I'm terribly sorry to hear about your troubles, especially about Bandit. People underestimate just how much pets add to our lives and how big the void can be when they pass. And he was so young, too.
Let's hope 2007 is better for you.
I am thrilled to hear about your luck in love! It's always so nice to hear about relationships that are going well and the people involved are happy. Usually all I ever hear about from people are the negatives.
I also would like to point out that it's nice to see you around on the boards again. Your absence is definitely felt when you are away, even if you're only gone for a couple of weeks. I hope today isn't a one-off thing and you stick around for awhile.