Bye Bye 2010 ... Hello 2011!

Image Source: Queen Poison Slayer

It's New Year's Eve Eve (New Year's Adam?) and since we're travelling tomorrow, I wanted to write a quick post to wish you all well and reflect a little on this year.

Like all years, 2010 had its ups and downs but undoubtedly the biggest thing that impacted us was the sudden passing of my father-in-law, Paul. I won't dwell on it here, but losing Paul has been pretty tough on the Byck family and I hope that 2011 offers some healing and plenty of things to celebrate and feel grateful for. While we can't replace the holes left by people who pass on, we can continue to let ourselves grow and honour the memories of our loved ones by living the best lives we can. So, here's hoping we do just that.

On the pluses for 2010, Patrick is enjoying his new job, my freelancing is going well and the 50s Housewife Experiment has brought some potential opportunities my way, plus it's connected me to some cool peeps on the blogosphere and beyond. My sister's engagement and happiness has been a pretty nice highlight as has my dad's ability to keep cancer at bay this year. All good stuff that I'm super thankful for.

As for 2011? It's a clean slate for us all. I'll hopefully be working on some 50s housewife stuff behind the scenes but she might resurface on the blog again - you never know! I'm toying with the idea of doing a 1940s Housewife Experiment (I have oodles of resources, specifically concerning wartime activities) or even a 1960s Experiment focusing on a special collection of materials I have (hint: It's from a glamorous woman's club!). Any preferences, bloggy readers?

Our New Year's Eve celebration won't be era-focused - instead we're hopping on a plane and going to Las Vegas! Eeee! (Don't get any ideas, would-be-robbers; we have someone staying at our place while we're gone!) As you can imagine, it will be all class - because nothing is classier than me, on New Years, in Las Vegas. Heh. The toxicity in my body will likely be higher than the time we ate the Asparagus Meat Mold, so I have a feeling that for the first few weeks of January, you'll be hearing about vegan this and juice that and other hippie nonsense that I'll believe will cleanse my insides.

Should you be disappointed with the lack of 50s New Year's stuff on the blog, I dug up this video that I found online. It's of a wee New Year's Eve Party from the 1950s, complete with Vienna Sausages *shudder*:


Thanks for coming by the blog this year! I hope your New Year's Eve is hap-hap-happy and safe, and that 2011 is your best year yet!

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More Visions Of Things To Come

Curious to know what you're looking at? It's a gigantic pot of beans that's been baked with Ketchup-glazed oranges and topped with a sprinkling of cloves for a surprise crunch. Let's not forget to balance that meal with celery, carrot sticks and a bundle of radishes.

After a long day of work, isn't that what every man hopes to come home to?

Still prepping a bit of the 50s Housewife Experiment. Stay tuned!

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A Vision of Things to Come?

... without the grown children and high-waisted, girl-butt pants for Patrick, of course:



It looks like I'll take on what I'm calling the 50s Housewife Experiment, hopefully next month. Between now and May I hope to do a bit of research (with films like this, my vintage homemaker and home economic guides, and 50s-era magazines and cookbooks) and set some parameters (I'll still need to set time for my freelance writing work, figure out which of my modern conveniences and pleasures I can still enjoy and whether I'll try to stomach as much milk - blarf - as they apparently did back then).

Will update shortly.

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Salut, 2009

It's New Year's Eve ... we're about to meet up with friends and thought a very quick post was in order.

It's the end of the year and an end of a decade. This time, ten years ago, I was in Calgary and the world was all Y2K crazy. Then, we worried that airplanes would fall out of the sky because of effed up computers. Now, we worry airplanes will fall out of the sky because of effed up Muslims. Oh, world. While many things change, you still remain crazy after all these years.

2009 was an overall good year, one that ended on the high note of visiting my parents in Mexico. Patrick liked it so much that he announced a few times since we've been back that he'd like to save more for retirement. Seems spending one's golden years soaking up the sun, doing whatever suits your mood and buying Pacifico beer for less than $1 suited Mr. Byck very well. Fine by me! Anyone who knows me knows that I loves to saves me some money.

What the next year has in store for us, we'll surely discover shortly. Whatever it is, we're hoping 2010 brings even more happiness and health to those we love. That means you!

Happy New Year. See you on the flip side.

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Insight From The Political Pundits From Buffalo

Near St. Lawrence Market as a double-decker bus is being loaded with tourists:

Mr. Fanny Pack: She's onto bigger and better - just you wait - come 2012, it will be Mrs. President!

Mrs. Fanny Pack: I'm hoping and praying you're right. If a talent like that gets driven away by the socialist agenda ... *shakes head in disgust*

Mr. Fanny Pack: Sarah Palin is not scared of nobody - but the world is scared of her. Now, THAT'S a REAL American leader!

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Hello, Goodbye

For me, 2006 was:
* Getting engaged
* Buying a home
* Work stress
* Acid reflux (see above)
* Parents retiring
* Realizing I HAVE to exercise. Sob.
* Boosting charitable donations
* Celebrity coochies
* Re-affirming that all-inclusive resorts are the best ever

2007 looks to be:
* Planning wedding
* Getting married
* The Rebirth of Grunge (maybe? It's due. Please? I'm feeling lazy and cheap and want to roll into work in a ripped shirt and pj bottoms. Just once.)
* Abandoning simple carbs
* Gym bunniness
* Leaving work at work
* No longer being terrified of the idea of starting la famille (GAH - ok, maybe a bit terrified)
* Me YouTubing Patrick's snoring

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