So, 2011

First, the executive summary: 2011 was a hard, stressful year for me. I'd say it was the hardest year I've had since I got divorced.

I had a lot of work stress, as I lost a trusted employee and hired/trained a new one, all while doing the work of two people on my own.

I had a ton of family stress, mostly related to Tosc's new schedule. I was WOEFULLY unprepared for how that would affect me. I went from seeing Tosc every morning, every evening, and every weekend, to seeing him once every THREE days. Even that I could probably have handled, if not for the INSANITY of his schedule with the kids. Basically, every weekend we had the girls I had at least one day where I was on my own with all 3 kids.

I am going to be completely honest and admit that I have some built-up resentment over this, both towards Tosc and his ex-wife (who is not willing to give up her free time even when she knows that Tosc cannot be with the kids). I also feel the situation affected my time with Ava, which is NOT acceptable to me.

Well, anyway. Things will improve once Tosc finishes his paramedic training, but it's been a major contributor to a pretty shitty year for me (in Tosc's defense, he has committed to take off the daytime hours [6am-6pm, half of his shift] on Saturdays and Sundays we have the girls in 2012).

So, definitely sadder. I miss Tosc and my relationship with him has suffered this year. I don't know that it was my best parenting year, either. I was stressed and frustrated and downright pissed off a lot of the time. Nice.

Furthermore, I am fatter! Which should be a total no-shitter, as everyone knows that I deal with stress by eating and drinking. So incredibly effective, I think we can all agree. I will say that, athletic-performance-wise, I am at least as fit, and definitely stronger, than I was last year. I continue to love working out with my trainer. It's really just my diet that's been crap. Story of my life.

However, I am richer! Yay! I got a raise this year, and Tosc finally sold his house. So things aren't COMPLETELY in the shitter, Debbie Downer.

What else?

Kindergarten has gone unexpectedly well. Ava LOVES her teacher (a fellow Fake Hispanic!), which I guess is all that really matters at her age (in classic fashion, I "endeared" myself early on by declaring her parent-teacher conference schedule "a beating." Sigh). School scheduling continues to be an epic pain in the ass, but that seems to be pretty standard, so at least I've got the misery-loves-company thing going for me.

Carlos and I did not have a completely miserable year. Pretty sad that he gets his own paragraph here, but my dealings with him, unfortunately, affect my life in a significant way ("your addiction [to being an asshole] has affected me negatively in the following ways"...). He even asked me to watch Fussypants Junior a few weeks ago (which I am happy to do anytime). So! Progress! Well, except for the part where he called Christmas Eve drunk as a skunk, wanted to talk to Ava, and when I refused called me a bitch and a whore, but you know. Bright Spots.

Well, there you have it! FTLOG, send me a link to your year-end post, or at a minimum leave me your happier/thinner/richer answers.

See you on First Monday!! Aww yeah, baby. Eye of the Tiger. GET PUMPED.