12-31-20

 

It's been a sloth kind of year.

I wanted to coast for a bit.  I wanted to make progress on goals and self-improvement, but at a more leisurely pace.  I wanted to find more work-life balance, stop working so much overtime.  I wanted to get more comfortable with my role and future direction at Weyerhaeuser.  I wanted to spend more time hanging out with relatives and new friends.  I wanted to read and travel a lot and take my vacation.  I wanted to continue giving and saving. Every year I wanted to lose some weight.

The pandemic made some of these things impossible, but helped with others.

Weight gain, not loss with stress eating, plenty of days not leaving the apartment, and a closed fitness center.  I did wellness activities, like morning workouts, virtual yoga, 12k daily step goal, eating less red meat.  My work team stayed connected for good well being (I became the morning meme master), but it was difficult seeing our downtown so impacted by the pandemic economy and protest vandalism.  With limited church and socializing I did not build community or a volunteering outlet, but family time went virtual and helped us all cope.  We had visits with the kids and supported Mom through her long term care stress and move decisions.

We had two tenants unable to pay rent, and most tenants doubled their water usage (we’re not sure why or how), with no recourse to raise rent or evict, but we could have done worse and we did meet savings goals.  Less eating out and entertainment, more coffee and groceries, and finally done with college costs!

Overtime reduced with deadlines met and delays to the next phase of the project, and my five weeks of vacation were creatively burned.  We took a few trips (Victoria, Olympic peninsula, Longview Airbnb, San Antonio, overnight urban hikes) but bucket list travel is on hold.  I updated my resume and LinkedIn profile and got a good career mentor.  I also got plenty of reading done, including a focus on non fiction.  With 3 books clubs, read 56 books, the most in 10 years.  I took some project management courses and decided not to get certified.  I subscribed to One Day University and tapped into a lot of virtual events.  I kept up with BLM protests, explored social justice issues, and started writing an inmate in Portland.

All in all feels like a great slow and steady progress kind of crazy year.

12-30-20

 

Viktoria hosted a winter event tonight.  This is part of what was delivered to our door.

12-29-20

 

Enjoying our new mugs.

Grampas COVID coloring sheets become coffee vessels.

12-28-20

 

Monday, back to work.  Good thing going to work involves slippers.  New Christmas slippers.

12-27-20

 

Another empty retail spot.  This is my work building though.  

12-26-20

 

The day after Christmas.  I forgot to take a photo of our zoom session.  Also did some after Christmas shopping and read a lot.  It's a great curl up with cocoa kind of day.

12-25-20

 

Merry Christmas!  Brunch, gifts, games, two zoom sessions, Chinese take out.  Forging new traditions.

12-24-20

 

Behold our charcuterie chalet!  Xander attached the walls and made the snowman, Jacob made the sled and defunct cheese gift, I made the rosemary tree, and I think Anastasia lay the roof.  Fun family time.

12-23-20

 

Social media is ablaze with photos of a bright pink sky.  Here's my lame version.  We have had gorgeous sunrises and sunsets this week.

12-22-20

 

Today was an awkward difficult day.  But we press on, trying to make the best decisions.

12-21-20

 

This year climate talk has been getting more focus.

Meanwhile almost all of our tenants have doubled their water usage this year.

Conserve!

12-20-20

 

Exploring downtown and found this backdrop (and others) for photos in Pacific Place mall.  Different this year, but always enjoy seeing the tourists and shoppers leading up to Christmas.

12-19-20

 I showed a Pinterest post of a crocheted baby Yoda to Anastasia, and ta-dum one appears!

12-18-20

 

Wrapping up Masked Singer.

We've been watching Shark Tank, Star Trek Voyager, Masked Singer.  Now it is time to get cuaght up on Mandalorian.

Highlight of Masked Singer was Ken Jeong's rendition of Little Drummer Boy.

12-17-20

 

We had our Zoom work party today, including wearing ugly masks for a few minutes.

12-16-20

 

Westlake Center, our backdoor light show.

12-15-20

 

So many memories on the tree.  Aunt Lois' bead ornaments, my handpainted woodland light holders, globes with our birth year from Grandma Fischer... love it.

12-14-20

 

Love that we have a Pike Place Market village piece.  It's the only village pice we have on display with apartment living.

12-13-20

 

Rudolph in my nutella mocha.

12-12-20

 

Walking in less crowded spaces today.

12-11-20

 

Mom and I went to tour Pacifica today.  Life is full of changes.

12-10-20

 

Churches, angels, and memories.

12-09-20

 

Christmas woodland creatures watching over our yoga session.

12-08-20

 

All is calm, all is bright... love close ups of the tree this time of year.

12-07-20

 

Angel hiding in the fern forest.  I get to enjoy her from my work table.

12-06-20

 

My kooky mom going for a socially distanced hug.  Twp trips to Queen Anne Manor today, made it into an adventure.

12-05-20

 

Two ferry rides today, Faultenroy to Southworth and Bremerton to Seattle.  Gorgeous day for it.

12-04-20

 

Leftover homemade cranberry sauce.  Yummy on EVERYTHING.

12-03-20

 

Hanging out with the kids.  They are showing off their blue badges.

12-01-20

 

Happy December!  Bruce playing with camera settings at the market.

11-30-20

 

The revamped Seattle Star on the old Macy's building is now more technologically advanced.  Folks can use an app to buy 15 seconds (or more) of Stardom, choosing the colors and patterns.  We saw this cool Seahawks display on our walk.

11-29-20

 

We're decorated for Christmas...

11-27-20

 

Black Friday didn't feel like much this year.  The lighting ceremony at Westlake Center was filmed from a helicopter.  After seeing it getting set up, was fun to see it lit up.

11-26-20

 

Happy Thanksgiving!  We had two zoom calls, the McNeil one had a lot of faces we haven't seen in ages.

11-25-20

 

Oddish got a haircut today.  Well, I guess it was a little mroe invasive than that...

11-24-20

 

Cooking, cooking, cooking.  Veggie soup, veggie curry, brown rice, cornbread, veggies... yum!

11-23-20

 

Wasn’t feeling great today, so watched movies all day.

1.    Safe Haven.  A Nicholas Sparks book to movie, where you can always count on a heart wrenching twist at end.

2. Christmas in Compton.  In my queue as recommended,  redeeming qualities were views of CA and conscience filmmaking. 

3. The Vow.  True stories and amnesia, two things I’m drawn to.

4. It’s a Disaster.  Could have been more pandemic and less relationship drama, but love Julia Stiles.

11-22-20

 

Westlake has major festive lights this year.  And a big ornament!

11-21-20

 

Walking in scenic Magnolia today.

11-20-20

 

Window washers visted us today.  Haven't figured out whehter it is more awkward to wave at them or to ignore them.

11-19-20

 

Here come the Christmas decorations!  Viktoria must be using saved funds by not offering coffee and events for months by adding more decorations.  Oversized ornaments may be in style this year.

11-18-20

 

Yoga night.  New instructor for awhile, Frances had her baby.  Bruce didn't sign himself out last time he used Zoom, so I did yoga under his profile.  Change can be hard but life goes on.  :)

11-17-20

 

It was a dark and stormy night.  I have the blahs, so it is a good evening to curl up in my chair.  With a book, with the TV, with my laptop...

11-16-20

 

Sometimes it is fun to look at life through a different perspective.

11-15-20

 

Bruce showing off his new camera, me showing off my new hair.  Hours later we heard Inslee's latest restrictions, ending lazy Sunday mornings on the roof for a month.

11-14-20

 

Bruce finally got his new iPhone.  The blue one.  With the great new camera.

11-13-20

 

Friday the 13th, because this year just keeps on giving.

Longs, the Vietnamese restuarant on our corner, is permanently closed.  So closed that they are dismantling the outdoor eating area.  Which always made me think of Dad Fischer, since he and Mom ate out there one evening.  We were partial to take-out or indoors.

11-12-20

 

A cold rainy boarded up evening, as another storm moves in.

11-11-20

 

Trip to the salon today.  Went a little darker and added some tinsel.  Because why not?

11-10-20

 

The downtown Charlie Brown tree got a make-over with lights.  Photo isn't in focus, but kind of adds to the effect.