So 2011 was primarily marked by the death of my mother-in-law after a long slog with breast cancer. For most of her illness, she remained stubbornly the same as she had always been, but the last two years were very hard for her, and for us. She is still very much missed, especially around Christmas as it was her very favorite time of year.

But really, our lives are good. Jobs are good, kids are great, and the house hasn't collapsed on us yet, despite things like trees falling on it (thanks, oh Windstorm of 2011!). My cat is still here and happy, although she is getting older and frailer. My kids remain my most bestest creation. In them, I am truly blessed.

2011 was our first full year in New Orleans. We celebrated Mardi Gras and mourned the tragic death of eight young people in a fire here, one of whom was the daughter of a friend of ours. Seeing that kind of raw grief was and is a constant reminder of that pain and loss. I also lost my grandmother, which was expected but still very difficult. She and my grandfather had such a huge part in raising us, and she was a wonderful teacher. I loved her very much and still miss her greatly. Tom's mother also died this year, which was an extraordinarily complex situation with his relationships with her and the rest of his family, and the fact that in many ways we lost her a few years previously, when the nature of her neurological degeneration made it impossible for her to live without 24 hour care. It's been a four year mourning period for Tom and I hope that he can find some peace with it all in 2012.

Professionally, I have found my place in the world as a director at a local non-profit (promotion is as of 2012) where I think I am doing a small bit of good in this corner of the world. I have also gotten involved in organizing fundraisers for victims of violent crimes here in New Orleans.

My parents are not in great shape- my father's knee replacement surgery done in May 2010 was never quite right and in August of this year, his orthopedic surgeon found a deep infection that he is still trying to recover from. His treatment has suffered many setbacks and it's a possibility that he may lose his leg altogether. This has been devastatingly difficult for my mother to manage, and she is still grieving the loss of my grandma as well, who could be considered my mother's closest friend. We hope that in 2012 my mother will be able to get the house in CT ready to sell and that she and my father can move down to Ohio near my sister.

We had some kitty drama, which was stressful and expensive but ended up giving our sweet boy Taz a new lease on life, for which we are very grateful.

All in all, I think Tom and I made the right choice to come to New Orleans, even though our condo continues to suck money right down the drain.

Smonster moving here is definitely a highlight of 2011. Buffista power is totally magic!

Buh-bye, 2011!

Man 2011 was a mixed bag of good and horrible. The first half of the year was good, a bit boring and we had issues with my MiL, but then we found a great assisted living facility for her and she is doing really well.

The second half sucked beyond the telling of it. I got laid off, got another job and after 15 days (yup 3 weeks folks!) the company got bought and everyone got laid off... thankfully I was still getting severance from the first job. Then I thought I had a great interview with a stable, huge company - even got told by the CEO to let him know if I got any other offers so they could speed up the hiring process... and then never heard another word from him, despite 3 follow ups. Heartbreaking 'cause I really wanted it.

BUT 2012 is looking up, I have a phone interview tomorrow (sadly the company is in downtown LA, which is a hellish commute but I will survive) and best of all I got a huge box of Iowan goodies from quester! Apple butter, chocolate sauce, black raspberry spread, 4 kinds of caramel corn, soup mix, dip mix, candy (that I have hidden from the 15 year old!), Dagoba chocolate lip balm(so totally cool!)and and berry lip balm, both of these will come in so handy! And to top it all off, the most adorable Christmas ornament. It's on the tree right now. I can't begin to thank you enough!!! You made my week!

2011

It was the year of rebirth - I got a new job, the kids both moved on to new schools, I wrote a new novel.

The year of great sadness. - I was laid off, my grandfather died, and my BIL attempted suicide in the same week.

The year of pain. - There were other issues aside from the above that I haven't mentioned. A long simmering sense of self-loathing exploded with all of the stress.

And a year of joy - I managed to find that new job in a very short time (though it didn't seem like it at the time) and it turned out better than I could hope for in many ways. The kids are happy and healthy and good students and just about everyone one can hope for. I'm actually pretty happy with that novel I wrote.

It was a new age - The new job and the long commute that comes with it really have changed my routine. Time is often at an uncomfortable premium. Work and home have a strange disconnect they haven't had before. Sometimes it feels like I have two different lives.

It was the end of history - I was laid off from a job I've had for a decade (long if you consider there was an acquistion involved). Ironically, I reieved by 10 years of service gift a week after the lay off with a note that said congratulations.

It was the year everything changed - It does feel that way for me even if the changes aren't really that dramatic.

(Yeah, I totally geeked it up on this one.)

Yeah, I totally geeked it up on this one

Bravo, Gud! Zathras says so.

Let's hope it's not our last, best hope.

Sumi! Thanks so much for my dragon ornament and the Flannery O'Connor doll. She is right over my desk watching me type. The ornament will look great on my white Christmas tree.

Excellent!

I'm glad they got there so quickly considering how late I mailed them. (And that the dragon arrived safely.)

I hope O'Connor works well as a muse.

I have to admit when I saw realized that you were my Santa (and I knew that I was your's) I wondered if we were the only slackers this year.

Shir, thank you very much for the lovely goodies! It was quite exciting to find a box from Israel on my doorstep. Then I opened it to find some beautiful earrings, a scarf with a gorgeous paisley pattern, a nifty hair pin, an adorable ceramic bowl (that is currently holding the earrings and hair pin), and some delicious looking chocolates. I'm waiting until my cold clears up to try the chocolates, so I can really taste them, but I'm enjoying all of the rest right now. So thanks, again, Shir!

some delicious looking chocolates

If they are the same chocolates she sent me, they are as delicious as they look! I was looking at those tins recently and reminiscing.