Stolen from Red Stapler.
1. What did you do in 2006 that you?d never done before? Travelled without my kids, twice. (Miami and BlogHer)
2. Did you keep your new year?s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Don't do that.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister-in-law.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Stanley the rooster.
5. What countries did you visit? United States.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? Happiness.
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? July through December – battling depression and Effexor.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Surviving.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not finishing my novel.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Concussion in softball and a broken heart.
11. What was the best thing you bought? My seatbelt messenger.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My kids.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? George Bush.
14. Where did most of your money go? Mortgage, tuition, presriptions and speech ttherapy
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? BlogHer.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006? So many, but, if i had to say one it would be "I'll Believe in Anything" by Wolf Parade.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:?Ia) happier or sadder? ?Ib) thinner or fatter? ?Ic) richer or poorer? Sadder, thinner, richer.
18. What do you wish you?d done more of? Bike riding.
19. What do you wish you?d done less of? Drinking.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? Travelling.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006? Yes.
22. How many one-night stands? Huh?
23. What was your favorite TV program? Big Love.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn?t hate this time last year? I don't believe in hate, except frozen peas.
25. What was the best book you read? Three Day Road and Emma (for the umpteenth time.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery? The Diggs.
27. What did you want and get? Love.
28. What did you want and not get? Stability.
29. What was your favorite film of this year? The Constant Gardener.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I was in Miami, eating out in SouthBeach.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Recycling at BlogHer, less rain, world peace.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Black.
33. What kept you sane? This.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Rick Mercer.
35. What political issue stirred you the most? Everything GWB did.
36. Who did you miss? My mom and dad.
37. Who was the best new person you met? Hmmmm. In person? JenB. and AmandaMandajuice.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006. Life goes by so fast. Learn to be tough on parker, sometimes.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. If you walk away, i'll walk away.
Thank-you and goodbye 2006 – you bastard.
I always feel a little sad when christmas is over. It comes in such a whirlwind. A flurry of activities and preparation. It's hard to be in the moment, to really enjoy the days leading up.
And then it is over. The christmas tree sits empty, dropping it's needles, hiding in the folds of the carpet to be found and vacuumed up for months.
But then there is the calm that comes over the house. The kids sedated and happy to play in their rooms, pouring over all the new treasures. Discovering that one last chocolate in the bottom of their stockings.
I have a pile of books to read. I am enjoying lazy afternoons by the ragtag tree, sipping tea, reading books and playing new board games with the kids.
I am attempting to give myself some good habits, say goodbye to the bad habits that have been my burden this year. Less wine. Less lonely nights by the computer. Long walks in the crisp winter afternoons. Alone. Listening to my thoughts while the day is still bright and the sadness that rages through my body in the evening hasn't taken hold. Earlier to bed. Even if sleep doesn't come.
I hesitate to say that these are resolutions. They're not.
They are like my new necklace. Something to remind me that i am loved, i love and i want to be loved.
And so another holiday is over, another year is almost over.
We have been in a whirlwind of travel and family. On the road since the 22nd with a brief fourteen hour stop at home for christmas morning.
Many houses, many family get-togethers, lovely food, beautiful babies, tired kids, travelling kittens and one too many glasses of mulled wine.
I'm not sure how it all came together, but it did. It has become the best christmas, i think, since i had children. They are a little bit older, a little bit easier to keep entertained and a lot more appreciative of family.
I am sitting looking out at a beautiful harbour surrounded by snowcapped mountains on saltspring island.
Wearing a beautiful necklace that shane gave me, watching my kids play chess and cars. Surrounded by my husbands family who are the friendliest, most beautiful people in my world.
It is nice to just sit. Have the kids run around happy without worrying about dishes and laundry and cooking. We are headed home tomorrow to finish out the holiday week with some organizing and cleaning and relaxing on the couch.
On my way home from vancouver. Happy holidays to all of you.
xxoo
jess
I am busy fighting the flu bug. But thought of a story.
A couple of weeks ago i held a family meeting. I decided it was time to be honest with the kids.
I told them that the medicine i had been taking was to help to make me feel better. That i had been feeling a little overwhelmed and unhappy. That i needed all of their help. That they needed to pull up their socks. Put laundry in the hampers, get in the car on time in the morning, clear their dishes at dinner, feed the dogs.
Nothing too major, just a few small things that can make a huge difference to the overall turmoil in this small house filled with six humans and four animals.
Tristan took it to heart and has blown me away by her kind spirit in the past couple of weeks. She jumps out of bed in the morning, organizes cereal for all the kids, gets parker dressed and then runs down the street to feed the cats she's babysitting. All without me ever saying a word. Every single day.
I can't tell you how proud i am of her. How she took to heart my asking for help and how she, truly, is trying to help.
She is the best christmas present ever.