I'm Still Here

I'm OK.  There's nothing wrong.  Life has been busy.  I've been under the weather.  There's a lot going on that I will soon write about and share with you here.

January went by so fast.  We experienced our first snowstorm in Seattle and realized why this city is paralyzed by any amount of snow.  The city has zero budget to manage snow and ice.  Mark and I had about 4-5 inches total of snow in our neighborhood.  None of the streets around us were plowed including the major streets.  I was shocked.  But, it turns out that they don't have plows here.  The few that they do have are used on the highways.  It was nice because everything literally shut down and Mark didn't have to go to his office for a few days.  We played in the snow and took some long walks.

We've been house hunting, which is a lot of fun.  It's like being a part of house hunters!  We have a great agent who used to be a builder so he's able to help us look not only at the surface but deeper at the foundation and bones of each home and tell us whether it's a good home or not.  We're learning to look beyond the cosmetic and at what makes a quality, long-term home.  It's super fun!

One of my cousins got engaged!

I signed up for an art class that started on February 2.

Things are good.  I just need to get back on track with writing on this blog.  And, I will.  Soon.  I promise this to myself.

Until then I hope that everyone is doing well and enjoying life.

More Thoughts on Blogging

We live in a "ME" world, where many thoughts, ideas and ways of life are self-centered and self-focused.  Blogging is often an area where one is self-centered.  Whether it be about oneself or one's family and life, blogging is primarily about "me."

Casey Anthony's video blog was released either by she or by someone else a day or so ago.  The media is ripping it apart and in one report counted the number of times she said the word "I."  They said it as if that was a wrong thing.  I'm not sure that it is wrong for her to say "I" so many times, as it was HER video blog.  Yes, I think she is a sociopath who killed her own child (intentionally or unintentionally) and covered it up.  Yes, I think it is odd for her not to mention her child.  But, it is HER video blog.  One that I imagine she never thought would be viewed by the outside world - or maybe she did but regardless it is HER video blog.

I view blogging as a sort of journal.  At least that is what I planned when I started out using my blog.  In the past year I tried to make it something more.  I don't think I like what direction it was taking.  It wasn't me.  I want to be open and honest and share myself and not what clothes I like or what I made for dinner.  I plan to do be more open and honest again but at the same time keeping some of those issues that I wrote about yesterday in mind.  Maintain some privacy.  I want to be able to use the pronoun "I" as often as I want and not be judged.

It's hard to write a blog as a journal without making it all about "me" but that seems to be the norm these days.  It isn't just in the blogging world.  I've realized that people around me have become more and more narcissistic and self-centered in conversations.  I'm at fault too.  We, all of us, are focused on ourselves and our own lives.  There's nothing wrong with it as we all hear over and over again to take care of ourselves.  And it is true: No one does a better job of looking out for yourself than yourself.

Do we care about our friends and family?  Yes, of course.  But at the end of the day, most people only care about what they themselves have done and/or what they are doing next.  Am I jaded or am I just hanging out with the wrong people?

Anyway, am I the only one crazy to think that it's not wrong for Casey Anthony to be able to do a video blog about how she's feeling?

Thoughts on Blogging

The past year was not a very good one for blogging.  And 2012 isn't looking too good for it either.  As I've mentioned before I struggle with blogging because in order to be a REALLY good blogger one needs to reveal and share a LOT of private information, write about a specific topic that they are really invested in and care about (e.g., cooking, crafts, travel, etc.), and commit to writing on a very regular basis.

Now that I'm married and want to respect Mark's desire for more privacy, I don't write as often.  I also don't have a true passion that I want to write about: cooking (I love but don't need to write about it all the time plus I don't take photos of my cooking), crafting (I couldn't tell you how to make a crafty item to begin with LOL), travel (I love to but I don't do it as often to write about it or make it interesting).  So, that leaves us here.  Today.  I haven't been writing much lately.  I don't share much personally.  That doesn't make for an exciting blog.  It's true.  I know it.

I could write about what I would change in my marriage and reveal private and personal details that really shouldn't be shared publicly.  I will tell you though that I would get rid of cable TV.  I have a love/hate relationship with it.  I love it because during down time while working at home, I can catch up on the bad reality TV that I indulge in occasionally.  I hate it when Mark comes home from work and winds down by watching sports highlights.  I'd rather have him focus on me the minute he gets home but I'm OK with him watching a few minutes of TV and then focusing on me a little later.  I didn't have cable TV until Mark and I moved in together and I think I had a better quality of life without it.  I spent more time reading, doing other activities and catching up with friends on the phone.  Reality is that we won't be getting rid of cable so I need to get creative in getting us to turn off the TV.

I could write about how I'm feeling lonely in a new city and the ways in which I'm trying to meet new people and connect with others.  But that's boring.  I did sign up for a children's book illustration class.  It starts in February and I can't wait.  I know that signing up for a class doesn't guarantee that I'll make new friends but it might!  One can hope.

I could write about how much I love Winston but struggle with him every day and I've been talking to Mark about finding him a new home.  I cry about it every day lately it seems.  I hope that it is a phase that I'm going through but there are some valid concerns that I have with keeping him.  He is very demanding and while I knew it would be as the primary caregiver of him and as an independent person I'm now tied to the house because of him and I'm feeling depressed about it.  He also nips a lot and is underfoot almost all the time.  I've tripped over him a number of times and when he gets nippy I have a hard time dealing with him when I'm home with him by myself.  If we decide to find him a new home, I don't want to be judged because I already have tremendous guilt just because I've been thinking about it.  I love this puppy and I'm so glad he is in our lives but there are so many concerns that I have about keeping him.  Please don't judge, I'm already crying over this daily.

I could write about considering another change in my career.  I've been an independent consultant for the last two years but living in a new city is lonely and I miss the collegial atmosphere of an office.  So, I've been thinking about possibly going back to work in an office.  I also continue to focus on growing my independent consulting work and current clients so the possibilities remain wide open.  But who wants to hear about work?!  Not me!

I could write about gossip or do giveaways but I don't want people to read my blog just because I'm up on the latest celebrity divorce, marriage or baby.  I also don't want people to come to my blog because I'm giving away something cool.

So, I'm going to keep doing what I'm doing and not feel bad about it.  My reader numbers were at an all time high earlier in the year but have dropped off substantially and I'm OK with it.  I don't write for others.  I write for myself.  In 2012, I might write a lot or I might not update for a long time.  I won't apologize for either and I won't beat myself up either.

I do know that 2012 is going to be a big year and I can't wait for the year to reveal itself.  My little brother and his wife are having a baby girl in early February (if she's on time).  My cousin got engaged over the holidays.  Mark and I are house hunting.  My parents are in Thailand and doing good to help the world.

Whether or not you continue to read my blog, I thank you for your past support and wish you good health and happiness in 2012!

xo,

Travelogue 2011

In 2011, we stayed close to home as we knew that we were going to make some big changes in our lives (moving to Seattle).  Travel was not a priority though we were able to get a few fun trips into our schedules for some fun time.  

We're hoping to get in a few more fun trips in 2012 including Vancouver, WA and hopefully an overseas trip since we didn't go anywhere overseas in 2011 (a first for both of us in a long time).

Source

January

Los Angeles

February

Sonoma, CA

New Orleans, LA (business)

April

Washington, DC

June/July

Kauai, Hawaii

September

Reno, NV

Seattle, WA

Road trip from San Francisco to Seattle via Oregon

October/November

Chicago, IL

Did you go anywhere fun this year?  What was your favorite trip?