parttimemomdigest: Well, 2023 has been…a year.

Sunday, December 31, 2023

Well, 2023 has been…a year.

A Dreamer

Dec 31

And if you're feeling a bit "Oof, that felt like a lot" - you're not wrong.

Covid, wars, climate collapse, the continued rise of fascism in the US and elsewhere, billionaires being twats, the hot mess that is generative AI, mass shootings, and other things that just aren't coming to mind right now. Pretty much every time we turned on the news, there was a firehose of shit.

But some good things happened, too.

The Gävle Goat still stands! (OK, the jackdaws have eaten all the straw, but I am still counting it as a win.)
India landed on the moon - that was a lot of hard work.
There is a gene editing treatment for sickle-cell disease.
Amazonian deforestation is dropping. (Stopped would be better, but it's the right direction.)
The Barbie movie. (It was awesome!)
Orcas vs yachts. #TeamOrca
We may be inching closer to a 4 day workweek.
A malaria vaccine!!
A treaty to protect oceans.

And I'll admit - everything except the Gävle Goat, I had to do a google search for "good things in 2023" - cause when there is so much bad news, that is what sticks in your brain. And there is a ton more than that little list. Seriously, if you need a lift, do that google search.

And on a personal level - 2023 wasn't too bad.

Covid still dominates pretty much all my decision making, which sucks, but I did not get Covid, so, that's definitely a good thing.
Got a promotion at work which did NOT result in more stuff being dumped on my plate, and I've done a reasonably decent job of maintaining boundaries. And a very stressful team lead left.
The big clear out of the house for the appraisal was a HUGE effort, but absolutely worth it - and I've done a damn good job of maintaining things!
We had a great and safe trip down to the beach. Mmm, pato tacos & Pacifico on the sound... And cheese!

A slate platter with three kinds of cheese and crackers and jams and fruits

YUM.

I met a capybara named Tater.

A photo of my brother & myself kneeling next to a capybara named Tater. Tater is 7 months old and weighs approximately 35 pounds. He is shaped somewhat like a potato with legs. His hair is medium brown and very coarse. He has dark eyes that with markings around them that look like cateye eyeliner. His ears are small and round and can flatten down when swimming. His feet have 3 toes that are partially webbed, also for swimming.

I continued to find lots of outdoor activities to do over the course of the year, and great restaurants with patio seating.

A fancy fruity orange drink in a highball glass.

I can't remember what it was called, but it was delicious!

And the LilyMonster had a great year health-wise and just being Lily. She's 14, so, a good health year is awesome and precious. Even this morning she had an impressive case of the zooms treating the hallway/kitchen/living room as her personal racetrack.

A shot of Lily, a black and orange tortoiseshell cat, sitting on the corner of the counter, looking just above the camera

Treats?

My brother is off to spend New Year's Eve & Day with one of his friends - the Ravens are playing the Dolphins - their respective favorite teams. He felt bad for me being on my own - HAHAHAHAHA! I appreciate it, but I am so totally good on my own. Lily & I will be ringing in the new year here at home with steak & shrimp pasta for me, and the little salmon filet Santa brought for her. Hell, we may be in bed by 10PM.

However you are ringing in the new year, have fun and be safe. I want you around in 2024.