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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

2008: The Year in Review

Wow! What a year this has been! For the first time, I have experienced what it was truly like to live away from home on my own. I have experienced the ups and downs of dating again. I started counseling to dealing with issues left by my divorce. I fell in love, got my heartbroken, and I am still recovering. Through it all, I survived. I came out on the other side better, finally feeling comfortable in my own skin, realizing that I will be OK. I have learned a lot about myself in the last year and what I want out of life. And I must say that I am optimistic about what the future holds. So to recap this year, I decided that I will answer this quiz a few of my friends posted as a good way to look back.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?

Got a tattoo, lived alone away from my family, started counseling

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don’t remember making any resolutions last year so I guess I didn’t keep them if I did. However, I do plan on making some this year and I will post them to remember them.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, Jennifer L., Jennifer C., Amanda, Leana, and Ronda…I think that is it

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Unfortunately, my Memommie

5. What countries did you visit?

Does the Texas Hill Country count?

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

A boyfriend who treats me decently and more money

7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

February 27th - the day I closed on my house in Killeen

April 29th – the day I closed on my house in Round Rock

November 1st - the day Memommie died

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Buying a house on my own

9. What was your biggest failure?

Not following through with the classes for my CPA

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

I had a really bad bout of food poisoning in March

11. What was the best thing you bought?

My house and my car

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

Maverick…he calmed down a lot moving into the house

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The guys I dated specifically Wally

14. Where did most of your money go?

Furniture for my new house

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Moving into my house

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?

Dreaming with a Broken Heart by John Mayer

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Much happier since I no longer have the stress of my marriage to worry about
b) thinner or fatter? Fatter unfortunately but working on that for next year
c) richer or poorer? Poorer thanks to buying a new house and new car

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Spent more time exploring this fabulous city I live in

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Sitting at home alone

20. How did you spend Christmas?

In Mobile with my family

21. Did you fall in love in 2008?

Yes, I really do believe that I do and it has taken the better part of the year to recover from it

22. What was your favorite TV program?

So many…how to choose just one…The Office, Grey’s Anatomy, Ugly Betty

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

There may be a few people who I dislike but I wouldn’t say that I hate anyone.

24. What was the best book you read?

Marley and Me…can’t wait to see the movie…I think I know a dog like that

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Several…I think I was living in the musical dark ages…Avril Lavigne, Pink, Joshua Radin

26. What did you want and get?

My house, my car, my life back

27. What did you want and not get?

A raise!

28. What was your favorite film of this year?

Definitely a tie between Mamma Mia and Sex and the City

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 31 by celebrating with happy hour at Sam's Boat with co-workers and sushi at Tomo with friends.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

Someone special to spend it with

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?

Professional casual

32. What kept you sane?

My friends and Maverick

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I didn’t really get wrapped up in celebrity this year

34. What political issue stirred you the most?

I guess the election even though I don't really follow politics much.

35. Who did you miss?

My family

36. Who was the best new person you met?

Angela

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.

That I can date someone without losing myself in the process. That it's not only OK for me to focus on myself but it is important to keep myself first. And that I don’t need to lean on anyone.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

“It’s a brand new day. The sun is shining. It’s a brand new day. For the first time in such a long, long time I know I’ll be OK.”

To close here is my horoscope from today. I don't think anything could be more perfect or say it any better.
"Attend to unfinished chores early in the day so you can fully enjoy the pleasures of ushering in 2009 without worrying about what you should have done. Even if you plan a quiet evening at home, give yourself the space to dream about the changes that you'd like to see over the next year. There's no reason to hold back your vision; you can travel anywhere you wish in your mind."

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

December

So I have been trying to figure where this month disappeared to. I know I have been busy and I remember Christmas happening about a week ago but seriously...2009 in less than 48 hours?!? Life has basically been non-stop for me since Thanksgiving. Stephanie and I hit the ground running at the beginning of the month wrapping up the decorations and plans for the office Holiday Party. I am happy to say that the event was a huge success but it took the better part of the two weeks leading up to the event for us to make it perfect. We did take a break on Pearl Harbor Day to attend the Christmas Market in Fredericksburg only to be surprised by the festivites of the Pearl Harbor Rememberance being held at the National Museum of the Pacific War. The air show from the Commenrative Air Force was amazing. I wish Daddy had been there to identify all the planes for me. The Holiday Party was the next weekend which only left me with a few days to prepare for Mom's arrival prior to the cross country drive to Mobile for Christmas. Once Mom was in town we attended Ballet Austin's The Nutcracker. I still say their's is one of the best I have ever seen. Christmas in Mobile reminded me why I can't spend more than about 3 days in Mobile at a time. I love my family but I really enjoy having my own space and my own life in Austin where I don't have to answer to anyone. It was great to be home but I was anxious to return to my home most of the time I was in Alabama. I will say this...I am much more aware of the redneck population in my hometown now. Don't get me wrong, Texas has it's fair share of rednecks, but Austin itself is much more urban. I was shocked because there are either more now that I don't live there or I just didn't notice them before. Upon returning to Austin, I was greeted by the fact that the water line to my house had busted. Fortunately it was outside so I didn't have any damage to my house but it was a pain to deal with right off the bat. Returning to work this week after a relaxing week off has been difficult. I am skipping out early this evening to see the Rockettes Christmas show. Oh...if only I was 5'7"! I am already working on my 2008 wrap up blog so that will be posted tomorrow. Until then...

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Crazy Headline for the Day

Once again I was perusing my Google reader when I came across a headline that just struck me as funny. It's actually from the WKRG breaking news and it reads:
"Possible Tornado Hits Alabama"

Now, my dear readers, how do you not know if it was a tornado? I personally have never been in a tornado so I don't know what it is like to experience one but I have been through my fair share of hurricanes. Believe me, you can't miss those suckers so I would imagine the same would be true for a tornado. Thoughts?

Monday, December 1, 2008

Why do I Torture Myself So?

I think I have covered the majority of the dating sites out there. At some point in the last year, I have been on Match, Chemistry, Yahoo Personals, eHarmony, OKCupid, and ChristianMingle. I have met a few guys, some that lasted longer than others, but on a whole I haven't had much luck. I canceled my eHarmony account after I met Wally and, at the time, that was the only site I was on. When things started to go south with him, I re-upped my account for another month. Now that month is over and I still have no decent prospects from that site. So I canceled it again for about the 4th time. I actually thought that I would take some time away from the dating sites. So what do I do...I get bored and I setup my Yahoo Personals account again. Why? I can't give you a really good answer. I like the attention. I mean who can beat 122 profile views in less than 7 days? However, I am not impressed with the guys I am meeting on there. I don't understand these men who think being pushy is the way to go. If I tell you that I would like to chat some before I agree to meet you, then don't ask me to meet you for dinner 10 times in the conversation. When I am comfortable enough to meet you, then I will tell you. Also, don't assume that you know me well enough to try to suggest how I should live my life after one conversation. So I am constantly asking myself, especially since I am not overly anxious to meet someone new, why I continue to torture myself by trolling around these dating sites. I don't think I will ever know.