I guess since all the other cool kids are doing it, I should reflect back on the previous year and give my thoughts on the events of 2003.

In short, with a few very important exceptions note inside, 2003 sucked. I'm really looking forward to this year being much better, and more stable.

January:
The year started off with a bang, when I was "terminated without just cause" from Matrikon because, well, Paul's a dick. I'm unemployed for the second time in a year, and I'm extremely upset.

February:
Still unemployed, I'm selected as a victim of Bernard Haldane's scam. I get hundreds of hits from Matrikon on my website, trawling through all of my personal pages and photo albums. I start severely doubting if I'm talented enough to work in the industry.

On the bright side, I'm published. I contributed a chapter to Practical Intranet Development, which was published by Glasshaus.

March:
Heidegger is welcomed into our home. He promptly gets extremely ill. Glasshaus files for bankruptcy; I never see a dime from my book. I give a talk on CSS to the Alberta New Media association, and make a complete fool of myself. (Thankfully, they're very gracious, and treat me very kindly). I get a 3 month contract with Sandcastle design, just as my EI and faith run out.

April:
I get my ears pierced. I rage against Bush. I'm loving my job with Sandcastle, despite a general sense of bad management and late paycheques.

May:
Sandcastle goes under, owing me mecha-large back wages that I never see. I (thankfully) sign on with my current employer, who offers a position just around the time that Sandcastle is going under. I narrowly avoid unemployment for the third time in two years.

June: Another year older. Kirsten and I start hiking in the Kananaskis. My bike is stolen. So is my 'backup bike', two days later. I get the new Harry Potter and quite enjoy it. Dad goes in for 'routine surgery' and a week later his kidneys fail, due to problems involving his prostate. Kirsten buys me my digital camera for my birthday, and I rejoice.

July: I'm still getting hits from someone at Matrikon, trying to find something on my site - enough that I trap users from the matrikon site, and redirect them to a 'go away' page. I take a lot of pictures. I feel slightly more secure, job-wise, as the GE job is going well. Kirsten and I hike. Carol Shields dies.

August: I pass the probationary contract period with GE, and I'm set up for a full-time permanent position. Matrikon is still hitting my site for some reason, despite the 'go away' page. More hiking. Other than that, not much happens.

September:
I start up photoredux, and learn the majesty of the asian squat. Kirsten and I start looking for our house, find one, and make a successful offer. I become a grown up. Matrikon hits my site. Kirsten gets a tuition scholarship, for the second year in a row.

October:
We move into the new house, and immediately start fixing it up. I discover I have lichen planus, which is aggrevated by stress. I get stressed. I get worse lichen planus. Matrikon hits my site. Kirsten and I celebrate our 5th anniversary in our new home.

November:
Still working on the new house. We've renovated the bathroom, and finish painting the main floor by the end of the month. Work is still great, and work on the side project has begun. Kirsten and I go to Saskatoon for a research trip.

December:
I cut all my hair off. Work is going relatively well on the side project, with a late January deadline. I'm frazzled, and tired, and cranky most of the time, and I'm not entirely sure why. Matrikon hits my site. Kirsten and I spend our first Christmas in Edmonton, with her parents (they came up), and we have a really good time.

I hope to have a much better year in 2004.