Yesterday I stopped at Sam’s grandparents house to see Brit. I walked into the kitchen and discovered something of a party, as it appeared that I wasn't the only one who decided to drop by, so I ended up having a very pleasant evening. Sam’s parents and John’s parents were there, as well as Stacy, John’s sister Dena, Kim’s friend Theresa, and of course, Brit. After a few glasses of wine I gave Brit and Brooke their gifts, and I think they were pleased with all of them. Kim and John enjoyed theirs as well, though I think I made them a bit unhappy with my extravagance, but oh well. I wanted to do something nice for everyone this year.

I made plans with Brittany to pick her up from her mother’s on Sunday morning and spend the day together (miraculously, I have a day off). I told her we could go out to lunch or dinner, see a movie, go to the bookstore, or do anything else that she wanted. I think that she’s excited.

Sam’s parents are planning to pick up Sam’s chest freezer from my house this Sunday as well. I’m both relieved and nervous about letting it go. For one thing, something inside of it reeks. I don’t know if it’s Frank’s deer head or Sam’s turkey (complete with claws and feathers). All that I know is that something leaked blood all over a box of chocolate chip cookies I had forgotten was in there, and I have no idea how the hell something in there could have defrosted. Living with a freezer full of dead animal carcasses can be interesting. The only thing that really concerns me is losing that turkey. I always promised Sam I would have it mounted. There is a long, hilarious story attached to that turkey. I smile just thinking of it. I want to have it taken care of, but don’t want to spend the $400 on it right now. I’m just afraid that once they take it out of the house that I’ll never see it again. The only other thing I need to do is hide some other items that I don’t want anyone to see/take/ask questions about. I’ve turned into some paranoid freak in the last year, that’s for sure.

As for tonight, well, I finally told Jessica that I won’t be going to the party with her. I honestly can’t stand the holiday and have always regretting leaving the house on 12/31. I could recount every disastrous party and/or evening I’ve had on NYE, but it would take more time than I care to spend in the telling. I think she’s pissed, but I just don’t give a damn. I really don’t feel like being stuck in a house with a bunch of drunk coke-heads that I don’t know (as opposed to those that I DO know) counting the hours until the cab will pick us up. I plan on stopping at Target after work to pick up some snacks, maybe a new DVD, and some Pine Sol, returning home, and not leaving the house for the rest of the night. I’m such an exciting individual.

Damn. Two hours after I wrote the above paragraphs the ringing phone has finally ceased. Everyone seems to want to talk about plans for this evening, and now I'm thinking I'll be going out after all. I suppose if I drink enough, anything can be fun.

Am I reflecting on the year that just passed? Not really. In fact, I don't even remember too much of it, that's how uneventful it was. So here's my Year In Review:

January--I think it was cold. And snowy. Oh, and my cousin Ellie was in town at some point and spent a night at my humble abode. This was one of the toughest months, and as we were both (then) single and I was heartbroken, we made plans to quit our jobs for the summer, pack up our shit, buy a VW van, and become hippies. I started playing darts again on Monday nights with my old dart team this month, and threw a surprise party for my friend Jessica's birthday.

February--An even more elusive month. I don't remember a fucking thing. Except that my puppies had puppies. Yep, I witnessed the birth of my little beagles' babies. Four in all, three males (now named Samson, Bailey, and I can't remember the last one) and one female (Liberty). I think I spent the rest of this month cleaning up dog shit.

March--My best friend Jessica discovered that she was pregnant. We attempted to recreate Sam's famous Cabbage and Noodle dinner the weekend before St. Patrick's Day, but it tasted like crap. Jesse and I partied it up downtown on St. Patrick's Day. More cleaning of dog poop ensued.

April--The puppies went to their new homes, and my last single friend, Stacy, started dating her now-fiance. The week after Easter, however, was our last hurrah. She took the week off of work, I took off a few days, we spent time with her daughter and Sam's kids during the day and went to the bars at night. This was the month I ran into Jeff, long-lost-I'm-not-sure-what-to-classify-him-as-guy, and got back in touch, so to speak.

May--Don't remember this month, either. I think I went to a cookout somewhere for Memorial Day. I don't remember where. Oh, now I know. My friends Frank and Dena were married. I was a bridesmaid. I also made an ass of myself at the reception. I'm still blushing. The bachelorette party was great, too.

June--I was extremely broke. Some of Sam's friends took me to see a Nascar race (Sam had been a converted fan). First time in my life I started drinking at 4 a.m. on the way to Michigan. Oops. That was a lie. We had a pig roast a few years back and when we got up to start cooking the little porker, we tapped the keg.

July--Also known as the "Month That Any Attempts For A Social Life Were Desecrated." After 4th of July weekend (in which I went kayaking, my solo excursion of the year, and went to my first Harry Buffalo party, where said beverage was remarkably sweet and fuzz free) I started working at the shit-hole of a pseudo-Caribbean restaurant (I won't mention names here). I had to use a majority of my vacation time at my day job so that I could go through the ridiculous two weeks of training time. Then I think I worked every single day that month.

August--I think I started this journal then, so while I could page back and see what it was up to, I'm too lazy to do so. Yes, lazy. There I said it. Why else would I be writing this entry when I should be working? August...I don't remember anything about it.

September--Another blank. I think I was too busy working and planning that damn baby shower to do anything else. Wait, another wedding, this time friend and fellow editor Jen.

October--Finally, stupid baby shower was over and done. I actually decorated my house for Halloween. The decorations are still up. Kidding--I'm not THAT lazy. (Only ONE of the spiderwebs is still stuck on the house, ok?)

November--More working. More b/s. Jessica's baby was born. Thanksgiving happened, I think.

December--I'm still too close to it to think about it. I turned 26. I think Christmas was this month too, right?

So there you have it. Fill in random gaps with work, sleep, lots o' movies, books, and CD's, a few nights of drunken escapades...mix it together, bake at 450 until it's a steaming mess that nobody wants to sniff let alone eat, and there you have my 2003.

Was it good for you?