My last journal entry of 2013. I can't believe how quickly this year has gone. But I greet 2014 with joy in my heart, and fingers flexed for a whole new year of creativity.

Spent the day finalizing my year-end goals and writing counts. That blog will go up first thing Friday morning. I do love the retrospective, looking at what went right, what went wrong, and how to fix things to work better in the future.

We're clearing the ashes out of the fireplace, doing our last minute charitable contributions, cleaning out the closets. A little Hogmanay action to appease our Scottish roots. Tonight we have a dinner reservation at a fancy downtown restaurant, and will drop in to a friend's New Year's Eve party. And then we will come home, light a new fire, have a sip or two of champagne (there's a bottle of Veuve Cliquot chilling as we speak) and meet the new year head on, counting our blessings as we go.

From our hearth to yours - slàinte!

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give me a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.