What a ride.

This is generally the time of year when people look back at the year that passed and lament on how it went. For me, 2009 came and went with all the fanfare it could muster. At the end of 2008, I made a goal for myself to get happy. Despite the crud I waded through and the really sucky stuff I can easily say that I did just that. I got happy.

To say that I am proud of myself is an understatement. I spend most of my time worrying about everyone at any cost to myself and well, I put myself first and guess what? Good things happened. I had some great advice from people around me and I think it is safe to say that I accomplished the goal. Of course, this just makes me that much more happy.

I did have another goal for myself for 2009. That was to run my first 5K and I did. I even did it in under 30 minutes which was fantastic for being as out of shape as I was. Of course it is even worse now that I have stopped running, but I want to remedy that by bribing the boys to bring my treadmill up to my apartment. Let's face it, it is just too darn cold to run outside despite the fact that if there is one tiny little patch of ice on the sidewalk, I will be the one to find it.

So what do I plan for myself for 2010? Well there is this whole getting married again thing. I'm pretty psyched about that! And then there is the potential for HUGE demographic changes for me. This of course, is terrifying and exciting all at the same time. It is all good things. The possibilities are endless and I am feeling so positive and energized. I have a fiance (husband in exactly 95 days)who is kind, supportive, funny, charming, witty and good looking. I have a future step son who is smart, respectful, funny (just like his dad), talented and genuine. I have my family who I adore and would bend over backwards for and I am gaining another family that is just as great and hilarious.

Even when things seem overwhelming and I start getting negative, I can't help but sit back and realized how blessed I am.

What can I say? Life is good.

Hooray for Christmas!

I am so excited for Christmas! Usually I don't have enough funds to buy presents for everyone but this year, particularly with my rockstar bonus, I was able to get everyone a little something. And then I was directed to a site that had t-shirts that were snort-inducing so some people got a second present. We will just call them early birthday presents though. Right?

I also bought stockings for Brad, Nate and myself! They are awesome and give a hat tip to each personality. Brad usually isn't much of a Christmas lover, but darnit if he isn't starting to come around. I mean, how could you not love Christmas when you have a pile of presents under the tree and you get to spend the week with someone as awesome as myself?

Before I can get to Christmas, I have to make it through this weekend and the First Ever KFRD Spaghetti Dinner organized by yours truly and many other hands. Holy moly I forgot how much effort goes into planning a fundraiser. Oh wait, scratch that. I've never organized a fundraiser. Parties and weddings, yes. But never something I need to monitor the return on. Hopefully we meet our numbers and at least cover the cost of the food.

My renter is still on my list, but hey! I got rent on time this month!! Go me.

Other than that, life is full of snow and coldness. Awesome December weather if you ask me!

Henri strikes again!

My poor doggie just can't win! Last week Becca called me and was frantic. As it seems Henri was having a seizure. Now I think there is much humor in this since she is a paramedic and I, an EMT as well were both somewhat clueless when it came time to decide what to do for a dog that is in the throws of a grand mal seizure. Der. As it turns out, she is just fine. I took her into the vet and they gave her the once-over. I am hoping it is the change in scenery that is doing it and that it wont happen again. I swear that dog is going to give me a heart attack soon. BUT she is doing lovely with her new friend Duncan. They are like two peas in a pod, disproportionate peas, but peast none the less.

The countdown to vacation is in the single digits and I am so excited to be away for 12 days as well as seeing Brad every day for 12 days straight. This will be the longest we have been together since being together or ever really. So yay for us. Tonight I have training, tomorrow night a CPR class, Wednesday is my last night at Euphoria and Thursday I have to pack. So I'm thinking this week should fly by. At least I hope so anyway.

The best news I have is that someone might be interested in buying my house. Which of course would be fantastic. The only reason I haven't put it up for sale is because the market sucks and I doubt I would get out of it what I need. I won't even consider getting what I want for it. I just pinched myself to check and sure enough, I'm not dreaming so I am more than willing to settle for what I need. Not having to worry about the house would be such a HUGE weight off my shoulders, not to mention a nice move in the right direction for my debt to income ratio. So any good thoughts and prayers any one of you that read this have, I would really appreciate it!

Oh Henri!

That darn dog! Over the last several weeks she has gotten a taste of what is outside mom and dad's yard and has set her sights on exploring them as much as possible. Which would be all fine and dandy if it didn't mean I would spend time fretting and searching and paying fees to get her back when nice people pick up the friendly stray dog and turn her into the authorities. Maybe she was trying to go home, you know, that place I may have been keeping her from for the last year or two. Or she just got her nose on the trail of something and just couldn't bring herself to stop. So, she has been placed into temporary foster care with a former firefighter/EMT from Kansasville. Henri now has two "cousins" to play with that make her look like a dwarf. I dropped her off Saturday night and so far, it seems things are going well.

In other news, I also quit my second job. Thanks to the promotion I got at my full time job, I don't have to have two jobs! Say it with me now... WHEEEEEEEEEE! I can't remember the last time I only had one job! That leaves me plenty of time for couch sitting. Something I have come to enjoy, well for the most part.

Thursday is Brad's birthday and unfortunately I wont be able to see him so he got his presents early. Well besides his first present Nate and I gave to him a couple months ago because we couldn't wait.



Yeah, he's spoiled, but so am I so I can't complain too much. :)

I am really looking forward to my little vacation I have planned in two weeks. I fly to Las Vegas the 20th to meet Brad at his trade show and then head back to Pensacola for Thanksgiving. I'm hoping to get a lot of the things finalized for the wedding while I'm there. I think it might be a little weird though not working for 12 whole days!

I've had a few issues with the renter, but I guess that is to be expected. I just really wish they could pay on time and without the sob story every month. I get it, life sucks sometimes, but I don't get a 'there there' from my landlord so I don't know why I am expected to do the same for them. Even though it gets aggrivating, I will smile and nod because it sure is nice not having to pay the mortgage.

Other than that, life is just chugging along. Nothing terribly exciting to report.

I hope you are staying warm now that winter seems to be making it's final approach!

Ta-dah!

I did it. I somehow managed to cram a household of stuff into one bedroom and a garage. Whew! I am officially moved into the apartment and the renters are in the house. Let the scary world of land-lordism begin. Eek! There are still a few little odds and ends that need to be corrected at the house, but they will come in time. You know, like when I have some.

I'm still working on securing some finanacing for the wall braces that Badger Basements are all set to install. They are just waiting for me to give them a call and let them know they can come on down and fix the stupid pain in the rear wall. I can't even tell you how happy I will be once that is all done and over with. Then I can start freaking out about landscaping! Yay!

The worry list seems neverending. In much happier and more fun news, I am headed to Chicago for dinner with mom, Liesl, Carrie and Peggy for my birfday. Granted, it isn't ON my birthday, but it is close enough. My morning will be filled with a massage and then off to good food and lots of walking. I wonder if Nike's count as fashionable when it is one's birthday... I have learned the hard way about heels and city streets. It just doesn't end well.

Besides all of that, it is only a few more weeks until Warren is home. He is coming home a bit early so Labor Day weekend will be quite the homecoming. I can't wait. I kind of miss that kid.