It peaked on September 19th, when I got married.   For more information on that, check out my “Belated Announcement” post.

My daughter celebrated her sixth birthday this year.   She’s growing up so quickly, but I’m very happy that I was able to find a job where I could live close to her and get to see her a lot more often.   You can see plenty of pictures of her on my Flickr page.

I celebrated my two-year anniversary at my current job.  I love it where I work, and I am very grateful for the ability to not only have a job in these trying economic times, but to have a job where I can show up an hour early every day and enjoy every minute of it.   I’ve had plenty of jobs in the past where I dreaded going into work each day, and I’m thankful that my current job certainly isn’t one of those.

Another benefit to my current job, aside from being closer to my daughter, is that it’s closer to my parents as well.   I’ve really enjoyed the ability to see my parents a lot more often and in the process get to know them better.

In rough estimates, I drove approximately 13,000 miles, listened to about 50,000 songs, watched a couple hundred movies and read a few dozen books.  Obviously, I’m not much of a reader.

From me and my family, Happy New Years to you and yours!

Deathmask Divine – The Black Dahlia Murder

Lyrics:
Removal of the eyes gives my heart a saddened chill
I preserve them in formaldehyde
to gaze upon at will
how their greenish flecks befill me
that starlit winters night
how I lost all that I ever was
while locked within their sight
before you sits a broken man
your fragile pinkish heart in hand
peculiar how it can hurt so bad
while love is only in the mind
I sew the gaping chest wound
each thread is made with love
the bosom where I would rest my face
is covered in your blood
no
this is not the end
you’ll live on eternally
oh
lord its not the end
my secret you’ll forever be
I interrupt this transformation
a familiar lust swelling in me
a long and soulful kiss
the shades are drawn the living world cant see
the coil of entrails
how curious the smell
so pungent to my eager nostrils
hands further compelled
no
no its not the end
forever you’ll be in my arms
I could never let you go
my darling cold and blue
I wonder are you dreaming still
spread eagle blood removed
I weave the sucking trocar
beneath your bruising skin
tonight I’ll lay beside you darling in necromantic sin
[solo]
pinned to the bed sheets like a prized butterfly
you’re mine
I hear your voice so precious echoing deeply inside
I did my best to love you
while you did live and breathe
this tender taxidermy
trophy of the bereaved