It's not the first time. I'm demented. Or something. Broken??

eta: I haven't managed to leave the country without doing...somethingsomething. It's expensive. And usually of poor planning. But fun!

I was about to say, sara, you're getting into practically a HABIT there, with the parents, and the guides, IIRC...

Shut it meara, I know! eta: and I HOPE this one was a little different.

Suddenly I feel like taking a tour with my parents.

And that was 2001. Or so.

2009 has been a mixed bag so far. I don't think I can post about it yet, not until I know what December brings.

2009 has been a total rollercoaster year for me (and DW), and it has revolved primarily around having a baby. I started the year off by doing a round of IVF and getting pregnant after months of trying with IUIs. Then I miscarried at 5 and a half weeks and had to have a D&C. Then I did an FET (frozen embryo transfer) and got pregnant again. At around 17 weeks, I got bad test results on the baby and freaked out. Ended up that baby was perfectly fine. Now I am due in a little over 2 weeks with my baby boy. I am hoping to end the year with my healthy, beautiful son in my arms, which will cancel out all of the bad and make 2009 my personal best year ever.

Other good stuff includes DW and I staying employed during a rough economy, our bond getting stronger because of all the baby stuff we went through, and general good health.

Other bad stuff includes DW's uncle's sudden death in May and the continued emotional and financial fallout for DW's mother from the death of DW's father back in January of 08.

I've had a really good year. The best I've had in AGES. Thanks, 2009. I'll miss you, though I have hopes that 2010 will be pretty fantastic too.

I LOVE sarameg's year!

My year was up and down. My beloved Uncle succumbed to cancer after years of fighting it. That was bad, but seeing extended family at his funeral in Chicago was lovely and there was lots of time to comfort and enjoy each other.

I really wanted to go back into teaching and spent a year in prep and passed all the State tests required (which was freaking HARD, man). Then California went broke and the program I was interested in was canceled. Still employed at my present job, though, and I do like it, so that's a consolation. DH's freelance writing gigs are less than last year, but enough to keep us afloat.

A cousin I grew up with and shared friends with went into rehab finally, and there was much rejoicing. She now seems to have fallen off the wagon again and is putting her husband and kids through hell. So there's that.

Got to go on AWESOME trips to Montana and Tennessee this year and hope for more article-underwritten motorcycle travel next year. Travel is fabulous--FREE travel is even fabulous-er! I have lost 9 lbs and have 20 more to go--much due to taking up Pilates this year, which is both challenging and supportive and has me exercising muscles which I didn't even know were there.

Crap! I went to a party and missed sarameg's adventure. but the hints left behind sound fun.

and, fwiw, my inappropriate international adventures (which all happened a LONG time ago) were totally worth it. Although my parents were never along...