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.

Oh, Kate, that`s a lovely post. I`m so sorry about your husband`s brother. I wish you loveliness and healing this new year.

Well, I'm glad to see the end of 2010. My job's sucked worse than usual - three months on probation, no raise; I've finally cut off from my family which makes me sad, although it's less painful than trying to connect with people who think I'm evil ... and crazy; I've had ... 'flu? sinus infection? since December 6 and am only now starting to feel better; and, to top it off, on Dec. 16, I fell and managed to sprain my back and bruise my ribs ... which still hurts.

2011 had better be an improvement ... although it almost has to be, doesn't it?

Dear Secret Santa,

Eeeee! The box arrived today, and is wonderful! Alice In Wonderland notecards and earrings, an Edward Gorey calendar (particularly useful, since the House o' Reason hasn't managed to get a new calendar yet, but I've got a squillion events to write on it), a jewelry box, tombstone erasers, skull key toppers, a new tiny minion for Clovis (both Clovis and the new minion are looking particularly smug), and a white ceramic picture frame fetchingly decorated with blood splatter! Thank you very much!

Around my house, the Elves Union has finally finished their contracted break-time, and are going to the post office tomorrow.

Oh, Todd, I certainly hope 2011 is better for you. You deserve a very good year!

Eeeee! The box arrived today

That was quick! I'm so glad you like it!

In No Good Deed Goes Unpunished news, I stopped by my parents' place after work tonight and finally got their TV to recognize the DVD player they were given for Christmas so they can watch movies. And then came home to find a bill from the oral surgeon for the $1400+ of the wisdom tooth extraction costs that my insurance was supposed to be paying.

Argh. I knew I was going to be late with my present (which is why I signed up for the slacker exchange), but I just found out today that the main part of it is going to be delayed getting to me, so now I'm going to be REALLY late.

I suck.

Have you lost part of your present in the house? Then you don't suck.

Me, on the other hand...

Not yet.

There's still time though.