2006 is G-O-N-E

2006 has departed. 2007 is here. Let's do a run-down of 2006.

My job remained the same from last year, and I had no office moves. I got more responsibility, and was tasked with projects that ended up being non-starters in the June time frame. Then I punched myself for using dumb business speak. My job ebbs, it flows, but overall I really can't complain.

I started leading a small group at church, which was a change. Lots of cool people came and went this year in the group. We lost them to law school, Kenya, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Washington State, other parts of VA, other small groups, etc. Basically everywhere except Timbuktu. We studied a cool book, a bunch of movies, and the travels of Paul. We had glamour parties and random gift parties and game nights. Lots of fun all around.

I traveled a lot. For work I went to California (for the first time in 12 years), St Louis, Boston, Seattle, and Korea. Korea was amazingly cool, even though I was there for only a week. I got to hobnob and see cool neighborhoods and buy chintzy souvenirs and get gypped on the exchange rate and all sorts of other neat foreign travel fun. I also got to fly business class and hang out in the fancy airport lounges. For fun I traveled to Grand Rapids, Lancaster County (twice), Philly, Altoona area, West Virginia, the Dirty Jerz (twice), Lehigh, Boston (a few times), and North Carolina. In addition, an oodle and a half of friends graced me with there presence here in NoVa. Thanks everyone for coming down!

I got a new guitar. I also got 2 computers; a new desktop and a used laptop. I decided Ebay is a pain and a half, but I eventually ended up with a fully functional laptop from it, which I am very happy about. I played frisbee and wiffleball and kickball and football and tennis, though not as much as in the year prior. I went dancing a few times, including a Viennese Waltz, Swing, and random other Waltzes. I learned a number of locksmithing skills, including how to make key copies that just barely don't work. I started to create a genetic algorithm to run a Yahtzee simulator I'm making. I studied Urban Economics for fun. I joined a golf league at work and we came in 1st place for the second half of the season, thanks in part to my clutch putting (which is amazing, because I'm a horrible putter). I had my first fender bender, without the bent fenders.

Renée and I started dating in July, and then she promptly ran off to Europe and then law school. Apparently the prospect of actually spending time with me scared her off. Long distance is kind of hard sometimes, but we're getting better at it. Plus she's awesome, so that helps.

So that was a snapshot of my year, and there's lots I skipped. Pretty amazing if you ask me. What a blessing. Thanks to friends and family for making it so, and thanks to God for a great 2006. Here we go '07!