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Two Years Ago
 By HelenKay Dimon I realized it’s been two years since my life totally changed. On November 13, 2006, I left my job and life and moved with my family across the country from Maryland to California. It was kind of a big day. Or, rather, the start of something new and exciting…and a little scary. So much has happened during those two years. I don’t feel one day older, but I am. Odd how that happens. But there are some obvious changes all around me. New house, new state, new job. I’ve written six single titles and four novellas. I’ve fixed up and re-decorated just about every inch of my house. I’ve adjusted my writing schedule to write during the day…and (mostly) outside in the sunshine. I’ve gotten active in my local writing group, RWASD. I’ve connected with more friends online and in person. Some things remain the same. Some things change. It’s just that something about this time of year makes me think in terms of what I’ve accomplished and wonder if I’m doing everything I need to do. And this year I have two releases here at the end: a novella in Christmas anthology, TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT, and a single title, HOT AS HELL. It’s a nice ending to the year. Provides a sort of finality to 2008. Anyone else feel as if big things happened this year? Anyone have big plans for next year? Leave a comment here and I’ll pick one person at random to win a copy of TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT. I’ll post the winner’s name here in the comments section by Friday.
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November 13th, 2008 at 6:14 am
Big this year is we moved back from Oz and are no longer expats. What an experience. Next year … who knows what will be on the table. We we will be one kidlet closer to being empty nesters.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Sure hope next year will have great big things. . . but boy, is it ever going to depend on the economy. . . after all, we’d like to move and stuff like that. . . :???:
Lois
November 13th, 2008 at 9:59 am
Youngest left for college, now we have 3 attending college , 1 in grad school. Finances have taken a huge hit! We have 4 rental properties , 1 eviction pending, another coming up, no one’s paying their rent!! How do we pay our bills? Frightening times!!
November 13th, 2008 at 10:51 am
Well, my husband is starting a new job, so I hope that will bring some prosperity and peace of mind. At the last job, he probably hasn’t worked two weeks time in the last two months and that really stresses me out even if he was getting unemployment. So, I’m hoping with the new job, we can finally sock back some savings and do some repairs to the house.
Deidre
November 13th, 2008 at 11:17 am
Nothing big has happened this year good or bad. The economy sucks and I can only pray that the new administration will make things better, goodness knows it can’t get worse. LOL
November 13th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
For me, nothing big has happened this year. I am hoping that next year brings lots of good things.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
My one and only son is going to college this year. The economy is going down the drain, which I hope will pick up soon. People we need jobs brought into our world.
November 13th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
This year I started homeschooling my son. It has been exciting and challenging in making certain that not only is intellectually stimulated but that he is also provided the social outlet he needs.
November 13th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
This year brought nice developments for my sons. Youngest went to college with 2 scholarships, and he is doing very well. Oldest had a job promotion and bought a house.
For next year we had planned a big family trip, but those plans are on hold until we see what the economy does. :???:
November 13th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
I got a new job this year. This is the job that I always wanted. And my son and his wife have provided me with a beautiful granddaughter this year. I love being a Mimi!
November 13th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
I don’t think we did anything big this year (our middle one started kindergarten, but we’ve got a lot of years of school ahead!) and are hoping for another fun year next year! Starting to think about jobs since the kids will all be in school soon… :shock:
November 13th, 2008 at 2:30 pm
just teh elecitons was a big deal and all teh news with the olympics. my good friend having a baby, so taht is nice can spoil a girklthis time
glad everything is going good.
November 13th, 2008 at 3:58 pm
I graduated this spring with my masters degree and am still looking for a job in that field. It’s a big chance to go from being in school for years and years and suddenly I’m out and trying to make it in the real world. Unfortunately, jobs that I qualify for seem to be few and far between. So, big things have been happening and there will hopefully be more to come in my life soon!
November 13th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Well, nothing big happened this year, but hopefully next year…
November 13th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Nothing big happened this year. With the economy the way it is, I don’t think anything big will happen next year either.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
well i hope gas stays at $2 a gallon
so maybe actually go somewheres
November 13th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Two years? Turned 50 with 50 people in attendance at the surprise party my crazy sweet husband pulled together in three days. Acquired a high school freshman who grew taller than his mom in about twelve hours flat, and a fourth-grader with new glasses who said, “look at all the leaves!” in wonderment. Inherited a house that had to be gutted before it could be rented, but rented it is. Lost my dad.
Birthday next week. My resolutions are drink a glass of red every day, walk a mile, write a thousand words, meditate 10 minutes, and kiss all my big babies an extra kiss goodnight.
Dad’s last lesson? At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is the love in the room.
November 13th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
The last two years have been full of change both sad and happy. Our daughter graduated and was fortunate enough to get a wonderful job in the healthcare industry so we are thrilled for her and her two children as she is a single parent. . We lost two sisters of my husband through illness within 10 months of each other which was very hard on the family, while in the same year three nieces graduated from high school and are now in college. My husband and I have been fortunate and are enjoying some time together now in Texas which we really needed. It has truly been a couple of years of highs and lows but as a family we have been there for one another and are hopefully stronger for it. We are all looking forward to a very happy and blessed holiday season ahead.
November 13th, 2008 at 6:24 pm
Our big plans for next year are dh is applying for CPP because he will be 60.
Wahoo!!. Other than that, I am needing to decide if I stay working at the Personal
Care Home I started at 2 months ago to help out my neighbour/friend who is the
D.O.C. there and I had retired 2 yrs. ago.
November 13th, 2008 at 6:31 pm
The big thing that happened for me this year was completing my Master’s in English Literature. Taking the Master’s exam in April was huge and very ulcer inducing. My only plan for next year is to work on my Master’s in Software Engineering and to retake the GRE so I can start looking at PhD programs.
I hope you have had a good day on your relocation anniversary!
November 13th, 2008 at 6:49 pm
We’ve been looking for a house for a couple of years and hopefully we’ll find the right one next year.
November 13th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Two major events for our family this year - both of my daughters graduated, one from high school and one from college. Youngest is now a freshman in college and oldest is studying for the GRE. We’re the proudest parents around!!
Please don’t enter me in the contest. Have a great weekend!
November 13th, 2008 at 9:35 pm
Biggest thing this year for me was moving from part-time back to full-time employment. People were moved around in the company to save jobs and I went from an administrative assistant (for the past 27 years) to training as a lab technician. Big change and lots of learning ahead for me. A little stressful but I’m sure I’ll eventually do ok.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
I am taking one day at a time here. My only hope is that my husband will get better and get back to work. mental illnesses are very draining.
November 13th, 2008 at 9:59 pm
Nothing big to report here either, but maybe that’s a good thing, considering the big changes the world is going though.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:04 am
Big things this year… hm not really? Added some random things to the resume but personally I don’t think it’s that big a deal. As for next year - yes.
I need to start job searching [like 4 months ago] :P And… I’ll be graduating, again in May. *Hopefully* for the last time in my life. Although recently I’ve been joking with my friends that if I can’t find a job in today’s wonderfully… what was it - fundamentally strong? - economy… I’m going to get my MBA to tack on another “useless” degree after my name :P.
OH! Exciting for this year - I’m going to Seattle next wknd for a conference - and it’ll be my first time there, and essentially my first time traveling across the country alone. (I guess not counting from N to S… - b/c that’s much “shorter” distance wise.)
November 14th, 2008 at 1:42 am
This has been a really rough year for my family. We have had car accidents, hospitilizations, death, divorce, and just an all around really sucky year. I don’t have any real big plans for next year, but I am definitely hoping that it is a better year.
November 14th, 2008 at 1:59 am
Gosh Lori T.! I pray that next year will be a better one for you and your whole family. I also send many blessings that you and your whole family have a nice Thanksgiving and a wonderful Christmas. Sometimes you have to look hard for the rainbows in a storm. I will be thinking of you.
The big things that have happened to me are dealing with my husband losing his job. He had a part time job for about 3 months but then that dried up also. We have been very practical about little things like recycling foil, baggies, plastic trays, etc. instead of going out and buying new. We just wash it all and reuse them. We have always been very practical but we are more so now that we have a very limited income coming in.
Life can be tough at times but you learn to deal with what you have. Also, we pray about our problems and then God always provides us with what we need. He never fails. We have never gone without food, money or shelter. We have a loving family and many friends. We feel very blessed because we know that there are many people who are worse off than us.
Have a great week!
November 14th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
Nothing big, nothing new - just living on much-much-much less…
November 14th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Looks like a lot of economy worries, some major education achievements and some bad news. Very sorry to those who are struggling this year. My hope is that 2009 will be healthy and happy for all of us.
The winner is…Lisa (comment #13). Congrats!!! Email me with your information and I’ll get that book out to you.
And Lori T (#27) and Sara Hurt (#24), sounds to me as if you both could use a free book right now. Email me and I’ll send you each a copy of HARD AS NAILS.
November 14th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
wtg winners
November 14th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
thank you so much!!
November 16th, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Thank you so much!! Congrats to the winners!