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.

Bad things.

• My grandfather died.
• Lactose intolerance so the cost for milk has doubled for the same amount. Fucking hell.
• I think I have slight bi-polarity issues. Hopefully not though.
• Moved and "finished" university.

Good things.

• Lots of new friends, which felt kind of weird.
• Closer to old friends. Very important.
• Moved and "finished" university.
• The band is sort of alive again. Soonish anyway.

And no, Studio 60 can't be on the list! That episode actually made me look forward to Christmas again.

The weather is on the list though. It's winter and where's my snow? I demand snow, I need weather changes in my seasons -- except perhaps for the summers, less heat would be nice.

2006 has been better than ok really so far.

Some years it is the unexpected things which make or break the annum. Not this year. In January of 2006 I had three huge questions that would tip this way or that and would determine the year. Would my book pitch be accepted? Would my job go away? Would we have a baby? These are the three things that defined my year and as the final score was Book Yes, Baby Yes, Job No, I am fairly content to accept that ratio of good to bad.

It would be nice to have money again, though. Also it would be very nice to transition to a place where writing was enough of an income source that I could get away with working part time. I will be bending my will to that end in 2007.