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.

The end of 2010 leaves me on a more secure note than the end of years previous. Still got problems, but at least I'm getting paid. Can't get much more verbose than that. Grateful for what I have, grumpy about other stuff.

Much love to you both, Maria and Steph.

amyth, I'm so glad you have your wonderful neighbors to support you, and you know I'm here for you however you need.

::smishes Kate::

I'd like to be less itchy in 2011. I've had poison ivy or hives for about 2.5 months. It's a small thing, but damn it's annoying and I'd like to stop including antihistamines in my daily pill regimen.

2010 has really been a mixed bag for me. The first half was pretty routine and unexceptional, especially in retrospect, and then all the health stuff hit and pretty much turned everything on its head. It's been scary, and sucked, and forced me to put a lot of plans on hold and miss things, but there have also been some good things and ways in which I have been incredibly lucky.

It's too early to say for sure, but every indication is that the cancer got caught really early, before it had a chance to spread, so hopefully this treatment series will be the one and only. Also, no thyroid cancer.

I have a lot of really awesome friends, both here on the board and off, who I've been able to lean on a lot. I've gotten closer to my sister, which I'm pretty sure wouldn't have happened if it were for the cancer.

I still have a good job with pretty awesome insurance, so I don't have to worry about money on top of the health concerns. Getting sick has also shown me a new and different side of the people I work for, which has been a big help in a several different ways.

Finally, just to end on a shallow note, I still have my eyelashes and enough of my eyebrows that I didn't have to learn how to draw on new ones, so no scary clown lady face for me!

Not ready to do a year end closer, but I wanted to mention that msbelle was a secret Birthday fairy and is not only the Nicest, but also the most Awesome!