Moving Forward

Somehow the days got away from me. Last week I skipped because I was depressed without knowing why.  Then I remembered my mother died one year ago Saturday, and I understood, wallowed, and got better.  This week I'm just trying to keep my head above water with all the students and the new book and my HBP meds making me pretty groggy.  And since the Hunt is the only thing that's even remotely optional, that's what's gone away...for now.

I have another couple of weeks of this schedule.  And then (unless I find something in the street) I will write the post I intended to write in the first place, the one about this:

See you when my life is my own again!

Assets V. Obligations 2011

Last year, after my mother died, I went a little nuts.  Yes, I paid all non-mortgage debts, and yes, I still have almost all of what was left of the inherited money to buy back the Big Lug's military retirement as soon as we can.  But, honestly, instead of kicking up his 401K to the max (including catch-up since we hit 50 in 2009) I spent the raises and most of the natural excess, and not all of it on the house (which would have been an investment).  We travelled.  We bought silly things (two flat-screen TVs!).  And we ate out more than usual.

I felt remorse come Fall, which, of course, only proved the truth of what I call "The Bunny Paradox":  Guilt about Spending/Eating can only be cured by More Spending/Eating.  Illogical (check).  Self-defeating (check).  Annoying (check and check).  But clear and present for my entire life (sigh), and since everyone had a pretty good Christmas, what the hell, right?

My procrastination with the money-recap had more to do with an explosion of tutorial students (yay), the First Chapter brain fog (yay, huh?), and lingering anxiety after the wet snow left us without power (one day) and cable/internet (almost four days!) during the critical time (boo!!!).  But though I'm a bit over a week late, I was pleased with the results.

We are currently worth almost double last year's total.

I love this New Year!

Happy New Year!

I didn't do my assets vs. obligations this year on time (31 Jan) mostly because I had a chapter to write, the first chapter of the second book in the series written by me and my two partners and friends (and yes, we're still friends after working together for a year).  I also forgot (until today) that it's a brand-new year, as of Thursday, by the Chinese calendar.  According to this, it will be a year for focusing on family and home, of a drawing back of countries to lock down borders, and of more artistic pursuits and keeping the peace everywhere.

Suits me.  Fix up the house, spend more time with family, write with my partners on our series and by myself on my own projects, these were part of the plan even before I read the Zodiac characteristics.  Peace, diplomacy, a pullback to save sanity and energy after the fierce (and dangerous to people with head and neck issues) Year of the Tiger we just left is the name of the game.  And to commemorate this new year, I stopped at a little consignment shop I hardly ever go to and found this:

No, not a crystal ball, and not a great picture (one light, on the left, duh) but it's a 14K white gold ring, pearl, six diamonds, very pretty.  The tag said $69 but it went to half-price on New Year's Day (this New Year's Day), and waited for me to find it.

Because, you see, last year was the Tiger.  2011 is the Year of the Bunny.

The Golden Bunny.

This just keeps getting better and better, doesn't it?