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2014 and 2015
Jan. 23rd, 2015 03:38 pmLast January and the one before, I tackled 36 pre-set questions about the year that just ended and the one newly begun. I considered doing them again this year but decided the framework provided by the questions didn't quite fit what I wanted to talk about. So this year, I'm looking back at them as a guideline, but no longer following the Q&A format. It's still interesting to see what I planned a year ago versus what I accomplished as well as how my plans and hopes for this year have changed. Then of course there are the things that happened, both good and bad, regardless of whether I had any control over them.
In terms of travel, I went to France, including Lyon for the first time and Paris not for the first time. I was there to attend the annual conference of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), which is held somewhere different every year. I also went to Monterey, California, for the Left Coast Crime convention. Then there were some trips to Toronto, mostly to attend Board meetings of the Ex Libris Association. In 2015 I'll still be on the Board so will continue to attend those, and I hope also to make it to New York City for the International Association of Music Librarians annual conference (again held in a different location every year - I attended one in Montreal a few years back and really enjoyed it). The Canadian Library Association annual conference will be in Ottawa this year, so I certainly plan to attend that.
I've been wanting for some time to get back to New York, where I haven't been since I was about nine. On the other hand, I don't expect to make too much progress in 2015 on other places I want to visit before I die. These include Canadian provinces I've never visited, as well as other countries: Scandinavian countries, some other European countries, and possibly Australia and New Zealand.
Last year I answered a question about what I'd like in 2014 that I lacked in 2013 by talking about my computer set-up. While my outdated desktop is still set up and I do occasionally play a game of solitaire on it, my new laptop has made day-to-day life considerably easier. I can read the files people send me without having to go through excruciating contortions. I can do Sudoku and Kenken puzzles on it. I can download books that are only available in electronic form (though I still prefer reading the printed variety). When I travel, I can take advantage of free wi-fi on the train, in my hotel room, and from assorted other venues.
These days, I seem to have a bit more home-alone time, especially on Sunday afternoons. I still find the "ought to-dos" drowning out the "would like to-dos" and "would-like-to-tries" and "would-like-to-just-veg-outs" but overall I'm not all that short of free time. I also still enjoy my Wednesday mornings out and about, doing errands and just exploring on my own. I also managed to take another Learning in Retirement course at Carleton, this one on culinary regions of Italy.
My partner and I continue to take in cheap Tuesday movies and visit the art gallery (and sometimes other places) together. We get out for a walk together every day and sometimes manage to "do lunch" somewhere. We go to Ottawa Baroque and other concerts and the two major summer music festivals. And we spend time with the kids and grandkids. Most of the time, life is good.
It's been awhile since we took in a play together. But in April, we're going to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Gladstone Theatre. Maybe we'll get to a few other plays as well.
In terms of home improvements, we did finally get the rusted-out pillars at the front of the house replaced and an issue with the sump-pump remedied (water was pooling outside where a pipe had corroded - which was admittedly better than pooling or flooding INSIDE, but still worrisome). There's always more to do, of course, but I won't go into my wish list here.
Some new TV shows I got into? "The Librarians" (Sunday evenings on Space) was quirky and interesting - I hope it returns for a new season. In the crime-drama genre, Broadchurch, and Shetland. This year I'm also going to be following Grantchester for a while, anyway, as I think it has possibilities.
I did quite a bit of reading, too. Especially crime fiction and biography. In 2015, I'd like to do a little more reading (and re-reading) of the classics. But I'm not going to commit to anything specific at this point - that would be too much like homework!
In terms of travel, I went to France, including Lyon for the first time and Paris not for the first time. I was there to attend the annual conference of the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA), which is held somewhere different every year. I also went to Monterey, California, for the Left Coast Crime convention. Then there were some trips to Toronto, mostly to attend Board meetings of the Ex Libris Association. In 2015 I'll still be on the Board so will continue to attend those, and I hope also to make it to New York City for the International Association of Music Librarians annual conference (again held in a different location every year - I attended one in Montreal a few years back and really enjoyed it). The Canadian Library Association annual conference will be in Ottawa this year, so I certainly plan to attend that.
I've been wanting for some time to get back to New York, where I haven't been since I was about nine. On the other hand, I don't expect to make too much progress in 2015 on other places I want to visit before I die. These include Canadian provinces I've never visited, as well as other countries: Scandinavian countries, some other European countries, and possibly Australia and New Zealand.
Last year I answered a question about what I'd like in 2014 that I lacked in 2013 by talking about my computer set-up. While my outdated desktop is still set up and I do occasionally play a game of solitaire on it, my new laptop has made day-to-day life considerably easier. I can read the files people send me without having to go through excruciating contortions. I can do Sudoku and Kenken puzzles on it. I can download books that are only available in electronic form (though I still prefer reading the printed variety). When I travel, I can take advantage of free wi-fi on the train, in my hotel room, and from assorted other venues.
These days, I seem to have a bit more home-alone time, especially on Sunday afternoons. I still find the "ought to-dos" drowning out the "would like to-dos" and "would-like-to-tries" and "would-like-to-just-veg-outs" but overall I'm not all that short of free time. I also still enjoy my Wednesday mornings out and about, doing errands and just exploring on my own. I also managed to take another Learning in Retirement course at Carleton, this one on culinary regions of Italy.
My partner and I continue to take in cheap Tuesday movies and visit the art gallery (and sometimes other places) together. We get out for a walk together every day and sometimes manage to "do lunch" somewhere. We go to Ottawa Baroque and other concerts and the two major summer music festivals. And we spend time with the kids and grandkids. Most of the time, life is good.
It's been awhile since we took in a play together. But in April, we're going to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show at the Gladstone Theatre. Maybe we'll get to a few other plays as well.
In terms of home improvements, we did finally get the rusted-out pillars at the front of the house replaced and an issue with the sump-pump remedied (water was pooling outside where a pipe had corroded - which was admittedly better than pooling or flooding INSIDE, but still worrisome). There's always more to do, of course, but I won't go into my wish list here.
Some new TV shows I got into? "The Librarians" (Sunday evenings on Space) was quirky and interesting - I hope it returns for a new season. In the crime-drama genre, Broadchurch, and Shetland. This year I'm also going to be following Grantchester for a while, anyway, as I think it has possibilities.
I did quite a bit of reading, too. Especially crime fiction and biography. In 2015, I'd like to do a little more reading (and re-reading) of the classics. But I'm not going to commit to anything specific at this point - that would be too much like homework!
