Hey there.I have SUCKED at writing this month, despite making a committment to write daily.Personal goals?What’s that?

Actually, this year has been perhaps one of the busiest and most stressful I’ve ever had.I have had some big “wins” and a few setbacks.Life has been good overall, and in general, I’d feel like a big tool complaining, since my life, from many angles, is very very good.

So let’s dwell on the positive, and look at the progress I’ve made over this year.

At the beginning of 2003, the agency I work for was using a DOS program to record patient data… some of it, anyway.Most of the patient’s chart was on paper, and the nurses didn’t even use the computer… just the medical records department.Computer data was only available inside the building… we didn’t have remote access of any kind.

Today, all clinicians have computers, which they use to chart electronically.We have a brand-new honkin’ server to handle all of that, all of which I’ve put into place.We have other improvements as well: we laid some fiber around our campus to extend the network to ancillary buildings, did some profound security upgrades, and the mail server operates completely differently than it did last year.I’m so fortunate to work for an agency that values technology and trusts me to choose and implement it.I of course didn’t do everything by myself, but I did a great portion of it, mostly the “information infrastructure” stuff.And you know what?Despite the stress of deadlines, learning curves and trying to keep everyone happy, I had a lot of fun, too.

Speaking of fun, it was about this time last year that a group of friends in Austin that I hang out with were going to get to throw a little party for some Web Writers in Austin.Then we sort of said, “Holy Shit, what did we just commit to?”But it worked: I have heard very few people who didn’t have a rockin’ time.  We even managed to stay friends (though it was touch and go for a bit.)

The weekend stands out as one of my best, and I can’t begin to imagine what my year would have been like without it.Actually, I would have a lot more free time, but I wouldn’t have had lots of fun, or made or strengthened as many friendships.JournalCon rocks, and stands out as one of my better accomplishments of the year.Not that I did it alone, or even did the bulk of everything… but I’ll still count it as an accomplishment.

This time last year, I was fat and single.This year, I’m plump and available romantically.I’m so glad to be better off!

Happy New Year!

You are such a fun read, sweetie! Hope you have more time in the New Year for writing and for seeing your Austin Journal writing friends. Have a great 2004.

I miss the Timbrat love.

Um, YES, Tim, you DO need to start writing again, because I miss you, and I'm sure I'm not alone in that!!!!!