Today is the last day to vote for our CBBC book! The vote is REALLY CLOSE, like two books are tied and the other is in the lead by only three points. Every vote matters. If you haven't already voted, here's the link. I'll tally votes tomorrow and put up a post on Friday with the winner.
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January: It Happened
It snowed a lot and then my mom had emergency surgery and was diagnosed with colon cancer. It was quite the beginning to the year.
February: CBBC, Tornadoes, and Snail Mailpalooza
We read My Brilliant Friend for CBBC, an acquaintance had shingles because of a COVID infection and lost sight in his eye (and, DUDE, this guy has just been diagnosed with an aggressive form of skin cancer and he is only THIRTY-NINE, so that's something to think about), we had tornadoes in February, and I sent so many Valentine's Day cards.
March: SAD Lamp Needed
It was a dark, dark time. I was refusing to think about my mom's health, so I wrote diverting posts about my work uniform, cursing, cow statues, and shopping ethically.
April: Denial…It Ain’t Just a River in Egypt
My mom was not responding to treatment well. I was supposed to spend a week with her and when I was there she ended up in the ICU with a serious blood infection. Thumbs way down to April.
May: On the Road Again
A friend's sibling died and I went to Ohio. We went to hang out by Lake Huron and I stopped at Bowling Green, my undergrad alma mater. A blogger came to visit me (I mean, she wasn't actually there to visit me, but I tagged on to her adventure.) I also went back to Michigan to see my mom.
June: Rainy Days and Rainy Nights
It was the rainiest June I can remember. I did have some adventures, though, including starting The Century Trilogy, going to Dairy Day at the Mooseum, and visiting The House on the Rock with some blogging friends.
July: The Hospital and The Olympics
The highlight of the month was a visit from a blogger and the Olympics. The lowlights were my husband being in the hospital with rhabdo and me getting a colonoscopy. Thumbs way down to July.
August: The End of Summer Suck
We read I Capture the Castle for CBBC, my husband and I did a fun weekend away to celebrate my birthday, and I went to Michigan again (and met another blogger!). But things were sort of dour at work and with my mom, so it felt like August was sort of blah.
September: Routinely Fine
Just a completely normal September. Labor Day family reunion. My big blog event was finishing up my 20th Blogiversary celebration. I had 20 bloggers write lists of 20 things and then I did a week of my own lists leading up to the big day. Another huge round of thanks to everyone who helped me out!
October: Terrible, Thanks for Asking - COVID, A Radioactive Cat, and No Halloween
Poor Zelda got sick and the treatment made her radioactive. I got COVID and was sick on Halloween. We didn't carve pumpkins, go to a corn maze, or do anything fun. Honestly, another thumbs down for October. Fortunately, I read some good books.
November: Highs and Lows - Terrible Election Results and a Mouse in the House, but Great Books and Thanksgiving
I read some really good books in November. And had a good time at Thanksgiving. NaBloPoMo rocks! We had a solid IRL book club meeting where a cat who is not Zelda sat on my lap.
December: A Tale of Two Energies
The first half of December I ran around like a lunatic and tried to do all the holiday things, but then I just cuddled with Zelda on the couch when I took off the week between Christmas and New Year's. We went to a light show and a solstice bonfire. Christmas Day was super fun.
What were some highlights from your 2024?
Oh my goodness Engie. What a rough year you had. I don't even hardly know what to say - you had so much stress and so much illness and OH I want to just give you a hug and wrap you in a fuzzy blanket and feed you cookies and give you books. Think of me virtually doing those things, I guess. Sweet girl. I'm sorry you had such a year. Let's hope that 2025 is kinder to you, my friend. xo
ReplyDeleteYes, Engie--I'm so glad I met you in 2024--but you dealt with so much last year.
DeleteAlso, your recap reminded me that both our partners were in the hospital in July... I'm glad that's behind us at least.
Honestly, Nicole, I don't see 2025 being easier, BUT I need to focus on sprinkling in the good things so that the memories from the year aren't overwhelmingly tough.
DeleteAnd, Maya, fingers crossed NO ONE ELSE ENDS UP IN THE HOSPITAL. I just can't take it.
Titles were a good idea and led to good synopses. You met a few bloggers.I’ve only met three (I think) in all my years of doing this.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it was a good year for me meeting bloggers. That's certainly a highlight!
Delete2024 was great for meeting bloggers, otherwise I can't recommend it as a book. Message to 2025: do better!
ReplyDeleteFrom your lips to God's ears, friend.
DeleteYou had a really challenging year! I am glad there were some high points and your year ended on a good note with a great Christmas. 2024 was tough for me for different reasons, mostly related to my health. I have high hopes for 2025 but need to get through this long period of rehabilitation/recovery first. The high of 2024 for me was probably my trip to DC with Paul to visit my sister. We had so much fun and it was pre-election so I still had hope for a good outcome in November.
ReplyDeleteI hope that your surgery and recovery are easy and your health is a million times better next year. Let's will it so, Lisa!
DeleteWhat a tough year, Engie. Perhaps my title idea rubbed salt in wounds. Then again, hopefully 2025's book will be SO POSITIVE and 2024 will seem like a bad prequel.
ReplyDeleteLife is hard, eh? Sigh.
I'm glad there were good moments, sorry there were sad. I'm jealous you met so many bloggers (though I guess I did meet two!).
Highlights from 2024. Hmmm. Getting some unexpected resolutions to some hard problems. Going on two family trips. Watching the kids get older and more independent. THE WEEK HOME ALONE WITH MY HUSBAND WHILE THE KIDS WERE AT CAMP. That was amazing. I love my kids, but goodness my first week home alone in 14 years (with my hubby, but sans kids) was everything I had hoped it would be and more.
No, Elisabeth, the titles were a good idea. When I am exhausted and overwhelmed, it's useful for me to know that it was a tough year. I mean, I'm trying to actively do fun things, too, but sometimes I just have to remind myself that life is hard!
DeleteYou're going to love being an empty nester!!
Wow, that is a challenging year. It seems out of bounds for a spouse and a parent AND a pet (and yourself!) to be sick in the same year, it's extra unfair. Good on you for finding the bright spots. I hope 2025 is kinder.
ReplyDeleteI will make bright spots happen or else it's just such a dark world, isn't it?
DeleteSheesh. Is your husband completely back to normal after his rhabdo? And, note to self- GET THE SHINGLES VACCINE.
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope 2025 is a better year for you, although it sounds like there may be some ongoing challenges. Well, we'll be here for you no matter what happens!
My husband *should* be back to normal after his rhabdo, but it's a mental game now. He's worried about overdoing it because he doesn't want to get it again and because of that, he's just not doing anything. *sigh* It's tough, but he is recovered.
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ReplyDelete"My colon is now like a quilt"—my heart. I love these kinds of wrap-up posts. I’m sending you love for your 2024. Good stuff happened amid the ick. Let’s hope for a brighter 2025 for both of us. 😘💕
My mom was very amused with her quilt comment. All the fingers crossed for a better 2025!
DeleteI didn't realize that 2024 was such a rough year. That sounds so challenging. No wonder you wanted your cat not to be radioactive so you could cuddle her. I'm glad you had some high points. Here's hoping 2025 is chock full of great times and relaxing moments. xo
ReplyDelete2024 was not awesome. We'll see how 2025 shakes out!
DeleteOof, what a rough year for you! Here's hoping 2025 will be a bit better for all of us.
ReplyDeleteIt's starting off with a bang over here!
DeleteOh, you did have a rough year. Geez. And yet you kept blogging, keeping me entertained with the CBBC and your awesome 20th anniversary interviews. You made me laugh many times, and I sure needed it because I had a rough year too. I do hope that 2025 will be better, but I also wish you resilience and strength, and so much love.
ReplyDeleteThanks, friend. I am glad to have so much support here on the blog and it gives me some structure for fun things!
DeleteI like this format for an end of the year wrap-up; mine was similar, but didn't cover every month. Thanks for the reminder that I HAVE TO see the cow parade this year - no excuses! Hope you have a lot more thumbs up in 2025.
ReplyDeleteI should do the cow parade again now that they swapped around two of the cows. It's all different now!
DeleteI love this idea too, and have plans to copy it, but mine may be very late in the game! As far as your wrap up, UG! I knew about these things, but when you put them all in a list, it seems like a rough year. I see your comment to Nicole, but am also hoping that this year will be better, or at the very least, will have lots of shiny things amidst the rough times. I am so glad that I got to meet you, BB and the pets this year!
ReplyDeleteCancer sucks. My Mom's friend got diagnosed last year, and my friend's Dad was on chemo and they just told him that they don't recommend any more treatment, so going home for Christmas this year was full of visiting and crying and hand holding. I hate it and I feel so helpless but I know that all I can do is be there for them, but it sucks! Big hugs to you!
It was so nice to meet you and I'm sorry you came in at the tail end of the rhabdo catastrophe. You didn't really get to see my husband at his best!
DeleteCancer does suck. The illness sucks. The treatment sucks. It's just suck. I'm glad you got to see your people over Christmas - I'm sure that it meant a lot to them.
Uff, not sure I would recommend your book 2024 to others, you had a bit of a rocky year.... but I do love that you got to meet some cool bloggers and that you were always looking for silver-linings. I am hoping your book 2025 will be a much better read though.
ReplyDeleteI hope 2025 is better, too. Hopefully it will.
Delete2024 was both sweet and sour. Like, really stressful times, but some joyful days sprinkled in there too, I hope. I hope 2025 is kinder to you and your loved ones.
ReplyDeleteI certainly don't want a do over of 2024!
Delete2024 was a shitty year, wasn't it? Mine was kinda meh for different reasons, and I'm not at all happy with the way 2025 has started. Let's hope it just gets better from here?!
ReplyDeleteYes, it was a shitty year. I hesitated to title the year because it would have been something like This Sucked, But Now It's Over. Only it's sort of not over? Sigh. Fingers crossed it gets better.
DeleteIt really has been some rough patches in your year. I am sorry. hope things will be so much brighter in 2025.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping so, too!
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