MERRY CHRISTMAS everyone! Ok, so it's a few days late, but later is better than never....I think.

Ty bought me a Harman Kardon receiver AVR 645 and I got him the Klipsch Synergy Sub-12 and some other random things.

With help from mom, I was able to hang all of my pictures and rearrange my furniture so my apartment looks a lot better. Now that I have a camera that works, I need to take pictures of everything. I still need end tables, another movie rack, speaker stands, a table runner, place mats, and bar stools, but I am getting really close to having everything apartment wise. There are all sorts of kitchen stuff that I would like to have, but don't have the room to store it or don't have the money to waste on it. I need to start really trying to save money and being in Chicago for the winter shutdown isn't helping that at all. I guess it doesn't help that I needed new shoes and clothes at the same time. Oh well.

Socks is coming home tomorrow :), but she is coming to get the Wrangler on Thursday :'(. I am really re-thinking selling it to my folks, but I can't back out now. I am wishing now that I didn't do it. Especially since I know that I can afford to keep it and make my car payment.

Other exciting news. Just 2 days of work left until winter shutdown!!! I can't wait to get away from all the work....and a couple of people there. I think I found someone to ride home with me and he will pay for half of the gas :) always good. At the same time, I enjoy traveling alone....we will see how it goes

From now on, I am going to start taking better care of myself. This means no more letting Tyler pick fast food for dinner, no missing out on sleep just to stay up, I am going to eat better, I am going to start exercising regularly, and I am going to start taking time for myself to relax and de-stress.

If you see me, help me stay on track because I want to be fit for the big day. Remember, I

It looks like it's time for another last minute trip to Denver. I will be leaving on Sunday/very early Monday morning, after making a very long day of travel and packing up my office so they can move me to the new building. This should be interesting. I don't even have all the plans made for this trip or the travel arrangements made. There is WAY too much to do tomorrow....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Exciting news! I got a raise!! Just 3 months and I already got a raise. I guess my manager really had to fight for it because they won't approve it for employees who had been working for less than 6 months. :) Yay me! I also get a bonus this month :) I guess that will pay for Tyler's Christmas present.

I also found out that there is a new contract coming in that my manager wants me to be the principle engineer on :). I have been getting all sorts of complements on how I really do a great job getting stuff done. My manager has a nice way of saying that I am pushy.....I am very motivated and know how to get people to do things. I don't really know if I should take that as a complement or not.

The Year in review: (although it would be better if I filled this out while things happened)

january
1. Who kissed you at midnight?
Tyler :) That was a good evening.

2. Did you have a new year's resolution this year?
If I did I don't remember what it was.

3. Does it snow where you live?
Yes, but not enough

4. Do you like hot chocolate?
Yummy

5. Have you ever been to Times Square to watch the ball drop?

You messed up.

Just a little something I found that I think applies to my life in many more ways than one.......

1. At least 2 people in this world love you so much they would die for you.

2. At least 15 people in this world love you in some way.

3. The only reason anyone would ever hate you is because they want to be just like you.

4. A smile from you can bring happiness to anyone, even if they don't like you.

I'm picking up my new car tomorrow!!!!!! YAY! I am so excited about my car. I guess I should say SUV, Truck, or Jeep. No it isn't anything like my current Jeep, but it is a Jeep none the less. It's a New Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo. I would take pictures of my new car, new furniture, and new apartment, but the lens on my camera fell out. I am going to wait until I can afford the camera that I want ($2,000) I am just going to deal with not having one.

I don't even know where to begin trying to update everything that has happened lately. Work has been busy as usual and it is only going to get busier. I have been given responsibility for quite a few important projects. I am more or less acting as the Program Manager for one of the programs I'm working on. That doesn't include all the other stuff I am doing for the program and other programs. My manager has apparently been raving about me to everyone and is very impressed by my professionalism. Some of the tasks that I am performing are leading me to Wimbledon, London for a week, YAY!