my 2006 review

I hope you had a wonderful 2006. I’d rate this year high, an 8.5 perhaps. It can’t be a 9 or 10; I have to leave room for even better years to come! So below is my year in brief review.

January, February & March:
Last year at this time I was preparing for a vacation on beautiful St. John. We stayed just over a week, but never left the island or used our brand spanking new passports. It was a thirtieth birthday vacation for D so we were joined by his sister, her friend K, and our friends T & E. We stayed at Estate Lindholm, just a short walk to Solomon Beach (then Honeymoon and Caneel). It was much swankier than our previous stay at Maho Bay camps (though that location is also highly recommended). I especially enjoyed or splurges for the Caneel Bay buffet – soooo yummy! This started the year of great! February started my travels for friends' 30th birthdays. February was a trip to MD for B's 30th. She was sick, but we still had a great time - just more low-key. I started crossing movies off my must see list (I make it after Oscar nominations each year.) after we saw Munich. After her birthday dinner with friends, we hit a local karaoke place. That was my first karaoke experience, and I was a bit shy with the choir people we had ready to show me up. I take poor singing to new heights, some may argue it cannot actually be called singing at all.
March was uneventful.

April, May & June:
April started with the passing of my 7th anniversary with my company. I was still a temp, after that many years, however this was the first year I had a title and a level, and potential to at least move up. April also brought more birthday travels. I went to Dallas in April for AJ’s 30th. We shopped (of course) and just hung out. She was tired. We also tried Bikram yoga (a first for both of us). Her hubby threw her a surprise party and I got to meet all her new friends.
I think it was sometime in May that I got an IM from AJ saying she was expecting – a surprise for all it seemed and finally a reason for why she was so tired. During the spring of 2006, I interviewed for positions in a different division of my company. After a number of stagnant years, it was past time for me to move on. By mid-June I had started a new job in editorial for middle school science.
June also marked the month for my second tattoo.

July, August, September:
We traveled to DC in July for our niece's first birthday. We also had new bamboo floors installed in half our house (1st floor). We’re in love with them. August was our 8th anniversary, the birth of our nephew Joe Jr., and my 30th birthday. D threw me a party by renting a local theatre. About a week later we left on our 'Grand Cross-Country adventure' (you can read all 16 posts from that link, just be sure to start at the bottom of the page).
We took the first two weeks of September to drive south (KY, TN, MS, LA) then west (TX, NM, CO, AZ, UT) and back home (KS, MO, IL, IN). It was awesome. I loved it.
That same month, a couple of our divisions merged at work - it meant our department would grow.

October, November, December:
I believe it was mid-October when new positions were posted at work for the elementary section of our department - I applied to a few. We ordered more bamboo that month also and started getting quotes for the upstairs.
November brought a trip to DC for B’s bachlorette party. It was the first time I got to meet little Joe Jr. More bamboo flooring was installed just before Thanksgiving - this time upstairs Thanksgiving was quietly spent at home with a Tofurkey. I spent Black Friday flying to Chicago to visit with T while D worked. We hit Ikea that day and downtown the next before we drove back on Sunday. I DID see the Impressionists at the Art Institute. I really did.
December had more traveling. We had a good-bye trip to DC as D's oldest sister moved to TX. I got a new cubicle at work - yes, this is a highlight - I now have a window! Next was the winter solstice party with a sommelier - yeah! We'll be doing that again. We closed out the year by traveling to Olean, NY for a wedding. While there we visited Niagara Falls and D turned 31. Just before leaving, for our trip I was told I got a position with elementary. After nearly 8 years I'm a full-fledged employee of my company. This was way overdue in my opinion as up until now I've been considered a "temp." History, bitterness, and an explanation of the difference would be a whole other posting. I’m just happy I finally switched jobs, and with this second switch/promotion, it’s obvious it’s working out quite well so far.

Happy 2007! :)