Happy New Year!!! ~2008~
January 1st, 2008 -- Posted in Ramblings | 8 Comments »
“Be at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let every new year find you a better man.â€
Benjamin Franklin
It’s that time of year when resolutions are made and many have high hopes for the year ahead. Nothing wrong with that. I am going to say look to the year behind. What were the ups? What were the downs? What did you do right? What did you do wrong? Then evaluate the changes you wish for your life.
We made several life changing decisions last year. We sold a house, moved to another state…we started on a new trail and took the road less traveled.
Looking back-
January:
I missed New Years with Djembe. I was flying home from DC and spent several hours in Charlotte and a few more in Atlanta. Not fun. The house was painted and ready to go on the market. I started developing a site to use for advertising. I also started my full force campaign to obtain a position in the new city. It was also a goal to venture into the world of the college classroom. Submitting my resignation was a lot more difficult than I expected it to be.
February:
I lost a close friend from high school. We were friends, we were competitors, we had a lot of fun getting on each other’s nerves. He lost his battle with cancer in early February 2007. Not much action with the house selling, but we were starting on the path to big changes.
March:
We started visiting the new city, checking out our options and introducing the girls to what would soon be their home.
April:
We had a house guest for a few days. Snoopy, an adorable and sweet natured beagle, stopped in for a few weeks. Well, she didn’t like Tiki, but that was just friendly competition. I would have loved for her to stay, but she was claimed by an old man who named her Betty. (I think it was Betty.)
School was hectic and shocking. A teacher I worked with lost her husband to suspicious circumstances, and later committed suicide. She had murdered him. Yikes. You never think something like that is going to happen.
We were in full house selling mode. We looked into realtors and went with the one who helped us find our first house.
May:
Counting the days until the end of school I went on a couple of interviews. Djembe submitted his resignation, effective at the end of the month. Showing the house occasionally, and stressing that we couldn’t control everything.
June:
Off to the beach! So much to do when we return. Several interviews, packing, and finding a place to live. We had several nibbles on the house and then two bites in one day! Djembe started working in the new city and we were living apart. It was horrible. I don’t mind my space, and I don’t mind the silence of the evening after the girls go to bed. But I don’t like to sleep alone. In fact, I hate sleeping without Djembe, the human pillow and bed warmer, beside me. When Daddy wasn’t home, the girls slept with me. They loved it, I missed Jem. We searched and searched for a place in the new city. God intervened and we found a great house, low rent, enough room, and we got to keep the dogs!
July:
Time to move. Fourth of July week was not the best time for my dogs. LOL. Stormy that week AND fireworks. The big baby, Tchaik, was a basketcase and his mommy was none to happy about it either. We closed on the house and gave up our acre with the great view and house with the wonderful garden tub. I don’t miss it. Most importantly, we weren’t going to starve! I was offered a position with the local high school.
August:
Girls start a new school. I start a new school. Djembe gets ready to start school again.
Hottest weather in a long while, 100+ for days at a time, and we lose the AC. LONG battle to get it fixed and reimbursed for the days that a hotel was required. The house was not tolerable at 90 degrees, dropping to a cool 85 at night. Moving was terribly stressful, but it was over.
September:
Settling in. I started teaching my first college class, it was a lot more difficult than I thought it would be. Time consuming. To make things easier I took the girls on a hiking trip or two. Nothing major, but it was fun. We took a family trip to tailgate for the first Auburn game. Lots-o-fun.
October:
Wow it doesn’t seem like it was that long ago, but it seems like forever. Weather still nice we persuaded Jem to join us on our hiking excursion. As much as he “loves” the outdoors I’m sure it was a thrill. He was a good sport at least. Renaissance Faire was the highlight of the month. Seeing adults dressed in their best medieval garments was amusing for our girls. The area where we are tries to be rather artsy. They fail miserably in some areas, but they do have great festivals for art, music, and history.
November:
I didn’t think November was going to end. The month started out great with our semi-annual trip to Auburn for the homecoming game. Djembe meets up with his AU buddies and they have a grand time reminiscing. The rest of us are along for the ride. On campus for game day is truly enjoyable.
Instead of visiting family for Thanksgiving we stayed home. Djembe cooked a turkey and made wonderful pies. As much as I enjoy his cooking I believe we will journey to the fam next year. If not for Thanksgiving then for Christmas. I want the girls to experience the family holiday.
Jem also had a birthday new Thanksgiving. In fact it was the same day as the AU/AL game. Unfortunately, it was clouded by the death of my dad. I still haven’t blogged about the man I knew. I guess I’m still sorting things out and it’s just easier not to face it.
December:
Didn’t start out any better than November ended. My stepdad died early in the month. The back to back deaths were a struggle. Trying to find good in the devastation of death is difficult. I have spoken with my mother more, and that is a positive. She is still struggling.
I tried to make Christmas special for the girls. We did stay home, refer to November to see how I feel about that. Staying home at Christmas is great because you don’t have to rush through the morning routine and then rush to family, but there is something lost by not spending it with family.
We have enjoyed winter break and will continue to do so for the next week. For me, school starts Monday. This is the first time in years that I haven’t had to go back immediately after New Years. Love it.
It is now 2008. I make no resolutions, but I will strive for several things. 1) Better health, more activity. 2) A job with a classroom. 3) Time with the girls. Yes, I plan to participate in the Blog365. Yes, it will take time and dedication to blog each day. It can be done, and done without sacrificing much. I’m on the ‘net everyday anyway. Many times I hop from one site to another reading the news and latest headlines. I figure after one lap I can blog, then move on. I don’t have to make several laps. Tomorrow is another day, and I can read the news then. Just think, years ago they had to wait weeks or months for news. Now, we’re irritated if we miss the breaking story crawl! I want to embrace what is important in life, and not worry as much about the rest.
