2010, a year in pictures. And, you know, words.

Is anyone else really glad that 2010 is almost over?  I mean, good riddance.  

For those of you who stayed up late Christmas night worrying because you didn't get me a birthday present for the 26th, I had a very good day.  Jesse did an EXCELLENT job for my birthday, surprising me with a booze cruise!

Well, a brunch cruise, but whatever.  We went up to the wheel room and Jesse announced it was my birthday so el capitan let me steer the boat for a while.  We had a really great time, and I highly recommend the Portland Spirit cruises.  It's something I've wanted to do for a while (hence Jesse saying "See?  I listen!") and it was a great way to see a side of the city you don't normally see.

So, to wrap up this year, even though a lot of you have been reading my blog for a year and are like, "why is she repeating everything she's already said?" Calm down, and enjoy some highlights.

We bought the car Hank.

In February I welcomed the newest member to my family, my very own Nana!  Which by the by, having a nana is awesome.  I see why my niece and nephews like it so much.

We got infested with slugs.  And then... we got infested with slugs.  And dudes, it happened more than I mentioned on the blog, because the novelty of taking pictures of slugs in your bathroom wears off fast.

In July we went to San Diego Comic Con.  Which I wrote about in three parts for some reason, I think because I didn't have anything else to talk about.  Part One and Part Two and Part Three.

Then, in August, I killed Hank.

And then, two days later, we found out Jesse's beloved kitty Suki had diabetes.  And so we put her down and bought a new car the same day, which, in hindsight, don't buy a car when you're in mourning, okay?  I mean, ours turned out okay in the end, but your judgment is skewed.  Lessons from Aunt Katie.  Poop accidents.

In November the only post I did was about my wisdom teeth extraction in high school, which everyone had a good time telling me about THEIR wisdom teeth extractions in the comments and in emails.  And the only reason I allowed you to post your stories in the comments was because I wasn't there in real life to interrupt you in the middle of your story and say, "That's nothing!"

Then in November we found out Jesse has type 2 diabetes, which I haven't really told you about because have I mentioned I've been busy?  I also had a scare with Cinnamon, thinking perhaps he ... hey, I realized I never made the morbid joke that diabetes runs in the family because Suki got it.  Well, there it is.  Anyway, 15 1/2 year old Cinnamon is still alive and kicking for now (he was diagnosed with kidney disease the same time Suki got diabetes).  And if you're wondering, we went from cheap cat food to prescription cat food at TWENTY EIGHT DOLLARS A BAG, but it actually has helped his blood work a ton, so...there it is.  In case you guys are considering getting quote unquote better food for your animal, I recommend trying it.

There was also a lot of begging for more followers this year, copious amounts of cat pictures, and various knitting projects.  Let's take a look!

So, my new blog friends, here's to a non-sucky 2011!  And thanks for humoring me on this blog.  It's nice to know that some people out there in the blogosphere find me worth giving attention to.  Well, sometimes.  Some people don't like cats, which is crazy.

Christmas cards from strangers and I made a hat.

Yaaaaaay!  Duffylou is now following me!  Duffy, I'm stoked you're following me.  She's a Bye Bye, Pie junkie as well.  Good times.  Yeah.  Am I still typing?

The wieners of our Christmas cards are modeled by the very enthusiastic CinnaVanna White.

Annie and The Furry Godmother!

And I'm going to be honest, guys.  Even though she Fahrvergügened and wasn't chosen, Joann is already getting a Christmas card.  She won a postcard when I went to Comic Con, so she's already on The List.  Same as Amy.  And even though Target Steve never comments anymore, he's getting one.  If you win something here, apparently you win forever.  Which is weird because why am I so excited to send strangers mail?


And now for the weather, here's Jesse.

"Looks chilly out there Jesse, is that right?"

"Oh yes it is.  You may not need an umbrella, but it's a little nippy and you may want to wear a hat.  Just like the hat my wife just finished for me."

"Well, my, what an excellent job she did!  And I bet she's just chomping at the bit for people to visit her craftster link and leave a comment!"


"Oh, she is!  Back to you, Katie."

And now, for the very patient NessaKnit (thanks for being so nice).  What seems like a long, long time ago, NessaKnit had a giveaway on her blog for a vintage knitting pattern book, and I won!  Pictures.

She was just supposed to send a vintage book, but she sent all sorts of goodies!  Like this Surprise Yarn.  Which is now a Surprise cowl (craftster link).

And here's Cinnamonster being Santa's little helper while I was wrapping some presents.

Merry Christmas, ya'll!  (And it's my birthday next Sunday, I'm very excited!  I'm sure you're excited for me too.)

The children were nestled all snug in their beds

While visions of sugar plums (and apparently Taco Bell) danced in their heads.

Merry Christmas!

I have two extra Christmas cards set aside for my blog followers, if you are so inclined to receiving mail from strange people on the internet.  To be eligible, please paste the word Fahrvergügen in your comment.

The Christmas Tree of Sorrow and Despair.

I got a new follower.  So this is the pattern.  Don't blog for a month, come back, find a new follower.  It's been working out pretty well so far.  Hello, Randine.  I seeeeeee you.


Okay, so we got this stupid tree and then the stupid thing wouldn't stay upright.  The fury.  THE FURY.

And as you can see, I fiddled with it so much that half the ornaments are now facing the wall.  And then my dad came over and said, "You know what I'd do?  Got any string?"  And immediately I was on the same page because I'm my father's daughter and I was like OH HECK YES I'VE GOT SOME STRING.  So later on when Jesse was at the store by himself because I may have already been in my jammies, I climbed behind the tree with a cup hook and some yarn to tie the tree up to the wall so it wouldn't be so depressing anymore.  And because, hello!  What's more classy than a Christmas tree tied to the wall?  Then I found out the walls are too soft for screws to support any weight, and I left the yarn back there, climbed back over the couch, and did some angry knitting until Jesse came home.  Hi, husband!  I'm your festive wife, here in my jammies and mad at you because the stupid tree stupid sucks.

I shoved a Pringles can into the tree stand and life overall has been much better.  Not perfect, but better.

Also, a few weeks ago I said to Jesse, "Hey, this last half of 2010 has been pretty exciting for us, but there's been a lull the past few weeks.  Why don't we go to the doctor and have him diagnose you with type 2 diabetes?"

So, that's what we've been up to. Katie's agenda:  learn how to cook for a diabetic diet.  Wait, scratch that.  Learn how to cook.

Here's a shot of Cinnamon taking advantage of the heater behind the couch, warming up his cute pink nosie.

The end.

Oh wait, just kidding.  I remembered there was a passage from a book I wanted to include, and seeing as my blog track record the past few months has been scattered, I should post it now instead of waiting.

When Jesse and I first got married, he was what you call a Scrooge about Christmas.  A Bah-Humbug.  A Grinch.  I'm very fortunate to have a great family who's kept up on traditions, especially through the holidays.  So I am what you call filled with Christmas Spirit.  I love the thing.  Yeah yeah, stores have made it this crazy thing to get you to spend a lot of money, but that's what stores do.  You think they weren't taking advantage of people protecting themselves during Y2K, even if they thought it was bunk?  Sorry I just mentioned Y2K.

I'm saying that yeah, Christmas may have become this crazy spending spree, but I still very much believe in the magic of the season.  The first Christmas Jesse and I had together, he did not want to get a Christmas tree.  I finally dragged him along a couple weeks before Christmas and made him get a tree with me.  We had friends over afterward, I made cookies, we decorated the tree, and watched Christmas movies.  That night Jesse said to me a simple, "How dare you.  How dare you make me like Christmas."  And that dude has not been the same ever since.  I mean, that morning he didn't like Christmas.  The next day he wanted to throw a big ugly sweater Christmas party.

Last month I found an old book my mom had bought me by an author I liked, and I read a part that reminded me of Jesse and I may have cried a little bit (nobody saw, it doesn't count).  Yes I was reading it in the bathroom.  Because we keep it real here at twelvedaysold.

This passage is from Engaging Father Christmas, a novella by Robin Jones Gunn (author of the Christy Miller series, beloved of my heart).

"I thought of all the times over the years when I had heard people say Christmas was too commercial and materialistic.  They were right, of course.  I couldn't disagree.  But if any one of those bah-humbug, Christmas Scrooges had lived my life, if they had come from where I came from, with motel soaps and shampoos and never a Christmas tree to fill a room with cheer and wonder, I think they would have softened their railings.  If they could feel what I felt at this moment, gazing at the Christmas tree with wide-eyed Julia, they would say that tradition, decorations, and gifts were a beautiful way to celebrate Christ's birth."

And that's it, my fabulous followers!  Hopefully I'll have the annual Bray Creepy Christmas Photo up sometime this weekend.  (And Nessa, I owe you pictures of the cowl I knit and the package you sent me, but I wanted to get this post up before it was too late to talk about Christmas.)