Hmm... as Ouise's sister, didn't you have a hand in a Very Special Secret Santa gift a few years back involving Sports Night MPreg and Big Turks?

(I should note, by the way, that that particular gifting is thought of often, as I have a couple Big Turks still lurking in my freezer. They support the ice cream in email.)

I'm feeling vague guilt over having a pretty good 2005. I think I bogarted the luck or something.

That's Ouise's other sister!

The Clan Ouise is a talented bunch!

I guess it's about time to make an end-of-year wrap-up post. 2005 was a good year for me, all things considered. I was a student for the whole thing, and really solidified relationships I had started making at school in the latter part of 2004. I've made wonderful new friends (not something I was really expecting), and professional contacts, and I'm starting to feel ready to head back into the Real World. Except when I remember about the having to go to work every day. Ahem. Anyway.

My family is reasonably well. My father's had some rough times, but is at least ending the year on a good note, with a job he enjoys and is doing well at. My mom carries on, doing a million different things at once. My grandmother seems to be on the mend after being in the hospital for the week before Christmas.

My friends have had some amazing experiences this year -- I was in two weddings, there are babies on the way (not for either of those couples), houses being bought, all the Big Grown-Up Stuff. I guess we're finally getting to that point in our lives. As for me, I'm recently back together with Mike, after being "broken up" (but still in contact) for most of 2005. I still have some trepidation, but am hopeful.

I'm really looking forward to 2006. With any luck, I'll have a great last semester at school, come up with a kick-ass final project, find an awesome job in the spring, and go from there. The past couple of years have been transitional for me, and I can finally start to see what I might be transitioning into, not just what I've gotten away from.

I deeply hope that for many of you, the turning of the calendar will be an end to the enormous amounts of crap you've been dealing with lately.

squeeeeeee!

Package from Katie M! I have chocolates, and preserves, and a shea butter orange sherbert soap that is going to be ALL OVER ME as soon as humanly possible because it smells like heaven.

Any chance they'd let me take a bath in the office sink? No? Drat.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Sue!!!

There is not enough whee in squeee!

Thank you sooo much for the lovely prezzies.

The box is so beautifully prepared...not to mention STUFFED with lovely things.

Let's see, let's see...

We begin with a beautiful blue box with pretty open spirals (my favorite design of all time), pretty white trees and eight-pointed stars.

Beneath the red tissue paper, we find a gorgeous brocade covered chinese food box. That will join my collection of 2 others that I use as evening bags all the time!

Inside the box a lovely beaded necklace in its own gossimer bag. Handbeaded by Sue, no less. It really is elegant and beautiful. (curse not having a digital camera)

There is also an amazingly pretty, very ornate ornament that has amber beads hanging on chains beneath a gorgeous burnt orange colored glass bauble shaped like a flower. Wow.

And a handbeaded snowflake ornament. Purty!

THEN, there are three different, handmade soaps from a company called Anointment. How gorgeous is that name! They smell amazing. The "Omshanti (cinnamon and patchouli) is knocking me out. Then there is a lovely, delicate lavendar and a truly yummy peppermint soap. They are that terrific consistency that lets you know right off that they are handmade. Just wonderful.

Plus, a chocolate mint lip balm, also from Anointment, that smells too delish not to eat.

And, and, AND, if all that weren't enough, there are three different Canadian chocolate candies that will be stuffed into my mouth as soon as my fingers are off the keys. Starting with the Coffee Crisp.

Thanks so much Sue...what a delightful surprise!

You're very welcome, Beej. I'm so glad you liked it!

cereal

I showed my gifty off to a coworker, explaining about the community of invisible friends I've belonged to for two years and yes, many of us have met, but a lot haven't and we are initially organized around interest in a tv show but a lot else goes on and we talk about our lives and the world...and...and...and...she was just boggled.

I love that.

And I'm grateful for this place and the things I see happen here. People supporting each other in ways corporeal friends don't always...learning...being hipped to things one might never find otherwise...laughing...fuming...wondering.

It's a beautiful thing...this Buffistaland.

eta. Sue! I really did. You obviously put a lot into it. And Coffee Crisp? Is the stuff. Mmmm.

It's a beautiful thing...this Buffistaland.

Wrod. People will say, "Where did you get X?" and I'll say, "One of the Buffistas gave it to me." "Wait--aren't those the people you've never met?" "Strictly speaking, no, I've never met them." "Wow."

Sue! I really did. You obviously put a lot into it. And Coffee Crisp? Is the stuff. Mmmm.

Oh, yeah! It is, it is.

Signed, has been known to drive to Canada just to buy it. (Though, thank goodness, can actually find it in a few stores here now.)