Boar to Rat.
Dec. 31st, 2019 10:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bluealoeI wrote an entire entry about my year and was just about to post it, when all the text disappeared. I'm frustrated and annoyed and tired and want to go to bed, so I'm not going to rewrite the whole thing. Here's the abbreviated version:
2019 was a hell of a year, and I'm not sorry to see it go. Although some good things happened this year, there were a lot of terrible things, and I'm honestly just glad to have survived this nightmarish year.
Bad Things:
-The massive budget crisis invented by the idiotic governor that threw the entire state of Alaska into a panic mode, caused thousands of people to be in danger of losing their jobs, and months of uncertainty and stress and worry for everyone. And it was all completely unnecessary; there was no reason to cut essential state services just to increase payments to oil and gas companies (I could write a book about this governor and his shenanigans). The entire state was in uproar most of the summer, and Rory and I spent months worrying if we'd even be able to keep living in Alaska. In the end, the worst of the budget cuts were averted, and the immediate crisis is over, but there's more cuts coming, and the saga is going to continue. The anxiety and stress have been overwhelming.
-At the height of the budget crisis, we lost Goldie very suddenly. She had been sick, but was getting better. Then suddenly she was gone. It was absolutely devastating, and I can't write about it any more.
-At the same time as the budget crisis and losing Goldie, the state was experiencing record wildfires. The smoke was so thick at times we couldn't go outside. It felt apocalyptic. There were a few weeks in July I truly thought the world was coming apart around me.
-Rory's stepdad was diagnosed with aggressive cancer, and things don't look good. This has unfortunately brought out the worst in some of his family members, and there's been a lot of drama. We don't know how long his stepdad has, but it's probably not very long.
-Almost everyone I know has lost a pet this year. It's been a truly terrible run of luck, and I can't remember any other time when so many pets have died in such short a time span.
Good Things
-Rory got promoted to be a regular morning announcer at the local NPR station. It's much more steady than being on-call, and it's a perfect job for him.
-Overall work has gone well. I planned and ran five major events and dozens of smaller ones, did at least three big community outreach events, finished a huge project with Denali National Park, and lots of other little things. Although there are some parts I don't like, I still enjoy my job.
-Did quite a bit of traveling this year. For work, I went to Sitka, Ketchikan, Kotzebue, and Nome. In June we went to a family reunion in Wisconsin. In September we went to New York to visit Rory's family and attend a wedding, and then to Massachusetts to visit friends (which was great).
-In Wisconsin, I reconnected with my dad's family, who I hadn't seen in 13 years. It was good to see them again and introduce Rory. We also got to visit Gary, who was my dad's best friend and basically a second dad to me. I don't get to see him nearly often enough, and visiting with him was a highlight of the year.
-Rory's dad came to visit at the end of July. Although I don't particularly get along with him, I will give him credit for actually coming to Alaska. He's been promising to come for over three years, and he finally did.
-I was a guest on the Productivity Alchemy podcast, talking about how I stay organized and productive. It was an interesting experience.
-The best thing that happened this year: At the beginning of December, we adopted a new kitty. We didn't intend to, we were going to wait until January to start looking for a cat, but fate had other ideas. His name is Leopold, he's about three years old, he's a Manx (with a stubby tail), he's all black except for a tiny white patch on his chest, and he's absolutely perfect in every way. He's affectionate and snuggly and has settled in like he's lived here his whole life. I love him SO much and having him around has been amazing for my mental health. I still miss Goldie so damn much, and I always will, but I'm so glad to have Leopold.
I had seven things I wanted to do this year:
For next year, here are the things I'd like to do:
Find a counselor: I've been meaning to do this for a while, but I really need to get going on this.
Read one book a month: I'd like to continue this, since it worked this year.
Start fencing again: I just need to make time for this!
Do something crafty/creative three times a week: I feel better when I make things, whether that's knitting, cross-stitch, making friendship bracelets, or whatever. I want to do more of it next year.
Practice mindfulness: I'd like to actually make progress on this, maybe taking a class or reading up on it or going to a guided session or something.
Communication with Rory: Another ongoing project.
Plan honeymoon: This WILL happen this year!
Go to hunting camp: If there's any way to make this happen, I will.
A few good things happened this year (mostly getting Leopold), but in the end I'm just very glad this year is over.I'm hoping next year is less turbulent. May the Year of the Rat be kind to us all.
2019 was a hell of a year, and I'm not sorry to see it go. Although some good things happened this year, there were a lot of terrible things, and I'm honestly just glad to have survived this nightmarish year.
Bad Things:
-The massive budget crisis invented by the idiotic governor that threw the entire state of Alaska into a panic mode, caused thousands of people to be in danger of losing their jobs, and months of uncertainty and stress and worry for everyone. And it was all completely unnecessary; there was no reason to cut essential state services just to increase payments to oil and gas companies (I could write a book about this governor and his shenanigans). The entire state was in uproar most of the summer, and Rory and I spent months worrying if we'd even be able to keep living in Alaska. In the end, the worst of the budget cuts were averted, and the immediate crisis is over, but there's more cuts coming, and the saga is going to continue. The anxiety and stress have been overwhelming.
-At the height of the budget crisis, we lost Goldie very suddenly. She had been sick, but was getting better. Then suddenly she was gone. It was absolutely devastating, and I can't write about it any more.
-At the same time as the budget crisis and losing Goldie, the state was experiencing record wildfires. The smoke was so thick at times we couldn't go outside. It felt apocalyptic. There were a few weeks in July I truly thought the world was coming apart around me.
-Rory's stepdad was diagnosed with aggressive cancer, and things don't look good. This has unfortunately brought out the worst in some of his family members, and there's been a lot of drama. We don't know how long his stepdad has, but it's probably not very long.
-Almost everyone I know has lost a pet this year. It's been a truly terrible run of luck, and I can't remember any other time when so many pets have died in such short a time span.
Good Things
-Rory got promoted to be a regular morning announcer at the local NPR station. It's much more steady than being on-call, and it's a perfect job for him.
-Overall work has gone well. I planned and ran five major events and dozens of smaller ones, did at least three big community outreach events, finished a huge project with Denali National Park, and lots of other little things. Although there are some parts I don't like, I still enjoy my job.
-Did quite a bit of traveling this year. For work, I went to Sitka, Ketchikan, Kotzebue, and Nome. In June we went to a family reunion in Wisconsin. In September we went to New York to visit Rory's family and attend a wedding, and then to Massachusetts to visit friends (which was great).
-In Wisconsin, I reconnected with my dad's family, who I hadn't seen in 13 years. It was good to see them again and introduce Rory. We also got to visit Gary, who was my dad's best friend and basically a second dad to me. I don't get to see him nearly often enough, and visiting with him was a highlight of the year.
-Rory's dad came to visit at the end of July. Although I don't particularly get along with him, I will give him credit for actually coming to Alaska. He's been promising to come for over three years, and he finally did.
-I was a guest on the Productivity Alchemy podcast, talking about how I stay organized and productive. It was an interesting experience.
-The best thing that happened this year: At the beginning of December, we adopted a new kitty. We didn't intend to, we were going to wait until January to start looking for a cat, but fate had other ideas. His name is Leopold, he's about three years old, he's a Manx (with a stubby tail), he's all black except for a tiny white patch on his chest, and he's absolutely perfect in every way. He's affectionate and snuggly and has settled in like he's lived here his whole life. I love him SO much and having him around has been amazing for my mental health. I still miss Goldie so damn much, and I always will, but I'm so glad to have Leopold.
I had seven things I wanted to do this year:
Keep up with fencing/Japanese: Failed miserably on this one. Didn't do either.
Read one book a month: I succeeded! I read 18 books, plus finishing one I started the year before.
Practice mindfulness: I tried. It was hard.
Do my best at work/not letting it stress me out: Considering I had no idea how stress-provoking the budget situation would be, and I got through it without completely breaking down, I'm counting that as a win.
Communication with Rory: It's always a work in progress, but I think we're doing okay. We had a few minor breakthroughs this year.
Plan honeymoon: Nope. Didn't happen.
Go to hunting camp: I tried. The friends I would have to go with didn't go this year, so I couldn't go either. I did my best, but it was out of my hands.
For next year, here are the things I'd like to do:
Find a counselor: I've been meaning to do this for a while, but I really need to get going on this.
Read one book a month: I'd like to continue this, since it worked this year.
Start fencing again: I just need to make time for this!
Do something crafty/creative three times a week: I feel better when I make things, whether that's knitting, cross-stitch, making friendship bracelets, or whatever. I want to do more of it next year.
Practice mindfulness: I'd like to actually make progress on this, maybe taking a class or reading up on it or going to a guided session or something.
Communication with Rory: Another ongoing project.
Plan honeymoon: This WILL happen this year!
Go to hunting camp: If there's any way to make this happen, I will.
A few good things happened this year (mostly getting Leopold), but in the end I'm just very glad this year is over.I'm hoping next year is less turbulent. May the Year of the Rat be kind to us all.
