December 19, 2004

• Two things. I signed up with a debt consolidation service. Not quite the same thing as bankruptcy (you actually pay off your debt, albeit without the insane interest rates that your credit cards would normally charge) and my doctor has actually got me on medication that makes me get up each day and actually feel good about being alive.
• Actually something happened this past week that I hope marks a turning point. I have been doing this struggling writer thing for about 3.5 years now. So my friend's roommate was at a bar, and somehow my name came up and the guy he was talking to said "Yeah, I heard of [drjimmy11]*, he writes some funny stuff." Now this guy is in no way going to help my career, and I realize as I write this that's it's kind of sad and lame, but it marks the first time my work was "known" at random by someone I never met, and it kind of gave me a cheap thrill if you want to know the truth. *they used my real name
• Holy flying fish! There really is a Pirate School!
• I'm moving to The Drive on New Year's Day myself . But this Revenue Canada dispute you have goin' seems overly ramped up to me, Money.
• Heh?
• I got back into school, after a couple year hiatus.
• When I stumbled onto this joint, Money, I got the idea that you were overly-honest about your revenue-stream, (if you'll pardon the expression) with the Feds. Never give those bums a thin dime.
• I was, and this puts their "You owe us $8,000 for no particular reason" into the ground. Never corner somebody with nothing to lose and a capacity for vengeance like your seething Sicilian granny. Rule #1.
• (umbilical hernia)you`ll never know what a changing experience it is!,,he he
• Hmm ...I think you might find that they will still attempt to collect. I was under the impression that they had to prove a certain gratuity base-line. These assements are usually based on demonstrable tips, which only show up on credit card transactions. So, if you honestly declared an income of $40,000; as an example, a 20% gratuity would be assumed to be $8000. Based on a taxable rate of 20%, you MIGHT owe the govt $1600.
• squidranch, so what did your doctor put you on? Just curious, as I could probably use a period of such things and I'm trying to collect data on various formulae. Thanks.
• I think I actually owe them around $2,500. They can't just pull a number out of their ass and tell me I made an extra $25,000 in income. Or maybe they can. Maybe they can also cause unicorns to fly out of Ann Coulter's bony ass; regardless, they'll get nothing but a big red wheelbarrow of fuck you from me.
• Just into 2004 I lost my job and my apartment in West Palm Beach in the same week. The evil crone who fired me blackballed me throughout the industry, making the past four years of my employment (surface weather observation for NOAA/FAA) worthless, as the skills don't translate into anything else. In May my best friend of twenty-plus years got me a tech writing gig at the startup he's employed at in NC. But (so I was told) they lacked the funds to keep me, and I was let go in July, just after discovering my drivers license was invalid (which is another long story). Despite what the ex-employers told me, my friend says that I fucked it up, and wants nothing more to do with me ever again. Couldn't find work in NC, so some friends in Cleveland took me in, tho I had to take my cat to the shelter to do so. Through all this I've had three kidney stones, one date and no sex this year. Fuck off, 2004.
• three kidney stones, one date and no sex That,my monkey, is a witches spell.
• Waraw wins. 2004 was nothing but turning points for me, actually. In January we traipsed off to Prague with no real idea what we were going to do there, landed a job and an apartment within a week and stayed for six months. My partner was then accepted to UT graduate school, so off we go to Texas. Everything starts to suck. I can't find a job, our funds begin rapidly diminishing, we live in some kind of Austin War Zone among drug dealers and wife beaters, Mrs. Danger's schooling has her stressed out 24/7 and her grandmother is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, which almost always kills you within 6 months. A miserable late summer turns into a miserable fall, nothing's going right. The most recent turning point? Moving. We couldn't really afford to do it, but we decided that getting out of the hell hole we were in was more important than eating (or at least more important than not being indebted to various relatives) so we grabbed our dog and our clothes, dodged past the daily cops and robbers shootout that was our parking lot and landed ourself in a nicer place. Suddenly we like coming home, we're getting a good nights rest and things start happening: most important for my personal peace of mind, I get a job, not the best job in the world but one that provides a decent enough wage that we'll be okay in the long term AND on top of that, health care. The semester is over, we're going to be able to, you know, eat, and, as my job is at the local Half Price Books, we'll always have something to read.
• My son was born in March (our first baby.) I started graduate studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine in April. I haven't slept since then
• In September I started my degree, and in November I discovered Goldschlager. Now the back of my throat resembles something particularly icky from Cannibal Holocaust, and I can't hold a thought in my head for more than three seconds at a time, but... But... shit, what was I... ooh, cupcakes.
• I discovered glass art, particularly stained glass, and will probably eventually move on to take classes in fusing and slumping. Makes daddy happy. The big one, though: I bought my first house. A small three-bedroom brick bungalow within walking distance of a lake. It had its eightieth birthday this year. I adore it.
• Got transfered to the Science branch of the Library I was working in. It was a wrench as I really liked working in my original department. Coming to England was one of the best things I ever did, but the timing was entirely wrong. My great-grandmother passed away a couple of months before I was due to fly, and a whole passel of family problems erupted after that (not really related to her passing away). I was almost ready to give up, just give everything up. But here I am, and glad.
• my sweetie moved across the atlantic to be with me on june 9, 2004. and his divorce was finalllly finalized on dec. 15, 2004. hurray!
• I decided to leave the town I grew up in and move to the Big City. Haven't actually done it yet since the decision was about two weeks ago, but making that leap is pretty huge for me. Ummm, and if anyone is hiring in San Francisco let me know...
• 2004 was the best year yet for me(with the notable exception of Sudan, Bush and Iraq). Finalized the adoption for our second daughter. My wife recovered her ability to play the violin after an enforced and shattering 7 year layoff as a result of a car accident. All the fears that my career would be compromised by having kids were laid to rest: my first score for a NGS network special (well the first one that wasn't ghost written for someone else), a commision for a classical work that attracted international attention and a forthcoming CD with jazz great Dave Liebman were all in the cards this year. I guess that sounds a lot like bragging and maybe it is a bit- though I hope I've retained some humility too, but you did ask. I'm very grateful for the lucky breaks that have given my wife our best year ever. I hope all of you have an equally great year in 2005!
• Cali: what kind of work are you looking for?
• I started the year working in Maryland, then my boss cut my salary 25% in April (a grant running out) then I was between jobs entirely for a month (no salary) until he could get me started at my (current) position down here in Florida. Meanwhile, I got engaged. I thought the deal that I had with him had me splitting my time between Maryland (where my SO lives) and Florida. That got, uh, shall we say unilaterally, changed to Florida full time which is where I found myself in September. Got married in September _as well_, and then just managed to find a new job...um (what time is it now?) about 36 hours ago. Or thereabouts. So I'm back off to Maryland for good in the new year.
• I ended a my year and a half doing contract work (9 months with almost no work, followed by another 7 with too much followed by about 2 with none) by getting a full time job. I haven't really decided whether I made the right decision or not - I really prefered contract work, but the 7 fat months seemed like a bit of a fluke and the job certainly doesn't suck. Also had a bit of an epiphany last night when I realized that I'd almost completely overcome my social insecurity - something I've been struggling with for pretty much my whole life. All-in-all 2004 was a good year for me.
• No.. not really. Life continues it's dull and uninteresting course in the House of Suomynona
• There is a new baby in my life, born Sept 9 2004. My great nephew Gage. I assisted his mother with her labor, I watched him be born and was the proudest Aunt any one could know. I did the happy dance for everyone. It is not the first time I assisted with a labor, but it was the highlight event of 2004 for me.
• Gah. Worst year ever. Not even going to get into it,seeing as how there's a character limit on comments.
• Lots of ups and downs. I made the jump to freelancing, but didn't find enough work and money is painfully tight. I spent most the year overmedicated and sleeping too much. After not leaving my house all summer, I finally decided it was time to go off the anti-depressants. Now I feel human again. I'm trying to maintain an exercise routine to combat the anxiety, which by many accounts seems to be a better remedy than pharma. Hope it works. The hardest was losing my 20 year old cat in February. Yeah she was old and I knew it was coming, but that didn't make it any easier. Mister shinything says he's not ready for another critter yet. Fortunately his brother travels frequently on business and leaves his cat with us. Radar is a delightful house guest. I have hope that 2005 will be better. Many thanks to my Monkey friends for making me laugh. It helped. Wishing you all peace, happiness and good health in the new year.
• Kind of a crappy year for me too... but it's next year that will be the year of big changes: my job is sloooowly dropping me, so I'm dropping it first, picking up, and moving out of this city I've never liked to... somewhere else. I do not know yet. Everything's up in the air at this point.
• I got married and paid off a rather large sum of credit card debt. Next year I plan to buy a house. Maybe I'll run for Governor in 2006.
• Fatoudust, I'm on Lexapro in the morning and Mirtazapine at night. Please remember, that this is the combo that works for me. I had tried a number of them before coming up with this. Your chemistry might call for an entirely different set of meds. But good luck to you. It really is well worth it. Even as my friends really never knew that I suffered from depression (tears of a clown and all) I feel so much better now. As I said, I can get up in the morning, even if I know that it might be a bad day at work or such, and still feel happy that I am alive. That in itself is a HUGE difference. Good luck to you and don't give up.
• Last year was our big year for doin' stuff: having first baby, buying a house, etc. This year has been pleasantly tame in comparison. The biggest thing, I guess, was getting pregnant with our second (and last, in theory) baby. Next year is promising to be another big year, starting with our trip to the US in January, and then baby #2 being due in late June. To those monkeys whose 2004 has not been all puppies and kittens, good luck for next year and I hope everything that went wrong this year is made better in 2005.
• I dropped out of school. Oh boy, I'm not adding to the "when I was twenty-four, it was a very good year" cheer.
• I forgot to mention, as tracicle's post reminded me, that I got a kitty. A russian gray with one ear tip missing that is as loving a cat I've ever had. His name is Bert.
• I got a job (good) after discovering that I have zero talent for business on my own (bad). It's a decent job where I get to be creative and people respect my authority in certain areas (good) but I'm way underpaid (bad), I think (hmmm). So after three years of pretty good pay and bennies, I'm back to one paycheck from disaster. But I'm also a cynical pessimist.
• I forgot one dark cloud from 2004 -some $%^&@ pinhead swiped my user/login info for here and MeFi and, as a consequence, gave me a gigantic headache.
• *pats kamus' hand*
• Left my wife of 7 years, gave her about $250k worth of money and stuff that I don't miss, got my own place. Lotsa stuff to figure out for myself now.
• This year I finally managed to get a degree in something, and I started getting treatment for the depression I've had for longer than I care to think about. But most everything else this year kind of sucked.
• Things shifting around, and barely enough strenght to keep them in place. But overall, a good year, specially compared to @#*!)& two-oh-oh-three. Turning point? Not really; but, had one of those moments in which you feel inexplicably happy; at the right place, in the right mood, with the right companion. Those few moments you cherish and treasure. Something that I would have pondered for months if considered before hand, but just went and did it in the heat of the moment, devil may care of consequences. And boy, am I glad I did it.
• Not too bad a year. Deleted a few people from my life who were drains on my time and energy. Became an aunt. Won a huge settlement. Set up a college fund for nephew. Nope, not a bad year at all. Here's hoping next year is terrific for everyone. Well, not everyone. I mean, shitty people don't count. Alright, here's hoping next year is terrific for everyone on MonkeyFilter. Wait, some of you suck. Ok, Ok, here's hoping next year is terrific for everyone who contributes to this thread. Yeah, that's it.
• Deleted a few people from my life o_O *steps slowly away from badonkadonk, hands up*
• I'm sure that she just dragged those persons to the Recycle Bin. Or the woodchipper.
• Woodchipper? In NYC? Bathtubs and meat cleavers are the tradition here. oh but i've said too much. ;)
• In September, I had two turning points: My brother, who I have lived with for every year but one of my life, moved to London to take up a great job. Shortly before this, my girlfriend returned from her home in Germany, after leaving here in July 2003. After four years of part-time study, I managed to complete my second university qualification that will hopefully enable me to find better and more interesting employment in 2005. Thanks to immigration bureaucracy and love, I will be initiating clause a) in my "i'll never get married unless..." contract on December 24th.
• I discovered the "Two Minute Rule" wherein if a task crosses your mind, and it would take less than two minutes to accomplish, you just do it straight away. This helpful rule has eliminated procrastination from my life. Mostly. I have found it lifechanging.
• I think that's a useful little rule.
• Hey Alnedra, thanks for the pat. BTW, what do you like about having moved to Old Blighty? (thinking of moving back)
• My baby daughter! *previews* Hey, Dave Liebman!
• It was a pretty good year. I finished my law degree, got into the Master's of law I wanted, got a fellowship, my husband finished his CS Master's and got a good job, we moved to Ottawa, I got to meet a bunch of good friends from online. On the downside we moved to Ottawa and aren't in Halifax anymore, and I miss all my friends. I also didn't earn very much money in the summer, I gained some weight, and didn't do much about my health problems. Still...pretty normal year, really. Nothing to complain about. Reading this thread, I think we're pretty lucky that it was just...okay. Normal. Normal's good. :) Best wishes to all for 2005. I truly wish the best for all monkeys.
• Wolof! *HUGS* *hugs Claire too* *Hugs Mrs Wolof for good measure* kamus: what I love - the weather (hardly rains when I wanna go out; freaky but true *knock on wood*, but it's good and nippy. Love it when my face goes numb from the cold). People (civil, friendly, even in London! In-cre-di-bly friendly in smaller towns) and their accents! what a load of them! Welsh, Scots, Northern, Southern, Brum, Yorkshire... lovely music to my ears, after the monotonous droning of Singaporean accents. And there are people I love here.
• Couple of turning-points for me. I finally got out of a dead-end hardware support job (yay!), into another dead-end hardware support job (boo). Fortunately, the second one looked sufficiently impressive on my CV to land me a sysadmin role, which is overly comfortable and liable to allow me to stagnate dangerously if I let it. In unrelated news, I got my blackbelt, after five years of training. It feels suprisingly good :)
• Let's see...I got fired early in the year, which sucked, but I landed a way cooler job for more $ within two weeks. Also, my divorce became final a few weeks ago (which is good) but it came with a bill from my lawyer for almost ten grand! (which is not). All in all it was a good year. I'll take major upheavals over uneventful boring years any day. It's all an adventure! *raises scotch & water* Here's to a healthy and happy 2005 for all you monkeys!
• No booze for the past year. It's amazing how much more you can do with your life.
• Nothing special happened in 2004. However, considering my current employment ends Dec 31 at midnight, I figure 2005 might hold some pretty significant changes. Oh, I did become addicted to discover flickr this year.
• I finally discovered the true meaning of Christmas, but sometime in the middle of July. It was very confusing. A few days later I discovered the true meaning of Den slovanskych verozvestu Cyrila a Metodeje, which is odd because I don't speak Czech anymore.
• This has been a tough year. I lost my grandmother right before Thanksgiving 2003. She was pretty much my role model, so losing her sucked. Then some people whom I thought were friends decided they didn't like me anymore. Then my dad got cancer. (He's pretty much better now... pretty much.) Then my 17 yr old cousin (a poet and future filmmaker) killed himself. During this time, the person I was dating broke up with me three times. However, I've learned that I'm tougher than I thought, and that I've got some great friends. I also got about 200 pages of my dissertation written -- work is a great distraction when you need it. Hopefully, next year will be way better. I should graduate (that's *Dr.* meredithea ...soon), and it would be excellent if I could get a job. Some peace, quiet, healing, happy times would be much appreciated. Here's to a much better 2005.
• meredithea - all the best with the PhD write up. My supervisor was great; I'd often get same day turnaround on the stuff I'd written which was beyond terrific. I've never really thanked the guy either....hmmmm. *contemplates gift ideas*
• I quit my 9-to-5 in October and am now working for myself (one big reason I've been absent from MoFi lately). Exciting and weird, kinda scary, but great fun and lots of independence.
• I got nuthin'. Nuthin' changed, really, but given the swings and suckerpunches of life in the past little while, steady is nice. A nice break. So no major changes, but plenty of minor ones. Finally got a couch, so that's nice. I still like to lay on the floor to watch tv, but now there's an option of moving up. Also, there were some good changes in my private life. The petty minor stuff doesn't bother me as much, and I'm much less likely to stay in a futile relationship simply for the novelty of being with someone. It takes me time, but I learn eventually. Yeah. So not much has changed, but given recent years, that's a change in itself. To everyone here, I wish you all the best for the new year, and every success in shedding the last year's crap.
• hugs to all the monkeys that have had a rough year (and shouts of woo to those who had good ones)! this wasn't my worst, but it was not terribly easy. finished a masters degree (and wrote a thesis), and scraped by on an intern's wage until May. Spent the summer in crushing poverty looking for a job. Found what seems to be the perfect job in September, but years of being a student/being undervalued make me hesitant to believe I've really made it. also celebrated my first wedding anniversary (yay). Nickdanger, I probably see you at Halfprice Books on occasion. If you ever want to coordinate and Austin Mofi meetup, I'll lend a hand :)
• Hmmm. I can't think of anything of significance other than running up some debt I now have to deal with. I don't think I accomplished much, other than trying to keep up with myself. I know I did no harm, so that's good. I lost my most beautiful old German Shepherd, in February, at age 15. However it was sort of a bittersweet thing and I still don't feel as if she's gone. There's still lots of dog-hair around from the younger one. Years ending in '4's' are never my greatest.
• This has been a pretty big year for me. I got a TiVo, got engaged and quit my job of six years to go to grad school (which required moving from LA to Colorado). My fiance quit his job to move out here to take a less-worthy-of-him job. So now I'm in grad school and loving it, but our LA two-income lifestyle is a thing of the past and we're still dealing with the fallout from all of that. (Everyone is getting scarves for Christmas this year.) I'm really optimistic that we did the right thing though. I like Denver much better and I'm out of my hated old job. I'm looking forward to 2005! My financial aid check for winter quarter would be nice right about now though.
• Hm... well, my roomates divorced and my household of three years exploded this summer. Living on my own now for the first time in almost a decade. This is good. Also, after having my car broken into a couple of months ago I realized I was on the verge of a nervous breakdown from various stressors - very unusual for me - and that after five years I still hadn't forgiven myself for my father dying. I've addressed both of these issues. This is good. I've also had the same job for over eight months, which is a first since 1995, and even stranger, I still like it. All in all this has been a difficult but um growthful? year for me, if not my vocabulary. And the longest night of the year has begun here, and boy am I ready for the upswing. Peace, monkeys. Luck.
• 2004 was, for me, notable only for it's awfulness. 2005 can only be better. Discovering MonkeyFilter was definitely a bright spot.
• Alnedra: That's the first time that anyone's ever described the Brum accent as "music to my ears".
• BTW, this morning I was listening to the CD kamus talks about making upthread, and it's very decent indeed. He's a pretty handy guy on the piano!