This thread looks lonely, so I'ma nattter a bit with a cute story I just heard on the news.

Apparently this woman who is from somewhere north but living in some small town in Georgia was really missing snow over the holidays. So her husband built a snow machine and blanketed the entire house and the yard with snow overnight. Sweet.

See, if he could that, why couldn't Studio 60 do it? Studio 60, you're on the list!

Wow, and they were in Georgia -- not even a place that has a big movie and tv industry with like, special effects.

Until a couple of years ago, there was apparently a ski resort in Georgia, [link] Maybe he obtained the equipment from them.

I've got approximately 40% of my Xmas shopping done. Yay?

Anyway, shiny new thread.

Man, I've been waiting for this thread forever!

Though, now that it's here, I have to acknowledge that most of 2006 wasn't bad: tolerable, even. November made up for it in a big way.

2006 has been a roller coaster. Oddly, I'm not sure I even remember much that happened between mid-January and early summer.

I was not looking forward to this year for many reasons, but it has turned out to be wonderful.

• We finally started to make enough money between us to start paying off our debts in a major way.
• I lost 28 pounds and got in shape.
• Rediscovered rollerskating and am totally diogging it.
• Got married to the best guy in the world by eloping, which rocked.
• Turned 50 and did not freak out.
• Stopped eating so much crap food and felt much the better for it.
• Went on two awesome vacations.
• Everyone I love made it through the year, in spite of cancer, depression, drug addiction, and other demons besetting many of them.

For the next year: I hope to revive my writing, which has been on a back burner for almost two years and keep exercising.

The bad:

• GF's dad was diagnosed with leukemia
• GF was laid off

The good:

• Good health insurance is had by all
• Savings account is healthy, so not too stressed in re: lay off
• New nephew
• Enjoying grad school

Um, I have a lot of things to say about 2006 -- none of them very complimentary, by the way -- but I want to say first, an anonymous Buffista (at least I *think* it's a Buffista, and you'll see why) sent me a gift package of Lush Snow Fairy today! No signature, though, and no way to discern an address since it was shipped by Lush to me.

I have never tried Lush things! I am a Lush virgin! So you can imagine my excitement! (DH just asked what "Lush" was, and I told him it was a cult and not to worry his handsome head about it.)

Thank you so much, anonymous Secret Santa!

::beaming and considering skipping dinner to take a bath instead::

Posting while excited leads to typos. Sigh.