Looking Back Over the Year
Well it is Thanksgiving and an important time to start looking back over the year. I think everyone should take a moment to reflect like this. It helps you see how far you have come even when the year has been filled with challenges.
This year started off with a huge push to get caught up on bills. We worked hard, made progress, and got ourselves into a far better place. We lowered our monthly costs and almost reached level ground before I lost my job. Even with that setback, we are still in a much better spot than we were a few years ago. A lot of that came from trading in my truck for a car I can actually afford. The payments are low and the gas mileage has been amazing. Once I land a new opportunity, I am confident that we will get back on track quickly and continue improving the house.
Family Highlights
Our kids have been incredible this year.
Dylan is getting ready to graduate high school and earned high honors. Cody and Christian spent months learning more about computers and are preparing for college. They may even pick up short term jobs while they get everything lined up. Nick started working at Walmart and I have been driving him back and forth. Through all of this they still help around the house while moving forward with their own dreams.
Stacie has been by my side through everything. I am grateful every day that I found my soulmate. I am not the easiest person to live with and she still handles everything with grace and charm. I could not imagine spending a single day without her.
Pets and Their Adventures
We lost Cloud this year. He lived a long and good life and will always be missed.
We almost lost Sasha too. The vet gave her only months to live but switching her to wet food made all the difference. Now she is gaining weight and turning into a little butterball. With her age and health issues I am not worried about her being a bit round. She still wears her nightly diaper and runs the house like the queen she is.
Rusty is still his cantankerous self. He is deaf, has joint problems, cushings, and a dozen other things, but he is making slow progress. He gets plenty of love. He is also glued to Stacie’s hip like always. It would not be Rusty any other way.
Little Man lost a lot of weight and looks like a normal pup now. He still growls when he talks, but that is just his quirky way of communicating.
Buddy is the definition of loyalty. If you want to find him, just look for Nick. He is never more than five feet from him. When Nick is at work Buddy waits on the couch or in a dog bed until he gets home.
Milky Way is our little ghost. She spends most of her time in Cody’s room, but she is one amazing mouser.
House Projects and Winter Prep
We got all the plastic on the windows and the house is sealed better than last year. We temporarily shut down the AirB&B due to a shower issue. Fixing it will have to wait for now, and that hit our income a bit, but life happens. Room 8 is still waiting for its final coat of mud. I have everything ready and just need to find the time. After sanding and painting it will finally be finished.
All the outdoor items are stored for winter and the humidifiers are running. I have been able to keep the thermostat much lower and the house is still warm. Here is hoping for a mild winter.
This Thanksgiving we did not have any college students over because of everything going on. It also looks like my goal for hosting a Santa event will have to wait until next year.
Job Search Journey
Losing the job stung, but I fully understood the decision. The workload was dropping and it was just the reality of the world today. There are no hard feelings. If they called me tomorrow I would go back in a heartbeat.
What hurt the most was losing the daily interaction with my coworkers. Pete and his unique perspective on everything. Talking tech and geek topics with Todd. Going to the range with Rob. Stories and jokes with Francis. The constant news updates from Sam. And Jarrod, who I still talk to nearly every other day.
Every morning I get up and job hunt for eight to ten hours. Most weeks I get two to three interviews and make it to the final rounds often. I know it is just a matter of time before the right role comes through. This holiday week has been slow, but I still kept my routine. The hard part is looking for a unicorn job that fits my pay needs, local area, or full remote.
Health Updates
I found out this year that I have Lupus. It may sound strange, but getting that diagnosis actually relieved a lot of fear. A few years back I had an infection that almost killed me, and many of the symptoms felt similar. Now I know what is going on. I still have not been able to get the medication, but I am doing what I can until I can afford the doctor visit.
Other than that my back and knees are holding up. I am doing well for someone ten years younger than me. What can I say, I am from Missouri and built like a tank.
Overall Thoughts
Despite the challenges, setbacks, and surprises, I still think this was a very good year. We are warm. We have a roof over our heads. We have food in our bellies and love in our home. I could not ask for a better life. I am truly lucky.
What are you thankful for this year?
