What a Year it’s Been
On December 23rd in the year of our Lord 2010 I posted my first ever blog post. It was the first step to the wildest ride of my life. I hope it doesn’t end anytime soon! It started out as a chronicle of my road to involuntary retirement. But that was only the beginning. I learned a lot this first year about blogging and writing. The WordPress community is full of friendly and supportive people. I was honored with a Freshly Pressed in January 2011, and received a several nominations for Versatile Blogger. One of the many things I want to do in 2012 is get of my behind and give back via nominations to bloggers and commentors who inspire and encourage me.
January through April of 2011 was the last four months of my job. Marking time, waiting for it to be over. There wasn’t much to do those last 4 months. Many of my posts during those months were written at work. All I had to do all day was sat at my computer and bang away. Nobody asked what I was doing because it didn’t matter a whole lot. On my last day at work I threw my stuff in the car and left. That was that. I don’t miss it. Really, I don’t.
Immediately I took off on a train trip to Seattle with my Mom and sister. That was a hoot and a half and fodder for many posts. Then came the long summer of my discontent. What to do with myself. What to do… 40 years of the 9 to 5 fried my mischief bone and I had no clue how to go on. Still wrestling with that one.
The Cosmos handed me a project in the form of a 23-year-old grandson who came to live with us. He was in trouble with substance abuse. He stayed here for 3 months. Mr. Husband and I put 30 pounds on the kid. He was an interesting and expensive pass time. While he was here I took him to every doctor in the Dallas Fort Worth area. At least that’s what it seemed like. The diagnosis was he was as healthy as a horse.
September found me on a road trip with my mother. We went to Yellowstone National Park, and Mt. Rushmore. We had a blast. And Mom and I hadn’t spent time alone like that since….well never. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I took temporary leave of my sanity November and decided to join the NaNoWriMo challenge for National Novel Writing Month. My novel turned out to be too much like a memoir and I practically had nervous breakdown in the process. I don’t recommend a 30 day forced march through one’s psyche and past. It’s no wonder they stress that a novel is supposed to be FICTION. I’m still working on my book but, it will be nothing like it started out to be.
And now here we are on the last day of December. I made it through the holiday season with nothing worse that a head cold. I hope everyone out there in Blogolopolis had a wonderful season. I also wish us all a wonderful 2012 full of new horizons and exciting adventures.
Happy New Year and big hugs and kisses to one and all.
Just for the fun of it, below is a list of most viewed posts of 2011:
DVD Hoarders Anonymous
A Squirrel Ate My Car
I-Like-Big-Steaks and I Can Not Lie
Just Smack Me With a Hammer
News Flash -Texas Declares Independence From Mexico
Never Cutteth Thine Own Hair
Ejected From the New Age Movement
Last Night in Seattle
Seattle Skyline Art
Last night in Seattle. Trying to fit everything back in our suitcase. We don’t want to leave. It’s been so wonderful. We could stay here for months and not got to all the venues, art galleries, music clubs, restaurants. All the people we met have been friendly, willing to help out, share inside tips. Going to miss them all. But all good things come to an end.
It’s hard to say good-bye to people you will probably never see again. But grateful our paths crossed. Everyone has a story to tell.
Tomorrow we are back on the train for an overnighter down Sacramento. We change trains and catch another going over the mountains to Reno. Should be a beautiful scenic trip if all goes well.
Reno will be a whole different atmosphere. We’re staying at a huge Casino. I may do a spa do to recuperate for all the running around we’ve been doing. Yea that’s the ticket.
The Alley Less Travelled
Bubble Gum Wall Seattle
Seattle is a fascinating town. Way more that I imagined it would be. My cousin, who lives here, is an angel. She is herding us here and there. Some of the out-of-the-way places are a hoot. Yesterday we went to the gum wall. Artistic and sort of icky at the same time. We examined it closely, but didn’t touch it.
Fabulous lunch today at a Sushi slash Tiki bar. Interesting combination of flavors. Our waiter was friendly in an air head sort of way. He brought us the check and disappeared without taking payment. About 30 minutes later he ran in the front door. (never saw him leave) We asked him to take our payment and he said “oh shit” and mumbled something about petting a dog. OK, whatever, just let us out of here soon or it will be time to order dinner.
Mr. Husband has been living up while I’m gone. He went to a Mavericks game. Tomorrow a rangers game and then dinner with his mom.
Happy Mother’s day to all you mothers out there.
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I’m a woman of a certain age living and loving in Texas. Can’t get real specific because I’m a work in process. I Like to read sci-fi, steampunk and historical fiction, travel all over the planet, stay home on rainy days, go shopping in the middle of the night, and stay be in bed when I should be doing something.
Pampered Chef – Laurie Diltz
