I am not sure the future of this blog.

I have abandoned the “work” blog because I have nothing to say…
I haven’t posted much on the “photo” blog, because there isn’t much RE Photography going on right now…

I don’t even think “hey I need to blog this” anymore, like in the past.
I think part of the reason is there is so much going on in my life that I don’t feel comfortable sharing with the real world because some of the characters don’t know what is going on.  (no mom, I am not talking about you).

I don’t feel right posting about it before I talk to them about it, or even if I CAN talk about it then…I guess I won’t know until after I deal with the situation.

Joy.

There are so many things coming from my creative self, I can barely keep up and having a nasty sinus funk isn’t helping my energy level.

Have I mentioned water aerobics?
See, that is a weeks worth of fun right there…but, I haven’t been able to go this week because I can’t breathe and last week I only got one day in.

At least I haven’t wasted money on my a new suit-because I have to go for a full week straight (at least 3 classes) before I will allow myself the expense!

The Spouselet says give it a few weeks before you seriously shut it down.
So, I am.

I think I need to know what my direction my (creative and spiritual) life is taking before I can talk about it, ya know…

I am having some lack of sunshine issues, but nothing like in the past.  It might be because of the unseasonal warm weather.  I also keep reminding myself that February is my hardest month with seasonal affective.  I personally think all the creative stuff I have been forcing upon myself is helping.

I swear if you can take a class by either Alisa Burke OR Stephanie Ackerman, do.  We are having so much fun, both classes are great but very different.  One uses flickr and yahoo groups for classmate communication and the other has a private facebook group.  I am not only exercising my creative muscle, I am meeting other kookie people just like me.

I was hoping that I would do some creative stuff and toss it up on the blog and then go do more and toss it up on the blog, but as you can see…blog, suffers at the hands of my creativeness.  Sorry.

I prefer to be happy and artsy than depressed and verbose!

Here is my “Create Daily” set on flickr.

This year I am not starting anything new, I am just getting back to the old.  For the past 15 months (maybe a little longer) various knee and hip issues have made constant exercise problematic.  So, no more excuses, my local YMCA has an indoor pool and swimming won’t hurt me!  And as it turns out, an elliptical for 20 minutes, if I watch my knees doesn’t hurt either!

I have been blogging on various formats since 2004 and on wordpress since July 2008.  This year wordpress published an anual report and I have to say, I am a bit disappointed in myself and my blogging habits for 2011.  I know part of the reason is I spread myself too thin over too many projects and that is going to change.  I am letting go of a work related blog and streamlining my real estate photography blog.

I quit working at the office (family business) full time last year but didn’t keep official hours. This year, I am.  I will work on company/office needs from 11-3 during the week and that includes some photo shoots for new listings.  I like the light that time of day better than first thing in the morning anyway.  I would love to schedule some dusk shots but so far not many people are interested.  Rats.

So, updates on all these “creative classes” I am taking:

Well, there isn’t much of one yet!  The first class is called Create Daily .  Part of the assignment let me get my new work area set up/ defined.  I made a really bad panoramic and posted to flicker:

Now, if I can just keep it this clean WHILE I am making stuff.

The other class, Scrapbook Life Journal…well, I am having some resistance to it.  I have looked at the materials three times now.  I am going to try again after this post.  It isn’t the instructor, it is the student and the student is getting mad at herself!  I think there is some perfectionism in there that I can’t let go of.

I also have some strathmoore journal classes but I am not sure I can fit those in right now.

So, what are your plans in the new year?

Goals for me have to be more short term than a WHOLE year so, when I got an email from Compassion International (bloggers) about  #oneword2012, I thought, I can do that.

I can SOOOO do that.

My word came to me pretty darn quick because it has been a theme around the house for the past month or so.

I have signed up for two online classes by two of my favorite bloggers to help with my word for the year…

These might be obvious hints, but here ya go:

Create Daily by Alisa Burke (starts on January 1, so run over and sign up if you want a challenge, her classes are awesome and worth every penny!)

and

Scrapbook Life by Stephanie Ackerman -this one is broken into a six month class and a full year.  I went all out for the full year and I am really looking forward to diving in.

I also plan on continuing my 12 month scrapbook (because I just can’t handle 365 or project life scale) and I got a small unlined date book that I want to do a doodle or sketch a day in 2012.

Have you guessed what my word for 2012 is?
Stay tuned, I will reveal on New Years Eve!

A family tradition, enjoy

I swear we have listened too, or watched this EVERY year since I was (oh Dear Lord in Heaven, my son’s age…17)

and have you seen this version.  AWESOME and will be a classic one day too!

and does anyone remember this version?

who ARE those people…should I know?

Oh and here is ANOTHER verison…

And I think I really like it

(love, LOVE me some Casting Crowns)