Merry Holidays

Whatever it is that you celebrate, or don't, I hope that your time is a peaceful and happy one.
I am not working on Monday so that will give me a chance to do all my lst minute little things. Monday night we will be going to Michelle's brother's house for the family Christmas Eve. I think my SIL said there will be about 40 people. The wonderful thing about Michelle's family is that they never ever leave out the extended family. So all of the siblings and their spouses and their spouses families are invited to be a part of the celebration.
Tuesday morning each of us will go to our respective parent's houses for the day and then Michelle will end up coming to my parent's house for dinner. We have done it this way ever since we got together. We figure that there aren't any children involved with us and both of us are pretty firm in the want to spend Christmas Day with our parents. My parents will also have my surrogate Grandmother and her son and his wife over for dinner, too. (surrogate because she has known us since we were kids and her own grandchildren live far away and she loves us like family)
And then Wednesday it will be back to work.
After the first of the year, I am hoping to make some changes in my life. They aren't resolutions per se, just goals that I would like to work towards. If I succeed, I will be happy. If I don't, I refuse to beat myself up over it.
1. I would like to put serious effort back into getting in shape. So there will be a change in my diet and excercise.
2. I am going to attempt to quit smoking. Probably not great while dieting but hey, why not get all the bitch over with at one time. *grin*
3. I want to start seriously looking for another job. Unfortunately, for the past 12+ years I have had a very specific job that is specific to my industry. If I were a bookkeeper, I could go to any kind of company and apply. Unfortunately I can't go to just any place and ask if they are hiring for a print estimator or health and safety manager that is specific to the printing industry. We'll see what I come up with.
4. Money management. I am going to take Breezy's advice and work out a serious budget for myself on Quicken or whatever program it is that is on my computer. I honestly don't make bad money, I just manage it poorly.
5. I would like to possibly get involved in a certain charity. There are two that interest me. One is PFLAG. The other is a Habitat for Humanity type organization. It's actually habitat but this particular sector is all women. It focuses on women and is 100% operated by women. All of the volunteers are also women. It isn't a lesbian organization, just all women.
6. Getting back into the swing of things. In the past year I have let some of my relationships slip through the cracks. I have not been as present on an intimate level as I used to be. Now that Michelle and I are getting back on track and I have reorganized my priorities, I feel that I can start to be "present" again. I'm feeling as if I have more to give than just bitching and complaining about how fucked up my job, relationship and life are.
7. Last but not least is my relationship. I haven't gone into any detail here other than to say that Michelle and I have been having problems. After a lot of tears and heartache and pain, we appear to be on track again. Or at least getting back on track. This is my number one priority this year. Restoring our relationship.

Edited to add some important updates.
Boo is now Sectretary to POTI (for those who don't know, Monsty knighted me POTI, President of The Internet). In the future if you are asking for internet related things, please address my St. POTI (secretary to POTI). She thinks the ST stands for saint. Don't tell her any differently.
Nutz and Nookie sent me cookies. Lots of yummy cookies and shortbreads and fudge and lemon bars. There are none left. Thank you ladies for the extra pounds.
Also, Boo and Weltek and myself are going to join a commune. We are going to become hippies and Boo is going to smoke weed with me. We are going to walk around saying "Groovy man". Please join us if you would like. Submit applications to St. POTI.