That special time is nearly upon us once again. Now that Santa is done with his rounds it is time for you to make your list and check it twice… your New Year's resolutions list, that is. After having a few non-ideal years behind me I am quite ready for 2004 and am viewing it as the opportunity to start fresh in a few aspects of my life.

For those who know me personally, I am the type of person who comes up with really great ideas and goals and often does not follow-though completely with them, especially when it comes to self-matters. Incidentally that is one of the things I am hoping to work on during the course of this next year. I am working on reorganising my things, throwing away lots of stuff I would never have parted with prior. I bought some nice, yet simple items for myself like candles and incense. Wardrobe is next. I am on the road to getting back on my feet financially. I am finally replacing my electronics that were destroyed now over a year ago. I have been working on building my side business to the point where its income will be a nice secondary source of funding in the future. I am happy being single and not dating anyone. I am working on internally saying goodbye to someone who has made it clear for a while now that they do not care about me whatsoever. I am looking forward to the future whereas before I was either completely apathetic or entirely too self-destructive. I actually have a more positive outlook on things these days. And nothing could make me happier.

Happy New Year to you all.

Gifts Received:

• Sony MHC-GX45 Mini Hi-Fi Component System
• HP PSC 1210 Multifunction
• Dark Side of the Moon, Pink Floyd
• Stop All The World Now, Howie Day
• Bill Blass Sweater
• Two Van Heusen Shirts
• CK One Eau de Toilette
• Firehouse Subs Gift Certificates
• One Ream, Office Max MaxBright Recycled Paper
• 12 Pack, Uniball Roller 0.2mm Black Pens

Purchased by and for myself:

• Illuminart Cinnamon/Mocha Coffee Candle
• Illuminart Spiced Pear Aromatherapy Candle
• Twenty Sticks, Incense (Assorted)
• Incense Holder with Aquarius Symbol

I decided to finally go through the large, black plastic garbage bag I had placed all of my personal belongings into when I had to remove them from my previous car before signing its ownership to my insurance company. Despite the fact the accident happened 16 May 2003, this bag of mostly paper happily sat undisturbed under my bed since then without my having given it a second thought. My cleaning and laundry today prompted me to look inside and so far it has been an interesting experience.

Here is a list of all the things that were in my car when it (and almost I) met our maker. Along with the standard items, there are a few that I am finding very interesting to find. They are in no particular order.

• Maps of Orlando, Jacksonville and Florida
• Assorted pens and lighters
• My squeegee
• Key chain with keys
• Chick-fil-a stuffed cow ("Save R Hides. Eat Chikin.")
• Empty bottle of CK-One fragrance
• PC keyboard (sans several keys)
• Mardi-Gras beads
• My pocketknife
• Two beverage mugs
• Check written for my car payment, but never deposited
• Assorted Southern Nights coupons/newsletters
• Driving directions to Jacksonville (07 August 2001; the trip during which I decided to move there)
• Assorted receipts, coupons and napkins
• Accident inspection report of loss
• Chalk baggie (for billiards)
• Photographs of my car, dashboard gauges and one from 04 July 1999 of me with then-boyfriend Chaz, Chris and Jill at my house during an Independence Day party
• Gas receipt (12.026 gallons) with "400 miles!" written on it
• Fortune cookie insert ("Success is on its way to you")
• Receipt for the dinner I purchased for my first date ever on Valentine's Day
• 31 sets of directions (or maps) and telephone numbers to "friends"
• $13.13 in coins (yes I counted — glad I am not superstitious)

Looking at some of the above in more detail really brings me back to up to two years ago. I was a pretty different person back then, I think. I am really glad I was not more on top of keeping my glove box cleaned out now that I have had the chance to view this time capsule.

Since I will be working through out this holiday season, I thought I would take a moment to wish everyone a happy holiday. I know many of you are like me and do not care much for them, but who wants to turn down free stuff?

The new year is around the corner and I still do not have anything planned. I will probably head to a club for the evening or may just stay in and do nothing. That decision is likely to occur in the last hours of 2003.

Driving home this morning from Cracker Barrel where I enjoyed their Holiday Breakfast Sampler (two eggs cooked to order, bacon, sausage, country ham, hash-brown casserole, fried apples, two cinnamon biscuits, grits, freshly-made buttermilk biscuits and sawmill gravy) I saw a man on a golf course looking to gain a lift from other golfers who had golf carts. He stood on the green with his thumb up, his arm extended out. It was an odd sight and I wonder why one would need to hitchhike on the green.

I will now entertain New Year party suggestions. Unless I request it off, I will probably be scheduled to work on 01 January 2004 so I cannot leave the Orlando area. I am going to ask about that on Tuesday.

That is all for now.