New Year

Hi There!

The past three weeks have been super intense. I celebrated Christmas, New Year's Eve, and my Anniversary with Eric. I also got a different job and quit my old job!

I recall being sad when I told the manager I was putting in my two weeks notice. He told me I wasn't allowed to but I knew it was the right step for me. Since most of the employees who work there are students the winter break was filled with super busy days where the entire place was understaffed and I worked too many 12 hour days. I was very grateful and happy my last day. The more I was pressed about why I was quitting the more I thought about all the things I disliked about the place. I realize that it isn't just that place (although its worse than the average of its kind) I just didn't enjoy the job. Regardless of how good the money is, I'm not sure I can handle going back to that. The new job I got is basically the same at a slightly classier place down the street. I'm still on the fence about this one. I haven't gotten too far into the training and I'm not sure I want to waste either my time or their time. I want to go in a different direction with my life, but what? During these last three weeks I've been contemplating my future heavily, and reflecting on my current position in life. Interactions with Mine and Eric's family made me realize that I'm very lucky to have such caring people in my life. It also reinforced my understanding of what I don't want to be in life.

Christmas was lovely. I spent time with Eric and his family up North. There were lots of traditional meals and get-togethers. Eric and I also went to see Black Swan in theaters. I loved it! Eric gave his mom Just Dance for Wii for Christmas and I got to play that quite a bit too. It was a very fun visit with lots of great people, great food and great presents!

For New Year's Eve and our anniversary (Jan. 1) Eric came down here and we went to his friends party. It was a potluck fancy dress up party. I wore a spectacular sparkly red dress I got at a thrift store up near Eric for only $10, and brought boneless wings. Both were a smashing success! I was really happy with the evening as I did a wonderful job of mingling and enjoying myself. We ate some Steak and Shake at Eric's request and then went home. Eric got me several wonderful things for our anniversary including a necklace with a heart and dove pendant and my birthstones around the clasp. For our anniversary we stayed in, ate amazing food (Turkey with stuffing, sticky rice and mango, linguine and clam sauce >> all home made) and had a Star Wars marathon. We watched them in the order they were made and got through Episode I. It was so much fun!! but they are so long and we slept in so we ended at 2 in the morning.

I also started reading this book called Rich Dad Poor Dad. I know Dan's Dad gave him this book ages ago, and I never paid attention to it. Its sort of cheesy but I find it very intriguing. Thus far it seems to be saying that one's mental outlook on the world of money around them is pivotal in creating an atmosphere of successful or unsuccessful financial management. Its a comparison between the two father's words of advice and several stories about his learning the lessons from his Rich Dad. The book doesn't really seem to be teaching practical application of the lessons, but it is full of really interesting concepts to ponder!

Anyway I know that I've reached a point in my life that I have a lot to think about. I know what I want to do, but how to achieve financial stability while doing it is the part that I haven't yet worked out.