OK--I WILL BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

IT IS THE FIRST OF MANY THINGS--INCLUDING THE ALL-ELLUSIVE SPEAKER. OF THE HOUSE. IS THIS HOW THE YEAR WILL PLAY OUT? CHAOS AND MAYHEM TO START, HARDLY INTO THE YEAR.. EMOTIONS RUN HIGH WITH MANY TRADE-OFFS FOR THE MASSES. SO BE IT-- 2023 WILL BE A TRANSITIONAL FORCE IN MANY AREAS OF LIFE AS WE KNOW THEM.

THERE ARE MANY FORCES OF NATURE AS WELL WITH THE POTENTIAL HEAVY WEATHER PATTERNS CHURNING TOWARD THE U.S. NOW. HOW MUCH OF A TOLL CAN CALIFORNIA TAKE? WASHED AWAY ROADWAYS AND HOMES. AND, OUT EAST WITH HEAVY SNOW AMOUNTS WITH PEOPLE TRAPPED.

THEN, THERE ARE THE MASSIVE LAYOFFS DUE TO THE U.S. OPENING BACK UP AFTER COVID-19. YES, PEOPLE RESUMING BACK TO WORK AND OUT OF THEIR HOMES. YET, I'VE NEVER PERSONALLY KNOWN SO MANY FRIENDS AND FAMILY WITH COVID MORE RECENTLY THESE PAST FEW MONTHS. AND, IT HIT WORK WITH ME WHEN THE MANAGER'S HUSBAND DIED FROM COVID.

AND, MY PERSONAL HEALTH AID WHO ASSISTS ME WITH CHORES AT HOME, GOT A PAY RAISE ON THE 1ST OF JAN THIS YEAR. SHE ALONG WITH MANY ARE HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND SHOP. YES, TIMES--THEY ARE A CHANGING. ONE HAS TO KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES WHILE INFLATION IS HIGH. IT HAD TO BE ADDRESSED AND MET FOR AN HOURLY INCREASE IN PAY.

WHAT HURT ME PERSONALLY WAS THAT MY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS CLOSED AND I DON'T EAT AS WELL BECAUSE I DON'T COOK. I ONLY HEAT UP THE MICROWAVE WHEN I SERVE MYSELF FROZEN MEALS-- AND, MY NEW YEARS RESOLUTION IS TO STICK BY MY PROPORTIONED FROZEN MEALS AND EAT IN. I WAS GAINING WEIGHT ORDERING OUT BEFORE. I HAVE TO FIT BACK INTO MY CLOTHES AND EXERCISE AFTER A KNEE REPLACEMENT THAT I INJURED--AND SET ME BACK PHYSICALLY..

YES--THIS IS A TRANSITIONAL YEAR IN MANY WAYS FOR MANY PEOPLE.