In the midst of all the year-end summaries and “wrapped” metrics and “best-of” lists . . . I bring you my own: The Lightning Round.
Here we go!
Best view . . . Watching the sunrise (from the new dock) at the lake on the summer solstice.
Best investment (small $) . . . Push-up bars for my home gym. (These.) A $12 investment I should have made years ago. (Because my wrists are so damaged from my RA, and these allow me to do things I just couldn’t before. Like push ups.)
Best investment (bigger $) . . . That new dock!
Best knit . . . Hands down, my Shakerag skirt.
Best stitching . . . (Oooo . . . this is a tough one.) Even though I loved making the gingerbread house ornaments, I’m going with the tote bag.
Most listened to album, according to Spotify . . . Foo Fighters But Here We Are (which Spotify says I listened to 24 times in June alone). (And, yes. I do tend to go on a tear with new albums I particularly like, so that figure is probably accurate.)
Song I thought would (probably) be my #1 song on Spotify’s “wrapped” summary . . . Flowers (Miley Cyrus). Or maybe Butterfly (Jon Batiste). But, no. It was – of course – something from that Foo Fighters album I gorged myself on in June.
Never thought I’d . . . Prioritize strength training over cardio. (But I did this year. In a big way.)
Total game changer . . . Doing mobility training and CARs on a daily basis. (My rheumatologist is amazed at my improved joint mobility. We’ve actually been able to reduce my medications.)
Astonishing discovery . . . Running away from a yellow jacket swarm really is the best way to escape them — although you have to be quick, because you can still get stung 12 times while you gather your wits and start running. (Just sayin.)
Can’t believe I’d . . . Buy a Bird Buddy. (But I did.)
TV worth watching . . . Slow Horses, Shrinking, The Diplomat, and (of course) the final season of Ted Lasso.
Movie I surprised myself by really liking . . . Oppenheimer.
Movie I never expected to need a kleenex for . . . Barbie. That one scene at the end? Bring out the tissues. (My goodness, Billie Eilish really nailed that song, didn’t she?).
Best audiobook I listened to . . . Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted (Suleika Jaouad); this is a powerful book in any form, but especially so when listening to Suleika narrate it herself.
Book I’ve recommended to others most often . . . Tom Lake (Ann Patchett), although Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (James McBride) is moving up with a bullet.
My top five favorite books of the year . . . Wellness (Nathan Hill), Absolution (Alice McDermott), You Could Make This Place Beautiful (Maggie Smith), Fresh Water for Flowers (Valérie Perrin), and Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year (Margaret Renkl).
Book I really didn’t enjoy at all . . . The Vaster Wilds (Lauren Groff) (no comment; no link).
Favorite new discovery . . . On the Rocks premium cocktails. Highly recommended – especially if you have one person in your household who enjoys an occasional cocktail (but can’t be bothered with the hassle of mixing) . . . and another person in your household who is just fine with a beer, thankyouverymuch.
Living in my . . . faux-fur lined Birkenstock sandals (yes, in the winter) (but not in the snow) (if it ever does snow).
Sucked all the joy from my days . . . the relentless pace of terrible things happening in the world.
Personal goal I crushed . . . I set out to be able to do ONE “real” (full body/no knees) push-up this year. I can now do SIX “real” push-ups (in a row)!
Best thing in the garden . . . The fact that it rejuvenated itself so beautifully after a terrible 2022 garden season.
Best garden purchase . . . My little portable greenhouse ($70 at Lowe’s).
Biggest disappointment . . . Our long-time favorite neighborhood restaurant is closing on December 31. We are devastated.
Biggest risk . . . Committing to that advent calendar madness. But I think it panned out.
Carrying into the new year . . . Dread. In the long term, there’s the whole 2024 election cycle. And in the short term, I have a root canal scheduled for January 2.
My wish for you as we head into the new year . . . As always, all the good things, my friends. ALL the good things. I thank you for being here and hanging out with me, and I’m wishing for a 2024 filled with hope and joy and good health and happiness for us all.
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And so ends my Year-in-Review for 2023. I’ll be back on Sunday with a New Year’s toast. But then, as I mentioned in my final advent calendar post last week, I’m going to take a week off. Please remember to RSVP for the Read With Us Zoom if you’d like to attend. It’s coming right up on January 9 (and – yay – my root canal will be done by then).
What a wonderful review and I’m with you on a few things there (dread…). It’s been a joy to share the days with you Kym. Here’s to 2024!! xo
Congratulations on the push-ups and joint mobility, but boo for the root canal, and I’m also seriously dreading the election. I still have not seen Barbie but John is shooting clays on Saturday so that may be the day for it. And then there is the pond to watch in Oppenheimer …
I, too, needed a tissue at the end of Barbie! Wasn’t expecting that. And while it’s been perfect weather for those Birks…c’mon, snow!!
Fun post, Kym. Good luck with the root canal. And I hope to join you on 1/9. Please add me to your list. I have a workshop that night but will hopefully make it, even if a little late.
A wonderful wrap up of your year, Kym. Thanks for bringing us along with you on so many of your days, sharing your thoughts, encouraging us to try new things, and bringing inspiration and hope continuously. P.S. I want a Bird Buddy but I’ve been telling myself I don’t need it!
I love the variety of topics you’ve covered here, Kym! I really get a great sense of your year. I also didn’t expect to cry in Barbie! I’m sorry about your favorite restaurant closing (but maybe something fabulous will show up in its old space?) and the root canal. I hope by the time we see each other for RWU, your mouth is back to normal!
Wishing you good luck with the root canal. Never fun, but usually well worth it.
Have a wonderful New Year’s Eve and enjoy a little time off in January before we all jump right back in!
You do the best wraps ups, Kym. Your selfies are inspirational. Sadly, I won’t be able to join you for RWU. 🙁
What an awesome wrap up ! I had to favorite the Shackerag skirt … I love it and it looks amazing on you. I literally cried when our favorite breakfast spot closed a few years ago, we have yet to find a good restaurant to replace it. Have a wonderful New Year!
This is a great recap. I am so impressed for you and your push ups! I’m also intrigued that you didn’t like The Vaster Wilds. It was quite a book, wasn’t it.
Good luck with the root canal. I had half of one once and the guy (endodontist?) said it wasn’t worth continuing and the tooth had to come out. But it wasn’t awful (but again: only half).
Happy New Year! Great wrap up Kym and now I am thinking about the push up bars. My wrists are terribly weak and I’d really like to gain upper body strength. I may just head to Amazon and order! I am planning to join the RWU discussion…but I have yet to start the book! YIKES!!! Thanks for the Shakeraag Skirt reminder! I am planning to get back to mine once I retire (SOON!!!). Good luck witih the root canal…I’ve had one and it did not bother me at all!
Have so enjoyed your triple-decker review posts! My top 5 faves: the gingerbread ornaments (beootiful!), imagining you running from a swarm of yellow jackets (and then dubbing it as an Astonishing Discovery – wow!), your book recommendations (I just heard an interview with Anne Patchett and she shared that Absolution and (upcoming) James by Percival Everett are her picks for the Pulitzer Prize), Medicare research (that is NO joke – sigh), and your Selfie Project (each one either made me smile, laugh, or go ‘awww’!)
Thanks for taking the time to write so richly; sending you good juju for the root canal; and Happy New Year to you and the family, Kym. Here’s to 2024…
oh Kym, you NAILED it with this post! Barbie, Tom Lake, all those fantastic selfies, and all those other wonderful things (sorry about Vaster Wilds – you know I loved it, and now no more talking about it!) Here’s to bringing the good things into the new year and leaving the bad ones behind. xxoo.
I went back and looked up the mobility post. My thumb/wrist on my right hand has been bothering me for a few weeks, I think I did it reading an ebook on my Kindle Paperwhite and swiping with my thumb to turn the pages. I tried the wrist excercise and it feels a little better already. Now to add that daily.
Happy New Year!
What a great wrap up of 2023! Thanks to you, I think those push up bars are just what I need and I’m going to order a set. I loved many of the books that you loved, such as Absolution and, like you, didn’t like Vaster Wilds. I dread the election in 2024 and am going to try my best to hang on to hope.
Good luck with your root canal, I had one about a year ago and it was not that bad at all.
I really, really want a Bird Buddy and might just cave and get one!
I forgot to mention that I look forward to the book discussion on Jan. 9th!
Happy New Year Kym. Well done with all of your fitness activities and goals. I hope the root canal goes smoothly. I’ve had two and survived. Actually it’s just very tedious and my jaw ached from having my mouth open so long but with OTC meds, I didn’t have much pain.
The Lightning Round…love your way with words, Kym. Am with you about favorite restaurants closing (☹️….Tom Lake (which still lingers; Ann can really create a mood) and several others. Can I recommend The Boys in the Boat? Just saw this – same quality as Oppenheimer but with a happier result. Barbie still on my list. Have a Very Happy New Year, Kym! (Auld Lang Syne being played in Starbucks background even as I write!)
I like the Lightning Round! There are some fun things in here (well… except for the Election Year and that Root Canal… oy!) I am in agreement with your thoughts on that Shakerag skirt… it is so AWESOME!
Hi Kym. Happy New Year! As an early riser I spend a lot of time on my iPad in a quiet household. Just wanted to say how entertaining this post has been and am now enjoying your photos. Love the Reading t-shirt. What a great thing to wear to the Library and other places. I have a friend who volunteers for a Reading to Babies program. I’d love get it for her if I knew where you got yours. Your last picture with the lavender puffer jacket is a delight. I love the happy colors. Was the turquoise “thing-y” around your neck a cowl? And is it a knitting pattern? I love black as much as anybody but it is Color that makes me happy. And your silvery white hair is the perfect basic. It goes with Everything. Enjoy your vacation from blogging. And I will be looking forward to your posts in the New Year. Chloe
Kym – your wrap up post is fun to read and so full of life and energy! I wish you and your family much happiness and peace in 2024. Please sign me up for rwu; I’m looking forward to the discussion. And, good luck w the root canal. Just remember that the tooth is fragile after the procedure until it’s crowned. So, treat it gently. Good wishes.
Have you watched American Symphony on Netflix? It’s about Jon Baptiste, who is married to Suleika Jaouad. I read her book and by the end realized that the Jon she talked about was Baptiste. He and she are creative geniuses. Also, thanks for the link to OTR cocktails! Mostly I drink wine, but I love a good Manhattan. Or a margarita. But I don’t want the temptation of big bottles of liquor in the house.
I am WAY too tempted by that Bird Buddy!! I’ve been considering a “wider” outdoor camera for a while, though, and maybe I’ll bite the bullet on that soon. Thank you for recommending The Diplomat! So good!!