative of the small moments of creative parenthood when they occur. There was plenty of good with the bad.

Just the same, I’m glad to see the end of 2007, and am enthusiastic about what 2008 is going to bring. The South Jersey Clayathon is one of the first things on the list, happening in mid-January. I’ve already started thinking about how I am going to spend my three days of clay time. I want to make piles and piles of buttons, and I want to find something new to experiment with – maybe a new cane design? In February is the Synergy conference, which I find quite exciting. After that, who knows? The road ahead is full of interesting possibilities!

And with luck, a 15-20 lb weight loss

Happy New Year – I hope there are many exciting opportunities ahead on your path, too!

Oh, and a fun, random little fact before I go:  if my paternal grandmother hadn’t died in 1991, she’d be turning 100 years old today.  Happy Birthday, Grandma.