years go by, will I still be waiting...

This end-of-the-year moving house saga was a real side tracker. As I've been packing, it occurred to me that there were things I managed to accomplish this year:

de-stash the yarn collection: I've done two things to de-stash the yarn - I've knit from my stash, obviously: socks, blankets, scarves, shawls, sweaters (I need to photograph a bunch of this stuff and put up the specs on Ravelry). I also culled my stash and took a HUGE bag of yarn to a yarn swap to give away. I also donated some yarn to Knitting Behind Bars, which the founder of my knitting group started.

And then I bought more yarn at Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival at the beginning of May. However, I knew I would be doing that and had a plan for what I was looking for, which resulted in a reasonable and not overboard haul. (I believe the correct term is "stash enhancement adventure.")

re-commit to the morning writing, reading, exercise, and cello practice routine: I did really well with the morning pages until I went to Paris in late May. I kept a travel journal while I was there, but when I came back, I struggled to pick up my morning writing pattern again. At least in the handwritten form. I've done quite a bit of journal writing on the laptop since May.

As for reading, I've gotten through a fair number of books this year, both physical and electronic. I particularly like Daily Lit online. I've gotten through quite a few classics this year using that service - the latest being Villette by Charlotte Bronte. I've just started The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins. I'm still wandering through the tome that is The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt, and I'm still enjoying the atmosphere of it; really is a savory read. I also just finished the latest Anne Rice novel, which I got through in an afternoon - I'll do a book review of that later.

I went for near daily afternoon walks until the weather got yucky hot. All that exercise served me well as I continually got lost in Paris. Speaking of lost, my weight is down, also thanks to exercise and getting back to a real foods diet.

Morning cello practice was hit or miss. I was too conscious of my neighbors being able to hear me, even with a mute on the bridge. I seemed to be less worried about it with evening practices. I think this will be less of a problem in the new house - no downstairs neighbors, and my practice room doesn't share any common walls with the new neighbors.

post a blog entry once a week: Including this entry, I have 44 posts for the year, so that's not quite one a week. I think that posting more about my cello lessons and practice, in addition to what I typically write about, will up the numbers next year.

finish short story/novella/novel: I completed a draft of a new novel, and then realized how utterly boring the story was, so I set about revising it, which involved introducing a new character. The second draft is better, but meanders too much. Way too much. So I'm into the third draft now, plus I've outlined several other stories. I also investigated publishing e-books, and my first novel will be available as an ebook early in the new year - I got image use permission for the cover art, and I'm getting help with formatting and uploading. I'm hoping to get the current writing project wrapped up and e-pubbed next year as well.

make a cello commitment: I bought a cello in July, after a year of lessons with a rented instrument. Having my own cello has been a great investment and a nice upgrade from the rental. I've signed up for another round of lessons with Ben. I finished two etude books, and Ben is starting to talk "ensembles" and "quartets" and "trios" and "duets with a pianist." I think he's crazy.

So besides the above, I went to Paris for my 35th birthday in May. I really like Europe, and I plan to go back. I've surprised myself with the international travel in the past couple of years, in that provided I'm armed with a guidebook, a map, a metro/tube/bus pass, comfortable shoes, an umbrella, a water bottle, some snacks, a towel, and a backpack to put it all in, wandering around an unknown place doesn't faze me a bit. It's nice to know I have an adventurous streak.

And as you've heard ad nauseum, I decided toward the end of the year that 11 years in my condo was enough. With the help of a fabulous realtor, in the span of about 30 days, I found a townhouse, put an offer on it, which was accepted, submitted paperwork right and left, put my condo on the market after getting new carpet, got an offer on it, submitted more paperwork up and down, and had the air ducts cleaned. I'm moving in mid-January. I'm calling it the Treehouse from now on - "townhouse-in-the-trees" is too much have to type. It's not technically in the trees, but it's pretty damn close.