Merry New Year!

I was experiencing technical difficulties blogging from home so I simply gave up and let it slide.

Now I'm back at work again after a lovely ten day hiatus. I needed the break and now it is good to be back at work. I'm still coughing a bit but I think I am very lucky that I had time off - I suspect I would have ended up with bronchitis had I been working. I've felt that deep chest coughing effect a few times since contracting this dread illness.

And now we are into 2007. I feel so lucky, I am so blessed.

I have a wonderful boyfriend. He is caring and thoughtful. And I have learned from previous mistakes with other less wonderful people so I can stop *myself* from making errors in judgement. It's so neat to see myself having changed my approach on certain things and how much happier I am as a result. BF doesn't "make" me happy; I am happier with who *I* am when I'm with him.

I have a great kid. He is bright and cheerful and cooperative. We get along well although we are alike in many ways so I think I may have to pay attention to that as he gets older. I wouldn't want to have him experience strife because of being too much like me in the same ways my mother & I find ourselves frequently at odds. He is doing so well in school and enjoys his extra-curricular stuff too. It is gratifying to be a parent.

I have a great job. I work for a great organization. I like my work and the opportunities to interact with the public. I appreciate my opportunities here as I "mature" in my career too. I am very lucky.

I have a super dog. She is a real ray of sunshine in my life. I can't imagine life without her. And although I know it is a bit crazy to get another dog, I battle my irrational fear of losing her after having lost my brother all those years ago in that terrible accident. It's sort of like the old "the heir and the spare" thing. Sometimes I worry about what would happen if I lost Sebastian but I can't really do anything about that. So in my own silly little way I guess I want two dogs so I won't have to worry about being dog-less.

I have my own home that the bank lets me live in as long as I make payments to them. I have my own car that another bank lets me drive as long as I make payments to *them*. I have plenty of food, clothing and little luxuries.

So what will 2007 bring? Well I hope to achieve last year's 10 km race objective in running. I let that slide. I'd like to put 3000 km on my road bike this year and accomplish a 100 mile century. I'd like to visit family in Quebec and Vermont this summer. I'd like to get to the gym 3 times a week. I'd like to be more positive and less critical.

And I'd like to have more time to do more things with more friends.