I posted earlier a month by month of my insano-wonderful year. sarameg "Goodbye and Good Riddance 2009: So long and thanks for all the fish." Dec 3, 2009 7:35:32 pm PST Still swimming, no less than a mile a day, often more. Which is amazing when you think I just restarted it in September. I've always been a little unawares of/indifferent to my body, when I haven't had a bit of dysmorphia or something going on. I'm aware of it now, and I like it. I like what it can do and how it makes me feel. And HI! shrinking boobage is good! I apparently do like endorphins. And the 40+ minutes where I just zone out and let my mind wander as much as it can while counting laps is good for my mental health. I work things out, or I don't. I fantasize or just do mental math (every time I hit a 7, 17 or a multiple of 7, I think of Nilly, which is funny.)

This was a year of waking up. Of travel, of flinging myself headfirst out of my comfort zone. Of buying a house, making new friends, crazy moves, some stupid decisions I can only laugh at now.

I don't know how I'm going to make 2010 compare, but I think the start 2009 made has given me new direction. I will do fun stuff to MY HOUSE. I'll paint doors purple and blue. I'll put in a garage door. I'll blow up pictures from Bhutan and Kathmandu and put them on the walls. I have projects for a lifetime, in a neighborhood I love.

I turn 35 in 7 months. I normally don't think much of age numbers, but somewhere in my head, I wanted to be where I am right now before 35. So this one I notice. I'd love to take another exotic trip, though how financially viable that is, I don't know. I am stretched thin right now. But I've got to find a way to keep up the travel. That is one thing I've learned. It's one place I never fail to break out of my mold and learn something new about me and I need that kind of forced shake-up. Can't wait another decade for that.

2009 was excellent. Thanks to all who've taken this journey with me, packed me up, cheered me on, laughed at my antics, invited me over, suggested a read, tolerated my cat posts and pat-patted my anxiety attacks and just distracted me. You helped make this journey, and I can't imagine doing it without you.

No time for a summary right now. We are hosting a brunch tommorrow and I need to sleep.

Happy New Year, Buffistas!

Rough year filled with a lot of hard work that didn't seem to be paying off but then it did. I made a game with people I respect a lot and it's pretty cool, and the previously mentioned hard work helped me get there, and is leading to better things. Monday marks 1 year since I left ECN, and it remains a good decision, if financially unwise.

Lots of sprog f2fs and good people time. I treasure that. The health silliness is better, DHs job is better, and I'm hopeful that next year will keep getting better. Also I have a cute new second cousin I get to see tomorrow.

I always say I'll reflect and ruminate on the year that just finished, and I never seem to do it. Therefore I won't even mention it this time around, and if it gets done it'll be a bonus. Suffice it to say I'm not sorry to see 2009 go, for the most part.

I kept my job, and the fools actually promoted me. I am now spending a week a month in the Chicagoland area for work. (Chicago-istas I swear we'll get together as soon as they stop scheduling work things in the evening.) No major health issues and the families are for the most part, healthy. This all falls on the OK side of things.

DH is unemployed again, and defining what constitutes a "job" is a constant battle. If I hadn't been promoted we'd be up shit creek without a paddle. Without going into detail, relationships suck and I spent a good portion of the year second-guessing my life choices. I'm at the crossroads and I still haven't decided which path to take. I've all but disappeared from here, which bothers me, but I can't overcome the hurdle to just start posting again. I feel I need to get caught up so I don't fall in the guac. I don't want to be a fair-weather 'ffista. I haven't spent nearly enough time with the people who keep me sane (you know who you are), and it's a miracle my friends still talk to me. There's a lot more I regret, but that's my burden to carry.

So I'm going to try--try to break out of this stasis I'm in; try not to fix me all by myself anymore; try to be a better friend; and try to push my boundaries again. Entropy is a nasty bitch. Don't let me turtle any more.

Huh. Would you look at that? I believe I just typed out a recap. I'm not going back to edit the first paragraph; it's so very indicative of the me I want to change.

Happy 2010 to all of you. Even if 2009 was good, my wish for my family in the box is that this new year is even better. Peace and happiness to us all.

Awww, MFN. You've got plenty in the bank here. Maybe you should draw on that. I think you need a little more intake than output right now.

And because it deserves its own post....

Congratulations to Kate and DF! May you have a lifetime of happiness. And all the best to Drew and Kristin. I'm sorry I'm not able to make it to LA. Sorella, thanks for the fratello.

Woot for buffista-sprog! Congrats to sparky, billytea, Jessica, GC, and everyone else who made (and will make) this world better by ensuring the good genes are passed on to a new generation. May the tiny ones be perfect angels, unless you want a devil, in which case I hope they go all Damian on Cheney's ass.

Now, you all know that due to my Jewishness, I think of my year from one September to the next. I also save my retro-perspective to the Jewish New Year.

However, I just wanted to say that it was a pleasure reading and being with you all through the good and bad, the sadness and the hope in 2009, and I'm sure it'll be great in 2010 as well.

You are true friends and a true community, both online and offline. I'm proud to be a part of this.

Thanks, Maria! Also, we miss you. {{{}}}

You've got plenty in the bank here. Maybe you should draw on that. I think you need a little more intake than output right now.

This, so very much this. You're a huge presence and a huge joy, even when you can only cobble together a post every six months or so. All the comfort and listening and punctuation you need is yours, anytime at all. We'll even put the guac away until you leave again, just to ease your mind.