December 31, 2011

So here we are. The obligatory New Year’s Eve post. Before I go into year in review and resolutions, I’d like to review the act of blogging.

One thing about blogging that I’ve read lately is that blogging is dead, out of fashion compared to say, twitter or facebook or the next new social media site. Also it seems like the “best” (or rather, profitable) writers are “taken,” as in, either not blogging anymore or writing columns or books instead.

I don’t think it’s a bad thing when well-written bloggers go on to write columns or books; it’s a great thing, but I don’t think blogging is dead. I think it’s a great way to practice writing, chronicling, sharing, or even interacting. I enjoy reading blogs about someone’s life, new bits about things we have in common, and tutorials/recipes. Despite all the negative aspects of internet, it’s a nice way of connecting and keeping in touch. The only problems I’ve had with blogging is that, one, sometimes I don’t get the urge to write all the time (writing is a very fickle creature), and two, figuring out what is public and what is private.

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So this year in review thing. I think one thing I have not mentioned is that I’ve been recovering from a pinched nerve in my back for most of the summer. The good news is that it healed, but the bad news is that I have a spinal disc protruding slightly from my back. It’s not really that big of a deal- it happens to a lot of people, and the most common cause is gravity.

My reaction to it, however, has been more dramatic than I would like. I’ve been living in fear of aggravating my back for a while, and I’m not liking it very much. For more part, this means I haven’t done very much gardening, photographing (especially when it involves uneven surfaces), exercising, and a large number of things that were a part of my life. Even cooking, which I adore, was a danger zone: standing up for too long could cause some back pain. I’ve been going back to cooking, photographing, exercising for a while and I haven’t had problems, but I still am cautious.

So for this year what I’d like to do is to be aware, but not be afraid. Sometimes it’s hard to tell the distinction between the two.

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A Year in Review: 2011

January:

The boy gets a new jacket and we go to Asheville for our annual holiday destress.

I don’t have a picture of it, but I think our favorite discovery was Asheville Pizza and Brewing (yum).

February:

We got a “new” tandem bicycle.

I designed and knit baby vests for a friend’s twins.

March:

Vienna Teng and Alex Wong concert at The Carolina Theatre.

I knit most of an Icelandic yoke sweater-vest in a weekend. That was fun.

We got an Ipad2. Oh boy, that was one big rabbit hole.

April:

The age of food trucks and the cookery in Durham begins. Basically an answer to everyone’s “What’s for dinner tonight?”

Friends came over to visit and we had a good time (Duke Gardens, Watts Grocery, Carcassone with scotch)

May:

Durham Bike Month.

A reward after urban garden tour (thunderstorm, hail, lighting, the works).

Visiting NCMLS with a friend over Memorial Day weekend. It was very hot (99 degrees) and my friend was pregnant…a good combination. 🙂

June:

Unexpected but fun results from Fountain Pen Show

ADF Gala.

NYC for Father’s Day. Visited High Line for the first time.

July:

I got older. And yes, we went back to Asheville for R&R.

And I climbed a short, swaying tower on top of a hill? mountain? and took this photo. Still gives me shivers.

August:

Shed-building begins. Also, pumpkins.

Hurricane Irene. This was probably the worst damage- but I don’t think it was for many people in the NE area.

September:

Fall Farm Tour- part of staycation. It was FREEZING that weekend (no joke- 34 degrees, I think.) Also: Jordan Lake (which was nice), trip to IKEA (new furniture!) and Mr. Yum builds a workbench all by himself.

Logan and Kate paid us a visit.

We hired goats to eat our ivy. Alas, the goats had other plans.

October:

The boy magically gets younger 😉

I got a new camera!

November:

Somebody sold and got another Rivendell. Oh, a Brompton came to stay with us, too.

Williamsburg weekend (birthday weekend for Alicia)

First Bloody Bike and Brunch.

Thanksgiving at our house!

Then I dented the car…

December:

Trip to NY to see my parents.

Night of Lights.

Christmas in Richmond, VA.

Whew! See you in the new year…