2006 is almost over and it’s been a pretty decent year for me personally. I met Cameron back in January and then in May when we started dated. It’s been seven months now, which is a huge record for me to break being a loner at times.

Monkey’s Uncle broke an attendance record in November with 90 people coming to see us for our fifth anniversary show, which was a great feeling.

This was also my first full year of blogging and I’ve surrounded myself with many great blog pals who are very supportive to each other and — get this — who know how to debate. I never thought I had this pet peeve, but 2006 brought it out: people who are completely reactionary. I have to thank those people, too. It helped me hone my skills of wording a well-thought-out put-down by actually putting myself in their shoes. It’s been very enlightening.

The blog also saw two awards this year as well — a Spicy and a Verve. I honestly never thought this blog would receive this much attention in its first year. I thank all the readers who stop by for your love, support and even the occasional dissenting opinion. Without the bad, the good wouldn’t be as sweet.

I’m not going to make any resolutions here as I think the only thing anyone should do is what makes them happy without hurting themselves; however, I am going to endeavor to increase the quality of writing here which means that on occasion there will be fewer posts, but of higher quality. This first year has been an experiment of different styles and series that have entertained me — a narrowing down of my extremely eclectic tastes one might say.

So I toast you, Time’s Person of the Year: The Internet User. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you continue to enjoy the zany, the odd and the occasional rant at The Web Pen.

Before I take off for the party Cameron and I are attending, I have to share a post by Phil on his Bad Astronomy Blog on the subject of the Earth’s trip around the sun. It’s very interesting, geeky and fun. I wish I had more teachers like Phil actually. Or as Christine McVie sings, "Phil, you make learning fun".

I may be paraphrasing. You never know.

All my hopes to everyone in 2007.

Listening to: She Cries Your Name - Beth Orton

The video below is one I shot Christmas morning just to prove to friends that I wasn’t lying. For years, Sydney has astounded everyone by opening her wrapped presents. This skill was not taught.

Roo — the younger of the housemates’ dogs — still hasn’t picked up on opening her presents, but this year she started to do something else. She would grab a present from the bag on the floor and give it to Sydney to open. It made for another fun Christmas morning.

The weekly collection of interesting reads from around the blogosphere.

First, I want announce Roundup Buttons. I made a joke about it in a comment section and actually followed through, so here there are. If you have ever made or make the Roundup, you can put this button on your site in tongue-in-cheek pride as if you had won some major award. Below you will see sizes, examples and the code to use if you choose to put it up. Then we will move on to a very short Roundup.

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And now the Roundup…

Funky Brown Chick had a great story about missing her flight home. No, it wasn’t weather or airline problems — it was a hangover.

Andy at The Spicy Cauldron (who actually GOT a cauldron for Presents Days) has a great way of making posts about his cats actually interesting including this newest one.

A German tourist who was traveling to Sydney, Australia ended up in Sidney, Montana, USA.

And finally — told you this was going to be a short one — Bad Astronomy Blog posted his Top 10 pictures of 2006. You have to see #1. It is absolutely stunning. It’s always been my favorite planet and the one that got me so interested in space that I wanted to be an astronomer longing than any other occupation when I grew up, but you’ve never seen it like this.

Listening to: Heaven - Talking Heads