Happy New Year

Thursday, Jan. 01, 2004 - 12:00 a.m.

First, a toast. "Champagne to my true friends, and true pain to my sham friends."

And now, onto yet another ubiquitous awards list!

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My Best Of List for 2003

Best Video: "Hey Ya" By Outkast

Best New Toy: Astrojax Saturn.

Best Old Toy: A secondhand Titanium Powerbook.

Best Reason To Own A DVD player: The extras in "Finding Nemo" and the re-release of "A Christmas Story."

Best Online Universe: Diaryland. Well, duhhh.

Best Scenery: The Great Basin, just west of the Nevada / Utah border. Especially during sunrise.

Best New Elected Official: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Best CD (New): Damien Rice, "O"

Best CD (Classic) Kevin Braheny, "The Way Home", and Isao Tomita, "Kosmos" (tie)

Best Mug Shot: That old Ace in the Hole himself, Saddam Hussein. Although I wish I could see the one of Martha Stewart.

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Awards

The Forces Of Nature Award: Scott Hysmith, my ex-fiancee whose encounter with Hurricane Isobel cleared my head about a bunch of stuff that he and I still needed to get settled. So we did. This nearly caused its own separate hurricane, but that's a story for another time.

The You Are My Sunshine Award: Cher1 H3ys3, who started reading my diary and has now become a dear friend who brightens my day.

The Naked Truth Award: JJ, for being able to write so simply and honestly, and for letting me take pictures of the artwork on her skin.

The Still Crazy After All These Years Award: Todd Thalimer, my online friend of nearly a decade with whom I reconnected in April, and whom I finally met in person for the first time in December of 2003. Also would receive Most Anticipated Hug award if I were awarding that award.

Oh what the hell --

Most Anticipated Hug Award: Todd Thalimer.

The Greatest Gift Award: Jamie Lord, who trusts and forgives me for involving him in crazy schemes that backfire, most notably the Erasure Impostor Adventure. ILY. YCM.

The Keep Looking Up Award: To Br1@n Cl@yt0n, who takes the time to make me look at the sky, and know my place.

It Was The Best Of Times; It Was The Worst Of Times Award: Paul Schultz -- "and that's all I got to say 'bout that."

The He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother Award: To Jon Landerman, my younger brother. Unconditional love is something few people even try to bestow, but he's somebody who does.

The Pull My Finger Award: Glenn Schmall, whose late-night triage in recent days has been sorely needed and very welcomed. Thank you. And welcome home.

The It Only Hurts When I Don't Laugh Award: To BoogityX2, whose very tilted view of this universe was one of the things that I relied on in the days following my grandmother's death.

The Cornerstone Award: To my husband John, who lets me experience life and then patches me up and sends me out again every time I come to him with an owwie. I don't know how you do it, hon, but I'm humbled. And I love you.

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Things I Learned This Year From My Friends

One person's integrity is another person's shitheadedness.

Be careful what you have delivered to the office because your boss will open it.

Bi-coastal over-the-telephone, synchronized DVD movie dates are awesome.

It's possible to collaborate on a song over the telephone.

Trust is always a risk worth taking.

Ostrich meat is pretty darn good.

It's not wrong to need people. It IS wrong -- and also pretty impossible -- NOT to need people.

Life is like a box of chocolates -- sometimes too much of it makes you want to puke your purple guts out.

If you are a friend of my enemy -- you're not really my friend. Do the math.

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Happy 2004, folks.

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6 of my readers commented on this entry

wench77
hey, i like your things youve learned from friends this year. yeah. good stuff. and what, were you like sitting at the 'puter just WAITING to put a new entry on time? cling cling (that is the champagne, not forgetting to put bounce in the dryer!!) happy 2004!
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Glenn
Drat! I wanted the "The Still Crazy After All These Years Award". Guess Ill have to work harder this next year. And stop pulling on my finger Brin.
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Bindyree
Glenn, that's a straight line if ever I saw one. Must... resist... straight line....
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tallguyinyc
Did you forget I'm 6'8" and push 300 lbs.? How could I not be heavy (Did I mention Im insanely protective?)
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Bindyree
Why, yes you are, aren't you? That might come in handy one of these days. And that's all I got to say bout that. Heh heh heh... :)
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jj
happy new year brin! and thank you for the award. unfortunately i have to work today, so ill send tommy to accept it on my behalf. love
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what you missed - what's next - leave a note - email the pope
first post - random entry - cast page - my diaryrings - top ten

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