365/365 A Year in Blogging

2009. A romance, a life and death story, a plot full of twists and turns.

With the completion of Project 365 I have an archive of random moments, thoughts, and major life changes coming from each day of this year. Resolving to do something, and actually following it through, this project proved to be easier than other new year resolutions. Starting out last January, I'd assumed that a couple of cat photos and repetitive posts about the running trail would fill the space when nothing else surfaced. But 2009 proved to write its own story, creating an archive of an important year in our lives. The pain, the joy, the struggles, were these unique to 2009? Or by recording these thoughts have I simply created a collage of the drama of living? Completion of this project seems like an occasion to wax poetic and break out my philosophical, reflective side. Impossible, though, because the drama continues. The career uncertainty that existed at the beginning of the year continues in new form. Wellness and health, greater concerns than one year ago, will never again be taken for granted. The joys of family and friends, the struggle and uncertainty of parenting, the incessant movement of the clock, all themes from 2009 that continue to 2010 and beyond.

Looking back over the posts, some days I sunk my teeth into the meat of the day, and other days my mind struggled to sort out the meaning. Some posts were intentionally frivilous, and in others I worked hard to develop understanding through my writing. Most days I wrote only for myself, yet sometimes I imagined my floating, virtual audience and was encouraged by the steady flow of comments and personal reflections. Did this make be a better writer? Better thinker? A more grateful or reflective person?

A fellow blogger recently posted about her dislike of the phrase "Live Every Day as if it were your last." Her sentiment is that the knowledge of the last day might make us live differently, succumbing to all the gluttony available in a 24 hour period. I'm not a fan of that phrase either. I wouldn't want to live Every Day with a feeling of the end looming nearby. I perfer to "Live Every Day as if it were your best." Sure, we will still have to go to the dentist, attend traffic school, change the cat litter, do laundry, go to work, sit in traffic, or sometimes have surgery, but there are moments in Every Day that we can make the best. Looking back at this trying year, and looking forward to the years to come, I think I've stayed true to this belief, living the best day I can, and thriving in the great wealth of family, friends, music, and good fortune.

Project 365 complete. More daily blogging in my future? Probably. More thriving? Definitely.

364/365 "Le Cinema today is in a crisis."

Sherlock Holmes: Great performance by RDJ, but it was more action flick than the deductive skills of the masterful mystery-solver. Disappointed thumbs down.

Nine: Second time around even better than the first. Visually delicious. Today was Sophia Lauren appreciation day for me. "Guarda La Luna" had me crying. Beautiful. Two worried thumbs way up. Teen audience members thought it was terrible and boring. Low box office for high art.

It's Complicated: Light-hearted romantic comedy with a loose script, but it's fun to watch Alec Baldwin in a self-deprecating role, and Meryl's class act is always worth a look. Thumbs moderately up, but I kinda' wished we'd waited for the Redbox on this one.

363/365 Dental Drama Part 2

How does one get an infection in the root of a tooth? I didn't even have a cavity there. Owiee.

362/365 Remaining Reticent... Well Mostly

A child grows up without asking permission. A child decides she wants a boyfriend without permission.

Those of us who love her stay close, but can hardly watch.

361/365 Alone, yet surrounded by people

I woke early this morning - about 6:15 AM to a crowded but quiet house. I crept about, gathered my things, and went for a slow solo run with my newest soundtrack purchase. A quirky set of songs - everything from a torch song rendition of My Husband Makes Movies by Marion Cotillard to a club mix of Be Italian and a rap/hip-hop version of Quando, Quando, Quando with Fergie and a Pea. We had a good time on the trail, the soundtrack and I, putting in 5 miles and returning before anyone woke up. Then the visiting cousins, my family and my mom convened for a Sunday Cracker Barrel breakfast. A table for 8 took the better part of an hour to secure, and the store/restaurant was so packed we couldn't find a spot to wait inside. Surrounded by people. Post breakfast we returned home to practice our tunes for a re-wedding of the children of a school friend. It was a precious ceremony, complete with bride and groom's kids as the flower duo. The wedding party, musicians, and guests all herded to the mother of the groom's house, a block away, for a standing-room-only reception. Great food, a lovely Victorian home, and plenty of conversation. Surrounded by people. Having my fill of crowds today, I retreat to my bed where I'll make room for the husband, daughter and two cats, surrounded again. Sometimes it's a bit chaotic, and I am glad that I can steal a moment or a run alone, but I'm thankful that I'm not lonely!

360/365 Logging the Miles

It was a brisk 47 degrees when we hit the trail. Walking at a decent pace, we kept it under 15 minutes per mile. 6 miles in the filtered winter sun, including a 20 minute coffee stop. It was a glorious day to log some miles. If/when we get back to the running, it won't be until next June, though honestly, our "running" pace wasn't much faster than our walking! It is nice to put in the miles in daylight as opposed to the 4:30 AM departure on school days. According to the GPS/heart rate monitors we knocked out 1200+ calories, which more than entitles me to some popcorn when we go back to the movies to see Nine again! Vacation is very good!

359/365 What Child is This?

In the background... In the arms of a boy. When I took this picture I'd intended to display the traditional Jewish Christmas celebration. Movies and take-out Chinese food. The amorous teenage embrace in the background is even more disturbing than the perturbed spouse in the foreground. Oy.