As a friend of mine said recently, whatever was wrong w/ 2009 - it is on YOU to change it. Sure it was interesting times, politically speaking, but that isn't magically over now. Let's be thankful we are alive to see 2010, and do our best to *satisfy ourselves* amidst the randomness and curveballs that are part of life... instead of play victim to outside forces. Sure, there's unfortunate circumstances for which there is no appropriately positive reaction for - but you alone are the common denominator in all your life's lessons ...and we all reap what we sow. You can bet my 2009 wasn't all wine and roses...and I whined a bit for sure. However, then I strapped on my boots and kept going! I am choosing to react in a way more conducive to realizing my dreams, and adding beauty and understanding the world- because that is what I'm all about. Peace.

( Your virtual holiday card if you didn't get a real one from us, yet... )

Happy holidays, all - and happy new year, new decade. I'm so glad we are all here together to watch the world change, and in some cases change the world ourselves, no matter how small the change may be...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8429345.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/default.stm

I worry that really this requiring of citizens to carry health care will do more harm than good, and still benefits the insurance companies profits more than the health of the people in this country. Sure, outlawing failure to provide care due to pre-existing conditions is a good step, and it is nice to leave some choice in the matter rather than require everyone to stand in line for it like a Soviet cabbage...but I still have my doubts as to whether it will be affordable for most people who can't afford it now. It makes me sigh.

All I ever do anymore is sigh...Everything is disappointing and I feel so disillusioned by the way the world really works, more and more each day...It's Christmas eve, I have the weekend off and I feel like crying. I am an asshole b/c I should be happy and try to spread joy instead of let the world bring me down. Shame on me. I know better.

Looking at genealogy stuff Jason looked up while I was toiling away in the lab (for what was supposed to be 3-4 hrs and became 7) today will cheer me up. My family is full of stories and intrigue, including murder and incest...and multiple divorces long before they were commonplace. I'm sure it wasn't fun to be them, but it makes great stories. I already knew more than a silly computer program could tell me by sitting by the fire w/ elders and looking in the margins of a yellowed family bible I will one day inherit, not to mention reading the dreamy scribbles in the margins of poetry books that belonged to women in my family before me...We are strange creatures, humans.

http://community.livejournal.com/_scientists_/1347874.html?style=mine

"I don't care about money, I'm a scientist" ...If only this were truly the way scientists typically thought. I thought it was. I was wrong - so wrong. Oh, foolish naivette - I'm not too old for you yet, it seems. Oh well, we all have to sacrifice something - some just do it for better reasons than others.