Dudes, that was a really effing good movie. Perhaps I needed a good cry, because LORD, I cried. I’m a crier in general, but I realized that I almost never watch anything alone, and when I cry in front of others, I try to keep some dignity. But I was alone, and I just let it go. Injustice is one of those things that just sets off my waterworks, and with no one around to judge, I just sobbed and sobbed.

Anyway, I loved it. You should watch it. Everyone who is nominated for Oscars for that movie should win.

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?

I tried roller derby. That’s pretty badass, right? Perhaps I should update you. I’m not doing it anymore. I didn’t have the time for all of the practices as I’d feared, and then they moved their practice space from to Tacoma to AUBURN (about 40 minutes away). That sort of made it not doable anymore. But it was super fun! And fucking terrifying!

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions?


Welll…. kinda sorta. I made a goal to do one race per month for all of 2011 and there were a couple of months where that didn’t happen due to sickness or injury. But I’m still proud of the ones I did do!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?


I don’t think so? I did have a new baby cousin born just at the end of the year, and I have 12, TWELVE pregnant friends and relations right now.

4. Did anyone close to you die?


Yes. I lost an old friend this year, way way too young, and very suddenly. *sigh*

5. What countries did you visit?

Just Mexico. Oh, how the call of International travel is strong, but it’s becoming ever-more clear to me that small boys and lengthy travel don’t mix. That said, we went to New York twice, Las Vegas (just me), Indiana, Mexico, and Florida. Not bad!

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?

I’m so so so crazy blessed, but a touch more financial security would be nice.

7. What events from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? (strict followers of this quiz will notice I have re-written this question)

2011 was a very joyful year for me. Highlights would include being a part of a Birthday Flash Mob, throwing a really good summer party, The Doe Bay Fest, and really just music in general. I saw A LOT of good shows in 2011. I am so blessed to live in such a rich music community.

Also, I was off work for most of this summer, and for the first time in a few years, I really felt like we seized the days. We had lots of great adventures this summer, in nature, visiting friends, riding ferries, and soaking it all up. I didn’t even feel that sad when summer came to an end this year because we had really really lived it.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


Maintaining optimum health and all of the exercise and cooking that entails.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Running my mouth, indulging in negativity, spending too much time looking at screens, allowing my child too much TV, I could go on and on. Such is the curse of the continual self-improver.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Nothing worth mentioning.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I can’t think of anything in particular.

12. Where did most of your money go?

Food. Organic, grass-fed, free range, fairy sprinkled, things to eat. Or, as your grandparents called it, Food. (as the joke goes)

13. What did you get really excited about?

MUSIC. Always. But ask most anyone to whom regularly blather, I got pretty excited by The No Heat Curls.

14. What song will always remind you of 2011?

Firework by Katy Perry due to the aforementioned Flash Mob, Windowsill by Pickwick

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:

– happier or sadder? Happier, always happier.
– thinner or fatter? a little thinner, a little more fit
– richer or poorer? poorer for sure.

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?


Yardwork. My jungle is overwhelming us.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?


Wasting time on the internets.

18. How did you spend Christmas?

We all went to my parent’s house for dinner and games and fun on Christmas Eve, spent the night, then stayed and ate and played with new toys for most of the day. I love my family! Also, this year included my sister’s new boyfriend for all of the festivities which was lovely.

19. What was your favorite TV program?

Boardwalk Empire (that finale!), Breaking Bad (THAT FINALE!), True Blood

20. What were your favorite books of the year?

The Passage by Justin Cronin was the best thing I read by far. I can’t even think of anything else I enjoyed half as much. Though, I did finally read Atonement and I loved it. (I had been avoiding it because of Kiera Knightly, which makes no sense at all.)

21. What was your favorite music from this year?


The incredible wealth of great music of the PNW. HOLLA. Pickwick, Campfire OK, Allen Stone, Bryan John Appleby being my faves and most often seen.

22. What were your favorite films of the year?

Oh jeez. I just don’t see movies anymore. Oh! I liked Crazy, Stupid Love.

23. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I was 35. We had a lovely weekend away in Portlandia filled with fine dining, plush accommodations, and a rock and roll show. Pretty much perfect.

24. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

I hate to beat a dead horse, but maybe a big fat savings account. Even if I couldn’t have spent a dime, it would have given me peace to know it was there. I’ll have one again one day.

25. Did you make any fashion discoveries in 2011? (rewritten question)

Skinny jeans and tall boots, finally. I don’t think they’re going away, and turns out I can rock ‘em.

26. What kept you sane?

The proximity and availability of two grandmothers who care for my boy with great regularity.

27. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.


I made great advances with thought control this year. I am a stewer. I stew. I ruminate. I go over conversations in my mind, I rehearse imaginary fights, and I can get sucked down pretty easily into a place where I can’t see the light of my crazy blessedness. But this year I worked a lot on wishing people Love and Light instead of karmic destruction. When I would start to get worked up over someone else’s deal, I would repeat loveandlight loveandlight loveandlight until I was thinking about something more positive. When I would start to get afraid of anything, money or sickness or whatever, I would replace my fearful thoughts with grateful thoughts. It may sound silly, and I’m telling you, it’s difficult, but it works for me and I’m so glad to have learned this little skill.

Well friends, once again, thanks for reading. It’s so very nice of you.

Well. I promise I’m not exaggerating when I say that within the first 30 seconds the Girl told the Boy to shuttup, in the snottiest tone possible. Clark GASPED. Then he goes, “MAMA. She said shut up!” We had a little talk about how that’s not a nice word and I just walked away. Yes, I could have shut it off, but that would have resulted in hysterics I was not feeling like enduring.

Later that night, out of nowhere, Clark tells me, “I said shuttup at preschool.”

Awesome.

Me: “Oh no, Clarkie. That’s not a nice word. Who did you say it to?”*

Clark: “…”

Me: “Did Teacher Jill have anything to say about it?”

Clark: “…”

GAH. Toddlers. AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?? FOR FECKS SAKE.

* I’m fairly certain, “To whom did you say it” would have yielded similar results.

Yes, there is. Please enjoy these photos from our trip to Florida to visit the inlaws while I use my internet time more responsibly. *sigh*

This weekend of awesome was brought to you largely by easy and convenient access to grandparents and a touch more child abandonment than usual.

We got to see two shows! My current faves, Campfire OK and Pickwick at the City Arts Fest in Seattle. Both shows were fantastic, as uzsh. (Those linkies go to super sweet videos, should you be interested.)

Clark and I waved signs for our friend Erik who is running to retain his seat on the Metro Parks board. Clarkie and his fireman’s hat really upped our game and resulted in more honking, I’m sure. (BTW, what LOVELY photos of Erik on that website!)

I had brunch with my Seattle ladies at the incredible Sitka and Spruce. I enjoyed every bite, and the setting is gorgeous. I highly recommend it for locals, or anyone wanting to experience a bit of Portlandia and Colin the chicken. It is defo that sort of place.

Saturday night, my T-Town peeps and I had the great pleasure of dining with an old Tacoma celebrity, whom I shan’t name so that I can write what I want. We bid on Dinner with Said Celebrity at an auction, and of course my peeps, movers and shakers all, were totes down. We arrived at the fancy address, the elevator opened into her palace, and there was a dude there with a silver tray and our first of many drinks. We proceeded to schmooze and enjoy the ridiculous 360 degree view, and then she told us a story of old Tacoma involving the mafia. I was SO EXCITED that this was exactly what I was picturing! Fanciness! Good stories! And then… she disappeared. We were seated for dinner and I whispered to one of the servers, “Is she coming back?” to which he said, ” I don’t think so. I think she’s checking her email.” We had a great time, of course, but uh… I’m not really sure what to think. I assembled a group of young sparkly folks who all work to better Tacoma in some way, and thought we would be great dinner company, but alas. When you are that old and that cool, I guess you do what you want.

SB and I went on to PG to laugh and discuss the evening. It was early still. When we got home, our neighbors were having a party, so we hung out over there until far too late. This evening became, as I’m sure you can tell, another dance with the demon liquor that I regretted horribly the next day, but oh well. I had a good time. Though, occasionally something loud or flamboyant or involving singing resurfaces, and I have to flush it out right away with a violent shake of the head.

Then the next morning, SB went to go collect the child and I got busy prepping for the brunch we hosted for some friends whom we haven’t seen in forever, and rely too heavily on the facebooks to remain connected. It was utterly delightful. Afterwards we went for a walk around the neighborhood, which is my favorite thing to do with Seattleites. I can’t help showing off my Tacoma.

The Mountain looked beautiful from Tacoma as well, but way out there, you could see snowflakes and wrinkles.

I hadn’t been to Northwest Trek since I was a kid and had NO IDEA how awesome it is! This is not a zoo. Check it. This is the coyote exhibit:

It’s like walking in the forest out there. Like, the ACTUAL forest.

We were also treated to an exceptional tram tour. Our guide kept telling us how lucky we were to be seeing so many of the animals up close. I think even they were thrilled about today’s stellar weather.

It was just a lovely day all around. Locals, don’t let the drive dissuade you. Just do it. You won’t be sorry!

Ahhh…..

I came across these clothes in bag I was using for summer adventures and it occurred to me all of a sudden that I don’t carry around an extra set of clothes for the boy anymore. I was just doing that, what, three weeks ago? And also, these pants are too small now. The boy. He grows.

A couple of days ago, I ran the trails at Pt. Defiance for the first time ever by myself. I’ve never done it before, not because I was afraid I would be attacked or anything like that, but because I was afraid of getting lost. And not like, lost forever lost, but like, “Oh no! I have come out of this trail and I can see this is the road, I guess I’ll just run back to the car” and end up having to run 5 extra miles because I don’t realize I am 200 yards from my car in the other direction. But the trails are marked and I just finally sucked it up and did it and it was awesome and I am so proud of myself.

And just because, if we are bookface friends, you know I’ve been blathering about mah new iphone, but check out this picture I took last night WITH MY PHONE:

yes i love technology…alwayth and forevrrrr…

Everyone wants a derby update, but for some reason, it’s hard to write about it. To you, someone who is not attending derby practices, I am indeed someone who does derby. But to people who do derby, I am NOT someone who does derby. Do you know what I mean? It’s more like just trying not to get smeared all the time, and not draw any attention to myself. We do this one drill where we all skate around the track in a line very fast and when you are at the end of the line you have to weave in and out of everyone, while not crashing and still going forward and someone is chasing you and everyone is shouting and OHMYGOD that is not my favorite part of practice. So yes, I actually made the team. Well, the league, and team drafts are later this month. I’m having a really good time and I’ve managed not to get hurt, but I’m just waiting for someone to notice that a) I still suck and b) I don’t show up often enough, and kick me out. To be on a team you have to attend a minimum of 8 practices a month, but they don’t really mean it. You could go to a different practice or event every night of the week, and since I don’t, I feel guilty, blah blah blah. Anyway, yes I’m doing derby, but no, you can’t come watch any time soon.

Remember back in May when I started my enforced, end of contract, 100 days off? Well, I loved every minute of that time, but now it’s time to find another job, and as everyone knows, that blows. On the plus side, I am still off work! So I’m getting lots of shit done. Pretty much every corner of my house is clean and organized, even parts I never intended to touch. For example, we have a Harry Potter closet that I have never gone more than about 2 feet into because of darkness and dust and spiders and boogey men, but with SB’s help, it is now completely de-creep-ified, and I plan to spend the rest of naptime applying shelf paper and filling organizational bins. HOTT. (I’m serious)

Speaking of the boy, he is SO AWESOME right now. Yes, yes, there is the occasional epic tantrum but otherwise, he is happy, delightful, and dare I say it, POTTY TRAINED. Yeah-ah!

So, that about covers it. What’s up with you?

It’s described as “down-tempo trip hop” which is usually not my bag, but this stuff makes me wanna do some shots and dance in my yoga clothes. Or perhaps that’s revealing too much about my typical Saturday night.