We out

I almost don't want to write this entry because I don't want to believe my beloved vacation is nearly over. On the other hand, I am absolutely ready for 2016 to be over.

Besides the string of unexpected celebrity deaths and the galling election of Emperor Drumpf to the highest position in the world, two wonderful things occurred this year.

The first was the marriage of VPA, my best friend, who married the best man for him. I was telling someone else who had been at the wedding a few months later that my version of heaven would be to relive that weekend on repeat, seeing the two of them get hitched and seeing all sorts of people I knew and loved and hadn't seen in ages. It was a wonderful time, and one of my co-workers even mentioned how refreshed I looked when I returned to work.

And speaking of work, I got promoted. It was a long haul to get there, but it finally came through. I just re-ran my retirement estimator, and it's saying that I'm on track, whereas before it said I needed to put a little extra money away. That's pretty good news. And the saga with the credit cards continues, but I will just keep chipping away at it and try to watch my expenses.

I returned from Vegas on Monday, and would count it as a fun visit, but not as memorable as last year's when both my little sister and my other cousin who I hadn't seen in forever were present. My grandma is also starting to fade. This was not helped by the fact that a friend of hers died while I was there. Still, I hit up the Strip with my aunt, won big, lost big, and made my way back home to my Frisco Disco and Zammers.

I'm taking Raina out for her birthday dinner on Monday, which will coincidentally also be the last day of my vacation I drink. I have Tuesday off which will be spent cleaning, possibly shopping for some new work clothes, hopefully going to the gym, and definitely detoxing. I am sort of awestruck that I will turn forty next year. I suppose it will be similar to when I turned thirty, and woke up that morning thinking, Really? I'm thinking I'll perhaps bring my mom, sister, and nephew up to SF, which will cost me, but, well, anything I do will cost me. And I should probably celebrate this big one in some sort of recognizable way, no? I just can't believe the next big one after that will be fifty. I mean, seriously?

Tomorrow, then we out, saan

I'm still trying to get it right in my head--just one more day of work, then I'm done for two and a half whole weeks. I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something or I've lost something because the reality of it is just too unreal to fathom.

Today was our godawful holiday party, now called the painfully politically correct "end of the year" party (or "end of the world" party, as I dubbed it). I had tried to avoid it by scheduling a 2:00 meeting earlier in the week, but my manager warned that my VP wanted me to be there now that I'm a member of leadership. I showed up in the middle of the stupid white elephant game with the usual people saying, "Wow, look who's here!" and "Didn't expect to see you here! You never come to these things!" I don't think I was there for more than an hour before it was back to the office to wrap things up.

I killed off as much work as I could, delegated a few things to my one superstar analysts, and notified some managers there would be a delay on some items. Made it to the BevMo and got in at least a moderate round of exercise at the gym before closing.

Tomorrow I have to be at HQ for a brainstorming session, so it'll be a cinch, and not a full day. I'm thrilled to pieces, and so ready for these next sweet seventeen days.

After a mild panic attack over the rampant sudden use of my new credit card, I went back to my budget numbers and realized I could still pay it off in a few months. I could even consider dedicating a larger pay off to a different card each month instead of spreading the payments evenly, just to make myself feel like there was more of a dent being made. I still need to keep costs under control--I know. And I should really apply that in 2017.

But in the meantime, I've spared myself $300 to gamble away in Vegas in the hopes I get lucky, which I won't, but hell, it's my fucking Christmas present to myself.

Siete

Seven days.

Just seven days to get through before Winter Break. Seven business days, to be precise. You can't imagine how happy I am to get that lovely streak of free time off.

This shall include the Christmas trip to Vegas to visit at least some of the family. Apparently, some of them want to do their own thing, which irked me at first, but then, after I thought about it, may make for a pleasant change. A smaller group of them to deal with will ensure things are a little quieter, and perhaps allow extra time with Petula. I mean, how many Christmases with her do we have left?

Speaking of major life changes, my dear co-worker Bertha announced she will be retiring in February. Sad to see her go, of course, but just another shift in the every-changing family.

I had gotten sick of all of my casual clothes, so did up Nordstrom's the Monday after Thanksgiving. Just need some new shoes, and will feel like a whole new me. I have steadfastly avoided the skinny jeans thing, but the tide is against me. And I feel like I look like a clown in tennis shoes, but I've lost that battle, too. So an updated look is in order. Then we need to move on to work clothes, but one step at a time.

One thing that will assist in these couture shifts is the new credit card I got--one I did not apply for, but that was converted from an account for medical procedures into a Mastercard with several thousand dollars on it. Being in my current situation, I certainly know better than to go buck wild, but it helps to know I have a back up source of credit in case the poo hits the fan.

Over ever-growing concern about my girth, I went back to avoiding foods packed with refined sugar. And lo, I started to feel much calmer and even-keeled--something that helps in my new leadership position--and have even started to see my waistline shrink every so slightly.

Yeah, it really does help after all, and once you get accustomed to it, it's not so bad.