How was your 2011?

[groovypq]

Roller coaster... good way to put it, Dee.

I got married in June. That right there should make the whole year great, right? And as wonderful as it was and happy as I am, well... there's the other side.

Husband got a new job in November. It's a great job, better for our finances (and his future possibilities), but it means moving. I hate to leave this area, plus we're going to be farther from our families. So that's sort of an up and down at the same time. I'm still unemployed, and hoping there are more opportunities where we're moving. The good news is, I can remain adviser to my chapter!

My grandfather passed away in March. He kind of went downhill fast. I still have my mom's parents, for which I am grateful, but Pap was the last of my dad's side. Husband's grandfather is in the hospital right now, hopefully not life-threatening, but he's 88 and not in the best of health on a good day.

I also miscarried twins in September. In fact, while our area was getting flooded by TS Lee, I was in the hospital dealing with that. It was my first pregnancy, and in fact we were sort of surprised to get pregnant that fast. Talk about a roller coaster... my first appointment, the doc was concerned - sent me for blood work to test hormone levels, because she wasn't seeing as much development as she thought she should. I went back a few days later and that doc saw two heartbeats. (That was a big "holy s*** we're having TWINS?!" moment for husband and me.) But I went back a week later and if there'd been heartbeats, there weren't anymore.

So yeah, I'd like a few more ups than downs out of 2012.

[BraveMaroon]

Best year of my life, bar none.

I lost 43 pounds, got a new amazing boss, my company got bought by a bigger and better company.

I won a contest that allowed me to DJ a radio station for a day. I won a fitness challenge at work. I took a blue ribbon for my pepper jelly at the state fair. I won a Halloween costume contest. I got recommended to work on a committee that means a lot to me.

I made tons of friends and had the best social life I've ever had. I am finally, at the age of 37, popular. Love it. Threw and went to some great parties, and even invented an event at the office that took off and tripled in size.

My husband has had a tough year - some minor but persistent health concerns and he's being worked to death.

I actually got diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer (of the hair follicle) and had a good bit of my scalp removed in July, but aside from having to get creative with scarves and headbands for a few months, it was a piece of cake and they got it all.

But those last two things didn't really change the fact that 2011 was the best. Can't wait for more happiness in 2012.

[amanda6035]

In February, we said adios to a few "family" members who were too damn much drama to deal with. Good thing they live on the west coast - it's alot easier to avoid them that way.

In May, my husband and I took a 7 day cruise to Western Mexico to celebrate my graduation from grad school (last december) and his bachelors (this May). it was the single most best vacation I've ever been on and I cannot wait to go again.

In June, we had to put our Tri-Pawd beagle, Buster, to sleep after the cancer that took his leg returned and consumed him. A month later, we adopted another rescue, this time, a bagel (bassethound/beagle mix) named Freckles.

In July, after 2 years, 5 months and 7 days, we paid off the rest of our 42K in non-student loan debt. This was a big milestone in our journey to getting out of debt. Since then we've been tackling the student loans with a vengence, between 2 bachelors and a masters degree, we'd like to pay them all off in 5 years or less. However, at our current rate, that's not going to happen. Still wishing for hubby to find a permanent full time job.

In August, I started my own Mary Kay business, it's providing a little bit of extra income, but I have no desire to be the crazy cadillac lady.

In September, I found out that I have PCOS....and in November I found out that I'm insulin resistent/pre-diabetic. Hubby and I wont be able to have babies until I get this crap under control. Soooo, bye bye pizza, fast food, and processed garbage. I started the eat clean lifestyle (eatcleandiet.com) in November and have already lost 14 pounds. I'm "maintaining" thorugh the holidays and hoping to really get focused after the beginning of the year.

I continue to be blessed in ways that I cannot put into words with the amazing job I have. I celebrated my 3 year anniversary with the company in October, and I'm really looking forward to some new opportunities in the upcoming year.

While I can't complain....I really hope hubby finds permanent full time work soon. We've made such financial progress, but these student loans scare me. If it werent for the SL, I could handle the household finances. and we wouldn't have anything to worry about... If you're a undergrad student reading this - PLEASE PLEASE keep/get scholarships, work a part time job and AVOID STUDENT LOANS.

[lovespink88]

Funny you ask, I think 2011 has been one of the worst years of life. My fiance moved 1,000 miles away, my grandfather passed, my aunt has been battling melanoma and my cousin was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

SCREW 2011, BRING ON 2012.

[XAntoftheSkyX]

Like most I had an up and down 2011. Even with some financial struggles, I was able to march my age out season of WGI with Boston University.

Work has been thankfully stable, my bosses have been so understanding with having multiple jobs and scheduling.

Teaching has also gone really well, I'm making a real impact/difference with my students. I also was given the added responsibility of Brass Instructor, and have been hired as the Visual Designer as well as Visual Instructor and possibly Front Ensemble Instructor.

In late October, I lost my mom's dad, which was the first real close family member I've lost. While I know I'm lucky to have had my family around me as much as I have, I know that unfortunately that won't last as long as it has.

I've been trying to apply for military service, but due to the collapsed lung some of you know I had in May, I was disqualified from the Air Force for 36 months. I'm now applying to join the Army, and am looking into repair and maintenance of weapons systems. I should know in a few days if I'm medically cleared for duty, but I've been given full confidence by those I've talked to about it.

[christiangirl]

Wow, I didn't know that groovypq--I'm so sorry about your babies.

I think "roller coaster" is the theme here. 2011 was better than 2010 for me and it opened up really nicely. I was enjoying my job, had great friends, an awesome relationship, and settling nicely into my new apartment. There was still a lot of stress within my family--some of you know my dad and I have been estranged for over a year--but even that was getting to be more tolerable.

Then, everything sort of tanked one at a time. The Chessman and I hit several bumps and eventually broke up. Work became more stressful when the hospital was over-budget and my department took some major hits. The family issues came back full force while I was dealing with some health issues and things overall sucked for awhile.

But there were a lot of high points. Lots of new baby cousins born this year! I have had unbelievable times with my goddaughter and grew closer to my friends. I managed not to stroke out when my nephew became a teenager. My birthday trip (Janet Jackson concert and a weekend in Catalina) was the world's greatest kickoff to going back to school! Returning to school was easily the best part of the year. I am so happy with this decision and am in love with my cohort. The stress of a doctoral program has been a little overwhelming at times (I've lost 2 sizes if that tells you anything) but I couldn't possibly be in a better place. This is where I belong.

My life isn't perfect and, because of the family issue, the holidays are really rough (which might explain why I'm SO irritable) but everything is falling into place. So I'm praying 2012 brings me more of this.

[groovypq]

Originally Posted by christiangirl

Wow, I didn't know that groovypq--I'm so sorry about your babies.

Thanks, CG. It took me awhile to be able to talk about it much. i still haven't. Only a couple girls in my chapter and on my team know, even though I was out a few days for surgery.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by groovypq

Thanks, CG. It took me awhile to be able to talk about it much. i still haven't. Only a couple girls in my chapter and on my team know, even though I was out a few days for surgery.

I hear you. It was almost a year before I could really talk about my dad and there weren't even any lives lost in that one. I can't imagine the situation you had. Christmas hugs to you. <3

[groovypq]

Aww, you just made me all misty-eyed. :-) Christmas hugs back atcha.

[pbear19]

I'd say that 2011 was a great learning experience for me, and it's definitely been more good than bad.

Started out with the knowledge that we could never have kids unless we did IVF/ICSI, which is a tough pill to swallow. So we cashed out the retirement fund and gave it our all.

First attempt with IVF failed a few weeks before spring finals, and I didn't handle it as well as I would have liked. Grades suffered as a result. But, I had landed an amazing summer job, which I loved, and has helped me realize what type of law I'd like to practice.

Celebrated my 10 year wedding anniversary with my amazing husband in the late spring. So blessed to have found him, to have a best friend and partner who knows me so well and suits me so well.

Took a couple summer classes and got completely back on the academic bandwagon. Did our second attempt at IVF mid-summer, and this time it worked!!! The amazing job ended badly, for a complicated reason, and that's a real shame because I loved it there and it was perfect except for the one thing that went wrong at the end, which was quite outside of my control. Trying to accept that it is for the best, even if I'm not quite sure why at this point.

Spent the fall semester dealing with lots of morning sickness, and realized that being pregnant and in law school isn't all that much fun, but is totally and completely worth it. Found out in November that we are having a baby boy.

Hubby sort of lost his job in the fall, but not really. His company lost the contract that he had been working. But, the client likes him so much they asked the new company if they would hire him so he could keep working their account, and the new company was happy to. So he's starting over in terms of benefits and seniority, but he's with a better company now and still doing the same job, so it's hard to be mad about that!

Decided at the end of the year that I want to enjoy every minute of this baby when he makes his arrival, so I'm taking a one semester leave of absence from school and won't graduate until Jan 2013, taking the Bar in Feb 2013. Which means I'll be without a job for a bit longer, but it also means I won't have to worry about being hugely pregnant and still going to class, and I won't have to worry about leaving a brand new baby at home so I can take finals. I'll have years and years to work, but only so much time to enjoy what may be (but hopefully won't be) our only child.

I am so excited about 2012!!

[Senusret I]

I am really moved by many of your stories.

As for me, it started off rough, most of it was much better, took a slight dip, and now things are looking more hopeful now than before.

Rough: Lost a national election in APO, lost my job, lost an APO brother - all before MLK day. Then was unemployed until May.

Much better: Got a decent job and met new friends and professional contacts. Became affiliated with Gamma Xi Phi Professional Arts Fraternity as its first executive director. Relaunched my writing career and will have four books available by January.

Slight dip: Realized my day job is not at all good for me physically or emotionally and fell into somewhat of a depression about it.

Hopeful: I am in the final rounds of interviews for an executive director position with a local nonprofit.

[aephi alum]

Originally Posted by pbear19

Spent the fall semester dealing with lots of morning sickness, and realized that being pregnant and in law school isn't all that much fun, but is totally and completely worth it. Found out in November that we are having a baby boy.

Hope all goes well with the little one.

One of my sorority sisters was in her Ph.D. program and defended her thesis late in her pregnancy (thesis defense in late January, baby born in early March) and she came through both the defense and her pregnancy/childbirth with flying colors. Her only regret was that she couldn't follow the normal post-thesis-defense tradition - if you pass, you get drunk in celebration; if you fail, you get drunk in sorrow.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by PhoenixAzul

So, fast away the old year passes, n'at. How was your 2011?

Lots of stuff happened in my family this year. I moved to Oklahoma, and then moved back. I'm going to be an aunt (yesss...perhaps a tiny little legacy!). We just (as in, within the last two weeks) bought a house. I now work for myself. I launched a website.

But things were hard this year, economically and personally. Definitely better than crap-tastic 2009, and better than 2010, but still tinged with a healthy dose of anxiety and sadness.

So how about the rest of GC land?

Should've looked me up!

This year has been status quo. Doing the lawyer thing, etc., still in the middle of some significant fraternity stuff. Nothing to report here, move along people....

[lunalovegood]

It was a rough year for me.

Plus side: graduated high school, made it to college, became an initiated sister of Alpha Gamma Delta!

Negative side: ... I was raped my first week of school and I've been dealing with post-traumatic stress syndrome since then, which has affected me physically, emotionally, behaviorally, mentally... you name it.

Needless to say, it's been a rough year. I'm looking forward to a fresh start and 2012 and wish the same to all of my fellow Greeks.

[Psi U MC Vito]

Ups and downs, not sure which had the bigger impact.

Downs: Moved apartments 3 separate times for various reasons, only one of which was not a negative one. Tried and failed to start a interest group of Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity. Became a PM for Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and was dropped the say before initiation. Had a really bad falling out with one of my closest friends and now am no longer on even speaking terms with her. Massive depression from a combination of factors.
Highs: Was made a Mason and just a couple of months later asked if I would serve in the highest appointed position, which plays a massive role in ritual. Got elected onto the vestry at my church and then was elected Junior Warden. Found out that next academic year there is once again going to be a Canterbury House at the U of I. Realized how good friends I had as they helped me deal with mentioned depression.

Hopefully I will have less of the bad and more of the good, but I'm looking foward to 2012.