My NY plans will involve getting pizza from our local, awesome pizzeria. I look forward to this and one NY I was awfully upset when they were closed, only to find out after I cooked a lousy meal that they opened after all. We will also watch a movie.
In my previous life I spent many rocking NY dancing my face off in heels with stockings that had a line going up the back (it was the 80's, yikes!) but those days are long gone and sometimes it makes me a bit sad.
My wish for the coming year is to deepen the amazing connections I have made here, I am looking at you CK! Happy New Year Sweetie❤
New Year’s Eve-go to bed well before midnight. I dislike it. Another year over and older, the inexorable creep (or brisk walk these days) to even older and well, you know.
Aims - be less miserable about New Year’s Eve. Plus write more and longer.
No significant travel plans, just family visiting relatively (ha!) locally -by USA standards.
I'm always in bed before midnight on NYE lol. Super riveting, right?
My goal for 2024 is the end the train wreck I've been involved in for all of 2023. This has been one of my worst years on record and that's saying a LOT. I'm so over it.
Onward and upward. I'm finding tons of joy since getting back on Substack in September and it can only get better. I can feel it.
1. Hubby wants a quiet night at home, but that’s every night. So we will probably go to our daughter’s party for a hour or so and maybe see the fireworks downtown. Then quiet at home, where he will sleep and I will read until at least midnight.
2. My main goal is to make significant progress on my portfolio for illustration work. I’ve also got a book launching in May, so I’ll be working toward that.
3. Hubby and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage in April, on the same day as the next total solar eclipse, so we’ve planned a road trip to Texas so we can see it in its totality.
1. Lovely. We are on the same page. Intention for 2024– move closer to kids.
2. Book launch! Exciting! Can you reveal more? Illustration too? Multi Talented Mama.
3. Early congrats on anniversary! Texas road trip sounds fab! Sleeper van or Motel 6? I vote for a real bed and greasy breakfast along Highway 66ish. We had a disaster Sleeper van trip which I wrote about.
Thanks! We usually do Motel 6 or other budget hotel, but for this trip we are splurging a little. We might take an extra night on the way home, though, and then who knows?
I like the New York New Year! Smart. I MIGHT go out to celebrate for the first time in a while. I heard about a local bar throwing a Gatsby-themed party. And I found myself peeking up at the notion of mingling. So, we’ll see if that happens. No guarantees! 🤣
Holly you should definitely consider a Gatsby party. On NYE several years ago the restaurant I worked at did a Gatsby theme and we got to dress the part to impress our guests. It was super fun and awesome to see all the outfits people wore.
-I don't do New Year's. Not sure why. So much hype that never truly delivered on the promise? But, if I do stay up to 'ring' it in, it will be at 9pm PST! :)
-Goals? Hmmm. I'm literally sitting at my computer with my notebooks open and spread around me trying to figure my goals out right now. Got distracted.
-No travel plans.
Holy crap, this sounds boring. OK, I'm going to take another stab at this...even if it's a stretch (to say the least.)
-New Year's is going to be a grand affair where we'll get dressed up in our finery (have to find it first.) and then go out to celebrate with a handful of like-minded friends (have to find those too.)
-Goals: 1) Earn a decent living again 2) Be present for every moment--good and bad (ie don't disassociate) 3) Support people I care about emotionally and spiritually (I don't even know what that means, but I really want to do this.) 4) Write for a living again, but differently. 5) Save for retirement (I think it's too late for this one, but I feel it should be a goal, however unattainable.)
-Travel - France. Croissants and gelato. Sweden. My family.
Yes, that sounds better. It's not my life, but at least it's not so boring! Actually, the goals I might be able to do something with.😅
NYE is almost always contemplative for me; I think about the year past and the year ahead, express gratefulness and hope, and set flexible intentions.
I thought about travel plans but couldn't swing it this year - not enough time in between work weeks (middle of a project), still tired from getting sick twice in the past couple of months, switching insurances - too much stress, I wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy the trip!
However, I do hope to be able to relax a bit and enjoy parts of 2024 as it unfolds. Good wishes to you and your family! NY NYE is brilliant :-)
New Years Eve / Day. The singular excuse for the year to use the punchbowl and forego the inevitability of being a victim of downsizing. Days of eating things in bite-sized options. Reminds us all of the superiority of tapas and the Spanish. Look forward to the continuation of your novel.
Love your response. The holidays means breaking out items from storage. Then returning them again by New Year’s Day and the closet is busting at the seams.
Each time I go to the storage locker I try to either organize what's left or pass two items on. I suppose this means the more frequently we visit the sooner we get down to less stuff :)
I haven't read the post yet (I will!), but I just had to tell you that I LOVE the snowflake glaze - that bundt cake looks perfect, and if I were in your shoes I would definitely not change a thing. It looks perfectly festive just the way it is! ✨ I need to go feed the critters their lunch and then begin the always sad process of packing away the holiday decorations. 😥 After that, I'll read you reflective post in the hope of cheering up!
No, it's a very introspective task. I remember who gave us each ornament and the memories come flooding when they come out and especially when they're packed back up. It makes me sad to pack all the memories away in a box for a year... it was really bad when my depression was acting up, but I'm a lot better now. I can feel sad for a while without falling apart. I'm fine right now, even though the tree and decorations are all packed away in the attic. Thanks for the Homer Simpson video clip, that cheered me up a bit!
1. We're not doing much of anything for New Year's. Our town goes to sleep by 9 PM! 😂 I'll probably do some more memory chasing before I go to sleep. Or read a book. We're an exciting bunch here, ay? 😊
2. I plan to keep working on improving my mental and physical health. I've totally changed my diet (lots less sugar!) and my depression is under control without meds. A nice little bonus is the fact that my cholesterol has dropped from over 200 to 149 just since October! To that end, I've been experimenting with making tempeh and homemade vegan yogurt... my fil gave me a yogurt maker for Christmas, so those tasks should become simpler. Other than that, everything as usual: Working on the family biz with my hubby, taking care of my fil and the critters and the houseplants, reading in my "spare" time. I may try to do a better job with the housework this year (Martha Stewart would have a kiniption fit if she dropped by for a visit!), and I really want to post on my Substack more regularly, but that needs to remain low priority for a while...
3. I don't (can't!) travel, except in my head. I've been spending a lot of time on Great Britain this year, through the magic of books. 🤓
The ornaments sound special. I’ve been buying my daughter and future SIl a special ornament every year for their tree. That might be a nice essay for you to write. Your favorite ornament(s) and where it came from. I miss your posts.
Very impressive regarding your health! I hope you’re celebrating. I’m almost off my anti depressants. It’s taking months. I’m finally on the lowest dose and testing days without it.
Vegan yogurt sounds delish.
Books are a superb way to travel. RN I’m in WWII France.
An essay about the ornaments sounds like a good idea - I'd better start early! I took a bunch of critter and garden pix today and hope to turn them into a post by the end of the year.
I'm super happy about the health improvement. I always ate lots of sugar to deal with the depression in the past - it worked for the short term (hello, dopamine!), but apparently caused a lot of mischief all over my body in the long run. Congratulations on cutting down on your own meds!
Vegan yogurt is actually super easy - I'll try to post something about it early next year.
Wow! You're traveling in space AND time! Have fun!
I hear you on the ❤️- I want more too!!
My NY plans will involve getting pizza from our local, awesome pizzeria. I look forward to this and one NY I was awfully upset when they were closed, only to find out after I cooked a lousy meal that they opened after all. We will also watch a movie.
In my previous life I spent many rocking NY dancing my face off in heels with stockings that had a line going up the back (it was the 80's, yikes!) but those days are long gone and sometimes it makes me a bit sad.
My wish for the coming year is to deepen the amazing connections I have made here, I am looking at you CK! Happy New Year Sweetie❤
Sounds perfect. I remember those seamed stockings. Haha. Lovely NYs intention. Looking at you too! 🥰
Great post - and I'm looking forward to reading your linked posts, too!
1. Opening and sharing a bottle of Prosecco, cooking and eating a delicious meal, bed by ten, electric blanket ON.
2. Same as usual - which, to quote Churchill, is to: 'KBO' (I can't use the full phrase here, because language... 😉)
3. YES! Lots of short-to-medium trips all around the UK in our campervan for a SECOND fabulous 18-month work project with my husband!
New Year’s Eve-go to bed well before midnight. I dislike it. Another year over and older, the inexorable creep (or brisk walk these days) to even older and well, you know.
Aims - be less miserable about New Year’s Eve. Plus write more and longer.
No significant travel plans, just family visiting relatively (ha!) locally -by USA standards.
Hope your New Year is beautiful and bountiful!
Love how your number 2 helps out number 1. 😊
Hope your love ones are healing.
Just know that older=wiser. Enjoy the “brisk walk.” (Great description.)
I'm always in bed before midnight on NYE lol. Super riveting, right?
My goal for 2024 is the end the train wreck I've been involved in for all of 2023. This has been one of my worst years on record and that's saying a LOT. I'm so over it.
Onward and upward. I'm finding tons of joy since getting back on Substack in September and it can only get better. I can feel it.
2023 kinda sucked for everyone. Sorry yours was personally rough.
Your stack rocks. You got this!
1. Hubby wants a quiet night at home, but that’s every night. So we will probably go to our daughter’s party for a hour or so and maybe see the fireworks downtown. Then quiet at home, where he will sleep and I will read until at least midnight.
2. My main goal is to make significant progress on my portfolio for illustration work. I’ve also got a book launching in May, so I’ll be working toward that.
3. Hubby and I will celebrate 30 years of marriage in April, on the same day as the next total solar eclipse, so we’ve planned a road trip to Texas so we can see it in its totality.
1. Lovely. We are on the same page. Intention for 2024– move closer to kids.
2. Book launch! Exciting! Can you reveal more? Illustration too? Multi Talented Mama.
3. Early congrats on anniversary! Texas road trip sounds fab! Sleeper van or Motel 6? I vote for a real bed and greasy breakfast along Highway 66ish. We had a disaster Sleeper van trip which I wrote about.
Thanks! We usually do Motel 6 or other budget hotel, but for this trip we are splurging a little. We might take an extra night on the way home, though, and then who knows?
The book launch is for my middle grade novel-in-verse, which I also illustrated. You can find some recent info about it at this post: https://gomezwrites.substack.com/p/the-mari-in-the-margins-cover-reveal
I hope 2024 brings you closer to your kids!
Wonderful! I commented on your page. Congrats! 🎉🎊
Thank you!
I like the New York New Year! Smart. I MIGHT go out to celebrate for the first time in a while. I heard about a local bar throwing a Gatsby-themed party. And I found myself peeking up at the notion of mingling. So, we’ll see if that happens. No guarantees! 🤣
Holly you should definitely consider a Gatsby party. On NYE several years ago the restaurant I worked at did a Gatsby theme and we got to dress the part to impress our guests. It was super fun and awesome to see all the outfits people wore.
Oooo a costume party. That sounds fun! I wonder if Amazon sells tiaras and cigarette holders.
I mean, don’t they have everything? 🤣
I’ve spent the last ten New Years at a monastery and this year no exception! It’s the best!
Wow! Where is said Monastery? Upstate? Sounds fab.
Holy Cross in West Park NY, overlooking the Hudson. One of my favorite places in the world!
https://holycrossmonastery.com/
That looks fabulous. What a way to refresh and renew the spirit. 🙏🥰❤️
-I don't do New Year's. Not sure why. So much hype that never truly delivered on the promise? But, if I do stay up to 'ring' it in, it will be at 9pm PST! :)
-Goals? Hmmm. I'm literally sitting at my computer with my notebooks open and spread around me trying to figure my goals out right now. Got distracted.
-No travel plans.
Holy crap, this sounds boring. OK, I'm going to take another stab at this...even if it's a stretch (to say the least.)
-New Year's is going to be a grand affair where we'll get dressed up in our finery (have to find it first.) and then go out to celebrate with a handful of like-minded friends (have to find those too.)
-Goals: 1) Earn a decent living again 2) Be present for every moment--good and bad (ie don't disassociate) 3) Support people I care about emotionally and spiritually (I don't even know what that means, but I really want to do this.) 4) Write for a living again, but differently. 5) Save for retirement (I think it's too late for this one, but I feel it should be a goal, however unattainable.)
-Travel - France. Croissants and gelato. Sweden. My family.
Yes, that sounds better. It's not my life, but at least it's not so boring! Actually, the goals I might be able to do something with.😅
🤣🤣 Love this. I’m with you, sis. I guess New Years celebration has become a young person’s holiday. Young person=Under 30ish?
NYE is almost always contemplative for me; I think about the year past and the year ahead, express gratefulness and hope, and set flexible intentions.
I thought about travel plans but couldn't swing it this year - not enough time in between work weeks (middle of a project), still tired from getting sick twice in the past couple of months, switching insurances - too much stress, I wouldn't be able to relax and enjoy the trip!
However, I do hope to be able to relax a bit and enjoy parts of 2024 as it unfolds. Good wishes to you and your family! NY NYE is brilliant :-)
Flexible intentions. Key words for 2024.
I’ll see you Monday eve!
New Years Eve / Day. The singular excuse for the year to use the punchbowl and forego the inevitability of being a victim of downsizing. Days of eating things in bite-sized options. Reminds us all of the superiority of tapas and the Spanish. Look forward to the continuation of your novel.
Love your response. The holidays means breaking out items from storage. Then returning them again by New Year’s Day and the closet is busting at the seams.
Each time I go to the storage locker I try to either organize what's left or pass two items on. I suppose this means the more frequently we visit the sooner we get down to less stuff :)
Great way to downsize. Use the item be last time. For auld lang syne.
I haven't read the post yet (I will!), but I just had to tell you that I LOVE the snowflake glaze - that bundt cake looks perfect, and if I were in your shoes I would definitely not change a thing. It looks perfectly festive just the way it is! ✨ I need to go feed the critters their lunch and then begin the always sad process of packing away the holiday decorations. 😥 After that, I'll read you reflective post in the hope of cheering up!
Thx, Jeannine! Just had a piece for breakfast. Hehe.
I imagine putting away holiday decorations similar to doing the dishes after the Thanksgiving meal.
Sounds like a great breakfast, btw. 😊
No, it's a very introspective task. I remember who gave us each ornament and the memories come flooding when they come out and especially when they're packed back up. It makes me sad to pack all the memories away in a box for a year... it was really bad when my depression was acting up, but I'm a lot better now. I can feel sad for a while without falling apart. I'm fine right now, even though the tree and decorations are all packed away in the attic. Thanks for the Homer Simpson video clip, that cheered me up a bit!
1. We're not doing much of anything for New Year's. Our town goes to sleep by 9 PM! 😂 I'll probably do some more memory chasing before I go to sleep. Or read a book. We're an exciting bunch here, ay? 😊
2. I plan to keep working on improving my mental and physical health. I've totally changed my diet (lots less sugar!) and my depression is under control without meds. A nice little bonus is the fact that my cholesterol has dropped from over 200 to 149 just since October! To that end, I've been experimenting with making tempeh and homemade vegan yogurt... my fil gave me a yogurt maker for Christmas, so those tasks should become simpler. Other than that, everything as usual: Working on the family biz with my hubby, taking care of my fil and the critters and the houseplants, reading in my "spare" time. I may try to do a better job with the housework this year (Martha Stewart would have a kiniption fit if she dropped by for a visit!), and I really want to post on my Substack more regularly, but that needs to remain low priority for a while...
3. I don't (can't!) travel, except in my head. I've been spending a lot of time on Great Britain this year, through the magic of books. 🤓
Happy new year!!!!
The ornaments sound special. I’ve been buying my daughter and future SIl a special ornament every year for their tree. That might be a nice essay for you to write. Your favorite ornament(s) and where it came from. I miss your posts.
Very impressive regarding your health! I hope you’re celebrating. I’m almost off my anti depressants. It’s taking months. I’m finally on the lowest dose and testing days without it.
Vegan yogurt sounds delish.
Books are a superb way to travel. RN I’m in WWII France.
An essay about the ornaments sounds like a good idea - I'd better start early! I took a bunch of critter and garden pix today and hope to turn them into a post by the end of the year.
I'm super happy about the health improvement. I always ate lots of sugar to deal with the depression in the past - it worked for the short term (hello, dopamine!), but apparently caused a lot of mischief all over my body in the long run. Congratulations on cutting down on your own meds!
Vegan yogurt is actually super easy - I'll try to post something about it early next year.
Wow! You're traveling in space AND time! Have fun!
Processed sugar is addictive and so bad for us. A vote sante.
🥰🙏
New year's eve: early night. New year's Day: family party. Jan 2nd: dentist. I really do need to get a life
Dentist. The drill. Great way to start 2024. Hehe.
Thank you for your compassion and commiserations, Carissa 🙃
Den-pathy.
1. Martinelli’s at midnight.
2. Keep doing what I’m doing. Go to California, and next Christmas in NYC.
3. Two trips to CA in 2024.
Gawd, I sound dull.
Exciting! Not dull at all.
Martinelli's rocks!