2023 wasn't bad until I changed jobs, had to sign up for new Insurance, lost touch with my Psychiatrist, went without crucial meds for 2 months right in the middle of the job change madness.

I work for a big insurance company. 5 years ago they farmed off all of the processing of new applications to an Indian Consulting company. I was lucky to hang on and keep a job. i was doing the same job but became an employee of the consulting company.

after 5 years and many unhappy agents complaining, the big insurance company decided that the arrangement wasn't working, and started to switch people back to them. it was supposed to take over a year, so I didn't think much about applying for my job with them again. but my manager pushed me into applying and within 2 weeks I was hired, and then all the stress and madness arrived 2 weeks later, by the end of the year, when I had to sign up for yet another employer insurance plan I was really tired of the whole thing. and just kind of depressed. yes I have a job, yes I work from home, on and on the hamster wheel turns.

But then on my birthday, late December, my younger sister asked if I'd like to accept the gift of her old car, Hell yeah! its 10 years younger than mine, has working air conditioning, hatchback Yaris. It is also a stick shift. but I used to drive only stick before I became a local transit user.

so that was pretty great. newer car, for free. kind of brightened the whole year.

2024 is a different story.