Suzy, Branko and Kristina

Giuseppe and Mark

Mark and Eric 

Aya and Eric 

Aya and Alex 

Eliot and me 

V and E

Big V and me 

Jon and the ladies 

Ben & Darrell 

Our hosts for the evening... Suzy and Sachin 

Alex, Su, Darrell, and me 

Chaka and Roach 

Me with one of my flatmates, Miggie 

Ashu, John, Miguel and Paul AKA Wubbie 

Jon, Wubbie, & Miguel 

Jon and his lovely gal, Sorana

Jigar, Sach, Benjamin, and Dennis 

Suzy, Dennis, Carrie, and Sachin 

Guys with me and Carrie 

Darrell & V 

Dave, Lucy, Darrell, me, and Vanessa 

Kissy faces! 

With Darrell and Vanessa 

Su & I are flanked by the guys 

big in '04

Hey, hey, hey… It’s almost the New Year!!!!

To steal a phrase from VH1 – my own take of “Big in ‘04”…

Chip, Pinky, and Miles moved out to the East Coast. It’s so nice to have family nearby! Also, I have a place to hang out, do my laundry for free, and experience trying to get to know and connect with a kid again.

I left Saks (again). I love my friends and colleagues there, but that particular job was going nowhere. Hopefully, 2005 will be the year when I figure out what I want to do whenever I finally decide to grow up.

I’m working downtown again… such a different vibe than the midtown rush and über-corporate political environment. The IAB is a small trade association that promotes the online advertising industry. The office is at the north-end of Union Square – facing the park and a hop, skip, and a jump away from the Village. The company is comprised of 12 people – all young, bright, and entrepreneurial. It’s also pretty cool that we can wear jeans to work (no more blasted 3-inch high heels, well at least not ALL the time!).

Moved on up into a bigger (and affordable) apartment in Harlem with a good friend and another friend that I’ve enjoyed getting to know better… Both of them have do-gooder jobs (both recently switched careers - Siobhan’s a paramedic, and Miguel helps out the mentally/physically challenged), and they have “interesting” albeit salty and cynical views on life. I’ve learned quite a bit from them.

Thanks to the move uptown… I’ve managed – so far – to hold on to my beloved Jetta. That car is my sanity. Whenever I need an escape from the city, I just hop in it and drive, drive, drive… This year’s included a few trips up to the beach/shore, Boston, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, and many, many trips to Target and the NJ malls and outlets.

My trip back home to Cali last August proved fruitful. I was offered a couple of jobs out there, and it made me realize that I’m not quite ready to let go of NYC. It’s comforting to know that should I ever need to move back there, it is a home to me, and I have my family and close friends there to support me. Mom, Dad, Dan, Heather, Lisa, Debbie, Matt, Guy, Cindy, and Micki – sorry that I changed my mind. I still love you, guys, and thanks for your support!

Now to those on this side of the coast: Vanessa, Concetta, Suzy, Katie, Augusto, Jon, Leslie, and Aya – I don’t know what I would have done without you this year. Thanks for keeping me somewhat sane.

In regards to my, ahem, personal life, let’s just say that it’s been a good year overall. I can’t complain too much and have been pretty fortunate. I’ve learned a lot from my friends, loved ones (including exes), and, of course, my therapist.

THANK GOODNESS 2004 IS OVER!