Good year or bad year? I tend to think they're all good, but it's more my attitude than anything.

2007 was the year of the dog. First little Abe then lovely Thurston. It was also the year of Calliope - the best darned little girl I've ever met.

It was also the year I lost the love of my life, Dexter. I still miss him. He is irreplaceable.

Job wise, things are pretty wonderful (most of the time). I'm doing much more marketing and the company is growing by leaps and bounds. I still haven't had enough gumption to really look for "real" job, but maybe one day it will happen.

I've really been focusing on being more creative - making time for it has been a challenge, but I've been moderately successful. I'm almost done with my bathroom remodel, I've made quite a bit of jewelry and I've moved "creativity" up quite a few notched on my "things to do" list. It's not just a nice-to-do activity but a must-do one.

Health-wise things have been ok. Nothing major seems to be happening to my body, so that's good. I'm just getting old! I have lost about 20 pounds this year, so that is a good thing. Now, let's just lost 20 more!

I feel my friendships are more solid than ever and I'm less willing to put up with unhealthy or negative people. That has made a big difference in the time I have to spend doing other, more wonderful things.

I think I feel more centered, more comfortable with who I am and healthier than I have in a while. Now, if I would just completely quit smoking.

I have seen too much cancer among close friends this year. My fencing coach from college passed away on Monday from brain cancer. My former English teacher and now close friend has had a recurrence of her breast cancer. A good friend is dealing with a rare form of cancer.

2007 hasn't really been bad for us, but it has been supremely stressful and I'm not sad at all to see it go. With me focusing on my studies and not working money has been terribly (like payday loan store) tight. It's rare for us to go out to clubs, bars or even movies anymore as gas, groceries and keeping the power on take priority. Still, we're not homeless, we have food in the refrigerator, and I've now reached the official half-way point in school, so as stressful as it is it has all been for the best.

I've been playing quite a lot this year and thanks to the band we were able to enjoy a week in Hawai'i. I have two things that make me happiest: my wife and my sax. Having those two things along with sunny Hawai'i, Dole Whip, kalua pork and fruity luau drinks all in the same week made for one heck of a time.

I went back to Hemophilia camp (counselor) for the first time in eight years. I grew up there, but after seeing so many of my friends die due to AIDS/HIV it had reached a point where I needed a break, and as there were some political type things adding to the stress at the time I had to leave the Hemo community for a while. It was very bittersweet to go back. Bitter as, with the exception of one guy other than myself, everyone who was my age and in my cabin group growing up is gone, as are all of my favorite counselors and staff. It was very emotionally challenging to walk around seeing their ghosts everywhere, but I took solace in knowing that they'll never be forgotten. It was sweet, uplifting, and very bewildering, to see that the kids who had been my campers when I was on staff have now all grown up fit, healthy and most importantly AIDS-free. I was very caught off guard to see that guys who had been three feet tall and dimpled the last time I saw them are now towering over me and have six pack abs and are playing college sports. Cheers to modern medicine! :)

One thing that 2007 has brought that kind of freaks me out. With the exception of one couple, all of our friends have popped out little ones this year. There have been so many babies born this year that I've lost count. Sometimes it feels like we're the Last of the Mohicans or something. We both want to start having kids (not until school is finished, though) but it's scary to think that we'll be the last. And, I know this is terrible, but so far all the kids have been pretty adorable, so I'm worried that we're going to be the couple who gives birth to a cross-eyed little Sasquatch with buck teeth and a club foot. Ugh. Please let my kid be normal!


Yeah, it hasn't been bad, but I'm so ready for 2008. And I haven't even gotten into how this year treated my beloved Ducks! Blech!!

Is it too early to start singing Auld Lang Syne? :D

This was the year I got to know Mamma Silva and Dexter a lot better.

This was the year I turned 50 and milked it for all it was worth. I had dinner with stan4d_steph in Saratoga Springs. I ate lobster at the Bay of Fundy and oysters on Prince Edward Island. I met a distant cousin of Not Afraid's (and my first cousin) for lunch at Plymouth, Mass. I bought my younger daughter her first pair of Fluevogs in Toronto.

Tom gave me a very serious ring.

I watched my older daughter apply to college. I lost my beagle Suzy but found my two new baby beagles. I let my dream of moving to Madison, WI die. I published a book with Tom and began work on two other books with him.

2007 has been swell.

I won't list the bads of 2007. Luckily I am beginning to really see the good that can come in 2008.

Yes 2008 seems like it will be an improvement. I'm looking forward to it :)

I started digging...

What did you think you'd do this year? We can start a true resolution thread later, but for now, it makes for good comparison.

Now for more digging to see how my year went.

Heh - I did celebrate Columbus Day this year.

So, I'm in exactly the same place as last year. Crap.

I thought you were graduating?