Sorry I haven't been around all week. I worked 10 or 11 hour days Monday through Thursday this week. I had my yearly performance review on Thurday. We don't get raises based on them, so I wanted to use it to change some things I haven't been enjoying. My boss has been dumping too much of her stress on me and then retaliated when I tried to make myself unavailable for it. We also got a new person on my immediate team and I very much like her personally, but she often tells me she knows more about my job than I do, which isn't accurate. Between the two of them, I knew i had to make a change before I impulsively quit. So my proposal, which took all week for me to work up and was accepted, is for me to work fewer hours in my office, and some weekends and evenings doing community organizing. It'll get me out from my position of "sitting duck" at my desk, and it'll be a lot better for everybody since community organizing is my forte and much needed.

Also, I haven't mentioned this because i hate it when I whine, but the holidays depressed the few daylights right out of me that my normal state of depression lets me have. I've been making my friends get me out more. I'm also trying to exercise more often. It's all helping, but has kept me hopping from 4a.m. til 9p.m. I had today off because I worked during Monday's holiday. Last night, I went to bed (and almost wet the bed, lol) so excited about sleeping in.

Despite all the shifting and drifting, I've lost 2 pounds this week! Today is my 9th day without sugar other than a daily banana, orange and 1 square of 75% chocolate. It was a lot easier than I thought it would be because I cut back more over the past year than I thought I did. I think i have 2 weeks being wheat free too. And for 7 of the past 9 days, I've had at least a 200 calorie deficit. My goal is to lose 4 pounds between Jan. 15 and Feb. 28 and I'm already half way there as long as I behave myself.

Now that I've taken care of some things, I plan on being around more. Thanks tons for the notes and goodies. I've missed you too!