Rising
It's that time of year again, and everyone else is pontificating about the past, so I might as well too, right? But atmosphere is everything - I'm currently at a local place called Z'otz. This place is nothing short of phenomenal. The music is stunningly eclectic - including bits of ambient, new age, and even more exotic works. A track from the soundtrack of Pan's Labyrinth played a few minutes ago. There are people filtering in and out as New Year's celebrations get underway, dressed in costumery and regalia. For my part, I'm sipping on hot chocolate and caressing the free internets in the most loving of manners.

In short, it's the perfect place to be reflective without missing out on the festivities.

This year has been at times cool, at times crazy, and at times sad. I started out nursing wounds from friends lost late the prior year. Also, my phone died early this year, and I realized how technology can be both unimportant and critical. I stumbled on science about how neurotransmitters work and formulated a theory of my brain. I hit Seattle, and realized that I really, really like my sister. I started cross-posting to MySpace and Tribe to make myself available to the world. I finished The Silencers, now known as When Voices Wake Us - Kayobi, your copy is in my hand and will be mailed tomorrow. I found a new job at Acxiom-Insight. I learned to SSH, I learned RMI, I learned JMX and will, soon, become an SCJP. I went to Tree's graduation. I flirted with boys. I celebrated my eighth anniversary with my love Niki. I went to PrideFest, the annual Gothnic, and back to Seattle all within a week of each other. I found my superpowers. I went to Gen-Con, reconnecting with the amazing Cate. I went to Hawai'i with Niki. I talked like a pirate. Aaron visited us in Boulder. I lost what was, I think, one of my best friends. I made many new ones. I failed (but tried) to write a novel. I installed Ubuntu. I ventured out here to New Orleans to be with Niki and her family. You can see it all here.

A year seems like such a large unit of time. It almost seems impossible to generalize and extract the changes therein. I certainly feel more guarded at the moment, but this will pass; last year has taught me exactly how important being open to the world is. So many beautful opportunities have crossed my path, and in the large, I have said yes to them. Many of my friends have commented that last year was rough, that they're not sad to see it go. To them, I have this:

Let the rain and the wind and the storm come.
I shall dance in the deluge of despair.
I shall swim through the flood of pain.
I will never let myself sink.
And when the clouds part, when the sun rises,
I will wring out my shirt.
I will change my socks.
And I will dance again.