So Long, Farewell...I Hope!

The title might be a little cryptic, but I have a perfectly good explanation. This week, Tuesday to be exact, the office was asked to stay after work for a meeting. Turns out, we were all asked to stay to discuss the sub zero artic office climate. We are moving to a new location around June and with all that is projected to happen before then (layoffs, maternity leave), it's time for us to come together as a team. The basic message was that there is a lot of hurt, anger and frustration felt by all of us, but we can't keep carrying that forward. So, basically, we need to build a bridge and get over it. For so long, I've wanted us to all stop this junior high school behavior and just get along.

I know that it has been 5 long years of frustration and it's hard to just start over. It almost feels "fake" to suddenly act polite and kind and considerate when for so long it's been all about the snapping and nastiness. However, I feel like it is the only way for us to move past it all. So, on our first day (Wednesday), one of the Nastys brought a fruit tray...I think in the entire time I've been here, this has never happened. Things seem to be moving in a positive direction, but then again it's only been a day and a half. It was nice to go home last night not wanting to claw eyes out or having to vent about some stupid thing. I am hoping that it continues...I'm going to do my best to keep this climate of teamwork, cooperation and decency. So, in the spirit of all things positive, it is now time to put away the "Nastys" moniker and start over. I hope that I never have to resurrect that! Have a great day!

Happy (Belated) New Year!

Happy (belated) New Year, my friends! I apologize for the delay, but some kind of nasty bug has taken root in my system since right before my birthday (3 weeks ago) and I have been fighting it with all the energy I have. I kept trying to compose posts when the sickness hit over the weekend, but I lost all sense of words and could not focus to write. Originally, I was going to write a recap of 2009. Then, I decided that dead horse had been beaten enough...I'm going to focus on 2010 instead. Here are my goals/resolutions/plans for 2010:

1. Focus on me and how awesome I am. Over the past year, I have been beating myself up over some past decisions rather than appreciating the difficult decision and moving forward. So, this year, no more self inflicted beatings!
2. Continue to grow in our marriage...with the beast that was 2009, our marriage held up pretty well under the stress. When things are rough everywhere else, D is my biggest strength and I need to keep nurturing that relationship.
3. Decide what to do with the jay oh bee situation. Either I focus and learn what I can from my current position (and deal with the Nastys) or I look for something else to leave. I've been unfocused in my work and that needs to change.
4. Keep in touch with my friends...I get busy and lazy and forget my friends. It needs to be a priority more.
5. Appreciate all we have and stop focusing on what we don't have.
6. Get into better shape...with a trip to the beach for Uncle Banking Mogul's 65th in June plus the baby carrying potential on the horizon, I would like to be in better physical shape.
7. Buy a condo/house...I really want us to achieve this goal...we were on track to get closer, but then 2009 happened.
8. Be in baby mode...all of a sudden, the baby fever has started to hit both D and I. After spending the day with our great niece, I can see what love there is for a child. Plus, I really saw what a good father D would be...it was almost like, "just add baby" and he stepped into the "get the stroller set up, etc" mode.
9. Stop and smell the roses of life...take time to relax and just be. I tend to have "yesitis" and sometimes over commit myself. Then, I become a raving lunatic. This year, I want to stop and calm it all down.
10. Clean out all the nooks and crannies of home...and keep it that way! We have a lot of stuff and could probably do without a great deal of it!

In short, with a new decade and year, it's time to focus on making life easier and better. Here's to a great 2010 for all of us...happy new year!