Friday, December 31, 2010

The Year Ahead


Windlost in Paris, September 2008 (we plan to visit again in 2011)

2010 was a pretty good year. I led a mega-project at
work (and mentored two students) so I felt overwhelmed at times. My headache situation did not improve (and the botox shots my neurologist did were a total failure), which added to the misery, but life was otherwise:
G O O D

Everyone I love stayed healthy and employed, which is the most important bit.

In the past few years, I have reaped what I've sown and have been enjoying the fruits of my labour. We bought a nice new house and lots of things for the new house. As the cherry on the cake of life, after 10 years of driving my previous car, I am taking delivery of this on Tuesday:
And it's already paid for.

But while my commute will be very pleasant in 2011 (especially with Sirius satellite radio), it is not all fun and games people.

The coming year I am already calling The Year of Hard Work. Or maybe, like the British, I should call it my own Year of Austerity.

I need to work on some things.

I plan to spend a lot of quality time with these. In fact I think they will
be my new BFF:
We don't have too huge a mortgage, but in 2011 we want to make a serious dent in it. So I will keep more of this in my pocket and spend it much more carefully:
That probably means this blog won't be nearly as much fun as usual. But don't worry darlings, I still love decorating. I just might do more of it from flea markets. Around the house, I also want to spend more time on fundamentals, like getting the remaining rooms painted and changing out the light fixtures. Less "stuff", more substance.

I also want to take some courses. Every year I take various evening courses, and as much as I'd love to take more interior design courses, this year I am focussing on my career.

I'm presenting a paper at an engineering conference in Washington in May.
Me & Davey in Washington, September 2009 (after getting caught in a very cold rain and buying an emergency Georgetown sweatshirt)

In January, I'm taking a course in this:

I already speak very passable French but I'm going to perfect it but taking classes in this:
Life needs some attention too. I have a ton of scanning to do and plan to transfer a lot of negatives to my Mac using my new prosumer grade scanner:
Doesn't that sound like a fun evening after getting off the treadmill?

Since my year ahead will suck (except for the Audi), I plan to rely on YOU to inspire ME. I can't wait to follow your blog, watch as you decorate your beautiful homes, and share your fascinating selves with me. I am infatuated with many of you, you know?
Janet, Trina, Steve, Lauren, Brooke, Noel, Deborah, Bill...sorry for stalking you.

As I hunker down to work on myself, I promise to still post pictures and stories from my life. This year might feel like a different Windlost, but I think it will be a better one...

Happy NEW YEAR to you (my decorating peeps)!

19 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:02 pm

    Actually, to me Terri, it sounds like a pretty good year ahead. May you be blessed and have a great one.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Terri - I had to smile when I saw your sneakers. They look so much like mine. I've lost 10 pounds in the last two months run/walking 2 - 2.5 miles every other day. When I first started I practically had to pray to make it to a 1/4 mile at treadmill speed of 5.0. I can't believe what a difference sticking with it the first few weeks made. I so wish I could erase some photos existing of me out in blog world!

    I also caught May in Washington. I'm sure you'll be uber busy but hopefully we can connect! Wishing you and David the very best in 2011! Michele

    p.s. - the car looks amazing

    ReplyDelete
  3. Such ambitious goals and you have always struck me as a high achiever. Definitely. Enjoy your new car and all the fruits of your labors. All the very best with each and every task before you. ♥

    ReplyDelete
  4. Terri - I so enjoyed reading this post and applaud you. You have inspired me to beef up some of my own goals too. Your blog is terrific no matter what you post or don't post because YOU and your voice really come through. I've enjoyed getting to know you this year and look forward to continuing that in 2011. Enjoy the new car--it is a beauty. All the best to you and David this year.

    xoxo,
    Deborah

    ReplyDelete
  5. hi terri,

    you know i'm infatuated with you too. larry drives and audi and loves it. ours is a wagon and it's paid for but not all new and shiny like yours.

    i love all your projects and wish you luck in accomplishing them. my resolution is to have more fun which, believe it or not will actually be hard for me.

    xo

    janet

    ReplyDelete
  6. Your year sounds inspiring! I'm trying to view my upcoming year through that lens,too. Plus, I feel the pain of saving more money/debt reduction, but here's to getting through it! I'm excited to follow your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I need to meet your sneakers. I started work on cleaning up my office today and I hope to set up and TV and DVD player to do some workout videos. I need to achieve more balance in my life and I've set some goals to accomplish that. I'd love to take some courses in interior design but now that I've seen your Essentials of Environmental Law, I'm really rethinking that idea. Not really.

    Congratulations on your new car. Drive safely!

    Looking forward to the new Windlost!

    Steve

    ReplyDelete
  8. My son just got an Audi to commute 2 miles to the train! Oh well, these kids today. If you have time in DC give me a shout and we can get together.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happy New Year, enjoy your new car...very cool.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you for sharing 2010 with us. It sounds like 2011 will be a great year och I am looking forward to follow you and your life.
    xo Poppins

    ReplyDelete
  11. Happy New Year to you sweet Terri! I admire you and your goals. Unfortunately I'm a slacker when it comes to resolutions.

    Here's to health, happiness and inspiration in the coming year.
    Hugs~
    Tricia

    ReplyDelete
  12. ok all i head was you're vistiting!!!! :)

    hahah no just kidding but i'm so excited!! awesome car and great goals. i should add them on to my list.

    big hug & so excited!!!
    xoxoxo

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Terri, you do have a lot of plans, but well, better many than none, right?
    Love the Audi, very elegant.
    Here, a different year, baby nr 2 on the way (after 5 years...!) and trying to focus more on health.
    I wish you a wonderful year, and of course I will follow your lovely blog, it's been an inspiration to me :-)
    good luck with your career and big plans!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm an interior designer from Melbourne, Australia - I loved your blog, I found it very inspiring. This is all new to me but I have just set up my own blog
    scrapbook-melissah.blogspot.com
    You may like to check it out because I had so much fun doing it.
    Thanks for providing me with such great entertainment!
    Cheers
    Melissah

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous3:21 pm

    Hi. I was thinking about adding a link back to your website since both of our websites are primarily based around the same niche.
    Would you prefer I link to you using your website address: http://www.

    blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=25102529&postID=2841768127033246179 or website title:
    Blogger: ~ Wind Lost ~. Please make sure to let me know at your earliest convenience.
    Thanks!

    Feel free to visit my site; residential rental property tax deductions

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous10:21 am

    Thіs constаnt bаttle results in quіck weight, thеy
    еach аre highly геcommenԁed to
    do іs increaѕe уouг energy level, twenty-fivе grams of cаrbohуdrates yοuг body.
    Aim to eat five or siх, had bеen signifіcantly гeduced
    priсed. Each serѵing of CUUR is mοst likеly to faіl!


    Ηave a lοok at my sіte http://4ketonemetodeath.com
    my site - http://3raspberryketonemonster.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous5:28 pm

    Hello, i read your blog from time to time and i own a similar
    one and i was just wondering if you get a lot of spam
    comments? If so how do you prevent it, any plugin or anything you can advise?
    I get so much lately it's driving me mad so any assistance is very much appreciated.

    Here is my website ... wood furnace brands

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous8:59 pm

    4 milliоn pounds іn 2003, Skypе was aсquіred by eBaу in September 2005 level since 4.
    Busby shared his freе dating eхρeriencе aѕ а learning procеss and skills tο
    extract and modify some ѕalt. Growth pоtential is stгong as іts
    groѕs NPA s ωere unԁer 1 pеr cent, of іtѕ mагket value to rаіsе, which incгeаseѕ volatilitу.


    Also visit my weblοg ... hasslefreedatingtv.com

    ReplyDelete