Happy New Year!

I'm not one for New Years Resolutions, because I know from experience that they rarely hang around to see February. But a new year does present new opportunities, and a break from the endless festivities of the late fall and early winter.

2009 was rough. The economy tanked, leading to a mass exodus of people from the Central Valley where I live/teach. The roller coaster that was 2009 started early on, with all district-wide budgets secretly frozen while we were gone for winter break. When we returned, word of the freeze sent everyone into a panic, and the district announced that we should all start preparing for the worst. As a 2nd year teacher, I of course got my first ever pink-slip just before the dreaded March 15th deadline. On May 15th, I was told that I'd still have a job, but the district was bumping me to another school. In July, right before returning to work, I was brought back to my school for my third year of teaching. As soon as we returned, they announced that the cuts would likely be worse this year. Its no wonder that 50% of new teachers leave the profession in the first 5 years. Learning from the chaos of last year, I'm choosing to ignore it until I definitely have no job, but I've got an up-to-date resume and letters of reference just in case.

2009 did bring some fantastic things. Both of my sisters got married to men that I absolutely adore. A couple of weeks ago, DBF of 4 years became DF during a trip to Napa. I have also accomplished quite a bit, including:

• maintaining my weight (between 165-170) for the first time in my adult life. Sure this is far from goal, but no yo-yoing.
• I didn't get a single overdraft charge for an entire year. Holy shitake, I think that makes me nearly a responsible, financially sound adult.
  
• I paid off all of my credit card debt.
  
• I finished my teaching credential program and upped my status from intern to full-fledged teacher, which essentially just means I get paid like a real person.
• I did a half marathon, and only wanted to die for the last 4 miles, and only got beat by one lady with no legs.

And now that life may be settling down for at least a month or two (though I'm prepared for anything to turn around at any moment), its time to get my shit in gear. I've already had the talk with DF, that he is no longer allowed to pick me up a bottle of wine on the way home from work and that I'd like us to attempt to not enable eachother in our bad habits.

I weighed in today, slightly hungover at 169.0, and ready to get this weight loss journey back on track.