Christmas Newsletter

Although things are happier now -- if 2009 were a fish, I would have thrown it back months ago.  Last year at this time, I was basking in the hopes that I would get to keep my home.  Without going into all of the details, the whole deal fell through.  I gave it my best shot, fought for 18 months, and finally let go. 

As soon as I did, things started turning around and the sun came out again.  Suddenly, I had a job offer on the table, and had stumbled into a beautiful home to rent not even a mile away. 

As I write this, I am still in boxes and some stuff is still at the old house, but we’re living in the new one.  It is a beautiful, remodeled, modern home and it has central vacuuming - so Brutus got a vacuuming the other day!

I had a job earlier this year in the (ahem) adult industry providing online adult content.  Eeeew.  I didn’t react very well to it; the commute was horrid (to Alameda but mostly to Oakland – UGLY commute) and I think it had a bad aura about it.  Then I went to work for a former client and he has had trouble paying me for months, so I began freelancing again.  Freelancing is great but it’s hard to collect a steady paycheck!

Now I’m working at a division of Stanford University – Highwire Publishing.  We produce online content for many science and medical journals (1100 of them) and they are keeping me very busy.  I’m learning all kinds of new stuff and I like it so far.  I’m next to a window which is great – natural light is important.  This is a contract job, 6 months or maybe more.  There’s plenty to do here.  The pay is nice too and I get to work flex (6:30 – 3:00) hours.

George adopted a couple of my cats, and the rest are at my new home.  I am surprised at how well Ariel (she’s about 2 years older than dirt) adjusted.  The others all had their versions of meltdowns.

The annoyed cat in the Santa Hat is my youngest, Simone.  We took that picture last Christmas Eve when she was still a baby.  Did you ever see a cat roll its eyes?  She still has beautiful blue eyes and her coat has darkened a bit.  We call her the oil rag because it looks like Eddie worked on the car and wiped his hands on her <g>

You can always see what’s going on by visiting this website – I’m always adding stuff to it.

Eddie and I are looking to 2010 being a much better years for both of us.  The weight of the house is off me – and it’s a bittersweet relief.  It’s much cheaper to be a renter!

-Marian & Eddie