( continues...) there, no matter the time. I know I've taken a lot from my friends this year, and I can only hope I've given you half as much love and support as you've given me. If I haven't, please set me on the straight and narrow. I don't ever want to be a user who only takes.

I also need you to know that I am constantly sending out the ~ma to those that need it. I don't always post (my own issues), but I try and keep up with what's going on in Beep Me. I cheer your successes and ache for each of you when things are tough. Actually communicating that isn't necessarily my strong suit.

My wish for 2011 is that it treats us all better than 2010. May we have all the love and laughter we can take, and when the inevitable tears come may we all know that we're not alone.

2010 has been a really great year for us too! Yay for good years!

The tough stuff has been my nephew's injury in Afghanistan, but he is home and okay and has a purple heart, and my former student's death. Still kinda dealing with that, I think, but I hope to do something in his memory this year.

But the good stuff has been continued joy in our relationship, in our work, in our house. Lots more private lessons for the SO, which has been good financially, but I'd like to get us out of that with fundraising on the day job part. I quit teaching privately, which was tough on my identity, but ultimately good for me musically and otherwise.

We got the awesome new-to-us car, the swag wag. I did a lot of new stuff, like the Becoming an Outdoorswoman stuff and this year will hold more like the astronomy.

It's been a good year. Hope next year is good too.

Well, 2010 was the year that I decided to take action in my own life and find what I needed for fulfillment and happiness.

I got my Masters' degree in the mail (edit: it wasn't a mail order degree, they just mailed it to me after I passed the comp exam in December of 2009) at the start of 2010. I'd worked hard for it, and tried very hard to parlay it into a new professional chapter. Easier said than done, of course, with the state of the job market.

In March, I went to New Orleans to work with Historic Green on projects in the Lower Ninth Ward, and continued to fall hard in love with this city. (it was my 3rd visit in less than a year.) A wise man told me I should move here, so I did.

Well, I told Tom we needed to move down here- we were both sick of our jobs and New England weather, and there was no good reason not to do it. He found a job almost immediately with a company that has turned out to be one of the best places he's ever worked- they love him and he really enjoys the work and the people. He accepted the job in April; we packed up and hit New Orleans on May 15.

After taking the summer off to get settled and network and do volunteer work, I started at a small non-profit here that does the kind of grassroots community work that is so important to me.

I love it here and feel so empowered by our choices that led us here, and so humbled by the amazing people in still awful circumstances here.

2010 is the year of New Orleans, and is one of the most important years of my life.

Oh, Maria. What a lot of hard stuff. I hope 2011 is better for you and your family.

Oh, Maria. What Jesse said. I've been quoting Counting Crows a lot this December: may next year be better than the last.

As for me, if it weren't for the situation with my parents, it would have been a pretty good year. But my mother's dementia has just put a constant low-level strain over everything, complicating everything. But the rest of the family is doing well: my nieces are doing great at college, my brother's wife had a second little boy, and everyone else seems to be pretty healthy.

The job situation could have been better, since they waited until the very last minute to arrange for my job to go permanent, and it's still possible I'll be out of work for a week or two during the transition, which pisses me off. I still haven't sold the house because I've been worried about the job situation, but hopefully that will happen soon in the new year, and I can buy a place in a better neighborhood without drug-dealers hanging out in front of the house all the time.

No big trips this year, although I did get sent to Alaska and I got my first float-plane ride. I'll be going to Providence in May and Colorado this summer, and that's probably it for travel this year, but I won't complain too much.

Things I want from 2011: health and peace for my parents & family (including additional emotional and physical support for my father); a good move that doesn't stress me out too much; a job transition that doesn't make me want to bite anyone's head off; a start on the long-delayed Secret Writing Project.

2010 was better than 2009 for me. I've run out of parents to lose, which isn't exactly great, but at least it's not a worry any more. My sister and I have become closer, and I'm finding I really like spending time with her. Work has been pretty good, and I really like my new manager. Mostly, though, 2010 has been the year of flying. Well, 11/12s of it anyway (insert bitching about IFR weather hosing every December lesson I could schedule).

Next year I hope to get my pilots license, get a promotion, and travel to the south of France in the fall. But even if 2011 was a rerun of 2010, I would be hard put to complain.

Maria, ye gods, that's a huge amount of stress and awfulness. Thank you for sharing it with us, and I hope that your 2011 pulls a complete 180.

Nora, I love hearing about how happy you are in New Orleans! You and Tom are an inspiration.

And Liese, thanks for your kind words. It's so lovely to hear about the good things in your life and the good work that you and the SO are doing.

Happy new year, my friends!

2010 was much better for us. the beginning of it still had Matt in an awful job, but that has changed. and while things aren't perfect in the job areana for him , they are way better and look to be going in that direction for him.

I had a good job, and now it is better , working with the teens and full time. Full time is going to an adjustment, but the right kind of adjustment.

We lost AndyCat - the most loving cat in the world, but we found Nathaniel, the brat cat. He's good for us.

A number of friends found better jobs, or started businesses.

while I still have friends in bad situations, there are more that are in better situations.

For 2011 I would like DH to let go of his old stress, let us transition smoothly, and for a few more loved ones find a little bit better places.

I'm going to quote, of all people, Mayor Wilkins (yes, from Buffy) to sum up what 2010 was like for me:

"There has been achievement, joy, good times...and there has been grief. There's been loss. Some people who should be here today...aren't.

"But we are."

And that's about it. It was hard, and the irony of me ending the year with a lung disease isn't lost on me.

I look forward to a better 2011.

{{{Maria}}} so much love to you.

2010 still has me by the scruff of the neck, and isn't letting go anytime soon, so I'm not really ready to tie it up in a post. But one good thing I did this year was start posting on this board again after a long hiatus. It's good to know that you all are still here and just as wonderful and witty and wise as ever, no matter how long I go between posting regularly. I am very grateful for you all.