That is so wonderful, erika. Great idea!

This year was fairly eventful for me, what with moving cross-country to be near family. I had to sell a house, buy a house, and find a job. I also decided that I would try to lose the extra weight I've been packing (30 pounds gone, many more to go). My creative and social life has been next to nil, what with all the brain-draining that the aforementioned activities have involved. On the whole, though, I'm quite happy. I'm now in a temp-to-perm job in a field I really want to be in, and after six months, I'm starting to feel like things are settling down a bit.

Two-Thousand-Five, the Year of the Chair.

In 2004 I was a cane sort of dude. Almost spiffy, a cane. It is great for making broad, sweeping gestures. If you absolutely must gesticulate, get yourself a cane.

In the latter half of '05 I had to hang up the cane and go full-time chair. The chair has made me into a pissy bitch in 2005.

In 2006 I am going to get past all that. No, really.

Gus: serenity on wheels.

Gus, I didn't realize that. I am a pissy bitch on your behalf.

I hope 2006 plays out better than 2005, and that I'm able to come to some actual decisions. What 2005 has done is make me really frelling tired.

On the other hand, I now know I can write a novel-length piece of fiction in less than a year. Good to know.

Still, tired.

Go on, Conny, with your bad self.

Launch a novel-length piece of fiction into eternity.

( I was going to say something cynical to Conny, here. Frack that, though. Writers? Get with the writing!)

Well done Erika. Thank you.

and after six months, I'm starting to feel like things are settling down a bit.

It is so good to see you come through the other side of this transition Anne. I know it was very scary at times. It is stunning to see what you have accomplished. Your success is an inspiration to other Buffistas going through the big changes.

And Erin too making the big life advances. I’m proud of you sweety. (also yay for the frequency of teh sex)

I was going to say something cynical to Conny

Dude, are you suggesting no cynicism in the New Year? It’s like I don’t know you man.

I now know I can write a novel-length piece of fiction in less than a year.

Hrmph, I suppose this is an excuse for not seeing you around enough. Oh well, if you must be productive and stuff.

Not sure about my year yet. I have managed to order my gifts for my giftee though. Now I need to order the kid stuff.

Gus, I didn't realize that either!

I think that any chair Gus drives should have an FTL drive. The better to visit family and friends in distant parts of the 'verse.

Surely, one of the brilliant minds here can come up with something like that?

I suppose this is an excuse for not seeing you around enough.

Actually, that's because they installed webfiltering at the office in January or so. So B.org is blocked from 8-5 pm. Turns out that's when I was doign most of my posting. who knew?

Thanks for the encouragement, Gus!

Also encouraging 'Seula in the book-writing. The world needs more writing from people who can, you know, write well, with good characters and an intriguing story and a good grasp of tense and grammar. Go you!

Ooh sumi, I also vote for FTL drive for Gus' chair. That would be awesome.

Still thinking about my year.

I believe that erika should have the same -- think of all the visiting!

MG, 2006 owes you fantastic things.

Excellent gift, Erika!

Bloody well done Erin with all teh sex. I must join the others in the 'shit, man, didn't know that - get down with your pissy-ass self' wrt Gus and the cane-chair transition.

Anne - 30lb! Damn, girl, well done you!

In the world of me, I've been an infrequent visitor to the internets, sadly. I've moved to a new job, which is in many respects much better than my previous position, but in some respects more frustrating - I'm trained & qualified to teach the British curriculum, and it turns out that y'all don't even HAVE a curriculum, let alone a consistent and objective way of levelling and assessing children's work. Which is frustrating. Still, in terms of professional development, this job is still fantastic.

Actually, this year is something of a gift: I'm on a decent salary (within the given context of my living expenses) and yet I don't have to do planning or grading of work. I'm able to have an hour longer in bed than last year AND my employers lay on a free bus service to get me into work. Which is all good. My circle of friends has broadened, at least among the expat community here. That's all Of The Good.

Meanwhile, like Anne, I've decided that it's about bloody time I stopped being fat and started being fit. I started on October 6th, and so far I've lost 18lb. I'm really enjoying the process.

I've also started an original novel, but it's stalled a bit - need to get cracking with that.

The karaoke has petered out of late, but I have joined the Cairo Choral Society, and spent several months learning Beethoven's Mass in C and a couple of sections of Handel's Messiah. We performed on Wednesday and Thursday night this past week, and although our first performance was only okay, our second was marvellous. That was a terrific feeling - singing in public is something I find really daunting, and working from sheet music on a project like this was really a challenge for me.

I hope that 2006 brings all of you the happiness and success you so richly deserve. You guys are my very favourite people.