I am happy with this year. I have a new job which I like, am making real money, and am not crushingly depressed more than once a month.

I got a new kitty, who fights with my other cat and cuddles with her and me, and makes me laugh muchly.

My family is healthy and ok.

I have gotten laid more this year than any other year of my life.

I bought two new pairs of shoes this fall. For the first time in three years.

And next year, thank GOD, there are no wedding scheduled. Unlike the 4 I had this year.

Ok, so you guys likely know I didn't do Secret Santa this year...well, times are tight, and I seem to lack that fab instinct that y'all seem to have for putting the right stuff in the box, instead of the instinct that says "huh. huh. She said "box." So this year I decided to acknowledge ALL my online bunkies with a contribution here; [link] They are dedicated to keeping my fake hometown pretty, and you guys have been very warm and understanding about that particular obsession so it seemed appropriate. Click on the link about Ella Thompson if you want to know what inspired my interest in this *particular* project. Happy holidays!

Hey, I worked for an affiliated program of theirs, Erika--URI works both in Baltimore and in New Haven, so I was involved when I was at Yale. I can't speak specifically for the folks in Baltimore, but the New Haven program was great, and I took a really interesting course from the guy who started URI.

So, thanks. Good memories.

Erika! That's a lovely gift.

That's great to hear! You know, I was going to...I don't know, bake or something this season because I had so much generosity to reciprocate this year, but there has been so much that I was afraid I'd leave somebody out or send someone allergic something allergy making...and we are not strong in baking mojo either, even though I know everyone who would've gotten squashed sugar cookies with gloppy icing on them would have been totally gracious about it. It's how we are. But I didn't feel right about it, and there aren't red-and-green "Thanks for Talking Me Off The Ledge" cards(At least till I have my media empire.) So I thought something lasting would be good.

erika, What a wonderful thing for you to do.

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!)