Yet another once-a-year update...
Using the new entry format...very weird.
Anyway, new entry for 2021? It's been calm, I think. I've accomplished most of my be-an-adult goals: got stuff fixed, got stuff organized (ok, ongoing), learned new skills, got vaccinated, etc etc. Oh, and taxes are done too, despite the extension. I actually got it in right before the original due date, and it gave me a slight scare because the payment took another week to get debited. Very weird, maybe they were backlogged.
Went back to Hill Canyon trail today because I had a mental health day. Since it was the weekday and I started early, it was super nice - not crowded, overcast so it's not super hot, and I went on all the side trails that I had only explored once before. It really has a special place in my heart, if only it wasn't so well-trekked as to not have parking if I arrive even remotely later than usual on weekends...
April was really crazy with a lot of people being out and taking vacations, so I didn't get my usual one day off. I moved it to May and so I have 2 days. There's my usual day off for June with my birthday as an excuse, and I think if I don't start calling out the day I want, July will be filled up soon as well. I told dad at least twice about today though...and still he was surprised when I came back from hiking because he thought I'd be at work!
Other exciting 2021 news...I think I've learned basic baking, my poor coworkers have been helping me eat things. I am now an aunt! I have a beautiful little niece and we don't know when yet with the pandemic situation in flux, but hopefully we'll go meet her soon. Later today I'll have my first video-appointment with my dentist; I've been using mostly Zoom at work but since gmail retired Hangouts and replaced it, I did have some exposure to Google meet. Hopefully that'll work well for me today.
I wonder if it's possible to do cuts in this new LJ entry format...?
I've been cleaning up/organizing a lot. It actually started a few years back, maybe one after the whole Marie Kondo craze. I managed to clean out my car and kept it relatively neat. Then I worked on my room and closet. A few weeks back, I started on our spare room (what used to be my brother's room) because I could barely find any floor space with all the things we've been putting in there randomly. It's been really good/fun, mostly because while I organize, I get to toss out things that truly have no more use (dried up pens and old receipts from years and years ago come to mind), but I also find treasures that I thought I had lost. There was a really beautiful notebook I had bought back when Borders was still a thing, that I had honestly meant to use as a journal. Well, I have been journaling for a few years now and every time I need a new book, I think of it and can't find it. Well, it was in that room! And all my jewelry with sentimental value, old elementary/middle school/high school stuff, letters and cards from friends...all very nostalgic, and definitely sparked joy. I think once I finally reach critical mass (or at least, a mass I can live with) and have more 'room', I might consider a display shelf or box. Until then I repacked it more neatly after getting rid of the no-longer-needed things, and moved what I could into the closet.
It's a little scary...I wouldn't call myself a shopaholic or very materialistic, but we also haven't moved in probably 30 years. There's just so much stuff, and it's hard to just 'throw it away' like a lot of articles/guides say. I am definitely more aware of things that we do have though, and that's helping with not going out and buying more. And knowing where things are (and repacking the things that came in their original huge boxes with padding) helps with keeping the stuff that's out and about running better too. Now if only I can make some headway on all the paperwork, and my dad can develop the same desire to organize his stuff...
I'm most resigned to the fact that I'm probably going to have to do it for him, once he's past the point of doing it himself. He wants to keep everything, even things that are broken/no longer useful. It's a combination of not wanting to waste, thinking it might be useful again, and thinking he can fix it. I'll leave whether he can fix things to him, maybe he can because he's pretty handy, but a lot of the stuff I'm thinking that we won't be using it anyway even if it does get fixed. Who need an extra corded phone or two these days? Or an old printer, can opener? And this isn't even going into HIS paperwork, hah...
Anyway. My car is now officially a teenager (13). Hoping to keep it running for a few more years before I have to get a new one, mainly because I really want a sporty car even though there's nothing sporty about me. I'm also not quite ready to pay the premium for the coolness factor, so that basically makes me terrible and indecisive about what kind of car I want.
Ok, I think I'll end it here and see how it comes out.
Majo