2006 was an eventful year in many, many ways.

Let's review.

January-January arrived like the plodding mule that it is. Anti-climatic, grey, and everyday. Work was still hell, the commute was still long, but I did get to see my brother and sister, both of whom I continue to love unreservedly. I'm stealing G-Man the first chance I get. Oh also? My real family kicked my ass the old-fashioned Kung Fu style, first with news of my estranged sister's pregnancy then with finding my blog, necessitating in me starting a private infertility blog. Good times, my friend. Good times.

February-February stormed in and threw its weight around. My project won a massive award which resulted in me over-exuberantly hugging a knighted chap and resulted in the financial reward of the bed and couches we have today. Boyfriend treated me to a surprise weekend in Ireland for the weekend, which was glorious. We exchanged contracts on our house. All in all, a busy month for being only 28 days long. Maybe size really doesn't matter.

March-March threw open the fucking doors and cleaned house. We took Angus' kids to Disneyland, the Cook Islands, and New Zealand. The trip was absolutely spectacular and, most definitely, one of the high points in my life. I'll never forget it (and would love to live in New Zealand, actually.) When we got back two other massive things happened-we got the keys to our new house and moved in, and we got the world's bestest dog (no really, he is. Even when he rolls in shit, we still mostly love him.)

April-Nothing much happened in April. Angus and I both had birthdays. We worked our fucking fingers to the bone on the house. We learnt who Gorby is, and he learnt about us. And although I didn't blog about it here (see: January) I was going through my third IVF cycle, but my first with Angus. When I look back at April all I can feel is sawdust and needles, with the help of Mr. Bump (thanks, Stinks!)

May-Also a calm month, except for the fact that a pregnancy test in an awful hotel room in Upper Buttfuck came up negative. Also? Heard from the family, and not in a good way. When I think of May, it tastes like arguments and the inside of the freezer door. The good news is all our stuff from Sweden finally came over, and I re-found things I had forgotten about.

June-We needed to get away after the IVF failure. Angus took us on the most incredible holiday ever, to Greece. We went to Ascot. I got in touch with my stepkids and we celebrated Melissa's birthday in a stressy way.

July-July saw our annual 4th of July party, only we embiggened it in every way, and even had tents of people staying over in the garden. We drank too much, ate too much, and had too many fireworks. July was also hotter than hell, and we spent our time doing DIY and working on fixing up the study, while also painting the kitchen Angus' choice of color known to me as Kermit the Frog Ejaculation (which also became the ugliest fucking color I'd ever seen.) Although I didn't talk about it here, I was also injecting myself daily in preparation for our frozen embryo transer.

August-August we bought some antiques. We transferred two perfect embryos into me. I got attacked by a conservative who didn't do her homework, and we took the kids to Wales for a mini-holiday, where I vomited a lot, where in the chilly bathroom I took two pregnancy tests, both of which were positive. I puked all through August, until I miscarried the last weekend in August, the bank holiday weekend, which I will remember as the time I spent on the couch, my feet propped up, begging to god in between our dashes to the emergency room. The vomiting stopped. August can fuck right off and never come back as far as I'm concerned.

September-I didn't have much to say in September. We went to Proms in the Park (as we always do). We took the Orient Express, which was brilliant. We booked up a New Year's trip. I started acupuncture, which I have become a believer about. I got offered a new job, which I thought would be calmer (but isn't turning out that way). I started 365Days, thanks to Ms. Pants, which I have wound up loving.

October-October came in quietly. My father, stepmother, and step-grandmother came for a fantastic visit. I started feeling better and great progress was made in therapy. Melissa solicited dating advice from me. We went to Scotland and had a fantastic time. Halloween-one of my favorite holidays-came and went. I started laughing again.

November-I said goodbye to my best friend as he got married in Atlanta (and we were there, me in a red dress and all.) We worked hard on the house, re-doing the living room to be a place of calm. I cooked like a maniac. I recovered. I started planning Christmas.

December-We went to York. I took care of a poor dead fox. The decorations went up and my moods fluctuated. And now Christmas has come and gone and that's for the best-I was tired of the stress, but especially tired of the flu which hit two days before Christmas, which saw me vomiting so hard I made my nose bleed. Christmas Day itself was fantastic-lots of food, family, fantastic gifts (really fantastic gifts!), and laughter only now I'm worried I've offended my brother-in-law-ish because his monster child wanted to stay overnight at ours and I'm worried he heard me freaking out about it to Angus (said monster child did not stay overnight after all).

Family is hard.

And now the end of December is here (thank Christ), and we're off to Seattle and Canada. I have to confess to very much looking forward to getting away (not to mention we blew out our air miles and got upgrades on the long flights so that will be pretty cool), but it will also be nice to see my family. We'll be staying with my dad in Gig Harbor for a few days, where he's promised to take us to Pike's Market (which I love), Uwajimaya (which is the world's best Asian food shop outside of Asia), and to eat fish and chips at Ivar's (which is also a must). My stepmother has promised me a trip down Memory Lane, and I think that's a good idea, actually, and I feel ready for it.

Then Angus and I are off to Whistler for 5 days of skiing, before heading back for one night with my dad, and then flying home.

We both need our batteries recharged if we're to face 2007.

I'll be back the 8th of January.

In the meantime, Happy New Year. Here's to 2007. If anyone is willing to help me, could you hold down 2006 while I punch him a few times? Then I'll throw him out, and 2006? Yeah. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.

See you in a little while.

-H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 09:15 AM | Comments (17) | Add Comment
Post contains 1201 words, total size 8 kb.

1 I'll hold down 2006 for you Helen, have a great trip.

Posted by: Mia at December 26, 2006 09:28 AM (qFbJ5)

2 Me too. A retrospective is always good, but don't forget to focus on the good stuff. Here's hoping that 2007 will be much better for all of us! Have a great trip and enjoy first class!

Posted by: kenju at December 26, 2006 12:34 PM (L8e9z)

3 I will hold 2006 down for you if, you will then in turn hold it down while I get a few punches in myself! Have a great Holiday H!

Posted by: justme at December 26, 2006 01:27 PM (8cJN5)

4 Thanks for sharing dear. So weird that I actually remember you writing about a lot of that the first time around! Cheer to '07! This will be a good year.

Posted by: SaraJane at December 26, 2006 02:25 PM (t5Xsa)

5 Thanks for sharing dear. So weird that I actually remember you writing about a lot of that the first time around! Cheers to '07! This will be a good year.

Posted by: SaraJane at December 26, 2006 02:25 PM (t5Xsa)

6 I'll hold down 2006 while you beat the ever-loving daylights out of it. Hell. I'll hold it down while Gorby pees on it.

Posted by: Lindsay at December 26, 2006 05:16 PM (tk8xf)

7 Mmm. Ivar's. I prefer the clam chowder, myself, but the fish and chips are quite good as well. Have fun, and may 2007 be a little friendlier at least!

Posted by: B. Durbin at December 26, 2006 08:46 PM (tie24)

8 Sure, I'll hold down 2006 for you. As long as you bring me back 2003 to beat the fuck out of it just for old-time pleasure. 2003 was my all-time annus horriblus, which is why 2006 was somewhat easier to take, despite its share of setbacks. Anyway, let's be optimists and here's to a better 2007. Seriously, it's time for good things to happen. Better yet, it's time to MAKE good things happen.

Posted by: diamond dave at December 26, 2006 11:24 PM (aKK4B)

9 Sometimes, the biggest accomplishment is knowing that you'll only have to look back at what passed, not forward. There are three years of my life that I can only bring myself to glance back at, like looking back at a bad car accident. Whenever I start to stare at it for too long, I remind myself that it's static; it has already happened and I will never have to live it again. So I look forward, knowing the worst is over. I hope the same for you. Here's to 2007!

Posted by: gennimcmahon at December 27, 2006 12:23 AM (QqF9v)

10 for me to poop on. but hey, your dog is cute

Posted by: yaz at December 27, 2006 12:48 AM (rXg3x)

11 have a lovely holiday, and I'll see you on your return.

Posted by: caltechgirl at December 27, 2006 07:37 AM (hQNjm)

12 Happy New Year - keep on looking forward. Best wishes from rainy Liverpool!

Posted by: Maggie Wallace at December 27, 2006 05:28 PM (J7P8D)

13 you had a hell of a year Helen. 2006 has kicked many people i know in the nuts, so good riddance! i hope your 2007 is millions of times better in every way

Posted by: geeky at December 27, 2006 07:20 PM (RX+qr)

14 Merry Christmas to you and yours. Here's to the new year, hoping 2007 brings you prosperity, love, faith and hope.

Posted by: Ice Queen at December 28, 2006 04:58 PM (Lyl8J)

15 Hi Helen, Happy Christmas/ New Year. I hope you are enjoying your holiday. I havent had much of an opportunity to leave comments here this year but as always have been keenly reading. I hope that 2007 is everything you are hopeing for Helen - and of course - everything you deserve. abs x

Posted by: abs at December 28, 2006 11:17 PM (uhwwt)

16 I wish all good things for you in 2007 - health, wealth, prosperity, insight, peace, serenity, joy and that most of the things you wish for to come true.

Posted by: That Girl at December 29, 2006 01:17 PM (oT4a3)

17 Happy New Year! Hope 2007 is perfect and wonderful and everything you want it to me. (Ummm . . . private infertility blog? As a non-relative, may I see it?) Kim

Posted by: KimKim at January 02, 2007 12:56 AM (GDkIH)

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