Happy New Year!

Well, this year has been quite the eventful one. Reflecting over it, I don't see much of a change in me, personally -- but I do see a great change in my life's "plot," so to speak. If my life were a movie this might be getting close to the climax :)

In 2006, I:

had my dreams come true. I spent the last 3 months of 2006 a happily engaged girly after a super birthday at the "happiest place on earth." :)

discovered what I was meant to do. That is, I found a terrific job at a terrific school and discovered that I was completely happy with it! There's no better feeling than driving home after a long hard day at work and SMILE as you fight the traffic.

saw new parts of the world. Just a week ago HoHo and I were traveling Hong Kong and Japan -- what an awesome treat after a long year of work! :)

worked the hardest I ever have. After finishing up my bachelors' degrees in May '05, I started school again in June and finished up in July '06. Five days later I was working at my job and have been hard at work until I took my long-awaited vacation in November. :)

I finally feel like I am starting on my adult life and I am so happy for it. I can't wait to FINALLY start living a real and true life as a teacher, a wife, a mom... (although not TOO soon) :) I think up until now it's just been "growing up" until I could get to this point -- the point where I can finally do something with my life and see the fruits of my labor really take hold (that's figuratively, mind you).

As for resolutions, I looked up my list from last year...I suppose I'll keep the same ones and scratch out the one that I have accomplished :P

1. Secure a good job at a good school upon completion of my degree.
2. Be financially independent from my parents by December of '06. [AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! What was I thinking? Be financially independent in less than 6 months???]
3. Start a paper-pen journal and really reflect on my life.
4. Read a chapter of a book every day - recreational reading, not for school.
5. Actually be really and truly organized, and not just pretend to be. [By the looks of my room at the moment, not going to happen.]
6. Graduate with a perfect GPA. [I was so darn close. Oh well.]
7. Dedicate more quality weekend time to Damon -- not just running errands with him.
8. Try and be more helpful around the house. [Still must work on this.]
9. Be a better mommy to Charlie. [Still must work on this.]
10. Try harder to be healthy -- not just to lose weight, but to really be healthy....which leads to: [Still must work on this.]
11. trying to develop a genuine liking for exercise. [Might be impossible.]
12. Develop at least two new skills within the year.
13. Learn to cook more dishes.
14. Learn enough Cantonese to have an actual conversation with Damon's grandma.
15. Save money.
16. Actually get an oil change every 4 months.
17. Lose weight and fit into my old clothes again.[REALLY must work on this.]
18. Donate blood more frequently.[Still must work on this.]

It's funny...I didn't lose weight all year (just fluctuated) until late late Saturday night...or early Sunday morning technically 3:00 a.m. New Year's Eve when I got hit with a very violent case of food poisoning. After that horrible experience and the ensuing nausea that came with any kind of food that was not fruit, water, or clear broth, I have now officially lost 3 pounds. What a start to 2007, huh? :)