This post is the second part of my short series on New Year's thoughts, contemplations, and reflections.As I wrote about yesterday, I read many blogs and newsources that could accurately be described as anti-gay, extremely conservative, anti-feminist, and/or opposed to equal rights for LGBT folks and women. While doing so often angers me, this trend of reading what the "opposition" was saying began for me many years ago in college when I'd read the "conservative" version of the student newspaper. While it can be reassuring to only read articles with which one already agrees, doing so offers little insight ...

1. Dear Son’s Adoption is final!!
2. Family Family Family
3. My New Car
4. Gwenn’s Job is totally amazing
5. GROWING in my faith
6. New York Football Giants win the Superbowl
7. Personal forgiveness
8. Self discovery
9. Letting Go
10. Moving forward…

...

We went to a pre-new year's party at Jen's cousin's apt. last night. Brittany and Chris are totally fun, they have the cutest baby, and it was just a nice, relaxed, boozy evening. I got to rant to their friends about library science. And Brittany used to work in publishing so she's got TONS of books so she sent me home with some lovely hardcovers to enjoy. Yay bookishness!I like this pre-new year's idea. So much more festive and convenient than the forced festivities of new year's itself. I'm not a fan of the resolution, but I do have new ...

January, 2008:

• I went back in time and conversed with myself.
• Kristie got a new car.
• I joined my company volleyball team.
• I had one of my saddest birthdays ever.
• We lost Uncle Paul.
• I went off about Catholic funerals.

February, 2008:

• The fence saga began.
• Obama takes Connecticut in the primaries.
• I fought Mother Nature and lost.
• I shared some really personal diary entries.
• Jess got us a good deal on a fence.
• My boss' boss got fired.
• I had a fashion crisis.
• I finally got

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Considering the burglary, we all had a very good Christmas. ET's parents astounded us all by going out on Christmas eve and replacing nearly all of the presents that were stolen; poor things were exhausted by the evening. Boxing Day at my parents was lovely, and included a traditional walk...this time with "Little Dog":We've had a cold few days here; at least, cold for Cornwall. The dreaded easterly wind has been paying us a visit, which drags in salty air that chills to the bone; it pushes through our letterbox and worms its way into the living room. Unusually, ...

I think the most memorable New Year’s Eve was back in the ‘80’s. I was 19 or 20 years old. (The legal drinking age back then was 18.) I had arranged to bar hop with friends by bus. Each of us took a bus to our first stop, which was Wendt’s Bar in Milwaukee. Even though the idea was to bar hop, we stayed there most of the night. Lei’s, party hats, streamers and horns were aplenty. So much so, that my friends and I wore multiple hats and Lei’s. After ringing in the New Year at Wendt’s, we ...

Embedded video from CNN VideoThe audacity of Blagojevich. The defiance. He took such an "attitude" in his speech, and I know that attitude was toward the media and those politicos who are out to impeach him, but as an Illinoisan I am offended. I found it disrespectful. It was clear from his tone that this was in retaliation for the predicament he has found himself in. He should be ashamed. Did you see this ‘tool’ at the end of the video when Congressman Rush is speaking? He’s bouncing up and down on his heels, so pleased with himself. Cocky, ...

In the category of ‘look what a useless shower of muppets our government are…’ Just before Christmas the UK government announced that they will be fast tracking the roll out of the programme to vaccinate young women between the ages of 12 and 17. The roll out of the programme has been so successful including a 90 percent take up amongst 12 and 13 year olds that the older age groups are now going to be included earlier. The Nursing Times reports Routine HPV vaccination was introduced for girls aged 12-13 (year 8 ) in September. Originally girls aged 16-18 were also ...

Liebe Leserinnen, liebe Internetsurferinnen, treue Freundinnen, das alte, runzelige Jahr neigt sich seinem wohlverdienten Ende zu. Es gibt noch einen Knall, einen Tusch, ein Prosit und dann entschwindet es in die unendlichen Weiten der Vergangenheit. Schlecht war es nicht, ich habe kein Grund zur Klage. Aber das Neue birgt auch Aufregendes und da greife ich erzählerisch schon mal etwas... ...

An interesting viewpoint in Hurrah for tomboys! I don't have children of my own, but recently it struck me that all the little girls I know are, well, a bit girly. Where, I wondered, had all the tomboys gone? For women of my generation - late thirty and early fortysomethings - it's almost a badge of honour to say that you were a tomboy when you were a child. The fashionable books of the time - The Famous Five, Little Women, To Kill a Mockingbird - all had tomboy heroines. Girls such as George, who could row a boat "like... ...

Hello readers. Today's post marks the beginning of a short series of posts in which I reflect upon the purpose of my blog. You're invited to read my rambling thoughts and contribute ideas, thoughts, and reactions. In addition to celebration, the New Year for me has come to signify "looking into the mirror," reflection, and contemplation. With respect to this blog, I've been thinking about what it means to me and what I want to use it for. In becoming angry at unfairness to and lies about women, people of color, LGBT folks, and others, I have come to see ...