For me, the first part of 2013 is something I'm glad to see in the rearview mirror. The defining part of the year was losing my dear sweet kitty Jeeves to cancer. I'd had him for nearly 14 years, and his loss left a huge gap.

At the same time, I was also dealing with huge amounts of work stress, thanks to a project I had been assigned to that was hugely unwieldy and had NO dedicated resources. Also, it wasn't anything that had a clear end. There were times when I gladly would have traded places with Sisyphus.

Also, 2013 was the year my teeth finally decided to start giving me grief.

The latter part of the year, though? That has been great. I've been doing a lot more with my painting, and have even once some prizes for my work. I'm also able to concentrate on the parts of my job that I like, and my stress levels have dropped immensely.

Most importantly, however, I brought a new kitty into my household at the end of September. Finnbarr Fancypants McGee (aka "Finn") has been an utter sweetie-pie, and after a month or so of him figuring out his new digs and me figuring out that he was Not Jeeves, it feels like he's been here for ages. He's a gorgeous boy, pure white, with the softest, softest fur and a long, fluffy tail. He looks like the sort of cat they'd have wandering around Rivendell. Countering that is the fact that he acts like a total dorkasaurus and eats like a high school football team.

Lots happened this year, but good on the whole. Lost my job of 11 years, which was a tough blow. After a lot of intensive job hunting, I ended up with a better-paying and cooler job, so that worked out really well. Got to travel to Holland with my mom to visit my Bro and had a FAB time. My roller-skating coach moved away and I stopped skating, which was part of a 30-lb weight gain, which makes me feel bad on a fairly regular basis. I can't go back to skating, because my new job is a long commute and I can't make practice hours, so I'm looking for something else to get me moving. That's my goal for 2014--get moving. My beloved Zorro kitty died and I still miss him. Our new kitty, Mariano Rivera, is making himself a part of the family. My DH continues to be a wonderful partner, friend and all-round cool dude.

2013 was a good year for me. I got to spend the whole year watching my little girl learn how to do things like walk, eat with a spoon, put away her toys (occasionally), and say things like "Night-night more yellow duck." We didn't have to move at all this year, which was nice, and we were able to see our families a lot. And my choir sang at the Ryman Auditorium! The mayor even introduced us, which is kind of a big deal, since we're a GLBT (& friends) chorus, and he's the mayor of a sizable Southern city.

The biggest change was that, after four years of a job I never loved, I found a new job as a librarian at a private K-12 school. It pays better than the old job, I get summers off, and, most importantly, I'm back in a library, where I belong. I've gotten to teach a few classes, meet some students and teachers, and work on some interesting projects. I've especially enjoyed working with the Lower School librarian, who runs a really great program for the younger students. It's not 100% certain that the school will ask me to stay on next year, but I certainly hope they do! I think it's pretty likely, but who can tell...

So here's to 2014, which will no doubt bring its share of surprises. No matter what happens, I am so grateful to the Buffistas for always being here, and for being my safe space to vent, ask advice, be silly, and share in the joys and sorrows of my friends.

Yay good years!

2013 was good, in a low key way. I got to spend time with my college BFF in Vermont. I spent more time at work doing the things I want to do and less of the stuff that bores me. I got a preliminary ok on doing said job from MI, so I might be able to move closer to family.

I also think some low-level depression may be lifting. I'm getting a bit more energy and inclination to actually get out of the apartment and do things.

I'm cautiously optimistic about 2014.

Hmm.

2013 started with

Bad: Getting dumped

Good: Eye surgery which worked great!

Good: Going to Mexico with Brenda!

OK: Complaining until I got a new project at work

Good: Going to four dance conventions in the first five months of the year

Bad: Only going to one in the eight months after that

Good: Made it out to Montana for 4th of July, hitting my 50th state on an awesome roadtrip with the Roomie

Good: Sister and BIL came to visit and then we hit up a family wedding, then I went to San Francisco with the BFF

Bad; Roomie moved to New Jersey

Pending: New roomie (seems OK so far, but we have spent all of an hour in each other's company!)

Good: BFF got married!

Good/Bad: Did several 5Ks, but fewer than 2012, and didn't run much the last few months of the year, getting lots slower

Bad: Parents are getting older and sicker--mom had heart problems, dad had his eye removed.

...I suspect I am blocking out some awesome and/or awful things that happened, but overall, decent year?

I got a preliminary ok on doing said job from MI, so I might be able to move closer to family.

Calli, that's great news! I know that's something you've wanted to do for a long time.

meara, your dad had his eye removed?? That sounds extremely unpleasant! It must be really hard to adjust to monocular vision after a lifetime of using both your eyes. Can he still drive?

Kate, he can, but doesn't much. He had had eye surgery a while back, and it got infected, so he's been blind in that eye most of the year (he's also diabetic, obese, has high blood pressure and heart issues...), but it wasn't healing right so they ended up taking it out. Which is gross and creepy, but better than being dead? I do worry about how much longer he can be alive, much less independent and such.

Definitely better than being dead! I hope for no more health complications for him this year.

The highlight of 2013 for me was a long road trip through Washington, Idaho, and Montana for my 50th birthday. We went to Yellowstone (bison in the road! geysers!) and we knocked a thing off my bucket list: "camping out" in the back of a pickup truck, in lounge chairs and sleeping bags, staring at the beautiful Big Sky full of stars (Milky Way! shooting star!). It was perfect.

I and my family and friends remain mostly healthy and mostly happy. My mortgage has been nearly paid off, thanks to an unexpected decision by a relative. My job is easing up; I'm once again responsible for only one journal and 40-hour weeks should be possible again. Another cat, finally named Murray, added himself to my household. I've cut my hair short and let it go silver and stopped dieting, and I feel better about myself than I have in ages.

Other than that, 2013 has been pleasantly uneventful. I'm hoping that 2014 brings peace and good things to me and to all of us.