And what have we done?

Another year about to end. This was the first calendar year I've been completely without regular employment since before I was married; on the other hand, I did more consulting work than in any previous year, and earned more money from my writing than ever before, too. Pittances next to the cost of living, but I feel more of the glow of honest pride on receiving paychecks for these things than I ever did for sitting in an office all day.

On the other side, I'm more confident than ever in my role as a Tolkien scholar. This brings in no money, but it's gratifying. I've written three major papers this year - a short piece on revisions in the text of The Lord of the Rings, which I was invited to give (another first!) at the Marquette conference in October, and which will be published in their proceedings if they ever send me the style sheet they've promised; my definitive rant on the Jackson films, which will be in a book from The Mythopoeic Press that was supposed to be out a month ago (note to self: query e-mail to my editor when she gets back to work on Monday); and my magnum opus on the history and bibliography of the Inklings, 29,000 words of appendix to Dr. Academic's book which a major university press is issuing probably next fall. (I don't mind appearing in the appendix; as Robert Foster once said, it is the dream of every Tolkien scholar to write an Appendix, and I've done three; and it saved me the trouble of negotiating publication on my own for what would make a rather short book.)

At home my wild_patience and I celebrated our tenth anniversary. Or rather not at home, for we commemorated it by taking our miniature tour-boat cruise of Southeast Alaska, which like our trip to Rome two years ago was one of those vacations so perfect it'd be a mistake to repeat it. Whatever happens to my career, I've found satisfaction in marriage, which I suspect is harder.

Our two p-cats, Pandora and Pippin, keep us lively and entertaining company.

My mother's health is improving, and we're even contemplating having her accompany me to England (which she hasn't seen for 50 years) on my upcoming trip.

I made tamales for the first time. Didn't turn out half bad.

I bought recordings of two modern symphonies, by composers I'd barely heard of, which turned out to be utterly delightful works. (No names: I may want to surprise somebody with them.)

I have a nice new green shirt I'm wearing to vgqn's party tonight.

And I just bought my very first cell phone. More on that after I figure out how the thing works.