I can't think of too many particular highs this year.

I'm happy I just moved into my new apartment & I'm happy I'm starting a new job in 2 1/2 weeks.

Aside from that, it seems every plus had some type of minus. Certainly the two worst things were my break up w/ Steve after he cheated on me and then losing my car in an auto accident 3 weeks later. It kinda bummed me out for the rest of the year.

Ta hell with 2005.

This past year, my 38th on this planet, brought so many mixed emotions. The death of friends, the strengthening of a relationship, the jubilance of a Disneyland birthday and subsequent melancholy that it had passed after so much anticipation.

What did I learn...

1) That I needed to learn to better deal with stress. I survived all of the problems I was faced with, and yet, the worrying is what almost killed me. Some spiritual curiosity gave me a few tools for a new perspective and it has helped a lot.

2) That I love Matthew more each day.

3) That I could regain my musical confidence. This time last year I was frantically searching for the fulfillment that music used to bring to my life. I felt empty, confused, and saddened that I didn't seem to have the same talent that I had earlier in my life. This year taught me that it was only hiding after having been neglected for a few years. I rekindled my love for playing and got many opportunities to get back out playing for people.

4) That I need to remember that people can be taken away at a moments notice and that I need to be more dilligent in letting other know that I care for them.

5) That the more I focus on compassion for others in my life, the more worthwhile I feel.

I hope these lessons will help to provide a better year ahead. I'm going to try harder and worry less and try to remember a little more that ultimately life is good.

This year was a roller-coaster for me, too!
Started it off later then most everyone else - in Bora Bora (where I celebrated my 4-0 birthday as well as the new year) and got my first King Cake of the season!
Mardi Gras visit from one of my sisters and her family - the boys LOVED the parades and the alligator farm we went to.
Work was busy, but not crazy busy, for the most part
Trip to Oregon/SW Washington for 4th of July and FINALLY went to the Mt. St. Helen's visitor center.
This 'little storm' came ashore and turned my world upside down - including a 3 week evacuation (but I was very fortunate in HOW it turned things upside down!)
Trip to DL and first encounter with 'internet friends' went VERY well, so much so, that I didn't even think of being nervous when the WDW meets came around!
Trip to WDW with 2 sisters and bro-in-law -- we had a blast and didn't get on each others nerves (too much!)
Back 'home' to Mom & Dad's for Christmas in Oregon - and getting to spend it with some of my family.

Actually, looking at that list, most of it was up, but that drop was a doozy!

I've gotten a lot more involved with MousePlanet over this past year, which I have enjoyed immensely. Thanks, Alex.

Unfortunately, my move to NY was rather ill-timed. I live on the other side of the country from most everyone and have yet to make many local friends. Perhaps the coming year will change that.

To me, 2005 was the Year of U2. I saw 7 shows in 4 cities and 3 countries. Great memories that I will keep with me always, and I still have one more show to go in 2006.

I learned that sometimes when you do what's right, you'll get pooped on for it, but it's still better to do what's right. And that a handful of true, loyal friends is better than a whole arena full of fair-weather friends, by light years.

I opened a whole new world, on the other side of the world, and found sides of myself over there that I never knew I had and really, really like. I found out that I do still have a heart and (except for a scare that turned out to be a pulled chest muscle) that it works pretty damned well. I found a family, made an exhiliratingly scary dream come true with my trip to Korea, then made another come true with Tiki Tours, then another with BYJ's Ohana. The sky is the limit!

I fell in love about eleventy times, and got in better shape. More than halfway there!

I learned the "GIVE" in Forgiveness goes both to you and to those whom you forgive.

I forgot to include LoT in my 2005 list! This place has been so awesome this year. I've gone from a board that was just a bit too big for me, to another that wasn't quite right, to this wonderful wonderful place. I've loved getting to know some of you better this year. This is my internet home, and like no other. Thanks Swankers, for an awesome internet year.

During 2005 I made a sideways change at work that was for the better but I'm still trying to sort it all out. I was given the opportunity to jettison my supervisory position but keep the same salary and since I was really souring on having to deal with personnel issues I decided to go for it. My goal is to have a more balanced life, work has been eating up too big a chunk of it lately. For the first two months, because I was learning a new job and training my replacement I felt like I was doing at least three jobs all at once and it wasn't fun. Now things are smoothing out and I'm really happy to be heading into January without the dark cloud of the annual review ritual handing over my head. The buck no longer stops here.

At this time last year I was still using a cane most of the time to get around. Then in January I got rid of that and headed back to dance classes. I tried the easiest class I could find but still could only just manage the hour of the class. I'd broken my right leg and all the follow's steps start with the right leg, all the spins are on the right leg. Ouch. But I kept at it until I was back to my Saturday night dances and attending classes regularly again. I tried a few hustle classes (disco still sucks but it's fun to dance to) and I think I'm finally mastering the basics of Balboa. That's what passion, hard work, and a lot of Advil can do.

:cheers:

That's hilarious! Had I been drinking, I would surely have spewed water from my nostrils.