Lucid Waking

The Best of 2005

Originally published on December 31, 2005 (and the last of the flashback posts)

           According to the US media, 2005 was a good year. Those that made it on the Joe Siegel’s top ten are (from ten to one) Syriana; The Constant Gardener; Cinderella Man; A History of Violence; King Kong, Chronicles of Narnia; Munich; Crash; Good Night, and Good Luck; and Brokeback Mountain. This year seemed a good year because there were so many to see that didn’t seem stupid or bad. The Oscars this year were interesting: Jamie Foxx won for best actor, Hillary Swank for best actress, Morgan Freeman and Cate Blanchett for best supporting actor and actress, respectively, and Million Dollar Baby won best film.
            Things weren’t all bright and cheery for 2005, however. Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans. Hundreds of people gave aid to the victims and several different schools donated to the cause.
           As for me, things have been busy. My friends and I came up with a D&D group, which meets together on Sundays. This Hanukah I received several wonderful gifts. My room was painted lavender and pink this summer. I also discovered Cat Legend and Inverloch this year, which, to me, are the best comics I have discovered yet. Hopefully by 2006, I will be able to show you some art submissions as well.
           Blog wise, I started this blog in September and somehow managed to keep it going. In late November I changed my first blog into a completely new website, Muse. Here is my very first post I’ve written on Lucid Waking:

Weekend in the country
It could be a gift or a gathering-
A word. A weekend. A whisper.
In shades of chocolate, honey, and biscuit
The perfect partner
Summer day heat wave
Sugar and spice
a chameleon hiding in plain sight,
our island universe
you asked for it
it is ending…

Here’s today’s post (you didn’t think I was going to go without a post did you?):

Megan was always a busy bee when it came to parties. Last night she baked eight-dozen cookies. Today she was running around getting shrimp and salsa for the rest of the meal. Chaos was her structure and in the end, it always paid off. She lived for the this-is-so-good-where-did-you-get-this and I-can’t-believe-you-bought-this-I haven’t-had-it-in-years. Tonight was a little different because she had her friends over and their family, but the basic principle was the same. She ran out and got presents for the little ones and then ran out and got presents for their parents. She made bagel dogs for the kids and shrimp for the adults. When she was done, she had too much to carry down into her basement, where they would watch movies until eleven and then watch the ball drop. She anticipated a fun party with tons gossip and playing with the kids. Her only mistake was letting her friends pick the movies.
Alexandria and her family came fifteen minutes early with more food and three different movies. She looked at the selections and inwardly groaned. Stupid humor that she knew she wouldn’t enjoy. She thanked them, gave them their gifts and told them to start on the food. Their oldest, Todd, took no time in diving into the food, conversing in between bites of quiche. Chrysanthemum was quiet and opened her present in the corner of the room. There was a short moment of panic when she slipped past Megan and walked downstairs, but soon everybody joined her. Megan was right, she hated the movies her guests brought, but at eleven o’clock she stayed and watched the party in New York City. Her guests fell asleep by eleven thirty, so she flipped channels between New York and Navy Pier. Finally twelve o’clock struck and she shut off the television. She smiled at the sleeping family and started cleaning up. At four in the morning, she finally collapsed on her bed and fell into a deep sleep.

“Not much between despair and ecstasy”

The Best of 2005