Dana, I'm glad it got there! I lovelovelove Laura Veirs, so when I saw that you had requested new-to-you music, she was the first one I thought of. (Yeah, I found out about her through fandom too; have you seen the Doctor Who vid set to her song "Don't Lose Yourself"? That song is on the album I sent you, and it's gorgeous.) Her new album is really good too, but Saltbreakers is my favorite. I hope you enjoy her!

Just popping in here at the wire to say the only thing that is really important to me about 2010. It's the year I got married to Kristin. It's a good year, and it always will be.

have you seen the Doctor Who vid set to her song "Don't Lose Yourself"?

I have! Have you seen the due South vid "Icebound Stream"?

One would think she was a kitten instead of 12 years old. How perfect is that?!

Awww. Pretty darned perfect, I'd say.

I've been trying to craft a cheerier than not post about 2010 but to quote Rex in Toy Story, "I'm just not feeling it."

I'm fine. Bartleby is fine. So that's all that matters.

Oh, wait. My house did not burn when it easily could have in May. I did not die in September, when I easily could have. People were awesome in taking care of me when I was sick for so long. Niki did not die when she easily could have...three times in one year. Gordon died in March, but on his own terms. Having my best friend leave town in April was really hard. Letting go of her altogether in October felt like a horrible divorce, but I'm a little bit relieved, despite the pain.

Yeah. Not horrible. But definitely not my best.

I am cozy and warm and safe, so I should not complain.

May 2011 be better for all of us...Even if 2010 was a good year for you...may the new year be even better!

2010 was great for me because I finally walked across a stage in a silly graduation robe, and my San Francisco Giants won the World Series. You might be surprised to find out which was actually more important to me.

You might be surprised to find out which was actually more important to me.

Just for the record, I would not be surprised.

But congrats on the other thing!

2010 was incredible. So much love and so little sleep... I love being your Mama, Shanie Pants!

This is not my best year ever, but it has still been a very good year. I started a new job in February after 18 months of unemployment, one I enjoy more often than not with kickass benefits [however much longer they last with a new (Republican) governor and an unsigned union contract.] I've gotten involved with a fandom I love that has lead me to making meatspace friends in own my town. My family is in good health, I finally got the cat to quit peeing on the carpet--I'm pretty close to ecstatic.

Have you seen the due South vid "Icebound Stream"?

Ooh, no! I will have to seek that out once I'm home and on my own computer again.

It's difficult to know how to sum up this year, which included some of the highest highs and lowest lows of my life. In September I married a wonderful man whom I love with all my heart, someone with whom every day is a joy and an adventure. Two months earlier, his brother died in a bizarre subway accident, and so every day since then has also been either sharpened or dulled by grief and pain.

I think I said this at Thanksgiving as well, but one thing that this year brought home to me is that my life, and our life together, is surrounded by and filled with love. We have had many opportunities this year to feel how deeply and strongly our families and friends care for us, in circumstances both awful and wonderful, and to feel our own bond grow deeper and stronger.

For 2011, I wish for all of us that our joys outweigh our sorrows, and that we have enough love in our lives -- from our friends, our family members, ourselves, our pets, our communities, and of course, all of us blinvisible people in the box -- to see us through.