M. Suzanne Terry

December has seemed really long. Thanksgiving seems like it was a year ago. I guess that’s good, since there’s usually a lot to cram into December. It’s also a little overwhelming, so much so that I’m almost at the end of my two and a half weeks of vacation, and I feel like I’m just getting started. But no – work comes back on Monday. I told Steph last night that what I really need is two weeks vacation and then another two weeks secret vacation where I’m still off work but no one else knows about it. Because you know what happens when you tell *cough*brag*cough* people you have oodles and oodles of free time? They trip over themselves to try to fill it up. Then you no longer have free time, which to me is the whole point of vacation. And I let them fill it up, because seeing them is wonderful, but while I have not done a single thing these last two weeks that I didn’t want to do, I have still done a lot of things and *omg tired* I need a break.

Here are some of the things I’ve been into this month:

1. Advent. It feels weird to say I’m “into” Advent. It’s not a club or a hobby. But yeah. I’m into it. It’s one of my favorite seasons of the liturgical year. I get waiting and anticipation, and it’s nice to take time to sink into it. Brenna D’Ambrosio’s In the Edges of the Day group has been vital to my ability to abide in Advent this year.  Thank you, Brenna!

2. The Newsroom. I have devoured all three seasons this month. I waited until after final speeches and papers were graded, because it’s just not fair to watch Aaron Sorkin while grading undergraduates in a freshman-level course. It’s too high a standard. But after grades were in, this is pretty much the main thing I did for the next week.

3. Food scavenging. I have been shameless. I can’t remember cooking once this whole month.  I take that back – I made meatballs. But other than that, I basically scavenged. I took home a vat of leftovers from Thanksgiving, and freezing some of them took me all the way through finals week. Every time I went to a party or gathering (and it was December, so I went to A LOT), and the host at the end of the night said, “Please. Everyone take some of this home,” (this might be a Southern thing) I did. I said yes to every freebie food that was offered to me this month. Favorite score – half a dozen everything bagels.

4. Reconnecting. I visited my hair stylist/colorist for the first time since August. We had a lot of catching up to do. I saw lots of family at Christmas, spent a day with Michelle, Steve, and Savvy, and have had dinner with beloved ones whom I hardly ever get to see when we’re living our normal lives. It was nice.

5. Dog sitting. I have been spending the week with these two little nuggets:

I caught them sharing a pillow, even though most of the time they act like they don’t like each other. Sleep shots don’t lie, pups.

D’aw. They’re so cute and cuddly. I just want to squish their faces with love. Some of their cutest moments are when they are sleeping. You know, when they are NOT staring at me or following me around the house or smacking their gums or barking at absolutely nothing. That is NOT cute. But most of the time – cute.

Buddy, Maddie, and I have enjoyed the crisp weather from the backyard, taken naps, and binge-watched New Girl. Good times.

Another thing I am into this month is nostalgia. December is a looking-back month. Five things I’ve been into this year that I want to carry into 2015 –

1. Meeting online friends in person. I haven’t done that since fandom, and I forgot how much I love it.

2. Feeding people and entertaining. That’s going to be a theme for me this year.

3. Poetry – writing it, reading it, reciting it to innocent bystanders/students.

4. Art journaling. My art journal is less art/more journal, but it’s mine, and I enjoy it.

5. Playing around with the blog. I’ve guest posted and hosted others here, and I have plans to do more of that (invitation coming next week, in fact). I also have enjoyed having themes and series. I want to continue the Coffee Shop Road Trip this coming year, and I haven’t given up on Getting It Together, although I am willing to admit that it might be a life project. I think it is for everyone, though, so I’m okay with that. I can’t wait to see what happens here this coming year!

So that’s my month/year in review.  What are you into?

I’m linking up with Leigh Kramer – join us?