2009: A year in review

Personally, 2009 wasn't really a bad year, so to speak.

I still have a roof over my head, I still have a job, I still have my health.

Since I write everything down in my Google calendar, it's easy to review what I did with my 2009, and I did a lot. A lot of good things.

Travel wise though, in comparison to other years, 2009 sucked for me. But that's only because I am spoiled and am used to traveling to a new location every year because I have ever since 1998.

In any case, I did do a lot of traveling... but it was mostly within the state.

Despite my lack of traveling to new places, 2009 was (in all sense of the word) okay: let's review.

Boozin
I did a lot of drinking. Mostly until July. Then it significantly slowed down. And I mean significantly. It went from literally everyday to roughly once a week ... if that.

Boys, boys, boys
Looks like my sour streak of failed boy relationships rolled over from 2008 to 2009. Whether I was the one chasing, the one being chased or actually dating the guy (whatever that means), there were a few good ones and a few rotten ones ... Obviously some "season finales" were more unfortunate than others, but I learned valuable lessons from most encounters and naturally don't regret any of them.

In a recent conversation with Dustin, I think he's right when he says that I will probably be single for the rest of my life. I have accepted this... although some days the romantic little girl surfaces and cries about it.

Nicotine
Tried to quit smoking twice. The first time failed miserably. The second time, after the annual Mono Hot Springs trip, was more of a success, but I still find myself craving cigarettes and smoking, especially socially. But to celebrate SOMETHING out of this "failure," I have reduced the amount of nicotine my body was used to. I don't smoke everyday, and I can confidently say I have conquered my "habitual addictions" (like that of smoking at work, smoking in my car, after eating a meal and right before going to bed.) Hopefully, by 2011, I will say I'm 100% smoke-free.

House-sitting-mania
2009 was definitely a year of house sitting for me. I credit it to the fact that everyone is aware of my situation at home - where I sleep on a couch and technically have no room - and so my friends and extended family invite me over to take advantage of their homes while they're gallivanting the world.

Shay and I stayed at her uncles house in Castaic for a week or so and threw the annual BBQ at the house.

I enjoyed living on my own in a studio while Dustin was enjoying himself in Europe in June.

I watered plants for Gma Tozzi for a month while she road-tripped to visit family.

I then took care of little Rocky at the Tozzi residence in October while they went on a cruise for a week.

And finally, I took care of three massive dogs for my musical buddy Michael in Winnetka over Christmas.

I also think I spent a few nights at the Matzner residence taking care of Ugly while they were out of town... but I seem to have missed writing it down in my calendar.

Camping and hiking
I camped a lot this year... which in retrospect makes me giddy and excited for next year's trips. Most of the following are annual:
-Bad Bear with the Polacks
-Hot Dogs and Whiskey with the Polacks
-Yosemite with the Italians AND the Polacks
-Mono Hot Springs with my girls, the Polacks and the Katies.

Hiking wasn't as strong, but I did hike in the SCV for the first time. I plan on discovering more local trails in 2010.

Car troubles
2009 was by far the year of car issues. My car, Jupiter Optimus Maximus, is growing old and breaking down. His CD player skips like crazy, his seats are torn, his driver's window doesn't seal so it's always noisy.

His roof broke three times (where it didn't open or close all the way). His air conditioning broke twice. His back bumper fell off returning from a camping trip. His front seat heaters don't work.

And of course, what topped it off, was when some sad person slashed 3 holes in his convertible to jack a bag full of underwear and makeup.

Not only did my car suffer in 2009, my older brother's car crapped out on my on the way back from Mono Hot Springs (costing $600 to fix), and the engine light came on while I was driving my dad's car (I probably fucked up the transmission).

Other highlights
All of the Mammoth trips. Had a season pass and definitely used it.
All of the Vegas trips. One with my girls. One with the Polish Crew. And the last with my RA crew.
Memorial Day weekend in San Diego with my RA buddies.
Stephanie and Matt graduating from college and Mickey getting his master's degree.
A few San Francisco trips - one of which was my birthday and another was Halloween weekend where I met Tony Vincent after seeing the Green Day Musical
Sea World with Asia and Peter
The discovery of Vozdu Yoga

Rediscovering music
And last but not least, I think the most important thing I got out of 2009 was diving again into my artistic side, specifically music. After taking a few music classes, I have used playing guitar as a way to cope, to concentrate, to express and to enjoy myself. It's probably the most valuable and significant thing I have taken out of 2009.

And so, although 2009 wasn't the greatest, it definitely could have been a lot worse.

Regardless, I'm still giving 2009 the finger and embracing 2010 to snuggle in my bosom.

It will be a good year.