2005 in review

I got my little ibook-y-poo back last night. They called me at 6:15p. I had to drop my bags, get into my car and race to the Mac Store. I'm so happy to be reunited with my little buddy. Reading someone else's LJ about the past year made me start thinking about my last year in review. I think I've finally started thinking of years in terms of Jan-Dec, rather than Sept-June. It's hard to get out of that school-year mentality. I'm almost 30 and I still think that way a little. I'm sure that when I return from Japan I will go to graduate school and I'll start thinking of them that way again.

This time last year I was so very miserable. Just so depressed. I was working for an awful company, in an awful job. I felt so lost. I had other personal problems going on at the time too. Things just got worse after that until about March or April when they started to get a little better. The worst part of the entire year was actually New Year's Eve when for whatever reason I started to realize that my life was seriously about to change. It occurred to me that both of my best friends would be moving away soon and it crushed me. I spun into a pretty bad funk until March or April.

Then I focused my energy on how much I hated my job and thinking about what I was going to do to get out of it. I had planned to stay until the fall but around June I started to realize that it was ruining me, and ruining my spirit. I had been planning this trip to SE Asia with my best friend Peanut and I decided that after I got back I would quit on July 29th right before I left. What a scary leap of faith that was. I really had no plan, no money. I just knew I had to do it though. I was waffling about my decision until I finally got a blessing from my mom and I decided that I should do it. It really was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I had a fabulous time in SE Asia and then I returned to Seattle. I was unemployed all of August (but traveling) and all of Sept..

Unlike my previous times unemployed I wasn't as worried this time. I just knew that something would come up.  I knew I would be OK.  The worst thing that could happen was I'd have to move back home for awhile to my mom's.  I knew that was better than my shitty old job, so I was OK.  I was also actively seeking out temp work and applying to work in Japan so the balls were rolling.  I was trying to enjoy being unemployed and just enjoying the summer days.

At the end of September, about when I was beginning to think I should worry and when my credit cards were hurting, I got work with a temp agency.  They set me up with a low-paying, but REALLY nice company.  Through complete chance I also found a sub-let at my friend's house (who's in Iceland for 6 months).  The sublet is only 3 months, which is perfect for me.  I can live at my mom's Jan and Feb and save for Japan.  Also during September I found out that AEON wanted to interview me, and in October (after harrowing interviews) they hired me to work in Japan in March.

It's amazing to me how the pieces fall into place sometimes.  If you'd asked me this time last year what I thought would have happened since then, I would have been very bleak.  I didn't have much hope. 

I know the next year will be hard too.  Hard in a different way though.  I will most likely lose my grandma, who is very sick.  Moving to Japan will be challenging and hard and crushing.  It will also be fun, rewarding and exciting.