Okay, so I’m late with my year end wrap up, but I got youknowsuperbusylikeeveryoneelse and then yesterday I was up all night with CNN and the miners’ families. What an anguished sorrowful story that is. My heart goes out to everyone in the state of West Virginia. Truly. I’m so sorry for their suffering. . . .

So, the wrap up I mentioned. First and foremost, if I were the blogging equivalent of “the Academy,” I would award an Oscar for Blogger of the Year to Craig Geisecke over at our Metroblog New Orleans site. I have followed his story, and in turn New Orleans’, through his insightful, heartbreaking, hopeful dispatches as he tries to mend his life and community back together. I truly hope 2006 blesses him, his fellow Metrobloggers, and the city and Delta as a whole.

I know I’m sweeping wide good wishes here, but damn, if spots of this country don’t need them right now.

Secondly, I want to share with you some of my favorite Metroblog Chicago posts. Why? Well, in a lot of ways I’m like you. I have never met one of my fellow Metrobloggers. Not one. Couldn’t even pick them out of a line up if I had to. (Well, okay, maybe Fuzzy.)

They are strangers to me like they are to you except they’re not because I read them all the time like you maybe do too. I even mention them to my friends once in a while like they’re my friends, but then I have to clarify that they’re just people I read. I don’t actually know them. And, then I feel kind of stupid. Like I have imaginary friends. Which, come to think of it, is a lot what it’s like. But not completely.

Also, in a lot of ways I’m like my fellow bloggers in that I know they have jobs and lives and don’t get paid to do this. They’re just in it because they love Chicago and reaching out and shooting the breeze about stuff they find interesting (or ridiculously banal). I figured I’d recognize them with a little spotlight post here and remind them that people (okay, one person) is paying attention (more or less).

So, without further adooo, here are my 2005 favorite posts by my imaginary friends right after the jump.

Danny Doom – Danny just got here, and I’ve picked his first post because it was so nice to meet him.

Dave! – He’s even newer than Danny, and only has only two (albeit very fine) posts so far, so I’m highlighting them both here and here. (Love the use of that exclamation mark. It’s only a matter of time until one-name celebrities catch on. Are you listening Britney!)

Fuzzy – What a year for Fuzzy! His Metroblogging got him on the news and he anticipated the Sudoku craze a full month or so before it busted out all over. But as fun as those were my favorites included Lil’ Buddy, Whoosh, and a A Very Specialized Nightlife Guide.

Irene – Glad she’s back because I appreciated her determination in her Running post.

Jason Mojica – He makes me want to be a Modernist. Love it or hate it, his This Hot Bitch post tapped into the vein of fury people were feeling about the senseless deaths of Jason’s friends. The post is still getting comments to this day as the case winds its way through the courts.

Lauren Liss — Is the lady who makes us run right or as right as can be reasonably expected. My faves included: I am a Crazy Dog Mother, and All Time Top Five on Why Chicago Rules.

Morgen – Is back and seems to be a not-screwin around, straight shooter. See (his or her — don’t know) most recent post here.

Nikkos – The inexhaustible Nikkos! Who booked a date (sort of) for him and Tony Bennett and engaged in conservative smack downs on a regular basis. You go Nikkos! (Come to think of it, Nikkos should have a permanent exclamation point after his name, too, don’t you think?) Another favorite was Kharma is a Bitch.

Officer Gleason — In addition to all the blogging OG did this year on behalf of struggling kids and fixing the broken system that’s supposed to serve them, my favorite post of his was Scotch in the City. It didn’t get one comment, but it’s one of the posts from this year that I find myself still thinking about.

South of North — He used to be just Tom but now he’s South of North, too. Favorite posts include A replanted Suburbanite and How was Your Thanksgiving?

Steven — One of our great photographers. I raved in a separate entry about Alley & Blue, but also fancied Sailing, Sailing and the funky x of Downtown II.

Tankboy — Seems to stay out late and keeps me up to speed on what all the cool musicians are doing. Faves include the posts that talk about bands he’s psyched about and why they’re worth seeing (and hearing) like this post and this one.

And, two of our fellow bloggers have moved on (for reasons I don’t know), but I hope they come back soon:

Alana had a lot of great posts, but three of my favorites were her photographs of the Chicago Skyline, Merci New Orleans, and Some Damn Cute Apples.

Sarah Becan stopped posting for us after completing History of Chinatown Parts 1 & 2 in cartoon format. Left me wishing for more. Damn.