Would have been hella impressive, though. If a bit confusing.

Yep. Particularly given that Santa traditionally comes down the chimney.

eta ...and how much do I wish I'd not had that image? We're really putting the Ho into Ho Ho Ho, here.

We're Bitches, babe. It's what we do.

Squeeeeeeeee!!!!!

I love extended holidays! I just got my secret santa gift from....drumroll....Miss Lilty. Thank you, thank you.

She sent a set of honey and shea body treats. Shower gel, bath soap, body balm, sugar scrub and hand lotion. They smell terrific. I already feel pampered!

I am so tickled. Thanks again!

I wasn't sure I had it in me to do a wrap-up, but I think I'll give it a shot. 2005 started out bad, but better than 2004 had ended. My job was ending, but at least I knew it was ending and I knew when. The first 2 months of the year were the hardest, but I got some help and things got better.

Work: Sticking it out for 6 months in a job where I was unappreciated was tough. I started job searching in February and started getting good responses in April. A big event I had to manage in May was a p.i.t.a., but it got done and was pretty successful. I got a job offer in early June and started at the end of June. The new job rocks muchly and I got my largest year-end bonus ever.

Family: My family had to continue dealing with me sick in a way they had never seen before, but they dealt with it and even managed to get kinda comfortable with me dumping stuff on them without a filter. We lost my father's mother in May rather unexpectedly, but were all with her when she died and I saw my father as a really wonderful and caring son in her last weeks. My brother had some devastating heartache, but found some sources of strength he didn't know about.

Some random good things in 2005: in March I had my first spa scrub and wrap and lurved it. friends visiting new york, kinetic sculptures, the term jackhole, I refinanced my place and got a cash out to pay off debt/start savings, started working in my building's flowerbeds, iPod, iBook, weekend crafty vacation, donating approx. 5 garbages bags of stuff from my home, new light fixtures, chapeau, new haircut, US Open, PHONE CALLL FROM NATHAN (via ita), Yosemite, Makola dress.

Oh, yay, Maidengurl!! You got them! You are so very welcome!

2005 wrap-up

the Good
- got new job and a bit of a promotion. "I'm a Senior"
- adopted a stray cat who seems to have multiple personalities
- got my anxiety issues under control
- celebrated 8 years of marriage
- got a new car
- made some new friends and didn't lose any of the old ones

the Bad
- DH quit soul sucking job and is struggling as a freelance photographer/writer again
- money is more of an issue (but can we ever have enough?)
- DH's mother's health is rapidly declining
- was diagnosed with a minor heart condition
- sinuses continue to give me trouble

All in all, the year was neither bad nor good. It just Was.

My niece got her Xmas gift from me yesterday and she loves it!

I'm so happy.

Gee, in 2005 I got my nuclear family back!

I got to travel to Ohio and spend time with lovely Buffistas, tour the R&R Hall of Fame, see Lake Erie and meet sj, Deena's Spawn1, Spikelet and RaptorGirl, Cashmere and O, and see people I'd first met in '04. I also got to travel to SF to celebrate Perkins' Sail's and Nicole's birthdays, meet Beth (b's) Husband, and spend time with people I'd met Nilly-Q week in '04. I found a new doctor and got a handle on some of my chronic physical problems, so that's looking more and more positive.

DH retired and both our kids' relationships and jobs dissolved. So I've gone from working at home and structuring my day as I pleased, and having years to get used to that, to having three other people underfoot all the time, at least until jobs and apartments and life-having happen for our sons. 2006 is going to be interesting.

Argh!!! Long post eaten by fatal error. Gah!