thank you
the five-word speech became the bane of my commute for weeks. i finally came up with that speech above. it seemed appropriate enough: for those who knew me and my site, it would make sense; for those who didn't, it would sound like a good ol' thanks. it was just the right amount sap and gratitude.

i am going to now try to keep the gushing to a minimum, but i can't end this without thanking:

my family, for not disowning me when they discovered i had a (gasp!) website where i once in a while even wrote about them; my friends, for listening to my stories even if they already read it on my website; melissa, jerry, auntie imee, joy and CJ, for being the hosts with the most; ev, for keeping me company at the events and documenting them so well; jack, for being so patient with me, even if i was late, even when i babbled, and even if i seemed to not know where i was driving; the other pyra kids for letting me tag along with them on friday; all those people who gave me the last-minute warm fuzzies before the event, you stopped me from going out of my mind (i can't stress how much you all helped); maura, for first inspiring and always believing in me; and you, yeah the kid hiding behind your monitor, i know you are there, i know you visit my site, i know you read my words and sometimes you even laugh at my stupid jokes. thank you for being there. none of this would even matter without you.