Things that got did. Things that didn't get did.

I've known for a few months that I wasn't going to finish all my 2012 goals. I decided that some would have to be postponed, and some were acts of nature.  And you know what? That's fine. I've made my peace.

So, what didn't get done? 

3rd Ward Goals:
Intro to Upholstery
Mystery Class #4

Well, this I can explain. One, scheduling is difficult when you have a full-time 9 to 5 job. And also, I had another goal - to save lots of money. And taking classes at $200+ a pop is kind of antithetical to saving lots of money. And you know what else? I kind of figured out some basics by myself. 

NYU SCPS Goals:
Developing Online Promotions That Get Results

Well, this goal I purposely postponed. NYU's schedule for this class - my last for the certificate program in Digital Media Marketing - did not work with my schedule. So, I will take it sometime in the new year, before the baby arrives.

The GGs
Laura Salverson, The Dark Weaver
Winifred Bambrick, Continental Revue
David Walker, The Pillar
Hugh Garner, Hugh Garner's Best Stories
Douglas LePan, The Deserter
Dave Godfrey, The New Ancestors
Linda Spalding, The Purchase


Well, I already explained why that one isn't happening before the end of the year.  I'd still like to finish these before the baby comes, but in truth I am feeling slightly burnt out, especially as I'm not really enjoying the older ones, and I'm struggling to get through them.

What did get done? A fair bit, I think:

3rd Ward Goals:
Intro to HTML/CSS
Screen Printing

NYU SCPS Goals:
Digital Strategy: Creating Synergy in Your Marketing Program
Web Analytics: Integrating Website and E-mail Data for Effective Digital Marketing Programs
Strategic Search Engine Marketing Campaign Planning and Execution
E-mail marketing: Integrating Social Media and Mobile marketing for Optimal Campaign Results
Internet Copywriting


The GGs:
Bertram Brooker, Think of the Earth
Ringuet, Thirty Acres
Hugh MacLennan, The Precipice
Germaine Guèvremont, The Outlander
Morley Callaghan, The Loved and the Lost
Lionel Shapiro, The Sixth of June
Adele Wiseman, The Sacrifice
Colin McDougall, Execution
Malcolm Lowry, Hear Us O Lord from Heaven Thy Dwelling Place
Robert Kroetsch, The Studhorse Man
Brian Moore, The Great Victorian Collection
Jack Hodgins, The Resurrection of Joseph Bourne
Leon Rooke, Shakespeare's Dog
Josef Skvorecky, The Engineer of Human Souls
Guy Vanderhaeghe, The Englishman's Boy
Patrick DeWitt, The Sisters Brothers

Misc. Goals:
Get new glasses
Get a haircut
Save money. Lots.
Southwest road trip!
Go to the cottage this summer
Take more photos

I'll probably make some 2013 goals, with some of the fails from 2012 transferred into the new year. Maybe slightly less ambitious next year, seeing as I'll be somewhat busy growing a human, and then feeding it.

The Vision

Obviously, when you're me, or like me, you start thinking about decorating a baby room just about as soon as you pee on a stick.

We've been lucky enough to already have been given tons of stuff from friends. Have you ever noticed that as soon as people find out you're pregnant they want to unload all their baby stuff on you? I guess it pays to let your friends have kids before you.

Most of the re-arranging and buying for the baby room will happen in the new year, but I have made one purchase.

 

It's a print called "Jenny at the table" from one of my favorite ever children's books, Higglety Pigglety Pop!: Or There Must Be More to Life by Maurice Sendak. I admittedly spent a stupid amount of money on it, but I do love it and it's a lovely little image, and perfect for the occasion.

We're heading to Toronto tomorrow to spend Christmas with my family, so Merry Christmas to all of you!

Quantum Leap

This past weekend H. and I watched many, many back-to-back episodes of Quantum Leap. Remember that show? Did you watch?

If it's new to you, Quantum Leap is about a time-traveling physicist from the future - in this instance, the late 90s. He "leaps" into other people's bodies and has "to right what once went wrong".

At the end of each episode, we got a teaser of the next episode. A little 30 second preview, and each preview entailed Sam (the "leaper") realizing the predicament he was in and saying, "Oh boy".

Well, this is an "Oh boy" moment for us.  No, I haven't leapt into someone else's body, but someone has leapt into mine.

  

What? What am I saying? Why are there these unstylish 70s baby clothes here now?  Well, those are hand-me-downs from me an H. to the little someone we're expecting around May 28.

Oh boy.

Angleterre

H. and I just returned from ten days in London, visiting his family, seeing old friends, and doing a little touristing.

A visit to the UK wasn't originally on my list of goals for the year, but our southwest road trip and visit to the cottage were. I think it was a "maybe" trip for much of the year, but then in September H's sister had a baby, and that "maybe" turned into a must.

Hello, my pretty.

A visit to Richmond Park

The abbey at Battle.

And now it's just 3 weeks until we head to Toronto for Christmas. Which means I have less than 3 weeks to get all my 2012 work done. Yikes.