Man vänjer sig.

So we're a week into 2007, and I've managed to find enough empty spaces in my schedule to think about 2006. Behold a not-so-brief summary:

WORK:

There's been a lot of that, yes. The summer was horrendous, but things calmed down later in the year. If I give you more details I might break an NDA or two, so better not...
In early September we went to Visby for a conference. Marvellous place, and fully I intend to go back there some day when my time is my own.

HOME:

There is still much to do, but the worst clutter is gone, as is the feeling of something lurking in the darkest corners. I owe undying thanks to those who have supported me, especially thette. In the unlikely event that I ever attract someone enough for her to want to live with me, I'll probably be more bearable to live with. Seriously, my kitchen hasn't even been close to "health hazard" for over a year now!

FANDOM:

Two very nice Swedish cons, one with the very splendid and worthwhile fjm as an excellent GoH. I've also met people socially, going to pub meetings and such, and even had friends visit me in Alby. (And face it: if people can be hedgehogged to drag themselves all the way to Alby, they really want to see me.)

BOOKS:

I only read four books in 2005. In 2006 I managed to read twelve (could have been more if I'd had the spare time and energy at the same time):

1. Susanna Clarke: Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
2. Kingsley Amis: Förändringen
3. Sten Andersson: Resan tillbaka
4. Sam J. Lundwall: Crash
5. Jaroslav Hašek: Den tappre soldaten Švejk
6. Arthur C. Clarke: The Fountains of Paradise
7. Mark Haddon: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
8. Philip K. Dick: The Game-Players of Titan
9. Frederik Pohl and C.M. Kornbluth: Gladiator-at-Law
10. Håkan Lahger: Proggen
11. Graham Greene: The Confidential Agent (an entertainment)
12. Henrik Örnebring: Blodsmak (ett fall för Sennja Maler)

And of course, I bought loads more than I ever found the time to read, like this batch.

MUSIC:

I bought fewer records in 2006 than in any year since I started having a disposable income; instead, I started weeding out stuff. Still, I did buy a few things, like the new albums from Gary Numan (OK, but I had expected more), Laibach (one of their really good ones!) and Kjell Höglund.
A bunch of really enjoyable concerts: Depeche Mode, Kjell Höglund, Depeche Mode again, Absolute Body Control, Front 242, Nitzer Ebb and Laibach.

GEAR:

Around May-June I grew tired of my Acer laptop, specifically the awful battery life, the loud fan noise as soon as I switched it on, and the way it got really hot. The crap with the battery warranty was the last straw, so I sold it to my co-worker Å and bought a Dell Inspiron 640m instead. I've still to find anything to complain about with it.
A bit earlier in the year, my dear old (well, November 2003) Tungsten T|3 also succumbed to its decaying battery (10 minutes from fully charged to "Your battery is EXTREMELY low") and got replaced with a T|X. The advantages of the T|X are, among other things, the non-volatile RAM and the Wi-Fi capabilities; I have yet to find any major disadvantage.
My computer collection is shrinking: for example, in September, Rune from Kumla dropped by and took with him a bunch of old computers. I've also thrown away or donated a bunch of other old hardware: among other things, I gave away no less than one spare stereo, two old PCs, one router and a few old hard disks to darnia and sashastardust. I am ever so slowly breaking the collecting curse; it takes time, patience and self-discipline, but it can be done.

LOVE:

I seem to have fallen in love with a very nice young woman (some of you know of whom I speak), but I think she sees me mainly as a good friend who's fun to be around sometimes. Business as usual, in other words. At least I've managed to avoid getting my heart broken; only slightly bruised now and then. (When I told thette about it, she said "Mmm, that'll make it nice and tender", and then I started thinking about a chili and garlic marinade, and then I had to go and scrub my brain with Svinto.)
As I think I've said once or twice, my luck with girlfriends hasn't been overwhelming. On the other hand I have been incredibly lucky, almost undeservedly so, with friends, some of whom happen to be girls.

Overall, 2006 was not a marvellous year, but at least a very good one.