Wherein I Am Late to the Party, As Usual

Jan 11, 2011

I'm having a hard time, these days, coming up with anything to write. So, I'll just steal Leah's year-end meme.  And I realize we are already 11 days into the new year, but the words, they are eluding me these days. Also, I'm reminded that last year was "Reboot 2010," and I think I managed to do just that. Anyway:

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
 Attended BlogHer in New York. Visited (a little) New York City. Played drums (badly.)

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?


I'm not big on resolutions, though I do like to have a word or theme for the year. Last year it was Reboot 2010. This year, Peace. So far, I'm kinda failing on the peace agenda, though I did kick my Diet Coke habit. So there's that.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One of my college roommates had a little boy, and the other roommate is pregnant and due in February. It's kinda blowing my mind.

4. Did anyone close to you die?


Not this year.

5. What countries did you visit?


Just the United States, but I managed to hit an amazing number of those states during the last half of the year. My mind boggles at the travel I've been doing.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More patience and a thicker skin. I might be waiting a long time for those two virtues.

7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
8/2/10 was my last day at Apple, after eight years there. And those eight years were something else - from the days when it looked like the company wouldn't survive to, well, the juggernaut it has become. I'm proud to have been a part of it all, proud to have made a difference, and I'll miss it.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?


Landed a new job after a rather grueling interview experience. If you've ever been Topgraded, you know. And if you haven't been Topgraded, try to avoid it.

9. What was your biggest failure?
The temporary falling-out with my sister. I regret that.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I was stricken with the flu during my new hire training week. It was all I could do to remain upright. I'm sure I infected half the company. Sorry, guys.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
The Mini Cooper. SO. MUCH. FUN. TO. DRIVE! And, also, the drum kit. SO. MUCH. FUN. TO. PLAY!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My husband, who put up with my mild depression earlier in the year, who celebrated new hobbies with me, who endured that grueling interview process, and who celebrated with me every step of the way. That man is a keeper.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?


 Pleading the fifth here.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Besides the mortgage? Good food and cheap wine. We made a conscious effort in 2010 to eat more organically and to select naturally raised meat and poultry. It has been worth it.

15. What did you get really excited about?
BlogHer in New York! The Mini Cooper! A red drum kit! A new job!

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Seven Bridges Road by The Eagles. Because we saw them live, and they opened with this song, which they rarely sing but has always been a favorite of mine. I like to believe they sung it just for me.

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

--happier or sadder? Happier, considering the near-crippling depression of last winter. But not nearly as happy as I thought I'd be, which is kinda sad.
--thinner or fatter? About the same, actually, though I feel healthier.
--richer or poorer? Richer, by a little. But no amount of income will ever erase that feeling from childhood that money is scarce and we're on the brink of financial ruin. I know it's not true, but it's there in the back of my mind just the same.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?


Play.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?


Whine.

20. How did you spend Christmas?


Hanging out with our families, including a three-hour midnight karaoke marathon wherein I sang all the songs (and I don't sing in front of people. ever.), an epic nerf-gun battle with my dad, brother, and nephews, the gift of music for my side of the family, and a lovely road trip with my darling husband.

21. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Every single day.

22. What was your favorite TV program?


We only get basic cable, because it keeps the cost of our internet service down. But we rented and watched the entire series, My Name Is Earl. Loved it. And I have no idea how we missed it when it was originally on TV. Go figure.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?


Nope.

24. What was the best book you read?
My favorite books of the year were the Sunday Philosophy Club and 44 Scotland Street series written by Alexander McCall Smith. I loved their gentle humor and irony, and I loved the tenderness of human interaction. They're something special.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

First is my unadulterated joy from learning the drums. I am fascinated at how time flies when I'm playing. And second would have to be Iron Maiden. Don't laugh! Husband has been a fan for years, and I've just never seen the appeal. Then, he found an acoustic, Spanish-guitar version of one of their songs....and suddenly! I got it! I really get their music now. And I like it. So there.

26. What did you want and get?
A drum kit. The Mini Cooper. A new job.

27. What did you want and not get?
I'm pretty spoiled. But I wanted things for my husband. We're working on those now.

27a. What did you not want and not get?
How about "what did you not want and still get?" instead. An allergic reaction to my allergy shots, that's what.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I can't really think of a favorite film for 2010. There's nothing that stands out in my mind - mostly because we only went to the theater maybe twice all year.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 37 in September and spent Labor Day weekend in San Francisco. Seeing the city and visiting my in-laws. It was exactly what I wanted.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Seriously? A lot of satisfying things happened this year, so much so that I'm a little embarrassed by how fortunate I've been. Immeasurably more satisfying? Probably more chocolate truffles.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Mostly jeans and t-shirts, till I got that new job. Now it's conservative suits and heals for work, and jeans and t-shirts for everything else. That's not really a "fashion concept." It's more like the daily uniform. Whatever.

32. What kept you sane?


Husband, drum kit, xanax. In that order. Seriously.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have an intellectual crush on a world famous drummer. I'm not saying more than that.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?


We talked a lot, and passionately, about health care reform and immigration. I have strong opinions about both, which don't necessarily fall into either of the current political ideologies.

35. Who did you miss?


I miss my grandmother. A lot.

36. Who was the best new person you met?

 
I met Pam in person for the first time, though we've been online friends for years. And April, who was a surprise instant friend and BlogHer roomie.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
I feel like I keep learning the same things over and over, which probably means I'm not getting the lesson the first go round. As always: Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not proud. Love is slow to anger. Love endures all things.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.


A chance to break from the past / The caravan thunders onward / Stars winking through the canvas hood / On my way at last / In a world where I feel so small / I can’t stop thinking big

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A (Mostly) Complete List of Jennifer's Irrational Fears

Dec 30, 2010

Ice skating. I know I'll fall down, and I think someone will unintentionally skate over my exposed fingers and cut them off.

Shopping carts behind me. I expect them to ram into the backs of my ankles and render me bloodied and bruised.

Snakes. This is actually a totally rational fear, sorta. It's not rational to fear snakes in glass cages at the zoo.

Barefoot at the airport. Ring worm, bacteria, shards of glass, canine fecal matter, hypodermic needles, and God only knows what else. Actually, this fear makes total sense.

Large crowds. They press in on you, sucking up all the oxygen, and then they touch you - whether intential or not doesn't matter. They bump into you. They yell in your one good ear. They spill their sticky beverage down your favorite dress. And then you have a full blown panic attack and might pass out.

Raw oysters. It's a texture thing. Also, Guillaume-Barre.

A sinkful of dishwater. Gives me a gag reflex every time.

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A Little More Introspection

Dec 22, 2010

Some more thoughts inspired by the www.Reverb10.com prompts:

9. Party. Which social gathering rocked your socks off in 2010?
BlogHer, obviously, leads the list of great parties of the past year - thanks to time spent with friends, visiting a new city, and all that. But I have to confess that my husband and I kept an extremely active social calendar this summer, with something going on almost every weekend from May to October. This year has been fun! And I really hope we continue the trend. Because my anxiety level needs all the fun it can get.

10. Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year and how did it play out?
Well, I think the wisdom started last December when we decided to Reboot in 2010. It's been an entire year of personal evaluation and exploration, but I don't think it stops here. 2011 looks to be as filled with new experiences as 2010 has been, and I can hardly wait to see what the year holds.

13. Action. When it comes to aspirations, it’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen. What’s your next step?
"I have no idea" is probably the wrong answer here. But I must confess, I feel completely ill-prepared to take the Baptist Wine Club to the next level. Whatever that looks like. This summer I moved that blog to a Wordpress site, which has resulted in more traffic and some attention from wineries and their PR agencies. All of which is wonderful. But I really don't know what to do next. "Build it and they will come" is a great dream, but requires a lot more than just a dream. Any tips?

17. Lesson Learned. What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year?
This past July, I interviewed for and won a new job. The interview process itself was excruciatingly detailed, and often felt mildly intrusive. Having to reflect on your entire work life from college forward and to critically evaluate your performance at each step - that was hard work. But I learned that I have a strong, determined character, that I'm aggressive and competitive, and that I set higher standards for personal performance than what most others would expect. I am hard on myself. But that only works for a while before you start caving under the weight of your own expectations. I'd like to work on being a little more self-forgiving. I don't know if it's possible, though.

I might post some more Reverb10 responses next week. I'm not sure - they feel increasingly more reflective and I may not be able to bravely share my thoughts. Sigh. We'll see.

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In Which I Reexamine the Past Year. A Little.

Dec 9, 2010

I've been quietly following the responses to the Reverb10.com prompts, and thought I'd add a few of my own:

1. One Word for 2010. One word for 2011.
This year has been about CHANGE more than anything else. It started last December with a commitment to Reboot 2010, and hasn't let up. There's been a new job, of course, but also new hobbies, new travel, more activity, and less rest. I'd like to see 2011 be a peaceful year, and not just meaning less change. I want to cultivate PEACE in my relationships, in my career, in my home.

3. Moment. Describe one moment during which you felt most alive.
Sitting in a restaurant on the Florida coast, on the terrace, looking at the ocean. The moon was rising through pirate clouds and the wind was a caress on my cheek. Palm fronds rustled overhead, and one lonely seagull cried in the night. The smell of hot pizza drifted toward me, as I sipped a glass of red wine. And I stopped mid-motion, overcome with a sense that all was right in the world, that today is a perfect day, everything will be just fine. Peace.

4. Wonder. How did you cultivate a sensor of wonder this hear.
Drum lessons. I feel like a child everytime I sit down at my kit. It's play, but I'm learning a new talent. And I marvel that something as simple as hitting things with sticks can provide so much sheer joy.

8. Beautifully different. Reflect in the things that make you different; you'll find they're what make you beautiful.
I have found this prompt most difficult to answer. Mainly because I've never found myself particularly beautiful. Pretty maybe, but not beautiful. Still, I know what I like about myself. I have a quirky sense of humor that sometimes confuses people, but which makes me laugh. I ask difficult questions, especially about faith, and I really try to work out the answers. I'm skeptical, stubborn, opinionated. I don't think any of these things make me different, but at least they make life interesting. Oh, and I have really pretty green eyes.

You could try a few of the prompts too. They're all listed at www.rerverb10.com/the-prompts/

Have fun.

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I've Been Everywhere, Man

Dec 7, 2010

Yeah, so like two months got away from me. Bet you'd like to know what I've been up to.

I've been to:
North Carolina
Houston, Texas (twice)
South Florida
Atlanta, Georgia
South Carolina
San Diego, California
Dallas, Texas

Plus there was the Thanksgiving trip to Conroe/Willis. And a few days here in lovely Austin.

I am tired. But I'm inspired by the end-of-year writing prompts from www.Reverb10.com. I think I'll share some of my answers over the next three weeks.

Thanks for being patient and not giving up on this weary traveler.

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I Miss My Grandmother

Oct 6, 2010

Had shrimp & grits for dinner tonight, with spicy sausage and fresh tomatoes. Only thing missing was the red-eye gravy and a homemade biscuit.

I really REALLY REALLY miss her.

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See? Told Ya.

Sep 29, 2010

Smallest plane ever:
That was Monday afternoon. Today I rode back to Denver in what was probably the exact same plane, with a pilot who can't be two years out of high school, through non-stop turbulence. I kept my eyes closed the whole flight. It was almost enough to give a girl a phobia.

Because I have no real fear of flying. But when sitting in a little tin can like this, flying through the air a few miles above the surface of the planet, you realize that there is really nothing at all between you and a smear on the ground but a thin sheet of metal being pummeled by violent winds. Disturbing.

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