Kate, I think I've neglected to actually type my congratulations, though I've been beaming and thinking it. So, best wishes and congratulations to both of you! Proposal Toast is a wonderful thing--carrot cake is wedding cake at our house ("Come on, honey bunny. I'll make you a Carrot cake.").

Drew and Kristin, it's been wonderful reading about your wedding preparations. I haven't chimed in, but I've been reading and nodding and smiling and wishing you both so much happiness. I'd love to see the fabulous invitation--is it up on the wedding website, and can somebody link me?

Awww, I'm so happy for you Bev.

Thank you, David. Other plus? We're this much closer to actually visiting west coast Buffistas!

The month of December sucked donkey balls for me, so it's been hard to maintain a positive headspace when thinking about 2009. However, I think I can do it!

2009 has been the realm of continuing disappointment in the job market. I get interveiws, but no offers. I've broadened my search pattern, considerably, both geographically and market section. Fortunately, my extended unemployment benefits still have two whole months left to go. Yay?

I've made progress at making my condo a comfortable place for me to live. No major renovations, but getting it back from the trash dump it had become to a place I'm proud to bring people has been a major and ongoing effort that makes me feel good about myself.

I started writing fic in the Star Trek community and having a creative outlet has really kept me in a positive headspace, let me tell you. Nothing like those author strokes to make a person want to bust their buttons. Gaining mastery in an arena I've long been interested in and afraid of broaching for fear of failure has really done wonders for my ego. I can say that 2009 is going out on a personal high note, if not professional.

I plan on going out, tonight, and sending 2009 off in style. May 2010 prove to be as good a, if not a better, year than 2009, for everyone!

Congratulations, Kate! What wonderful news!!

2009 - for jobwise, see S3 Mad Men. Thankfully I was able to finagle a position within my current company so I'll still have my benefits and health insurance when Scrapadoodle Oingy-Boingy Bracchiosaurus Ding Dong is born. I hope to not have to dodge any more bullets in 2010.

Unfortunately, DH was not so lucky. The magazine he'd been with for the past 2 years finally folded so he's job hunting again at the worst possible time to be job hunting in the publishing industry. Fingers are crossed tight.

And in the midst of all of this, we found out in September that we are expecting our second child in May 2010. We switched Dylan to a new daycare this year where he is thriving, and just this past month moved him out of the crib and into his very own twin bed. Thank god we're having another one soon - I'm not sure I could handle all this growing up otherwise!

For the most part 2009 has been pretty good. G and I are both healthy and fully employed in good jobs. (Also, still cute together) Our families are doing well.

On the other hand, too many of my friends are having health and/or job troubles, and people continue to die far too early.

Congratulations on the upcoming kiddo, Jessica!

I came home early from work today to find a wonderful surprise from DebetEsse. Within a box was another box that has traveled from Victor to JZ to Debet to me. It's covered in lovely wine-colored velvet, and only my respect for board etiquette will pry it from my hands at the next gift exchange. But I get to keep most of the goodies within it, such as a gorgeous pair of hand-knitted hand warmers in a deep, peacock blue. They're incredibly soft and have a lovely crisscross pattern on the back of the hand. The box also contained a pair of moonstone stud earrings which will match my moonstone and labradorite stacking rings perfectly. In fact, I've been toying with getting a pair just like these from Etsy, but I held off due to buying other people things this month. I'll be wearing them at my NYE party tonight. And Debet's cat Maggie sent my Leifur a bouncy mouse toy, which has been snatched up and dragged to Leifur's lair behind the recliner. Thank you, Secret Santa!

Edit? What edit?

Congratulations on the upcoming kiddo, Jesse!

Ahahaha. I can't wait until Jesse pokes her head in and catches THAT typo!

I was a little o.O, I'm not gonna lie.

Excellent, Calli! I was worried that you'd already gotten matching earrings, but not posted about it (not that I did any reconnaissance on lj. No, of course not).

So, there's something of a story with the wrist-warmers. Being a knitter and huge geek, I knit myself a set of "Rose's Wrist-warmers" that someone put together a pattern for (Not that I checked to make sure that that would be consistent with your fannish tendencies. Of course not). As I was finishing them up, one of the other witches (this was during MacBeth) commented on them and I ended up running her off a copy of the pattern. Not even a year later, at the Christmas show, at least 4 people at the theatre (including all three witches) have a pair of them, and I know one other was working on them, so it's probably 5. So, welcome to the sisterhood

I wanted to make you something (because that's how knitters show affection), and those seemed like they'd be useful, but not too warm for North Carolina. They're wool/alpaca (from Peru!), and should be hand-washed in cold water.

Maggie's glad that Leifur likes hunting dangley things as much as she does.