Friday, Dec. 31, 2004 - 2:20 p.m.
A letter to the death rattle of 2004
Dear 2004,Well, kiddo, it's nearly curtains for you and I. I feel it only right we end with a hug and a few nice words, as we've been pretty good to each other haven't we?
There've been no dramas, nothing heinous* and nothing great. The kind of year that, like 1984, passed without comment but with retrospect will probably go down as a classic.
I stayed in the same job, it dragged a bit and got me down a bit but it did improve. Slightly.
The biggest thing that happened at home was the addition of my bookcase (for which I will always be in the debt of Girlsdontcry and her marvellous assembling properties). It did mean that, after 2 years, I was finally able to unpack. (One box remains - maybe unpacking that should be a resolution for 2005.)
But a lot a good happened. I made about one new friendship but it was one worth about 74 (approx) for life-enriching properties. [Illustration: if it wasn't for Polly Magoo I would probably not have sunbathed topless, come to like my *ahem* hourglass figure**, have seen a tenth of the bands I saw, have spent so much of my working day on the email, have pissed myself so much (the best medicine, it is true), or likened the velvety hardness of the seafloor to a part of the male genitalia.]
HURRAH
And lest I forget, this was also the year of the Hardest Pub Quizzes Ever, with the hilaire, generous, musically stimulating and locationally-convenient company of Erica and Lee. Happy birthday Erica.
I already wrote this week about becoming an adult, but I always thought (from looking at my parents) that being an adult would entail no longer having self-doubt or needlessly sad feelings. I am try-try-trying to quell them but they're probably a part of my make up.
My mum quotes her friend who says, 'you don't like your friends for their virtues'. Now I don't think she's quite right but if she means you have got to like them for all they offer, then, yes, and I therefore am trying to like my bad bits. I have gotten to like my wobbly bits more, so there should be hope for the rest of me.
My motto will continue to be: you are not as fat as you think you are.
I am a firm believer in proving-periods, in the sense of leaving dough to prove, although that is an unfortunate allusion to doughy flesh. So while nothing major happened in 2004 I am sure it's all time spent proving ready for the Great 2005 Bake-Off. Metaphorically.
Planned baked goods for 2005 include, at the least, a job title I can be proud(er) of and a salary that will enable me to pay for this new broadband.
Hoped-for baked goods for 2005 include a plain-things partner.
And I just want to see I Heart Huckabees.
So, I wish you all a happy new year, refreshment and good things all round.
And, lastly - this is my 600th entry. Should I be pleased or scared?
* until this week.
** sadly, there's no pervalicious reason as to why Magoo is related to this fact, just general sense-talking