Brisingamen End of Year Note, 2022 (Prelude)
Yule 2022
I have successfully composed a rambling of incoherent thoughts for you:
“Where the hell is the rest of the Note? Where’s the Brisingamen Letter?”
It’s coming. I’m trying.
I planned on this year being slightly different from the beginning. But my slightly different plan didn’t work – Lucas and I tried the slightly different plan and we had to go to Plan B.
This is Plan B and a Half.
I enjoy making this letter. I enjoy writing about the people we have been with throughout the year. I enjoy sending positive vibes, out to wherever as I write about the adventures, and craziness, and blunders that our family has been in. Envisioned are certain people during particular parts of the note, enjoying the happenstance in the letter. Clarity comes with the letter too. The readers clarity of the events – my clarity as I unravel the moment and write it out.
But what a surprise! The letter is long. Really. Long.
It’s on paper. Pencil and paper. I have to write most of my stuff out on paper first – then type it.
I love the Winter season and I love the Winter holiday. I love the calling to home and family. There is a blanketed stillness and calmness that should come with this season. I’m honestly kind of lacking that part of the season right now as I rush around to do the things, to make the people happy, to fulfill the obligations… No one wants that. No one wants to be a fulfilled obligation. No one wants that.
I’m needing to take a pause. The letter is substantially long. Some of you guys enjoy it, you look forward to it – you want to hear all about our year – not all at once, I realize that – but on your leisure, hence the letter. Pick it up, put it down; enjoy! And some of you out there do not care at all – and hey, that’s fine! No worries here! But for financial and creative reasons, I’m posting The Brisingamen End of Year Letter, 2022 on my blog.
HalfAHuman.com
It will be broken up in months.
If you wish to read it – if you wish to print it – it will all be on my blog. Month by month. My intent is to start posting each month a little before Yule. There, pictures can accompany my writing. (Hopefully). You can see some of what I was writing about!
If you need help getting to my blog or to the letter, you can call me, text me, Facebook me, write a comment on my blog, you have my return address – get a hold of my mother, who always has direct access to me – you can use any of these options to contact me and I will respond.
HalfAHuman.com
We hope everyone is doing well. It’s been a year! We wish the best for everyone. I hope that this season’s positive event, moment, feeling, person, gift, gets to you and stays with you throughout the season, whatever that may be.
Happy Holidays.
Happy New Year. Happy Yule.
-The Brisingamens, 2022
-Dianne, Lucas, and Catawba-Lynn
-Jude, (he made it!) Bulma, and Sessrumnir
-Gram (Ugh, this guy)
-True and Bartleby
-Masha, Bear, and “Stripes & Whiskers”
Table of Contents:
*Prelude:
“We got to hold large insects – very notably a tarantula (did not know in some countries people eat tarantulas).”
January:
“…music playing in the kitchen, had vegetable lasagna in the oven, was prepping some produce – it was going to be a good night! But I heard glass break in the living room.”
February:
“This blanket was (is) big. And comfortable. And beautiful. And I wrapped my feet in it and hugged it. And Jude…”
March:
“Catawba had completed painting a craft, ceramic, unicorn. And she loved this thing – got it as a gift – but it fell and broke the horn. She was devastated.”
“I got word from Lucas that his co-worker, Carl, said he liked Red Delicious Apples…”
“Mice and ants and roaches and gnats and ticks – so many ticks and termites! Give me the cold and snow! Kill off these damned pests! Thousands of ants invaded my home.”
April:
“And with that, she put her hands on her hips, widened her stance, and looked up at my doctor who was seated, gloved, instrument in hand – ready to go. Tawbs was excited. Fuck Doc McStuffins – she was going to be a real doctor!”
May:
“Annnd the fucker behind me became too impatient and rearended me. I was in the iQ.”
“Look – the second dump trucks breaks started smoking – they were not planning on stopping…”
June:
“It gives me great joy to hand my daughter a flask for her to drink out of.”
July:
“Because like a fucking moron, I was standing in the trajectory of a fucking cannon.”
“The girl was pissed and tried punching Tawbs in the stomach, but Tawbs dodged it and then tackled her to the ground. Very different story than what I was told.”
August:
“They were talking to an Iditarod racer!”
September:
“You know the misters that you walk through in the Summer at the zoo? That’s how it was inside the tent – at literally 44-degree weather.”
October:
“Everything was in place and rachet strapped down. I went to move the VW to load the dogs – and it wouldn’t start.”
November:
“…the omelet was going in the End of Year Note. Carl said it better be on the first page.”
December:
“I dropped my pencil, grabbed my face and gasped with horror! “Oh no! The Nutcracker!”
The American Kennel Club (AKC) has a list of dogs and people who are quite important to the sport of conformation dog shows. When a dog and handler win at a show so prestigious as The Westminster or the Nationals, they are recorded and remembered. There are other prominent important people, such as the breeder of the year, the owner-handler Best in Show winner, or even the judge of the year. Mr. Dana Cline was 2018’s Judge of the Year. Upon looking at his past judging experiences – I was blown away with my first “click” finding he had to have judged a Best in Show in each state. That’s just Best in Show, not to mention group, breed, owner-handler, junior handler, and so on. This letter would be bloated trying to list one percent of his shows. And judging is only one piece of the total contributions this man has given to the dogs of the AKC. Acquiring his first Great Dane at the age of seven, he worked hard and handled and showed his dog in the AKC ring and with 4H. He went on to handle professionally, to breed dogs – some champions – and as I said, became a well-known, highly respected, judge. He said he feels he was fortunate to learn from greats and hopes to pass his education and knowledge on to the next generation.
And as Mr. Dana Cline stood in the ring, gazing upon a goofy group of 4- & 5- month old puppies – a sub in judge at the last minute, mind you – he made is call as to which pup in his “humble opinion” showed the best that day. And Catawba-Lynn, upon hearing his call, stood upon her chair, pointed, and shouted “HE’S A BAD MAN!!” For as our beloved Sessrumnir was beat out by his brother Zeke – and Catawba-Lynn just wasn’t going to take Mr. Dana Cline’s call. Welcome to the Brisingamen’s 2022 End of Year Letter.
Last year, we left off on us taking a break after we drove to Colorado and back. So, December 6th, Saint Nick came and Catawba-Lynn got shots. Just her and I, and a medical professional, in some flimsy place. And me restraining my child with all my might. Catawba-Lynn, turns out, is incredibly strong, and loud. The medical professional just stared at me – attempting to tell me we should do this a different day. “Take. The shot.” is all I mustered in between Catawba flailing and screaming. As soon as the needle was gone, tears were gone and a sweet request for candy for a job well done was announced. Absolutely not – as we exited the building amid annoying stranders’ stares. So we went home and made ten trays of brownies and a cake, and three fruit boxes and delivered them to our Pennsylvania people. We picked up last years notes from the printer and drove to Wisconsin!
It was snowing in Wisconsin. We stayed overnight at my parents’ house – but they were just out by us the previous week, so we quickly visited Connor and ShayLa in West Bend and dropped all of “Perez” letter with Uncle Tony and Aunt Sue. We didn’t trust Philadelphia’s post office, so the letters that were going further out of state, like Texas and California, we sent out of Wisconsin. On our way to Colorado, we stopped at the Iowa/Nebraska border and stayed at Western Inn – it allowed dogs. There was drama along the way though, as we called the police for someone randomly walking around on the freeway and domestic violence at a gas station. We were filling up when a car pulled up, with a woman in the passenger seat. She opened her door and yelled at the man that was driving. Then she visibly got punched in the face and stumbled out of the car. The car did a U-turn in the gas station and the driver chucked her suitcase out at her and drove away. Police – yeah – that is about all the farther I was going to go with that situation. Officers showed up and worked with her – we needed to get on the road.
We got into Colorado. I don’t like stopping for food along the way. It costs money, it takes too long, I honestly don’t like doing it – so when we arrived at the Perez house, Karrie offered to take Lucas to McDonald’s – and of course Luke went. I was chatting with Grandma Judy when I received a message from Lucas: “Karrie hit the car.” Now, this was the third time Luke’s family hit my car. There was no damage done – unlike the other two hits – so not a big deal. I just happily got to car in on telling the whole family about it.
Back in November 2021, I happened upon our polling place. Political paraphernalia was shoved in my hand, and I was told to go vote for “X” person. They then opened the door for me, and I walked in. I looked at what they handed me, and it was a sample ballot of what the party wanted me to vote for. A running theme of mine is “Wisconsin’s different” and I was not indifferent about this run-in, I was mad. Weren’t there laws that prevented political crap all the way up to the door? So, for whatever stupid reason, I wrote my name on all of the open spaces on my ballot – and I won – something. While sitting at the table in Colorado reviewing my emails, “elections” and “official” and “respond immediately” caught my eye. I clicked on the email only to find that I technically won the elected position or Minority Inspector of the polls in my district, as we didn’t have a Minority Inspector and no one else wrote anyone else in. But for it to be official, I had to respond with an email stating why I wanted the position. So, I responded with the truth! I was angry and annoyed and I had no idea what Pennsylvania polling laws were, but it seemed off and sketchy – and Wisconsin was way different – and by the way that was my first time I had ever voted in Pennsylvania (didn’t legally have the ability to vote in 2020 – as we were “homeless”). And they accepted my email as good enough and I now hold an official, elected, title in Norwood, Pennsylvania. Karrie was excited. Karrie was ecstatic! “I always wanted a politician in the family. Madame Brisingamen!” Thanks, Karrie.
We enjoyed doing normal holiday stuff in Colorado. T and Judy were nice enough to save decorating the tree for when Catawba-Lynn arrived. We made and decorated sour cream sugar cookies (far fewer than what Judy expected – as Lucas kept stealing raw cookie dough, yelling “You’ll ruin it if you bake it!”) We decorated and exchanged ornaments. (We are hanging those right now – as I type this). Jude got lost and fell into a window well. I couldn’t find him, but I thought I had heard him in the back yard – but he wasn’t there! I then looked down and there he was, disappointed in his predicament. Lucas retrieved him for me. (Jude would go to Colorado and Bulma would stay at my parents’ house).
We also worked on goal planning and vision boards creating. Goals and planning and having a vision of what I am aiming for are some of my favorite things to do, so it’s safe to say that I went way overboard and thought up 12 boasts for 2022. I filled my poster board with my personal demands and said I would use the board during Yule – then hang the board up so it would be ever-looming, hopefully forcing me to never waste time. Addisyn also made a vision board. Her board was very artistic and beautiful.
It was a short visit in Colorado that time – but we were happy we were able to come out and very thankful to my parents for watching Bulma and our neighbors for watching Gram and the guinea pigs. We had made the Norwood to Colorado trip in two days before, but upon getting into Colorado (past trip) I was so tired my driving abilities were suffering. So, I told Luke that unless by some miracle we didn’t take as many rest area breaks (which we wouldn’t – those stops are for me because I drink a lot of liquids) I needed to make the travel to and from Colorado 3 days each. Luke didn’t care. The first leg of the of the return trip (Colorado to Wisconsin) was mostly uneventful, except we were pulled over in Oconomowoc. It was roughly 01:00. I was traveling a little slow. The police officer said I “Was swerving and had a taillight out.” She asked me if I had been drinking. I told her no and thanked her for calling attention to my taillight, as my comprehensive Volkswagen dashboard told me of no such infraction – I showed her – see, no dash light warnings! She asked us where we were coming from, what are we doing there, when are we leaving. Upon taking my license, she was befuddled that I had previously lived in the area. (Southeastern Wisconsin). Interrogation was then over, she packed up and left us alone. I was annoyed, but happy to not have a ticket for driving 5 under the speed limit and continued to my parents’ house. I live in a family of professional truck drivers, so upon hearing what had happened, my aunt and uncles were immediately on my side. “5 under the speed limit? Why not try pulling over some of the speeders?” “Does it look like she has a CDL? What, did she ask to see your logbook? There are two adults in that vehicle that could have been driving and no law stating how long you can be on the road!” (For those of you who don’t know, truckers, CDL drivers, need to carry a “log” which they fill out to document when they’ve been operating on the road, as there are laws that dictate how long a trucker can be driving). Now, at that moment, Aunt Lucy, Uncle Mike, and Uncle Richard didn’t say they loved me – and were glad to briefly see us – and to be careful driving home – but I definitely got the vibe and was feeling the love.
We stayed in a Super 8 in Seville, OH. The whole place smelled like pot. It eeped in through the walls and made me nervous I was going to get charged for smoking in my room, so I went to the front desk, at roughly 02:00, and stated my case. We weren’t smoking! The attendant smiled, said he would note it, and that was about it. 15 minutes later I was letting the dogs out for the night and the attendant was briskly walking through the hallways, duel Febreze air fresheners in operation, trying to “clean up the mess.” I’m pretty sure we found who was smoking.
Along the last leg of the trip, we found an Ollie’s and stopper there. We don’t have Ollie’s in Wisconsin, so it is very much a treat to go. We have taken family to Ollie’s every time someone has visited.
When we got home, I knew I wasn’t going to make my final boast. I was roughly four pounds above where I wanted to be, and I wasn’t going to lose it in one day. So close – oh well.
Our Yule for 2021 was very laid back. Probably our quietest one yet. Luke worked until 16:00 then we prepared for our toasting and Boasts and Brags.
2021 Yule Boasts
Lucas:
- Sign up for and start wood working classes.
*He did it!
Catawba-Lynn:
- Start learning how to read.
- Start learning simple math.
*She did it!
Dianne:
- Lose down to 146.0 pounds and stay between 146.0 – 151.0 *Well. I did it, and lost it and did it again, and lost it, and was four pounds off at Yule.
- Wake up by 06:00 on weekdays.
- Plant trees, shrubs, vegetables/produce in some fashion. (and/or)
- Pay 15% off the house loan.
- Plan a substantial hike/adventure.
*And I succeeded in 2-5!
After Catawba-Lynn went to sleep, I got to indulge in some of my holiday pleasures – Lucas and I looked over pictures of past Yules, watched Oprah’s famous give aways and YouTube videos of children receiving puppies and kittens for the holidays. Thank you Lucas – I know that isn’t what you wanted to do. Catawba-Lynn awoke in the morning to presents – as Santa comes to our heathen household. We shared gift opening via video chat with my parents and Colorado.
I ended last year’s letter with my puppy being born on 11/23/21. I knew one of them were mine – just not which one. Well, on 12/23/21, I got to go visit the puppies for the first time! They were adorable! We knew that we needed a male, in hopes Bulma would have an easier time getting along with a puppy of the opposite sex. I loved all of the puppies, they were adorable, and they were loves and they were so sweet and amazing! But I needed to start making my decision on which dog would be mine. For the most part, it was between the blue color and the red color. I thought I knew what I wanted, but I wasn’t ready to make a decision yet.
So, what were 2022’s Yule Boasts? There were a lot of them.
2022 Yule Boasts
Lucas:
- Get back in the faith. Get back into the writings and read the books we have.
- Continue woodworking. Build the shelf that was planned. Use up all wood in the basement for it’s purchased intent.
Catawba-Lynn:
- Learn to swim. *Scheduled her in 2 classes (and she swam pretty well at a November/2022 party).
- Learn more about insects/bugs – like Maria Sibylla Merian. *Education continued. Draw skills improved. Dabbled in watercolors.
Dianne:
*Remember that goal planning and whatnot in Colorado? This is what happens when I indulge in my love of planning.
- Maintain 146.0 – 151.0
- Do not purchase yourself clothes or accessories (with stipulations).
- Go to:
-Tyler Arboretum 15 times.
-Brandywine Zoo 15 times.
-LegoLand Discovery Center 5 times.
-Utilize 15 New and Different Library “Museum” Passes.
-Visit all State Parks in Counties:
-Delaware (1)
-Chester (2)
-Philadelphia (1)
-Montgomery (3)
-Bucks (5)
4) -Sign Catawba-Lynn up for 4H Clover Buds
-Attempt Brandywine Zoo Docent
-Truly think about my involvement in the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
5) -Utilize Legend Planner
-Create and Update life schedules at least 4 times
6) Rewatch Rotten (Netflix)
7) -Post 14 articles on my blog
-Make 25 pages for my coloring book
-Hold in hand, completed, The Chicken Game
8) $10,000 off the house loan
9) Make these Themed Dinner Weeks:
-Eggs
-Soup
-Beans and Rice
-Mexican
-Stir Fry
-Indian
-Salad
-Breakfast
10) Watch 6 AKC shows
11) Celebrate all Pet Birthdays
-Gram 12/31/21 (9 in 2021)
-Jude 4/1/22 (15!)
-True and Bartleby 5/5/22 (2)
-Bulma 9/23/22 (9)
-Masha, Bear, and “Stripes & Whiskers” 10/23/22 (2)
-Sessrumnir 11/23/22 (1)
12) National Parks
-Research them
-Start planning a trip
-Maybe go, but not necessary for goal completion.
(Also, not a boast, but got lumped in as an important goal due to my Legend Planner – Walk at least half the days of the year).
My friend, Justine, let me know that there were a lot of boasts on my project board. I let her know that I would record her doubts in me and my abilities in the End of Year Letter!
Right away, on 12/24/21, we started completing some of my boasts! I took out a library pass and we went to the Philadelphia Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion. I would recommend it. We will be going again in 2023. We got to hold large insects – very notably a tarantula. (Did not know that in some countries people eat them). There is even an indoor children’s playground and the -third? – floor. I’m not sure I’m all in on the aesthetics and vide – but Catawba loves insects and similar species, so we need to go back. Upon exiting, we glanced at the gift shop. Big win! There, on discount, was a rolled up posted featuring a mimic of Maria Sibylla Merian’s work. She’s one of Catawba-Lynn’s idols. She’s a woman from way back when, in another country under the possible threat of witchcraft, had an artistic and scientific interest in “bugs.” She studied them and painted pictures of their life cycles and food – changing the way the scientific community recorded species that were being studied. She also proved that butterflies did not change into birds – which was the common thought at the time. So of course, I purchased the poster for Catawba-Lynn for her classroom!
It took us several days, but we watched the AKC National Championship on AKC.TV. One out of six shows watched! The Giant Schnauzer – GCHG CH Lagniappe’s From The Mountains To The Bayou, “Bayou” won. Chosen by none other than, Judge Dana P. Cline.
We were invited to see the Rose Tree Park Lights with our friend Judy and her son Henry. Since neither family had too much going on 12/25/21, we went to go wander about to look at the lights. Henry gave Catawba-Lynn an awesome Yule present – a beautiful, 200+ page DK Animals book. We read it for several nights as our bedtime book. Gorgeous. The lights were fun as well and the company was great!
Museum pass number two was used at Mercer Museum. However, we couldn’t get tickets to Fonthill Castle – the other part of the museum pass, so I knew we had to take it out again. Mercer was a man who saw progression happening and wanted to preserve the past. So he gathered and collected many of his yester-years implements – many agricultural pieces, and preserved them in his huge concrete castle he built. The Mercer Museum is a self-explore, 6 or so story museum inside a castle. It is very interesting. The castle in mostly unheated, so dress for the weather if you go. There is a heated children’s learning area. If going with children, there is a HUGE playground called Kids Castle in Doylestown, which is free to play at. It was closed for maintenance in December – but Catawba and I have been there before and highly recommend it.
Lucas had his first half day in office on the 28th and his first full day in office on the 29th. We had never used SEPTA (I still haven’t) so I drove Lucas into work. He would get his transportation pass in the new year.
Gram is Luke’s cockatiel, whom we acquired from the breeder in early 2013. Sometimes I don’t know the exact birthday – or in Gram’s case, hatch day – for all of my pets, so sometimes I need to make a guestimate in order to celebrate our pets. I decided a while back that we would celebrate Gram on New Year’s Eve, so when we have cake and whatnot, it wouldn’t hinder the new year health plans. Justine knows I am a bit off, a little crazy – she accepts this – but I’m not sure her husband knew I was a little off. So when Justine and I made plans for a game night at our house during New Year’s Eve, Justine knew she was also joining in on a bird birthday party. Not sure Erik was fully aware of this. But Justine and her sons jumped right into the spirit of things and made Gram a present – even wrapped it too!
It was New Year’s Eve, so I intended on staying up for a long time – but I should have checked with our guests if they were on board to stay up as late. As the night carried on and Luke’s Yule present from me, his new game, Feast For Odin, wrapped up around 03:00, I could tell our timing was not what Erik expected. Fair. Noted. We would get to the games earlier in the evening.
I also sent a text message to the breeder that night. I would choose Vega – the red collared pup – to be the newest addition to our family. I just needed to wait to pick him up.
Half A Human 