2009 can suckit. At least, that’s how I’ve been thinking about this pile of a year for a while, probably post-layoff. But from a personal perspective, the family grew turbo-close, my son grew from 3 months to 15 months (wow), and we started a business. So was it good, or was it le suck?
I’ll use Sundry’s New Year’s Tradition review as an impartial guide and we’ll look at the results below. My wife did the same review.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Not had a job for a while… 2-3 months before starting Comal Productions. Changed my outlook on a lot of things, including parenthood, corporations, and US healthcare.
#2009sucked
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Last year I made none, or if I did I didn’t keep any of them. This year I think I’m going to make monthly resolutions. Maybe if I keep the goals smaller and more measurable it’ll happen.
#2009sucked
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Good friends had Emma almost a year to the day after we had lilJ. And last year other friends had Ryan like a week after we had lilJ. Just think about that — October babies mean new year resolution “trying”.
#2009rocked
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope. Thankfully.
#2009rocked
5. What countries did you visit?
No trips since the blessing of our son. Many trips before.
#2009sucked
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Stability and fulfillment on the income front.
#2009sucked
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 31st – being laid off.
#2009sucked
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting our own business.
#2009rocked
9. What was your biggest failure?
So many things come to mind, and all relate to being laid off. But it wasn’t actually being laid off, just the events leading up to it and the feeling of failure at being completely unable to prevent it. So I think I’ll go with: Not being in a position where I could control my own destiny. There. deep.
#2009sucked
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nope. But wife was sick like the entire months of November and December. So there’s that.
#2009rocked
11. What was the best thing you bought?
New 46″ tv with the tax-refund money. I had been scouting a new TV for forever that had to fit our existing furniture. This fits with micro-inches to spare!
#2009rocked
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
lilJ’s of course. He grew from 3 months to 14 months this year. That’s not-moving to talking and making jokes. Pretty wow.
#2009rocked
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Won’t all parents say themselves here? So I’ll do two answers: me when I get so frustrated with the screaming that I yell at my son. Atrocious behavior that needs to stop forever. In fact, consider that on my January Ought-Ten resolutions.
#2009sucked
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, Cars, lilJ. Maybe not even in that order.
#2009sucked
15. What did you get really excited about?
My wife starting a blog with her friends. So proud of Tipsy Society.
#2009rocked
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Party in the USA by Miley Cyrus. lilJ hearts it.
#2009rocked
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
– happier or sadder? Happier
– thinner or fatter? Thinner
– richer or poorer? Poorer
#2009rocked
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Traveled with our son. Although our trip to Galveston (beach) at 6 months old was enough for an entire year.
#2009sucked
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Worrying about what kind of life/career/house I “should” have [by now].
#2009sucked
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas eve at my moms, Christmas day at the in-laws. Which is awesome. love it.
#2009rocked
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
With your kid sounds kinda lame, so going to say no.
#2009rocked
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Gilmore Girls reruns. Hands down, no contest. For non-reruns, agreeing with my wife: Lost (can’t wait for final season in like a month) and Glee (which we thought would suuuuuck, but is awesome).
#2009rocked
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
No, I equally hate people in 2009 that I did in 2008. Some lightening of hatred for some that I thought I never would.
#2009sucked
24. What was the best book you read?
Two books:
- Eat, Pray, Love. Made me fan in love with Italy all over again, India for the first time, and got me interesting in Indonesia.
- Sharper your knife, less you cry. I was ready to move to paris and enroll at Le Cordon Bleu by the end of it.
#2009rocked
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I used to be so into music; I mean I liked John Mayer before he got famous, now that he’s famous == can’t like him anymore. Nowadays though… don’t have the time. So I’ll go with nothing.
#2009sucked
26. What did you want and get?
New iPhone 3GS and Macbook Pro. On New Years Eve no less!
#2009rocked
27. What did you want and not get?
My gut says revenge on this. So maybe I’ll need to go with forgiveness.
#2009sucked
28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Gran Turino. Loved it.
#2009rocked
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 31, and did nothing. I kinda hate my birthday and don’t like to celebrate it.
#2009sucked
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Writing more; just getting the practice of putting thoughts down onto paper. Work up towards a book/novel of some sort. any sort.
#2009sucked
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Jeans.
#2009sucked ?
32. What kept you sane?
My Wife, who rocks. We’re so alike, but see problems and opportunities in completely different ways, which is good. See also: ready to move to Paris and learn the language there.
#2009rocked
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I’m amazed at what Chris Brogan has been able to do in the social media side. But I love reading Seth Godin more.
#2009rocked
34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Healthcare and corporate disconnect with the public.
#2009sucked
35. Who did you miss?
I only get to see my college type friends once or twice a year, even though we mostly all live around the Houston area. As most parents can understand.
#2009sucked
36. Who was the best new person you met?
Getting to know lilJ this year and meeting his personality.
#2009rocked
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
It’s not the tasks of starting that stops you. It’s the fear of the task. Once you start (like starting a company), it comes naturally.
#2009rocked
38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Ummm, not a thing comes to mind. Can’t think of any lyrics. awesome.
#2009sucked
OK, so the grand total for 2009:
2009 Sucked: 19
2009 Rocked: 19
Official, final answer on 2009: a very blagh year outside of our family. Making it a wash.
Let’s go twenty-ten!
One Year Ago
Laid Off? Appreciate 1 Thing Today
January 2010 Checkup
