Beginnings

We celebrated the new year last night by having dinner and drinks at the Local (an Irish pub in downtown Minneapolis) with several dear friends, two of whom had to drive in from the hinterlands on the leading edge of an ice storm to get here. That is definitely the way to start a new turn of the seasons--I'm hoping it becomes a tradition.

My resolutions have been covered, but I also have some wishes for 2005.

I sincerely (but in no particular order) hope that:

• the Twins finally get to the World Series.
• the Democrats finally get a clue.
• the Republicans finally get a conscience.
• the Greens finally get some funding.
• the pirates known as Meg the Bonny Lash and Cannon Jack Darling will be safely delivered of their second child, due before winter's end.
• I will be put on some interesting and challenging projects at work (note the "and"!).
• the Skiing Pirate will find that, although time does not actually heal all wounds, it does take away the worst of the sting.
• the NHL lockout will end--without union-busting.
• the Twins will put someone who knows what that leather thing on his left hand is for at third base.
• the sixth Harry Potter will rock as much as the first five.
• the Yankees will collapse utterly, finishing third in their division and causing King George to spontaneously combust on national television.
• did I mention the World Series?