Hang on, it's December?
G'day all!
How did it get to be halfway through December already? It means we have been in the States for almost a year! Wow, time flies when you are having fun!
I'm hoping this December is not a December when Things Happen.
I believe it was December 2005 when we moved into our house - we bought a nice little place. I thought that move was pretty traumatic, after living in the one rental for nearly eight years. Ha. Little did I know that in 2007 we'd move to the States, Fort Collins in Colorado (a place that I really enjoyed but moving? Nuh-uh).
In December 2007, we had to fly to Canada (only from Colorado, thank heavens) to get new visas for DH's new job. We spent most of a month tooling around there (visiting family I didn't know I had, visiting friends, being given a most generous trip across Canada on the train by DH's parents who had flown across for Christmas with us in Colorado... whoops since we couldn't be in the States any longer...) then flew from Toronto to San Jose in California (and going from snow and ice to sunshine and 15C? Amazing!).
In December 2009, that job had dried up and we flew home to Oz. That was traumatic enough, but then I discovered a most unwelcome lump. That wasn't the best Christmas I've had, but at least we were home with family. 2010 was all about getting treatment and then starting the long slow process of recovery.
In December 2011, we got new visas for DH's new job in the States and prepared to move back to the US.
Actually, I'm seeing a pattern here. I hope to be able to enjoy this December but I'd better watch out next year.
So this has been a sloooow week. The weather has been mostly grey and dull, though we did get some lovely and much needed sunshine yesterday.
Today I caught a ride out to Vashon Island to go to the Seattle Modern Quilt Guild's Christmas sew-in (many thanks to J for driving me!). Vashon really is an island - you have to take a ferry to reach it. The village there has certain things aimed at tourists and I was happy to fall into their traps :-) I even bought some cleaning supplies for a charity that delivers food (and other goods) to families in need. There's also Island Quilter, who were our hosts today. They offered 20% off to anyone there for the quilt guild, which was very nice and a little more fabric may have come home with me... but some is for presents (for me or for others? Both!), so say no more for the moment.
On the way across, I noticed that the hills to the south, far to the south, were snow covered. No snow where we were though. (Mental note to self - buy chains.) Those hills didn't look very high. The forecast this week is for a big storm system to move in with high winds and the possibility of snow down here in the lowlands! Exciting, eh? But more exciting was that I could have this for lunch!
Now let's do a bit of catching up on the old ReVerb for the week.
Day 8: Considering the idea that nothing lasts forever: what was the most important relationship that you fostered in 2012?
How will you continue to nurture it in 2013?
This would have to be my mate L, the person I met way back in Feb at the local garden show (held indoors, of course because hello! Seattle in February!) when I just so happened to hear someone say they live in Ballard. I haven't nurtured our relationship as well as I could've recently but we will get our acts together and catch up a bit more. I'll nurture it with lots of walks and talks and op shopping is likely to happen. (But don't worry, C, I hope to do some more with you too!) I also have to add my bosses back in Oz, for putting up with me working sooo far away.
Day 9: What was the best book you read in 2012, and why?
You know what? I have no clue! I've not read a whole lot of new fiction this year - it's been hard enough keeping up with things. I've re-read a few old favourites though - it seems when I am struggling with adapting to a new place and trying to make sense of where and what I am, I dive back into books that are comfortable, like slipping on a pair of old shoes that make your feet say ahhhh.... I probably also dive back into bad habits. The books that took up residence on my bedside table were "Threshold" by Sara Douglass (alas she has left us) and "Restoree" by Anne McCaffrey (also alas departed). The third book that should be living there is "Pride and Prejudice" but alas it seems it didn't come with me and I may need to buy Yet Another Copy of it (my third? Fourth?). Currently I am re-reading David Brin's "The Uplift War," another old favourite. I know them almost off by heart and it drives DH nuts that I keep reading old favourites - he can't stand reading a book twice - but it seems I need something stable, some degree of old, comfortable to balance out the new and exciting and challenging.
Day 10: What was the greatest risk you took in 2012? What was the outcome?
This one is a no-brainer. Moving back to the States for DH to pursue a new career opportunity. There just aren't too many places that want a chap with his skillset and abilities in Oz. So far - well we are still here and that is all I'll say, though he does seem happier with his work life than he did back home.
Day 11: What was music to your ears in 2012, literally or metaphorically?
Hmm, what was music to my ears? Some of the buskers at the local farmer's market? The guy with his weird string instruments at one of the fairs I went to early this year? The sound of my in-law's accents? Being told that there was no sign of recurrence of my breast cancer? That was pretty good :-)
Day 12: What made you dance in 2012? What made you weep?
What made me dance - my BiL getting married to his long time love. The beauty of this place, the wildflowers on Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens and Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics. The beach, the fall colours.
What made me weep? Leaving family and friends and setting out on a brand new adventure. Grey winter days (ok, maybe not literally). Some other stuff but we won't go into that here.
Day 13: Please post your favourite picture of yourself from 2012, self-portrait or otherwise!
Hmm, well there are two shots I like of me, both taken on the same day, at pretty much the same time.
and
Day 14: what was the most important thing you learned in 2012? How does this learning shape the path going forward?
This one has me bushed. I'm not so much learning stuff as having things reinforced. Staying cool and calm and collected - well trying to - remembering this too shall pass... that sooner or later there will be a sunny day and to keep hanging in there... The most important thing... I really don't know. Nope, no clue. Nothing I've learned has been earth shattering or completely changed my world view.
So was that revealing? Intriguing? Well thought out? Probably not. LOL
How did it get to be halfway through December already? It means we have been in the States for almost a year! Wow, time flies when you are having fun!
I'm hoping this December is not a December when Things Happen.
I believe it was December 2005 when we moved into our house - we bought a nice little place. I thought that move was pretty traumatic, after living in the one rental for nearly eight years. Ha. Little did I know that in 2007 we'd move to the States, Fort Collins in Colorado (a place that I really enjoyed but moving? Nuh-uh).
In December 2007, we had to fly to Canada (only from Colorado, thank heavens) to get new visas for DH's new job. We spent most of a month tooling around there (visiting family I didn't know I had, visiting friends, being given a most generous trip across Canada on the train by DH's parents who had flown across for Christmas with us in Colorado... whoops since we couldn't be in the States any longer...) then flew from Toronto to San Jose in California (and going from snow and ice to sunshine and 15C? Amazing!).
In December 2009, that job had dried up and we flew home to Oz. That was traumatic enough, but then I discovered a most unwelcome lump. That wasn't the best Christmas I've had, but at least we were home with family. 2010 was all about getting treatment and then starting the long slow process of recovery.
In December 2011, we got new visas for DH's new job in the States and prepared to move back to the US.
Actually, I'm seeing a pattern here. I hope to be able to enjoy this December but I'd better watch out next year.
 |
| The Olympics have snow. More snow will have fallen by now and even more by the end of the week! |
So this has been a sloooow week. The weather has been mostly grey and dull, though we did get some lovely and much needed sunshine yesterday.
 |
| Beaches should be sunny, right? |
On the way across, I noticed that the hills to the south, far to the south, were snow covered. No snow where we were though. (Mental note to self - buy chains.) Those hills didn't look very high. The forecast this week is for a big storm system to move in with high winds and the possibility of snow down here in the lowlands! Exciting, eh? But more exciting was that I could have this for lunch!
 |
| Gluten and dairy free fish and chips! :-) |
Day 8: Considering the idea that nothing lasts forever: what was the most important relationship that you fostered in 2012?
How will you continue to nurture it in 2013?
This would have to be my mate L, the person I met way back in Feb at the local garden show (held indoors, of course because hello! Seattle in February!) when I just so happened to hear someone say they live in Ballard. I haven't nurtured our relationship as well as I could've recently but we will get our acts together and catch up a bit more. I'll nurture it with lots of walks and talks and op shopping is likely to happen. (But don't worry, C, I hope to do some more with you too!) I also have to add my bosses back in Oz, for putting up with me working sooo far away.
Day 9: What was the best book you read in 2012, and why?
You know what? I have no clue! I've not read a whole lot of new fiction this year - it's been hard enough keeping up with things. I've re-read a few old favourites though - it seems when I am struggling with adapting to a new place and trying to make sense of where and what I am, I dive back into books that are comfortable, like slipping on a pair of old shoes that make your feet say ahhhh.... I probably also dive back into bad habits. The books that took up residence on my bedside table were "Threshold" by Sara Douglass (alas she has left us) and "Restoree" by Anne McCaffrey (also alas departed). The third book that should be living there is "Pride and Prejudice" but alas it seems it didn't come with me and I may need to buy Yet Another Copy of it (my third? Fourth?). Currently I am re-reading David Brin's "The Uplift War," another old favourite. I know them almost off by heart and it drives DH nuts that I keep reading old favourites - he can't stand reading a book twice - but it seems I need something stable, some degree of old, comfortable to balance out the new and exciting and challenging.
Day 10: What was the greatest risk you took in 2012? What was the outcome?
This one is a no-brainer. Moving back to the States for DH to pursue a new career opportunity. There just aren't too many places that want a chap with his skillset and abilities in Oz. So far - well we are still here and that is all I'll say, though he does seem happier with his work life than he did back home.
Day 11: What was music to your ears in 2012, literally or metaphorically?
Hmm, what was music to my ears? Some of the buskers at the local farmer's market? The guy with his weird string instruments at one of the fairs I went to early this year? The sound of my in-law's accents? Being told that there was no sign of recurrence of my breast cancer? That was pretty good :-)
Day 12: What made you dance in 2012? What made you weep?
What made me dance - my BiL getting married to his long time love. The beauty of this place, the wildflowers on Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens and Hurricane Ridge in the Olympics. The beach, the fall colours.
What made me weep? Leaving family and friends and setting out on a brand new adventure. Grey winter days (ok, maybe not literally). Some other stuff but we won't go into that here.
Day 13: Please post your favourite picture of yourself from 2012, self-portrait or otherwise!
Hmm, well there are two shots I like of me, both taken on the same day, at pretty much the same time.
 |
| Oooh, I can caption Flickr photos now! |
and
 |
| Interesting how the two consecutive pics have such different smiles |
This one has me bushed. I'm not so much learning stuff as having things reinforced. Staying cool and calm and collected - well trying to - remembering this too shall pass... that sooner or later there will be a sunny day and to keep hanging in there... The most important thing... I really don't know. Nope, no clue. Nothing I've learned has been earth shattering or completely changed my world view.
So was that revealing? Intriguing? Well thought out? Probably not. LOL
Great round up! I might nick this. And, dude!! I am a huge Anne McCaffrey fan and Restoree is my fave!! I know exactly what you mean about comfort derived from familiar books. Here's to a boring December!
ReplyDeleteI'm not a fan of Decembers either, weird things happen. I hope yours is a quiet one. It's fun reading your answers. I'll try to find those books at the library. Those fish and chips look delicious!
ReplyDelete