Well, the brain freeze is starting to wear off, after two weeks of not writing a word except the occasional (brief) email. Apparently, cramming an entire month's worth of work into a scant two weeks just doesn't inspire me to put fingers to keyboard for any reason. Loved the last two weeks of the year, however, without any work related responsibilities and nothing but time to do whatever. With whomever, except when they, poor souls, were working.
Other things that stood out about 2004:
* Getting paid a dollar a word (yes, that includes the word 'a') for a story for a magazine called Pure Canada
* Being published in The Globe and Mail
* Training for a marathon, to raise money for the Arthritis Society
* Quitting marathon half-way in because money wasn't raising
* Discovering blogs
* The Canadian Association of Journalists conference in Vancouver, which introduced me to numerous styles and approaches that had never crossed my mind before
* Finding the motorbike chick that lurked deep, deep within
* Kyle
* A madcap weekend in June with Dionne and Alicia
* A most excellent daytrip adventure to Vancouver and back with Adeja and Kyle
* Shannon and Dean's Mayne Island wedding weekend
* The True Connections experience and learning to open up
* Opening up
* Kyle (Yes, again. That was before, this is after)
I've omitted the couple of bumps and jolts interspersed between the good stuff, mostly because I'm not THAT open yet. But fortunately the good outweighed the bad last year (can't believe it's already "last year") and I'm looking forward to a bright and buoyant 2005. Here are some resolutions that I hope will get me there:
* Limit working hours to 8-10 a day (as opposed to, oh, 16)
* Start every morning with 1) a devotional and 2) some form of exercise
* Focus this year on relationships (romantic as well as friends and family) and spiritual growth, not just career
* Stop nickel/diming and save for something big, like a trip
* Drive across Canada, all the way to St. John's, this year for SURE
* Put things away where they belong as soon as I'm finished with them - or at least at the end of the day
Well, that's enough to break me back in - at least for now. Anything you'd like to add?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
2 comments:
2004... by Chinese calendar was the year of the Monkey (green monkey actually, but not a real green monkey, that’s cruel) and what a year it was! Some of the highlights for me:
* Musical talent getting better, even if just a little.
* Besides the odd project, managed to drop freelance gig and “try” to focus on painting.
* Built an Appalachian dulcimer by hand.
* Earned an extra week of vacation time.
* Excellent riding season, even if it was cut short by a month.
* Fabulous solo ride to Vancouver in June.
* Excellent day trip to Vancouver with LA and Adeja in August.
* Invited to design for the IMA in Australia for several months and had an outstanding experience there (list is too long), even though I was trounced by a wallaby (not that I’m still bitter about that)...
* Topping the list of highlights is without doubt, a certain author of this blog who really made the year for me and thinking about it, was there during many of the best times during 2004.
So where will 2005 take me?
* Come summer, all the way to St. John’s with the best road trip companion I can think of.
* Back to the canvas on a regular basis and develop a new body of work to begin submitting to galleries and universities.
* Begin reading more regularly as well (and not just junk).
* Practice like mad on my classical guitars.
* Perhaps begin building that 16th century Baroque guitar I have plans for.
* Keep a journal.
* Take more extended lunch hours at work because, why not?
* Wake up earlier (coincides with the year of the rooster after all) and eat healthier, including breakfast everyday!
* Devote more time for L-A, family and close friends.
* Be grateful for, and not take for granted, what’s really important.
2004:
- Snagged 2nd food column so now I can call myself syndicated, although not often with a straight face.
- Didn't win Journey Prize. Won lesser prize that led to things good, anyway.
- Read some really great books, the best of which was A Complicated Kindness (Miriam Toews).
- Discovered some things are not worth continuing, no matter how much has been sacrificed already.
- Turned 30.
- Recovered some elements of Christmases lost.
2005:
- Recover from 2004.
- Excise clutter; in life, in house.
- Publication in literary anthology (or whenever release date is announced).
- Sign book contract, begin editory collaboration, for own anthology (if all fates - and Thistledown Press - smile).
Post a Comment