Happy 2009!

It's finally here, the arrival of 2009. That means so many things, the end of 2008 is the main one. I will focus on it for now, and leave the rest to the imagination. When a new year starts, it allows you, or better yet, makes you recall the events of the previous year and focus on what you would like to change in the new one. 2008 held lots of events that are changing or will change the shape of my life and the country's future. We had a new President elected and he will take office in 18 days. He has a lot of goals and plans for the US, and we only hope that the good comes of it and not any more bad. God knows we have seen enough bad, from the growing recession, job losses, increased prices and decreased salaries/bonuses, bullshit stimulus' and bailouts that fail. When it comes to me, however, things changed quite a bit in 2008. It saw my wife get her Green Card, becoming a permanent resident of the US, that was huge because it helps us get our lives started in the right direction together. Her family came over, which was awesome for them to see Atlanta and some areas around here. They really enjoyed it, and we enjoyed having them here to celebrate the US "wedding" that we had in March. I started a new job, and it has gone moderately alright so far. Things have been slow because of the economy, and it has hurt a little. I hope that it gets better, otherwise I will have to look in a different direction for income. The one thing that I want to change, this isn't a New Year's Resolution (those are BS, bc they always get broken by mid-January), it is a promise. I want to make it so that we don't live check to check, having some money put aside each month for our retirement. I want to take care of my wife and not worry about bills being paid and food being bought each week. I am not having a pity party for myself, but a self realization that things are not going they way they need to. I don't want to be that guy who is 40, and has not had the same job for more than 2 years. I don't want to be that guy who is 40 and still can't say that he is living well and comfortable, while living in an apartment. That brings me to my next planned goal, to get a house! I want to get out of this apartment. I want to own something that gains value and shows that we are doing the right things. In order to do this, I must get my act together and make a better living for my family. I just want 2009 to be better than 2008, plain and simple. I am tired of not feeling respected, by myself, each pay cycle. When it comes to 2008 being over, there are lots of things that I can say good riddance to, some I can't. I had to say goodbye to both of my grandma's this year :( That was tough, not only for me but also for my wife. She had to attend two funerals and each time meeting new members of my family. She really is a strong woman and I respect her dearly. I know it was tough to go through that for her. I am glad she was there by my side, because it was very tough to say my final goodbyes to both of them. I know that their health was fading or had faded recently before their passings, so it made it easier to know that they are both much better off now. I will miss 2008, only for the sake of it being in my memory. It wasn't the best year, and surely 2009 can only be better. It better be!

Happy New Year!