nic.joy
kissed by fire
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#5
An Introduction to the Policy Process: Theories, Concepts, and Models of Public Policy Making:Amazon:Books
This should really count as more than 1. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’m pretty sure this is the first time I’ve read a text book cover to cover. It took me about 2 months, but I did it. It’s been very useful in understanding my coursework and the smartest thing that I’ve maybe ever done is starting this book before class. Not only did I not feel like I was behind in background knowledge but it’s also helped me to stay caught up on my assigned readings.
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#4
#4 America the Unusual by John W. Kingdon.
Actually read it in February but I’m behind in posting. Yes, I had to read it for class but I’ve decided it counts. Read it in a weekend. It was quick, smart and insightful. A great primer for how the government system and structure stacks up against other nations. A bit outdated but I’d be really interested in reading how/what Kingdon would change based on the last 15 years.
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#3
I know I’m late to the party on this but OMG I loved this book. I think in the current political climate (and days after the violence against women act is allowed to expire) this book was especially frightening and doesn’t feel as unlikely as other post-revolution type books have felt. I started and finished it in less than 24 hours. It was one of those books. I am still rolling it around in my head and expect I will continue to for the next few days.
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#2
I added this to my wish list after an article that I read about it. Bless my mother in law for gifting it to me for Christmas! It was a very interesting if not depressing read. There was an element of surrealism reading this while fulfilling my first official duties as a campaign treasurer - at a fundraiser accepting donations from lobbyists and PACS. As a younger person, you want to believe that politics are always bad (some older folks have implied that this is the case to me) but these guys have set up a strong argument for how the current climate is different.
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#1
This was the first book I read in 2013 towards meeting my resolution of 50. I chose this play as it was one I hadn’t read or seen that was chosen for the next season of Shakespeare and Company. I found the pre-play information really interesting and I loved the play. It doesn’t have the beauty of Shakespeare’s language but the story is fun, it moves and the scene between Archer and Mrs. Sullen is brilliant.
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Obligatory 2012 reflection and 2013 resolution post
2012
This year I turned 30. Probably wouldn’t have been less of a deal for me if it hadn’t been met with 3 “thanks but no thanks” results when auditioning for ingenues. There are always lots of reasons why one doesn’t get cast but it weighed heavily this year.
It felt like a year where I was heavily guided to where I needed to be. I visited New Orleans for the first time and had a tarot card reading. She told me that I am on the right path, good things were coming and I had to be patient. I’m more spiritual than religious and though I don’t set stock in mystical readings, it was a message that resonated and seemed right for this year.
This has been my happiest year in our little family with Signe older, Stephen more involved and the benefits of our work making life easier (particularly Stephen’s new job). We are budgeted to pay off our credit card debt by the end of this year and hopefully finish some of the remodeling projects that have been in process for the last 5 years. That will definitely lift some stress from our lives.Signe remains “spirited” which makes life move pretty quickly from entertaining to exasperating and has also kept her an only child.
My extended family has seen a lot of struggle and heartache this year. My brother’s tumor discovery and subsequent treatment woes have left us all drained from worry, fear, and helplessness. There is nothing worse than seeing someone you love suffer so much and to not be able to do anything to help. Tears dominated July and my summer kind of melted into caring bridge posts and constant waiting and updates.
We had joy too and welcomed the newest Schaefer, Stella Dean, to the family. Her birth came a week before Jake’s tumor was discovered so we didn’t get to celebrate her as much as we should have but she is a sweet little babe and has been a blessing for our family.
After years of various health issues and an annoying er trip in March, I took the drastic step of a large elimination diet and have seen enough success for me to continue it into the new year. Unsurprisingly, when I eliminated so many different foods, I ended up losing the 5-10 lbs I was hoping to lose this year but not in the most healthy way. I continue to work to live more ethically and have been much more conscientious about purchasing local and supporting businesses that are also ethical. It’s been a challenge but every little bit helps.
Looking ahead…2013
This year I return to school to strap a Post-baccalaureate certificate in public policy. I’m not sure where that road will take me but I do feel that I could be doing more to make the world a better place and that this may be my path to it.
I hope to do more theatre still this year and have 2 potential opportunities waiting for funding or a slot. I plan to audition again for Shakespeare and Company again this summer and hope there is a chance for me to participate again as it’s what kept me from sinking deep this past summer and I do love the people there.
We hope to see Jake start to recover in earnest now that chemotherapy is over. I’d love to run with him when he’s ready.
I should probably find some regular exercise to do this year. I’ve lost a lot of strength that I used to have but just haven’t had motivation since May or June of this year. I also need to find ways to make my new way of eating sustainable in the long term. I will attempt to reintroduce gluten so maybe it won’t be as hard as it is now but maybe this is how it will be.
I am disappointed in how I’m spending my free time. Who knows how much I’ll have this year between school, work, parenting and theatre but I do want to read more and am setting a goal of reading 50 new books or plays this year.
We also have big travel plans again this year with a Florida trip in February to visit Stephen’s family (and the mouse), Denver in May to see my cousin graduate and London in September to see the Vikings play in Wembley stadium!!!
Signe starts school this fall and our first big decision of the year is whether we ask for a first choice of Spanish or French immersion. Applications are due in mid-February and we are both leaning ever so slightly in opposite directions.
In all, 2012 felt like a year of change and waiting. I hope 2013 will be about growth, peace and resolution.
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Reflections and Resolutions
For 2011, I made a lot of resolutions wanting to make myself a better version of me. I totally failed on the physical (still 10 lbs from what I have always thought of as my ideal weight) and financial fronts BUT
- I moved to a great place in my career - and met some incredible people along the way. I feel like I am where I belong right now at work.
- I did some really tough emotional work at the beginning of this year and though I’m not where I want to be, I have a self-awareness that I have never had and for which I am so grateful.
- I developed a new good habit! I have always hated the dishes and would put them off for days (hoping Stephen would do them or that we’d decide to just throw them all away and get new ones). I realized that part of the problem was that, at the end of the day, I am just done with doing anything. I’m a morning person. So now, I get up 30 minutes early so I have time to get the dishes done. Amazing.
2011 was a much better year than 2010. I feel much happier and at peace with myself and life. I got to be a part of 4 shows (I haven’t done that many since 2003!) and did several small on camera industrial/broadcast gigs. I played a teenager 3 times (score for the last year of my 20s!), I danced in 2 shows and sang in 3! I think that means there is something crazy wrong in the time/space continuum (though, to be fair, in one of the shows where I sang and danced, I was supposed to be crazy so it might have just been an astute directorial choice).
I’ve made new friends and reconnected with old ones.
I’ve spent a lot of time with my little girl who is growing up faster than both she and I approve.
Looking forward to 2012 and beyond, here are the things that I actually want to do:
- That physical thing. Back to where I want to be. Worked out a schedule so that I can go to the gym on my breaks. Trying to do more weight lifting since that is what Stephen insists I have to be doing. Goal is 3x a week. Also, I told myself that if I do splurge on a The North Face jacket, I had to start walking Iorek daily again. He needs it.
- Food. I’ve already cut out soda and mostly eliminated drinking (I had a few glasses of champagne on NYE) for the last month. I’m just going to keep going with that. We’ve joined the co-op because I want to buy more local and organic foods (I also figure that spending more on food will make me really consider whether or not I want to buy it and make sure that I eat the good stuff I buy instead of just going out and getting fast food.) Reduce eating out again - I was doing so well and then…tech week. I also want to try to be preparing 2 vegetarian dishes (not with processed soy though) per week. More of as a cost-saving measure than anything else (holy buckets is local produce expensive) but I also think I should be eating more beans and the like and that’s a good way to force myself.
- That whole dancing/singing thing. It’s always given me such anxiety and I’ve never been very good at so I thought “If I just don’t audition for musicals, it won’t be a big deal.” Clearly, this year has proved me wrong. I’d like to take some voice lessons and/or join a choir and take a dance class. Though I don’t see myself getting to a place where I’d be comfortable auditioning for a musical again, I’d at least not like to have panic attacks if I realize I’m to be singing/dancing after being cast in a play.
- Finances have remained a two-steps forward/two-steps back ordeal this year. I really want to turn that around. Hopefully we don’t get assaulted by Uncle Sam again this year because I think that took a lot of the wind out of our sails. At least the first half of the year is less expensive (gifts wise) than the second half. hopefully I can build some good habits that I stick to when it gets to spending time…
Anywho…that’s my year. Hope yours was lovely or at least had some lovely moments and that 2012 has more.
Peace. :)
