2000 Thru 2009: A Decade Of Insanity

Okay, so the last ten years haven't been that bad, but so much has changed. This is a super condensed recap of it.

2000: I turned fifteen and began learning how to drive...

2001: Got my first car; finally got my license seven months after my sixteenth birthday (thanks mom for not wanting me to drive...); and subsequently had my first two accidents.

2002: A large chunk of my friends graduated high school; I decided to finish school a semester early; started working at Ace Hardware; essentially became homeless.

2003: Finished high school in January, walked in June; got my first tattoo; had my car stolen and set on fire; got my 1986 Honda Accord; moved into my first apartment with my best friend at the time; my nephew, Jordan, was born in September; moved to Portland in October, had some really awesome times.

2004: Realized AiPD was a mistake; moved back to LC; started working at the salon; friend moved back to LC and we moved in together; lost said friend/roommate due to my family issues; my sister, niece and nephew moved in with me; met the love of my life; he gave me our beautiful monster, Spaz, who was only six weeks old; got in crazy rollover accident in my Honda; moved to Silverton to live with said love and his family; lost my license for a year.

2005: Turned 20; got married August 21st; honeymooned in Astoria; got second tattoo; started temping; got my license back in November (longest year ever); we bought "Ethel" our 1993 Nissan Altima.

2006: Turned 21; went to the casino (didn't win....); continued to do temp work, most cush job- four hours as a test proctor and getting paid $11 an hour to do nothing; celebrated first anniversary at the coast; in September began working for MCB; attempted to quit MCB in November but was offered another position (if only I knew what I was getting myself into...).

2007: Collin went back to school and received his A+ certification; we celebrated our second year of marriage; I celebrated my first anniversary at MCB; bought "Lucy" our 1985 Toyota Camry from Collin's grandma for $1.

2008: Collin got a good job at Hollywood Entertainment; we moved into our first place in Salem; had issues with "Ethel" and decided to replace her and sell her; bought "Ricky" our 1999 Chevy Blazer fully loaded for $2,500 (we are still paying Collin's parents back for loaning us the cash); celebrated our first Christmas at our own place.

2009: Cut off all my hair and dyed it pink and black; found out Collin was getting laid off (unless we moved to Nashville, TN); Collin's lay off kept getting extended; I renegotiated my salary with MCB so I wouldn't be forced to look for a better paying job if and when Collin lost his; turned down an interview with DMV after accepting MCB's new salary (still suffer from moments of regret with that...); got my third tattoo in April the same day we learned a good friend had drowned (RIP Zach); Collin got laid off; week after lay off Collin went back to work for Hollywood in another department which he has thrived in; got my fourth and biggest tattoo so far in August; my niece, Amanda, was born September 25th; I dyed my hair purple and black in October; Cassidy turned twelve in October; I passed my three year mark with MCB; Kristina moved back to Oregon; I typed this blog.

It's crazy to think back on how much I have changed and how much things around me have changed in the last ten years, if you had asked me in 2000 where I saw myself in ten years, I don't think it would have been exactly where I am at, but I am happy with where I have ended up... I can only imagine what lays ahead in the next ten; buying a house, maybe kids, and who knows what else. I just know that 2010 is going to be an awesome year (and hopefully less stressful). I'm sure more things will change over the next year (or ten) and I hope I enjoy the ride. As long as I have my husband, family and close friends I know it well be great.

I wish you all the best in 2010! See ya next year!