December

12 Books

This month I read two books: The Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith (a pseudonym for J. K. Rowling) and Born With Teeth, a personal memoir by Kate Mulgrew.

The Cuckoo’s Calling is a murder mystery. I chose it because it is the January book for a book club I’m trying to participate in for a while. I had no idea the J. K. Rowling was the author when I first got the book from the library. I’d rate it at about a 7; good enough to finish but not quite good enough to recommend. I thought the mystery and the unveiling of information was reasonably well crafted, but surrounded by a lot of extraneous description that made the book move too slow. I just found out it’s the first in a series. I might give the second book a chance.

Kate Mulgrew played Captain Kathryn Janeway on Star Trek: Voyager, and Captain Janeway was a hero of mine who graced the cover of my math book in high school. I enjoyed the memoir, but wished it focused a little more on her work and a little less on her love affairs.

I’ve enjoyed reading more books this year. I may not continue insisting on at least one a month, but I do hope to continue reading regularly.  

12 Recipes

This month I made mint meringue cookies using a recipe graciously provided by my Aunt Carol. My first attempt was a failure because I tried to make the meringue without an electric mixer. (This is not a good idea, folks. You’ll end up with a sore arm and no meringue.) I tried again using my parents’ mixer and they turned out delicious! Next time I’d make them a little smaller, though.

This was another good category for the year. In general I think I’m more motivated to try making more complicated things. I’ll hope to keep trying something new every couple of weeks.

12 Blog Posts

Click here to read some final reflections on the year.

This category was a tough one for me. It was almost always the last one to be finished each month. I just can’t seem to find my rhythm for blogging, so I’m not sure this one will continue. However, I have a new idea that I’ll mention in a later category….

12 Ways to Meet People

This month I took a woodworking class with Dabble. We were, in theory, supposed to be making cutting boards, but I ended up turning mine into a clock for my sister.

 

The class was small and so I did get to talk to some new people, but like most other efforts, I didn’t meet anyone I expect to see ever again. This category was kind of the heart of the whole effort this year, but I don’t know that the end effect was what I wanted it to be. Did I get out more? Definitely. Did I try new things that I ended up enjoying? Yes. Did it help with the depression? Probably. But it continued to be so difficult and so frustrating. In the end, I’m not really interested in meeting people for an hour or a day. I’m really interested in meeting someone who’s going to stick with me. Online dating was a disaster for me, and this effort at least didn’t make me crazy or miserable, but wasn’t any more successful. I’m left feeing like there’s really nothing I can do.

I wish I had something more positive to say in this one… but I don’t.

12 Small Steps Forward in my Career

This month I began planning for visits to Capitol Hill to speak to legislators about the importance of cyberlearning. This was an entirely optional extension to a conference I’m attending, but I chose to go even though I’m terrified at the idea. I think it will be a great experience and a great resume builder. The visits are on January 27, the day after my birthday.

I’m happy to say that this category felt unnecessary after the first few months. I had to make a few initial efforts at first, but then things started happening of their own accord. I only had to follow through on opportunities that presented themselves. I’m still not sure exactly what the future holds for me, career-wise, but I feel much better than I did a year ago.

12 Fun Events in Chicagoland

This month included Shannon’s and my annual trip to Brookfield ZooLights. I also visited my favorite Christmas-in-Chicago things: Christkindlmarket and the CTA Holiday Train.

 

I had to force myself to do these things throughout the year, not because I don’t enjoy them, but because of the effort it takes to plan them (at least when other people come with me, which is preferable thing). My plan for the future is not to insist on one a month, but rather to just keep a running list of things I want to do and make an effort to pick away at it when I have free weekends.

12 Crafts and Creations

I made a lot of things this month – mostly Christmas gifts. An afghan and slipper socks for my mom; a hat, scarf, and iPad case for my dad; and a mixer cover and the above-mentioned clock for my sister.











 

 

I really enjoy making things. I knew this before the year started, but as a result of showcasing my creations this year, I’ve decided to start a crafting blog! I’ll post pictures of the things I make along with notes about patterns I used and adjustments I made. I think I’m much more likely to keep this up than a blog like this one.

12 Pretty Things for My Apartment

I made an ornament for my tree in honor of the STEM Fatales.

 

 

I think this category has served a good purpose. I have a handful of things I really love in my apartment now, and it allowed me to give myself permission to spend some money on such things. In two years I will have paid off my student loans, and will hopefully then have the means to buy a condo. I really look forward to making it my own.

12 Things that Help Me Feel Good about My Appearance

Many of my possessions, as much as I love them, are a decade or so old and therefore starting to show some wear. Notable among these are my most-worn pairs of earrings. They were never expensive to being with, and now are tarnished and bent, which doesn’t make me feel good about wearing them. So, when I saw a good deal on a set of sterling silver earrings, I ordered them. Seven pairs for something like $30! 

 

 12 Grown-Up Things

Late last month I was dumb enough to hurt myself while exercising. Rather than follow my childish inclinations to ignore it, I went to the doctor. Unfortunately this trip was one of my worst experiences with the healthcare system ever, but I did end up with a walking boot that should help the injury heal faster.

 

At the heart of it, this category was about finding ways to trick myself into feeling like I wasn’t falling behind my peers who are getting married, buying homes and cars, and having children – marks of adulthood that are impossibilities for me for the foreseeable future. I’m not sure it really accomplished this goal, but it was somewhat productive in that it got me to do some boring but necessary chores. I will happily put this category to rest, too.