It’s New Years Eve. I’m waiting for my friends to come over for some champagne before we head to Rosewood for the rest of the evening. In my few seconds of spare time, I would like to reflect on the year before it ends. Here are my memories of 2006:

Overall: I spent most of my effort and time this year building the foundation of my social life in California. I have had plenty of practice in this area; which includes getting a job, finding a place to live, setting up a social circle, locating the nearest watering holes, etc. While I have had to set up camp 3-4 times since gradation, this was the first time where I would consider the camp to be a permanent base. This inevitably made getting comfortable more difficult. I plan to go to grad school eventually. Other than that, I don’t see living out of NorCal…then again, who know what will happen. Anyway, setting up camp has been difficult but rewarding. Here are some of my best memories from 2006:

• Bay-2-Breakers: Not well planned but drunk and fantastic. Except for some random dick running into me (literally, a dick) this was a great time with a even better group.
• Recording at One Union: Even though we never did anything with it, I have a very special memory of sitting in the booth with my cousin Matt while other people were playing my songs. That high-5 was worth a million bucks.
• Cal Football: 10 win season. Special because of our performance and because I go to the games with my dad. The real reason I am such a Cal fan is because it’s one of the only things my whole family gets into. Good luck in the pro’s Marshawn and Go Bears!
• Finding My Apartment: After two months it was gratifying to finally see my work turn into something great. More on this one later.
• Meat’s Wedding: I’m not a Texan but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate the time I spent and people I met there. They are truly some of my best friends and I love spending time with “y’all”.
• JK & G’sBachlor Parties: By man-law, I’m not allowed to go into details but these were fun times (from what I remember) and a great group of guys.
• Rory and Sarah’s Couple Shower and Wedding: Not only were both of these events great but I look at these goofballs as the best example I know in terms of relationship.
• 100 Man (actually mostly women) Party: We through an absolute rager for the first party in the new pad. Hot Girls, good music, beer pong downstairs, randomness, Johnny-Law with a sense of humor. Good times.
• NYC Trip: Wow, as it turns out: I Love New York! I mine as well re-name this “Debauchery 2006″ or maybe it’s “100 Beer Weekend”. Anyway, from Seeing the sun rise, to good ole’ frat boys, to seeing my best-longest-named friend (ScottoDisantolo), to taking some artsy pictures, to watching a game with Bean-balls this trip was a 10/10.

Home: My apartment is awesome. It’s big, in a great area, looks cool and has all of my stuff in it. My roommate is great. He’s not here that much so I fill my quota of walking about with out pants (see rule about not discussing Ben’s blog at work). When he is here we can hang out and I don’t want to stab him. He cleans up and always seem to be doing something other than stressing about work. If your roommate, is a pain in the ass, have him talk to mine. He seems to have the act down.

Work: As of today, I’ve officially been at eBay longer than any other job. I like my job. If it’s one-in-a-million to think there is nothing wrong with you job, I’m in the high 100K’s. I have my co-workers I would legitimately consider my friends. I am interested in what I am doing most of the time. I think I can make a difference. It pays the bills and I don’t think I’m going to get fired anytime soon (fingers-crossed).

Of course there is a certain level of red-tape/bullshit that goes with working in a big company; eBay is no exception. I think eBay is a little stingy about praise and promotion but I imagine management has there reasons for that too. We defiantly have a serious case of squeaky-wheel or don’t get noticed going on. All-in-all, I would recommend my job to someone else…well, unless that means I can’t do it anymore.

Health: I got my ass kicked with little stuff this year: Metal dust in my eye, broken tooth/jaw surgery(x2), two shitty colds (one self-induced via a 4 day trip in NYC). I also had a little scare which caused me to think I had cancer. It turned out to be nothing, but I did spend sometime thinking about what I would do with my stuff if I were to kick the bucket. Chances are, if you are reading this, I’m giving you something. I take that back, I’m keeping it all, b/c I don’t want anyone to bump me off thinking that they will get my DVD collection (IE: Kenny!).

I had a few friends get sick this year. I hate to say it, but this was probably the hardest thing for me to deal with. From cancer to eating disorders and on to dying parents, I’ve tried to be as supportive as possible. It was a hard year in this regard. Looking on the bright side, I think this has helped me to come to grips with my own mortality and the fact that I need to take better care of myself.

I guess that means I should write my next blog listing out my 2007 resolutions…

Not ready to think about that quite yet.

-b