So here's the short of it, 
It's back to work!

And here's the long.

Wow!  I got up this morning and thought - "I've really gotten used to that other lifestyle" - you know the one where you don't have to get up really early in the morning and the working world isn't waiting for you to show up and do your thing!

But once I got moving and got myself to work it took off and I got right back into the swing of things.  Tomorrow is another Professional Development day and I am really excited.  I've gotten permission to attend the session for the social studies teachers.  The Facing History folks will be here to do a full day! This will be a real motivator for getting up and going in the morning!

So for now it's off to bed so I'll be ready for tomorrow!

So here's the short of it, 
We had a lovely afternoon with the younger kids. 

And here's the long.

This afternoon Liga and Valdis and Kalie treated us to the movie Les Miserables.

After the movie we came home for Green Bean Chili - an absolute favorite for the family!

You know it's such a lovely thing -- our baby children gown up and being the ones to treat us to a lovely afternoon and then entertaining us by participating in grown-up conversation.

So here's the short of it, 
Thanks Liga!

And here's the long.

Liga came over and spent about 3 hours helping me out with a major declutter project today.  She really inspires me to get things done when she's working with me.  And today's project really makes me feel lots better!

One of the things I want to do this year is occupy myself with things other than the computer.  I don't want to spend as much time as I've allowed myself to.  It's really easy for me to go from one thing to another, to another, to yet another and end up spending way too much time on the computer.

We'll see how that goes.  I've got lots of ideas about things to keep me interested and busy.

So here's the short of it, 
Here's a good thought to start the year.  

And here's the long.

Thanks to my Canadian Cousin Tami Cormack for posting this on Facebook!

So for 2013 there will be more dancing and singing and story telling/listening.  And for sure exploring my own "sweet territory of silence.

So here's the short of it, 
Well, well, well.  Tomorrow is the last day of "real vacation" - not counting the weekend. 

And here's the long.

Today was a stay at home day except for my trip to see Kelly to get a massage.   I slept late because I stayed up really later than I normally do.  Then, I stayed in my PJs until almost noon!  Well, I did do some organizing in the living room and some detail cleaning that I don't usually get a chance to do. And I babied my houseplants a little bit.

The kitchen is pretty organized this vacation - that's feeling pretty good.  And I'm still really enjoying the loom knitting!  Right now, I'm headed to bed -- I'm not going to get myself out of sleep sync this close to going back to work, because I'm scheduled to hit the office on run next week.

So here's the short of it, 
Today was one of those wonderful vacation days. 

And here's the long.

This morning, I finally went to a yoga class.  One of my very dear friends has been going for some time and has been onto me to go.  This morning I went to the class that she goes to.  She is very fond of this teacher who is known for her gentle approach for folks like my friend and me.  I had such a nice experience that I think I may try to go to some of this teacher's classes again with my friend.

This afternoon Mom and I spent the afternoon together.  We had a nice lunch at Golly Whoppers - visited with Mommy Anne - and then had a shopping spree at Michaels.  We really did have a lovely time together. Then this evening after she got off work, Liga came over and we experimented with her new long loom.  I've been using the round looms for a couple of weeks now to teach myself loom knitting.  I'm really enjoying learning this new skill!  I actually never thought I'd learn to knit, but I really like the loom!



Here are some pictures of the looms.  These are from images online, so these are not the projects we are working on!

How fun to be learning something new!

So here's the short of it, 
Happy 2013!

And here's the long.

"I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.  You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself.  Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes.  Make mistakes nobody's ever made before.  Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work, or family, or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever."

-- Neil Gaiman

I'm going to be better about embracing my mistakes in this year coming!

...and thanks to Cory Booker for posting this on Facebook so that I could find it and reflect.