(no subject)

Every year my skin gets drier. This year is bad, partially because this winter got colder faster than most winters do. My palms are peeling. Sure, it doesn't help that I pick at them, but this has never happened before. My arms are dry and my chest is itchy, so bad that I don't wear a bra if I don't have to, which is usually, since I'm by myself most of the day, and wearing a jacket when I go out. The area where my underwear sits at my waist feels itchy all the time too. I have a myriad of lotions that I use, but I have a feeling that the hot showers I take almost every night don't help, either.

I figured out why I don't sleep comfortably at night. I like to roll up in a ball, especially now that it's cold. If I face my husband and do this, my knees will be in his back, and if I turn the other way, I don't have enough room. So it makes sense that I get my best sleep in that hour between when he gets up and when I wake up at 7, but then I'm super groggy and grumpy when I do have to get up. Also, my pillow got all lumpy last time we washed it. Must add that to the list of things to get at Target.

You all may have noticed the influx of articles on parenting lately, or maybe it's just me, because the majority of my friends on facebook are parents and tend to circulate those things. But anyway, it seems to be sort of a new thing (or at least more vocal) to embrace not being a perfect parent. Honey, I own the patent on not being a perfect parent. I've seen these articles so much and it seems to coincide with my husband's idea that I should have a blog. I already do, of course, but he means like a popular blog on my own website. And I was wondering, I've done my fair share of blogging about not being a perfect parent, and I like to write about that, but I don't know how I stack up. Am I a good enough writer? Is my voice interesting and relatable? I'd like some honest opinions on if you think I should attempt a website about imperfect parenting. (you can sort through my "parenting" or "my son" tags to see some of the stuff I've talked about) Those of you who have websites, or know people who do, I need help learning how to make one, and how to advertise wisely, and all that. I'm really interested in doing this. I've tried before, but it's discouraging to write and not see any return for the effort, which I guess is a common plight for a writer. I just need to find a way to get it off the ground, if I do it. Meh, just a thought.

End of year meme (because it's never too late to live in the past)

1. What did you do in 2013 that you'd never done before?
Went on a Disney cruise

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't seriously make those. I make intentions but I don't really hold myself to them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No

4. Did anyone close to you die? One of my kitties did, sadly.

5. What countries did you visit? Does the Bahamas count?

6. What would you like to have in 2014 that you lacked in 2013? A job? Hobbies? Something worthwhile?

7. What date from 2013 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? No one date in particular.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Not really an achievement, but I left the UU church. It was sort of a big step for me and I'm still trying to figure out if it was a good one or not.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not improving as a parent as much as I hoped.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? In December I went in to get some bladder stones removed and after that the entire month was a disaster. We were all sick, one after the other, sometimes all of us at the same time, sometimes in rotation. I still have an irritating cough.

11. What was the best thing you bought? NKOTB Cruise tickets...again :P

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My family, lovely as always and making me side eye pretty much every other family I hear stories about. Why do so many families have to be dysfunctional? I know everyone has their problems...but wow.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My husband, mostly. My son, but he's 7. He has an excuse.

14. Where did most of your money go? Bills. The cruise, birthday and Christmas presents for our son.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? I...don't get really really really excited these days, which is sad. I guess I was mostly excited about the cruise, and my cousin's wedding and my SIL's wedding which are all this year (and not overlapping! yay!)

16. What song will always remind you of 2013? Carry On-Fun. I think it's pretty much the song for the rest of my life, now.

17. Compared to this time last year:
happier or sadder? About the same. Maybe a little sadder because things are the same.

Older or wiser? Mostly older :P

Thinner or Fatter? Fatter

18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Productive things

19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Being uptight

20. How will you be spending Christmas? This is how we can tell this is old. I spent Christmas with my husband, and then with my mom and her family and my family, and ended it with my husband and me opening our presents to each other.

21. How will you be spending New Years Eve? Sick, on the couch, struggling to stay up until midnight.

22. Did you fall in love in 2013? No

23. How many one-night stands? None.

24. What was your favorite TV program? Breaking Bad

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Getting there :P

26. What was the best book you read? I don't really read, but I did start Little Star shortly after Christmas. Good so far :)

27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Fun. (I'm terribly mainstream)

28. What did you want and get? Some books, Lush products, and some things I didn't know I wanted

29. What did you want and not get? Wicked tickets! What the hell!

30. What was your favorite film(s) of this year? The Hunger Games

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 34. It's bad...I don't remember what I did. LOL Must have been awesome.

32. What would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Being with someone who makes me happy daily, not just on certain occasions

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2013? Jeans, t shirts, pretty much grubby casual like usual

34. What kept you sane? Sleeping in, spending my days alone

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Joey McIntyre

36. What political issue stirred you the most? Animal rights

37. Who did (do) you miss? I miss people I've never had.

38. Who was the best new person/ people you met? my cousin's fiancee Jess. She seems wonderful and I'm happy for them.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2013: I can't really say I've learned anything this year. Well, I have, but whether I'll put those things to use is another question.