I actually started reading a lot of books, but being so busy, I only stuck with the few that were really good.

Not really a lot of meaningful themes this year, but I will say that Joan Gould’s Spinning Straw Into Gold — which looks at transformations in a woman’s life via fairy tales — is one of the most fascinating books I’ve ever read. It is one of the few books I would consider essential reading.

If you’re at all interested in productivity and self-improvement, Cal Newport and his blog (www.studyhacks.com) is a must-read. His published books are aimed at college and high school students, but many of the lessons can be applied to the workplace.

I picked up Dan Simmons’ Hugo award-winning novel on a lark, eager for a little escapism, and ended up plowing through all 1300+ pages of the surprisingly complex and philosophical space opera.

Joan Wickersham’s The Suicide Index and Christopher McDougall’s Born to Run are both incredibly engrossing, moving books — albeit in very different ways. The Suicide Index is a memoir about a woman struggling to come to terms with her father’s suicide — haunting and heartbreaking. Born to Run is about a wacky group of ultramarathoners challenging a legendary tribe of running Indians to a once-in-a-lifetime foot race — thrilling and joyous.

And Alain de Botton, as always, is a joy.

Aside from some exciting Christmas reads, I don’t have any books lined up for 2012. Although Dan Simmons has a 1400+ page follow-up to Hyperion. I’m sure I’ll take that journey soon enough. And I’m eager to read Stephen Ambrose’s book about Lewis and Clark.

Any recommendations?

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!

I guess I wanted to put this poetry somewhere since hard-drives burn out, and I’ve already got plenty of unmentionables in my top drawer.

I have many forms in my life I want to create, but once you start on the lathe, you often have to let go of your intentions and let the wood tell you what it wants to be. – Josh Vogel

Are my intentions, too often, too specific?

What do I already know, under my skin, about who I am and what I want to be? How can I stop fearing my imperfections, stop shrinking from them or, more often, stop trying to conceal them? How can I accept my imperfections? Can I ever get to a place where I honor them? What would that look like, sound like, feel like?

Josh Vogel from The Scout on Vimeo.

10.16.2011

Awoke this morning to more yellows and reds. We are approaching if not in peak fall color now. Which also means, we are on the lunatic fringe of cold, windy winter.

10.15.2011

Last night Syd decided she is a big Kid. “Me! Big Kid!” We celebrated her transformation by building a castle. This one is 100% Sydney’s design and construction. She Big Kid.

10.14.2011

Sydney has her own ideas about style, too. Here she is playing dress up with Mom’s tank top.

…I’m sensing a trend here. Leg warmers. Lots of pink. Drapey necklines and plenty of cotton jersey. Good Lord, my daughter is paying homage to the 80s. This, folks, is nature vs. nurture at work.

10.13.2011

Hugh Jackman is teaching “his son” about boxing and Real Steel. Ryan Johnson is teaching our Syd about dancing and Real Style. Look out.

10.12.2011

I spent a little money on new clothes last week, since I’m amping up my freelance work and need (a) clothes that fit well (since I weigh less now then I did when I got pregnant) and (b) are presentable for client meetings and networking events. It feels good to get dressed every day. In something apart from my usual stretched out grey t-shirt and jeans with Sydney food tossed onto them.

10.09.2011

We took a day trip to the Denver Botanic Gardens today. It was bright and cool, and Sydney walked through the gardens all by herself most of the day. Right here, though, she and Daddy wanted to hold hands. It was a little magical to witness. Next time, I guess she’ll be on the right. Er, the other right.