Storytelling Sunday - Party Like It's 1999

This is my entry for Sian's Storytelling Sunday. And yes, I'm a day late. Because yesterday was the One Little Word Blog Hop. For more stories check here.

Do you remember New Year's Eve 1999?  The big Y2K scare? How everyone thought the Internet and our personal computers were set to self-destruct at midnight?

New Year's Eve 1999 was the first year that we allowed our girls to stay up until midnight - to usher in the new millennium.  They amused themselves with television and drawing and board games.  They drank soda and ate popcorn and chips.  We watched the ball drop on Times Square on television.  And miraculously the computer still worked the next morning!

The twelve years since then have flown by.  On New Year's Eve 2011 Rachel was working at the Piper Tavern, Sarah was at a party with friends, and Becca was home, watching television alone and lamenting spending the evening without the boyfriend who broke up with her two days before Christmas. I had a lot of opportunity to practice patience and empathy and my listening skills!  Jay and I waited up until everyone was safely home and then trudged our weary selves off to bed at 12:30 in the morning.

2012 promises to be a year of big changes in our household.  All three girls graduate - two from high school, one from college.  I have no idea what New Year's Eve 2012 will look like here.  I'm ready. But I'm suddenly feeling very nostalgic for 1999...

One Little Word Blog Hop - January Edition

Hello and Welcome to the One Little Word Blog Hop! If you came here from Margie's blog, welcome! You made it to the right place.  Grab a drink and stay awhile! I love visitors!If you are a regular reader, you already know the drill! ;) The entire hop goes live at 8:00 a.m. Pacific (11:00 my time) so if you are early, just check back later to catch everyone!

My one little word for 2011 was "happy".  In retrospect, it was the perfect choice for 2011.  Happy was my constant companion and helped guide me through several very rough patches last year.  It is with some sadness that I bid adieu to happy, but I know it will stay with me and the lessons learned will not be quickly forgotten!

So thank you happy, for a year of allowing me to see the light in the darkness and to focus on gratitude for all the wonderful and awesome in my life!


As I move forward, I am ready for a challenge this year.  Last year "focus" was vying for my attention as my word for the year, but it just felt too heavy - like too much work - and in hindsight, I'm not sure "focus" would have been such a great pal in 2011.  But in 2012, I'm ready for focus.  

In 2012, I'll be focusing on my health - moving, eating well, regaining my strength and hopefully my energy.


In 2012, I'll be focusing on my family and friends. They need me. I need them. I need to pay attention.


In 2012, I'll be focusing on my camera skills - determined that this will be the year I finally understand aperture and f-stops and white balance...


In 2012, I'll be focusing on my photographs - particularly getting them organized and tagged in Lightroom.


In 2012, I'll be focusing on my creativity - that part of me that heals me and keeps me alive!


But mostly in 2012, I'll be focusing on ONE THING AT A TIME!  Yes, time to let go of my adult onset ADD and really learn to single task. It will be my biggest challenge and one I do hope to conquer!


Thanks for stopping by! Your next stop on the hop is Veronica's blog.  And just in case you get lost, here is the entire hop list:

Margie              http://xnomads.typepad.com 

Cheri                  http://cheriandrews.blogspot.com 

Veronica           www.veronicanorris.typepad.com 

Kara                 http://iwannabemewhenigrowup.blogspot.com/ 

Rebekah           http://istampscrapcraft.blogspot.com/ 

Sharyn              http://www.LaVieEnChic.com 

Jill                      http://jillconyers.com 

Lynn                 www.crafty-creativity.blogspot.com

Monica             http://scrapinspired.com/

Lisa                  http://backtoallen.com/writers_blog

Cynthia H          http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com

Lee                   http://thelinarstudio.typepad.com/embracelife/

Abbey              http://athomewiththerichardsfamily.blogspot.com/

Monica B          www.questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com

Nikki                 http://www.inkyart.com.au

Tere                  http://terecontodomicorazon.blogspot.com/

Melissa S          http://blog.mshanhun.com

Nicky                http://seejanebake.blogspot.com

Stephanie         http://www.scrapworthylives.com/

Jenn L               www.studiojenn.blogspot.com

Cindy                http://seriousplay.typepad.com

Amanda            http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com

Sam            http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com/

Jan                   http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com

Jamie               http://jmpgirl.blogspot.com

Karen                http://breathenowsmile.blogspot.com/


And many thanks to Margie - our fearless One Little Word blog hop leader - for keeping this going so that we all have incentive to stay up-to-date with our One Little Word albums!  I've finished off my 2011 pages, started 2012, and am looking forward to what this year has to bring!

Time to Catch My Breath

Have you missed me?  It's rare that I go a full two weeks without a single post.  But sometimes life happens that way.

December has been insanely busy.  And I've been sick since December 1st.  With the never-ending knock-you-on-your-ass head cold.

I normally have about one day every other week out of the house (in the office or traveling for work).  This month I have been away from home two days per week - every week.  For those of you who work 5 days a week away from home, this may seem like no big deal.  To me, it has been exhausting.

I had a 14 hour day traveling to/from and attending a Continuing Legal Education Seminar in Philadelphia.

Followed by a 1/2 day of jury duty during which I never left the  juror's lounge.

Despite being sick, I've had 5 days of meetings in the office.

And my company holiday party.

Despite being sick, I launched a huge records retention project this month. A project I'm in charge of... and sweating over...

Despite being sick, Christmas presents were purchased,

yes... from the comfort of my computer chair!

And they were  wrapped.  I finally finished yesterday!

We've have several frosty days.  Mixed in with a lot of unseasonably warm.

We haven't had snow since that freak storm in October.

I've been sleeping - a LOT.

Despite being sick, Christmas cards and a newsletter were created.

Envelopes were addressed.

Cards were mailed. Later than normal for me, but done.

Despite being sick, I started a Tai Chi class.

Despite being sick, the Christmas tree was put up and decorated.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

Our Christmas Eve boxes have been filled (new pjs and ornaments).

Despite being sick, laundry was washed and groceries were purchased, meals were made, and life went on.

But... because I was sick...

... what you see on this blog post is literally all the pictures I've shot this entire month!

... I'm behind on all of my online courses.

... not a single JYC/December Daily page has been created and I think I may need to just let it go this year.

... I haven't been blogging.  I haven't been commenting much, but I  HAVE been reading your blogs and keeping up to date!

Yes, life does go on with or without me.  I'm as ready for Christmas now as I can be. And ready to enjoy a week off work and some time to slow down.  And catch my breath.  And maybe create a little.  I'm ready to leave 2011 behind.  I'm ready to embrace 2012 with open arms.

I wish for each and every one of you a blessed Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.  See you soon!

Just a Quote for Friday

All the art of living lies in a fine mingling
of letting go and holding on.
~Arthur Miller

Storytelling Sunday - on Grandparents

This really isn't much of a story - more just an acknowledgement.  I think that grandparents play a very important role in a child's life. So I was grateful to have these people in my life:

Grandma and Grandpa Rice were not actually my grandparents. They were an elderly couple that happened to live in the downstairs apartment of a two-flat in Chicago. We lived in the upstairs apartment. At the time of these photos, I was 6 1/2, Deanna (the little red head in the center photo) was 2 1/2, and Jerry was just turning 1.  The other boy in the photos is my cousin Geoff.

But back to the Rice's... other than occupying the same apartment building, this couple had no ties to our family.  Yet they chose to informally adopt our young family and fill in as grandparents in a home where all the biological grandparents had either died or lived far away in other states.

I honestly know nothing about the Rice's, other than the last name. And that they were wonderful loving people who fulfilled a needed role in the lives of three young children for a time.

Seeing these photos reminded me of the saying "People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime... Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy."  


The Rice's were definitely in my life for a season and gave me the opportunity to experience the kind of love that only grandparents are capable of offering. When I came across these photos recently, I knew I needed to document these special people who were an important part of my life for a season. 


For more of Storytelling Sunday, visit Sian's Blog From High in the Sky.  There's already 27 other bloggers with stories to share!

Just a Quote for Friday

Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities
no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and with
too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.  ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

One Little Word Blog Hop - December Edition

Well... it's that time again.  And I'm so proud of myself that I've mostly kept up with this class all year!  Seriously considering doing it again next year and just continuing in this same album.  The One Little Word Class is taught by Ali Edwards and offered through Big Picture Classes. It is running again next year - just opened up for registration - and it is only $36 for the full year!

So, somehow in November I didn't end up on the blog list.  I didn't realize until I was going to bed last night that I had never received the final email from Margie, so it was too late to follow up with her and get added.  But I'm joining in anyway! :)

November's prompt was a series of "i" statements. Which really caused me to sit down and think seriously about where I was with my word this late in the year.

I used leftover scraps from my November progress chart to fill in the blank spots.

 a couple close ups....

and finally, my progess chart for the month - photographed half way through the 29th.

I actually wrote down was I grateful for EVERY day this month!

For more One Little Word Inspiration, check out the entire blog hop.  Here's the list:

    

Margie   http://xnomads.typepad.com
Julie Ann    http://julieannshahin2.blogpsot.com
Jill        http://jillconyers.typepad.com
Monica B    http://questtoperfectimperfection.blogspot.com
Nikki        http://www.inkyart.com.au
Debra    http://blakleyhomeplace.blogspot.com
Amanda    http://scrappnbee.blogspot.com
Sam        http://learncreatedo.wordpress.com
Lynn        http://crafty-creativity.blogspot.com
Cynthia    http://paperpapereverywhere.blogspot.com
Jan        http://mysimplelittlelife.typepad.com
Jenn        http://studiojenn.blogspot.com
Cindy    http://seriousplay.typepad.com
LIsa        http://backtoallen.com