[It is a highly enjoyable activity to read this thread.]

• So, in 2008 I think I finally officially feel like a Buffista. That was cemented with attending the F2F in Madison, which was definitely a highlight of my year.

• I added two new countries to my "visited" list in May, Argentina and Chile. Argentina was a tad disappointing (esp. the horrible air pollution in Buenos Aires) and Chile was a lovely surprise.

• For the first time since 2000, I did not get laid off from a job. Well, I suppose the years I was temping/living off scraps/selling everything on ebay (2001-2003) I didn't get laid off, but...Anyway, passing the May 23 mark in 2008 and still employed at the same company was a real feeling of accomplishment.

• My team at work completed 3 major projects nearly simultaneously which was a miracle for such a small group. I am still awed by our efforts and the results.

• Barack Obama's victory gave me a sense of renewed hope. He isn't a miracle worker, and he's going to make some people unhappy all of the time, but he's brilliant and thoughtful and I look forward to the inauguration. More importantly, I look forward to him helping re-shape the U.S.

• I remain grateful for the companionship provided to me by a really good guy. It's sometimes a little daunting, trying to carve out a relationship involving two distinctly independent, stubborn people, but I am not going to take love for granted.

• My cat continues to annoy the crap outta me, and my dog continues to be completely adorable (even if she won't let partygoers touch her!) and perfect for me.

• My cousin Buffy married her lovely fiancee Karen in a gorgeously sweet and intimate ceremony overlooking the Cliff House here in San Francisco, and I was exceptionally pleased that two people who are perfect for each other were allowed to legally unite in marriage. They traveled to California from Lincoln, NE because, at the time, California was more progressive than Nebraska. At the time.

• I don't quite know how to put this, but 2008 was the year that I learned to accept myself and learned to trust others to make of me what they will; it's okay if people friend me on Facebook, take a look at my status announcements, and decide they don't want to be my "friend" after all. That's just an example, but I sincerely appreciate Facebook's sort of forcing me to not compartmentalize my life so much. It's really something to have my Christian camp (where I spent 2.5 months every year from age 10 to 21) friends, my punk friends, Buffistae, high school and uni friends, family, etc ALL on Facebook. A year ago, the idea of it would have terrified me, but I have found that it's actually very freeing to be the same person to everyone. It's a subtle distinction (and sometimes not so subtle!), how we face the world depending on our audience. And not everyone needs to learn this particular lesson, but for me, it's been really affirming. The main thing I realize is that people do really grow up a lot of the time. I find it much easier to not just co-exist but to actually love people, regardless of how far to the right or left they are. Or even if they don't appreciate Arrested Development.

• I hope in 2009 that I will have the chance to deepen existing friendships, both Buffista and non. And I'd love the chance to meet even more of y'all.

Buffistae

I love that. It seems like I must have seen it before, but I don't remember doing so. I think I must promptly steal it.

You make an interesting point about Facebook, javachick. I see what you mean. I think I both like and don't like that about Facebook, but I agree that it's freeing to understand that because someone doesn't want to be my "friend" doesn't necessarily mean they don't want to be my friend. I think my own biggest problem there, though, is that people use names that I don't recognize. I know I should know people, from the people that they know, but I often can't quite connect the right name to the right person. So, if I ever respond in a different way than you expect, anyone, please remind me who you are!

Gotta stop this sleepy posting. I hope it's better than no posting at all. I hope.

It was an early attempt, while we were at WX, to pluralize Buffista, but because of the Spanish derivation of "ista", it was decided that the "ae" plural would be the second and less-correct usage in dictionary term-age. As it were. Deep into the BtVS experience as we were at the time.

I am not a social networker. I have the threads here where I keep up with people I care about, and I still have a few threads on TableTalk where I discuss specific subjects with a small circle of posters. And I have LJ, where I am as open and honest as I ever am online, and I have many circles of friends there whose interests I share, and some of those overlap.

I pretty conclusively cut ties with everyone I ever knew in high school. I've never attended a reunion--why would I want to? The half-dozen people with whom I was close, who cared about each other, I stay in touch with. I have no interest whatever in "reconnecting" with anyone else. There was a high fatality rate among my college peers, and the survivors I keep track of in the trades, or the school newsletter. If I were advancing my career, looking for a partner, or of a gregarious nature, facebook would be an enthusiasm. As it is, I regard it as a tool to keep track of people in case catastrophe and diaspora befall my other boards. I understand I'm the anomaly here, but not everybody needs to know that Caryn-Ann just left the nail salon and is having a smoothie at 1218 Oak. Do they?

It was an early attempt, while we were at WX, to pluralize Buffista, but because of the Spanish derivation of "ista", it was decided that the "ae" plural would be the second and less-correct usage in dictionary term-age. As it were.

Really? I totally don't remember that. (Which doesn't mean it didn't happen; if that were true, I'd start dis-remembering things out of existence. Like the Bush administration.) Although I remember Rebecca Lizard saying she liked "Buffistae," but her brain wouldn't let her use the incorrect Latin ending.

Was there an actual discussion about it? With sides taken, and arguments bandied about? And a pronouncement that This Is Not Right?

Wait. I'm talking about the Buffistas/ae. Of *course* there was.

Maybe a new, more etymologically offensive plural? Buffistaopolis? Buffistasplosion? Buffistaplural?

Just so long as it's not Buffista's.

I wasn't thinking of the "ista". I was thinking of Dr. Richard Fagerlund, I guess. I just like to add "ae" to stuff sometimes.

I just like to add "ae" to stuff sometimes.

yeah, me too. I'm not sure if I saw it in print first but I have been writing "buffistae". It doesn't bug me, much as I'm not overly annoyed by the greek/latin hybrid "polyamory". To me it flows better than polyphilia (which sounds like a perversion) or multiamory (which sounds like the goal is proliferation).

Aren't there other hybrid words in common usage? Why isn't it OK for us to combine root languages to make new words? If this discussion doesn't belong in Goodbye & Good Riddance I'd love to continue it elsewhere.

Aren't there other hybrid words in common usage?

"Television" is a greek/latin hybrid.

As is "automobile." And both "heterosexual" and "homosexual."

yay! I'm so glad. I love mixing un-mixy things.