This wasn’t my favorite year by a long shot, but it wasn’t all bad. A Ten List, so to speak, including both the good and the not so.

Top 5 Things About 2005

1. The kids’ continued good health and general happiness.
2. Books with my name on them on the shelves, and a contract for three more.
3. New friends and deepened friendships with others, both online and off.
4. The knowledge that my marriage is strong enough to survive a lot of really shitty stuff, and that Stephen is a truly good man.
5. Trips to see friends, both old and new.

Bottom 5 Things About 2005

1. A spectacular financial crash and burn that led to picking up and moving the kids to my father-in-law’s house for a year.
2. Leaving behind good friends and support systems, both ours and the kids’.
3. The way-too-early death of a dear friend’s husband.
4. Navigating the confusing waters of teenagedom with Jake.
5. Watching Stephen’s discouragement as he tries to find a new job.

I already have too many goals for 2006, I think, the primary one being to get the hell out of where we are now and find a new home. But I need to take care of myself a bit better, too, before the diabetes starts taking its toll, and try to remind my body what muscle tone feels like. And I’d love to see the new year treating the people I love a lot better than the last one did.

My cousin took me inner-tubing on the Colorado River, taught me how to cut out stained glass and praised my talent. Now I have another interesting crafting opportunity that is sure to cost me $ and will never produce a dime in profit.

Katie B, I'm looking at our little local paper and there's an ad for a part-time apprenticeship in a stained glass restoration studio! It's in Martville, NY, of course, but hey...

Also, I got your email with the outraged letter to your asshat employers, and was so caught up in Christmas prep I never had a chance to reply. I think you should('ve) send(/t) it as is. It was brilliant.

I've been mentally composing (as opposed to composting, which I just typed) a 2005 post in my head for a few days, but I think I'll keep it short.

In the first half of the year, I graduated from grad school, and shrift came to visit me.

In the second half of the year, a city I love was nearly destroyed, and I spent sleepless nights watching live video feed of rising waters. My family was fortunate, and only a few members were deeply affected. I was also lucky enough to spend that first weekend after the flood in the company of dear friends, who didn't care if I went into the bathroom to answer a phone call and came out crying.

If, in 2006, you have the chance to visit New Orleans, or anywhere on the Gulf Coast that was affected, please do. The return of tourism dollars will make a huge difference to a unique city, whose residents are determined not to let their homes disappear.

yay ! Jessica got her presents!I was getting worried for a bit.

vampire girl and glitter from the jasmine bath bomb are going to the party tonight.

I hope there are pictures, Beth!

Happy New Year, you all.

I'm glad you like it, Deb.

::smoooch::

You're welcome.

I would like to say good bye and good riddence to the crap of 2005, but it's all overwhelmed by my first flying out to visit Andi, then driving out to move her back here, and spending the last 6 months with her in our home.

How can you really fault a year that has that?

The crappiness of other life stuff? Overshadowed.

Aww, Daniel, bringing us the schmoop to trigger our allergies again. Sniff.

2005 started as a crappy year, but then I found work.

I'm glad that I moved to San Francisco, and hope to see some of you soon (and maybe post more often).

Welcome Juliana!

yay ! Jessica got her presents!I was getting worried for a bit.

For some reason, I was reading quickly and saw this as "Jessica got pregnant"! I was very surprised.