Take jobs as they come -- and we'll never be under the heel of nobody ever again. No matter how long the arm of the Alliance might get, we'll just get ourselves a little further.

Mal ,'Out Of Gas'


Goodbye and Good Riddance 2005: the Year of the Penguin  

Every year we watch the Charlie Brown special, do the Snoopy dance, wish everybody a Merry Christmukkah, and thank our Secret Santas in the good riddance thread. Which is this one, in case you were wondering. Oh, and 2005? Don't think we've forgotten about you.


SailAweigh - Dec 10, 2005 7:34:00 pm PST #33 of 506
Nana korobi, ya oki. (Fall down seven times, stand up eight.) ~Yuzuru Hanyu/Japanese proverb

erika, your gift rocks.

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

Taps foot, looks at wrist (despite the lack of watchpiece to reside thereon.)

We're agreed on that, Fay! And go, you! Eighteen pounds is great. I need to hie me back to the gym, too.

My year? Ummm, I think I can safely say it was a good year. While it's had it's not so wonderful moments, there wasn't anything that couldn't be dealt with and/or overcome in one way or another, especially with the help of my blinvisible friends here. It is ending on a high note, with a promotion at work, which included a little extra money and kudos from my boss for the way I'm settling into it. Next year will be equally challenging when he goes back to active duty and I take on the entire responsibility of the department. I'm looking forward to it!

I hope everyone else has better prospects coming their way or at least a light at the end of the tunnel. In the meantime, joy and peace to you all in 2006!


Liese S. - Dec 15, 2005 5:32:22 am PST #34 of 506
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."

I love this thread for hearing about how everyone is doing. Sometimes I get behind on the boards, and it's nice to be able to catch up with everyone.

Meanwhile this, for me, is not a year end post yet. It's just to comment that I'm highly amused by the thread title, because this year I bought my sister's family all penguin-themed items. The March of the Penguins dvd, a penguin finger puppet board book for the boy, a cute stuffed penguin for the girl. I think it's cute, but they may be slightly bemused. Still, since they live in Africa, I thought it would be fun for them to have cold weather toys to take back with them, kind of to celebrate their winter in the states. Although they're actually celebrating the holiday itself in Hawaii, so maybe the point is lost. But still, penguins!


lisah - Dec 15, 2005 5:43:21 am PST #35 of 506
Punishingly Intricate

erika! Your gift made me a little weepy. in a good way. Thank you!!!


Kate P. - Dec 15, 2005 7:11:09 am PST #36 of 506
That's the pain / That cuts a straight line down through the heart / We call it love

Hey Liese, where in Africa does your sister live? (If you want to say, which you may not.) Because South Africa has penguins, so I think your penguin gifts are totally continentally appropriate.


brenda m - Dec 15, 2005 7:27:05 am PST #37 of 506
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there

For DX, and Liese, and all of us: [link]


sumi - Dec 15, 2005 7:30:11 am PST #38 of 506
Art Crawl!!!

Wow. That is one giant penguin.


brenda m - Dec 15, 2005 7:33:47 am PST #39 of 506
If you're going through hell/keep on going/don't slow down/keep your fear from showing/you might be gone/'fore the devil even knows you're there

Meant to thank Trudes for the link.


Liese S. - Dec 15, 2005 7:33:49 am PST #40 of 506
"Faded like the lilac, he thought."

West Africa, Kate. Guinea.

And hee, I did not know about South African penguins.

Also, I think I love brenda's giant light-up penguin. I think we should all have one.


beth b - Dec 15, 2005 7:34:16 am PST #41 of 506
oh joy! Oh Rapture ! I have a brain!

I didn't find this thread 'til Laura pointed it out- that's cause I always have message center up on this computer.

This was a strange year. We moved to Ca in 1998. Every year , until this year, it has felt like a Big Event happened. I have minor quibbles with this year- like DH needs to find another job and we need to learn to save some money. ***

As I was typeing that I realized - yes something very big, and not so good happened. This is the year I found out I had asthma by ending up in the ER. And since April we have been trying to get back to normal. Which, because I forgot about it .. means maybe things are getting back to normal. But it does explain the slightly worn around the edges. feeling. I went thru 2 months of anger at all the drugs in my life - and DH still twiches if I don't feel well. (BTW, I never get sick)

There were lots of good thing. We live in a neighborhood where I could bang on lots of different doors at any time if I needed help. We have fun with these people. We put on our first house concert. We had a wedding of some friends in our backyard. DH made a guitar for a our 7 year old neighbor.

To go back to what I want for next year . For us to learn to save even a litlle money. That will chase the money hamster out of my head and give us a little confidence. A new job for DH. even if all the bad parts went away , I think he has grown beyond this job. and I'd like to find a way for me to go to school. I think I have the place picked out, I just need to find a way.

another post that is less about me will show up soon.


tommyrot - Dec 15, 2005 7:43:20 am PST #42 of 506
Sir, it's not an offence to let your cat eat your bacon. Okay? And we don't arrest cats, I'm very sorry.

Japanese Get Fat Penguins to Exercise

Cute picture!

TOKYO - It's wintertime and the king penguins at a zoo in northern Japan are putting on weight. But the keepers there have a solution: exercise.

Authorities at Asahiyama Zoo are taking the penguins on 500-yard walks on the snowy grounds twice a day, said zoo spokesman Tetsuo Yamazaki.