Starting fresh

NOTE: If you downloaded the Toddler Twist pattern prior to 12/30/08, please redownload it now. Thanks to a sharp Raveler several typos were discovered and have now been corrected.

So, new year, new things to do. Obviously not everything about my life is changing radically this year, but I already know I won't have the same job, and the kids will continue to grow and learn, and so on and so forth. I'm not a huge fan of resolutions, so I'm only going to make one, and it's going to be very broad and open to interpretation (and also stolen from the title of an episode of Friday Night Lights which is a seriously fun show to watch -- it's like The O.C. only in a small Texas town and with football instead of money):

Git 'er done.

That's it. I have a tremendous number of projects that are in various stages of completion, from still in my mind to just needing a little finishing. This year, I want to be better about getting existing projects done, and especially about following through with getting things out of my head and into production. So here's a very partial list of things I'll be working on getting done:

- Coloring comic strips for this contest
- Finishing a quilt for Zack
- Contacting everyone I know who can help me find a job (MW, AL, etc.)
- Finishing the last three stair treads for our stairs
- Blocking the Hemlock Ring blanket (it looks like this right now, in case you're interested)



- Mailing the three packages I have almost ready to go
- Finishing baby sweater and sending along with way overdue shower gift
- Creating a database system intended for writers to keep idea notes in (working name is Jot; I haven't decided whether to do it in Access or HanDBase yet -- I think the latter might actually be more useful)
- Knitting sweaters for Becky, Jene, Zack, Kit, and myself
- Knitting an assortment of socks
- Refreshing my Latin, German, Greek and French, in that order. I have zero talent for languages, but I've been well schooled in all of these and am a little embarrassed that my understanding of all of them is so limited. I'm pretty sure if I actually apply myself and keep up reading them, I'll at least have a passable knowledge.
- Reading the excess of books I own but have not yet read. To be fair, this is one that only ever gets to be a worse problem, as I cannot seem to pass a bookstore without several of them coming home to live with me, and though I'm a pretty quick reader, I do have a finite amount of time available for this
- Writing articles. I know about a lot of different things, especially crafts, and even more especially fiber arts. Surely I can write something interesting about some of it.
- Dyeing fabric and yarn.
- Finishing a quilt for Becky (? - she has asked for one and I already have the top done, but she asked for the Hemlock Ring, too, and now has no interest in it)
- Publishing more patterns, both freebies and paymes
- Sew some clothes for Becky and me

Well, I'm overwhelmed now, how about you? Seriously, though, it does help me to have everything written down in one place...otherwise I tend to just forget I'm doing things (like just now Kit reminded me that he made me a delightful burger that I'm letting cool and totally forgot about, so I'm going to go eat that now...okay, I'm back) and replace them with new things.

So here's hoping all of you had a great year last year and have an even better one in 2009. And also, check out my awesome kids!


He doesn't have one of these any more except when he sleeps, and also, no more bottles! Cuppies only from here on out! Our little boy is all grows up. Sniffle.




Ah, the Christmas concert. At least she didn't scream the entire time this year -- only for two songs worth. Then she even sang a little.



More notes to myself re: things I want to blog about:
- convo with Pat Rothfuss -- SQUEE!
- Christmas -- kid stuff
- TED
- Neil Gaiman
- Comic books/Graphic novels
- Movies

posted by Laura Y. @ 5:33 PM