Year in Review

Writers block has plagued me as of late. As well as a host of bad moods. It has been a weird couple of weeks around our house, and because of that, I haven't wanted to write much of anything. But since it is about to be a new year, the bug has caught me, and off I go.

Since Thanksgiving, Rob worked ungodly hours, as he is teaching 10 credit hours this term (the usual is 6 or 7). Due to this, we hardly saw each other, which put a bit of a strain on the two of us. He was stressed, so I was stressed. Add stress plus stress, it wasn't a real pleasant place to be in our house for a few weeks. Then you add in the holidays, and it was nearly unbearable. This year, the holidays (for the first time) were felt as if they were endured rather than enjoyed. Such a horrible way to feel, but it was true for us this year. With the economy, our parents getting older, and Rob's car dying for some weird reason AND having to fly to New York in a snowstorm to pick the new piano for Augustana, the holidays were kinda shitty this year. We ate too much. The parties felt obligatory rather than festive. Plus another year without a baby. We're both feeling a little out of sorts. Hopefully, with the passing of this year, things will start to look up.

Things that made this year great:
The creation and productions of Riverbend Theatre Collective
RTC had a nice opening year, with a great success of our first show, Elegies- A Song Cycle

We were lucky enough to also be featured in last weeks QC Times Arts section with a nice article by David Burke.


The purchase of our first home


After years of renting, we finally became homeowners on August 29 of this year. From November of 2007 to March of 2008, we paid off ALL our debt, with the exception of our car payment, school loans, and our one credit-card each. Because of this, our credit ratings went through the roof. That combined with our secure incomes, we were able to purchase our adorable house in the hood. Each day I love it more. Lucky us, the sellers left the house in great condition, with many new upgrades and remodels. The only work we've done is painted the bathroom, dining and living rooms, and up next is the horrid burgandy mess of a studio.


Five Year Anniversary-

(Courtesy of Jan Scott Photography)

This year, Rob and I celebrated five years of marriage. I love this man more every day, and am so thankful he came into my life in the fall of 2000. We've had our rough patches, but I wouldn't trade them for anything. We wouldn't have the relationship we have now. And that is pretty wonderful.


One Year with Ike-


One of the best little dogs on the planet. Enough said.



Friends-
I wish I could put a zillion pics up of all of lovely friends. This year was a great year of meeting people and cultivating friendships with a lot of important people. I won't name them all. You know who you are.


Plans for 2009
Stop spending money on stupid crap- after buying a house, we did have to buy a lot of stuff to put in it. But the constant dining out needs to stop.
Learn to relax
Try to have a stress-less theatre season
Be good to myself- more exercise, less food, more yoga, more visits to see Lucia
Just keep swimming- As Dorie says in Finding Nemo, I need to just keep swimming when it comes to having a baby. It's something I desperately want in my life, to be a mother. But what I am trying to understand is that making a baby is a very delicate thing. I need to be a patient and know that when the time is right, it will happen.
Support Rob- Rob is struggling... with work, trying to make time for me, trying to make baby, and losing weight.


On Wednesday, Rob and I fly out to visit Dad and Cathy for a week. I am greatly looking forward to seeing my brother Jake (who I haven't seen in nearly 7 years) and my sister Abby, who I haven't seen in almost 4 years. We are both looking forward to having some down time with no responsibilities or obligations. Just time to relax, read, and spend time with my family.


Because I felt bad about adding Ike and not Maddy. My lovely, old girl.