1998 << 1999 >> 2000

[Looking Back] [Looking Forward] [Looking Around]

Looking Back

Well, looking at it, the year started out with me working in Chicago, then moving down to Urbana to finish school, then moving to California to work s'more.

I've owned my first two cars. The first was a '72 Beetle retired by rust and sold to a co-worker as office furniture. The current ride is an '83 Volvo wagon.

Two girlfriends, the first twelve years younger than the last, but no lasting romance.

I started out with a little money saved up. By April I was hawking porn to make ends meet. At the end of the year, I'm nearly out of debt and ready to pay back my school loans. My salary at year's end is just over twice what it was at the end of 1998. My work responsibilities and professional experience are at least doubled.

Looking Forward

So here's a novel thought. I've got my journal to help me look back on the year, but how about looking forward?

Money, Career

I've pulled way ahead, money wise, and there's so much farther I can go. I received a well-deserved raise after six months at Tellme, and I will ask for even more money in May. I'd like to find my own place, unless a miracle occurs that causes me to feel happy about living with Dave. The cost of living out here is high, and the salaries I can command are even higher. The hope is that I might cash in with my stock options on this Internet boom and have enough cash to live comfortably, hopefully start a different career that will help me be a better-rounded person.

Charity

I should begin tithing. I have my books balanced for this new year, it will be easy to figure out what 10% is. I just need to figure out where to spend it. I also need to find a Good Will and dump a lot of my old clothes, and get a few nice ones.

Health

I need more exercise. I think this ties in to the domestic situation, doing volunteer work, and having healthier, more balanced relationships. I've developed the habit of living at work, where there is plentiful junk food. I have a belly and I get tired more easily than I should. I should also go for an annual physical exam, which I haven't had since I enlisted, back in 1994.

People

I've always tended to be a loner, but this year I've been blessed with experience of several different coworkers, roommates, romances, and a loose social network of friends out here in California. It is time to start focusing on being a good friend. That is a complicated ambition, but it should be rewarding to work on. Next Christmas, it would be neat to send out holiday cards.

I love my family, and am glad to have flown home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Uncle had the great idea that Easter could be moved a week in either direction so my next planned return could be a little easier.

Environment

I should get the bike tuned up by a professional, or buy a new one if necessary. Then I should ride to work every day. I should start cooking at home, and stop abusing pre-packaged junk food. If I have too much food, then I can bring good leftovers to work or invite friends over to help eat. My hope is that the Volvo will make it to its twentieth year reliably, at which point I will feel better about buying a new car, and there might be a hybrid that I fancy.

Looking Around

3 January - Hello Snow ... and Goodbye EnterAct

It's the Blizzard of '99 - quite a way to start off a new year!

5 January - CTA Fucks Up

A little whining about how the CTA managed to embarrass itself in the Blizzard.

18 January - A Birthday Update

A short entry after a nice birthday party.

20 January - back to skool

dannyman recounts a few experiences from the first days of class.

31 January - Farfignoogin' Baby!

My Beetle is doing better than ever!

14 February - IRC Transcript

dannyman has a conversation with Ian, late one night.

2 March - Porn For Tuition

Going broke, fixing the car. Jessy's Birthday!

12 March - Crimes and Melancholy

The Funk, the parties, and a classy German named Lucy.

22 March - 22 March, 1999

30 March - Grow Up!

... and you shouldn't be an ignorant little fascist pin-head.

20 April - Futurama

The not so distant future of dannyman, and a Volkswagen that can stop.

27 April - Tellme to the Bay

dannyman visits the San Francisco Bay area for a job interview, and to ponder his future.

17 May - [dazed] the time is now

well, in the morning i'll wake up, finish packing, clean the floor, and head out in the beetle to california.

27 May - Graduation Party and Wagens West!

dannyman graduates from University of Illinois and drives West in his Beetle.

28 May - Breakdown in Wyoming

Lucy breaks down in Wyoming, stalling dannyman's manifest destiny.

29 May - From Cheyenne to the Hills of San Pablo

dannyman drives two days straight from Cheyenne to San Francisco, odometer flipping en route.

14 June - Summation

Bringing you up to speed, a little.

15 June - Dark City

You've seen what we are. We use your dead as vessels.

18 June - Gettin' the Job Done!

22 June - The Webers

See what you get when you fool around?

6 July - Severe Rust Damage

dannyman thinks he should buy a Volvo.

8 July - dannywagon

dannyman buys a Volvo, visits Berkeley.

12 July - Back in the Saddle

17 July - Pigeons, Pizza

dannyman takes a walk in San Francisco.

20 July - Tellme

Tellme makes a press release, dannyman considers still and moving pictures.

29 July - I Should Probably Go Home

everyone knows that the real dannyman assrapes at the drop of a hat

13 August - Penguins

dannyman kicks it oldschool 'BSD at the Linux Convention.

17 August - Quake, Mom's Birthday, DMV

dannyman gets pulled over, patches his bike tire.

23 August - in?Famous

dannyman gets freaky on the dance floor.

20 September - Weekend With Dannyman

Featuring guest author, Jessica L.

27 September - American Beauty

Go see this movie!

19 October - New Desk

Things are coming together.

24 October - Weekend Slack

dannyman takes some time to chill.

31 October - Jarritos Fresa!

dannyman gets his cherry pop!

4 November - Bye Bye, Lucy

dannyman's old ride declared junk.

6 November - Karaoke Basil Baggie

I woke up at 7:30 this morning. I almost NEVER wake up at 7:30 these days ...

4 December - I Love Chicago!

Gotta make my fortune on the Internet Gold and head back East, maybe.

19 December - Flesh or Domesticate

dannyman, a writhing wall of man flesh, and the grand rumination of things.

22 December - SJC Purgatory

29 December - Being There

A happy white Christmas back home in frigid Chicago.

30 December - Rollover Eve Eve

dannyman's wheels get squared away.

31 December - It's the End of the World as We Know It

... and I feel fine.

1998 << 1999 >> 2000
Journal
H O M E