Well, its been quite some time since I gave a full big update on what I am doing and what I've been thinking and feeling.

I've started to write this a few times or outline it or just think how I want to do it, but always, I get busy, tired, distracted, or somehow, otherwise move on, and then it becomes and even more daunting task to go over.

I debated going through by day or week or deciding to just forfeit this chronicling of the month, but ultimately, this month has been too eventful and in some ways too good and in other ways too bad to just skip over entirely.

I've decided I will split it up into a few posts, friends, family, work, and a misc one, and go from there. There is of course some overlap and there will be things that get breezed over and things that get forgotten, but its a good way to write down everything, at least everything major. I'll also have another post with my thoughts, feelings, moods, and emotions. Good times.

Lets start with work, it is the single thing that consumes more of my time, thoughts, and abilities. Work is a near 24/7 part of my life, for better or worse. Work has been busy. Last month, December was our SLOW month, we actually didn't have a ton of work to do, December has been anything but. December's main things have been continued support of our fincnail software, VoIP rollouts, new offices, office moves, and a Bat Mitvah. Thats right, I said Bat Mitvah.

It hasn't been all a drag though. I've gotten a lot closer to many coworkers, I've had a lot of fun, and we've had our Holiday Party, Monica had a Holiday Party, and I've gone out with coworkers a few times.

We hired a new guy. He is really nice, fits in well, has a seemingly VERY interesting past, just seems a bit all over the place. I have a hard time figuring out if he has **** **** together or just pretends to have his **** together. Either way, he's a hard worker, knows his ****, and is an extremely nice guy. His focus is Yardi, our financial software, but he does a bit of everything, like we all do.

I am going to be going to DC in a few days for a week or more. We are moving our East Coast Investments office and bringing 3 new properties online. Good stuff. It will be cold as hell, but at least I'll get to see Mike, have some fun, and also enjoy a new city and an expense paid trip out of the office.

Our VoIP rollout happened about 2 weeks earlier than planned. Our old phone system died and we needed to do the roll out on the drop fo a hat. Luckily, we had all of the parts and pieces, it was just an intense few nights of time investment. We are still working out all of the kinks and we still need to figure out how to do some stuff, but we're making good progress. Avi, the head of the company, gave us some serious props on VoIP, which was good to hear. He came up to me multiple times to let me know what a good job we did and how big of an accomplishment it is. Now, once we get the kinks out and actually get some more features up and running, then he'll see the real power of the system.

We had our CIM Holiday Party. It was at Highlands, a swank club in Hollywood. Catered by Wolfgang Puck. Full open bar, top shelf booze. At least they know how to throw a party. I had a great time, it was a lot of fun drinking, hanging out, and just really carefree, mostly drama free, and just pleasant. Tasha came along as my date, which was a lot of fun. She wasn't quite in the mood and not feeling well, but I hope she had a good time and wasn't too bored. I was happy she was there though. After the Holiday party, we went to Avidan's to after party. A friend had a bit too much to drink, and we ended up carrying her the distance from the club to Avidans and then up stairs to put her to bed in his loft. The rest of us hung out, smoked, and talked. I didn't get home until like 4AM that night, and had to be at work the next day, ugh. But, what a blast.

Monica had a Holiday Party the Saturday after the CIM one. It was much better than I thought and had desserts to die for. Monica has a beautiful house too. The 'kids' of CIM grabbed a bottle of wine, a tray of food and sat outside drinking and hanging out, it was a lot of fun. Renee and Omid ended up coming over after, we hung out, had some drinks, and then I went over to Alice's house after they left.

The final big thing going on at work was a Bat Mitvah. Shaul's daughter was having hers and as his go to tech guys, we ended up helping witha lot of technology. The actual event was this past Saturday at the Ritz Carlton in Marina del Rey (talk about swank) and wasn't too bad. Shaul had been in a remarkably good mood lately, so it was nice to help him out.

Otherwise, I've hung out with Avidan outside of work a few times, which is always great, we get along well, and are really quite similar people.

Its weird, reading this, I'd go, man, work sounds like its been going great. And the things i love about my job, I continue to love. I love the boss, the people, most of the work. But there is a lot of beuracracy, there is a lot of personnel issues, and there are a lot of long hours. Sometimes I feel like my work is stiffling my personal life, but I continue to lead quite and active life, so I am not really sure. I do know, lately, I've thought more and more about what else is out there and I've thought more and more about what other kinds of places I can get jobs. There have been trying moments, where I don't think I can take anymore, but I always do. Am I just latching on, or is this a super unique, great opportunity that is still beneficial to me? Is my loyalty and friendship to Avidan causing me to make irrational choices? I am not sure, but I do worry about it.

My family has continue to thrive and be well. My baby nephew is nothing short of amazing. My parents are doing well, they are currently in South America on an exctended cruise and vacation. I received a note from my Grandpa in India and I recently saw my cousins.

For every positive, there are negatives. My sister and brother in law have off and on problems, how serious, really has yet to be seen. My grandparents (grandmas especially) are quite sick and not doing the best. Various health problems are scattered around Aunts and Uncles. And, of course, I've not seen most of them in like 13 years. It is weird, being so far removed, yet, so connected. It is weird, loving people I've seen all of 6 times, for a few weeks here and there. Its strange, to wonder, if they think about me, or miss me, or love me. Family is a strange thing, this bond, created, by nothing more than birth, but also ultimately strong. I used to put less faith in the bond of family and more in the bond of my friends, but just over the years, especially recently, it really is made clear how fickle friends can be, and how family is honestly always there.

Anshul is a beautiful glowing kid. He's so smart. He learns so fast. He's so incredibly loving. He loves to play. He loves to play with me. He misses me when I am not there. I am honestly in love with him and his love for me is so apparent, I am not sure, outside of my parents, if I've ever felt unconditional love like that from another person. The looks, the calls, the hugs, everything just screams about how much he loves his family. If my sister is over, he asks for me. If I am over, he asks for my parents. He knows what these people are and he knows he loves them, its amazing. He continually can make me smile.

Friends. Friends. I guess, perhaps, I've been avoiding this a little. Its a doozy of an update. So much good. Some bad. So much to look forward too and so much I could dwell on. I've not really found which place I want to be. I've not fully realized how I feel about 'where I am' I've just been keeping busy and having fun...where I land, I guess, that is partly up to fate.

So, friends. December's been a pretty crazy month for them. Two of my best friends have moved back from out of town, Ira and Nathan. It was weird not having them around and then with the holidays and all, I still am not quite sure how things will end up (and now Ira is out of town in Peru) but I do know that I am much happier having them at arms reach, rather than 100s of miles away.

I've reconnected with a few old friends, some of them family friends. Priya and I have hung out more in the past 2 months, than I think the past 2 years. And, of course, true to my luck, she left today for Italy for 5 months. Cheryl and I continue to talk often, hang out occasionally, and ultimately keep connected, but not much day to day or often things. Nisha and I have hung out a few times, after maybe 9 months or not seeing one another. Chris came into town for a few weeks, so I got to see him a bunch over that stretch.

Other than friends moving back and reconnecing with others, my existing friends have been pretty great. Tasha and I talk often, see one another maybe once a week. (It feels weird if I go a week without seeing her) I talk to Avi and Mark regularly, see them semi regularly. Corey and I talk and hang out now and again. Jody and I talk once or twice a week and see eachother maybe every other week. That makes me really happy, I am not sure if I would have been able to be happy about where I am (and we are) if we barely talked. She's still a close friend and perhaps even one of my more dependable ones, at least outside of my 'core' best friends.' I saw Nate a few times recently, Cody, Joe, even Pat briefly when he was in town. And, anyone else I am forgetting, I am sorry, it is 1:30AM, and I've written a mini series for my update. But, its all been pretty solid.

There are also new friends...I've become a lot closer with some people from work, Kim, Angela, and even Renee and Omid. Avidan and I hung out a few times, and then a few people completely unrelated to work, in Alice and Michelle. Its been good, getting out, meeting new people, I think, sometimes, I am at my best, when I am in a comfortable situation and just meeting new people, bull****ting, being funny, having deep conversation, or light hearted banter. I just think I feel like I am at my best those times.

Moments of notes, with my friends have been Priya's Birthday, Priya's Party, Dinner at Maggiano's, Ira's first night back, going out with Priya, House Sitting for the Cannis', Nisha, Hanging with Avidan, Christmas, New Years, and Shelby's visit. Daunting I know. I think, looking at the time, I will expand on those, tomorrow, in larger updates. There are definately stories and notes to share on all of those.

Its just been a big month for hanging out, parties, seeing people, having fun, going out, being stupid and carefree.

There has been a darker side (isn't there always one?) to this month, however. Sometimes you just need to accept that people aren't reliable. That they say they will be there, but they won't. Sometimes you just need to stop wondering 'what is going on' and just move on. A few people that I do still hold close and dear are teetering on that edge of 'its not worth it anymore.' Its easy for me to say, hard for me to do. But, sometimes you just get no sign of life from the other person regarding your friendship, you just need to take it off the burner and who knows what happens down the road. I dont' want to do that, with these handful of people, especially not one of them, but it can end up bringing down the good moments or just being all consuming if you don't...you know?

I just want to unleash a torrent right now..but it probably isn't the best idea, nor place, nor time to do it. I am overall really happy, I have great friends, I have some great new people in my life...its just hard, because there are some people that used to be in my life that I still want...