h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Before getting all introspective and dull, I do wish a happy, safe and healthy Christmas holiday season to all my friends, present - past - and future.

Right then, what has this year brought? In the real world, we gained a new grand-daughter, but lost two very dear friends to long-term illness. Milady finally found the opportunity to leave a job-from-hell, and stepped into a new position that she absolutely loves. I just carry on in the company I've been with for nearly a decade. Mind, my own work did take me to a small handful of locations around the country, so that was a welcome change.

By far, the highlight of our year was our gift to ourselves of a trip to meet h2g2 friends, and celebrate our 20th anniversary. That 14 or so days was planned and saved for, for about 20 months, and naturally went far too fast. The ability to share a laugh and a hug, 'in the flesh', with friends in England, Wales and Ireland was beyond price and not likely to ever be forgotten.

In the un-real (surreal?) world, things have been good. No friends lost this year, and in fact a couple have returned. I've been priviledged to add quite a number of very dear and good people to my 'list'. I have offended a few folks along the way, but as they are typically the sort of folks that I'd not suffer well in the real world, I haven't lost any sleep over that. I've helped some folks to get entries into the Edited Guide, and had a few pictures attached to some new and old entries. On the whole, a good year I think.

So what do I expect of the coming year? More work-related travels, some family coming to see us and we to see them. Hopefully more new friends to add in the on-line world. Perhaps even squeezing in a visit to our esteemed Lady President and meeting a few more friends in-the-flesh. Who knows? 2008 is a blank slate, just waiting to be writ upon ... Of course, some of it will find itself recorded at http://RevNick.fotki.com . Feel free to browse there occassionally for updated pics of our little tribe and world.

So once more, the best of everything during this season, and the new year that follows. I look forward to more quality time with all of you, friends.

2007 has been a mixed bag, like all years. I'm glad you have more positives than negatives on your tally sheet.

It has been a genuine pleasure becoming better acquainted with you this year. I hope you and your lovely wife are able to visit the Ozarks in 2008. You will both be very welcome.

I wish you good health and happiness in 2008.

I should probably write a recap of my year, too. I travelled to Washington, D.C., for a work-related conference, and then spent 11 days in Italy on a concert tour. I also managed to be robbed while Italy,so that part of it will not get a lot of exposition.

Glad to hear your wife escaped the job-from-hell, Rev Nick.

I'm very glad to have met you this year, too

Well Nick I share that hope and hope we will have many more year end posts of this kind.
As things go you never know who you will see on your side of the pond

Seasons best and happy new year.

The best of the season to you too Nick and I hope Milady's job lives up to expectations

Thank you, all. It was a much better year in all than some we have faced. Mind, we didn't get to Italy for that special experience, Paul.

If any one experience of the year really stands out, for each of you, what would it be? I expect the recent ice-storm would be close to the top for you, Hyp. For us, I'd have to flip a coin between the cattle-herd syndrome on the day the London tubes were shutting down for a strike, and the surreal experience of a Chinese restaurant with THREE other hootoo'rs, and listening to Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn on the sound system.

Well, I did get to Blighty last spring and was able to attend my first bonafide London Meet. I think that was ppobably the highlight of my year. At least in the fun column. The ice storm is on the other side of the ledger.

You know that you and the Mrs. are more than welcome to tour the redwoods, even if there's no way to know what the housing situation will be at any time next year *note to self--write in journal* If nothing else, I can tell you which motels to avoid like the plague

Uh-oh ... I can almost see a US-version of a 'staggered' Meet. There's Paul's corner perhaps, Maniacal Vixen, Hypatia, and of course the Lady Amy P and especially the Paper-Baby. Hmmm ...

From Massachusetts to California would be quite a journey. How much vacation time do you have?

Kinda like U217918 was *supposed* to be?

*sits back to see how many posters in nick's journal are old enough to recognize that page--though all the detail stuff seems to be gone now*

Well, Vix is in NY state, so that would be the first stop, and then a 'swoop-around' ... And hey, I have many designs and plans to win a lottery in the New Year. (Mind, that has been the plan for many new years ... )

And sorry, Amy, but I will use youth as an excuse. That page was before I met hootoo.

I know--I'm just wondering how many of your friends were going to be part of the Rolling Meet-Up.

Well, as the notion has only come to mind this evening, there's a fairly small number so far ... NY, Mass, the Ozarks (beware the bearded cousins) and CA ... Some good long stretches in-between, and some plotting of what to seek along the way.

Of course, it's just an infant of a thought. There IS Milady's work schedule and notions as well.

Amy, the closest they were going to get to me was Chicago, which is about a 10 hour drive from here. I was thinking about it, but hadn't decided yet.

Ah but you see, Hyp, the idea of the Staggered Meet (coined by Bob Stafford, if I recall) is that WE do the travelling, and meet who-ever we can on the way. Not a need for other folks to gather from obscene distances.

Ben's rolling meet wasn't coming to the Ozarks, though. So if I saw her I would have had to go neet her someplace else. It's a big cpuintry, so it would be imposssible to visit every place with a hootoo researcher.

A big country, also.

Before anyone Googles, would you care to lay odds as to who has the bigger country, Lady Prez?