lizardek's obiter dictum

lizardek

Wednesday, December 31st, 2014 // 15:17

RETROSPECTIVE

ust went back and checked and it seems I started writing my year-end retrospective in 2007. Seven years of looking back at my year and seeing what I've done and read and listened to. It's nice to have a record for posterity, don't you think? And since today is the last day of 2014, this week I can start formatting 2014 into a book for print. One more green-spined book to add to my collection of printed obiter dictums!

Family & Personal Highlights of 2014

Being promoted to Senior Corporate Graphic Designer at work
Martin breaking his arm
Karin being asked to become a district referee, one year early
Anders' ski trip in the Czech Republic
Karin passing her moped driving license test
Making it through an entire year soda-free
Martin joining the writing staff of his school IB newspaper
Visit from John & family and trip to Vånevik
3 week trip to Toronto and Michigan
Liz's BIG birthday
Trip to US including Thanksgiving with Sarah's family and mom

In 2014, I read 93 books, the same amount as last year, and though I'm halfway through two more, neither one will be finished today. Looking at the list, it seems I did a LOT of re-reading of old favorites.

Best Books of 2014 (in no particular order and not including re-reads)

Impulse by Steven Gould
Mr Penumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell
Gulp by Mary Roach
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler
One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson
Someone Else's Love Story by Joshilyn Jackson
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

As usual, I didn't keep track of movies at all, though Martin convinced me to watch How to Train Your Dragon recently and I loved it, and its sequel. Computer animation is amazing. Also, I confessed to having liked Guardians of the Galaxy and The Lego Movie. Oh! And Edge of Tomorrow.

Best Musical Discoveries of 2014

Nina Gordon
Jenny Lewis
He is We
Holly Brook
Walk Off the Earth
Savoir Adore
Priscilla Ahn
Emm Gryner
Hafdis Huld
Anette Olzon
Dala
MoZella
Hayley Sales
Kate McGill
Lissa

Some manageable goals for 2015

KEEP walking
Trip to somewhere WARM for Karin
Fireplace and great room renovation

We are spending New Year's Eve with our friends Barbara & Paul. We celebrated with them last year as well, but this year it is only the 4 of us plus the kids. Karin would probably have been with Alex but since he's in Gambia and since we won't let her spend it with friends on her own, she's stuck with us for at least one more time.

Martin has only requested that he not be forced to participate in Barbara's mandatory Wii Dance competition...I'll support him in that desire since I don't want to do it either. We are bringing a double deck of cards in the hopes of instigating an evening of Colorado Crazy Eights instead...wish us luck! Either way, it will be an evening of laughter, fun, good food and fireworks. I hope everyone who reads this has a fantastic end to the year, as well. Here's to 2015!

mood: relaxed

music: Avocadoclub—King of Nothing at All

Tags: goodthings, holidaze

pet the kitty 11 happy cats link

Comments

(Anonymous)

2014-12-31 02:58 pm (UTC)

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From Megsie

You have had a great year! Woot! Here's to 2015 being even BETTER!

I am going to visit my dusty blog today. It seems fitting.

Happy New Year, Liz to you and your family!

xoxoxo

lizardek

2014-12-31 03:58 pm (UTC)

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Re: From Megsie

A new blog post from you will be the perfect new year's present!

ozswede

2014-12-31 03:07 pm (UTC)

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Aren't you good doing a retrospective? I'm afraid I'm far too lazy to do things like that, but I might try a picture heavy one later on (depending on how many fireworks blast and scare the dog)

It sounds as though you had a packed, varied and interesting year. Bring on 2015, eh? I bet your diary is already filling up fast.

I can't help but concur on your choice of We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler as a good read, more so because I loathed her book about that book club and only read this one after a trusted friend recommended it. Loved it! And if you want a tip for another good book, I'm part way through All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. It is exceptional, so Kindle it now. :-)

Have a wonderful New Year's Eve and tell Martin to get in touch with his inner Tony Irving - ha, ha! And don’t forget to burn your calender on New Year's eve, so that bad luck will not follow into the new year.

lizardek

2014-12-31 04:00 pm (UTC)

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Karen Joy Fowler is a fantastic writer, and apart from that one book, everything she's written is worth the read. Funny you should recommend Doerr's book...I added it to my wish list just a couple of weeks ago!

fifona

2014-12-31 05:58 pm (UTC)

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Best wishes to you and your family for 2015!

lizardek

2015-01-01 08:46 pm (UTC)

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And to you, as well!

(Anonymous)

2014-12-31 11:44 pm (UTC)

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2014 definitely was a great year- you had 2 visits with me in the States! And I'm putting that on my list for the coming year! Love, Lizardmom

lizardek

2015-01-01 08:46 pm (UTC)

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Let's make it three visits! :D

gnostraeh

2015-01-01 04:56 pm (UTC)

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Great retrospective, Liz & a great year (except Martin's arm).

I might get inspired to do one myself, but probably not today.

Happy New Year!

lizardek

2015-01-01 08:47 pm (UTC)

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I wasn't sure about putting that, actually, since it was not a GOOD thing... I didn't put Anders' dad's passing because it wasn't a highlight either, though it was certainly a major event for our family in 2014.

Happy New Year!

gnostraeh

2015-01-02 04:14 pm (UTC)

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Tricky, huh?
Not a good thing, but definitely a big thing that happened in your family and had impact. Hard to leave that out.

pet the kitty 11 happy cats