Hello New Year

So, another blog post starts out with me saying how I've neglected this poor little thing, how I resolve to post more, how I am a writer and writers write, and blah blah blah.

Quelle Surprise.

Maybe I will post, maybe I won't. But I have family in New Zealand who wants to know what's up (Hello, Katie!), and friends in Alaska and in Portland who want their fingers on the pulse of Vermillion news, so I ought to be better. I also ought to take daily flossing much more seriously.

The year has started out nicely. I've been eating stupidly well and keeping my commitment to the gym (again, ye olde 30th birthday looms), so I feel healthy. I've also shoveled the gd driveway 3 times in the past 24 hours, which is awesome.

My semester begins on Thursday. I'm halfway to pool time, baby. Doing some lit, some basic writing, and some business writing this semester. My eyebrows are waxed, my oil is changed, and my first day teaching outfit is all picked out. I don't feel the dread or the urgency of the new semester start yet, but I suppose that will come Wednesday evening.

B and I will celebrate 6 years this weekend. I was just on Allegiant Air, looking for a long-weekend trip to Phoenix or Vegas with which to surprise her, but I'm a little late on the draw (quelle surprise again). A weekend in Omaha sounds nice, but it's, like, cold there? And there's, like, lotsa snow? And, like, it's cold with lots of snow here, too? So, we might just stay home and do a little Sioux City-ing. A little movie-watching, prolly some wine-drinking.

Speaking of B, these are the words I said to my parents at 8 pm on Dec. 29, 2010:

I've been wanting to talk to you about this for a long time, but I didn't know how because I have been very, very scared. But, I want you to know me fully and be part of every part of my life.

So, I need you to know that the woman I live with, B, is not my roommate. I consider her my partner and we have a very happy, healthy life together.

If you want to talk about it, we can. If you want to ignore it, you can. If you want me to leave, I will. I just couldn't keep this from you any longer because me not saying anything has created too much distance between us and I love you guys too much to continue that distance.

Of course, it wasn't nearly as eloquent and was accompanied by stammering and many large hand gestures on my part, but I did it. I felt ready and safe and secure and I did it. Do I wish I could have found the courage much earlier? Absolutely. But, it's done and my parents were wonderful and loving and supportive. I knew I had good parents -- I knew that. But now, I am overwhelmed with love and respect for them. They rock.

So, I got the job, the house, the girl, the family, the friends, and the retirement account. Livin' the Dream.