only 2 more knitting days til xmas

While frantically trying to knit up my last present, I asked the Christmas knitalong I'm in to boost my morale and tell me that I can actually finish in time. Someone suggested I call 1-877-SOS-KNIT.

Oh my goodness. Best advice ever.

I have to say, Tim was also amused by choice #3 (if you would like to get better gifts this year, press 3 and hold the phone up to your spouse's ear). I haven't listened to that one yet, but by how hard Tim was laughing, I'm guessing it was good.

Us knitters. We're so predictable.

warm fuzzies

Today was parent conference day at the preschool - my first time ever doing parent conferences. I have such a great group of kids. I loved telling the parents how much I am enjoying their kids and what things their children love to do at school. It's so great to see their smiles and to hear them talk about their kids at home. It was also so nice (and somewhat unexpected, I'm not sure why) to hear them say how much their children love me and the school. They say the kids talk about "Teacher Alison" all the time at home. It really makes me feel good to know that I am making a difference in these kids' lives and that the parents think I am doing a great job. There are some moments from today that I am sure I will remember for a very long time. This is what makes me glad to have finally found a field I enjoy and am good at.

And now I am on to my more than 2 weeks of holiday vacation. Another perk of being a teacher.

end of year wrap-up

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
graduated college

2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make New Year's resolutions

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
One of my coworkers and one of Tim's close friends, but no one super close to me.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My doggy, Oscar. My brother also had a very close call.

5. What countries did you visit?
No countries, but we went to Arizona and to Napa

6. What would you like to have in 2006 that you lacked in 2005?
A more usable craft room. I need more shelves in order to use the space better.

7. What date from 2005 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
It probably won't remain etched in my memory, but May 28 I graduated from college.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduation, finding a job I love (for the first time ever, really)

9. What was your biggest failure?
Accepting a job and then deciding I was going to be miserable there. At least it led to finding a job I really do love though.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing serious, but the kids have been keeping me pretty sick so far.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My car!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Celebration? I can't really think of anyone.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one really, though I have been somewhat disappointed with some people's behavior.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, kitchen remodel, car, furniture, vacation.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
I get excited about a lot of things. Graduation, vacations, a new job I love. Right now I am excited about putting up xmas decorations for the first time in our house. We didn't decorate last year because we visited family out of state.

16. What song will always remind you of 2005?
Commencement Processional

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?: happier
ii. thinner or fatter?: thinner
iii. richer or poorer?: richer, since I have a job now and we aren't paying for college

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
cooking, knitting with friends, hanging out with the girls

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
getting sick, being a bum

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At home with my husband, being cozy, sipping eggnog, and listening to xmas songs :)

21. Did you fall in love in 2005?
I stayed in love

22. What was your favorite TV program?
lost, my name is earl, survivor

23. Do you dislike anyone now that you liked this time last year?
I have grown apart from one or two people.

24. What was the best book you read?
The Sprit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The only songs that I know I have only heard for the first time this year are children's songs :p

26. What did you want and get?
A fabulous anniversary weekend with Tim, a gorgeous new kitchen

27. What did you want and not get?
PG&E to be fast, reasonable, and competent in our electrical upgrade

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
I can't even remember what all we've watched. Maybe Serenity or The Goblet of Fire. We just watched A Very Long Engagement on dvd, and that was pretty good.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 30. I went out to dinner with Tim, Ryan, Rachel & Matt at Benihanas. Then we went out for drinks at the Fairmont Hotel. Snazzy.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I don't know. My year was pretty damn good.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2005?
Jeans and other clothes that don't matter if kids get them dirty.

32. What kept you sane?
my husband, knitting

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I can certainly tell you that it is not Tom Cruise.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
It's not really an issue, but I can't believe it has only been one year since Bush was reelected. Ugh.

35. Who did you miss?
Matt moved away :(

36. Who was the best new person you met?
My coworkers are pretty nice.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2005.
I actually learned it long ago, but it has been reinforced: You can't help people unless they want help.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Vindicated
I am selfish
I am wrong
I am right
I swear I'm right
Swear I knew it all along
And I am flawed, but I am cleaning up so well
I am seeing in me now the things you swore you saw yourself

Five things that 2005 taught me:
1. To keep in touch better with relatives...now I just need to work on actually doing it.
2. A goal can be postponed, but you must always go back to it if you want to be truly happy.
3. I have a different outlook on certain future events than I thought I did, but I need to think more about what I want to do about it.
4. Some things will always stay with you, no matter how much time has passed. It's your choice as to how much you want it to effect your life.
5. It's sometimes better to be vague. ;)

Five personally significant events of 2005:
1. Visiting my grandfather and observing one of my worst fears firsthand.
2. My brother's close call.
3. Graduation.
4. The contemplation of someone else's significant events and how they relate to my own life.
5. Re-entering the workforce, finally in a field and position where I can be happy.

Five things I want to do in 2006:
1. Continue becoming happier while understanding myself and life better.
2. Have a goal come to fruition.
3. Spend more time with girlfriends.
4. Watch and support a friend in taking steps toward becoming happier and healthier.
5. Share a very special day with two great friends. (I'm a bridesmaid!)

Five things I don't want to do in 2006:
1. Lose a friend or family member, in any way
2. Be unproductive
3. Make someone else unhappy
4. Have unrealistic expectations (of others and of myself)
5. Have regrets

Five people who I'd like to know better in 2006:
1. I always want to know Tim better, every year.
2. Myself
3. My preschool children
4. Friends I have recently rediscovered
5. Everyone else that I already know