The neighborhood fireworks started as soon as it got dark - nothing too impressive this time, looks like nobody shopped in South Carolina.

I won't be awake to greet the new year, I'm confident it can start just fine without me. Nobody's partying in my world, everybody's either sick or has sick kids, or both. I will welcome 2004 tomorrow by washing the dog. Here's hoping 2004 is a better year than 2003, which was by far the worst year of my life. I'm glad it's over.