2021 Recap!

As is my wont, I shall check in on the resolutions I made at the end of 2020. TBH I sort of forgot that I even made any, given the circumstances, so whether or not I met them is going to be an adventure of discovery that we shall all take together as I write this.

1. Take a full week off, when the kids are in school and the spouse is also working at work and not here. I managed this, sort of. I took time off between jobs and traveled to Mackinac Island, just me and one sister. It was exactly the trip I needed, exactly the re-set I was craving. The Island does not allow cars, and is pretty quiet and low key in May (before the summer crowds descend). We did lots of walking and bike-riding, lots of reading and writing, and talked and talked.
2. Some kind of steps goal. This was a half-baked resolution and it appropriately has a half-baked response. I do wear, use, and enjoy the fitbit – it buzzes to remind me to get up and walk on occasion, and that’s helpful. I do try to hit 10,000 steps every day, and occasionally exceed 20,000.
3. Have curtains made for two windows in our main living area. I’ve wanted this for five years and didn’t manage it this year either. Zero points. Well, maybe half a point as I did send inquiries to a few more seamstresses, all to no avail.
4. Maintain my current level of fitness/activity, and try something new this year. I have maintained my fitness for sure – gym visits, trainer visits, and I’ve added a daily morning walk. I don’t know that the daily morning walk counts as “something new” – I was more thinking something like tae kwan do or ballet – but overall this is an area of strength and consistency and I’m down with it.
5. Novel writing. Well, I give myself a gold star on this one, because while I did not make much progress on my novel, that is because I made beaucoup progress on a tv pilot script I’ve been working on with colleagues in the industry. We have writers’ room meetings once or twice a month, occasionally as often as once a week, where we first discussed in detail the world of our tv series, then each wrote an outline for a pilot, then voted on which one to develop, and finally outlined and then wrote the first draft of the script. We are in first edits of that first draft now. It has been absolutely rad, totally invigorating, to participate in this project (with published authors and screenwriters, I’m just a devoted hanger-on). I have tinkered with my Pompeii novel and a murder mystery novel a bit also, but my main focus has been on the screenplay, given my limited time for creative work. I love it so much, it’s really really good. It almost certainly will never see the light of day but that’s ok, we have loved doing it, and the other folks who are actually trying to work in the industry can use it for their portfolios.
6. Begin routine, monthly charitable giving (beyond church). Didn’t do this, feel guilty about it, but Covid financial weirdness made me nervous about it. Revisiting for the new year.

I set some goals in 2019 that I evaluated in 2020, and I thought I’d throw those in here too, as some developments occurred in 2021 that shed light on these!

1. Change jobs.  As of June 2021 I am finally got out of the billing world, and the difference to my mental health is unfathomable. My anxiety is reduced, my panic attacks have really thinned out so as to be rare and allow me to go on short runs again, and I’m quite comfortable. Not a moment too soon!
2. Read more books. I read more books in 2020 and kept it up in 2021. Still almost entirely murder mysteries – this year I read a lot of Nicci French (pseudonym for a married couple who write together), as well as more Anne Perry and finishing up everything written by Ann Cleeves. I started the Bosch series, read a ton of books about Pompeii (for my novel), and finished up all books by Ruth Ware. I paid $50 or so to join the Brooklyn Public online library, and that has significantly increased the reach of my library card!
3. Attend more mundane kid stuff. When Covid restrictions allow, absolutely managed this in 2021, especially after getting the new job. I’ve gone to Jack’s games and performances, piano recitals for all three boys, Craig’s Little League practices and tournaments, and done my best to be present (and not working on the laptop) for each one. These enrich my life immeasurably, and I’m so pleased to have more time for them these days.
4. Keep working with my personal trainer and improve my metrics. I was happy with this in 2020 and stay happy with it in 2021. Hotel gyms are getting better, too, so even as my work travel has ticked up, I’ve been able to maintain my strength for the most part!
5. More swimming for exercise. I keep this as a goal for 2022, covid-allowing.
6. Write 15,000 words of a novel by the end of 2020. As discussed previously . . . working on creative writing, just not a novel just now.
7. Fitness Trainer training. I keep this as a goal for 2022.
8. Meditate more. I go in and out on meditating and my Daily Prayers. I always feel better when I do them and yet sometimes don’t do them, which is confounding and yet so typical of the human condition.
9. Silence retreat. I keep this as a goal for 2022.
10. Make Indian curry. I have made some from-scratch curries lately. The Belly Rules the Mind is a favorite new recipe blog, and they have tons of options that let me learn the basic ingredients of various curries. They are also vegetarian and their recipes are really thick, filling, hearty, and protein-filled.
11. Bake something cool. Still not a great baker though my pizza crust is getting better. Perhaps the continued Covid isolation of 2022 will allow for more practice.

Now we’ll do the 2021 recap.

1. What did I do in 2021 that I’ve never done before?

Traveled to Mackinac Island! This has been on my list for a while – I’ve seen it written about in various blogs and friends’ vacation recaps, and I’ve wanted to go for some time.

2. Did you keep your resolutions?

See above – did ok.

3. What new lives brought you joy?

Baby Louis, my newest nephew, joined us on Juneteenth this year. I love him sooo much.

4. For whom did you grieve, if anyone?

Perhaps the old me, who believed that covid would one day be over and things would go back to normal.

5. Did you travel anywhere exciting?

I did do a bit of travel this year, mostly work related. In April I had to go to Waco to defend an OSHA investigation of an employee death – a tough trip. In May I headed to Mackinac Island for a vacation, and in June the whole family drove down to Florida for a week at a resort. In August we visited my parents in Nashville, and in September we took a forced trip to South Carolina to flee Ida for a few weeks. In October I headed to California for a work trip, and took other trips to Arizona, Kentucky, and Atlanta for work, visiting various sites over which I have some responsibility. I wanted to go to Texas and Chicago next, but I’m going to wait until Omicron has died down somewhat. This holiday season, we spent Thanksgiving in Nashville and Christmas in South Carolina, with an extra special (and as-yet not blogged-about) evening trip to the Biltmore for the Christmas candlelight tour.

6. What would you like to have in 2022 that you lacked in 2021?

Well, last year I mentioned a closet system, and that’s still a desire. We did make some inroads into having build-ins put in, but after Hurricane Ida our builder flaked, and so we have some raw materials in boxes in our front room. So I guess I’ll say that in 2022 I’d love to have this project done!

7. What are your most memorable moments of 2021?

Experiencing the insurrection, virtually of course. The Prof was isolating at the time, and the kids were home-schooling, and a government OSHA investigator was giving me absolute grief about trying to work around the covid quarantine, and I was ready to scream.

Hurricane Ida. The double whammy of Delta closing things back up and Hurricane Ida really knocked me off my feet.

Filming and stitching together the latest family movie – this time, a Harry Potter script.

A very special trip to the beach in the fall.

8. What was your bravest moment and/or biggest achievement of the year?

Getting an in-house counsel job. Finally, finally. It took years of perseverance and networking and determination and I finally got it.

9. What was your biggest failure and/or disappointment?

I can’t think of any big failures. My little failures are myriad – too much snappishness, general diffuse dissatisfaction, too much time wasted playing games and reading garbage on the iPhone.

10. Any memorable lapses in wellness?  (Illness, injury, etc.?)

That booster shot really knocked me sideways, I will say. But otherwise, the extreme precautions taken for Covid have kept me otherwise safe and well. Silver lining, I suppose.

11. Where did most of your money go?

The student loan moratorium continues to be a boon to us, and we have poured money into our retirement funds and our Health Savings Account. We also just bought (but haven’t yet started payments on) a ridiculously expensive car – a Ford Expedition Max. Needed, for long-legged boys and their camping gear and sports stuff. But no small investment, let me tell you, especially since you can’t find a used one anywhere right now. Supply chain issues are a real pain these days. Lastly, I invest a huge amount in my gym and trainer. I felt guilty about it for a while but it’s life-lengthening, and lets me continue my highly stressful paid work with minimal stress, so I’ll keep it up.

12. Is there a song or pop culture moment that will forever remind you of 2021?

Bernie and his mittens; the Ever Given in the Suez Canal; my falls plans v. the Delta variant meme; Jorts and Jean the buttered cats. 😉

13. Compared to this time last year are you (a) happier or sadder? (b) heavier or lighter? (c) richer or poorer?

Probably happier, though more weary? We know more about the pandemic and we’re all vaccinated, so while I am tired of this ponderously slow journey I am also less alert to danger at all times. About the same in weight, I’d say, and probably richer due to the glorious, please never end student loan moratorium.

14. How did you spend (a) Mardi Gras, (b) Easter, (c) Fourth of July, (d) Thanksgiving, (e) Christmas, and (f) New Years’ Eve?

(a) Yardi Gras was the name of the game, and we did our best to celebrate but it was quite depressing to have no parades at all. (b) Easter was home – though this year family came to visit and it was wonderful! (c) We spent Fourth of July here in NOLA, watching the fireworks that Will Smith paid for. (d) On Thanksgiving, we headed to Nashville, and (e) Christmas was in South Carolina. (f) NYE is in a few days. I have planned a menu, and we will play games and hang out here, as is our usual.

15. Any new loves/friends/positive forces in your life?

So once I again I can say I got a new job that brought me new friends, though none of them live here! I kept the old colleagues/friends too, and have done lunches and coffee hours and drinks with them periodically. The MILPs group stays in touch via text although we have not been able to meet since Austin 2019. I have loved being part of the afore-mentioned writer’s room, and seeing those faces once or twice a month via zoom (calling from L.A., San Diego, New Orleans, and Maine).

16. What was your favorite tv and/or movie?

Ted Lasso has been lots of fun, as has Derry Girls. Jack has been watching Star Trek, Next Generation with us, although “watching” is a stretch as he usually just stares at his phone (don’t we all!) I’ve made my way through several seasons of Midsomer Murders, which has a real “Murder She Wrote” vibe.

17. What was your favorite book?

The Nicci French murder mystery series following Frieda Klein was lots of fun – I blew through that one, and am now reading their stand-alone novels.

18. What did you want and get for Christmas?

Comfy pajamas, a trip to the Biltmore (thank you, in-laws!), a new carry-on suitcase as my old one literally disintegrated (the wheels fell off!). Some books, a beautiful piece of pottery, nice Japanese knives, some new towels. A lovely Christmas, truly.

19. What did you want and not get?

I really wanted a tempurpedic pillow, as I left mine in LAX. I did not get it as a gift so I just bought it for myself the other day. Problem solved!

20. What did you do on your 43rd birthday?

For 42 I was at my parents’ place for virtual learning, and for 43 I had fled to my in-laws’ place because of Ida. Two displaced birthdays in a row. Anyway, the Prof decorated the dining room with streamers and made sure the boys bought me gifts per our tradition (Craig got me a necklace, Liam got me a lovely lavender smelling weighted neck beanbag thing, and Jack got me noise canceling headphones – all three v. cute). The Prof took me out to a lovely dinner at a riverfront restaurant.

21. Anything notable in your fashion or appearance in 2021?

Pants cannot be soft enough, these days. And shoes cannot be cushy enough. I love these, incidentally.

22. What kept you sane?

I read that ritual and routine are important for humans to feel a sense of well-being and structure. I have spent some time adrift, lost in a sea of endless sameness, rattling around working remotely in our house with limited outside contact. So I’ve taken to heart the recommendations to add structure to a structure-less, formless existence. I have added a daily morning walk – between 2 and 5 miles depending on how much time I have before having to take the kids to school. The evenings are more chaotic, as children need chauffeured from school and sports and piano and scouts, although those reasons to leave the house are key. I still have my fixed hour prayers, which I do on and off, and pull out the Tarot deck on occasion. All of these things help when I’m losing my mind, which happens often through the shifting coronavirus circumstances.

23. Anything in the political arena you care to recall?

The blessed boring-ness of the Biden administration!

24. Who did you miss?

Church folks, mostly, as our church attendance has been patchy due to coronavirus.

25. Closing remarks?  Life lessons/morals/catch phrases, etc.

Just keep swimming.