in_the_blue | Tonight, I feel pretty good.

All things considered.

One more day to this year and I'm not really very good at looking back and assessing, though I try. I'd rather look forward. And I don't like to make resolutions because those aren't real goals.

I know I will miss my kitty Stones (I still get choked up thinking about him). I'll miss him for a long, long time. Probably forever, and that's as it should be. For heaven's sake, this is the same soft-as-nails (!) person who still can't read Order of the Phoenix without bursting into tears.

I know I have grown as a writer.

I know I have grown as a human being. I guess that's all anyone can really ask for. I like to think I move with grace and kindness and I don't always live up to that, but I try.

Ooh, look. Introspection. It's rampant tonight.

Tomorrow night is New Year's Eve. We'll be hosting Hannah's best friend Sara for the second year in a row, so now it's a tradition. We'll also be making hand-made egg rolls, one of my specialties, and that's also a tradition.

I wish every single one of you out there an absolutely wonderful 2005. I wish you a year filled with happiness and love and health and peace of mind. May all your fondest dreams come true.

And may JKR bring Sirius back on July 16.