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Sunday, December 31, 2006
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Day 31
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An interesting, busy last day of '06 for me. As i'm staying at the beach tonight, no real update, but i'll have plenty to post tomorrow, when I'll unofficially end Holidailies.
Today I did the following:
Went to the beach
Ate too much
And that's not all!
I'm actually wearing some boots.
And a skirt.
Yes, you read that right. A skirt. And boots! Boots! Holy god, Boots! What's more, I have the photos to prove it.
Tonight we go to the pier to mark the end of what has turned out to be the most horrible, wrenching year of my whole life. And i've never been happier to see a year go away and never come back. No, never happier.
2007 is already turning out to be different, and it isn't officially '07 yet.
Tomorrow: Photos, and my final conversation with '06.
Happy new year. |
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posted by purplefishy
6:38 PM
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Saturday, December 30, 2006
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Day 30
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Some things I can change.
I wanted to be able to change at least one thing I was unhappy with recently. So of course, I picked my hair. I had been unhappy with my hair for a few months now.
Ugh. So not happy.
So today on a whim, I called the salon, and Chris the Zen Master of Hair (not his real title, but it should be) had a cancellation, so I came in and let him work his magic.
There. Now isn't that so much better? I think so. |
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posted by purplefishy
1:47 PM
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Friday, December 29, 2006
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Day 29
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Nearing the End.
Just a normal, rambling entry today. My life has been far from normal this past week. I feel like I've been fending things off left and right for some time. Kind of like King Kong on the Empire State Building swatting at the airplanes that are shooting rounds.
Funeral-wise, it looks like our closure on this will have to wait for a couple of weeks, at least. He will be cremated, and due to considerations back east the memorial here will be delayed a bit. Late January at the earliest, it would seem. It still preoccupies my mind. I think about him nearly all day, every day. It doesn't bring him back, just in my mind.
Yesterday, I had dinner with Moxie et. al. and such a meal that can only be described as decadent. I wouldn't be shocked if I weigh more today. But I did drink and eat until I could eat no more and I saw a lovely Christmas tree. Post-holiday, it still had lustre.
I'm also busy doing retail therapy, which oddly works. I got some dinero for Christmas, so I bought one of these, (very nice indeed) and this (very funny, and Meryl Streep? Yeah.).
This weekend I do have New Year's plans, which hopefully involve just enough alcohol but not too much alcohol (champagne has been purchased, so has wine), and the beach. It really sounds quite nice and fun. I'm sure it will be.
I have more hope for 2007 than you might think, given all that has happened. I do feel that this year will be incredibly different from the last, just like the year before that, and so on. I'm doing my best, and I'm doing what I can to take care of myself. That's about all I can do. |
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posted by purplefishy
6:29 PM
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Thursday, December 28, 2006
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Day 28
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1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?
Walked across the Charles Bridge.
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nope.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
My grandfather.
5. What countries did you visit?
England/UK, Czech Republic.
6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Happiness.
7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
December 22nd- the day my grandfather died.
November 30th- the day I finished NaNoWriMo
September 6th- the day Muffy died.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Finishing NaNoWriMo.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Basically everything else.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes, illness big time.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
All that yarn to play with.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My brothers'.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
I can't say. Or, I guess I could name names, but that's not my habit.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Travel.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Travel.
16. What song will always remind you of 2006?
"How to Save a Life".
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Far more sad.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner.
c) richer or poorer? Richer.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Not caring.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Caring.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent it with the family.
21. Did you fall in love in 2006?
Ugh. No.
22. How many one-night stands?
None.
23. What was your favorite TV program?
Grey's Anatomy.
24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes.
25. What was the best book you read?
The Fabric of the Cosmos by Brian Greene.
26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Reindeer Section.
27. What did you want and get?
Starbucks gift cards.
28. What did you want and not get?
Things I could never have in the first place.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Pursuit of Happyness.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 26. I stayed home, went out for pizza with my roommate and her boyfriend.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Less emotional pain and distress.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Improving.
33. What kept you sane?
I'm not really sure I was sane.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Mmmm Christian Bale, as always.
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
Honestly, politics makes me angry.
36. Who did you miss?
All the people I lost.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
I can't pick just one. Corinne, for one, who taught me how to be an exemplary Bond Girl, and the ladies in my knitting group who sort of kept me sane when it seemed impossible.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.
The only thing I could think of was something insanely cynical, so i'm not even going to bother with this question.
39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
"I just want peace
And quiet in my head
I can't find it in the bars or in my bed"
-Reindeer Section, "Where I Fall" |
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posted by purplefishy
3:31 PM
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I'm sorry 2006 was a sad year...I kind of feel the same way. I hope 2007 brings much more cheer your way!
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Wednesday, December 27, 2006
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Day 27
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Again, nothing to see here really. Have a bubble bath on me. |
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posted by purplefishy
5:48 PM
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Tuesday, December 26, 2006
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Day 26
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What are YOU looking at?
I have nothing much to say today. Here's an interesting bird.Labels: animal, bird, holidailies |
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posted by purplefishy
2:55 PM
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Monday, December 25, 2006
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Day 25
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An Interview with 2006: Part 3, Interlude
(Ext. Night. Railroad tracks. The sound of a train sounding its horn in the distance can be heard ever so faintly. I'm laying, face down, drunk, on the tracks. 2006 looks on.)
06: Hey. Hey? Hey!
Me: Whaaa....whaaayouwaanntt....leavemealone.....uhhuh.....
06: Get up.
Me: Nooo....leave me...here...
06: I SAID get up. Now. Before the train hits you.
(I flip myself over, lift my head, and take another swig of tequila. The bottle is nearing empty. 06 just looks down at me.)
06: If you don't get up, I'll hurt you.
Me: Oh I'm so SCAAARED. SCAAAARED of the big bad 06 that is coming to get meeeeee......
(06 sighs. Rolls his eyes.)
06: Fine, you asked for it.
(06 kneels down and begins to poke me.)
Me: Ow. Quit it.
(poke)
Me: Ow. Quit it.
(poke)
Me: Ow. Quit it.
(this continues for some time. We fade out, to the sound of "Ow. Quit it.") |
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posted by purplefishy
8:17 PM
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Sunday, December 24, 2006
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Day 24
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It's a bit half-hearted this year, but Merry Christmas everyone.
Thank you for all the kind words of sympathy lately. It's appreciated. Funeral arrangements are pending, so we'll see what the week brings. |
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posted by purplefishy
5:27 PM
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Friday, December 22, 2006
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The Phonecall
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Today, around 3pm, we got the phonecall.
My grandfather died today.
I'm just too sad for words right now.
 This is how I want to remember you.
July 10th, 1921-December 22nd, 2006. |
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posted by purplefishy
3:41 PM
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Oh Ari, I'm so sorry. I'm sending lots of love and light your way.
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Day 22
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Again, I got this one from Mary.
6 Weird things about me.
1. I will dream things, entire conversations even, and then they will happen maybe days or sometimes weeks later. I don't understand why this is, but it is the STRANGEST sense of deja vu ever. It's almost like I know it has happened before, while it is happening. Just...weird.
2.I cannot move my toes, or feel my feet. A big huge needle was stuck in my foot once. I didn't feel a damn thing. I've even had operations on them under local anesthetic while AWAKE and nada.
3. When I am on Thunder Mountain at Disneyland, I have to sit on the left side of the train car.
4. The first time I saw snow fall from the sky (real snow! from the sky!!) I was 21 years old. I ran outside with all the other people who had never seen snow fall (mostly from African countries), and we all stared up at the sky as if we'd figure out where it was coming from.
5. I don't think cemeteries are creepy. I think they are neat.
6. I do not eat steak.
Well, I hope i'm weird enough. I don't know. This list is pretty tame. I'm sure my friends could come up with some even wackier items. |
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posted by purplefishy
10:28 AM
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Thursday, December 21, 2006
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Day 21
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Some days I feel like this. |
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posted by purplefishy
9:07 PM
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Wednesday, December 20, 2006
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Day 20
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An Interview with 2006: Part 2
(I take a huge swig of tequila. Make a face.)
Me: Hleeehllhhh....wow. That's some fiiine tequila.
06: Only the best for you.
Me: Damn right.
(I take another swig. This time it goes down easier.)
06:Hey, go easy on that.
Me: Why? Why should I? I'll do anything I want now that you are on your way out.
06: Hey, don't kick me out before I'm done. Are you trying to drink so much you grow gills?
Me: No. But it helps.
(06 sighs, sits down. Lights another cigarette. Looks at me in amusement.)
06: So are you going to finish the whole thing tonight?
Me: Maybe. What are you going to do about it? Kill more? Destroy more? Break my heart some more? Oh wait....I don't have one left! Awesome!
(06 sighs and shakes his head. Fumbles with a deck of playing cards in his pocket.)
Me: You know, you could have left out all the dying stuff. That would have been nice.
06: Yeah. I know. But you keep talking about things that are already done.
Me: And YOU keep reminding me.... because that's SO useful.
06: Hey..are you slurring your words already? I thought I told you to...
Me: I TOLD you to go away.
06: Yeah I know. But I have to stay right here until the 31st at 11:59. It says so in my contract. Clause 1 section 2. Duties and Responsibilities.
Me: Great. Thanks for dishing out all the other crap the other day as well. That was nice.
06:Look, I don't tell people what to do.
Me: OK. Well...that kind of falls under your responsibilities as well.
06: NO that falls under theirs. I just watch.
Me: You mean you are just the innocent bystander? Bullshit.
06: Hey, missy, they may want to violate you but I never gave them permission. I didn't send them after you or anything.
Me: Well. Thanks.
(I take an even bigger swig of tequila. I'm starting to sway a little bit)
06: Careful there. Don't fall over.
(With a thud, I fall over.)
06: Are you OK?
Me: Why won't you just go awaaaaaaaaaaaay?
(06 sighs and shakes his head. He stares at me.)
Me: Fuck off! die!
(06 laughs a little. Sits back down. I roll over and stare at him. My eyes hurt. I'm crying.)
Me: I hate you so much.
06: I know you do.
Me: I'm going to go get more drunk and fall asleep on some railroad tracks.
06:OK. I'll go with you.
(we exit.) |
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posted by purplefishy
10:01 AM
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Tuesday, December 19, 2006
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Meme
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| stole this one from Mary. The idea is this: Grab the Top 100 hits from the year you graduated from high school. (Just Google "Top 100 songs of 19whatever".) Bold the ones you like, strike through the ones you hate, and italicize the ones you can't remember or have no feelings about. Or something like that.
Top 100 Hits of 1998 / Top 100 Songs of 1998 1. Too Close, Next
2. The Boy Is Mine, Brandy and Monica
3. You're Still The One, Shania Twain
4. Truly Madly Deeply, Savage Garden
5. How Do I Live, LeAnn Rimes
6. Together Again, Janet
7. All My Life, K-Ci and JoJo
8. Candle In The Wind 1997, Elton John
9. Nice and Slow, Usher
10. I Don't Want To Wait, Paula Cole
11. How's It Going To Be, Third Eye Blind
12. No, No, No, Destiny's Child
13. My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion
14. Gettin' Jiggy Wit, Will Smith
15. You Make Me Wanna..., Usher
16. My Way, Usher
17. My All, Mariah Carey
18. The First Night, Monica
19. Been Around The World, Puff Daddy and The Family
20. Adia, Sarah McLachlan
21. Crush, Jennifer Paige
22. Everybody (Backstreet's Back), Backstreet Boys
23. I Don't Want To Miss A Thing, Aerosmith
24. Body Bumpin Yippie-Yi-Yo, Public Announcement
25. This Kiss, Faith Hill
26. I Don't Ever Want To See You Again, Uncle Sam
27. Let's Ride, Montell Jordan
28. Sex And Candy, Marcy Playground
29. Show Me Love, Robyn
30. A Song For Mama, Boyz II Men
31. What You Want, Mase
32. Frozen, Madonna
33. Gone Till November, Wyclef Jean
34. My Body, Lsg
35. Tubthumping, Chumbawamba
36. Deja Vu (Uptown Baby), Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz
37. I Want You Back, 'N Sync
38. When The Lights Go Out, Five
39. They Don't Know, Jon B.
40. Make Em' Say Uhh!, Master P
41. Make It Hot, Nicole Featuring Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott and Mocha
42. Never Eve, All Saints
43. I Get Lonely, Janet
44. Feel So Good, Mase
45. Say It, Voices Of Theory
46. Kiss The Rain, Billie Myers
47. Come With Me, Puff Daddy
48. Romeo And Juliet, Sylk-E Fyne
49. It's All About Me, Mya and Sisqo
50. I Will Come To You, Hanson
51. One Week, Barenaked Ladies
52. Swing My Way, K.P. and Envyi
53. The Arms Of The One Who Loves You, Xscape
54. My Love Is The Shhh!, Somethin' For The People
55. Daydreamin', Tatyana Ali
56. We're Not Making Love No More, Dru Hill
57. Semi-Charmed Life, Third Eye Blind
58. I Do, Lisa Loeb
59. Lookin' At Me, Mase
60. Looking Through Your Eyes, LeAnn Rimes
61. Lately, Divine
62. Quit Playing Games (With My Heart), Backstreet Boys
63. I Still Love You, Next
64. Time After Time, Inoj
65. Are You Jimmy Ray?, Jimmy Ray
66. Cruel Summer, Ace Of Base
67. I Got The Hook Up!, Master P
68. Victory, Puff Daddy and The Family
69. Too Much, Spice Girls
70. Ghetto Supastar (That Is What You Are), Pras Feat. Ol' Dirty Bastard and Mya
71. How Deep Is Your Love, Dru Hill Featuring Redman
72. Friend Of Mine, Kelly Price
73. Turn It Up [Remix] / Fire It Up, Busta Rhymes
74. I'll Be, Edwin McCain
75. Ray Of Light, Madonna
76. All For You, Sister Hazel
77. Touch It, Monifah
78. Money, Power and Respect, Lox
79. Bitter Sweet Symphony, The Verve
80. Dangerous, Busta Rhymes
81. Spice Up Your Life, Spice Girls
82. Because Of You, 98 Degrees
83. The Mummers' Dance, Loreena McKennitt
84. All Cried Out, Allure Featuring 112
85. Still Not A Player, Big Punisher Featuring Joe
86. The One I Gave My Heart To, Aaliyah
87. Foolish Games / You Were Meant For Me, Jewel
88. Love You Down, Inoj
89. Do For Love, 2Pac
90. Raise The Roof, Luke
91. Heaven, Nu Flavor
92. The Party Continues, Jd
93. Sock It 2 Me, Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott Featuring Da Brat
94. Butta Love, Next
95. A Rose Is Still A Rose, Aretha Franklin
96. 4 Seasons Of Loneliness, Boyz II Men
97. Father, LL Cool J
98. Thinkin' Bout It, Gerald Levert
99. Nobody's Supposed To Be Here, Deborah Cox
100. Westside, TQ
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posted by purplefishy
10:27 AM
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Gosh, I keep forgetting what a youngin you are! 10 years or not, the few on that list I know are still in my 'new' music file. Stuff like Zep and the Stones are in my 'old' music file.
Btw, put 'Swimming to Cambodia' in your netflix queue. Watch once and be a fan forever after of the late and lamented Spalding Gray. ~LA
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Day 19
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I'm on vacation until after Christmas. Yesterday was quite possibly the worst, most stressful day I've had in a very long time (and certain people know exactly why that is), so I got all worn out by the drama and went to bed early. I just have to tell myself that some people don't have a clue when to just leave someone alone. Oh well. It's not really an issue right now. Self-sabotage issues will be thought about later. Right now I have a vacation to get to-the first real vacation where I get to stay home and do nothing/whatever I want that I've had in....oh....years.
On that note, i'm going back to bed. |
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posted by purplefishy
7:06 AM
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Monday, December 18, 2006
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Day 18
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Notes from Disneyland
The one thing that sticks out...
the lights!
So many lights. Lights upon lights. Christmas lights everywhere. It was lovely. Oh if you haven't been to Disneyland at night during Christmas, you haven't lived. So many lights...
And the tree was beautiful as well.
I was in awe as soon as I walked in. I was 9 years old again.
And as we walked down Main Street, the castle was purple. I don't know if it is normally that purple, but I think I melted at some point. It was beautiful.
Another thing that I noticed was all the people. There were hordes of people! It made us both claustrophobic. But...we made our way over to the area near Thunder Mountain (my favorite). I made Angie get on, because she's a baby like that. I love that ride so much! We hollered our lungs out and got out any stress over our workday. It was nice.
Then Pirates....oh the Pirates. They have changed it, but not as much as I thought I would. That was by far the longest line we had to be in, but it went by as we looked around at more lights upon lights upon lights. It was incredible.
One thing I did not expect was that we'd stand in lines that were all 15 minutes or far shorter. Who knew? All those people and.....no lines? What? Weird. But we didn't ask questions. The Haunted Mansion was amazingly decorated and none of my pictures of it came out very well. There were pumpkins everywhere and Christmas things and...yeah. It was the Nightmare Before Christmas. Truly. I was only sad that the Haunted Mansion was now cutesy. As much as I loved the deocrating, it was no longer slightly creepy. It was........cute. Very, very cute. Oh well. It was the most amazing eye candy.
And the fireworks...up close. The fireworks! The incredible fireworks! Sigh.
We stayed until the park closed even though I was sicker than sick. For a few hours at least, I didn't mind. I was being distracted by bright shiny things and fast rides. Yay!
Did I mention no lines? That's a gift in itself. I hear from others who went on Friday that it was certainly not the case then. We got lucky.
There was even some fake, "snow". I could just feel the tourists from the Midwest and East going, "Fuck you!" at the snow as it fell. But the Southern California natives were in awe. It was just a little bit magical. A lot of us had never seen snow (even fake "snow") fall from the sky. I had to leave the country to see snowfall for the first time. So, this was understandable. Add some music and the fireworks and well...yeah. Lovely.
I didn't mind that I had to brave the Matterhorn by myself. It was still fun. I let Angie go on the Small World.
I was exhausted and tired. And very, very ill. But it was so worth it. It was the vacation I needed for my mind.
4 hours. 6 rides. Easy parking, No lines, Fireworks, Christmas lights, and "snow". I think this was the best Disneyland trip ever. |
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posted by purplefishy
6:37 PM
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Sunday, December 17, 2006
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Day 17
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An Interview with 2006: Part 1
What would happen if 2006 and I were in the same room together? It would probably sound something like this.
Me: OK so, first I have to ask you...what the fuck was that? I mean...come on.
2006: Well...sorry. Yeah... I know. geez. (stares at the floor for a second)
Me: I mean seriously....did it have to be THAT bad? Couldn't you have just called up 2002 and had a repeat of that year? I know he's on vacation in Aruba, but still. Even that would have been better than this.
06: No, no you see that's....(sighs)...that's not really how it works.
Me: (long pause).. yeah. I know. But the only thing is, I don't really know how it works any more.
06: That's OK. I mean...not, ok ok, but just....that's how it is supposed to be.
Me: Can you stop with the platitudes already? I'm so sick of people telling me that things happen for a reason and that this is how they are "supposed to be". I mean, come on, 06. We both know that's total bullshit.
06: Yeah, I know. But at least it sounds better when I say it.
Me: True. true.
06: You know, I'm sorry I was such a loser like that. I promise i'll never do it again.
Me: Damn right- you're going into retirement, remember? You'll never bother me again. Where are you off to after the 31st anyways?
06: Oh I dunno...probably Fiji or someplace tropical. I've always wanted more time to work on my tan.
Me: Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Lucky bastard.
06: Well, yeah. It is. I think 2007 should do a good job for you when I go.
Me: Seriously? You think? No offense, but you were one seriously shitty year. At least, from my perspective.
06: Yeah, and I can't apologize enough for that. Maybe I can make it up to you? Take you out to dinner?
Me: Nah. Nevermind. It's too late for me anyways.
06: No, It's not too late. 07, remember?
Me: Yeah, I know. But I haven't met 2007 yet and I don't even know what he has up his sleeves.
06: Well, considering what I did to you...how bad can it be?
Me: Please don't ask that. Please....it makes me nervous.
(long pause. '06 lights a cigarette. I sit down and fold my arms, staring off into space.)
2006: Look, I didn't mean for things to get that bad. Really. Who knew? Well...I guess I did to a certain extent. But even I don't make this stuff up.
Me: But honestly, do you think I wanted to get my heart broken? Do you think I wanted death and destruction? Did you have to make it so damn hard to get out of bed most days? You could have eased up just a teensy bit. I mean, you've killed a part of me just stone-cold dead. Hear that hollow sound when you tap on me? Yeah. Empty. Knock it off already!
2006: I know, and I'm really really sorry. But there's nothing I can do about that now. It's all in the past. Sort of. Only...in a weird meta-past way for me.
Me: Please, don't remind me. Blah blah blahin-the-pastcakes. Sure. I get it. Now FIX it.
06: I'm afraid I can't do that either.
Me: Are you serious? You mean you can dish it out but after that your hands are tied? Fuck that. Fuck YOU.
06:Yeah, yeah. I've gotten that a lot lately. Like your neighbor, Dragon Lady I believe you call her? Worst year ever for her too. I don't know what she has stuck up her ass, but whatever it is, it isn't pretty. Believe me, I have done my best, but I just can't help the fact that I all-around suck.
Me: Wow. Well... in that case, can you pass me the bottle of tequila?
06: Sure, no problem. Here you go. (Hands me a bottle of Patron.) |
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posted by purplefishy
8:47 AM
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Saturday, December 16, 2006
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Day 16
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Disneyland was fun! I'll post more about it later, because right now i'm taking myself to urgent care.
Goody. |
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posted by purplefishy
9:32 AM
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Thursday, December 14, 2006
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Day 14
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Well, i'm re-sick. Yep, stuffy nose, the works. Re-sick.
You know what I'm going to do to make myself alllllll better?
Why, I'm going to Disneyland, of course.
Tonight, my friend and I are going to go for a few hours, and hang out. Even though we live maybe 20 minutes away, I still haven't been in oh....five years or more.
I like being local. It takes the pressure off of feeling like you have to spend an entire day. Plus, I already have my ticket. I bought it through work at a pretty steep discount. She has an annual pass so all we have to do is pay for parking.
So, we'll go on our favorites (Pirates, Haunted Mansion, Matterhorn) and hopefully one of the faster, twistier rides will clear up my sinuses just fine. Until then i've popped a Dayquil and am hoping for the best.
I've never been to Disneyland during Christmas, and now those fireworks I wrote about last week? Yeah. I get to see them up-close. |
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posted by purplefishy
3:36 PM
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Wednesday, December 13, 2006
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Day 13
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A Recipe.
This is not particularly holidayish, but I love it, and it was a huge hit at my dad's birthday last month.
My most amazing Mint Chip Ice Cream Pie
You will need:
1 oreo cookie crust (pre-baked, you can buy these at the store)
1 quart of mint chip ice cream
1 jar of chocolate fudge syrup
whipped cream or cool whip
1 bag of mint chocolate UFO's from Trader Joe's or even candy cane pieces if you want it to be festive. Hell, use both.
1. Melt the ice cream a little (but not all the way). I find that if you walk around the store with it while getting your other ingredients, and depending on how far you live from the store, it will be fine by the time you get home.
2. With a spatula, spread a layer of fudge on the bottom and sides of the crust.
3. Put in a layer of ice cream. Spread it around, filling the crust half-way.
4. Put in another layer of chocolate fudge
5. Fill the rest of the pie crust with ice cream. Cover with the little plastic cover that usually comes with the premade crust, and freeze however long you have to.
6. When ready to serve, take it out and put on another layer of fudge, followed by the whipped cream/cool whip, and drizzle more fudge on top of that. Put the mint UFO's on top or whatever toppings you wish. Be creative.
Et voila! You have the best dessert ever.
Damn. Now i'm hungry. |
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posted by purplefishy
5:33 PM
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Tuesday, December 12, 2006
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Day 12
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"Those mass-produced holiday newsletters."
So it's the topic from yesterday. I don't care. Nothing irritates me more than a mass-produced holiday newsletter. With the singular exception of a family friend who remarried with his six kids to a lady who has like...7 or 8 or something, I don't need a letter to keep everyone straight. Seriously.
So it's difficult to imagine me not responding with something like this:
Dear _____ (fill in your name),
Wow! It sure has been a long time since I've contacted/seen/spoken to you! How long has it been? _______(fill in amount of time here). I hope your children/spouse/life partner/pet (circle one) is doing well too. How have you been, living in the midwest/back east/the south/the northwest (circle one) all this time? This year I've been trying not to fall apart/kill someone/myself (circle one) because of all the stress, but at least i'm doing OK otherwise! I hope you had fun during your vacation to _____ . It sounds like fun! Please let (name of spouse/child/partner) know that I'm thinking of them. And if you have kids, thanks for updating me on their extra-curriculars/academics/college life (circle one). And congratulations on your raise/promotion/all expenses paid trip to Bermuda (circle one). That sounds _________(adjecctive here). You must be so thrilled! I've been in the same job for awhile and while it pays next to nothing, I still like it.
Take care and I hope to hear from you soon/next year/sometime (circle one).
Happy Holidays!
Me |
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posted by purplefishy
4:54 PM
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Monday, December 11, 2006
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Day 11
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"There are two kinds of light - the glow that illumines, and the glare that obscures." -James Thurber.
But, sometimes you need some glaring illumination. Hey, I think the two can actually be combined. Why not? They both create shadow. And it's the things that hide in the shadows once there's enough light for a shadow to exist, that you have to be aware of.
At this point I'm not sure which I'd choose. I just like the quote. I thought I'd share that today. That's all.
Now for a meme. Because I'm tired.
The Christmas Meme 1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate. Whipped cream. Marshmallows. Cinnamon. Yum.
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Wraps 3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Both 4. Do you hang mistletoe? No.
5. When do you put your decorations up? I let my minions do that for me. I don't do decorating.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? I don't have one.
7. Favorite holiday memory as a child? Sitting with Muffy on the sofa every Christmas morning and sticking the bows on her head as I would unwrap the presents.
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I heard my parents tiptoeing downstairs one night. That ended the mystery.
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? No. We always wait until Christmas morning. 10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree? When I do it, lopsided. No spatial organization skills. Again, minions. It's all about the minions.
11. Snow! Love it or dread it?Blech. I have never had to live with snow, and never will.
12. Can you ice skate? Oh HELL no. I think I tried once and I almost broke my knee. If you can break a knee.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I remember my bike. I was about...10ish. 14. What’s the most important thing about the holidays for you? Being with family. 15. What is your favorite holiday dessert? The toffee brittle my mom's aunt makes. Delicious.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? My brothers and I get up every year about an hour before our parents. We empty the stockings together.
17. What tops your tree? Nothing 18. Which do you prefer, giving or receiving? Giving. Usually.
19. What is your favorite Christmas song? Christmas Wrapping. 20. Candy canes? Love them! 21. Favorite Christmas movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 22. What do you leave for Santa? Nothing.
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posted by purplefishy
8:46 PM
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Sunday, December 10, 2006
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Day 10
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Stuff and...Stuff.
So i've been exceedingly busy this weekend. I'm trying to keep busy to keep my mind off of things. It's working so far.
Yesterday and into the early morning hours of today I was at my Big Brother's rockin' Xmas Party, which was quite possibly exactly what I needed. You know, the combo of gay men and booze- gotta love it.
Not that there was a dearth of straight, male energy. There were a few of those. See Exhibit A (below). As one of the only straight men there, he was an added bonus. Move over, McDreamy. I have McBartender.
Of course there were photos.
I did manage to take photos with just about all my family members plus SO's. But I seemed to be very popular with the rest of the party. Random! But they brought me drinks so I let them stay.
Behold! My minions.
Today I saw "The Queen" with my movie meetup group. I really did like it- I found it to be quite fascinating. HRH does not get off too lightly in this one, although she's not made into a villain(ess) exactly. It's difficult to describe. If anything, I gained more of an understanding of her perspective (not that Stephen Frears is a direct link to the queen or anything), and it was just as sympathetic as it was a scathing indictment of the Monarchy's overall disconnectedness and attitutde in the days following the death of Princess Diana. I did find the actors portraying Charles, Blair, Mrs. Blair, et. al. to be more than disconcerting at first though. I mean, I'm so used to seeing the real people! But then I got used to it and they sort of did become them. The guy who played Tony Blair actually did sound like Tony Blair, if you closed your eyes and imagined him speaking. Creepy. Helen Mirren...just...wow. She can go from sympatheic queen to steely-eyed queen in a matter of half a second. She was fabulous.
So.. busy this weekend, and ever so slightly hung over. That can only mean this weekend was an overall success. |
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posted by purplefishy
3:49 PM
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Minions! I could definitely use some minions. Great sweater, btw. Faboooo. ~LA
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Friday, December 08, 2006
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Day 8
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Dear Santa,
A lot of people write to you like you are substitute for god or something. Hell, maybe you ARE a substitute for god to some people. I don't know. This year...this year i'll be no different. Because if you are the all-knowing Santa, and you really do have magical powers or something, then maybe just maybe you'll bring me something I want.
But you can't do that, can you? Because you aren't real. So, maybe if I write to you like you are real, you'll hear me and bring me the stuff that I lost this year. And i've lost a lot. I know, I know it could be worse, I could have been killed in a freak napalming accident, or I could have contracted ebola, or something along those lines, but just look at my list for a second and consider it carefully.
Like, my dog. She's dead and I want her back. NO, no, step away from the pet store, I don't want THAT dog. I want MY dog. Not possible? Damn. I was hoping you wouldn't say that.
I also want my grandfather to be able to tack on an extra several years to those months the doctors gave him recently. That would be nice. You know, it would be nice if this probably weren't his last Christmas because we love him. We don't want him to leave us.
Oh speaking of which, I'd like my belief in my life back. That went MIA awhile back and I haven't seen it since. In fact, I'm starting to think that belief I thought I had? Yeah, it really never existed at all. But you probably haven't seen it either, have you? No? Didn't think so.
So in absence of any and all things that would truly make my life one that I'd like to live once again, I'm simply going to ask for the little things.
Like: The Television Without Pity book, the new Sims 2 expansion pack, some mint-flavored chocolate, my own hip flask (since clearly I need it), and some stripey socks.
And... a pony. I can't forget the pony.
Merry Damn Christmas,
Me. |
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posted by purplefishy
4:00 PM
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Ponies go poop. A lot. Just a word to the wise. This can be tricky, especially if you have shag carpeting in the living room, which would simply be a nightmare. ~LA
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Boy, can I relate to this entry. Getting my belief in my life back would be high on my wish list, too. But I guess I'll settle for an ipod...
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Thursday, December 07, 2006
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Day 7
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posted by purplefishy
7:43 AM
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Wednesday, December 06, 2006
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Day 6
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| One thing I like about the holidays: the fireworks at Disneyland. I teach a class in a city just south of Anaheim, and every night after we finish work, as I'm driving home north on Euclid St., I can see the fireworks at Disneyland during the holidays set off like mad. They make a huge, deep booming sound, and they light up the sky so much that I know there will be an accident because some driver was paying more attention to the fireworks than the cars ahead. I wish I could take a picture of them from my moving car. They really are quite distracting to me. But, they are kind of nice. They are my light in the darkness. |
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posted by purplefishy
8:36 PM
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Tuesday, December 05, 2006
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Day 5
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Dear (fill in the blank),"If you are reading this, then I'm probably dead..."
Let's get Morbid!
Awesome!
No, really. I was looking at the topic today and I was feeling "meh" about it because I tend to avoid shopping malls anyways.
Then I came across an ad for this site. It's a site that tells people that you are dead or critically disabled after a certain amount of non-response from automatically-generated prompts that you set.
Woooah. Now that's awesome! I've often wondered what would happen to the people I know from the Intarweb (tm TranceJen) if something were to happen to me. Would they simply assume I decided to set up my own commune in northern Alaska shovelling snow and knitting sweaters for the general population up there? Probably.
But now? Now I don't have to worry! I have death switch.com to notify those people of my untimely demise, and other people of any other information I'd like them to have!
There's some forward thinking for you. I mean, really it is quite practical. Where does all the e-info go once someone passes along? I have a guess that these sites will become more and more popular as the digitally-connected people age and head towards death.
I don't know how to feel about this website mostly. Do I laugh? Am I bemused? Am I awed by the originality of the idea? Why yes, probably all of the above. Because I'd love to use it. As someone who has my own funeral planned out pretty much exactly, (cremation, spread ashes in a few specific places that I have designated, and all purple flowers, please.) I'd like to know that I won't leave people who wouldn't have ways of knowing better, simply hanging without an explanation as to my whereabouts.
So, there you have it. My pick for the oddly useful yet stunningly morbid site of the day. |
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posted by purplefishy
4:43 PM
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Monday, December 04, 2006
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Day 4
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"Holiday music: essential part of the season, or 'no way, it makes my ears bleed'?"
Hmm. Yes and no. I'd say that it would not seem quite like the holidays without holiday music. Then again, there's overkill. During NaNoWriMo, I heard the same exact Bux holiday CD over and over and over and over...and then I think my ears started to bleed, or I just sort of blocked it out of my mind. Whichever. So I think there is such thing as overkill. Even Sara mentioned during the early morning at the yarn sale that she knew every word to that CD by heart. It made her cringe.
So hey. Bring on the Christmas music, just don't be repetitive and try to throw some more modern (and by modern maybe some 80's, some 40's) Christmas music in there.
And thus endeth the most boring Holidailies entry ever on the fourth day. |
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posted by purplefishy
8:59 PM
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Sunday, December 03, 2006
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Day 3
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posted by purplefishy
9:20 PM
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Saturday, December 02, 2006
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Day 2
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Yarntopia. Oh yes. It was. I wouldn't ever wake up that early for just any sale. But this was THE yarn sale. I could not miss this. So, we woke up and we were ever so tired, but we were the first ones at the door at 7 a.m. and they kindly let us in to fill our bags even though they didn't let us check out for another hour. We didn't mind. There were bins upon bins upon bins of yarn. I've never seen so much on sale (75% off!) ever. No, never. And my head is still swimming with the huge quantities of yarn I bought (two trashbags full. Dos .) and the amount of money I spent ($$$) but the amount of money I saved far outweighs that ($$$$$$$$$$). So I had fun. And we ate peruvian food later, and then we knit for a good long while. It was great.
 "Come to me my lovelies..." |
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posted by purplefishy
5:11 PM
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Friday, December 01, 2006
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Schedule
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Of course Holidailies has to begin just before a hectic weekend. But isn't that all part of the fun? I have two knitting-related activities tomorrow: One is a ginormous Bag Sale at the local Fancy Yarn Store where they sell entire BAGS of yarn for 50% off or MORE. Holy god. So I'm going to be meeting my crew at uh...6:30 a.m. for this thing. That's right. A.M. as in morning.
Then I have my knitting meetup whereupon I'll get to play with aforementioned fancy yarn. Good times.
In the evening there's a game of Scene It at Chris' Pad. Chris' Pad is a humble abode that is capable of holding about 15 people. I can't wait to play Scene It at Chris' Pad.
And that about covers Saturday.
Sunday will be all day with Michele in Hermosa Beach, and then down to the Royal Hawaiian Restaurant Laguna Beach for the NaNoWriMo TGIO Party. (Thank God It's Over, indeed) That place makes me think of the Tiki Room at Disneyland. So, Beach Day! Yay. Why yes, I love warm weather in December now that you ask. No, no I do not like snow. That's why I don't live anywhere near it and never will.
So I'm sure there will be pictures and maybe Holidailies entries about these things. So maybe that was just good timing. |
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posted by purplefishy
4:28 PM
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Day 1
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So. Here we are.
My brain is still in NaNoWriMo mode, so this is going to be a little weird at first.
First, I've been sick- being sick is boring. I was bored out of my mind yesterday when I wasn't busy sleeping on the sofa.
Second, i'm not too good at thinking up topics to write about, but i'll do my best.
Third, don't expect this to entertain you. I'm doing Holidailies this year as a matter of habit more than to entertain people. You know, unless I come up with a way to make this "Alcoholidailies" or something. That would be pretty entertaining (but not too practical).
I'll do my best- we'll see what topics I come up with this year. |
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posted by purplefishy
7:12 AM
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I'm sorry 2006 was a sad year...I kind of feel the same way. I hope 2007 brings much more cheer your way!