It's always better when we're together.

Happy 2008!

I've been MIA. I know I often go off the radar but it's a new year and I'm a new Baby Beth. I decided that this is the year to be a fearless person. I'm mean this in regards to my knitting/crocheting and other crafts as well as in everything else in my life.

What did I do in 2007? Bullets, anyone? Barely any of these are craft related--sorry.

• I became an aunt.
  
• Saw Mary Poppins opening week on Broadway...and paid dearly for those tickets.
  
• Drove to New York to see my sister's new house and my first nephew! Both beautiful.
• Went to Argentina for two weeks with my mom, dad, brother, Ola and Miguel. I got to meet my dad's family for the first time that I can remember. My Spanish even improved slightly if only for a night or two at my Tio Miguel's house.
• Gambled in an Argentine Casino.
• Made a friend in someone I can barely communicate with without the help of a dictionary--and it's great.
  
• Learned to crochet while waiting to board my plane to Argentina and got a good chunk of my granny square blanket knocked out on the flight there. How long was the flight? 12 hours or something?
• Quit Stop and Shop in April.
• Found my cousins who live in CT and got to know them and the people they have considered family for 20 years.
  
• Went to the Botanical Gardens when the Cherry Blossoms were in bloom.
• Quit a horrible job in July and landed my current gig--thanks Ola!
• Baked like there was no tomorrow--oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, all kinda of (sometimes failed) fudge, donuts, chocolate chip cherry bars, sugar cookies
  
• Finished Joey's Knucks after trying to figure out how to embroider and giving up for a year...until I found the most perfect letters for the knuckles.
• Knit Foliage--first lace, top down, chart read pattern! (pic not up yet but check back soon!)
  
• Come to terms with where things in my life stand.
• Worked on my relationship with my mother.
• Started helping Ola plan her wedding.
• Knit a slew of scarves.
• Knit a Christmas ornament for work.
• Knit a bird/ornament for Maria.
• Made a dent in my main scrapbook and got about halfway through my Israel 2004 scrapbook.
• Helped out some friends in need when I didn't think I would have the strength.
• Realized it's the little things that count the most.
  
• Moved on.

That was quite a list. And the best things in 2007? Becoming an aunt and seeing my sister move into the mother role and going to Argentina and having my brother and Ola get engaged there. It was a good, and tough, year.

2008, I can't wait to see what you have in store for me. This is my year and I hope it'll be a good one filled with (mostly craft related) wonderful things:

• Disney with Noddie and her cousin Ani.
• A wonderful wedding in the Bahamas!!!! (Is it April yet?!?!)
• Crusoe
  
• Scoop Neck Vest
• Very Cropped Top Hoodie
• Linea (in Argentine cotton???)
• A lace stole I have yet to pick out...but Hanami seems to be calling my name.
• Improved cooking skills.
• Improved fudge making skills since my roomie (more on that another time, perhaps...) bought me a thermometer!!
• Less procrastination.
• More FO.
• Phone calls back to the people who call me.
• Answer my phone. :)
• Build stronger relationships with the people currently in my life and those who used to be in it more.
• Let go of painful situations.
• An enhanced wardrobe!
• Dyed hair
• Maybe another new 'do after Ola's wedding?
• Go back to school--even if just one class at a time.
• Learn to play the guitar.
• Make a blanket for myself--crochet or maybe even quilted?
• Be stronger--physically and emotionally.
• Spend more time with the people who make me a better person and who keep me sane. (Special thanks to Nodsicle and SnB NH)
• Speak more Spanish.

Ahh..there's a lot I want to do but what it comes down to is that it's my year and it's going to be a good one because I'm going to make it that way. I've made some tough, life changing decisions in 2007 and they can only be for the best. Sappy, I know...

Happy New Year. I'll try to post more too. :)