Welcome to 2010

As always, it's hard to believe that it's been almost two months since I last posted. But, this is always a crazy time of year for me. In addition to the crush of the holidays, it's the end of the semester. This year that meant 53 papers and 53 exams in one class and 24 exams in another. And, while wrapping up the fall term, I had to get things up and running for classes that begin on Monday and Tuesday. But, enough about that. I'm here.

So, before thinking about 2010, what about the last two months of 2009? I could go on, typically, about the ongoing challenges of my health, litigation, etc. But, that's old news. I will say, in brief, that I'm on new meds though they've not yet shown any effect. And, my lawyer hasn't returned my emails and phone calls since he sent me an email on 18 November. But, mostly, things are reasonably good.

8YO - soon to be 9YO!!!! - is having a good year in his class with 11 other kids at the "oldest continually operating school in Canada." We love his teacher so that's a real bonus. The great news is that he's [finally] reading. He gets up early, sets the timer for 20 minutes, and reads before getting ready for school. It might be Pokemon or Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but he's reading - on his own, without being forced. That's huge for a kid who, during the summer of 2008, had a tutor and would throw a fit over having to read things like, "Sam sat. Matt sat. Sam sat on Matt." Yesterday we were running errands and, while driving down Main Street, he read, "Physiotherapy" on a sign we passed. Woo-hoo!

P is, for the most part, enjoying her job that focuses on legal and policy issues with the provincial library system. She's continuing to work on regaining her competency in French and tomorrow will start 10 weeks of skiing lessons. 8YO skis, but can't go down the big hills without an adult. Since, obviously, it can't be me...

I think the most interesting piece of news is that we had a holiday open house. We had about 60 guests, including kids. They were people from the university, from P's work, neighbours, kids from 8YO's school and their families, and folks we'd met in other ways. Most of them are heterosexual. Some are political Conservatives. Some are expats from other countries - Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany... Some are Baptist. And - it was great! The woodstove was going. Food was abundant. The snow came and covered the fact that we don't yet have landscaping. Thank goodness for that! I was struck by the realization that in a year and half we have far more friends - and people we'd like to get to know better - here than we did after 13 years in Saint Paul. And, most of them are het. There just isn't the inclination toward suspicion that I always felt in the US. Even though I could barely walk when it was over, it was a terrific gathering and I was glad we did it.

The other big news - and I can't say much about it other than that - is that I've been tapped to serve as an expert witness in a big case in the US. I won't know until later this year if I'll really end up in court, but for now I'm writing the report that, according to the Federal Rules, has to be submitted to be accepted by the Court as an expert witness.

As for 2010... in no particular order -
1. I'm hoping that our litigation is resolved favourably - okay, that really is number one.
2. I'm looking forward to my sister's three week visit in July.
3. I'm looking forward to travels to Boston and Atlanta - conferences that we turn into vacations.
4. I'm hoping for some improvement in my health.
5. I'm going to decide whether I'm going to get licensed to practice here, or not.
6. I'm hoping we'll be able to get the landscaping done.
7. I'm looking forward to my workshop with the Alternatives to Violence Project.
8. I'm hoping that we can squeeze in visits to PEI and Kouchibouguac.
9. I'm looking forward to the Inequality and Social Justice course I'm teaching here.
10. I'm looking forward to more beach time with [then] 9YO.

I've also started work on another project you can get a sense of here. I hope to attend the Innocence Project conference in April and make another trip to Ohio to visit Michael. And, I'm hoping - though I'm not terribly confident - that the investigative file will be released by the Toledo Police Department.

But, one day at a time. So. January. One online course begins on Monday. The course here begins on Tuesday. I have to complete the report, mentioned above. I have to complete a review of a journal article and a review of a grant proposal. I have to finish prepping the two courses that begin in February. I'm going to start - once the swelling my knee goes down - using my new stationary recumbent bike. I hoping to get, at least once a week, to an Aqua-Stretch class. We've got to plan 9YO's birthday party for early February. I'll be doing the AVP workshop at the prison near Sackville. And, we're committed to getting together with some of the folks we just don't see often enough. I think that's enough, for now.

I hope that you had a wonderful New Year's Eve - no matter how you chose to spend it. For us, it meant an appetizer spread with a friend and her Golden, G-Force - so that 8YO could join us, and time in front of the fire, chatting. As always, we were in bed by midnight.

Here's hoping that 2010 brings you all good things!