How was your 2011?

[AGDee]

I feel like 2011 was a roller coaster of good and bad. I enjoyed some time off from school while I studied for the CISSP exam. I left my old job (difficult) and got a new one that is more security specific (good). I had to put Samantha, the most amazing Alaskan Malamute down (extremely difficult) the day after I found out I had passed the CISSP exam (extremely good). I got to travel a lot for my new job, which I loved There are other challenges with the new job that make me think it is not the job that I'll retire from (rough).

My brother told me I'm going to be an aunt again (great!) but the baby is due the weekend that hypoallergenic is graduating so they won't be able to come for her graduation or party (sad).

My new job has us a little more stable financially (great!) but my ex is still unemployed (difficult). He did get a temporary job for these last few weeks of December and said that they may have an opportunity for him there (great!).

We've had lots of sad news about people in our immediate social circle being gravely ill or passing away so that has been challenging. We've seen our immediate community pull together and do some really heartwarming things and that has been great. There is something comforting about knowing that if something horrific happened to you, people would be there for you, even people you don't know.

Hypoallergenic's college search has been exciting. Her brother has lost around 60 pounds since June and is looking great and I'm sure is MUCH healthier. They are both doing great in school. Hypoallergenic and I are both going through some "growing pains", which I think needs to happen so she can leave the nest. There is tension between us and we are bickering more. I have seen many friends go through the same thing and I tell myself it is just a phase, we are still very close, but she has to grow up and leave and I have to let her. In the mean time, we are butting heads more often.

I was actually with The Talker for the first 8 months of the year. Kind of shocking to me. That's the longest relationship I've been in since my divorce. It ended badly. It should have been handled differently.

I have a lot of hope for 2012. My baby girl will turn 18, graduate and go away to college. My son will get his driver's license and (hopefully) a job. Life is going to change drastically when my girly goes away and it will be tough for me. I am talking to a couple new people who could make life a little more interesting. I am taking a full load of grad classes in January though. I'm not sure there will be time for a life! I am going on a cruise with hypoallergenic and some of her friends and their moms for Spring Break.. can't wait! It is a convention year and I am going and I know some really wonderful things are going to happen there. 2012 will be a year that I will never forget no matter what.