2022

Was in and out of 13 airports

Visited 5 new countries (and experienced customs in 6 countries), meaning I finally got some stamps in my passport

Attended 1 wedding, gaining a second nephew-in-law

attended 2 baptisms (missed the 3rd. Geography).

attended 1 high school graduation

Read 40+ books (favorites included Humankind,  A Hopefully History, Atomic Habits, and American Nations)

Finally broke my streak and caught COVID

Took about 26 GB of photographs (how many of those are worth keeping is a different question)

Worked on improving my Spanish and made a little progress on being able to roll my 'r's 

Hopefully made a few people's days better

Visited 2 National Parks (I think one is actually a monument) I'd never been to before--it was my year of going places, it seems

Saw all 25 nieces and nephews at least once during the year

Finished my service as committee chair 

Lots of mess-ups, and hopefully some improvement

Gained some new friends, and didn't forget the old ones, even if they wonder if I have

Didn't sleep enough

Tried 

Leveling up

The last couple of days, I have been trying a new approach to motivate my nephews to do their chores. I call it the "Turn it into a video game" model. 

Get dressed? You passed the level. Brushed your teeth? You leveled up! Did something nice that you didn't have to do? You powered up! Wait, the next level is a cooperative timed level! Can you work together to win the level? 

So far it's working. Which could just be because it's novel and I'm the aunt not the mom. But I am definitely going to milk it for all it's worth as long as I can. 

When is a party not a party

I received an email from Microsoft with the subject heading "5 easy steps to turn your holiday party into a PowerPoint party." And the only appropriate response is, "WHAT?", said in the Marianno style, where what is legit a 4-letter word. 

I don't want to undersell PowerPoint. It is pretty handy. But in what version of reality is there a group of people planning a party--work, family, neighborhood, I don't know--saying, "This party is okay. But what would REALLY make it the party of all parties is a PowerPoint." And throw out party of all parties. I don't think there is even anyone saying, "A PowerPoint would add a nice element to our party." Yet, Microsoft sells it as making your party extraordinary. 

And yes, it would definitely make your party unusual or remarkable (see definition of 'extraordinary'), but I think not in the way you want. 

But a PowerPoint party isn't just a party with a PowerPoint. It's like a Pampered Chef party, but with tech. Per my email, "At a PowerPoint party, each person creates and shares their unique presentation to the group. Add a theme or keep it random. Then let your friends and family show off their creativity at this event they won’t soon forget."

If you are really my friend, if you really care about me, do me a favor: never invite me to this event. And I will do the same. Happy holidays. 

More travels

Greetings from Machu Picchu! Well, I'm home now, but I was in Peru last week. Hopefully these pictures will be worth at least a couple hundred words. 

Plaza de Armas, Cusco

Cusco

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Chinchilla, Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

My favorite mountain at Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

approaching Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu

Llama at Tambomachay

View from Saqsaywaman

view of Cusco from Saqsaywaman

Saqsaywaman

Sawsaywaman