So, how many people have had a crappy last couple months/weeks?

[I'm A Banana]

At the close of 2003, one thing is striking me...it seems that a LOT of people I've talked to, in one way or another, have had this year end on a very low note. Monte's dogs died. Friends of mine have been diagnosed with fatal illnesses, have lost jobs, lost loves, lost friends (not always through the finality of death, a few just through the pain of realizing someone isn't who they thought they were)...I myself have struggled with suicidal friends, pregnant romantic interests, and the death of a relative. A friend has had her parents divorce and her boyfriend break up with her (in a bad way) within two weeks of each other.....

These last couple of months or weeks have been crappy for a lot of people....I'm wondering how far this epedemic has spread....have you been down and out for a while? A great tragedy happen sometime in October that has just blow the rest of the year? Anything you'd like to share?

'cuz not only does misery love company, but it's time for the New Year for a lot of the world...time to maybe try to put the pain behind us, and try to avoid it in the future....

So, anyone wanna commiserate?

 

[diaglo]

i gotta pee.

 

[Angcuru]

Well this year is ending on a low note, that's for sure. AND for the following reasons.

1 - Injured my right foot by dropping a knife on it (not i'm not clumsy, dammit) and cutting RIGHT THROUGH my Red Wing boots, sock, and my muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc., etc.: opening a significant gash on the right sidedone-deep and about an inch below my pinky toe. Ow.

2 - Came down with the flu. Sux. Spent Christmas day holed up in my room coughing, hacking, sneeezing, and watching Shogun. The horror.

3 - Last night I suddenly come down with a big ol' rash that decided to cover my entire upper body AND face. Apparently I'm alergic to one of the many medications that were supposed to help with my previous ailments.

I predict that as soon as the rash clears up, that I'll come down with something else and it's gonna be bad.

When I get sick (which is rarely), I get SICK. All in all, could have been better.

 

[Trevalon Moonleirion]

I've just been generally kinda low this holiday season, KM, and while I've got it a lot better than some of the people I know, it was just sort of a sad holiday season for me. I wasn't very into the Christmas spirit, which really bummed me out--it's one of my favorite holidays, but finals right before Christmas combined with absolutely no decorations at my house (remodeling) really made for a not-Christmassey Christmas.

My grandmother up in Michigan doesn't have long to live, she's nearly blind, her heart is failing, and she's just tired of going on. I'm really not sure how much longer she has. Her quality of life is so low it's really quite sad

My grandfather just down the street fell on the icy driveway and laid there unconscious for several hours until a neighbor saw him and called for an ambulance. He's thankfully doing a bit better now, but it's very scary to get a call that your grandpa is in ICU with blood pooling around his brain. This whole thing just balooned into entirely different things as we realize just how poorly in shape both he and my grandmother are. They *think* they do a lot when in fact they do next to nothing and thus have very little muscle tone, balance, or energy. After 30 years in a house, they just seem like they're giving up completely now.

Everyone I know is really sick with colds/flu too. It's a nasty one this year, and I hope I can stay reasonably healthy.

KM, I think the holidays are one of the most difficult seasons of the year for a lot of people. If you look at some statistics, a good portion of the years' deaths actually happen around the holidays. There's a lot of high emotions running around--older people get overcome by them, younger people might committ suicde. Many times when we ourselves are doing fine and caught up in the holiday spirit, we don't really think about the suffering of others, so when it's our turn... man it just seems that much worse.

Best of luck to everyone in the new year--may it be merry and bright for all of us.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Yeah, the last couple of months have just seemed WORSE than normal. It seems to be affecting a LOT of people...complete strangers' lives are getting crappier within the last few months...

I wonder if there's some documented, scientific, world-slump or something....

 

[der_kluge]

It's the Bush administration, I tell you.

Ok, so before I get banned, I don't think there is a big conspiracy going on. My friend did just get a divorce, but some other friends of mine had their first baby, a realy cutey, too, and healthy.

My own daughter is doing great, and is more active, and curious than ever.

I did have a cold, but am getting over it now. But I don't think it's indicative of any kind of armageddon or anything.

 

[Berandor]

I had a cold; on christmas my internet broke down until yesterday, I lost my job, don't have a new one yet (except for focusing on writing, but I've got to eat and pay rent somehow) and in December, four family members or close friends died.

Questions?

 

[HellHound]

Been a great end of year.

I went back to school in the fall, and just got my first semester transcripts with a solid A+ all across the board (96% average overall).

Denise just got a job as the marketing director working with a not-for-profit community agency in the region.

The kids are doing great.

My father's health has significantly improved since the bleeding-one-half-of-his-blood-volume-through-his-nose incident.

I am an uncle as of this month.

My brother and his girlfriend just bought a new condo in downtown Toronto and are going great.

Our local economy is doing a lot better now that the illegal (according to the world trade courts) and unilateral trade tarrifs on steel have been lifted by the U.S.

I'm getting closer with a lot of my old friends that I haven't seen much of in the past four years.

The cult church I started 14 years ago is undergoing a mild resurgence.

It's all good.

 

[DaveStebbins]

Down and up year, really.

My divorce was final earlier this year. I'm essentially paupering myself for another year or so, so my daughter can stay in the house she loves. Thus I could afford neither Christmas tree nor decorations. I received all of two Christmas presents. Then, at 2 AM a couple of days after Christmas, I got a call from the nursing home telling me they thought my mom had just had another stroke.

But there's a huge upside as well. Later that night, the hospital discovered that my mom's blood sugar had just gone wonky (she had been stable for so long, the nursing home was only checking her once a week) and after an injection she was back to normal. A couple of days later I managed to reconnect with one of my best friends, whom I had lost touch with about six years ago (he moves frequently). It turns out he had recently married a girl I hadn't talked with since high school tewnty-[cough cough] years ago, and the three of us spent over an hour-and-a-half catching up on the phone. Then my ex told me that her boyfriend had proposed to her so, while I was counting on my income more than doubling next fall when she returns to work, it may end up almost quadrupling.

So, downs and ups. There are certainly a great many things in this world over which I have no control, but the one thing I can always be responsible for is my reactions and my attitude. It may sound fake or trite, but focusing on the positive really does make things better.

[raises glass] Here's to a wonderful 2004 for everyone.
-Dave

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

I'm game.

Nothing too major, but I did break a couple toes ( I AM Clumsy ) and had to spend Christmas alone this year ( wife out of town w/out me ).

All is good though. With the exception of the Tonka Truck incident I posted a few minutes ago...

Happy New Year all