I have to admit that it’s a little awkward writing 2010 as the date, but it’s always like that for me whenever it’s the beginning of a new year. I’ve been having trouble emotionally lately with the conflict between spending time with my girlfriend and spending time with friends. My girlfriend has to wake up very early for work (usually 4 am) for work, so she doesn’t get a chance to come hang out with my friends and me as much as she’d like to. So I usually hang out with her till about 9 pm and then go see my friends but lately I’ve been feeling pressure from one of my best friends about not spending as much time with them and not answering my phone as much since I turn my phone off when I’m with my girlfriend. With my depression and just my overall personality, I feel guilty when people say I’m not spending as much time with them. I become sad over it and blame myself but for once I stepped back and looked at the situation. I’m the only one out of all my friends in a relationship and I do respect my girlfriend to the point when I do turn my phone off and spend as much time with her as possible and obviously they may not understand that but in no way have a shut them out of my life or looked at them any less as friends. I just had to get that off my chest because I’ve been feeling guilty about it and I figure writing about it would help.
 Yesterday I was over at my girlfriend’s grandparent’s house for their New Years dinner. I always feel great knowing that I’m invited to these big dinners and her grandparents are so gracious and welcoming. I decided it was only appropriate for me to buy them a couple gifts for inviting me over, so I decided to get some candles and some chocolate truffles since I over heard them talking about it one night. One thing about my personality that’s very helpful is that I’m diverse when it comes to conversations. So I can carry a conversation talking about sports or I can have a conversation about anything else that’s going on, which again is helpful when it comes to family events because I always want hopefully build a connection and relationship with everyone in my girlfriend’s family. The dinner was wonderful and the day overall was a very nice one. I really do love having a break from not only school but traveling as well. Speaking and telling my story never gets old but the travel can get annoying and old very quickly. Being around the people that are closest to you and not having to leave is always a great feeling.