2004 was a year like most of the others in my life. Lots of good things happened to people I care about, and few bad things, and I'm glad about that. For me, personally, though, it was a lousy year, and I'm not so sure 2005 will be any better.

Happy New Year.

Gus proposed!

Oh, Carp. Did I? Curse this Macallan's single malt!

Happy new year, DX, and I hope you are wrong about next year not being any better. You certainly deserve only the best.

HAPPY 2005 FROM THE RIGHT COAST!

Mwah.

Happy New Year, DX. I feel much the same way, but I'm going to plaster a grin on my face and dare 2005 to suck as badly as its predecessor.

No, that's wrong. I'm not going in pie-eyed and expecting the best, but I am trying to keep my eyes open to the positive, and not dwell on the negative. It's not that easy, but it's the best I can manage right now. Let's hope it's enough, and 2005 gives everybody a break.

Gus, DH would be startled if I suggested changes. The thrill for me was that you said it out loud--as it were. Thanks.

aw, Gus. There is no spat.

mwah! Back at the poor doomed Eastcoaster. Swimming lessons, do not neglect them.

Beverly: You are not going to make me go back and try to find this soi-disant proposal. I am on to your tricks.

DX: Have a good year, or don't, theorist.

The theory is usually good. It's the practice that seems to lack a lot.

Hmm. 2004. On the down side:

My car died unexpectedly at the beginning of the year, necessitating the purchase of a new one, for which I had to borrow money from my parents. I realized I've been entirely too cavalier about my finances, and as a result, my debt load is ridiculous.

My dad had 2 (or maybe 3) heart attacks this year.

My doctor put me on meds for hypertension and informed me that my cholesterol is too high.

My bad feelings about the election are multi-layered. I think the election was rigged, and I also feel like a stranger in my own country.

I did very little writing.

On the up side:

I feel like Pollyanna, but a lot of the above bad things woke me up to the fact that I needed to make some changes, which were necessary, good changes. Such as:

My debt load is by no means where it needs to be, but I'm finally being responsible about it and have a plan to pay it down.

Plus, I got a 10% raise last week, which helps tremendously.

I started taking on freelance design work, which is actually fun in its own way, and helps with the whole debt thing.

My blood pressure is normal now, and I brought my cholesterol down by 9% in 4 months just by eating oatmeal every morning. (Seriously.)

I took up fencing this year, which I really enjoy, though I'm currently on hiatus because something about it aggravates my back, and I need to figure out what's going on and how to ameliorate it before I can go back.

Speaking of Frankenspine, 1 year and 9 months after surgery, my back is great. Still not perfect, but then, even before the surgery, well before all the horrible pain started, it NEVER was a perfect back. Still good.

It's been well over a year since I've had a significant bout of depression, which might be the longest stretch of time in 10 years or more.

I did have a short essay published in a local publication.

My brother got engaged to his GF of 5 years, who I just love. I'm thrilled.

Several friends got married, some had babies, and some got pregnant. Seeing my friends' good family lives really makes me happy.

I had lots of Buffista face-time this year, with the DC F2F, Nillyfest, the day-after-Thanksgiving Columbus-fest, and people visiting me (SA and billytea).

So, on the whole, there was a lot more good than bad to my 2004. Still some of the bad was significant enough in magnitude (c.f., election, Dad's heart attack) that I can't compare the good and the bad just in terms of sheer numbers.

And yet, even though there are things I really want to work on (not resolutions, because they're more than that), most of the time, I'm happy. And calm. And that's very good.

The theory is usually good. It's the practice that seems to lack a lot.

I got yer practice swingin', book boy.

t stifles timeless plumber-vs-chemist rhetoric

StephL, Go, you. Independent work, a real-life outlook on diet and its effects. Go, you.

Wait. I already said that.