Last night we received a package. It said, basically, "I heard Santa might have a hard time finding your house this year, so I'm making sure that he does. Love, your Elf."

I'm not sure who it was. I can't recognize the handwriting and the box was addressed to me with all five of my names, which very few people know, and I'm not sure any Buffistas know it, but I wanted to cover my bases.

So thank you, secret Elf. We feel well and truly blessed that you think enough of my family to send us tokens of your affection for us.

MWAH!

I am now the proud buyer (soon to be possesser, depending on mailing speeds) of Buffy DVDs S2-S4. Via eBay, financed by lovely Buffistas. S5 is waiting for the auction to end. I'd already have them, but neither Half.com nor Amazon takes Paypal. Stupidos! You lost sales because of that!

Still . . . mine, my precious, mine . . . soon to be reveling in Xander in a Speedo . . .

You guys are the bestest.

2006 is on my list. It was not a good year for me. There were pleasant moments, and some good things happened to people I care about here, and in my other lives. Personally the year was just an endless grueling stream of chores and work. School work and my boys are not mixxy things and it would be nice if less of my parenting life was spent in battle. Business is stressful and the rewards do not come close to justifying the hours. Blah.

I have much to be grateful for in my life. The health of my loved ones is good. There were losses, but such is life. I live in paradise and have great friends and family.

2007, please bring less struggle and more joy for all of us. Thank you in advance.

Dear Seekrit Santee, I did order the stuff in time, but I have been informed that the shipper can not track the order from the 4th and are shipping again since they assume now it is lost in transit. Rather than send part I think I should wait and send it whole. This makes me sad because I would love to think of you opening your goodies now now now. But it still should find its way to you before the end of year.

Dear Secret Santee,

Your package was mailed Monday, via USPS Priority, which in theory means that you could be getting it today, but surely by tomorrow or Friday.

I would track it and tell you how close it is, but the USPS's "tracking" service is CRAP. (And therefore it is On The List.)

Lovens,
Elf Teppy

I'm not sure how 2006 stacked up. We had a lot of deaths Mr. Jane's grandmother, my uncle, a friend's brother. Marital problems, family issues. Had to cut some people out of my life after they caused some pretty severe pain.

I would chalk it upt to being pretty crappy, however, I've reconnected with some family, Mr. Jane and I seem better than ever, and I've had to go out and make an effort to make some acquaintances into brand new real friends. I lost 6 pounds while I was depressed, but that's turned into losing nearly 25 through eating right and working out.

I'd say 2006 was stripping away the bad stuff, so that 2007 can be a great year.

Christmas is always bittersweet for us. Alex died on 12/13, his birthday is 12/22 and then we have our Christmas on 12/24. He's still very much missed and would be 19 on Friday.

JZ, I'm glad you enjoyed the gifties. When I saw that Winson McCay DVD I knew it belonged with you.

Speaking of gifties, I GOT A PACKAGE IN THE MAIL TODAY!! Oh, such a wonderful package it made me cry to see such lovely things from a lovely woman. I've got toasty purple pretties to keep me warm outside on cold, cold days (inside, too, I'm wearing it right now AIFG!), including the most cunning little set of mittens that hide glove like fingers with the ends cut off. They button! A calendar of old timey travel posters that makes me wish I could frame every month's picture. Cookies! Nummy, melt in my mouth chocolate ones in particular. Music (I'm listening to the Christmas mix right now and feeling all mellow and cheery.) Some classy note cards with my initial on them. A handmade picture frame that is absolutely gorgeous. Best of all a pair of sterling silver amethyst earrings that exactly match a necklace I bought in Chicago on my last trip down. Since I'm wearing it right now, it seemed divine providence to get them in the mail today.

Thank you so much, AmyLiz. You are the rockingest Sekrit Santa.

Yay! It arrived! I'm so glad you like your goodies, Sail.

Like? I adore them!

::Mwah!::

For 2006 I refuse to even bother thinking of the bad, it isn't worth the thoughts.

The good has been wonderful with good time and good friends. The best of which is my sweetie who is with me now on vacation in the land of the mouse. I love you Kristin. More years with you and they will all be good.

2006 was actually a pretty good year for me. I got some traveling in (England, China, Italy), saw my brother get married, got inspired to lose some weight (and have done so), am getting back into shape, and started hunting down a new job. My family seems pretty healthy and no one is in financial straits. I got to visit with quite a number of Buffistas and other fannish friends over the year, found a very shiny new fandom, and did some fun writing.

On the down side: my dog died. Which was sad but not unexpected, and though I will miss him (lots and lots), it was time. I also stopped climbing regularly, for a number of reasons, some of them out of my control.

For 2007, I'd like the new job to work out, and to get myself working on some original fiction again. And get back into climbing. I don't think that's too much to ask...