So here it is New Year's Eve. I am without my wife, but am ensconced in family. Shortly, my sister will be arriving for the annual Trivial Pursuit death match which pits the boys against the girls. The boys tend to get slaughtered, as none of us are particularly big sports fans and the girls are much smarter in every other category. Some bubbly flows and if we manage to stay awake til the ball drops, we all sing Auld Lang Syne sip champagne, hug, then fall asleep. Now two years ago it was bit different. That was when I proposed to my dear wife. First big decision of the new year in 2005. Fortunately she was a bit intoxicated and said "yes". Now two years later I still am amazed at how fortunate I am to have her in my life. I am planning on making some resolutions that will be the traditional sweeping changes stuff, but I will unfortunately have to keep them. I have obligated myself in a new way this year and while it is quite exciting it is going to require a massive amount of work. I do not feel completely capable to fulfill my obligation, but I do feel that with some real work on my part I can get there. Either that or win the lottery. No one actually reads this so I will stop for a bit and possible come back with pictures, although I am not entirely sure who I would be posting them for. Maybe Carl. Happy New Year, anyone out there...

Tidings of Comfort and Joy?

So a new year is set to begin and since it has been over a year since I set keyboard buffer to AGP buss I thought I might get in a quick note for 2006. Christmas was indeed a very special occasion despite the holiday falling on tuesday and my having to work monday. And the rest of the week for that matter. It seems that we are forever doing inventory at work, but I digress. I would have to say that the currently discussable highlight of my Christmas was watching the interaction in my sisters family. If anyone reads this and they have some idea of the excitement of the last eight months of my life, they will know how disjointed things have been and that apparent end-points have merely been pauses before the next large incomprehensible sometimes disastrous event. But looking at my sisters family has softened that substantially. I would like to say I was in a similar position as they are but that would be very far from the truth. It would also down-play their substantial effort to achieve what they have. They have not tip-toed through the tulips with fortune finding them at every turn, although they have had a massive support structure behind them. They have moved forward steadily with every step, and it must be appreciated. The only turn of luck or fortune or fate, (possibly karma?) was when Julie and Jared met. Or at least that they met. Since then, they have created their own path, and because of the overwhelming abilities of both, they have thrived. If for one second they doubted or wondered, the other was there with love first and constructive support second. They never wondered about each others devotion and grew exponentially through that solid faith. Even when mad, and I mean MAD at each other, there was not a doubt that this was merely a silly blip on the horizon and after some pasta everything would be fine again. I admit I am jaded, I have been awed by my sister since she first tried to convince the garbage man that he should take me with him on his route. The point of watching my sisters family this christmas was that it made me take stock of what has occurred, not just for me but for everyone in my life: friends, relatives, co-workers, all these people continue everyday, doing what they think to be right for themselves and the world. Our worlds always seem different than anyone else's, and in some ways they are completely different (more on our own universe's at another time) , but in many more ways they are similar almost identical at the core.
Hmm, a little abstract there, so I will stop and say simply: I and my wife are immensely fortunate to have what we have and to have achieved what we have achieved. Our family and friends are wonderful, and inspiring and all the "stuff" that we don't like is still great because it makes us who we are and keeps us striving for more from ourselves.

I will probably post again closer to new years, but I suspect some resolutions I will make may center around health, organization, and foundations. A New Year brings new opportunity and responsibility...