Sidetracked Artist

It’s been over six months since I’ve written a post for this blog.   It’s been a really long six months.   I’ve thought about blogging many times but couldn’t wrap my brain around anything enough to write coherently.   As I now look back through photos (and sometimes lack of photos), I can see that we had a lot going on, but our living situation during the last half of last year had the most impact on our lives. Fred’s former employer closed their facility in Bellingham last June.   We knew months in advance that this would happen but didn’t yet have a suitable job lined up for him.   A nearby company needed a QA manager, but there was no way we were staying in Washington .   Fred agreed to fill the position for a couple of months while they found someone permanent, and he continued to look for a job that would bring us closer to our family. After interviewing with several companies and receiving a few offers, Fred chose to work for a company i...

The beginning of a new year can be an opportunity to reflect on what has and has not been working in our lives and think about what changes we might want to make.   What typically follows are New Year’s Resolutions – those promises we make to ourselves every January first to live our lives better. New Year’s Resolutions have never worked very well for me.   Maybe I try to make changes that are too drastic, or maybe I try to make too many changes at once.   Whatever the reason, my resolutions of the past haven’t lasted long or resulted in any significant improvements in the way I live my life.   But here it is, the beginning of a new year, and I just can’t seem to help myself.   Here are some things I plan to work on:   I want to… be more present in the moment.   This will be a challenge as my thoughts bounce around so much, but I’m trying to focus more on what I’m doing in the present moment. live mindfully.   Rather than drif...

photo by Laura Tabacchi The start of this new year, for me, is a time of thought.   It’s a time for reflecting on the past and dreaming about the future.   I haven’t made any resolutions.   I’m still considering my goals for this year. It might be simpler if I jumped into 2012 with a list of projects to complete or a new weight loss plan to begin.   I do need to lose weight, and I have a number of projects in mind.   But first, I need to think. Before I jump into a flurry of activity and try to do too much, resulting in exhaustion, I’m considering my priorities. I am evaluating my resources, especially time and energy.   I’m factoring in my need for rest each day. Last year was busy.   Bryan started college and Fred started working on an MBA.   We adopted a rambunctious kitten , who is seen here under the file cabinet keeping the world safe from dust bunnies.   I pushed helped Laura to finish the classes she needed to get her high sc...

It’s that time again. Another year is gone, and a new year is just beginning. We’re reflecting on the past and making resolutions for the future. Thoughts of losing weight, exercising more, and other forms of self improvement are swirling in our heads. Looking back over this past year, I see areas where I’ve moved forward. I’ve been learning how to use Photoshop and started my Etsy shop, Sidetracked Artist , selling digital graphics. I enjoy being able to work on the computer when I’m unable to be up doing other things. I’ve also been trying and developing new recipes and blogging both here and at my other blog, Wheatless Foodie . While my lupus has been mostly under control this past year, fibromyalgia has been increasingly challenging for me this past year. Fatigue and pain have made it difficult for me to do the things I would like to do a great deal of the time. Fortunately, with the help of a good doctor and physical therapist, I am doing better. I can manage being on my ...