There are two kinds of suffering: the suffering that leads to more suffering and the suffering that leads to the end of suffering. If you are not willing to face the second kind of suffering, you will surely continue to experience the first.

(Ajahn Chah, “Still Forest Pool”)

2006 was a really good year – absolutely one of the Best Ever – and I’m not feeling my usual urge to dump the old year at the curb and pretend it didn’t exist. Coffee and I just ran through a quick verbal list of all the stuff that’s gone on around here since last January and the list just went on and on and on.

Some highlights (in no particular order):

• Coffee became a Permanent Resident of Canada.
• He got a job that he states is “the best job” he’s ever had.
• I sold my big ol’ SUV and we bought two little Toyota Echoes.
• We put our house in Stoney Creek up for sale.
• We bought a new house, moved, and love it in our new city.
• We started the adoption process.
• I brought home my rats!
• Coffee got a new tattoo.
• We moved closer to Melle.
• I met Kelly and absolutely love her.
• Coffee got to dye his hair back to red and blue.
• I dyed my hair pink for the first time!
• I was diagnosed and began official treatment for my PCOS.
• Nobody died!!
• Chz came to visit after what feels like a million years away.

I am not one for change – rituals and habits are important to me – but this year? It was all good. There are about 400 other things we accomplished, too. A lot of little personal things. Some goofy things.. All good.

One of the things that’s been most amazingly wonderful for me is how I keep falling in love with Coffee. Over and over and over, again. He walks in the room and I can’t think of anywhere else I’d rather be than with him.

There’s no one else in the entire world who makes me feel as happy, as loved, as healthy and filled with hope as he does. We have fun together. I can’t tell you how lucky I am – at least, not without sounding sappy (too late!) – but if there is one part of my life that is 100% comfortable and stable and secure, it is my marriage.

If everything else had fallen apart, and if nothing good had come from 2006, I’d still consider myself blessed. I have my soul mate and best friend beside me. I know how lucky I am to have found him, let alone had him fall in love with me, too. I know.

2006 has been an unbelievable year and I’m not thrilled to see it go. Would it be greedy for me to request that 2007 try to be similarly fantastic? Because THAT is my resolution for the coming months.

Be Even More Fantastic.

As a result of my ulcer, I am very cautious about consuming alcohol. I don’t like to piss off the Tummy Queen anymore than I have to (and I need to still keep up my schedule of eating chocolate regularly and guzzling caffeine – there’s not a lot of room to wiggle here!) I’ve also never been a huge fan of the taste of most liquors and beers.

Today, however, is NaDruBloDa – the annual day of drunken blogging. This is a celebration I can get behind. Except that I had some alcohol in the past week and my gut is mildly disturbed by my shameful behaviour and, long story made even longer, I don’t want to provoke any mutiny in my gut. So, in lieu of a ridiculously sappy and drunken post by yours truly, I present you with a guest entry by my beloved husband.

We are not on the list of official participants. Let’s call this “Informal Drunk Blogging”, shall we? Good. Okay. Here he is…

…
Well, I guess that I can start this out by admitting that there is a bit of question as to just how drunk one has to be for this. We agreed upon three shots of vodka on an empty stomach. I did three. But I wasn’t sure it was three… I knew two, and strongly suspected the third. But, just to be sure… ahhhhhh.

As well, in the past year, I doubt that I’ve had more than 10 shorts of vodka equivalent.

And now that all of that’s out of the way. (Drum roll) I’ve got writer’s block.

I guess I’ll just quickly close (can one close before one’s truly opened? (shuddup you)) with a public service announcement. Smokers:if anyone’s ever told you that your smoking makes you smell, and you thought they were teasingly joking. And you thought that 30 seconds after you smoked you no longer had a stale stench slowing polluting the air around you. The truth is, if someone’s mentioned you stink, you really do stink (and this is coming from deaf-nosed (you can ask Violet) coffee). This was inspired by an applicant who came in to take the automated skill test. This particular one was well groomed, and given how at ease he looked, had dressed nicer than he normally would have when “dress casual” was specified. In short, he had intended to make a good impression. I’ll bet he put on deorderant. But even though he was standing at least 5 feet away from me for 90-120 seconds I was starting to gag from the smell. He obviously expended effort to make a good impression, and yet he might as well as smeared feces all over himself just before he came inside. How well can an interview go when you’ve got feces smeared all over yourself? Feces!

Sometimes difficult people are placed on your path, Dana, so that you can be reminded of what you may have once put others through.

Hey, I said sometimes.

Tallyho,

The Universe

In all cases, Dana, you both thought it was a good idea to meet up this time, for reasons that will one day make perfect sense.

CANCER (June 21-July 22): I nominate you to be the zodiac’s most successful complainer in 2007. According to my analysis of the omens, you could excel at formulating brisk critiques and constructive dissent. You may even have a genius for bringing the bracing intelligence of the heart to bear on situations that are paralyzed by mind games. If you manage to fulfill the potential I’m prophesying, you’ll set in motion far-reaching ripples of benevolent change. More power to you, Cancerian! May your grumbles and squawks and protests be imbued with lyrical persuasiveness.

(Freewill Astrology)

There is a difference between watching the mind and controlling the mind. Watching the mind with a gentle, open attitude allows the mind to settle down and come to rest. Trying to control the mind, or trying to control the way one’s spiritual practice will unfold, just stirs up more agitation and suffering.

-Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, “Eight Mindful Steps to Happiness”

Cancer (June 21-July 21)
You’ll feel significant this week, like the son of God — who is, after all, the reason for the season. You’ll feel ready to grab some fishermen, a fallen woman and a midget and set off in search of good times. If you encounter any drag-assing from them along the way, they’re probably just tired from all the shopping. You’re a natural-born leader, so pump them up with a pep talk and the promise of lots of frankincense and myrrh.

(Nerve)

You are The Chariot

Triumph, Victory, Overcoming Obstacles.

The chariot is one of the most complex cards to define. On its most basic level, it implies war, a struggle, and an eventual, hard-won victory. Either over enemies, obstacles, nature, the beasts inside you, or to just get what you want. But there is a great deal more to it. The charioteer wears emblems of the sun, yet the sign behind this card is the moon. The chariot is all about motion, and yet it is often shown as stationary. It is a union of opposites, like the black and white steeds. They pull in different directions, but must be (and can be!) made to go together in one direction. Control is required over opposing emotions, wants, needs, people, circumstances; bring them together and give them a single direction, your direction. Confidence is also needed and, most especially, motivation. The card can, in fact, indicate new motivation or inspiration, which gets a stagnant situation moving again.

What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.

The dogs are snorfling around the house, cleaning up crumbs and hoping more bacon will appear.

The rats are hurridly destroying the cage I just cleaned for them. They are also greatly enjoying some apple-crumble cheesecake.

Penny, the hamster, is gnawing on a special selection of pumpkin seeds and yogurt-covered peanuts.

Jub is swimming happily around in his tank, shoving gravel around and blowing bubbles.

And me? I’m here, counting my blessings, and so very happy to be a part of this family.