Excellent, Calli! I was worried that you'd already gotten matching earrings, but not posted about it (not that I did any reconnaissance on lj. No, of course not).

So, there's something of a story with the wrist-warmers. Being a knitter and huge geek, I knit myself a set of "Rose's Wrist-warmers" that someone put together a pattern for (Not that I checked to make sure that that would be consistent with your fannish tendencies. Of course not). As I was finishing them up, one of the other witches (this was during MacBeth) commented on them and I ended up running her off a copy of the pattern. Not even a year later, at the Christmas show, at least 4 people at the theatre (including all three witches) have a pair of them, and I know one other was working on them, so it's probably 5. So, welcome to the sisterhood

I wanted to make you something (because that's how knitters show affection), and those seemed like they'd be useful, but not too warm for North Carolina. They're wool/alpaca (from Peru!), and should be hand-washed in cold water.

Maggie's glad that Leifur likes hunting dangley things as much as she does.

Hee! I remember that pretty box! Awesome that it is still circulating through the 'ffistas.

I knit myself a set of "Rose's Wrist-warmers" that someone put together a pattern for (Not that I checked to make sure that that would be consistent with your fannish tendencies. Of course not). As I was finishing them up, one of the other witches (this was during MacBeth) commented on them and I ended up running her off a copy of the pattern. Not even a year later, at the Christmas show, at least 4 people at the theatre (including all three witches) have a pair of them, and I know one other was working on them, so it's probably 5. So, welcome to the sisterhood

They're beautiful! And it's great that there's a story behind them. By "Rose's" do you mean Rose from Doctor Who? Anyway, it's been dipping below freezing here after sunset for most of the week, but gloves make using my iPhone a pain. These look like the perfect solution.

So, I am in a crappy mood, and realized I was in a crappy mood last year at New Year's. Maybe it's a thing.

It was a fine year. Not a lot of changes, which was fine after 2008, the Year of Changes. Kids healthy, husband likes his job, mine is okay, I finished my library degree.

I'm still in a crappy mood.

I'm still in a crappy mood.

Yeah. There's something about NYE. I always feel a bit rubbish and end up doing nothing. The quieter the new year's eve, the better!

2009 wasn't a bad year for me. I finished my MA course with some very good grades - discovering I could be really good at something, rather than academically mediocre as I had always been before, was *massively* exciting, especially given the events of the past five years and the loss of my teaching career through disability. I haven't had my final MA result yet, but I'm hoping for something good enough to get me accepted for a PhD. And I'm about to start other training that I hope will lead to some future career options. It was a less good year for my Girl and her family, with her father still dealing with cancer, and we're hoping 2010 will soon look a bit better for them. It was nonethless truly wonderful when her father agreed, just a couple of months ago, to come to our civil partnership ceremony. That's next year's big event!

I'm working on accepting my limitations, especially where pain and energy levels are concerned, which is exactly what led me to b.org. I'd been hanging out at internet forums that drained my energy, and had been unable to find a fandom messageboard that I could engage with. This place is so different - both infinitely diverting and full of real friendship. And getting to meet Shir and Nilly this week definitely made my year!

Calli, I do mean Rose from Dr Who.

Yay for academic success, Seska.

I,m not in a bad mood and I've been productive today, but I do feel the "eh." There's socialization in my future, which I hope will help.

2009 has been a good year for us, again. I'm thrilled to still be in our beautiful new house. We're so fortunate to be in year nine of our own nonprofit company. Our lives together and relationship is really good. Musically the new band has been good for us. Spiritually we're doing well with both the churches, although they are not all that happy with each other, we're happy with them.

So there's been some sadness. Dave's uncle died, and that was a big loss. Both sets of our parents have had progressing health issues, and that will continue. It's hard because we've chosen to be geographically far from them. I think sometimes that we may need to be back there at some point. But right now they're okay, it's just hard for us to be so far.

But everything else is really good. Work with the kids is going so well. We're happy and healthy (for the most part, flu notwithstanding) and feel very very fortunate.

I look forward to seeing what 2010 has for us. But I know that good or bad, I am glad to have had this time, and to have you awesome peoples in my life.

I may not make it to midnight, so here goes.

The Good - Work evened out after getting really rough at the end of 2008. I kept my job, which was not always a given, and even got a bonus. No new lumps or bumps from what were found in 2008. Extended family stayed reasonably healthy. Grandma turned 96 and is still getting herself around, can mostly see and hear, and has a still nimble mind - blessing. Paid off a couple of credit cards. Read more than in 2008.

The Bad - Had to have surgery to start the year. Had the roughest year yet with mac, including a night in the hospital and trauma I'm not quite through processing. Bedbugs. Had to switch afterschools for mac and the new one is less of everything. Gained more weight than I have in a while.

The Just is - Decided to move from New York to Texas at the end of the school year. With more Drs and helpers am spending more money each month leaving less for debt payment and treats for myself, but they are a help.

2010 brings a lot of changes - I am not sure I have ever known a year would hold this many changes going in. I hope the changes I don't know about will be good ones and the changes I do know about (selling house, buying new house, finding new job, mac starting new school, moving itself, living near parents for first time since 1994, new therapist) will go as smoothly as possible.

It was a fine year.

I saw you in 2009; that was a big plus for me.

I don't usually try to wrap up the year in any way, but I do feel a need to note some of the losses of 2009 that had an impact on me:

Great Uncle Leo, 90, Jan 1
Eileen Boevers, 68, Jan 11
Jen Dyson, 32, Jan 14
Jeanne Parrott, 60+, March 24
Tony Passiglia 39, April 20
Michael Philippi, 58, Oct 27

Not exactly the same, but also a kind of loss... on Sept 11 I learned that Apple Tree Theatre, which had been in existence for over 25 years (and my primary employer since I moved to Chicago), was shutting its doors.

So, for 2010 I'm hoping for health and happiness for those near and dear to me and that I can sort out where I'm headed professionally, among other things.