2010 downer: no permanent job. Sent out many, many resumes w/ no answer. Had 3 job interviews that I felt positive & hopeful about, heard back nothing.

Passed my 99 weeks on Unemployment, so no further help from there.

Car broke. Basement flooded, taking out furnace & hot water heater. Lost two pairs of glasses. Had root canal.

Pluses for 2010 later.

I hope 2011 is better for you, Theo.

The elves delivered a gift from my secret Santa today! So many goodies! A delicious-sounding pear caramel tea, chocolate, Rock Star soap, a Saki book ( The Chronicles of Clovis ), bath salts (Blood Bath and Midnight Black), and jewelry, including a pair of gorgeous earrings that I have on already!

I wonder who it could be from ...

I know! I know!

The representative from the Elves Union refuses to comment.

Sorry, guys, but I have to get this out somewhere and here seems appropriate. I just got wished a better year in 2011 (than 2010) and while I appreciate the sentiment, it won't be better. It's a matter of semantics, but there it is.

That said, my 2010 was bad. Not by any means uniformly bad, but the bad was pretty overwhelming. Many, many times, what got me through was this place. When I couldn't face being around people and being alone in my head was also not a good idea, I could always come and lurk in these threads and be comforted that these conversations kept going on and, eventually, I'd be able to take part. Thanks for that, buffistas, it's a precious gift.

{{{-t}}}

I know exactly what you mean, -t. This place got me through chemo, surgery and radiation, because it seemed so hopeful to me that people were out there being brilliant and having lives. I still have to believe that it will get better for you eventually, and we'll be here.

It is reassuring to see the balance of things. Some people have good times, some people have bad times. I hope it balances out for everyone in the end.

::nods along with Ginger and -t::

Yeah, much love to you -t. And I hope you know that having you here with us is also a gift.