D finally got a job! After months of waiting and countless interviews he found one that was right for him. (And by "right" I mean they will give him a paycheck every 2 weeks). We're a two income family again but I think the chill of unemployment has left me scarred. I make a good living so we were never in fear of losing our house or car, but what about the gazillion other people out there that didn't make it through unscathed? The unemployment actually brought D and I closer together but I don't think everyone is that lucky. Next month we'll celebrate 13 years since we first met. 13 years?? My arthritis flares up at the thought.

I know you don't want to hear about the weather but it's brain-numbing cold. I literally walked out to warm up the car this morning and forgot where I was. For those of you in warm places who are unfamiliar with the concept, you literally have to go out and turn on the car 10 minutes before you go anywhere so it can warm up. This morning the van failed the first two twists of the key and hurled obscenities my way before it finally gave in. The Boy was always losing a hat or 1 random glove until 2 weeks ago when I sent him to school with what extras I could scrounge including 1 pink mitten and 1 red Spiderman glove. Miraculously he has started taking care of his things since then.

I started the New Year with such a great attitude but then I had a little bit of a set-back yesterday and now all I want to do is crawl in bed and sleep until Spring comes. Why do we live in Chicago? I suppose it's a rhetorical question but perhaps subconsciously I want someone to give me one good reason. It's cold. And one minute there wasn't any snow and then I took a shower and suddenly the ground was covered in white like the trees had a major case of dandruff. With D's unemployment we're going to have to postpone our Ireland/Scottland trip this year which bites. I also have some sort of annoying eye ailment. I thought it was an errant eyelash that keeps poking me but I can't seem to get it out. In the meantime I keep randomly winking like I'm using my eyelids to talk in Morse code. The mailman must have thought that I REALLY appreciated him bringing me the 2009 IKEA catalog. *sigh*