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First of all, let me say... "holy crap, that went fast!"
Next let me say that I'm not heartbroken to see this one go. I'm pretty sure I've said that for my last two Year-end posts too...
Oh wait... I didn't even do one last year! Lame.
Moving on...
This year had some significant negatives to it, but it had some (probably more) pretty significant positives as well, and a whole lot of mediocrity sprinkled in between. I'd never call it balanced, because I don't think the good compensates for the bad, nor do I think the bad negates the good.
(Always start with the negative so you can end with the positive...)
The bad...
Easily, the biggest tragedy of the year came in the first half. My sister became a widow and a single mother of two wonderful daughters... (Yes, there's softer ways to put that... but we are talking about "the bad" here.) Here we are months later, and I still don't have the words to describe the full gravity of this. Most people reading this already know the details and for the rest of you, you can reference my earlier posts on the matter.
It's been an exceptionally (romantically) lonely year for me. On a positive side, I only had one failed relationship this year... of course that's because I only had one relationship at all. Three months, early in the year. It was the first time since Joanne and I that I consciously decided to screw my "love" reservations and open myself up like I used to. While an admiral act, it was the wrong relationship to do it with. After a month or so, some incompatibilities started showing up and then downhill from there. It wasn't all bad... I genuinely have some happy memories from the time we spent together. But in all, I attached myself too quickly without really evaluating whether or not she was right for me (maybe because our first date was literally the night before I heard the bad news from my sister... As a side note, I had a girl who was amazing in helping me through that time, and I will be forever grateful for that). As a result of my rapid attachment, I made some careless decisions and in the end, had bit more to deal with than I had going into it.
Other than that one relationship, all I had were a handful of interests that weren't reciprocated... or (in one case) even if there was interest, pursuing it just wasn't a possibility.
Back to family matters, late in the year my brother moved back home... problems with the wife... No details here, because that's his business and doesn't belong in a public blog. Long story short, last I heard, divorce papers had been filed. This actually had a decent sized impact on me. First of all, because I'm an empathetic person and we're talking about family here. Secondly, I never saw it coming... not in a million years... It just managed to add a layer of pessimism to a subject I'm really struggling to stay optimistic about for my own benefit.
Oh... and I turned 30. Did I mention no promising relationships?
And now the good...
I made it to 30. And I had a hell of a time with a great bunch of people on my birthday. (too bad I have no photographic evidence... sigh). Oh and I had a spongebob birthday cake!
I've gotten a bit closer with my family... especially my sister and nieces.
Whereas I've been "lonely in love", I have never in my life had such a great bunch of friends around me... and that's saying something.
About 4 months ago, my old friend Lenny invited me out to her birthday... It was at a bar down the road from me so I figured I'd stop by (regardless of the risk of running into my ex, Joanne). I went, no Joanne, and Lenny and I are good friends again.
What's more, I've been going to her karaoke shows at that bar almost religiously since then, and in the progress met a gang of other folks. Most of these people I'm just acquaintances with, but there I'd call Jennifer a friend as well as Lisa. My long-time friend Dave (and more recently, my not-as-long-time-as-Dave-but-still-long-t
Still on the note about friends, there's a handful of folks at work that I'd definitely consider friends... that isn't necessarily new to this year, but i think it's more pronounced this year.
And that transitions smoothly into work...
Just before running back into Lenny, I was sent on a business trip out to Arizona with the CTO and my direct boss, Ron. The trip was to meet with a big client and talk implementation with their techs. Since then I've been heavily involved in said implementation... It's a hellish amount of work, but it's fresh development and I'm truly enjoying getting to work on something fresh. Furthermore, it's an awesome opportunity for the company and consequently for my future with said company.
On a note of personal development... I've rediscovered much of my optimism these days... not something I can attribute solely to this year; but, looking at my disposition now as compared to this time last year, I'd say it's worth noting in this post.
I'll toss in here that I got a new car (2007 civic)... Kinda sucks making car payments again, but hey... I have a/c and don't have to worry about my transmission falling out!
Oh.. and another successful Halloween! (Pics coming soon... but to myspace, not here.)
So what's left? I can't very well put down any "New Year resolutions", since I haven't made any yet... (Those will be made tonight among friends and copious amounts of alcohol!).
I guess I'll make a note as to what I expect (or hope) out of next year...
Love, money, friends, and family... what more can you ask for, eh?!
****************
Bon Voyage, 2007!
Best wishes to my peeps for 2008!
****************
P.S. I did set up a myspace this year... check me out there!
Next let me say that I'm not heartbroken to see this one go. I'm pretty sure I've said that for my last two Year-end posts too...
Oh wait... I didn't even do one last year! Lame.
Moving on...
This year had some significant negatives to it, but it had some (probably more) pretty significant positives as well, and a whole lot of mediocrity sprinkled in between. I'd never call it balanced, because I don't think the good compensates for the bad, nor do I think the bad negates the good.
(Always start with the negative so you can end with the positive...)
The bad...
Easily, the biggest tragedy of the year came in the first half. My sister became a widow and a single mother of two wonderful daughters... (Yes, there's softer ways to put that... but we are talking about "the bad" here.) Here we are months later, and I still don't have the words to describe the full gravity of this. Most people reading this already know the details and for the rest of you, you can reference my earlier posts on the matter.
It's been an exceptionally (romantically) lonely year for me. On a positive side, I only had one failed relationship this year... of course that's because I only had one relationship at all. Three months, early in the year. It was the first time since Joanne and I that I consciously decided to screw my "love" reservations and open myself up like I used to. While an admiral act, it was the wrong relationship to do it with. After a month or so, some incompatibilities started showing up and then downhill from there. It wasn't all bad... I genuinely have some happy memories from the time we spent together. But in all, I attached myself too quickly without really evaluating whether or not she was right for me (maybe because our first date was literally the night before I heard the bad news from my sister... As a side note, I had a girl who was amazing in helping me through that time, and I will be forever grateful for that). As a result of my rapid attachment, I made some careless decisions and in the end, had bit more to deal with than I had going into it.
Other than that one relationship, all I had were a handful of interests that weren't reciprocated... or (in one case) even if there was interest, pursuing it just wasn't a possibility.
Back to family matters, late in the year my brother moved back home... problems with the wife... No details here, because that's his business and doesn't belong in a public blog. Long story short, last I heard, divorce papers had been filed. This actually had a decent sized impact on me. First of all, because I'm an empathetic person and we're talking about family here. Secondly, I never saw it coming... not in a million years... It just managed to add a layer of pessimism to a subject I'm really struggling to stay optimistic about for my own benefit.
Oh... and I turned 30. Did I mention no promising relationships?
And now the good...
I made it to 30. And I had a hell of a time with a great bunch of people on my birthday. (too bad I have no photographic evidence... sigh). Oh and I had a spongebob birthday cake!
I've gotten a bit closer with my family... especially my sister and nieces.
Whereas I've been "lonely in love", I have never in my life had such a great bunch of friends around me... and that's saying something.
About 4 months ago, my old friend Lenny invited me out to her birthday... It was at a bar down the road from me so I figured I'd stop by (regardless of the risk of running into my ex, Joanne). I went, no Joanne, and Lenny and I are good friends again.
What's more, I've been going to her karaoke shows at that bar almost religiously since then, and in the progress met a gang of other folks. Most of these people I'm just acquaintances with, but there I'd call Jennifer a friend as well as Lisa. My long-time friend Dave (and more recently, my not-as-long-time-as-Dave-but-still-long-t
Still on the note about friends, there's a handful of folks at work that I'd definitely consider friends... that isn't necessarily new to this year, but i think it's more pronounced this year.
And that transitions smoothly into work...
Just before running back into Lenny, I was sent on a business trip out to Arizona with the CTO and my direct boss, Ron. The trip was to meet with a big client and talk implementation with their techs. Since then I've been heavily involved in said implementation... It's a hellish amount of work, but it's fresh development and I'm truly enjoying getting to work on something fresh. Furthermore, it's an awesome opportunity for the company and consequently for my future with said company.
On a note of personal development... I've rediscovered much of my optimism these days... not something I can attribute solely to this year; but, looking at my disposition now as compared to this time last year, I'd say it's worth noting in this post.
I'll toss in here that I got a new car (2007 civic)... Kinda sucks making car payments again, but hey... I have a/c and don't have to worry about my transmission falling out!
Oh.. and another successful Halloween! (Pics coming soon... but to myspace, not here.)
So what's left? I can't very well put down any "New Year resolutions", since I haven't made any yet... (Those will be made tonight among friends and copious amounts of alcohol!).
I guess I'll make a note as to what I expect (or hope) out of next year...
- Love - I'd like to find someone I can just be myself around and share something special with.
- Continuation of solid friendships, and solidification of newer ones.
- Health and happiness for my family.
- Big bags of money from work when we successfully deliver the aforementioned project.
Love, money, friends, and family... what more can you ask for, eh?!
****************
Bon Voyage, 2007!
Best wishes to my peeps for 2008!
****************
P.S. I did set up a myspace this year... check me out there!
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