welcome 2009

[sigerson]

A few things from the whirlwind of the holidays...

...Solstice fast went very well. I should remember that a dawn-to-dawn fast is easier (because you're sleeping during the hungriest parts) and that dawn rituals are really moving. Also, brewing a pot of special tea with which to toast the gods is a great tool. And that if I don't know the mother well, I can go to her daughter and ask for an introduction.

I set up three quilts for handstitching in front of the television. It's a good "no more braining brain is now pudding" activity.

...Christmas was wonderful. All our travel went smoothly, including safely-arrived luggage (it's a 50/50 chance when coming to Dayton at Christmastime that something will go awry) and clear roads in the Midwest. We had Christmas Part 1 on the 25th, and opened stockings and ate roast beast--but it was a little weird to wait to open presents til the 28th, when stealthmuffin and thomascantor arrived. Alas, this has been the holiday season of Twins Overlapping for One Night Only--but we made good use of it.

We chilled with family, watched gobs of bad tv and drank wine. I laid out a velvet lapquilt. I was reminded again how lucky I am to have a sister like sal_sal. I discovered how two twin-beds put together don't really equal a king size bed, and discourage cuddling. (parental planning, perhaps?)

I got to give lots of cool things, and received a bunch of great books and music and a beautiful wood-and-silver necklace. And a collection of Tintin books! And the disturbing chocolate snowmen! (It's a snowman with two little snowmen. But the big one is hollow, and contains...two more little snowmen. It's like cracking open a chocolate Kronos to get at the vanilla creme deities inside.)

I made stealthmuffin cry at Christmas. For good reasons. Hee.

...After a very brief sojourn back in Boston, we headed out early for the Berkshires, avoiding the snowstorm on the 31st and settling in with joy at Tribecon. We played games (I understand Dominion is the big winner), listened to music, and chilled in the hot tub.

I wore the tweed corset. I did not get pictures of it. Alas.

I received an awesome Yuletide story and wrote a couple of good ones too, under my Nom de Yule. Ah heh heh heh.

Tribecon was full of things, like a big happy end-of-year katamari. On the first day, I helped build the ger and danced the night away and gave backrubs. On the second day, I played Oracle and ate sorbet. On the third day, I did Tarotpalooza and goggled at babies. On the fourth day, I stirred cheddar curds. Once again I felt like the best conversations were only half-begun...I always feel like I want to say more and do more, but I've also learned not to totally exhaust myself at Tribecon. I wish I'd been able to spend more full-brain-awake time with people, but I know I needed some of that rest instead. (Like the post-tarot nap on outsidetheparty's couch.)

And now I'm back home, having minor freak-outs about how much reading I can do and how much I'll need to do in order to get my exams ready. A book a day will not quite be enough. So today and yesterday I read two per day. (Well, for certain values of "reading.") Now I shall try and take on my third book of the day. After I take over the galaxy.

It's going to be a reclusive spring, and I may end up turning down a lot of social invitations. Tea and game will go on, but that may very well be it...I wonder if LJ will end up being the necessary thread that keeps me sanely connected to others, or a dangerous distraction that leads me down long procrastinatory afternoons. It's probably both.


And here are two memes to start it off!

First, pursuant to wavyarms' suggestion, it's good to note things you've done well that you want to keep up in the coming year. (Go do some of that on her post!)
I think it's also worthwhile to celebrate successes from the past year:
1) Completed my coursework!!!
2) Taught a class!
3) Finished my game!
4) Made several new friends!
5) Went to the gym once a week until the end of the semester hit!
6) Was surrounded by people I love!
7) Survived attacks of the mind gnomes!
8) Wrote a decent paper! Publishable (in three more drafts) even!


Second, following entrochan's lead, I'd like to ask you all for input.

Give me a suggestion for something to do in the coming year that is 2009. Large, small, serious, silly--but really mean that you think I ought to do it.

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