The stores are closed, the sky is gray, the crows are out, it's New Year's Day! Now the real business of staying inside with your family and eating an elaborately stacked lacquer box full of traditional food can begin.

2005 was a rather dramatic year for me on every level but as far as I can tell it worked out alright in the end. This is, however, approximately 95% due* to my wonderful, generous friends, family and co-workers (current and previous), whose support ranged from the vital-to-sanity "emotional" kind (that includes you, readers/commenters) to the vital-to-existence "employment" and "shelter" kind.

I know that some of you try to keep a low profile online, and a lot of you don't even read my blog at this point, so I won't include the whole list here, but I am nevertheless hugely grateful for and humbled by everything you guys did for me over the course of the year. Thanks, and happy new year to everyone.

Pardon my schmaltz (ew, rhyme):

新 年始尓 思共 伊牟礼Ｃ乎礼婆 宇礼之久母安流可
atarasiki / tosi no hazime ni / omohu doti / imurete woreba / uresikumo aruka
How joyfully begins the year
when kindred souls are gathered near.

That gem, which anticipates Hallmark by more than a millennium, was allegedly written by Funado no Ookami (道祖王), grandson of Emperor Temmu.

* I attribute the other 5% to Aya, who most graciously refrained from breaking up with me until my other troubles were mostly settled.