Many of you who read this blog (and thanks for sticking around, by the way!) are knitters and originally came here because I did a lot of knitting. And then, you know, life interrupted and I bemoaned many times the fact that I was barely knitting a stitch. Which is still the case… but!! I’m sort of getting drawn back in. I know! I just finished a button-tab hat, which I know is well below my skill level, but who cares? It was easy and fun, and I think it turned out kind of cute. I even went to the local yarn store yesterday for the first time in at least a year. They still recognized me, which was kind of nice. I’m going to start these little cuties today, too. Anyway, I didn’t knit in 2008, almost at all, except the one wee hat linked above. But, among many other things coming along, I’m looking forward to knitting quite a few more things this year.

Other things I expect of myself in 2009 (not-so-much resolutions as ways I want to be): volunteering once a month with the kids. I want them to learn a sense of civic duty. I want them to realize they’ve got it pretty good, compared to many or even most. More water. Getting outdoors more. Being calm. Directing my energy willfully toward what I want out of life, rather than just hoping for the best. And, I’d like to see a couple places I’ve never seen as well as go back to places I love. I already have a small trip happening in February, somewhere I’ve never been, somewhere fun and crazy, and with someone I adore. So, that is a very good start.

Writing (blogging) again feels good, too. I feel so welcoming toward this year, which is a really nice change.

It’s been a while. My domain even expired and I have no idea if anyone reads this at all.

But!! It’s a New Year and I am going to blog a little here and there. I’m looking forward to a really good year. I’m just sure it will be, not just for me but for everyone. I feel like there’s a lot of hope and mindful attemps at shaping the future this year, collectively. I hope so!

Small recap. The kids & I moved a few months ago, just about a mile from our old house, but it’s a good space for us and felt like the right thing to do, plus yeah, selling the house will allow us to finalize the divorce and I am very much ready for that. My new(-ish) job is going well after a few rough first months, and I am actually kind of kicking ass at it. We’ve mostly got a good groove here between work and school schedules though I confess I sometimes feel stretched too many directions and like poor S & V have to shuffle between too many households. They are troopers though, and are flourishing. Miss V turned 7 a couple months ago and Silas is a week away from 10. Double digits!!! Time truly does seem to fly. He just started the gifted program at school and LOVES it. I don’t want to brag, but his scoring completely floored me. Let’s just say that his dad & I were both in similar programs and have decent IQs, but he proves the theory of genetic superiority with each generation.

What else? Well…I’m seeing a great guy and am very happy. He also has kids and all four of them get along so much better than one might expect from four 5 to 10 year-olds.

Oh, I took a trip to Seattle at the beginning of the month to surprise my sister on her 50th birthday. It was a short, but really great visit.

So, that’s all for now. Drop me a line and say hello if you stumble upon this– I know, it’s been a while. As a farewell and a “hello, again”, I leave you with this years’ Xmas card pic, taken by my lovely friend, Scout.

Are you on Flickr? You can send a message to President-Elect Obama, too.

Today is your day, your mountain is waiting, so get on your way.

- Dr Seuss

Please, if you haven’t, go vote!!!

I’m hopeful and wistful, and I think things are maybe going all the right ways, but I certainly do not want to jinx said things.

It is very odd to think about the way I was looking at the world this time last year; things can change immensely in such short order.

And, I know you won’t believe me, but I am knitting a hat. I know!

since she looked up at me with her sticky newborn eyes and I felt the most amazing surge of gratitude in my life.

I had a baby girl. I had no idea how much having a little girl would complete me, how it would somehow make up for the devastation of losing my mother as a young woman. I had no clue what I was in for and how immensely I could love a second child.

Happy Birthday, baby girl. I love you x infinity.

26 years ago, in September, I attended my first concert. The Police– the Synchronicity tour. That night fomented a life-long love, nay– obsession, with music.

The other day, T & I were sorting through boxes in the garage, separating memories, as I prepare to move into the home that will be mine and the kids’ alone. Amongst photos and books and letters from loves past, I found the t-shirt from that night, the first of many, many concert tees. I was fortunate to live through my formative teens and twenties in a place where music ruled the cultural scene. I have no idea how many shows I’ve attended over the years, but the memories are all sweet. Yes, I was the tiny girl rockin’ the pit with the hardest-core fans more often than not. I took great pride in seeing detailed facial expressions during almost-erotic solos. I relished the inevitably ringing ears the following day.
It’s impossible to describe how happy it made me that my big boy wanted to take ownership of my first concert shirt. He beamed with pride when a teenager at the local pizza place gave him the hipster nod and mumbled “Cool shirt, bro.”

Funny how this was a regularly updated, mostly-knitting blog, then an infrequently updated crazy-life/divorce blog, and lately is an extremely rarely updated semi-photography blog. I just couldn’t resist sharing this shot of my lovely girl. She looks so grown up, it startles me.

and it’s my lucky birthday!

Please forgive the crappy, grainy quality of this shot. I was dealing with low, indoor light and I haven’t figured out my camera enough to compensate for that yet! Who cares, anyway? It’s 08/08/08!!

…that is, if anyone’s still out there!

The new job is going well. It’s a lot of work, and the learning curve is relatively steep, but it still feels like a good direction. S & V are flourishing and growing and continuing to delight. They start school in less than two weeks!

My birthday is in exactly one week. It should be a lucky year– 08/08/08. I hope so, it’s more than time. I have three birthday wishes, none of them exactly material, but which I’ll keep to myself, being the occasionally superstitious sort. As for the materialistic, I already indulged that particular birthday desire. Hence:

No, it’s not the dress.

Also, today, I sold a photograph. Yep. It felt really fabulous. So anyway, hello.