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Friday, February 4, 2005 / 4:35pm

So, what happened this past year? It's really bizarre. Not the year, but actually going through the process of looking at records and the like, and reading my year in review for 2003. I say bizarre because where I am now is totally not where I expected to be a year ago. I guess first and foremost, there was one rather large life changing event (and no, I didn't get married), but more details on that later... I think it might actually get its own entry. Let's begin, shall we? When the year began, I was fresh off of working a superhuge conference that was on campus. My desk (which I never really felt was mine, considering it hadn't really ever been cleared out for several years- I think three different people sat at it in that time, not counting me) was actually being cleaned out. In fact, my whole office was being ripped apart as all the furnishings were being replaced. Gone was that superlarge desk (which I really did enjoy) that was an apparent piece of Krannert original furniture. After a late night packing session, I did a quick visit of the theatre festival in Normal before continuing home for what was possibly the last family vacation (it's sad to say that) until people's lives are settled. It was nice to be in Cozumel, Mexico- where I ate a lot, lounged around, and did really late holiday cards. It was also so much warmer than good ol' traditional Illinois winter. In late January, the KranMasters held their semesterly grand interview/hiring process, and like before, it was full of great success. Also another great time: the fantabulous wedding of Melanie and Chris. They're great people and it was a great time; I was groomsman, and again, caught the garter, but kinda shuffled it off to an appropriate party, and it was a nice high school reunion, too. Weddings with people you knew in high school do make that sort of thing happen. And then, some time in March, I had to semi-rewrite the news posting program. But that wasn't a major event for the month. The death of a loved one, now that's news. My cousin's dad died, which was terribly sad, but in some ways, he's no longer in pain. Big life events, even if they're not yours (and if it were mine, I wouldn't be typing now), bring people together. My cousin had just moved to Seattle, and everyone's almost at the point where everyone's doing their own thing. So, it was great to be together. Now, if you know me, there are issues surrounding Brian scheduling, because there are elabroate systems in place for mdate Brian scheduling. I couldn't pick up and leave, I put in a really really long day and let the fellow KranMasters know, and they took care of all the rest, and I did manage to get away without worry. Life goes on, eh? And that was demonstrated as my Spring Break of a Lifetime 2004 went underway, featuring stops in Islip, New York, Boston, Baltimore, Las Vegas, Seattle, and Vancouver. Always nice to see friends, and to make good on a statement to visit the Northwest- and without a NYC blackout hindering travel plans. It was the semester of Sasha, a lovely plastic creation making stops at all the great work-related social endeavours. Many things must come to an end, just like the UIUC careers of my brother and sister... and all the friends I've made in Fall 2000 I wouldn't have even imagined meeting earlier that year (and I'm glad things worked out the way they did, because they're awesome). Working the crazy zoo that was graduations and managing to sneak away to watch a bit of the weekend was also quite great. And then summer came, and what a wild, fun summer it was. There were many field trips to exotic locations like Wrigley Field, and, yes, even Busch Stadium. And who would have thought that I would have made not one, but two trips to Decatur! (That BK diet... that's the way to go...) Crazy times; fun times. And random realizations and a race to wine or eat popsicles. And with the blink of an eye, or, a quick meeting, I discovered I wouldn't be at my job when my appointment ended. It was a shock to many; it was a shock to me. And since my work life was also a large part of my social life, everything from them on was remarkably different. And that's in addition to being poor. And while the friends from work wouldn't necessarily see it, I knew it would probably change my relationships with each of them, and it did. I was distanced from the great world of friends that had essentially become my closest family and home, seeing as how I was there all the time and it wasn't a job. And in that tail end of the year, I am very thankful for my non-work friends, my work friends that really kept in touch, and my family for supporting me and being around for me in a very weird, awkward, funky place in life. So, yeah, life does go on, and I'm looking for ways to make it greater. The new found time has me working "super part time" else where on campus where I've met yet another remarkable group of people, and I've done some galavanting to the Marlin's "home away from home" in Chicago and the baseball playoffs! The Sweet Goodness store opened, I stopped getting cable, and one uncle got married. And along those lines, Mark will be, soon. Due to scheduling conflicts, Trivia Tuesday was put on hiatus, while Wednesday lunch has grown considerably. A facebook and some online games became great time wasters, as my North home gets a faster connection and I finally get myself an ebay account (and the stupid stuff you can buy, too). As easy as it is to point out what I didn't like about the year, it's amazing to see what things I did do, and all the fun I did have in the ever-changing life of this ancient person. Okay, fine, I'm not _that_ old. Now, of course, we'll have to see what the future will bring. (And now, random fact: 2004 is currently the 7th longest year of my life. (It isn't currently tied with any other year.) Figure that one out!) This year went from "see on TV" to "as seen on TV"... bring it, 2005. Something cool, fun, and exciting, I hope!