keeping up with THE JOHNSONS

2011 in Memories

Last year I planned on writing down my 10 favorite memories from the year. I never got around to it, which is too bad because I don’t know that I can remember them now. So, going forward with a new tradition, here’s my favorite memories from the year in rough chronological order.

Well, maybe “most important” memories is more apt than favorite. Enjoy.

1. I launch Master the Craft.

After almost a year of planning, my screenwriting coaching site went live at www.masterthecraft.com on Jan 1, 2011. Over the past year, I’ve published over 70 posts and started growing my audience. Readers are already sending in complimentary testimonials and asking me questions about screenwriting. I’ve learned a lot about screenwriting (and how to learn screenwriting), too. In all, a solid foundation for promoting and monetizing the site next year.

2. Syd starts daycare.

In January, Syd started spending two half-days a week at Chris’ house, who also watches Quinn, the son of our friends Matt and Ashby. In the beginning, it was weird to leave Sydney with someone else, but Chris is great, Syd took to her quickly, and it’s good for Syd to get the social experience. Alexa used the additional time to freelance and look for work. Now, Syd is up to four day care days a week, 9:00 – 3:30.

3. Syd starts walking.

Her first (assisted) steps were actually in November 2010, but this winter and spring was when she gained her balance and strength and really took off. That meant months of bending over her waiting for her to topple over. Thankfully that stage is mostly past. Syd’s advanced to running now and shows no signs of slowing down.

4. Syd gets her glasses.

On a hunch from Alexa, we took Sydney to the eye doctor in early 2011 to check on her eye crossing. He confirmed that she has esotropia (crossed eyes) and prescribed glasses as a first step. She had to wear them all the time — which luckily she didn’t mind — and a month or so later we’d come back for a retest to see if she’d require the first of many eye surgeries. Luckily, Syd’s esotropia is a mild case of the kind treatable by glasses. The prescription makes it easier for her brain to use her eyes in unison. She’ll likely need them for 4-5 years (with the prescription changing as her eyes grow and learn). She may grow out of the need for glasses for while, but given Alexa and my vision, she’ll likely need them again soon after. Which is alright — she’s pretty adorable in glasses.

5. Alexa stops breastfeeding.

In July, Syd took another step from babyhood to toddlerhood. I think stopping nursing was harder for Alexa than Syd, even though Alexa was ready for the change. Syd, typically mild-mannered and cheerful, didn’t seem to mind. Maybe it’s because she found a new love: yogurt.

6. Money gets tight. Time gets tighter.

It hasn’t been easy balancing — in alphabetical order — a day job, freelancing, marriage, parenting, sleep, starting a business and writing a screenplay (oh, and having a life, too, right?). All I can say is that I wasn’t greying in 2010.

7. Weston lays me off.

Funny story: The night before I was let go after 5+ years of working at Weston, I told Alexa that I was going to quit my job. I didn’t feel like my skills were being utilized or appreciated and that I was missing out on greater opportunities elsewhere. God must have heard me because 12 hours later I was told to dump all of my stuff in a box and be out of the building within five minutes.

8. I start freelancing full-time.

It took my nine days, but I managed to find another (better) job. Ramit Sethi, for whom I was doing some freelance writing, hired me as a full-time content editor, and I hit the ground running. Part strategy, part branding, part copywriting… the position is a great fit for my skill set. And very enjoyable.

9. Syd starts talking.

From a few favorite monosyllabic grunts, Syd’s language skills have exploded. Each day adds a new word to her vocabulary, and now she’s putting them together into sentences. Her progress is fascinating. It’s always a joy when she pulls out a new level of mastery: pronouns, verbs, or her latest…the word “too”. She talks constantly, enjoys whispering and THEN SHOUTING. She can say her ABCs but prefers to have “Mama ABC Elmo”. It’s nice to see how much pleasure she takes in learning and practicing new words. We can even have simple conversations.

10. I write most of a screenplay.

Yes, my goal was to finish before New Year’s, but I only completed 65 of 100 pages. Nonetheless, I’m happy with my draft so far. Early feedback (from Alexa and my writing group) is very positive, too. My progress is steady, thanks in part to encouragement (and expectation) from a writing group I joined in the summer and to tactics from Master the Craft that I’ve put into practice. In all, I’m proud of the script and my progress. I’ll finish my draft in February.

Here’s to a good 2012!