Well, this year started with what I thought was a lot of hope. That pooch got thoroughly screwed. But the world kept moving and things found a new equilibrium. Now Welsh Girl is working part time for a local credit union and I am telecommuting part time for a local SEO company and playing house husband. Neither one of us is happiest with this, but perhaps that's a sign of a middling compromise.

The Despoina, of course, is thriving in school. Christmas brought her a Leap Pad and she is already devouring it. She calls it a "Kindle for kids". In fact, that's why the Welsh Parents got them; to keep the girls from monopolizing their Kindles when they visit. Sometime int he near future I'm going to see about a Spanish learning app...

The Duchess also thrives. She got through her ear infections and is healthy and happy. She uses her Leap Pad more as a fishing pole than as an digital learning and entertainment device so her usage will be a little more limited for a bit. Now that she's two, she's getting a little bossier and being a little more disobedient. But she is still our little bruiser.

Welsh Girl has finally finished her manuscript. Her book now needs editing. So that's going to be her thing for the next so long until she's happy with and starts out on the self publishing route that she's pretty much decided on.

As for me, well, I'm starting school again in a couple weeks. I didn't think I was, but my best friend lent me the money to start until tax refund time. Then he turned around and gifted me the money for Christmas. What a guy... So now I've got to get books and what not, but I'm not complaining. Calculus, here I come.

2012 has been both a good and bad year. And I'm looking forward to getting it into my rear view mirror. 2013 has a lot of stuff to look forward to. And that is what 2012 was missing, I think. I lost things to look forward to and it became a huge doldrum until something came along, shook up all the dice, and rolled all the numbers again. And, of course, if I mixed drinks like I mixed metaphors, I'd be out of a job. Either way, we press reset on this year and look forward to tomorrow with all its possibilities. Or some kind of crap like that.

Lastly, I love you guys. And I'm going to keep on believing that until I kick.

And that's about it for this year. See you all next year, folks. :)