Well, Christmas, which was good (the whole season, not just the day). My parents visited for the holiday, which went nice. And then a cold. Then I visited my friend from college. And the cold got worse. I ended the year wonderfully sick with a chest cold and ear infection. (Then I started the new year with pinkeye.)

What were my accomplishments this month?

We got rid of my old chair, finally. It’s handy to have a Mom with a big enough car.

I did a good bit of cleanup on my desk at work. Not perfectly clean, but not hugely stacked up, which was an improvement. I can actually see my desk and some things that had been hanging around for too long were finally cleared off.

What were my disappointments this month?

On the down side, I never found the time to do any clearing out at home.

What books/music/shows did I enjoy this month?

• Whitecollar (I am really enjoying Netflix)
• A Christmas carol, the play done by a local community theater. A bunch of people from my congregation also went, because one of our members was directing it. It was well done and true to the original, which I like.
• Reading-wise, I don’t feel like I read anything special. Though I did discover Kelley Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series

What crafts did I work on this month (not what I finished, but what did I work on)?

• Shelter sweater
• Socks #21
• Dragon cross-stitch — declared finished
• Socks #23
• Started another baby kimono
• Worked on the last big seam of the top of the French braid quilt. Although machine-pieced, I decided to do that last seam by hand and then redo on machine for consistency. I was having trouble getting the points to match properly, and I could finesse it better by hand.
• Started the Celtic cross blackwork embroidery

What fun things did I do with my family, friends, or by myself?

Christmas parties and quiet days at home.

What gifts did I give and/or receive?

Craft fair success. My guild has a booth at a Christmas craft fair and this year we tested taking credit cars. We did this using my ipad, which I generously loaned to the guild for the weekend. It definitely worked; our sales were higher than ever. And I personally sold several things, which was gratifying.

What special or unusual purchases did I make?

Conference registration for next month

Trip to Nashville, trip to Dallas: air travel is expensive these days

Gifts

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?

The leftovers of a cold at the beginning of the month, that lingering, nasty stuff down the back of the throat, which triggered a cough, irritated throat, sometimes sore, and the feeling of difficulty swallowing. It came and went in intensity, but eventually went away. But then at the end of the month after Christmas, I got sick again, with a chest cold. I was surviving that fine, until I got on a plane to visit my friend, which pushed the infection into my ears. So I ended the year with an ear infection.

Fortunately my allergies were fine through all this.

Anything else noteworthy to include?

Started the website work for professional committee.

Joined a coop for foodstuffs.

What clarity did I achieve this month?

Rest. Rest is vital. And I think that is going to be my main focus, my “one little word,” for 2012.

Growing up, I put in quite a few hours of practice playing the piano. Am I any good at it now? Minimally. Why? Because the practice I put in was casual and indifferent, with no focused attempt to understand what I was doing or how to become really better. I was punching the time clock, not actually trying to master a skill.

Simply doing something you want to do for 10,000 hours is not going to make you an expert.

Wool & silk? Definitely wool and silk and cotton threads. Ideas are bouncing around inside my head. This would be good for a lunch-at-work project.

I’m in an odd situation, where I’m a webmaster, but there are dual websites. The older website, which began it, is under the direct control of the former webmaster, who is the only one that can update it. I make appropriate updates, upload them to the website under my control, then send copies of the relevant files to him so he can do updates for the older one. (This is a transition period, in case you hadn’t realized.)

So what does he do? He changes my pages. The changes he makes? Not really errors, most of the time. And no longer his business to change.

But, do I say anything? NO! I am quiet and respectful. Eventually this will change. And it’s not worth it for me to object. There are political reasons not to say anything, aside from the simple courtesy of kindness and respect. Plus I have a feeling that he really doesn’t want to let control go, even though he himself suggested bringing in another webmaster in order to take a load off of himself.

But I have to wonder — does he realize how beyond irritating he is? He makes my work more difficult. And this…

Okay, I have to stop before I rant too much. Think about something else.

Last month, I received some proof that I have not only benefited from it, but I need to keep doing it.

Through a combination of circumstances that kept me off my routine, I did not get to either of my appointments in November. During the week after Thanksgiving, I really felt it. By that I mean that my neck muscles hurt because they were out of alignment. And I could feel the pain trying to creep down into my back. During this month of December, I have been back on schedule, with an extra appointment thrown in for good measure, and I have felt the difference. My neck bones don’t like to stay in place, it sometimes feels like, but being pushed back into place on a regular, consistent basis, keeps my muscles from getting pulled and pushed into unbalanced position. This saves me pain.

So, even though I don’t really like going as often as I do, I have clear evidence that it is a good thing, and I will keep doing it, no matter how wearisome it gets.

So, the question returns, how to manage this? At the moment, I don’t have a quick solution to offer. I am exploring the subject of herbal tinctures, since they seem to keep their effectiveness longer than other forms of herbal remedy, but it will take a while to figure out which herbs are the most versatile and therefore the most desirable. I have heard of elderberry, but only one remedy seems rather limiting. More research is indicated.

Of course, what this also shows is the limitations of being counter cultural. If herbal medicine were more an accepted part of our culture, and therefore more easily available, I would not have this limitation, because I would be able to go to someone for whom this is their vocation, and buy or barter for the medicine. There would be no question about which one to use, or its freshness or effectiveness.

One day, perhaps, that will be possible.

Thanxmas, which is always a nice time with family. (Although, there were tensions, but then, when are there not? No family holiday is perfect. And somehow I end up in the middle of some of the discussions. I think I am regarded as neutral territory or else everyone thinks I am on “their” side.)

Regardless, for me, I think the biggest frustration is that gift-giving is not as fun as it used to be. The kids are getting older. I wonder if we will ever reach a point where we can trade names and just do one gift? Yet, I do like giving gifts to my dear ones. Clarity is not clear here. It’s a continuing muddle.

What were my accomplishments this month?

We finished the training at work. It’s time to move in to cleaning up the training materials and preparing for next year.

I managed to buy all my gifts for the Thanxmas date, although one did not get delivered in time. However, the receiver knows it exists and it will be delivered next time I visit.

The drywall got repaired! Yeah, that means I’m on the verge of getting my house back together.

What were my disappointments this month?

Well, I’m trying to think of one and nothing is coming to me.

What books/music/shows did I enjoy this month?

• Definitely enjoyed the Psy-changeling romances again, this time in ebooks
• Steal the dragon / Patricia Briggs
• Nicky Epstein’s Knitted flowers, in preparation for some work
• Reread the Linda Berdoll sequels to P&P, which are truly funny to read

What crafts did I work on this month (not what I finished, but what did I work on)?

• Socks #22 (gift socks)
• Shelter sweater
• Socks #21
• Dragon cross-stitch — really close to finishing
• I can’t think of anything else???

What fun things did I do with my family, friends, or by myself?

Quiet day at home on the first Saturday

Craft Saturday on the second

Guild meeting on the third, as well as Sugarloaf

Thanxmas

What gifts did I give and/or receive?

Secret Sisters started up, and I got a nice box of hot chocolate and a Starbucks gift card. Clearly my SS has noticed that I buy coffee there!

I’m in the planning for my SS. I know I want to get her some stuff at the craft fair.

What special or unusual purchases did I make?

Christmas gifts

Drywall repair

Trip to Nashville, trip to Dallas

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?

Right! The first weekend that I had to relax, stay home, be with myself, and get plenty of rest…I get a cold. A minor cold, as colds go, but still miserable to experience. And the timing was still off, as I wasn’t quite finished with the energy drive to getting things done at work. I had one more class to teach – fortunately prep work was done – and a committee meeting to lead. Unfortunately, fever is not friendly.

And once I got over it, the nasty stuff down the back of the throat lingered, triggering a cough, irritated throat, sometimes sore, and the feeling of difficulty swallowing. It comes and goes in intensity, but it still hasn’t gone away.

Anything else noteworthy to include?

Honestly I can’t think of anything.

What clarity did I achieve this month?

At work, I’m in a weird mix of clarify and confusion. I can see that in a training trip I am to do, we need to teach the new thing. But I’m getting a clear command to teach the old thing. Yet the meeting I sat in on on Thursday implied to me that the new thing would be better. I really hate this. Of course, it’s not that I am unclear, it’s that my bosses are unclear.

And I am happy to say that I am doing okay, not perfect but okay, with my effort to get to bed earlier. I don’t make it every night, but I am actually achieving something close to eight hours of sleep a night on a consistent basis.

Visit to family

Weekend retreat with the congregation that turned out to be snowy!

What were my accomplishments this month?

Taught the work classes. Complimented by someone whose opinion greatly gratified me.

What were my disappointments this month?

I am really disappointed that my allergies didn’t stay quiet. Though I am relieved that there was only one serious attack and everything else was low-level itchiness.

What books/music/shows did I enjoy this month?

• Ring of Fire III
• Weaving primer
• Vikings: a history
• variety of genre fiction

What crafts did I work on this month (not what I finished, but what did I work on)?

• Wool peddler shawl from Folk shawls (hey, I finished!)
• Socks #22
• Baby kimono #3
• dragon cross stitch

What fun things did I do with my family, friends, or by myself?

Virginia Fiber Fest, then apple picking with family visit

Visited my family in Atlanta area.

Day at the farm with the guild

Congregational retreat

What gifts did I give and/or receive?

La-z-boy lounge chair

What special or unusual purchases did I make?

La-z-boy lounge chair

Repairs to external siding

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?

Allergies are definitely kicking up more. Although they seem to be more frequent as minor sinus pressure that may lead to headaches.

Anything else noteworthy to include?

Taught another youngling the beginnings of knitting. And more are interested.

What clarity did I achieve this month?

Rest is essential to my functionality. I really would like to get to bed earlier. I’m going to try an experiment of setting an alarm thirty minutes before I would like to be in bed. We’ll see how well it works.

Also a reminder that I really do need quiet time. This month has been busy. I am scheduling some alone time NOW for November.

Simply put, God allows us to suffer because God respects us. He respects us enough that He allows us to make our own choices, including the bad ones. (NOTE: This doesn’t cover suffering that is not caused by your actions.)

Extra thought:

And because He sees opportunity where we see just suffering. (NOTE: This part does cover suffering that is not caused by your own actions.)

What special or unusual event occurred?

Birthday! Baby, I turned forty! I feel absolutely the same, but I did enjoy my birthday.

What were my accomplishments this month?

Helped to create a couple of classes that I think was very much needed at work.
Handled everything that came my way.

What were my disappointments this month?

Politics at work that made the work difficult.

I discovered more damage to my house related to the roof leak. My disappointment in myself is there, though I’m pretty much over it. I should have dealt with it sooner, when the very first sign of a problem showed up. Once I realized the depth of the problem, I should have moved quickly to look for all the possible consequences. But I didn’t. So once more there is a lesson to learn.

What books/music/shows did I enjoy this month?

• Archangels blade
• The Nonesuch
• Skylark of space
• Skylark Three
• Nero Wolfe again
• Savage nature
• Others…
• Perry Mason season one continues
• Man from UNCLE season two continues
• Thor
• Been listening to a lot of podcasts!
• With all the stress I am not reading anything in-depth. Despite the fact that there are things I want to read, I just cannot handle them right now.

What crafts did I work on this month (not what I finished, but what did I work on)?

• Socks #20
• socks #21
• pine and ivy shawl
• Dishcloth
• Spinning from I don’t know where, but that I won from the now-closed store With yarn in front, on the day that it opened, all spun all on my spindle
• Dragon & Castle cross-stitch
• Due to physical disruptions at home, I was not able to work on any sewing or weaving.

What fun things did I do with my family, friends, or by myself?

Visited my sister
Visited my parents, which was partially duty, but more relaxing than I expected

What gifts did I give and/or receive?

iPad2! From myself to myself.

Promised a few more fascinated young girls lessons in knitting. I’m already working on an October lesson.

Mom gave me money so that I can buy myself a new lounge chair.

I finally received the commissioned piece of furniture that I bought last October. It is lovely and has more space in it that I had hoped. But I am taking my time re-organizing my things to move into it.

What special or unusual purchases did I make?

iPad!
Hardwood flooring
Furniture arrived!
Will the iPod touch be far? My current iPod is definitely dying.
Expensive month

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?

Mostly good, although some headaches started appearing mid month. And the allergies are starting to act up a little bit more.

Dad is recovering remarkably well, although there were some concerns with rather severe dips in blood pressure. But that seems to have been resolved as over-medication, and he is recovering nicely.

Anything else noteworthy to include?

I turned 40 this year. I’m doing a Project 365 focused around that date, six months before to six months after. I have done remarkably well with getting a phone done every day, which is not to say I haven’t missed some, but it’s been workable.

What clarity did I achieve this month?

Don’t take on too much. I end up doing it before I realize it, sometimes because I feel guilty because I’m not doing “enough,” but whenever I do, I end up feeling overcommitted.