Random Bits

Happy New Year to anyone passing by. 2009 seems like a year full of hope for a lot of people. Which is a great thing, as we all could use some hope right now. Everyone is posting retrospectives on last year, and bright shiny resolutions, or plans for this new year we've got so shiny bright.

My 2009 starts off with my eldest niece's birthday today. She is turning seven. Happy Birthday G! She is reading better and better every time I see her, and has begun to be a crafty, arty little girl. She has dolls she is fairly uncomfortable playing with, but likes to have. I think in contrast her little sister's doll collection (which is steadily growing out of control with Barbie this and Barbie that) G is ... more sane? No, wrong word. More balanced in her pursuits. G is artistic and athletic and a definite girl without being a girlie-girl. B is the girlie-girl and so definitely into the hair and makeup (they got beginner makeup cases for Christmas, and I think B will completely enjoy hers way more than G) and clothes and PINK everywhere.

G is at once more aggressive and also kinder and more empathetic than her little sister. L is still too young - but my brother says he seems to like football - he quiets right down when it is on the television. I am not sure whether or not that will have any bearing whatever. He is only six months old. I liked bananas and tomato sauce when I was six months old. Neither is something I am likely to eat now.

Back to the new year... 2008 started off fairly sucktastically with me changing jobs in February. And January as a whole month was phenomenally bad. I single handedly shut down an office space while doing my day job on top of that. February started well with the new company and while getting up to speed with the new folks, it was a relief to finally talk to competent people and have them grok. And while February and March were pretty much a wash, by April things eased off a little bit. By July I took a few days and didn't feel like I would come back to disaster. By August, I took a whole eight days off (in a row!) and didn't check email once, and it was my first real not-checking-in-at-all vacation since 2003. It was awesome. I'm in the swing, now, and the "new" company is still made of win and I am way happier as a result.

2008 was also the year I finally lost the weight. I am down to a size 12, but those are getting a bit loose, so hopefully I will settle into a size 10. Size 12 was kind of pie-in-the-sky. Size 10 kind of blows my mind a little. I am eating better, and will continue to do so. I should continue to eat more things with chlorophyll and seeds. I need to pick up the exercise, though. Maybe start weight training this year? Maybe some higher impact aerobic stuff? Diet only gets you halfway to healthy. So 2009 will be the advent of more exercise.

2009 is also the year I want to build up my savings account. I have 401(k) and IRAS I contribute to faithfully. But my emergency savings doesn't really amount to much yet. By April, I should have a small bit a month I can put away into savings (car payments ending). I want to remember to do this each and every month. Its not a lot, but it should add up.

High points of 2008 -

JOB:
Philadelphia (March) taught my new company, that while they had a lot to learn, they also had a lot to offer.
Dublin (July) was beautiful and got us closer to a meeting where the company was confident and feeling good.
Minneapolis (November) was close to perfect. The hotel is the perfect configuration, and in an urban setting where there are multitudes of places to eat within walking distance. The wireless throughout the hotel worked swimmingly, and the complaints we got were of the room too hot/cold variety and easily fixed

PERSONAL DAYS OFF:
Portus (July) was fabulous. People were terrific, a good time was had by all, and while I haven't jumped on the Wrock bandwagon (and don't quite understand the phenomenon) I can listen with appreciation
Maine (August) was better than it had any right being. Only one flaw, and that was our missing friend who couldn't make the 2008 trip. 2009 will hopefully not have that drawback, and Rhode Island promises to be all kinds of fun
Holidays (December) my company pays us to take the week between Christmas and New Years off. It doesn't count against your vacation time. So big win there, also. Even if I monitored email a little

LIFE IN GENERAL:
The year got progressively better. I love the people I am working with, even if I am a remote or "virtual" employee. The time difference between here and there works in our favor.
I gained a new family member who is cute as a button and healthy as a horse.
I've been reconnecting to old friends on Facebook - my high school class is coming out of the woodwork - and one has even posted a class photo from second grade - me in all my pigtailed glory back when I was wee
I got the bathroom mostly fixed. It needs a couple of coats of paint, a new window, and a new medicine cabinet, and new lights, but the tiled walls and floors are done, new sink and new toilet, and I can shower instead of bathe!
This is the year I pay off the car! By March it will be all mine instead of just mostly mine.

So I'll end the navel-gazing there. Here is to a better 2009!