Hence, all graduate students should get a hefty chunk of change to finish their dissertations.

I heartily support this idea.

My 2007 has been not great. Medical issues kind of clouding everything else these past few months. Hoping that 2008 will bring a doctor who can actually figure out what's wrong and what to do about it.

I've been waiting to post (not very long evidentally since the thread just opened).

This year has been up and down. I wasn't made permanent at my job, but that's okay I don't want to stay there.

I started back to school all full of vim and vigor, only to have my enthusiasm ground down by a bad teacher but I'm getting a B in the class so yeah! I'm all registered for next semester, I'm taking one class again and probably will for at least another semester with 1 class before moving on. I have a bunch of classes I have to retake to get the F's replaced, but I started this semester with 25% of my AA done (which is more than I thought) and even if I don't have a solid goal for a Bachelor's I know I want a MLA so that's good. (I'm inching my GPA up so it will be high enough for financial aid, which I don't qualify now).

As for 2008 -- More school, I plan on a new job and hopefully I'll be able to get to the F2F, but who knows. I hope by this time next year to be looking at 2009 with a full time job and planning a real vacation with actual leave time I've earned from a job.

In retrospect I really dunno what to make of 2007.

I lost my beloved dog Cassie. But up to her death we had a lot of good days lying out in the yard on sunny afternoons. I was able to be there when she passed and had her cremated with her 2 favorite stuffed toys. I've still not been able to bury the ashes. I miss her.

My birthday was a high mark this year. Despite not being involved with her anymore I spent it at a lake house with a girl I know. I drank lots of beer, floated in a lake, ate cake was doted on and happy.

I got a better paying job. I also found out that at my old job, the store manager that hated me quit rather than accept a demotion. Sadly to say he got what he deserved. Even sadder to say, it made me the least bit happy. Still dunno what to make of that.

Next year will be a good one. I get to visit Philly for a wedding. One brother is moving closer to home. My other brother's wife is having a baby. My best friend's wife (my other best friend) is also having a baby. I'm going to be an uncle twice in the same month that my near-sister is gets married and I hit the big 30.

I've made progress but it never seems like enough. There is still so much more for me to learn so I can head where I want to go. Part of it involves actually learning where I want to go.

Oh and I did made invisible internet friends and try to be nearly as amusing as I find a majority of them to be. Thanks people!

t this is my face of shame. let me show you it.

Oh, waily, waily, I'm going to be remiss. My sekrit santee lives far, far away and I'm so incredibly caught up in my website finishing that I know I won't be able to do the job right until the end of the month. So, apologizing in advance to the person whose profile information could actually have been written by me...so that'll be fun...but it will have to be a new year gift after all.

t the shame tag will not close.

Along with Laura and Stephanie, I'm forgoing Seekrit Santas this year. I'm a little sad about it, but it was necessary. I'll just have to enjoy Seekrit Santa By Proxy this year! I'm not quite ready to wrap-up, so I'll add that later.

I'm actually doing the slacker santa thing for the first time in a few years. I'm hopeful that I'll even be able to get the gifting done before January, but since I am a slacker santa I may not.

I usually do slacker, but I thought that there wasn't going to be a slacker santa this year. Now I have to be all ON TIME. We know I have an issue with that! Luckily, my santee knows me, too, so I suspect if I don't get my shit together, he/she will understand. :)

I had so much fun playing pinch hitter slacker santa last year I'm playing slacker secret santa this year. I know I'm not mailing my gift before January and I'm not going to feel guilty about it!

I love the slacker santa exchange, 'cause all the giftees are slackers just like the gifters, so there's no need for guilt!

I never play, 'cause I totally can't afford it, and that's fine. I love hearing about the exchanges anyway.

speaking of cost, what's the usual price range?