A Year in Review

My memory sucks. I can hardly remember what I did a week ago, let alone at the beginning of last year.

I do remember turning 30. Not as fun as you'd think but it wasn't as painful as I expected either. I still feel pretty much the same. I had a big sale and giveaway with my jewelry and that was really fun, but it burned me out too. So I took the summer off and didn't do much of anything jewelry wise. And as you can probably imagine sales didn't exactly spike.

Sales in general were down (I think...I'm woefully behind in my paperwork) but I'm okay with that too. My website crashed and lost all data prior to 2007 and I decided at that point to simplify things. I got rid of the shopping cart and now the site is simply a gateway to my actual shop. I may even revise that and have it automatically go to the Etsy shop instead of landing on the separate website. But that will be next year.

Simplification is important. When life gets too complicated I get a little freaked out. :)

One really important part of my life started this year. Trooper and I started Agility training last February (or March...like I said, bad memory). After less than a year of training he and I will have our very first trial this coming January. I'm freaked but excited. He's such a special dog and my bond with him has grown exponentially through our training. He really is "My" baby, much to my hubby's chagrin.


In October-ish we adopted a new dog. Timber Wolf makes four in our pack. He was horribly abused by his former owner (who I'd like to do some very bad things to) but you would never know it. And even though he bit me recently I still love him tons and tons. He's the sweetest most loving dog we've ever had.


My "real" job has been very stressful recently. I'd been really bored throughout the year and had even dreamed of quitting and staying home to do jewelry full time. That is a really unrealistic goal and my focus has become ever sharper since the financial markets melted down.

You know the saying about death focusing the mind. Well, a potential layoff does the same thing. My focus is strong and very much alert at work now. Okay, granted I'm writing this at work but come on...nobody is here today and the whole week has been dead.

I'm certainly not bored at work any longer. I'm just praying that the next three months find me here and not at home with a severance package. I'll keep praying for that one and wouldn't mind a few extra prayers.

In November hubby took me shooting for the first time ever and YEEHAW did I have fun. I still haven't decided which gun I want but I'm leaning toward a revolver because I did not shoot the semi auto very well. I want to be able to shoot someone without jamming the damn gun. And by shoot someone - I mean defend myself and my family obviously.

I don't really remember much else from this year. If someone traumatic happened I've blocked it out. Oh wait...except for the trauma of Obama. heh That pretty much sucks but I've (sort of) come to terms with it and tried not to have so much emotion invested in the outcome of the election as to throw me into a spiralling depression. So far so good. Any depression I have won't be because of The One.

The one thing that worries me is my tendency this year to feel extremely suicidal. It's a scary feeling, let me tell you. I'm pretty sure my meds are still working but they aren't perfect. And I'm too scared to try new meds because the results are so unknown. Being bipolar sucks but it is what it is.

So 2008 ends tonight. I'll be eating chocolate all day in anticipation of my chocolate fast in 2009. With all the stress I see in my future it might not have been the best resolution to make but I am going to try with all my might to keep it.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year's Eve. Please remember that one drink will impair your driving. Don't drink and drive. Pretty please. :)