Hmm. 2004. On the down side:
My car died unexpectedly at the beginning of the year, necessitating the purchase of a new one, for which I had to borrow money from my parents. I realized I've been entirely too cavalier about my finances, and as a result, my debt load is ridiculous.
My dad had 2 (or maybe 3) heart attacks this year.
My doctor put me on meds for hypertension and informed me that my cholesterol is too high.
My bad feelings about the election are multi-layered. I think the election was rigged, and I also feel like a stranger in my own country.
I did very little writing.
On the up side:
I feel like Pollyanna, but a lot of the above bad things woke me up to the fact that I needed to make some changes, which were necessary, good changes. Such as:
My debt load is by no means where it needs to be, but I'm finally being responsible about it and have a plan to pay it down.
Plus, I got a 10% raise last week, which helps tremendously.
I started taking on freelance design work, which is actually fun in its own way, and helps with the whole debt thing.
My blood pressure is normal now, and I brought my cholesterol down by 9% in 4 months just by eating oatmeal every morning. (Seriously.)
I took up fencing this year, which I really enjoy, though I'm currently on hiatus because something about it aggravates my back, and I need to figure out what's going on and how to ameliorate it before I can go back.
Speaking of Frankenspine, 1 year and 9 months after surgery, my back is great. Still not perfect, but then, even before the surgery, well before all the horrible pain started, it NEVER was a perfect back. Still good.
It's been well over a year since I've had a significant bout of depression, which might be the longest stretch of time in 10 years or more.
I did have a short essay published in a local publication.
My brother got engaged to his GF of 5 years, who I just love. I'm thrilled.
Several friends got married, some had babies, and some got pregnant. Seeing my friends' good family lives really makes me happy.
I had lots of Buffista face-time this year, with the DC F2F, Nillyfest, the day-after-Thanksgiving Columbus-fest, and people visiting me (SA and billytea).
So, on the whole, there was a lot more good than bad to my 2004. Still some of the bad was significant enough in magnitude (c.f., election, Dad's heart attack) that I can't compare the good and the bad just in terms of sheer numbers.
And yet, even though there are things I really want to work on (not resolutions, because they're more than that), most of the time, I'm happy. And calm. And that's very good.
The theory is usually good. It's the practice that seems to lack a lot.
I got yer
practice
swingin', book boy.
t stifles timeless plumber-vs-chemist rhetoric
StephL, Go, you. Independent work, a real-life outlook on diet and its effects. Go, you.
Wait. I already said that.
Go, you.
I shall, indeed, go. I know not where, though.
Probably just bed.
t tongue in cheek
Huh. If I didn't know better, I would wonder if Gus was blocking me (or ignoring me), since he responded to the five or 6 posts around mine, but nsm mine.
t /tongue in cheek
Wow, a whole new year, CST. I feel, shiny!
See?!
Lee, I missed your post because of ... wait. You are just jacking me up, on account of the Kat thing.
Evil
Lee. Lee is starting 2005
EVIL,
Gawd help us all.
2004 was a year where most of my gains were in the mental, emotional and spiritual realms instead of financial. But I at least held my own on that last one.
My DH remains unemployed, but he came so close this past week I have hope he'll be hired by someone sooner than later in 2005. As for me, I have the same job, got a small raise, and have been getting more responsibilities given to me.
I feel a bit saner now than last year, which in a sense is saying something. I've been learning more about what makes me tick and where I need to do some work.
I've been getting real support and reinforcement in my pagan path from expected and unexpected avenues. More than ever, I know I'm where I need to be on that level. It's hard work, but it matters.
Romantically, I remain the resident nookie hog. I still have the DH and two of the three sweeties I had when I posted this time last year. One of the three faded back to friends-only status back in January, but someone else stepped up to take her place with both the DH and myself back in July.
My apartment isn't as stuff-free as it should be, but it has less stuff in it than it did this time last year. There have been too many years I couldn't say that.
My bankruptcy was finalized back in January. Sadly, I didn't list one thing I should have on it, but I'm working on getting that one under control. At least I can afford to do something with it.
And while I don't participate much, I've always been glad you folks are here.
Maybe I take it back.
::preens in anticipation::
Thanks for the back-link, I really did miss it, among my other thread posting and natural confusion...
I feel like I was drifting too much, in a lot of different ways, and I guess the closest I am going to come to a resolution this year is to pay more attention and focus more, even on the little stuff.
This is the thing. Bearing down on the present moment. I also wish I was able to do more of it.
