At last...

Does a good outlook lead to good fortune, or is it the other way around? I don't know, but either way, this has been the best week I've had in months.

- In the spirit of following my bliss this year, I have acquired a sewing machine in order to make good on my long-standing desire to learn how to sew. I originally purchased a fairly simple Kenmore from Sears: it's small, it's cute, it's shiny and new. Perfect, right? But my stepmom, who's an expert seamstress, insisted on sending me one of hers, which arrived the day before yesterday. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this-- a Viking 6460, which I'm certain is at least as old as I am. The machine pictured on this page (second from the bottom) must have never been used, because mine looks like it's sewn through Hell and back-- it's yellowed and dusty, the stickers are wearing off and the knobs have no labels. Honestly, I'm too intimidated to actually plug it in and make sure it works properly. But hey, free is a great price for a sewing machine, and if I can learn on this one, I'll be ready for anything. Bring it on!

- My mother called me on Wednesday to tell me that my grandmother has spontaneously decided to give all of her grandkids $1,000. I'm still kind of stunned by her generosity, not to mention the serendipitous timing. I haven't accepted any kind of financial support from anyone in my family for several years, but seeing as it's a family-wide gift and I'm still working part-time for what amounts to a handful of beans, it absolutely could not be coming at a better time. I can't describe the relief it will be to help me cover my bills until I'm promoted, which brings us to...

- ...the news my manager gave me yesterday, which is that he's given his two weeks notice to move on and because of this, has recommended me for immediate promotion to Asst Manager so that I and the current Asst Manager could share the duty until a replacement is found for him. I've really enjoyed working for him and will be truly sad to see him go, but hopefully this means that I'll be promoted within the next couple weeks and this months-long waiting game will finally be over. He hasn't yet gotten a confirmation for my promotion from the regional manager, so this is still up in the air, but the gears are at least in motion. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

- The gift money I'm getting is going strictly to bills, but I did allow myself one exception: a much-needed new digital camera. I'll be brightening up my posts with a lot more pictures once it comes in.

Here's to hoping the good fortune keeps coming!

What are you holding onto?

Fortunately, the perk of writing a blog versus a novel is that on occasions like this, I can skip the gooey, weepy middle of this sad plotline and skip right to the happy ending, which is that Evan and I have gotten back together and are doing better than ever. I think we both knew that some time apart would help us see how much we mean to each other, but I for one didn't expect it to be so quick or so overwhelming. It is abundantly clear to me now that I'm the luckiest man alive to be with him, which must mean this temporary breakup was a success (assuming such a thing is possible). Even though this isn't a novel, I'm going to slap a big THE END. on this issue and move on.

2006 is over, as you may have noticed, and with it have (coincidentally) ended several unpleasant months of health, relationship, job and other woes, many of which I didn't choose to describe here. In fact, as of the past few weeks things are looking downright sunny. December 18th was my last day at my full-time job, and since then I haven't once missed it or regretting leaving: I need a more creative and positive environment than I had there. These days I'm working part time at a video game store as previously mentioned, which is as challenging as it is fun. While I'm having to dip into my savings to get by at the moment, I was prepared to do that and there are some opportunities coming up for me at this job that I'm very excited and optimistic about. I realized recently that it's been years since I've had a job I liked going to, and so far it's making everything else a lot more enjoyable with it. Funny how that happens.

The consistently eloquent danah boyd, self-made pundit of the Internets, started 2007 with a study on teenagers' use of social networking sites for surprisingly disposeable expression. [Also worth reading is her essay on Facebook's recent privacy snafu, which made TIME's look downright inane.] The trend she illustrates is that if they lose a password or access, which apparently happens often, they simply make a new profile/username/etc. and repeat the process: there's no major commitment or attachment to their online representation. Considering that in three months this journal will be six years old (for better or for worse, as these days much of the content in the archives embarasses me), it's obvious that I'm not the type to hold that view of things. But the article still left me with the lingering question of: What other things am I holding in a deathgrip that probably don't deserve that much energy? I don't have any immediate answers, but it's something I'm going to keep in mind. I think my goal in 2007 is going to be to relax and be a little more accepting of circumstances. Life is just too goddamn short. (You'd think the cancer would have made taught me that, but I'm surprisingly stubborn.)

So here's to 2007, which I hope for all of us will be the year that our fears are quelled, our needs are met, our joys are found, and we each become the person we have always wanted to be.