2009 was a fucking weird year.

Work: In October of 2008 my boss was laid off, leaving me as the one and only librarian at my company. In January, as the economy continued to crash, the entire company moved to a four day week. In May, shortly after I bought tickets for my very first vacation, they announced that we all had to take at least a month’s sabbatical. In June, my second boss was fired. A week later, I had a slightly critical evaluation from the CEO that had me on tenterhooks for much of the summer. I left the Special Libraries Association and started looking at jobs that weren’t necessarily ‘library’ jobs.

In September, we went back to five days a week, and this month I got a glowing evaluation and a raise. So, um. Yay?

Fandom/Writing: In January, I reconnected with a really good friend and we started RPing for a few hours every week. Then in March, we saw Watchmen and started RPing for several hours every single day, and I met a lot of awesome people in a new fandom. Annie and I have probably written thousands of pages, and started a spy novel. Creatively, I don’t think I’ve ever produced this much – if I have, it hasn’t been for years and years. I have written recipes for fictional characters.

Personal: I dated a few boys and flirted with one girl (so far). I went to California and met awesome people, and started to think about the possibility of relocating. I bought a lot of jewelry and clothes, showed my sister around New York in July and saw Jude Law as Hamlet in November. I got contact lenses and new glasses. I turned 29. I baked a crapload of shit, and started a baking blog.

Things I Know Will Happen in 2010: Annie and I will get The Novel written. I will see Renee Fleming in Rossini’s Armida. I’ll go to the Galapagos Islands in July. The world will continue to revolve around my cat.

Beyond that, it’s anybody’s guess.

1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before
I visited continental Europe.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I resolved to exercise more, and I did! Until about July.  Not going to bother renewing the gym membership.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Also no.

5. What countries did you visit?
United Kingdom and Portugal

6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?

I’d like to be a little more comfortable financially than I am right now.

7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory and why?
January 4, 2008, when I left the hell that was my previous job.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting a new job and leaving the really bad situation at the old one.

9. What was your biggest failure?
I’m not sure.  I had lots of little failures and little stresses, but nothing huge.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No, not this year.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
My MacBook.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Mine, especially in this last month, and Amy’s, due to the shit she had to put up with.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Personally? I can’t think of anyone.  Politically? Sarah Palin, Rod Blagojovich and Eliot Spitzer.

14. Where did most of your money go?
My MacBook, romance novels, and shoes.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The Presidential Election.  I used to be a big political junkie, but it had depressed me for the last several years.  Now I’m excited again.

16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Carmelldansen.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Much happier.

ii. thinner or fatter?
Maybe a little thinner.  But about the same.

iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer, unfortunately, despite the fact that I now make more money.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Writing

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinating.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
In Michigan with the family.

22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.

23. How many one night stands?
That would be….0.

24. What was your favourite TV programme?
“Chuck” and “30 Rock”

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Not really.  But there are some who started to annoy the crap out of me.

26. What was the best book you read?
“Acheron”

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Sleater-Kinney.  Yes, I know I’m about ten years late to that party.

28. What did you want and get?
A new job.

29. What did you want and not get?
I can’t think of anything, actually.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
I didn’t go to many movies this year, so I’ll have to go with one of the two I did see: Definitely, Maybe.  It was silly, but didn’t try to be more than it was.  I want to see Rachel Getting Married before the end of the year though, and I suspect I’ll love it.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I went to work, and I remember it as a really awful day for the most part where I was almost in tears for a long time.  But they did buy me a cake at the office, and I was 28.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Telling my former boss where she could shove her attitude.  Didn’t, but man.  I would have enjoyed it.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2003?
In 2003? Jeans and tees and sweatshirts.  I was in grad school.  In 2008? Comfortable professional, with a bohemian twist.

34. What kept you sane?
Daydreaming.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Rahm Emanuel.  Shut up.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The presidential election.

37. Who did you miss?
My family and my friends.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Some (but not all) of the people at my new job.  The New York Jezebelles

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Never let them see you crack.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
It’s the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine.