We took a horse-drawn sleigh ride today. I could never be a farmer or a cowgirl or any other agriculturally vocationed person for one reason only: poop. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.

Otherwise, the sleigh ride was lovely, and the perfect way to start the year. We’re still hosting, of course, and lazing about with the chips and the sleeping in and the abundant debaucheries that are afforded when you are on vacation and family is in town. Which is also why I’ve gained approximately 6.9 pounds in the past 36 hours, but let’s not talk about that.

I love the new year. I wasn’t as keen as the day approached this year, because 2007 wasn’t a year that I accomplished the great, big, ginormous goals I had set up for myself. And neither did Will.

So, as I usually do when I am minorly and/or majorly disgruntled, I had a little fit over the issue. “I didn’t get ANYTHING done this year!” I said. “I can’t afford to buy real estate and I didn’t get anything published and I’m not slated to get anything published and GRRRRRRRRRAAAAAHHHHHHH!” or something like that. And after the tears were wiped and the ranting was over and I realized how thoroughly foolish I was being, it was then that I sat down and examined 2007. And in the end, I was pleased with the year. I was reminded that most of my energy, most of my intellect and time and willpower and innovation is going into one thing at the moment, and that’s raising and educating my children. And I was reminded that I am, thus far, incredibly satisfied with the job I’m doing. I’m also happy to be writing this blog, and working on a little novel (don’t ask how it’s going at the moment, I don’t want to talk about it) and writing for a humor website that has only accepted one of my articles thus far but I swear they’re going to love me if I have to personally stalk every single editor at the place and also do something that has to do with killing a pet bunny but I’m not sure because I never watch scary movies like that one.

This is what I’m going to do, and I’m encouraging each one of you to do the same: I’m going to make a list of what I’m glad I did last year. As a record of the year, and a way to start the new one on a happy note, and also as a way to brag and get some attention because you know that’s what I’m all about anyway, don’t you? Yes you do. But enough about me,

2007: The Year That I Did Some Stuff and Didn’t Shave My Head Like You-Know-Who

1. I’ve written a blog that makes a few people laugh. When I say ‘few,’ I still really mean ‘in the dozens.’ I used to have grand ambitions for Here in Idaho, and I used to actively network to get more people to my site. It turns out that kind of stuff takes time, and I don’t have that much time during the school year. Which is also why I’m the lamest lamety lame bloggy friend at the moment and I have no idea what any of you are doing these days. But I’m working on it. I swear.

2. I made my family go to Seattle. Funny story. I financed this trip using Will’s programming money. Did I say funny? I meant ‘not quite but almost grounds for divorce.’ Which is actually very different set of words than ‘funny,’ but I digress. Despite my severe budgeting deficiencies and the not-cool aftermath that followed, I’m glad we made the trip, and I’m hoping to manage to do Boston next year. Or this year, I guess. And Texas. But don’t count on it, see above for my budgeting abilities.

3. My kids sat through an entire concert of Handel’s Messiah. This is, and I’m not exaggerating, probably my proudest accomplishment of the year. We saw many plays and concerts, including a high school performance of Twelfth Night, but this two hour baby took the cake. And we took the skittles. And post it notes. And they did it; they listened, they squirmed, they pretended to conduct along with the conductor, and they giggled when the bad bass singer began sounding far too much like the Cowardly Lion. But they did it, they sat through it. And I was exceedingly proud.

3. Hangman with Charlie.

Me: It’s a play. - - - - - - - - - - -
Charlie: As You Like It.
Me: It’s an artist. Jac- - o - Po - -oc -
Charlie: Jackson Pollock.

4. Starting a candy machine business with the kids. So we’ve only made about $10 dollars so far. So the machine at the newspaper office averages about .75 per week. So we’re miserable failures. Whatever. It’s still been a good experience. DON’T JUDGE ME FOR MY FAILURES.

5. Volunteering at the animal shelter. This is new. We only started about a month ago. We can’t have animals, due to the renting of the house and the allergic reactions of the husband, so I thought this would be a great experience for the kids. They get to spend an hour a week socializing kittens and grooming the older cats. I’d love to make a funny joke here, but I can’t think of one. So there.

6. I quit drinking Dr. Pepper. Once. Obviously, I am totally drinking Dr. Pepper these days, and eating junk food and whateva. But that’s only because I’m putting on pounds for an upcoming acting role I’ve got lined up. In a movie or something. Totally. Whateva.

7. Sweater dress. Go-go boots. You don’t even know.

8. The Palace Sweeper. I joke that I don’t want to talk about it, but really and truly, I’m very happy with the story that I’ve written so far. And the fact that I’ve still got so much more to go, and that I’m not utterly sick of the whole thing is a great sign for me. I think it’s kind of funny for an unpublished writer to blog about their unfinished story…there’s something very overly ambitious about it. But blogging about writing is a great incentive to keep going. HOW COULD I EVER FACE YOU IF I FAIL?

I think I would manage…somehow. So hop to it, guys. What did you get done in 2007? I wanna know. For realz.