Ring Out the Old, Ring in the New!

(Gift from Deb)

This is it! The final hours of 2009! YAY! I have to say that this year has been incredibly rough not only for me, but for many of those I hold near and dear. I am more than happy to see the hind end of it and to usher in 2010, which is shiny and new and full of promise. Let's hope it's a kinder and gentler year for us all!



Meanwhile, I've been taking it easy and just spending time with my family and friends and trying to get things back into some semblance of order. Our tree came down a couple days ago, as it was shedding like crazy and we felt it was time. I've also been tidying up the studio. My desk was piled high with wrapping paper and ribbons and all sorts of stuff left over from our Xmas preparations. It's nice to be able to see the work surface again! Perhaps I will be inspired to actually make something in the next little while!



So seeing as it is the last day of the year, I thought I would go over some of the highlights of the year. Here's what was good in 2009:



-Artfest in April with my friends. It's always great to see everyone and to be amongst people who "get it". It's also refreshing to spend time in PT. Townsend, Wa., which is just the loveliest little seaside town. I could quite happily live there.



-The I *heart* Zines Exchange. It took me most of the summer and fall to get my submission together. (Let's hear it for long lead times!) but it was very satisfying to finally attempt my very first zine and I loved the returns I received. I learned alot and I would like to do more zines!



-The 12 Days of Xmas Exchange which is in its 3rd year. I debated whether or not I was going to host it again this year, but when I thought about how much fun and joy everyone gets from it, how could I not? It was indeed worth it.



-Being accepted for the Olympic Games. It's been quite the journey so far with in-person training, volunteer events and taking online e-courses. The games are now a mere 38 days away!! (I start Feb. 8th, Opening Ceremonies are Feb. 12th.) I finally have my ID and uniform and am getting ready for venue specific training now. I can't tell you how exciting this is!



-The World Police & Fire Games. This was something I decided to do out of the blue over the summer. I thought it would help prepare me for what the Olympics might be like and also it was a wonderful way to give back to the men and women who serve and protect us each and every day. I met some wonderful people and had some amazing experiences. I had several meaningful conversations with people from half-way across the world, I got to enjoy a Trooper concert and see the Snow Angels flying over the stadium at the closing ceremonies and so much more! I also learned how to dispatch a fleet of 35 cars for VIPs, which is no mean feat!



-My son graduated high school with honours in May and our family and friends got to celebrate that wonderful event. It's hard to believe he's less than 6 months away from being a grown up!



-My son and I got to see Jann Arden's Free concert in November, for free which was alot of fun!



-My husband and I happily celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary in October. YAY! I am very proud of that!



And the final thing that's worth noting about this year is that tonight, New Year's Eve, marks the 20th anniversary of my husband and my first date! I'm picking up our favourite Chinese food and we've got a stack of new dvds to watch. Our son is going out with his girlfriend for dinner, so we get to have our own cozy "date night" at home, which suits us just fine!



I haven't given much thought to goals or words or anything else to mark the new year yet. I'm pretty caught up in Olympic preparations and some pressing personal stuff, but I do really want to reclaim some of my creative life. The last two years have been fraught with serious health stuff (and still are) but I know that I will feel better on the inside if I can find some energy to be creative. Don't we all feel better when we make time and space to be our authentic selves? I feel like a part of me has been swallowed up by trips to the hospital and treatments and drugs and all that soul-sucking stuff.

So what am I going to do about it? Well, my mother-in-law, bless her heart, always sends me a cheque for Xmas, to spend on a gift for myself. This year, her gift to me, my gift to me is to take Mary Ann Moss' Remains of the Day online class. I signed up this evening and an email from Mary Ann with my access codes and such, came lightening fast. I am just printing out my PDFs before I go watch movies with my husband.

Several of my friends have taken her classes and I've heard nothing but good things about it. Everything I've seen come out of her classes has been wonderful! I think this is a great way to jump start my commitment to my artistic self in 2010. I think I am worth the investment. How about you?!? If your curious, go check it out!

And before I go, I want to wish each and every one of you much happiness, good health and prosperity in the new year. May your blessings be many and your trials be few and may you find that something that feed your soul.

Thank you for coming by here to share in my life. I appreciate it! xo