Author: admin

A friend of mine recently wrote that everybody seems to be writing retrospective entries. As I'm warming myself by the fireplace, I figure that's not a half-bad idea. This year has been … spectacular in some way, horrendous in others.

I've met many new people this year, some of which have touched me in very significant ways. I saw a little sparrow for the first time, to finally put a face to the wit. That didn't last long, as she moved across the country, but she's still someone I talk to as often as I can. On the bleh side, things went from neutral, to bad, to worse with Tw. I loved her, but that's now dead and buried. I'll always have very fond memories of her, as she was the first woman I ever said “I love you” to. Unfortunately, that's not the only thing I'll remember her by, but now is not the time for that. Misunderstandings led to miscommunication and anger.

Family-wise, things could have been better. My grandfather died, and that was rough on my family for many reasons. That also highlighted another problem, that I feel hasn't been fully resolved yet. I'll keep working at it, but I have a feeling it'll be a long process.

Romance-wise, well, I'm still single as I write this, but I can say that I've never had as much support from my friends as I did this year. There have been fun moments with some very special people, and i think I'm finally working on my chronic shyness :) I've gone on more dates this year than ever before, so that's a very good thing. I still feel that sleeping alone is a pain in the butt, and I'm still looking for someone to cuddle with while watching movies, but that'll come when it comes.

Work-wise, this year has been hard. I realized that I become way too emotionally attached to my projects, and take them to heart. That may be good in the sense that I love my work, but it also means that when things go badly, I worry. To the detriment of my health. That's something I need to work on. I need to be deal with stress in a more sane way, or I'll blow a fuse. My health has been a negative point of this year. I've gained weight, my blood pressure increased, and my diet went to shit. My resolution to go to the gym twice daily went to hell and gone when the CGI project started to go sour.

So, overall, I'd give this year a 7.5/10. The lessons I've learned from this year will influence my resolutions for the upcoming one;
– Shape up! If I maintain this way of life, my body will rebel, and it'll win.
– Dare. I let slip some occasions, and regret is a bitch.
– Be with the ones you care about. I love my friends and family, and I want to spend more time with them.

That's all for now. I need to go put more wood on the fire.

Germany's top-selling newspaper has published nothing but good news, dropping its normal fare of crime, violence and scandal for stories about tax cuts, falling petrol prices and accelerating economic growth.

… cause I didn't get coal in my stocking.

In fact, I got some really cool things:
– a columbia winter coat (it rocks! and I know some friends will be ecstatic that I'll be getting rid of the McGill dead-cow jacket)
– a 25-piece sushi serving kit
– sushi making material and recipes (rice, seaweed, candied ginger and WASSABI!). I'm going to need volunteers to try out my concoctions. strychnyn and eniran, want to be my first victims?
– aftershave
– various pieces of clothing (it's not xmas unless I get at least one pair of boxer shorts from at least one family member – it's becoming a running gag)
– a fridge magnet (don't ask, another long-standing running gag)

Xmas is going well, which is a big relief (touch wood). Now, I plan to spend hours in front of the fireplace and do nothing except munch on tidbits of my mom's cooking, pet the dog and listen to music. It will be marvelous.

Hope you're all having a wonderful time.

I just got back from xmas mass. My mom sings in the choir, so we all went to hear her sing. It's really amazing the stuff you can remember. I was raised a roman catholic, and went to church every sunday until I was 11. These days, though I still believe in the idea of religion, I'm not the most devout of catholics, but that's for another story, some other time. So basically, the only time I've gone to mass in the last few years were for a wedding, a funeral and xmas mass. What's amusing is that I still remember all the right things to say at the right time. I was always amazed by the old timers, who mumbled their way through a mass service, and now, apparently, I'm one of them.

The service was nice. The parish priest is a nice guy, not the traditional pompous windbag I grew up with. He's a fairly down to earth man, who's not afraid to crack the occasional joke to make sure the congregation is still paying attention.

Now, more food beckons, and we'll be getting ready to go to an aunt's place fairly soon. After that, PRESENTS! :)

Some things never change. I've been home for exactly 2 hours. In that time span, I've already debugged my dad's computer. He's monologued to me about finances, mine and his (which I can't stand), and regailed me with a few horror stories about bad things happening to people that he picks up from the news. On the other hand, my mom has offered me more food than I eat in a normal day. It's like this every time i go home.

I love my family, I really do, but it's true what they say. You can never go back home.

I'm writing xmas emails. It's funny, but you never take stock of exactly how many people you truly care about, and are important to you. it's a feeling that warms you to the tip of your toes when you do realize it.

To all my friends, I love you and I'm glad you enrich my life.

Yayayayayayayayayayayayayayayyyyyyyyy!

<singsong voice>I'm on vacation, I'm on vacation</singsong voice>

Just sent off the last bit of work I needed to do for a client, and now I'm free as the wind. No more work stuff to do for 2003. Happy dance!

Today was a productive day. Picked up my passport from the passport office (and as expected, I look like an ax murderer, but I'm getting used to having bad ID pictures). Got into work, blitzed through the analysis I needed to do for the INRS, and here we are. I'm going to stay at the office, as I'm having dinner with strychnyn. I'll take this time to write send some xmas e-cards and emails. I'm leaving for Buckingham tomorrow morning, for a few days of insanity and good food. That'll be fun.

I just updated the look of my blog. Comments appreciated, flames ignored :)

Went to see Lord of the Rings last night with Hacker-grrl. She's just back from her business trip, and had many enjoyable stories to tell. The movie rocks, but the ending is a bit long-winded, IMHO. The whole thing is like 3:30 hours long. Hard on the ass at the end. Came back home, had a little snack and went to bed to pr0n dreams… I don't know, i'm getting a few of those lately. Meh. I'm not complaining, beats nightmares :)

Indulged in a bit of geek gaming this afternoon with the boys, and now I'm just chilling at home, waiting until Michel gets here so we can plan our trip to SF.