New Year's Eve

FYI:

( World Tempers New Year Celebrations After Tsunami )

The death toll has gone past 120,000, and it's estimated that more than a third of the victims were children. I can't even imagine that high.

In case anybody wants to donate, here's a bunch of links:

Mercy Corps

Unicef

World Vision

AmeriCares

Direct Relief International

Calgary, gifts, and random movie geekage

It's one of the ironies of life that when we have time to write on lj, we often have nothing to write about, and when we have lots to write about, we have no time. It's been the latter for me in the last couple of weeks. So that I am only now finding myself with time to write about Calgary.

( Calgary )

***
Strange that it's already New Year's Eve. Doesn't feel like it. For some reason, I kept thinking I was one day behind - until yesterday Chris mentioned that he was on call today.

"Aren't you on call the 31?" I asked.

"Yeah... that's tomorrow."

"No it's not - today's the 29th."

"Um, no it's not."

I checked. "Oh. Why did I think it was the 29th?"

"I just took away a whole day for you, didn't I?" Chris asked.

"Yeah. (pause) 'So tell me, how did this make you feel?'"

It took Chris a moment to realize I was paraphrasing The Princess Bride, and hadn't just gone utterly touchy-feely on him ;)

***
Watching ROTK EE the other day, the boys were interested in all the little extras. After the extra bit where Pippin and Gandalf see Denethor for the first time, Chris asked Daniel, "So what do you think Pippin is thinking right now?"

"'Oh, no. I've just sworn fealty to this crazy jerk,'" Daniel replied promptly.

***
And today we're talking about how much things are worth - e.g. whether ROTK was worth +/- $60. I explained that to many people, it wouldn't be, because they wouldn't be interested in the little extra bits here and there. I pointed out that for example the 'new' scene where the ghost soldiers seem to refuse to fight for Aragorn, and Aragorn looks like he's about to break down with frustration and hopelessness, doesn't really add to the plot. It gives us a little more insight into Aragorn's character, a bit more depth, but it's not necessary to the storyline. The theatre version mostly cut anything that didn't add directly to the story, I said.

"They had melody, not harmony," Daniel commented.

It took me a minute to process that. And then I thought, wow, I couldn't have come up with a better simile. It's perfect.

Daniel blows me away when he says stuff like that.

***
Gotta go. We're either traveling to Kingston or getting visitors from Kingston tomorrow. I should probably figure out which - i.e., whether I need to pack up or clean.

New Year's meme

What did you do in 2004 that you'd never done before?
Attended the funeral of a family member.

Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't remember if I made any last year... ::checking::

Ah, quote from last year's meme: I don't make New Year's Resolution. I stopped when I realized that for ten years, my one resolution had been to stop cracking my knuckles.

Addendum: I still crack my knuckles.

Did anyone close to you give birth?
Nobody in Ottawa, as far as I know. Friends of mine in cities across Canada. Oh, and my choir director & his wife had their first right around the Christmas concert season.

Did anyone close to you die?
My mother.

What countries did you visit?
None. Although in some ways Alberta is like a separate country. Sometimes the rest of Canada wishes it was.

What would you like to have in 2005 that you lacked in 2004?
More happiness and patience with the kids.

What date from 2004 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
July 19, the day my mother died.

What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Staying sane and finishing the school year with a B+ average.

What was your biggest failure?
Dunno... not managing things better at home, I think.

Did you suffer illness or injury?
Hysterectomy in February, does that count?

What was the best thing you bought?
Probably the LOTR EEs. Or the HLOTS DVDs.

Whose behavior merited celebration?
Chris', Justin's in his first ballet class and JK, my cousin Ingrid and aunt Gilda, the Supreme Court of Canada, and 49% of American voters.

Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mine, the kids sometimes, and 51% of American voters.

Where did most of your money go?
Same as always: tuition, child care, paying down debt. Not so much child care, with Justin in only part-time day care and Daniel only babysat two days of the week.

What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going camping with the boys, the visit from Sarah & family, and getting to take courses I was interested in.

What song will always remind you of 2004?


Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Hard to say.
ii. thinner or fatter? Thinner :)
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, unfortunately. My mom's insurance money is rather bittersweet.

What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spent more good time with the kids.

What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasted time.

Did you fall in love in 2004?
Already there ;)

How many one-night stands?
Heh.

What was your favorite TV program?
L&O and/or HLOTS.

What was the best book you read?
Any of the Diana Gabaldon. Or my IntEnvLaw text.

What did you do on your birthday?
Went out to lunch with Chris, to an Indian buffet. Mmmm.

How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2004?
Comfort & modesty.

What political issue stirred you the most?
The election(s) and gay marriage.

Who did you miss?
My mom.