2009

2009… a great year for Bordeaux and even Burgundies for that matter, some say one of the best in half a century or more. But for me, possibly the worst in close to a half of a century.
I won’t bore you with details, many of you have gone through these issues already. And those that haven’t will in the future. But it was strange that I could sense it coming late in the previous year. Even with the feeling of something negative approaching, nothing could be done to slow it down or avoid it.
I have had so many really great years, and probably that many very good years too. So to dwell on this one seems ungrateful for the good fortune of those. We will all have excellent years and terrible ones too. A great poet once wrote that sorrow and hardship hollow you out, so that in time happiness and joy will fill you back up. It’s difficult to have that perspective when you are going through it, but the Yin/​Yang aspect of life certainly seems to be accurate. Here’s hoping your awesome years will largely out number your bad ones.

2009?!
Not too bad. But I am the «Glass Is Three Quarters Full» guy.
I still am employed by Evil Corporate Telecommunications Giant. Most productive year ever.
I have a Petite, Red Headed Passion Flower who loves me dearly and drives me ab-​so-​lutely crazy!
I have a 22 year old son Who Knows Everything. 2009 saw the removal of his appendix and a busted body part. Recovered nicely.
2010: You are on notice. You better be as good if not better!

Dear 2009,
I’m leaving for for an older year. I just feel like 2010 can support me in ways you never could. He’s the future. You’re the past.
I know what you’re thinking: I can change. No. No, you can’t. I have given you chance after chance, and what has it gotten me? Fired and 10 pounds heavier. That’s right. You made me fat and unemployed, 2009.
2010, he gets me. We’re going to get in shape, and get a new job, and
write, like, a hundred reviews about all the cool restaurants we’re going to try. Suck on that.
Look, at the end of the day, I’m just done with you. It’s over. 2010 and I just want to move on with our life together, and I hope you can be happy for us. Us and our smokin hot new bodies.
XOXO
Me.

Made many good friends this year.
Went scuba diving for two weeks in diving paradise (Bonaire)
Had an amazing road trip up and down the west coast.
Graduated UT with a CS degree (finally)
Had an amazing year of music with SXSW, ACL, etc.
Moved to the San Francisco Bay Area.
Would be five stars but I suddenly grew some silver hairs!!!

2009, you were no 2008, but you were close. If I’d have known getting laid off from my job were going to be so awesome I would have made it happen sooner.
2009 you started off awesome. I didn’t have to work. I stayed up late. I slept til noon. Women adored me. Life doesn’t get any better than that.
Unfortunately I had to regrow up and get another job and start taking regular baths. I no longer get to stay out late. I have to be at work by 9. Women don’t like me as much.
Despite all the lulls, 2009 taught me a great lesson about life: No one owns your time. Take a sick day once in a while when you’re not sick. My last company still owes me for 80 hours of sick time I will never get back.

Five things that made 2009 great:
1. I found love. It had been a while, and then some.
2. I went to Costa Rica. I’ve never had such an ugly and beautiful week all in one. I fulfilled a lifelong dream of visiting a rain forest. First time to leave the country for more than a day, too.
3. I moved out of a place that had been bringing me down for years. My new house is so much calmer and more beautiful and actually structurally sound.
4. I walked down a runway in front of about a thousand smiling people. I’ve hated my appearance for as long as I can remember, and for just one day, Unilocal helped me feel like a pretty lady.
5. I ran my first 5K. After neglecting to exercise for most of my life, finishing even 13^th in my age division and meeting my timing goal was something to be proud of.
There was plenty that wasn’t so awesome, but we’ll call it 4 stars and be done with it. Onward to 2010!

2009 & I had our good times, for sure. We started out on a good note, ringing it in with sparklers and shots. We celebrated my birthday in style and spring was sprung. 2009 introduced me to some wonderful new people and experiences, and for that I will be forever grateful. The fall and winter showed real promise. But even though many things were great, there was more that was just not kosher. How about that oppressive summer? I can’t let that go, sorry. And the liberal doses of personal problems doled out? No thank you! So, with no regrets do I bid 2009 adieu.

GAH… Seriously, 2009, you bastard. You’ve set me back five years at least. I hope you’re happy. If you had bothered to get me a ring, I’d throw it at you and leave. If I could give you zero stars, I would.
At least there’s no where to go but up from here. Just don’t let that be your cue to get complacent, 2010.

You sucked, 2009. I demand that your successor improve on your performance.

Attention, 2009:
I give you one star because I have to, and because you weren’t QUITE as bad as the ONE terrible thing that happened to me in 2005 (being diagnosed with type 1 diabetes), but you still completely and totally stunk worse than rotten eggs sitting in the roach– and vomit-​infested sink of a shit-​laced port-​a-​potty in 115-​degree weather.
I was single the entire year; hardly got any dates (WTF?). Got laid off in January from the best job I ever had. Took a one-​year contract job in April with the state’s Health & Human Services Agency that ended 5 months later due to budget cuts. Took a job in November out of desperation that is several steps below where I was before, along with a pay cut. Almost got raped in October (though, there is the silver lining of not actually having gotten raped). Had to put my favorite cat of all time, Grace, to sleep at the end of November (cancer). I got sexually assaulted and kicked out of «Cool» River at 11:30pm on New Year’s Eve (2009 leading into 2010) for something that wasn’t my fault (see my review for details).
I hereby give you the one-​fingered salute, 2009, and bid you a grand GOOD RIDDANCE!
Sincerely,
A dissatisfied customer

Still got my crappy job, but on the other hand, still got a good paying job. Still got my hubby, friends, family, critters, and my house (for better or for worse). Mr. Pres. Obama stimulated the economy in my house for sure with the home buyer incentives as hubby is a home inspector. Struggled with a milestone birthday… should be an adult by now, but don’t wanna be! Waaaahhhh!
Yup, A-​OK bout sums it up! Hopefully 2010 will be As Good As It Gets! (gotta live it up, cause you know the world is ending in 2012 ;)

According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of 2009 was the Year of the Ox!
So if you were not an OX, OK!
Sad: Michael Jackson passed
Fun: Susan Boyle
Food: Pineapple upside down cake!
Amazing: Unilocal!
Happy 2010 everyone!

What a random thing to review… but I will!
2009 …pretty sucky but had some high points.
Not my best year so I’m looking to 2010!

2009? Who’s coming up with these categories?
1. «We are the World» synopsis: «Don’t let your past dictate who you are, but let it be part of who you will become.» (The Book of Vardalos.)
2. Alternative summary: «2009? Yesterday’s news, dude…» (Errol M. on Jäger time.)

You broke my heart. If I could drown you I would.
I’m seeing 2010 now. I think it’ll treat me better.

*** Don’t Read If You Are Easily Offended***
2009, you can suck my non-​existent dick.

2009 for me has been all about being THANKFUL for what I have and for that it gets 5 stars!
2009 could have been the worst year of my 39 years considering that I spent 2 months of it in ICU with my Daddy praying that he would survive his massive bleeding stroke. My Daddy had another stroke a couple months later that left him in worse shape than the first…
On Christmas Day 2009 my Daddy looked trim and healthier than he has in years!
And the news of Jack and Veek’s house fire on Christmas morning and the out pouring of the Unilocal community humbled me beyond anything I had yet to experience.
In the past 3 months I have committed my Pup and I to saving Pit Bulls on death row from TLAC through Austin Pets Alive and it has been so very rewarding. We are on our 3^rd Pup who got to spend Christmas with us in a warm bed. I named her Gracie and she was the best Christmas gift I could wish for! And it looks like she is a keeper!
I am also very thankful that my job was not effected by the horrible economy!!!
Thankful is how I would describe 2009!

While this year sucked big time, it was also a very formative year.
I am your typical socially awkward science nerd, and for many years I only made feeble attempts to overcome this affliction. Toward the end of 08 and beginning of 09 I was ready to date again. This was the year I finally got to learn what a pain in the ass, and the amount of follow-​up required, trying to find a date. In some ways, no, it IS worse than trying to find a job. This is partly because I had no reliable or stable friendships. Any fun I had in 09 was because I went out and found it myself, or the occasional party once every 2 – 3 months. Consequently, I don’t give a damn if I can stay in Austin, or if I have to move to after 2 – 3 years working in some other city.
On the bright side, 09 was the year I finally realized how passionate I am about my career field. As a student, I’ve progressed from barely getting my stuff done — to getting it done and thanking some deity it wasn’t any more difficult — to getting it done, getting my ass kicked, and coming back asking for more. And when a second helping wasn’t readily available, going out and finding one.
It has really been an adjustment biking home from dive bars in Boston, to having to drive 45 min home from Austin. The recession has made it tough, definitely decreased the number of entry-​level technical professional openings, and most of the stereotypical recession adjustments you can imagine are true about me. And I won’t say 2010 will be «better» but it might be filled with more happy days… hopefully many more.

What Quani said. 2009 still hasn’t finished ripping out and upgrading its plumbing though, because it’s already 2010 and the thing still doesn’t flush properly. I do admit it has a catchier name. Probably why Arthur C. Clarke used it for that sequel.
Citius, Altius, Fortius, 2010. We’re counting on you.

2009 can eat a bag of dicks.
It was easily the worst of my nearly 30 years on this planet, though I won’t burden you with the details. The second star is because I did manage to make and build some incredible friendships with some incredible people… without whom I probably wouldn’t have made it out of the year with my sanity.
I’m glad it’s over… things can only look up from here. Suck it, 2009.