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10. hearts of space - a radio program, but not just a radio program. seven years ago, i was playing hacky-sack or footbag with my friends in the garage at my mother's house. seems like so long ago, but we turned on the local public radio station and listened to my first experience of hearts of space. this radio program was a turning point for me, guiding me into new directions of musical experience, including ambient soundscapes, new age music, celtic, and even orchestral. and with the launching of their archives, i was able to listen again for the first time in many years. while at my current client in northridge, i was listening and just stopped to take in the sounds with my eyes closed. this is truly a moment of zen, a moment of bliss.

9. thanksgiving - due to increased ticket prices, inability for schedules to work together, and other reasons that we probably invented, amy and i spent our first thanksgiving at our new place alone. we had tofurky, vegan mushroom gravy, rice milk potatoes, and other vegan stuff that you probably are not appetized by. dinner took around two hours to prepare after we had gotten back from mass, and was nice. we played good music, spent a lot of time together on the couch watching movies, and most of all, realized that this was the best thanksgiving we had ever spent. breathtaking. of course, there's the story of getting home for thanksgiving, which is another issue entirely, but we won't talk about that calamity.

8. national public radio - in my lame duck month at university of wisconsin at whitewater, i was biding my time as a peoplesoft liaison for the admissions department. basically, my task was to keep everything moving, fix things as they broke, and spend time with the new guy getting him ready for his position. my good friend nabil, who had taken an internship in madison with paid housing, let me use his apartment in the meantime. my life consisted of getting up for work, showering, going to work, coming home for lunch, going back to work, and sitting at the apartment. all throughout this month of time, i was listening to national public radio, and wisconsin public radio. i also spent a great deal of time with matthew french at the bar conversing, and time reading great fiction by umberto eco, h.p. lovecraft, jack kerouac, and william s. burroughs. it was a busy month, but throughout it all - public radio. i would not say that this was the key element, but it was the glue putting all those remarkable experiences together.

7. joe becomes vegan - i finally realized how morally contradictory i was and how out of shape i had become. and a large portion of that had to do with my terrible diet, vegetarian it might have been. so, with a renewed sense of purpose, i delved into the study of veganism, and came up with dr. mcdougall's plan of controlled veganism, focusing on whole foods and no animal products or byproducts for consumption. the result: i'm trimming down. to all you naysayers, i will assure that i am getting enough protein (the typical american consumes between 3 and 10 times the protein they should have, which strips calcium from the bones), enough vitamins (green vegetables provide a better source of iron, calcium, and all those things that shouldn't have to come in pill form), and eat plenty (low calorie foods with lots of fiber take a great deal more room and provide fewer calories). yes, i am now an advocate for the program, but i know others don't care or don't believe it works. we shall see in the end! ::wink::

6. waking life - richard linklater put together another landmark film this year. he has almost single handedly revived the independent movie scene with this film 'waking life'. 'waking life' follows the life of someone who is recurringly waking up in a dreamworld, and listening to people tell him about things that occur in the world. from evolution to philosophy to politics - it's an intellectual rollercoaster that gives you a licking and keeps moving. i have seen it twice now, and can't wait for a release on dvd to thoroughly analyze it. the most important thing about this film, however, was that it rekindled my interest in philosophy and independent film making in one swift stroke. takes a lot to do that, so i thank and salute linklater on a job well done.

5. joe moves to denver - the first of the four biggest things that usually happen to someone in their life that all happeend in this past year. it started as a hunt for graduate schools for amy to continue her education. it eventually led to us falling in love with the place in march as we went to visit it. from there, it was downhill - we were hooked. on a weekend during my first week at kpmg consulting, i flew to the city, got us an apartment where we live today, and after we arrived back from our wedding, we moved out with the help of zak and amy. bless them. we're still working on finishing the furnishing, but our living room looks exactly as we wanted it, and the kitchen as well. the bedroom and play room need work, though. in time, in time. we love it here. the mountains, the people, the culture, the diversity - all at our fingertips and ten minutes walking distance. we did good!

4. joe graduates from college - the second of the four biggest things that usually happen to someone in their life. i finally completed my education at the university of wisconsin at whitewater after five years of misdirection, intense studying and partying, and growing and amassing a number of friendships that i hope never to forget. the change came at the right time, that i am sure of, and i believe i have left my mark on the campus, if only for a little bit. the event caused me to take stock of the world and look at things in a whole new light. i had accomplished something (and rightfully i must make the mention of the privilege i had to do it) that many do not, and i believe with that comes a debt to society that i must repay by acting as an educated man. i now take positions and do good things (well, more good things than before). i give to charity and to the church. i help others in need and have done more for self-development than sit and stare at a television. it feels good, and it is an accomplishment.

3. joe gets a job - the third of the four biggest things that usually happen to someone in their life. after my time at uw-whitewater, i took a position with kpmg consulting to start my career as a computer consultant. right now, it's not too bad. i love the people i work with and the people i work for. the interviews have stories of their own, the first couple of weeks were a bit hectic, and the rest of the story is history. in addition to the job came a good friend in a co-worker, who has opened my eyes to hollywood and los angeles in general. great times have followed. i look forward to a long and prosperous career with them, and only hope they enjoy having me on the team as much as i enjoy being there.

2. guitano timpanaro - after the little ruckus caused prior to the wedding by having my best man drop out on me, along with the maid of honor, it was time to reassess the situation. in these times, i turn to my friends for the support i need, and guitano filled all those shoes very well. i consider him one of those great friends that you never plan on losing sight of. he is a complete antipode of me in many respects, but what binds us is a friendship and a brotherly love that is hard to shake in this day and age. yeah, we talk shit to each other. yeah, we chat more online than on the phone or in person. but i think that's exactly what makes it so speical - he's willing to be there when i need him, no matter the circumstance or the situation. and for that, and in my time of need, and the support that came before, during, and after my marriage, i can only thank him in this way. here's to you, guitano. big ups to j.c.