Tinhuviel Artanis

Until I heard someone speak of it on the TV yesterday, I'd completely forgotten that this isn't just the end of the year, but also the end of a decade. So, I figured I'd post highlights of the past decade, as best as my memory will allow. So...here goes.

• 2000: The purchase of my first Saturn, a blackberry SL-1 I named The Robula
  The sci-fi convention in Virginia Beach where the Darth Maul Estrogen Brigade met for the first time.
  Accidentally stumbling across Barry Andrews online, screaming bloody murder and checking my hair to see if it turned white, then initiating a correspondence with him that would blossom into friendship and a business relationship.
   
• 2001: The forming of the team that would create The Shriekback Digital Conspiracy
  The launch of the Shriekback Digital Conspiracy
  Speaking with Dave Allen on the phone
  Speaking with Barry Andrews on the phone and getting his blessing for Cadmus Pariah.
  Winning a ticket to VH-1 Storytellers to see Jeff Lynne in concert, and coming within five feet of him to get an autograph when he stopped stopped signing. Gah! But it was still a wondrous, magical, dream-come-true moment.
  The launching of the Barry Andrews Resource Center.
  Meeting Llew
   
• 2002: The launch of the Cliffs of Insanity
  BMG changing from a pretty decent place to work into The Pit.
  Aunt Tudi having her heart bypass surgery.
  Llew's daughter moving to SC, bringing her kid and her druggie boyfriend along
   
• 2003: Helping Barry with his North American solo tour.
  Llew crashing his ultra-light and my discovery that his daughter was nothing more then a soulless, money-grubbing haint.
  Totalling the Robula and the purchase of my cranberry Saturn ION
   
• 2004: Having my gastric bypass surgery and another knee surgery.
  The drinking of the Red Eye Grandé
  Dubya stealing the White House for a second term.
   
• 2005: Participating in and winning NaNoWriMo and finally writing The Chalice
  Llew's breaking of our covenant by behaving unforgivably. Nothing was the same after he disappeared on me for two days.
  My departure from The Pit as BMG was rapidly swallowed by Sony.
  Taking Aunt Tudi to New York and meeting up with some of my homies at RCA. 
   
• 2006: Going to England and communing with falkenna. Meeting and grokking her friend Steve and his daughter Eleri. Finally meeting Stevie and Graham. And, of course, meeting and hanging out with Barry Andrews. I still can't get over the surreality this moment in time.
  The death of the Father Unit
   
• 2007: Llew's daughter abandoning him and his moving in with Aunt Tudi and me.
  I turned the dreaded 40 years of age! Oooooo! ha
   
• 2008: Attempting several jobs, all to no avail due to physical issues. Finally landing a job at my vet's office, trying my best to do what was required of me.
  Llew leaving to be with his daughter in Pennsylvania. She later kicked him out in the snow which, I'm sure, led to his suicide.
  Being rear-ended and having to get my car repaired.
  Having a seizure, which led to a battery of tests and my meeting my incredibly good-looking doctor, Dr. Pilch. The Mother Unit coming for a Christmahanukkwanzayule visit
  Watching The Dark Knight for the first time and being bowled over by Joker.
   
• 2009: Being relieved of my vet tech duties and advised by Dr. Patch to file for disability, because it was obvious I was not physically able to work.
  Dodging a squirrel and ending up in a ditch, requiring more body work to the car.
  Entering the TDK/Joker fandom and starting my Date series, writing fanfiction for the first time in about 10 years. Meeting rancid_rainbow and forging a friendship.
  Stumbling across The Joker Blogs and jumping head-first into helping promote the series and build a fan base for the actor/filmmaker behind it.
  Beginning The Blood Crown and officially re-naming what will be a trilogy The Vampire Relics.
  Winning NaNoWriMo.
  Meeting some wonderful souls, and you know who you are. 
   

And there you have it.  Voila.  What a hell of a decade.