Welcome 2012...

Here it is.  2012.  I've never been so excited to see a new year come.  2011? Sucked ass.  Sure it could have been worse, but I am glad that it is over.  2011 began and ended with lost of love ones for me.  The middle of the year brought obstacles and heartache and things were just rough all year.  And let's not mention the 40 lbs. (or more) of weight gain. GASP. 

But 2012 will be better.  I'm claiming it.  I haven't made any resolutions this year.  I just plan to take care of me and enjoy my life more, as well as be more positive.  I'm going to journal more and I'm working on a "30 Before 30" list that will ensure I'm not just sitting around wishing I was doing more fun things.   (Just thinking maybe i should do 35 before 35 but I digress.)  

So what do I have planned for this year? I'm going to spoil Alexis. I'm going to go visit my Sorors and spend more time with my friends.  I'm going to LIVE.  I'm claiming health, happiness, LOVE and more.  Not everyone knows that I am currently "on a break" from vet school, but I claim that will end this year also.  I leave you with a tweet from Erykah Badu, the part about the fire spoke to me especially:

You're HOW old and you live with your parents?

1999.  The first single off of TLC's "Fanmail" album is released.  No Scrubs.  Two simple words.  It was a song about a woman who didn't want a guy who didn't have his own car, didn't pay his own bill, and lived at home with his mama.  Although no one really plays the song or calls men "scrubs" anymore, the sentiment still remained.  No woman or man wanted a mate that couldn't do for themselves.

Fast forward to 2011.  Our nation's economy is in shambles.  People who have degrees are jobless, some homeless.  People are getting laid off left and right and finding a new job often takes months or years.  Some still haven't found new jobs.  And let's not act like people in this country save for a rainy day.  Sure, some of us do, but others have credit card debts nearly as big as their yearly salaries, and save very little.  Many people are one paycheck from being homeless.

Still it seems many people are stuck on whether or not someone lives with the parents.  I am in the progress of moving... back to my parents' house.  I've got things going on that I won't get into here, but the best decision was to move back in with them.  For the most part, no 20-something really wants to move back into their parents home.  You won't be able to live the way you used to live.  You may not have a curfew, but coming in  5am is disrespectful and will surely lead to some discord.  Unless you are in a position to help with bills, you get no say over what the temperature is, what brand of orange juice is in the fridge or whether the Charmin is soft or strong.  All of these things are reasons I'll miss living on my own, along with the freedom my pets have in my home.  What I will miss most though is the freedom to walk around the house naked.  Don't judge me, you know you like to be naked too!

Moving home in your *cough* late 20s sucks, but honestly, it's not just a curse, it's a blessing.  I am very thankful to have parents who are in a position to be able to take in my 2 dogs, 1 rather large cat and their grown daughter.  I'm thankful that despite not having a job currently my bills get paid, I have food to eat, and I have gas in my car.  

I guess at the end of the day, we should all think twice before judging-- or better yet not judge at all.  That guy who lives with his mother could have been recently laid off from a lucrative job, and is only living with her to cut his costs while searching for a new position.  Of course every person living with his/her parents isn't someone who fell victim to this country's horrible economy.  There are some lazy bums out there.  The key is being able to tell the difference.

A New Year, the Same Me

I figured I should write an end of year post.  2010… I don’t even know where to start.  Honestly, I feel like it was a pretty uneventful year for me.  Spring and fall semesters have kicked my ass.  My bestie moved to South Korea this summer.  I met a pretty cool chick, my unicorn, who could probably be a lifelong friend. I got a new pet, a 15 lb orange tabby cat named Purrrcival- Purrrcy for short.  Auburn had an undefeated football season, and we are going to play in the BCS championship game January 10, 2011!

The year wasn’t all great.  I found out in November that my asthma has returned, and my breathing is so bad it’s affecting my blood pressure.  I was put on an inhaler and blood pressure medicine.  For the most part my blood pressure has been normal since but I’ve had a couple of days when it was high.  I found out about that the week before thanksgiving, and also got a call that my cholesterol was high as well.  Not good news, because the combination puts me at high risk for a stroke/heart attack.  But I already joined a gym- as a matter of fact trouble breathing during exercise was why I went to the doctor- and it’s good that it was caught before anything happened.  In good health news, my uncle received a much needed kidney transplant, due to my cousin (his nephew) donating his.  It was probably the best Christmas gift I received this year. 

There were things going on at school toward the end of the semester, which combined with my health issues really had me feeling down, but you know what??? I won’t complain.  The year was far from great, lots of car issues, health issues, and my washing machine broke down, but the year also wasn’t bad.  Even though I am sitting here on my grandmother’s couch, because she isn’t doing well, I have a lot to be thankful and I am blessed beyond measure.  She turned 95 years old in November.  She's lived a long blessed life.  Out-lived her husband, son, and all but one of her siblings, as well as many nieces and nephews.  She's got lots of people who love her and who have been blessed by her presence on this earth.  She will be at peace eventually, no longer tired, weak or in pain, and she'll be with my granddad again. 

So what is in store for the New Year?   Who knows?  Hopefully love, great grades, and lots of fun and learning, lots of couch naps with my Purrrcy P, health for my family and friends, quality time with my god kids and lots of laughter.  Resolutions? Nope.  I will be losing weight, because my life pretty much depends on it, I will be managing my money better, and I will curse more and be meaner like my Sorors Anna and Aishia.  Yes, you read that last part correctly!  I’m tired of holding shit in and being nice. Blah.

My best friend is already celebrating the New Year in South Korea and for the rest of you I hope 2011 finds you all in good spirits and is your best year yet.