Christmas Festivities
Our tree is tilty, but pretty and sweet. And it has a tree-scaling piglet at the top looking awfully pleased with himself while wearing a teeny little knit cap. We even have presents beneath which nicely block the brilliantly orange bucket the tree is residing in. Altogether a festive picture. ( :
Work on Thursday was pleasant, but exhausting as the kids had their x-mas parties. I’m not sure about the last time I saw that much sugar in one place. The kids all seemed to have a good time and were behaving amazingly well. They still required a lot of attention and reminding, but really it went along smoothly.
Friday was a quick half-day and today has been a lovely early Christmas with Kate. Monday I hop on a plane to fly home (oh so looking forward to 9-10 hours in a narrow seat…).
I’m looking forward to coming home (as I’ve said a bagillion times before), but I’m really not looking forward to not seeing Kate for almost two weeks. She’s become a stable, strengthening part of my life. And that’s what love should be (at least in part), right? You should support each other and find reassurance in the knowledge of one another.
For fun and with a form stolen off of
jordax, here’s a year in review meme:
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I went to Romania where I learned some Romanian and worked with Roma kids, holidayed in Spain, wrote a dissertation (and finished an M.A.), moved in with a female partner, visited the Lake District, climbed to the top of a mountain, and began working as a salaried teaching assistant.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I made a resolution… probably won’t bother this year either. Rather, I have ongoing goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, I don’t think so. Rob’s brother’s girlfriend had a baby… so someone close to me gained a niece. Not quite the same thing.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Romania and Spain.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More local friends and more creative drive.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
All of February as I met and became involved with my amazing partner at that time, May 19th to July 12th for my work placement in Romania, and September 4th as I moved in with Kate that day.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’d say getting through my work placement and finishing my dissertation/M.A.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Perhaps my lack of effort on my Spring term papers and maybe not completing a performance piece with the kids in Romania. I don’t feel crushed about either, but mildly regretful.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Little things. Colds and flu, cuts and bruises, a burn. Nothing huge.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Any plane tickets (Romania, Spain, USA) for different reasons or my bicycle, Radish.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The people who run the centre in Romania for their willingness to struggle against amazing odds.
My mom and Kate for their glowing love and support of me, my efforts, and my ambitions.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
“Appalled and depressed” is a bit strong. The usual political suspects I’d say. On a more personal and lighter level, the refusal of someone to pay me back a decent chunk of money made me irked and annoyed.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Romania, returning from Romania, and moving in with Kate.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
“Obladi, oblada” as done by The Clumsy Lovers will always remind me of a certain bit of 2007… ( : Otherwise, I’m generally terrible at thinking of songs for things.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier
b) thinner or fatter?
Thinner
c) richer or poorer?
Hard to say. I’m making more now, but I have considerably less in savings and am hugely in debt.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Been creatively productive (painting, drawing, writing, etc.).
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating and worrying.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family. Christmas eve will be with my Dad, his wife, and my sister. Christmas day will be with my Mom and my sister. We’ll probably just relax at home as that’s our Christmas tradition. I’ve also had an early Christmas with my partner today.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
In the most amazing, fantastic way. I fell hard.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
The L Word, I think.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
Can’t say which was best for sure, but I remember really enjoying “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver and “The Family Tree” by Sheri S. Tepper.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Kate has introduced me to so many wonderful new artists, but for my own discoveries, I’d say “The Duhks”.
27. What did you want and get?
An M.A., a good job, and Kate.
28. What did you want and not get?
A better grade on my dissertation and a kitty.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I can’t remember the whole frikking year’s worth of movies. However, I really liked “Shortbus”.
30. What did you do on your birthday
Explored Barcelona, Spain solo. This meant museums, theatre, and taking photos of pretty buildings.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More creative output.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Um…. normal for me? Not fashionable?
33. What kept you sane?
Kate and my Mom. Though I have to admit that Kate caused some insanity early in the year.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
:: shrug :: Katherine Moennig maybe?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many stupid things going on in the world, but probably the whole mass wake-up to global warming and the ongoing stupidity of the West’s involvement in the Middle East.
36. Who did you miss?
Well, I got to talk to them, but I missed my friends and family in the states. Also spent a lot of time missing Kate when I wasn’t around her.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Kate, of course.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
You have to take risks to find anything new and wonderful. In fact, I came up with a tattoo this year to remind me of that, but have yet to actually get it done.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
This is corny as hell, but “All you need is love”.
Work on Thursday was pleasant, but exhausting as the kids had their x-mas parties. I’m not sure about the last time I saw that much sugar in one place. The kids all seemed to have a good time and were behaving amazingly well. They still required a lot of attention and reminding, but really it went along smoothly.
Friday was a quick half-day and today has been a lovely early Christmas with Kate. Monday I hop on a plane to fly home (oh so looking forward to 9-10 hours in a narrow seat…).
I’m looking forward to coming home (as I’ve said a bagillion times before), but I’m really not looking forward to not seeing Kate for almost two weeks. She’s become a stable, strengthening part of my life. And that’s what love should be (at least in part), right? You should support each other and find reassurance in the knowledge of one another.
For fun and with a form stolen off of
jordax, here’s a year in review meme:
1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
I went to Romania where I learned some Romanian and worked with Roma kids, holidayed in Spain, wrote a dissertation (and finished an M.A.), moved in with a female partner, visited the Lake District, climbed to the top of a mountain, and began working as a salaried teaching assistant.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don’t think I made a resolution… probably won’t bother this year either. Rather, I have ongoing goals.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, I don’t think so. Rob’s brother’s girlfriend had a baby… so someone close to me gained a niece. Not quite the same thing.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Romania and Spain.
6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
More local friends and more creative drive.
7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
All of February as I met and became involved with my amazing partner at that time, May 19th to July 12th for my work placement in Romania, and September 4th as I moved in with Kate that day.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I’d say getting through my work placement and finishing my dissertation/M.A.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Perhaps my lack of effort on my Spring term papers and maybe not completing a performance piece with the kids in Romania. I don’t feel crushed about either, but mildly regretful.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Little things. Colds and flu, cuts and bruises, a burn. Nothing huge.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Any plane tickets (Romania, Spain, USA) for different reasons or my bicycle, Radish.
12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
The people who run the centre in Romania for their willingness to struggle against amazing odds.
My mom and Kate for their glowing love and support of me, my efforts, and my ambitions.
13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
“Appalled and depressed” is a bit strong. The usual political suspects I’d say. On a more personal and lighter level, the refusal of someone to pay me back a decent chunk of money made me irked and annoyed.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Romania, returning from Romania, and moving in with Kate.
16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
“Obladi, oblada” as done by The Clumsy Lovers will always remind me of a certain bit of 2007… ( : Otherwise, I’m generally terrible at thinking of songs for things.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
Happier
b) thinner or fatter?
Thinner
c) richer or poorer?
Hard to say. I’m making more now, but I have considerably less in savings and am hugely in debt.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Been creatively productive (painting, drawing, writing, etc.).
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Procrastinating and worrying.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
With my family. Christmas eve will be with my Dad, his wife, and my sister. Christmas day will be with my Mom and my sister. We’ll probably just relax at home as that’s our Christmas tradition. I’ve also had an early Christmas with my partner today.
21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
In the most amazing, fantastic way. I fell hard.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favourite TV program?
The L Word, I think.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No.
25. What was the best book you read?
Can’t say which was best for sure, but I remember really enjoying “The Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver and “The Family Tree” by Sheri S. Tepper.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Kate has introduced me to so many wonderful new artists, but for my own discoveries, I’d say “The Duhks”.
27. What did you want and get?
An M.A., a good job, and Kate.
28. What did you want and not get?
A better grade on my dissertation and a kitty.
29. What was your favourite film of this year?
I can’t remember the whole frikking year’s worth of movies. However, I really liked “Shortbus”.
30. What did you do on your birthday
Explored Barcelona, Spain solo. This meant museums, theatre, and taking photos of pretty buildings.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
More creative output.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Um…. normal for me? Not fashionable?
33. What kept you sane?
Kate and my Mom. Though I have to admit that Kate caused some insanity early in the year.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
:: shrug :: Katherine Moennig maybe?
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Too many stupid things going on in the world, but probably the whole mass wake-up to global warming and the ongoing stupidity of the West’s involvement in the Middle East.
36. Who did you miss?
Well, I got to talk to them, but I missed my friends and family in the states. Also spent a lot of time missing Kate when I wasn’t around her.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Kate, of course.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
You have to take risks to find anything new and wonderful. In fact, I came up with a tattoo this year to remind me of that, but have yet to actually get it done.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
This is corny as hell, but “All you need is love”.