Delazan's Meander

I. Marriage Family
1. Brian’s sea-grass fedora is awesome on him.
2. Desperately need to restart game night with Brian and sometimes with Mekhi.
3. Brian and I need to have family photos done with Mekhi.
4. Signing up Mekhi for karate has been brilliant.
5. Prince Mekhi loves sticker books, so I must remember to buy him more. Plus some markers, which he prefers to crayons.
6. Birthday gift for Brian: something steampunk
7. Nina is pretty much our dog now. We’ve bought her a license and paid for almost all her needed health care. She still needs a teeth cleaning. Maybe in February.
8. “A fine day spent with the kindest, most loving woman I know. She was foolish enough to marry me, and I’m too smart to ever let her go.” – BKC talking about me on our 23rd wedding anniversary
II. Health
1. Weight is back over 300#.
2. Use some of the turkey broth to make frozen soup.
III. Finances
1. With the mortgage refinance, we’re almost done with unsecured debt Round III (only SP Visa left), and we’re rid of the second mortgage for good. All for only an extra $2000 out of the mortgage.
2. We’re hoping to buy a new car this year to replace the caravan.
IV. Creativity
1. “I’d like to spend the next two months working on my creativity. In order: 1. Hirapis, 2. Christmas crafts (especially Advent Candles), 3. Pins (i. e. Kicks Unlimited), and 4. My websites.” 2800. T-7-15-2014
2. “Creativity: Responded to JF’s questions about Hirapis and sent him the first 50 pages; August: Need to respond to JF’s remarks on first 50 pages; need to re-write Hirapis I; need to update ideas list and sort it to the notes; need to reprint the notes; need to write and send Hirapis short stories; need to make yin-yang earrings; Christmas Crafts, especially Advent Candles; Kicks Unlimited Beaded Pins;” #2804 M-8-4-2014
A. Hirapis
1. Actually tried submitting Hirapis I to some agents; then Brian recommended that I confer with JF. We’ve been going back and forth ever since. I still hope to have the first book completed and submittable to an agent/publisher by the end of the year.
2. I actually am making my novel a priority with the help of my friend JF, who has been in the publishing industry about as long as I’ve been alive.
3. I was afraid that JF would tell me I’ll never be a writer, but hoped that he’d become my agent. I said “the answer probably will be somewhere in between.” He’s helping me make my story better by asking a lot of questions.
B. Crafts
1. Need to buy more green/gold yarn for afghan.
2. Still need to finish Christmas crafts, and I’d like to do them in August, especially the advent candles.
3. I keep promising myself to make an advent candle – or any candle – before my birthday. I still have time to do that this year.
C. Other
1. Still need to update websites; working on an idea with Word Press.
2. Need to add a better strap to my GBP purse before my birthday.
3. I might like to make a flat sun hat if I buy a different serger.
4. I annotated A Modern Christmas Carol this year.
V. To Do
1. “Re-reading the journals, I also noted what I really want to work on: Hirapis, Delazan Enterprises, and me - specifically my weight. Yes, in that order.” #2782, 2-28-2014
2. I still need to have the MedicAlert info tattooed on my left wrist, and I’m thinking of putting the rebel alliance logo on my left arm.
3. The end of year lists/holiday plans worked better, but I have a feeling I’ll be refining that until the day I die. At least I will keep it to a one page brochure with a second page solely for recipes.
4. Been slowly but surely increasing my Munchkin collection.
5. Look up Latin for “In absence of the parent”
6. Need to buy Christmas lights again – maybe. Check stock first.
VI. Events
A. At Castle Curley
1. I keep saying that my Ptolus game has only about a year left; however, we won’t be playing in August or September of 2014 because of football and other issues.
2. “I must remember in the future that the pork shoulder needs to brine for eight hours before slow-cooking it in the Nesco, preferably overnight.” 2799. 7-8-2014, plus more soda; no buns.
3. Already thinking ahead and planning for our Silver Wedding Anniversary and my 50th birthday.
B. To Go
1. Odyssey Con has become onerous, and I’m thinking of quitting because I don’t like being the secretary. Unfortunately, I’m good at it; plus, I like doing the publications, which I’m good at also.
2. I’d like to visit the Seitz cabin again.
VII. Delazan Enterprises
1. Have to do a blog entry on Delazan Enterprises.
2. I desperately need to work on DE because despite the improvements in our finances (refinancing the mortgages to get rid of Debt III and Brian received a pay raise), we still need to make more money.
VIII. House
1. If I’m going to get pregnant, then replacing the lead pipe in the house needs to be a priority.
IX. Pregnant
1. Should move this to I. Family
X. Other:
A. Relatives
1. Not only did my sister finally give me her new contact info, but she responded to my birthday e-mail to her within a day. Maybe now that she has an empty nest, she might remember that she has a sister. I’ll see if she remembers my birthday, which I don’t think she’s done since before my wedding.
2. I’ve tried to engage my brother Tom and his wife Diane in conversation with chilling results (i.e. they’re almost as cold as my late mother), so I don’t feel the need to try anymore.
B. Day Job
1. Still need to find a better paying job, but I’m still working on Hirapis, DE, and buying lottery tickets.
2. Mr. Cueball has to have weekly meetings with me as enforced by those higher up the Food Chain. He’s glad I’m good at making agendas. He keeps promising me a new position description one of these years.
C. Me
1. As I’m re-reading my journals, I hear my Susan Boyle singing, “I Dreamed a Dream.” If she can make her dreams come true, so can I.
2. I’ve been buying a lot of clothes from Woman Within, including a new winter coat.
3. I probably only will buy Crocs shoes from now on because I love them, they are comfortable, and they last, making them worth the price.
4. Bought a GBP tank top and purse for the game on my birthday.
5. Need to buy a couple sets of gloves with the fingers that can use smartphones.

Pog ma thoin!
-Lori

2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

1. What did you do in 2013 that you’d never done before? Chaired a full convention (Odyssey Con, Dorkstock is just a mini-convention that piggy-backs on Rock Con). Finished the first draft of a novel.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions (NYR), and will you make more for next year? I refer to NYRs as the Infinite Master To Do List, and yes, I made them. See the next blog entry for an accounting of what I’ve achieved in 2013 (it was a lot) and what I hope to achieve in 2014.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? A neighbor
4. Did anyone close to you die? My Auntie Ann (aunt by love); Pa Seitz, a father of several friends from elementary school (a Catholic, he had eight kids), and I camped at their family’s cabin a lot in my childhood.
5. What states or countries did you visit? Minnesota.
6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013? Same as last year: a winning lottery ticket for the jackpot, a better paying job, a finished novel, a human baby, a successful home-based business; not necessarily in that order.
7. What dates from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? May 14, 2013: the day I finished the first draft of my first novel. July 15, 2013, when I finally left the Lower Circles of Hell that was DSPS. August 27, 2013, my awesome birthday in Minnesota.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing the first draft of my first novel.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not concentrating enough on my home-based business, nor finding a better-paying job, nor finishing my novel (yet), gaining back most of the weight I lost in 2012.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? The Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Clinical Depression will be challenges for the rest of my life, as will the epilepsy. Plus I pulled a muscle in my back in early September.
11. What was the best thing you bought? So far, the generic maps of towers and labyrinths from Scrying Eye Games and Paizo Publishing.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Patton Oswalt and Stephen Colbert, for their respective responses to the Boston Marathon bombings; President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party for finally showing they have a pair and not giving in to the Repugnican’ts temper tantrums just once.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Appalled: The Repugnican’ts who kow-towed to the NRA instead of voting based on the wishes of 92-95% of their constituents. The US Supreme Court (again) for their demolition of the Voter Rights Act. The Repugnican’ts, especially the Tea Party, for holding the government hostage because of Obamacare. Depressed: the management at the Department of Safety and Professional Services and the State of Wisconsin Legislature, Governor, and Capitol Police.
14. Where did most of your money go? Paying off debts, still.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Taking a seven-year-old boy to church festivals, Packers Family Night, Karate lessons, etc.
16. What song will always remind you of 2013? “This is the Moment” (Boyle/Osmond version) by Frank Wildhorn and Leslie Bricusse, from the musical Jekyll & Hyde by Frank Wildhorn and Steve Cuden
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
 a) happier or sadder? About the same. I have moments of each, but now the happier times seem to be outweighing the sad. 
 b) thinner or fatter? Unfortunately, fatter. I gained back most of the 80# I lost in 2012.
 c) richer or poorer? Poorer, of course.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Being creative, working on Delazan Enterprises.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Bitching about the Day Job.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? Eve: With the World’s Greatest In-Laws (mine!); Day: With the World’s Greatest Husband (mine!) and our critters; Boxing Day/my late mother’s birthday: with my siblings and their families (my one holiday concession to my side of the family).
21. With whom did you spend the most time on the phone? the Odyssey ConCom
22. Did you fall in love in 2013? Been in love with the same guy since 1989, and every day I love him more. Many days I truly am surprised that he still puts up with me. He still thinks he got the better end of the marriage deal; I know that I did.
23. How many one-night stands? Because I am monogamous in my marriage, I only have one night stands in my dreams and with the strangest people/fictional characters. See #35 for this year’s details.
24. What was your favorite TV program(s)? Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Castle on ABC, Grimm on NBC, and The Big Bang Theory on CBS. Monday (ESPN) and Thursday (NFL Network) Night Football, too, of course; Warehouse 13 on Sy Fy. Once Upon a Time on ABC and Arrow on CW both are okay. I still love to watch Jeopardy! (syndicated) and Too Cute! on Animal Planet (not to mention their Puppy Bowl alternative to the Super Bowl).
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? See #13.
26. What was the best book you read this year? Hounded by Kevin Hearne, Guest of Honor at Odyssey Con 2013, in fact his entire Iron Druid Chronicles series are excellent.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? More like a re-discovery: Summerfest.
28. What did you want and get? A child to love and take to summer festivals
29. What did you want and not get? See #6.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? Certainly not Iron Man 3, which was not up to par with 1 and 2, but Guy Pearce still is one helluva actor. Thor: the Dark World also was okay, better than the reviews. I guess my favorite movie this year was Doctor Who: Day of the Doctor, which I thought was brilliantly written for the show’s 50th anniversary, with intelligent ways to utilize time travel and actors from previous and future incarnations of The Doctor.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? See my journal entry for the day because it was one of the best birthdays ever thanks to the WGH. I turned 28 for the seventeenth time.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? See #6.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013? Because I gained back a lot of the weight I lost, I decided not to make a bunch of new clothes; however, buying some (pants and sweaters) became necessary, so I did that with some of the money from the scholarly index I wrote in September.
34. What kept you sane? What is this “sanity” that you talk about? Although the WGH, the critters, my Best Friend Betsy RN MSN, the AoD, and especially the psychotropics do help. My psychotropic meds were adjusted this year for a very private reason, then upped because of the horrid Day Job. However, after I moved to DNR, my sanity did improve, even the WGH said so.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Even though I typically fancy fictional characters (Chris Hemsworth as Thor is a frequent deposit in my spank bank), I also have strange but erotic dreams involving Johnny Galecki as Leonard Hofstadter from The Big Bang Theory. I still drool over Clay Matthews III, B.J. Raji, Johnny Jolly, and A. J. Hawk of the Green Bay Packers. This year, the NFL has run a “What’s your football fantasy?” promotion, and I really couldn’t tell them that my football fantasy involves the Green Bay Packers defense and a very private hotel suite. ;) After the WGH gave me all six Star Wars movies on Blu-Ray for my birthday, Luke Skywalker, too (not necessarily Mark Hamill because he’s married, though I had a huge crush on Hamill when I was a kid).
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Protecting voter rights so we can restore the American Dream for the Middle Class.
37. Whom did you miss? My Grandma Lord
38. Who was the best new person you met? Mr. Cueball, my newest boss; and Cathy, the Secretary at my new department DNR.