As I've said before, I don't do New Year resolutions, but with the help of my mom I have close to half of my apartment weeded out, which translates to about 6 trash/recycling bags as well at 5 bags of donated clothes, 3 bags of other donations, 2 bags of imminent shredding, as well as cleaning the file cabinet. And that was only half! I gave away my viola, alongside other things, but I think I might miss it a lot for the history.

Not that I could have ever used it now; after 21+ years I've forgotten how to read alto clef. Since 2005 as well, while I'm sure I could pick it up relatively quickly again, in NYC you'd have to find practice spaces to play without pissing off your neighbors. I also know I was never good enough to be in a symphony beyond high school, and even there was I was only second viola junior through senior year, so neighbors wouldn't want to hear my multiple attempts at a complicated run.

Mom and I discussed it and agreed to donate the viola to the middle school in their town where the student might have tried it in elementary. If they're like me, they decided violin was too skreetchy and would hopefully love that sensation of playing with an orchestra, even if it only lasted through high school as mine did. You also have to realize you'll be always be part of the harmony, extremely rarely the melody. For an introvert it's perfect.

Some other life, place, time, etc I might have continued thinking it was temporary and that I'd play again in the near future, but I'll be glad now to pay it forward.

I really miss the days when I could catch a nap somewhere on the floor because since our department moved in Brooklyn I haven't found anywhere yet where I can trust I would likely not be caught. I know we're consolidating everywhere since they're going to have to relocate 6,000 people before they tear down our headquarters but the lack of extra sleep sucks.

In other news, my aunt had a heart attack, didn't go straight to the ER (of course), but got lucky that when they did the catheterization a couple of days later she didn't have any material heart muscle damage. They placed a stent in the artery that was 99% blocked and she'll have to get two others placed for 50% blockages but the danger is over and minimal damage was done.

As I've been learning even with counseling, making true, permanent, major changes to your lifestyle is really hard, even when you're smacked in the metaphorical face with something like this. I wish her better luck than I've had. I'm not giving up, just accepting that I'm not quite there yet.