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valancy_janeIn the past two years, everything has broken. We have lost the water heater, garage, air conditioner, fixed electricity, and then the pipes (months of construction after the flood). Right at Christmas, the furnace went out. We had decided, handily, that this was all over with 2011.
This morning, the kitchen sink stopped up.
Not baking soda and vinger, not augering (think kitchen snake thingy), not taking apart the pipes, not ANYTHING has worked to fix it. In a home where celiac disease is a defining aspect of our lives and the kitchen is the be-all and end-all of basically everything, a nonfunctioning kitchen is somewhat akin to nuclear disaster. There is almost nothing we can eat at restaurants, and we had already splurged on eating out this week. I am currently Iron Chefing a meal composed solely of ingredients that can be thrown into the oven. (All our dishes in the dishwasher were contaminated by the backup as well, barring a pie plate and a few other things, which we'll be eating off. Like I said: totally Iron Chef.
On the upside, this has reminded me to my yearly 2011 in review, a touch late, admittedly.
On to the (abbreviated) year-in-review quiz!
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Had my house flood. Sigh. It shouldn't be so defining, but let's face it - it was. There were also the terrible fires that filled the air with ash and soot and left us gasping for breath most of the summer. The Year of Fires and Flood, I guess.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolution(s), and will you make more for next year?
Last year, it was to stop taking sugar in my coffee. I succeeded admirably. Ironically, I can no longer drink coffee on a regular basis, so the victory was a little for nothing - my body is not built for hardcore drugs like caffeine, alas - but I did after all succeed. This year, it's to check my finances every day...or close to. Boring as it is, more closely tracking my finances is something I've gotten a little away from and need to get back to.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth or die?
Romie brought Ilario into the world, which is endlessly exciting. :D
4. What places did you visit?
I went to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for the first time, as well as snowshoeing, though of course that isn't a place. :) The balloon fiesta was magical; a perfectly cold, crisp today, the fresh snow on the mountains, the dancing special shapes all around us. Oh! And I went to the River of Lights (a Christmas lights display at the local Arboretum, which I also visited for the first time earlier this year), and the Gruet winery, both during Cath's visit.
5. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Amusingly, I can't remember the date for sure - though I think it was May 4 - when our house flooded. I'll certainly remember the experience of the day.
6. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through it! I forgot to mention the husband's celiac diagnosis. God, this has been a lousy year.
7. What was your biggest failure?
Not enough writing.
8. Did you suffer illness or injury?
More of the same.
9. What was the best thing you bought?
The husband would say the ugly (though less ugly than most) and infinitely comfortable recliner we bought. :) I would say my new necklaces (beautiful gifts: thank you!) or our ridiculous but much-loved sheepskin.
10. How did you spend Christmas?
With my sister (who came to NM) and my husband. The quietest, most mellow Christmas I've ever had, and also one of the happiest.
11. What was your favorite TV program, movie, and book this year?
Supernatural (Still shockingly clever.)
True Grit (It just got me. Also, I didn't see that many movies this year.)
Physics of the Future (I talk about it constantly.)
12. Best thing(s)/successes this year?
Getting published. Getting really comfortable getting dinner on the table, and getting a teeny bit more decorating done.
13. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Poor! Er, I suppose, classic: I've wearing the same clothes, mostly, but with a few more boat necks, stripes, and generally simple, classic pieces.
14. Who did you miss?
Everyone. It's still hard away from most everyone I love.
15. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Honestly? Sometimes you just can't win, and it's not your fault.
16. Plans next year?
Finish more decorating. Get the walls painted. Move along in life. NOT have things break.
17. Quote a song that sums up your year:
Girl, I know the woods look dark
And the trees, they look so deadly
The girls around you are so frightened
And you start, start to panic
Hear the breathing of a panic
And the world, it really is on fire
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
("Lost Girls")
EDITED TO ADD: HAH! Victory! Heroic husband has fixed the pipes!
This morning, the kitchen sink stopped up.
Not baking soda and vinger, not augering (think kitchen snake thingy), not taking apart the pipes, not ANYTHING has worked to fix it. In a home where celiac disease is a defining aspect of our lives and the kitchen is the be-all and end-all of basically everything, a nonfunctioning kitchen is somewhat akin to nuclear disaster. There is almost nothing we can eat at restaurants, and we had already splurged on eating out this week. I am currently Iron Chefing a meal composed solely of ingredients that can be thrown into the oven. (All our dishes in the dishwasher were contaminated by the backup as well, barring a pie plate and a few other things, which we'll be eating off. Like I said: totally Iron Chef.
On the upside, this has reminded me to my yearly 2011 in review, a touch late, admittedly.
On to the (abbreviated) year-in-review quiz!
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Had my house flood. Sigh. It shouldn't be so defining, but let's face it - it was. There were also the terrible fires that filled the air with ash and soot and left us gasping for breath most of the summer. The Year of Fires and Flood, I guess.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolution(s), and will you make more for next year?
Last year, it was to stop taking sugar in my coffee. I succeeded admirably. Ironically, I can no longer drink coffee on a regular basis, so the victory was a little for nothing - my body is not built for hardcore drugs like caffeine, alas - but I did after all succeed. This year, it's to check my finances every day...or close to. Boring as it is, more closely tracking my finances is something I've gotten a little away from and need to get back to.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth or die?
Romie brought Ilario into the world, which is endlessly exciting. :D
4. What places did you visit?
I went to the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for the first time, as well as snowshoeing, though of course that isn't a place. :) The balloon fiesta was magical; a perfectly cold, crisp today, the fresh snow on the mountains, the dancing special shapes all around us. Oh! And I went to the River of Lights (a Christmas lights display at the local Arboretum, which I also visited for the first time earlier this year), and the Gruet winery, both during Cath's visit.
5. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Amusingly, I can't remember the date for sure - though I think it was May 4 - when our house flooded. I'll certainly remember the experience of the day.
6. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting through it! I forgot to mention the husband's celiac diagnosis. God, this has been a lousy year.
7. What was your biggest failure?
Not enough writing.
8. Did you suffer illness or injury?
More of the same.
9. What was the best thing you bought?
The husband would say the ugly (though less ugly than most) and infinitely comfortable recliner we bought. :) I would say my new necklaces (beautiful gifts: thank you!) or our ridiculous but much-loved sheepskin.
10. How did you spend Christmas?
With my sister (who came to NM) and my husband. The quietest, most mellow Christmas I've ever had, and also one of the happiest.
11. What was your favorite TV program, movie, and book this year?
Supernatural (Still shockingly clever.)
True Grit (It just got me. Also, I didn't see that many movies this year.)
Physics of the Future (I talk about it constantly.)
12. Best thing(s)/successes this year?
Getting published. Getting really comfortable getting dinner on the table, and getting a teeny bit more decorating done.
13. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Poor! Er, I suppose, classic: I've wearing the same clothes, mostly, but with a few more boat necks, stripes, and generally simple, classic pieces.
14. Who did you miss?
Everyone. It's still hard away from most everyone I love.
15. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Honestly? Sometimes you just can't win, and it's not your fault.
16. Plans next year?
Finish more decorating. Get the walls painted. Move along in life. NOT have things break.
17. Quote a song that sums up your year:
Girl, I know the woods look dark
And the trees, they look so deadly
The girls around you are so frightened
And you start, start to panic
Hear the breathing of a panic
And the world, it really is on fire
And it burns
And it burns
And it burns
("Lost Girls")
EDITED TO ADD: HAH! Victory! Heroic husband has fixed the pipes!
