The Year in Review - 2004.

For some CRAZY reason I feel the need to summarize, roughly, the year behind me. I guess because so much is going to change in 2005, I just feel like seeing what, if anything, I learned from 2004. Overall, I'd give the year a solid C+. Definitely not the best year, but I don't think the worst either. I've started creating my list of concerts from 2004 and the list is a lot shorter than I had anticipated. I felt like I went to 4 billion concerts this year, but maybe not. Regardless, I think the year can be broken into four parts... Similar to the four seasons....

WINTER 2004 - (January - March)
Life in Harrisonburg. Not a lot of blog posts from this time, mostly because I was getting antsy to leave. February lived up to its reputation as the 2nd worst month of the year as I tackled breaking up with the DJ and, more importantly, my first major family drama since my parent's divorce. Hmmm... not much more I want to say about that. Wish I could say the drama had resolved itself, but it continues to be a unsolved mystery. Grew increasingly close to Daphane at the radio station because of her family drama, and began to get excited about the summer tour as Geoff started to call and we made plans. (If i had only known...) Started to wonder what exactly i'm doing with my life. ha.

SPRING 2004 - (April - June)
Ahhhh the spring of change and a renewed belief in fate. I returned more fully to the music scene, going to see Liz Phair and Damien Rice in a period of two weeks. (damien rice proving to be the 2nd best show i would see all year). I also returned more completely to the drinking scene of DC, going out old school style with Tina lots and lots... May marked the sudden (and welcome) return of one Kasey Flanagan, who would play a key role later in the year, and a looming annoyance that perhaps Geoff was still the same guy i grew to hate in 2002. Became absolutely crazy-sick of Harrisonburg and anxious to leave, yet somehow calmed by the kittens and notion of bringing one home with me to play with jimi. ha. tarted interviewing in early April, before eventually getting a job offer in early June. Accepted the job and ended June in a cube in Tysons Corner, right in time for two back to back Rufus/Ben Folds shows. Enrolled in graduate school at Mason... happy about the idea of going back to school.

Summer 2004 - (July - September)
SUMMERTIME!!!! ALWAYS my favorite time of the year! DMB concert season started for me with a bang when Geoff and I trekked up to Hershey Park. I was forced to clip Geoff from my life just a few days later, as I realized he was assuming I would bankroll the summer tour season for the both of us. (and that's just not cool.) Went to VABeach with some of the girls from high school and was disappointed to learn I was unknowingly in the middle of drama --- which I quickly removed myself from. Reached the height of anxiety going to Wisconsin alone to meet with strangers, only to have the BEST WEEKEND EVER!!!!!! Made some solid friends and saw the 8.7.04 DMB show, without question the best of my year. I started to realize that W should not be re-elected, and that I wanted to help make that happen. Spent nearly every waking second with Kasey, which oddly reminded me that it had been over a year since I'd heard from anthony. Nadine was hired in August, and I was wary of the former MTV-employee, and quickly getting tired of my job in general, yet not entirely concerned because, after all, it was concert season. Became somewhat addicted to talking to several key players (kasey, IB, yusef) on instant messenger... an addiction made worse by the fact that everyone at work communicates via IM.

FALL 2004 - (October - December)
Lighting crashes... October lived up to its reputation as the WORST month of my year. Lost the puppy, lost the energy to be nice... to nearly everyone for several weeks. Went to the Vote for Change tour with Todd, realized he's undoubtedly one of the coolest guys I know. Fell in love with Michael Stipe and made a last-minute effort to work for the Kerry campaign. Drank my election night blues away with Tina and started another friendship of convenience that would haunt me throughout the remainder of the year. Forced to acknowledge that I was losing touch with the friends I had made in Harrisonburg.. perhaps never to be as close again. Had a good Thanksgiving, lackluster Christmas, and a comforting New Year. Decided that I should probably hire Nadine to live my life for me, as she is so much better able to make my decisions than I am. Finally reconnected with Anthony - while also disappointing yusef for the first time ever.

well kids - what have we learned?
we've learned that i drink too much... we've learned people should avoid me during october.... we've learned boys will continue to disappoint for eternity...

here's to 2005!
i'm proud of ya!