Recapping 2011

So. After having a blog for a few years and then having one of the ...well... just one heck of a year in 2011 and thinking about writing about it DAILY and not doing so, I've determined the best thing to do is just jump back in it. New site to let the past blog life reside where it should.

I could spend almost an entire year recapping the entire year, but I'm just going to list the highlights to get it out and on paper and then start with the new. Here we go...

January- Found an apartment for Caden and I and started packing and shopping to furnish an apartment. Broke my streak of running consecutive days just shy of 400 days in a row. Applied for US citizenship.

February- Moved out on my own, with Caden. Okay. Technically not on my own, but still on my own.

March- Filed for divorce. Fingerprinted for citizenship background check. Last minute fill-in for work trip to Costa Rica. Forgot green card at home and had a couple of very stressful days until a coworker brought it to me. Beautiful country.

April- Won the women's Master division at a local 5k and my first wall plaque as an athlete. Me- an athlete! Later in the month, ran the Nashville Country Music Half Marathon. Nashville was beautiful. The race course was terrible. First country music concert after the marathon. I'm listening to country music! And... liking it.

May- Citizenship exam on 3rd. Sworn is as a US citizen May 27th.

June- Three weeks of hosting work meetings: Orlando, New Jersey and Chicago.

July- Divorce final. Resigned from my job and then was offered the opportunity to stay on and work remotely in order to help out for a maternity leave and my absence. Cade's first trip to Illinois.

August- Moved to southern Illinois (which is not near Chicago. I've been asked that a lot). Very near St. Louis, MO (Go Cards!).

September- Job extended indefinitely, as long as it remains mutually beneficial. Deep sigh of relief. First live Cardinals baseball game. Health scare for me after my first mammogram. I had a couple of weeks of waiting for results that I hope to never relive.

October- MO Cowbell Half Marathon beginning of the month. Warrior Dash mid month. Ran the Marine Corp Marathon at the end of the month. It. Was. Amazing. PB.

November- My Saturn Vue died and I bit the bullet and bought my first vehicle completely on my own, a deep cherry red Jeep Liberty. Scary being a grown up.

December- Preparing for a family Christmas. First real tree in about 15 years. First time I am ready for Christmas a good two weeks before Christmas. I have been knitting a lot this month; those elves have nothing on me.

As the year draws to an end, I'm kind of glad to see it go. It was a busy year and one with many, many happy times. Some of the happiest ever. But I'm tired. It was a very high stress year for me. I am not a crier and I cried this year. A lot. I am extremely grateful for the emotional support of my friends and family.