Saturday, December 31, 2011

In between holidays

This was our first official Christmas together as a married couple.  (Previously we had celebrated before and after the 25th.)   It was nice to spend Christmas in England for the first time.  I was a bit homesick for Florida but after I had my turkey dinner and watched Doctor Who I was okay.  (Well, Doctor Who and The Snowman both made me cry. Why does the snowman have to leave at the end? Why?) Being together in our home was so, so nice and I’m thoroughly content to be spending these days with one another.

For our holiday we’ve just been at home mainly but we have gone out to do some grocery shopping here and there just to get some fresh air.  Today we went to see the Turner Prize at the Baltic.  We got in a special line to go up to the third floor and had to wait as they only let a few people in at a time.  (Ironically or not, we ended up in line behind an American family.)  I am a novice when it comes to contemporary art so even when I may not “get” what the artist is trying to do, I appreciate seeing it.  I did like George Shaw’s paintings though.  I’m an old fashioned gal – I like paintings and photography the most.

We had snow before Christmas but it’s now melted and left us lots of rain.  The presents have been unwrapped and now it’s time to start making resolutions. So since I now have my Kindle Fire (absolutely love this thing!), my Noel Fielding book, my bath soaps from Boots and Lush, plus my new coat from Debenhams (such a lovely thing it is), I’m ready to figure out what I want to accomplish in 2012.  I know I’ll need to make a separate reading list for the year so that will be left a little loose.  Otherwise, here’s what I’ve come up with to have done by this time next year:

1. Have the first draft edited and ready to look for publishing: Steve’s already reading through and giving me feedback. 

2. Get my full UK driver’s license: I miss having a car and listening to music with a trunk full of shopping.

3. Get my Leave to Remain status (unless they say we have to wait until all the way to Jan 2013.)

4. Start another project….or two…or three:  I have ideas!

5. Read more classic books as well as books I liked as a kid: I downloaded a lot of free books to my Kindle and I ordered a couple of 80s pre-teen books in paperback.  I have to finish Breaking Dawn, The Hunger Games, Matched, Shiver, Linger, Harry Potter, and Stephen King’s 11/22/63 because it looks interesting.

6. Start jogging again: Again. I’ve started jogging so many times already.  *sigh* I’ll go to the gym as long as I don’t get more germs.  I still have to try this whole jogging outside thing again too - totally unsure about that one.

7. Work on freelancing from home: Seems like something people do so I’ll give it a shot.

Not an extensive list but some attainable goals there. 

Anyway, I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year.  A special Happy Birthday to my Dad on Jan 1st as well.  Happy 2012, everyone! See you next year!

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