2006 - A look forward

Not traditionally the way to do things, but I'm not feeling very "conformist" at the moment. Most people review the previous year, and I could do that, but much of it is here in the archives if anyone cares. I had fun reviewing lots of entries for the Blogging Year in Review post below. A nice trip down memory lane, but I don't want to live there. It was a great year. Watching Luke grow from an infant who laughed for the first time just before Christmas last year to a walking and (almost) talking little boy has been an amazing experience. Not without its share of frustrating moments, mind you, but I wouldn't trade it for anything!

What will 2006 hold? I cannot help but wonder. I'm pretty sure I even posted somewhere in my blog about my mom asking me if this is what I thought I'd be doing at age 29, and I honestly couldn't tell her because I never bothered to look that far ahead. I spent much of 2005 feeling directionless, the only anchor in my life being Luke (though admittedly a significant one). I have no idea where this year is headed, but I do know that I want to get some kind of plan in place for the next, oh, 5 years or so.

See, I'm weird like that. I absolutely MUST have a plan. I don't particularly care if I actually *follow* the plan, I just need to have one. It goes hand in hand with my "being lost phobia." I hate being lost. I will have a panic attack if I feel truly lost. It's awful. As long as I know how to get back to where I was, I'm okay, even if I don't know exactly where I am. But once I start feeling disoriented, it's all over, and it's not pretty. I don't want to go through another year like that.

Will I go back to work? Yes. Soon? No idea. That may depend as much on the job market as my desire to get out there and search (which is virtually zero at present). We need to move in the next 2-3 years, so we should probably get some kind of plan in place for that (what repairs, cost estimates, landscapers for our completely trashed yard, where to move, etc). And then there's the big 3-0 coming up in July. I'd like to do something special, but I have no idea what. Maybe go out for dinner AND a movie? Nah, why set unattainable goals? LOL Let's see, what else.... Are we going to do spring training again this year? Can we afford it? That may depend on whether we get a family vacation to Key West up and running for June; we'll just have to see, but we can't wait too long to decide either. I also need to start watching the flights to Miami or Ft. Lauderdale for good fares in May. My baby brother will be graduating with his PhD in epidemiology. ::insert thudding sound as Erin faints:: It will just be me going (I don't want to sit through a graduation ceremony with an 18 month old, do you?), so not as potentially stressful as it could be, just something on my horizon.

I have a couple of personal goals as well. Nothing as rediculously grandios (and unattainable) as being a size 6 by the end of the year, but I'd settle for being a bit smaller. (I have a number in mind, but I don't really feel like broadcasting it, ya know? And it is less than half of what I "should" lose.) That would be considerably easier if Luke would settle on a new schedule and stick to it. Maybe it will get better (as all of you with 18M+ children laugh hysterically). And I really want to start reading again. I'd like to start stitching again, but that may take too much concentration. I'll try on that one. But I desparately miss reading. I'd like to set a goal of a book a month. That used to be nothing to me, but now it seems like merely an attainable goal. I'll settle for one a quarter. Shall we compromise and say six by the end of the year? That means I should be able to do the three I received for Christmas from The Lady of the Acerage, plus three others. Well, one can hope at least. Nothing more fantastic than that; just a few less pounds and a few more books, and perhaps a fun trip somewhere thrown in for good measure. Such simple pleasures. May they be equally simple to attain.

P.S. I'll change the template back next time. I'm on the wrong computer to do it now! And look for Luke Christmas pictures coming soon.

Currently feeling: hopeful