Week in Review: Week 199
monday
After last week of full-on Go Go Go, I was grateful for this little quieter day. I slept in a little later than planned, but didn’t stress over it. Ran some errands, including going into TJ Maxx on Christmas Eve Eve (which my friend’s family calls Christmas Adam, ha ha), which would normally be like going into the belly of the beast, but…All the People are NOT in NY this week. They weren’t in TJM and they weren’t in the city on Saturday, not even the two shopping malls we went into. I mean, come on, a SHOPPING MALL in NEW YORK CITY the SATURDAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS?! Virtually EMPTY?? Streets, empty. Traffic, none. Not in or out. Is 2019 The Final Year of Life on Earth as We Know It????
Anyway, by the time I got home it was around 1:30 and lovely reading light was pouring onto the sofa from the front window…how could I NOT take advantage! So Janey and I (and a tin of homemade Christmas cookies from a friend at work) lay on the sofa for several hours, reading and napping. It was a delight.
TUESDAY – CHRISTMAS EVE
Spent the day …looking back now I have no idea what I spent the day doing. I didn’t leave for Christmas Eve at the ex’es til 4ish, so what DID I do all day? Puttered, probably.
As I was leaving, The Christmas Squirrel stopped by to wish me a Merry Happy.
Ex-Mas Eve. My blog photographer would have told me my shirt was gaping.
Ex-photo bomb.
Christmas Cat.
Christmas Dog.
Christmas Plum Wine.
WEDNESDAY – CHRISTMAS DAY
Wrapping, Christmas dinnering with Katie and the ex’es family, then back here with Katie to do presents and watch movies and have a sleepover.
How many pictures must you take to get One Good One??
Katie gave my bedroom a little makeover. She’s the sweetest.
Before…
After.
THURSDAY
We were supposed to go into the city early to a bakery I’ve really wanted to go to and for her to see the tree at Rockefeller Center…but she wasn’t feeling well in the morning and we just stayed home til we had to leave for the airport.
And then she was gone 🙁
FRIDAY
Spent most of the day, literally, filming and photographing the Trunk Club haul, then editing and creating the video. I am SO SLOW at video stuff and don’t even end up with a really good product. Ugh.
SATURDAY
FINALLY. The one day out of my entire vacation that I got to do NOTHING. I went from the bed to the sofa and read and napped. It was magical.
By late afternoon I did get up and cleaned up some of the Christmas mess.
Before…
After.
One of my final resolutions of 2019 is to get that ^%R$$#! box in front of the white bookcase OUTTA THERE.
Hey. I didn’t say I did a really good job.
Janey watched.
Sunday
Went into the city with friends on this rainy night…had dinner (I have leftovers for like two days).
Saw an art installation by the Flatiron Building: Ziggy.
Lotte Palace tree.
St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Tree at Rockefeller Plaza.
Then we turned right across five lanes of traffic and came home.
What I’m Reading
The Sea by John Banville. Beautifully written but BOOORING. Oofah. It was all…narrative. Very little action, practically no dialogue. Very “writery.” “I am a WRITER! I will write FANCY!” Lots of big words. HEY SIRI, WHAT DOES PRELAPSARIAN MEAN? Got high praise from many. But it was not for me. On a bright note, the cover was pretty. 2.9/5. Sorry, John.
AND, my other final resolution of 2019 is to finish the %&*%$! Anna Karenina! I’m so close! I can do it!
And there you have it, the final Week in Review of 2019…the final Week in Review of the DECADE.
Happy New Year!
Nancy
Well the way you write is never boring! As if the reader is there with you! What are your plans for New Years Eve? Do you enjoy it? We are just with the two of us this year. I don t like NYE. Haha, I do like the food and the champagne though!
bettyewp
I don’t usually do anything for New Year’s Eve, though a dinner out would be nice. It’s normally a stay in night with snacks and a movie or two. I’m looking for that plum wine I had on Christmas Eve at the exes, it was lovely.
Cheryl
Fabulous photos and the Christmas Squirrel is just beautiful. I said your exact words today is this the end of the world as we know it especially with the drought and smoky air. It’s really uplifting to see your winter wonderland.
Happy New Year !
bettyewp
Ooh, where is the drought and smoky air? I haven’t seen or heard news in weeks it feels like!
Iris
Love the Christmas squirrel – and always enjoy seeing Janey. Glad you got to spend Christmas with your daughter – that’s always good. Hope your New Years is blessed.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
Yeah, there have been TONS of squirrels hanging round since the pumpkins were opened! I won’t be surprised if there are a few pumpkins growing in the Ivy next summer the way the seeds are getting thrown around!
Marian
I love your writing. Even your descriptions of napping and doing nothing sound interesting….like you did it to the perfect afternoon lighting.
I especially enjoyed your mother/daughter photos and the Christmas pets.
Have a very happy new year! Looking forward to your blog in 2020!
bettyewp
Aww, thanks Marian! I feel like I always have little story snippets running through my mind. Happy New Year!
Daenel T.
This was so much fun to read. I love the little snappy thingy of you and your daughter. Cute!
I hope you have a very happy New Year! I’m so happy I got to know you.
bettyewp
Me, too, Daenel!
Happy New Year!
Ruth Josey
Oh you are so funny – I love to read your posts! I think it’s great that you still have a good relationship with the ex’s family and I thought all of the pictures you took looked great – glad you got one that you liked out of all of that. I woke up sick yesterday so I laid around all day. I’d like to try that on a day that I’m feeling good, though. I really appreciate your review of the book. I just hate books like that. It is like the writer is showcasing his skills and not really about making the reader enjoy the book. I don’t know how books like that make it to the bestseller lists (along with so many others). Your dinner looks delicious, the photos afterward (art installation, Christmas tree and church) are beautiful, Janey looks totally happy and your daughter is gorgeous! Happy New Year and I hope you have an amazing 2020!