A look back...

Just like last year, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the past year. the good, the bad, the unexpected. All in all, a good year in my book.

1. Abe comes home from Iraq. A very warm-welcomed homecoming to a much-loved soldier, Abe coming home was a great moment in my life, and I'm willing to bet a memorable day for my sister.

2. I moved out on my own. My first apartment, my first time living alone...it's been great. although i cried myself to sleep the first night...but whatever, i'm cool now.

3. Matt moves to St. Louis. Goodbye long-distance, hello Brentwood Forest!

4. I got promoted. After almost two years of being the sales grunt-worker, I was offered a promotion (raise included $$) to be St. Louis Magazine's Consumer Marketing Manager.

5. My first trip to Chicago! An unlikely run-in with just the right person got me up on a rooftop to watch the Cubs beat the Cards (boo) in what turned out to be one of the drunkest days of my life. I hate the Cubs, but Wrigley Field is pretty awesome.

6. Wisdom teeth removal: too bad I don't have a picture of this one, with a nast infection and a swollen face, I looked beautiful. My wisdom is now gone, as well as a large sum of money from my pocket. Crappy dental insurance.

7. Cardinals win the World Series!

8. Democrats take over Senate. McCaskill defeats Talent. Stem cell research bill passes in Missouri. Tobacco tax is rejected. Female senator count reaches all-time high of 16.

9. Shannon is pregnant! She's in a lot of my news this year, and was last year too, but then again, she's my sister, so it's cool. Due in the beginning of June, her baby is now the size of a baseball, and has eyes and ears. creepy. but seriously, I can't wait to meet him! (I think it's a boy)

10. I quit my job. Yes, you read that right. After a promotion, I decided to quit anyways. I found a new job, making more money, at a great company...so the decision was made. I start on Dec 29th...so that will be the end of my 2006!

And...that's it folks! It truly was a great year, and I wish everyone all the best in 2007!

i've been thinking a lot about the holidays. when i was a kid, i would count down the days till christmas with one of those paper-chains, where you tear off a link for every day. and we had one of those calendars where there is a little door you can open for every day in december, to show how many days are left until christmas.

now, i feel like i get worked up waiting for christmas...worrying if i have all of my presents bought, sending out christmas cards, and worrying about how much i'll be eating all through the holiday season. and i don't really even get excited about the presents. how depressing is that? why don't i look forward to presents any more? i mean, what happens to us as we get older that makes us stodgy and stressed?

i'm beginning to think that part of it is the mystery. when you are a kid, you have no idea what awesome things you are going to get, it might be a new bike, it might be a keyboard (that's what i got when i was in fourth grade), or even something you didn't ask for, but is equally awesome. i remember opening a pair of underwear wrapped in christmas paper and getting excited about it!

but now, and for the past few years, there's no mystery. all of you presents were exactly what you asked for, because people want to be sure that you are satisfied with their gift. even my boyfriend and i, we knew what we were getting each other last year, and while it was great because i really wanted my new camera, it was a bit anti-climactic.

so now what satisfies the christmas spirit? for me, it's usually the little traditions (which are all changing too) like the food we eat at dinner or reading the paper with my dad after we've opened all the presents. or having cosmos and playing board games with my family, that always seems to be a highlight.

and i've decided this year to be excited about my own things, like my first christmas tree in my own apartment. wrapping presents with wrapping paper that i bought, and checking people off my christmas list and feeling great about what i got them. i can't wait to see my sister, or my neice, or my dad open their gift, and know that i put my heart into it.

maybe that's the part that gets to me, the idea that now it's all on my own, and i don't have the security blanket of my parents to make christmas what it is. i have to do it on my own.

but...i'm still staying at their house on christmas eve...i'll be damned if i wake up on christmas morning alone!

happy holiday season :)

The Art of Quitting

Just 3 days ago, I did something that people daydream about constantly. The mere thought of it brings a grin (of the shit-eating variety) to your face. You imagine what it would feel like, the satisfaction it would bring, and best of all, the people it would piss off. That's right, I quit my job. Officially. And it was the best day I've had in a long time.

Luckily, I've already found another job, which is why i quit. Quitting without one lined up would just be crazy, right? Yes, but I totally would have done it if I weren't so close to broke.

I walked into my boss's office, feeling like my stomach was going to fall out of my butt, and wishing I could pay someone to have the conversation I was about to have. Yet, I kept thinking, "You've wanted to do this for so long...it's supposed to be the epitome of sticking it to them, don't be nervous." But unfortunately, I have a serious issue with dissappointing people, so my conscience was getting the better of me.

I told her that a better opportunity had come up (duh, driving a trash truck would be better than this) and it was a very difficult decision to make (not), and I was so sad to be leaving (as sad as a kid at christmas). Once I started talking, rather than getting shaky and nervous like I thought I would have, I got very calm and relaxed. I felt like I had just solved all the world's problems.

She asked if I would accept a counter-offer. NOT ON YOUR LIFE. I didn't say that, of course. I said, very professionally, "I've already made up my mind." And the elation commenced.

So now, I am enduring the longest week of my life, only looking forward to next week (my last week), which I'm sure will be the second longest week of my life.

But I've planned it just right: My last day of work is the day of the holiday party. It's a bowling party. Picture me, so drunk I don't remember my name, obviously talking shit about everyone I work with, bowling and loving life.

It's my last day.

have you seen that "pay it forward" commercial? where someone picks up a stuffed animal for a baby in a stroller, and then a chain of niceties ensues? i think i totally was part of that today. i had to refill the windshield washer fluid in my car, because it's been out for at least 5 days and i can barely see through my windshield. so i stop at target to get fluid and a jumbo box of nerds (oxymoron), and before i leave the parking lot, i pop my hood to fill up the windshield juice. in my heels and scarf, i'm sure i looked like quite the damsel in distress. but anyways, this saintly woman actually stopped and said, "are you ok? do you need help?" i laughed a little, thinking "if i need help pouring this blue stuff into that hole that says 'put blue stuff here,' yes i need lots of help." i told her i was just refilling the windshield fluid, but thanks for asking and happy holidays. i mean, what a nice person. of all the crazies that are out at the stores right now, it's a miracle that anyone even bothered to look in my direction.

hopefully someone else saw and did something nice for someone else~