Our 2005 Opt-in Christmas List
Merry christmas, happy holidays, and a splendid solstice,
I'm a little surprised to be writing this already, but it's somewhat satisfying to sit back and reflect on all the things that have been the catalysts for this year's swift passage. Michelle and I purchased our first home in May and have been pre-occupied with it since. Thanks to help from family, we've already tackled a number of projects and identified many more for when we find the time. We also celebrated the unions of several friends and ran around seeing and doing what we could in what I'm sure was a significantly shortened summer. If you had already heard me carrying on about it, we've officially entered yuppiedom.
Michelle started work at a local law firm specializing in bankruptcy this spring and went from being new and overwhelmed to proficient and casually overwhelmed. She's quite good at what she does, not that there could be any doubt. She's found satisfaction in working with people who truly need assistance and enjoys the office and it's personnel.
I took a "promotion" at work and now manage the student help desks along with most of my old duties. It seemed like a good idea at the time, and has certainly provided me with a completely new set of challenges. I've also progressed to a slow second year in my geography program and I've been seduced by some of the other subject matter in some of the classes. Luckily, there's no hurry (on my part) to finish the program.
Barley and Tigger both seem to be adjusting to changes in life. Tigger loves the new neighborhood and acts 5 years younger most of the time. He did have a net loss of cat lives this fall, but is back in good health. Barley mourns the loss of squirrels but has found the bees that pollenate the lavender a worthy quarry. I think he enjoys the greater variety of smells in the new neighborhood though misses the people-time he got when Michelle was in school.
All told, it has been a wonderful year that has set the stage for a doozy to follow. We hope the holidays find you healthy, peaceful and well.
the freeds