Well, the end of the year is finally near, and I can honestly say, "Thank God!". The massive ball of insanity that was 2005 is coming to a close, and from what it looks like (today anyway) also leaving with it is the craziness. January will bring about much peace and quietness (whatever that is) and some traveling for yours truly. As for the rest of the year, I plan on taking it one day at at time. My New Year's resolutions are simply to keep my apartment clean, become fluent in German, find a better paying job (hopefully out of retail), and find more time to read and write. I leave this year with one last website, which is www.brainyquote.com which below I have provided a few quotes from the site. It's easy to navigate and a handy tool to have. And since it is almost Christmas, may you have a merry one with the ones you love.

"I still find each day too short for all the thoughts I want to think, all the walks I want to take, all the books I want to read, and all the friends I want to see."
-John Burroughs
"Look, I don't want to wax philosophic, but I will say that if you're alive you've got to flap your arms and legs, you've got to jump around a lot, for life is the very opposite of death, and therefore you must at very least think noisy and colorfully, or you're not alive."
-Mel Brooks
"Thank you, God, for this good life and forgive us if we do not love it enough."
-Garrison Keillor
"May you live every day of your life."
-Jonathan Swift

Merry Christmas

There, I've said it. I feel better know. At work I have to answer the phones "Happy Holidays" and I see all sorts of "Holiday" sales going on. Now I understand that Christmas isn't the only one coming up (Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa, etc.) but come on people. No one's going to be offended if you wish them a Merry Christmas. I have even had a Jewish customer (after informing me he was Jewish) wish me a Merry Christmas. Sure I've gotten my share of glares in the past, but those people were already in a bad mood to begin with. So, take a deep breath, relax, and have a very Merry Christmas.

I'm an uncle!

On the day of Tuesday December 6th, 2005, Shayla Rose came into this world. This baby girl is the first child of Matthew and Jennifer. She is 8 lbs 6oz and 19 inches long. Everyone is doing fine, although my sister is rather tired from her ordeal.
Jenni's water began a slow leak over the weekend, which she wasn't aware of until she had a doctor's appointment on Monday. She then went to the hospital where she had her baby at 6:13 on Tuesday morning. The baby's original due date was December 1st. Welcome to the world, baby girl!