Welcome to 2009
And it was a relief to welcome the new year.
Different things strike me. Like other ladies who write, I have been admiring the president elect of the US (it's not the looks, it's the integrity), and feeling as though I need to spend a little more time at home. So this year I hope to do it, even if it's not for as long as I wish, I want it to happen. Felt very envious hearing of an acquaintance of mine that gets to work at least 1 day from home, she's at an organisation that is innovative in that way. I work for an organisation that wants to cut costs (don't we all) but can't do that creatively.
My sister said to go for it; that when you work full time you spend more money than when you work part time; you shop better, cook more, enjoy yourself at home, garden, fix things, make do.
So if I see my income go down, I'll have to remind myself that as long as my income paid the rent and the bills, it was all I needed. (And I might have enough time in the day to work out what different things I could be doing with my brain rather than waiting until the evening).
It's been lovely over Christmas to spend time with grateful respectful people. Most of my work colleagues are alright, but some are unintentionally pushy and oxygen greedy and annoy me-I think most of the silent majority find the pushy minority exhausting. Whilst I enjoy my work, it can be lonely to work with pushy people, and to live in a place far away from the friends that I've selectively befriended.
What has been particuarly nice this season is to be able to hang out with several friends at once, such as today when I gathered together some friends at the Botanical Gardens and met a few new people. One guest wished aloud that she could stay all afternoon and read her book. It was that relaxing to be there. Many of the displays, such as the Mediterranean Garden, are the result of long term planning and vision, that sort of slow burn talent and vision that I really admire.
Also special has been time with the family, not so much time with parents or grandparents, but my nephews who are now 9, 7 and 2. Each of them are such characters, with distinct identities and funny ways of making me laugh. Sample yesterday, when the 7 year old, 2 year old and I watched a slide show we'd found of child care photos on the TV screen. Gus interviewed Asher about all his emotions and experiences from child care ("are you missing it? Are you looking forward to going back and seeing all your friends even though some may not return? Did you like having your photo taken? You look sad in that photo, did something bad happen, did someone hurt you? What's your friends name in the striped tshirt? Is that Max? No, that' s not Dan that's Lachie, they do look alike but Lachie doesn't cry as much as Dan...")
Asher has taught himself to use the camera and took many Christmas season photographs, his technique is to point, shoot, review on the screen until he sees his subject matter captured successfully and then he moves to the next target. He had trouble photographing the new years eve candles by dark though...
Have been reading Shantaram, it's a monolith, but enjoying it. Very boys own adventure.
Different things strike me. Like other ladies who write, I have been admiring the president elect of the US (it's not the looks, it's the integrity), and feeling as though I need to spend a little more time at home. So this year I hope to do it, even if it's not for as long as I wish, I want it to happen. Felt very envious hearing of an acquaintance of mine that gets to work at least 1 day from home, she's at an organisation that is innovative in that way. I work for an organisation that wants to cut costs (don't we all) but can't do that creatively.
My sister said to go for it; that when you work full time you spend more money than when you work part time; you shop better, cook more, enjoy yourself at home, garden, fix things, make do.
So if I see my income go down, I'll have to remind myself that as long as my income paid the rent and the bills, it was all I needed. (And I might have enough time in the day to work out what different things I could be doing with my brain rather than waiting until the evening).
It's been lovely over Christmas to spend time with grateful respectful people. Most of my work colleagues are alright, but some are unintentionally pushy and oxygen greedy and annoy me-I think most of the silent majority find the pushy minority exhausting. Whilst I enjoy my work, it can be lonely to work with pushy people, and to live in a place far away from the friends that I've selectively befriended.
What has been particuarly nice this season is to be able to hang out with several friends at once, such as today when I gathered together some friends at the Botanical Gardens and met a few new people. One guest wished aloud that she could stay all afternoon and read her book. It was that relaxing to be there. Many of the displays, such as the Mediterranean Garden, are the result of long term planning and vision, that sort of slow burn talent and vision that I really admire.
Also special has been time with the family, not so much time with parents or grandparents, but my nephews who are now 9, 7 and 2. Each of them are such characters, with distinct identities and funny ways of making me laugh. Sample yesterday, when the 7 year old, 2 year old and I watched a slide show we'd found of child care photos on the TV screen. Gus interviewed Asher about all his emotions and experiences from child care ("are you missing it? Are you looking forward to going back and seeing all your friends even though some may not return? Did you like having your photo taken? You look sad in that photo, did something bad happen, did someone hurt you? What's your friends name in the striped tshirt? Is that Max? No, that' s not Dan that's Lachie, they do look alike but Lachie doesn't cry as much as Dan...")
Asher has taught himself to use the camera and took many Christmas season photographs, his technique is to point, shoot, review on the screen until he sees his subject matter captured successfully and then he moves to the next target. He had trouble photographing the new years eve candles by dark though...
Have been reading Shantaram, it's a monolith, but enjoying it. Very boys own adventure.
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