fpb | I don't even really want this birthday

This has been a crappy year. From summer to summer I have been plagued with computer bugs, never-ending debt, loneliness, professional failure. The only thing that has increased is my waistline.

Well, almost.

When I asked myself what I had to be grateful for, if at all, over these twelve months, I ended up with these things:
My hairline is not receding and my hair is still almost wholly black. Not bad for a 43-year-old male. I owe this to my mother's side of the family, made up of tough old buggers who generally died at 95-plus with all their hair still on, and that hair not even white but grey. Thanks, Mamma.
I have had a good deal of help and support from my mother and brother, which has allowed me to keep my head above water and even make a little professional advance. Thanks again.
And I have made a lot of new friends. For this I am particularly grateful, and that is why I am writing this entry. Thank you (in alphabetic order):

adeodatus,

agatha_s,

aphoenix2007,

artemisiabrisol,

avus,

beckyemerson,

briana_rose07,

bufo_viridis,

cathy_white,

cette_vie,

chthonya,

curia_regis,

dreamer_marie,

enelya_oronar,

goreism,

jennilee,

kagome_sama,

kennahijja,

kikei,

lazy_neutrino,

lyssiae,

pandoraculpa,

patchworkmind,

privatemaladict,

purple_mirie,

rfachir,

rubix1229,

sevenorora,

synaesthete7,

tashmania,

thepreciouss,

theregoesyamum. You have made a great difference. Give or take the odd disagreement or ten thousand, it is still wonderful to know that people like you exist.