It's the end of the year as we know it, and I feel perfectly adequate

Before we get into this end of the year post, I feel like I need to remind everyone of a few things to be aware of on this last day of 2020. Like Halloween, NYE is one of those holidays where people make really poor life choices. Because it's 2020 and we don't need the universe sending us anything else in the last 24 hours of the year, please consider your actions wisely:

• Don't open any sort of tomb, unearthed item, ancient text, or anything else that looks like it could raise an army of zombie squirrels.
• Don't accept ANYTHING from a stranger.
• Avoid abandoned buildings.
• Be polite to people, particular your elders. Remember, most curses happen because someone was a jerk to an old lady.
• If someone gives you a mogwai, don't feed it after midnight or expose it to bright light or water. Actually, you shouldn't accept a mogwai at all. 
• Stay home. There's zero reason to be out this NYE. 

Warnings complete; let's move on with the last Island post of 2020. Normally, I use this last post of the year to reflect on the year that was and discuss goals, achieved or failed, and set up the wonder that will be 2021. Well, 2020 is the year that can best be described as a dumpster fire, so there will be no lofty post reflecting on the year that was. I feel, on this last day of 2020, perfectly adequate and ready to move on. 

This is not to say that I don't have some expectations for 2021. The mostly fall into five categories:

1. Not thinking about the President for some portion of each day.
2. Figuring out what to have for dinner in advance of dinner time. This is surprisingly more difficult to do when staying home.
3. Continuing to work from home BUT reconnecting to my work clothes. I've missed them. 
4. Figuring out Keely's peak attention needing times, and planning accordingly. 
5. Launching a new art project. 

Nothing crazy on that list. I don't want to set myself for disappointment in 2021. I want to creep quietly into the new year, with cat-like tread, and let the year unfold. It's going to be another very long year. I'm not being pessimistic, but realistic. 

One of the brightest spots of 2020 for me has been having time to focus on creative projects. I made over 100 embroidery pieces this year, which is amazing. A lot of the pieces were original designs or collaborations with my friend, Kelly, who is an amazing painter. I launched the Be a Good Citizen Project, featuring 30 original pieces (see below if you'd like a "Scream" - I still have a few), and I learned some new stitches and techniques along the way. Having more time to work on creative projects has been amazing, and kept me sane this year. I'm looking forward to my 2021 project, An Embroidery a Day, which launches tomorrow. You can keep learn more about the project and follow along on my new blog of the same name (the first post will go live tomorrow morning so don't be shocked if you see a blank screen right now). 

I started the Island in 2011 with no real plan or purpose except to be able to write and entertain. I hope that in 2021 I can get back to more of what I love to do on this space - share funny stories, write fiction, and answer my cat's questions. The 500th Island post will be written in 2021; I have no idea what it will be about, but I assume it'll include words and sentences and stuff. Thank you for joining me in 2020 and enjoying/tolerating the posts I did get out this year. I appreciate your time and your continued support of the Island.

Oh, also enjoy one final "Keely living his best life" photo. Pets really won 2020 - I don't know if I can go back to working in the office; he'd miss me too much (in his own cat way, of course).

Happy New Year - may 2021 be less of a dumpster fire than 2020! And please, whatever you do, make smart life choices this evening. Don't tempt 2020 in its final hours. 

There's still time to get your very own SCREAM! I still have a few left if you'd like to tell me all about how you were a good citizen in 2020. Check out this post for the details of my Be a Good Citizen Project. Use this link to complete a short questionnaire on your good citizen-ing. I'll be featuring some good citizens in a post in early 2021.