Welcome, 2009!

Quick review first:

2007
I wasn't feeling well, but I was determined to have a good time anyway. I had just given Curtis his 534th second chance. Our best friends/favorite double-daters were my boss Carl and his girlfriend Tracey. Carl was throwing his annual New Year's Eve party, and Curtis and I were going to go after he got off work. But at 10:30 he informed me that he was tired and wanted to go home and watch TV. I was too angry and hurt to go to the party without him, and I certainly didn't want to be with him. So I went home (which given how sick I got within the next few hours, was probably for the best.) I rang in 2007 alternating crying and throwing up. Terrible kick-off to a terrible year.

2008
I was anxious for the symbolic fresh start of a new year. I didn't have any plans, one of the downfalls to being the only single person I know, so I concocted the brilliant plan to make some serious dough. My co-worker, Wilson, and his wife are (were) notoriously well-paying clients, and I love their kids, so I was glad when he happily accepted my offer for baby-sitting services. I had it all planned out- let the kids stay up til midnight to watch the ball drop, if they could make it, and bust out some sparkling white grape juice... fun! But Wilson called me at 4:00 that afternoon to tell me his mom was going to watch the kids instead. Too late to make alternate plans, that left me sitting at home once again, feeling sorry for myself.

2009
Needless to say, I was ready for a good New Year's Eve. I was invited to a party, but with one problem... it was cocktail attire. I really wanted to go; it was at my friend Sheilla's fabulous apartment downtown, and her parties are always fun. But I had NOTHING to wear. My wardrobe consists of business casual, churchy dresses, and jeans. Nothing for a fancy occasion. So I decided instead to go to another friend's party, which was much more casual. Then another invite came along, so I was going to make an appearance at TWO parties that night. And, at the last minute on New Year's Day, I decided just to be a complete party hopper and go to Sheilla's too! So after work I hopped over to Oak Court and found the perfect dress (marked down from $80 to $50, thankyouverymuch!) plus some pretty jewelry to go with it. Thankful for department store charge cards, I headed home to beautify, stopping on the way to get the ingredients for my sister-in-law's fabulous taco dip to take to Sheilla's, and some wine and champagne.

I was running around in a frenzy, baking the dip, showering, and getting ready. Plan was to make an appearance at the other two parties and end the night at Sheilla's. Didn't quite happen that way. Somewhere in the chaos of the readying, I lost my phone, which contained the addresses and phone numbers I needed for the first two. I looked for it for a while, then decided not to worry too much about it, and just go to Sheilla's. I felt bad for skipping out on my other friends, but what can you do? Who keeps written phone numbers anymore?

So I ended up just going to the one gathering, but it was enough fun for all three. There was a smidgen of drama when a certain someone who wasn't supposed to be there was, but I got over it, ignored said individual, and had fun anyway. I rang in the New Year with old friends and new, just as it should be. I got home at about 3:30 in the morning, grateful not to have to work that morning!

New Year's Day, I slept until 2:00. I lazed around blissfully, Roomiekins cooked me a great "breakfast," and then we headed to Target to buy a shelf for our bathroom. It was nice to browse, and for once not have to be in any particular hurry, as I had nowhere to be. I came home and went on a cleaning frenzy while Roomie went to her dad's house, at the end of which I FINALLY found my phone, tucked in the pocket of the bathrobe I was wearing while I was getting ready!

Two days in, I think 2009 is going to be my year. :) Despite the fact that I woke up this morning with the beginnings of sinus trouble and that our kitchen sink drain is clogged, and our idiot landlord is taking his time getting it fixed while our dirty dishes fester in the oven. Still, I think 2009 is gonna shine!

Resolutions:

* Everybody's favorite: get fit! the YMCA has great New Year's deals, and I love going. I had to quit last year when I moved away from my gym and was working too much. But I'm looking forward to it. Of course, I want to look better, but more importantly, I want to feel better!

* Be more coscientious with my money. There is no reason for me to have to work 70 hours a week just to get by. I've already told my boss at Borders to cut me back to two nights a week starting week after next. Plus, my new responsibilities at the agency simply don't allow for it; it's just too much, and I'm burning out. I should be seeing the benefits of my promotion soon, too, so maybe I can quit the second job altogether, although I think I'd miss it too much to quit completely. We'll see. But either way, I need to put some money aside and be more careful. (Note: Yes, I did slightly break this one by purchasing Starbucks tea today, but my throat was sore. It was a necessity...)

* Wear makeup every day, or at least try to. It's time to face it- I'm getting old, and I'm not as fresh-faced as I once was. Makeup is kind of a pain, but so is looking in the mirror without it lately...

* Be on time to work! I think this will be the hardest. I'm one of those chronically late people, especially with my work schedule being what it is. But that will change soon, and hopefully so will my [over]sleeping habits.

Happy 2009, friends!