Year in Review Meme: 2009
I try hard not to get too personal on my blog here but I think it is fitting for me to look back at this year and review. 2009 was a very trying year for many people I know. It was a huge year of transition for me. Starting this blog was part of that transition to establish myself in Toronto once again after I returned from traveling.
So I’ve decided to do the Year in Review meme that’s going around. This is one of my most personal blog posts I’ve ever written here. Please be gentle.
1. WHAT DID YOU DO IN 2009 THAT YOU’D NEVER DONE BEFORE?
Visited New Zealand, Thailand, Fiji, and San Francisco!!! Skydived! Snorkeled on the Great Barrier Reef. Ate kangaroo and camel. Was so violently, violently sea sick for 2 hours straight. Swam with dolphins. Made a date with someone and then didn’t show up (oops?). Had the best burger of my LIFE. Went on a LOTR tour aha. Hiked a glacier for 8 hours! Took Thai cooking classes. Did bamboo river rafting. Spoke Thai. Hiked a 3 day hike in the mountains outside Chang Mai. Showered under a waterfall. Saw a man eat a cooked rat (ugh). Saw ladyboys. Met someone traveling. Saw a dingo. Did 4 wheel driving on a beach.
Went to my first Tweet-up! Met some amazing, amazing people in the Toronto Tech community who inspire me daily with their passion and brilliance. Was unemployed for a long period of time. Took a job and was depressed about it.
Fell apart completely due to a broken heart and put myself back together.
An unforgettable year.
2. DID YOU KEEP YOUR NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS, AND WILL YOU MAKE MORE FOR NEXT YEAR?
Last year I said: “I’d like to go home to Toronto and enjoy my friends and boyfriend. Start really putting some roots down there. I would like to lose the weight I am slowly gaining in Australia. I also really want to start focusing on my career by getting a job I really enjoy and working hard at it.”
So, in 2009, I did go home and enjoy my friends, definitely started putting some roots down, and definitely got a job I really enjoyed.
For the coming year: I want to do something that makes a difference, however small, in this world. I want to lose some weight, but am happy with where my fitness is, for once! I want to continue to meet people who inspire me on a daily basis. Surround myself with good people. I’ll let the rest figure itself out. :)
3. DID ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU GIVE BIRTH?
Hmmm. Not that I can think of.
4. DID ANYONE CLOSE TO YOU DIE?
No, :).
5. WHAT COUNTRIES DID YOU VISIT?
Australia! New Zealand! Thailand! Fiji! The US! Part of Canada. It was a GREAT year for traveling.
6. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO HAVE IN 2010 THAT YOU LACKED IN 2009?
Better control of my finances, honestly.
7. WHAT DATES FROM 2009 WILL REMAIN ETCHED UPON YOUR MEMORY, AND WHY?
January 7, 2009 – The day Ex broke up with me.
April 20, 2009 – The day I arrived back in Toronto permanently.
June 29, 2009 – The day I started my job at Publicis.
8. WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR?
Getting my job at Publicis!
9. WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST FAILURE?
Spending TOO MUCH MONIES on things like clothes and eating out. Need. To. Stop.
10. DID YOU SUFFER ILLNESS OR INJURY?
Sprained my ankle pretty bad, surprisingly. I was in physio for a good month with that. Couple of colds and a sprained groin (aha). Nothing more serious than that.
11. WHAT WAS THE BEST THING YOU BOUGHT?
My kitteh (#CrazyCatLady)!! Tickets to Thailand, hostel in Fiji, my boots in San Fran <3! My new camera and iPod! Train tickets to Montreal.
12. WHOSE BEHAVIOR MERITED CELEBRATION?
My family and friends. <3 So much mad love. Everyone I’ve met in the Toronto Tech community as they are giving, giving people who make me smile on a daily basis.
13. WHOSE BEHAVIOR MADE YOU APPALLED AND DEPRESSED?
Appalled is a strong word, I think, for anyone I know.
14. WHERE DID MOST OF YOUR MONEY GO?
Traveling, rent, food, clothes. Sooo much food and clothing, omg.
15. WHAT DID YOU GET REALLY, REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT?
Thailand! New Zealand! Fiji! San Fran! Seeing my friends and family again! Surprising my dad with a trip home for his birthday in April. Getting my job!
16. WHAT SONGS WILL ALWAYS REMIND YOU OF 2009?
Poker Face – Lady Gaga
Dylan – Emmy the Great
Don’t Stop Believing – Glee Cast
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Help I’m Alive – Metric
Kids – MGMT
North London Trash – Razorlight
My life Would Suck Without You – Kelly Clarkson
17. COMPARED TO THIS TIME LAST YEAR, ARE YOU:
I. HAPPIER OR SADDER? Sadder, probably. Just because I was all “OMG I’m in loooove” at this time last year.
II. THINNER OR FATTER? Fatter.
III. RICHER OR POORER? So much poorer. Still paying off my debt from traveling.
18. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE MORE OF?
You know what? Every year I say: “More napping.” But dude? I wasn’t working for the first half of 2009 basically. I’ll let you know I got quite the number of naps in. I wish I had done more of… not eating? I feel good about most other things.
19. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU’D DONE LESS OF?
Buying too much food and not eating it. Eyes > Stomach.
20. HOW WILL YOU BE SPENDING CHRISTMAS?
At home in Halifax. It was so nice to have a Christmas again after not having my traditional family one last year.
21. HOW WILL YOU BE SPENDING NEW YEAR’S?
Last year, I spent my New Year’s Eve on a boat, in the Sydney Harbour, watching the world famous Sydney fireworks. Nothing can compare to last year’s. Nothing. Looks like maybe a house party will be happening.
22. DID YOU FALL IN LOVE IN 2009?
I was in love at the beginning of 2009 but spent most of the year trying to figure out how to fall out of love. :-/
23. HOW MANY ONE-NIGHT STANDS?
None.
24. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE TV PROGRAM?
Dexter. Californication! How I Met Your Mother (OMG BEST SHOW EVER). Jersey Shore, you know it! House. Mad Men. ANTM. How could I forget 30 Rock! Grey’s Anatomy. The Hills. The City. Glee! Big Bang Theory!!
…Ok I’m done, I swear.
25. DO YOU HATE ANYONE NOW THAT YOU DIDN’T HATE THIS TIME LAST YEAR?
No!
26. WHAT WAS THE BEST BOOK YOU READ?
EVERYTHING BILL BRYSON WROTE. I basically devoured about 15 of his novels when traveling this year. Brave New World. England’s Mistress: The Infamous Life of Emma Hamilton. A book I can’t remember the title of that was about a town that confined itself during the plague.
27. WHAT WAS YOUR GREATEST MUSICAL DISCOVERY?
Well, I knew about Lady Gaga before but dude. I discovered just HOW AWESOME she is this year. Girl is fierce.
28. WHAT DID YOU WANT AND GET?
Awesome travel adventures. An kick ass job I LOVE.
29. WHAT DID YOU WANT AND NOT GET?
To not spend this year getting over someone? More monies.
30. WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE FILM OF THIS YEAR?
Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince (because I’m a Harry Potter nerd, shurrup). VIcky Christina Barcelona. Up In The Air. Avatar.
31. WHAT DID YOU DO ON YOUR BIRTHDAY, AND HOW OLD WERE YOU?
I turned 24. I went to The Boat the night before with a bunch of friends and danced my tail off. I got street meat at the end of the night. My roommate made me birthday cupcakes with Kanye on them. <3 Hung out with kitteh.
32. WHAT ONE THING WOULD HAVE MADE YOUR YEAR IMMEASURABLY MORE SATISFYING?
If Ex hadn’t have broken up with me. It really started the year off with a huge level of suckitude. It was a long, painful, confusing, depressing, hope-sucking process. It took me way, way longer than I expected to get over him. I mean, I understand his reasoning for why he broke up with me but his reason doesn’t mean I could reconcile it as my reason.
It’s hard falling out of a love with a man you think is amazing and expected to be with for a very long time. Very hard. But I’ve finally arrived at that place. It’s liberating. I actually feel strong enough to enter into a real relationship again, should I chose it, which I can’t say would have been a truth for most of the year.
I can’t even remember what it feels like to love the parts of Ex I loved. It’s good.
33. HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL FASHION CONCEPT IN 2009?
Kind of all over the place, really.
34. WHAT KEPT YOU SANE?
Friends, family, my personal journal.
35. WHICH CELEBRITY/PUBLIC FIGURE DID YOU FANCY THE MOST?
David Duchovny, no doubt about it.
36. WHAT POLITICAL ISSUE STIRRED YOU THE MOST?
In Canada: Net neutrality.
37. WHO DID YOU MISS?
Friends, my family. Summer of 2008.
38. WHO WAS THE BEST NEW PERSON YOU MET?
Hmmm! So many! My Twitter friends, as a whole! <3 My new coworkers too.
39. TELL US A VALUABLE LIFE LESSON YOU LEARNED IN 2008.
You will survive this. Just keep putting one step in front of the other and remember to breathe.
40. QUOTE A SONG LYRIC THAT SUMS UP YOUR YEAR.
I have three! Let me show you them!
I want your loving
And I want your revenge
You and me could write a bad romance.
- Bad Romance // Lady Gaga
If we’re still alive
My regrets are few
If my life is mine
What shouldn’t I do?
I get wherever I’m going
I get whatever I need
While my blood’s still flowing
And my heart’s still
Beating like a hammer
- Help, I’m Alive // Metric
The memories fade
Like looking through a fogged mirror
Decision to decisions are made
And not bought,
But I thought this wouldn’t hurt a lot.
I guess not
- Kids // MGMT
This is a lame comment, but “very insightful!”
To be honest, reading of your highs and lows kind of reminds me of how level this year has been for me. No real ups or downs… I think I would have preferred some ups and downs.
So here’s to an unpredictable 2010, wherever it may take us!
(and yes, after seeing Lady Gaga perform on SNL, I realized just how talented she is, behind the glamour!)
Ups and downs definitely do make it for an interesting year! Here’s to 2010 :D
This is a lame comment, but “very insightful!”
To be honest, reading of your highs and lows kind of reminds me of how level this year has been for me. No real ups or downs… I think I would have preferred some ups and downs.
So here’s to an unpredictable 2010, wherever it may take us!
(and yes, after seeing Lady Gaga perform on SNL, I realized just how talented she is, behind the glamour!)
Ups and downs definitely do make it for an interesting year! Here’s to 2010 :D
Bill Bryson? Isn’t he the guy the wrote “A Short History of Nearly Everything”? I have that book on CD; the only way I’d ever get through it. It was tedious and unsettling all at once. You want it? I’ll mail it to you free of charge, I swear. Hopefully his other stuff is better.
A small part of my 2009 will be remembered by finding you on Twitter. I follow and unfollow folks all the time, but something about you makes me stick around. I’ve enjoyed being your every-so-often, unsolicited, 140-characters-or-less pen pal. :-)
Bill Bryson did write that. And no, I’m good. I own the book. I was impressed how he managed to boil everything down! Plus it was kinda funny! The rest of his stuff is good though, I promise.
And thanks, I definitely enjoy chatting with you via Twitter. Glad I’m special! ;)
Bill Bryson? Isn’t he the guy the wrote “A Short History of Nearly Everything”? I have that book on CD; the only way I’d ever get through it. It was tedious and unsettling all at once. You want it? I’ll mail it to you free of charge, I swear. Hopefully his other stuff is better.
A small part of my 2009 will be remembered by finding you on Twitter. I follow and unfollow folks all the time, but something about you makes me stick around. I’ve enjoyed being your every-so-often, unsolicited, 140-characters-or-less pen pal. :-)
Bill Bryson did write that. And no, I’m good. I own the book. I was impressed how he managed to boil everything down! Plus it was kinda funny! The rest of his stuff is good though, I promise.
And thanks, I definitely enjoy chatting with you via Twitter. Glad I’m special! ;)
My heart felt sad with the heart break story. I went through that once — thinking you’re going to be with this person for years and years and that there’s no one more perfect for you. Having that end without being near close ready for it to be is pretty devastating.
Almost a year for you now, though! Glad you’re happy and confident and more amazing than ever more — it shows! I’d never now you had fallen apart at the beginning of the year : )
What’s Bill Bryson like? I’m looking for some new reads.
Thanks Rayanne. It’s definitely been an interesting year, emotion-wise, heh. But glad I don’t show it!
Bill Bryson is, historically, a travel writer. He’s so funny though. I love his dry wit. He’s done other books though, recently, including one on Shakespeare, a memoirs of growing up in small town america in the 50s and more. I have a bunch of his books if you want to read any!
Thanks! Just might take you up on that : ) We should get a buncha people together and do a temporary book exchange!
Love the idea of a temporary book exchange!
Thanks! Just might take you up on that : ) We should get a buncha people together and do a temporary book exchange!
Love the idea of a temporary book exchange!
TL:DR ;)
I have to say that I really respect your choice for heading out to Australia and exploring, I’m sure it still plays a part in who you are now and the sort of decisions you make going forward. I hope in a few years I can take a similar sort of journey and just take time to explore and learn. You’ll have to help me plan out that trip when the time comes!
It was great meeting you Emma and I’m a bit disappointed we haven’t hung out very much. I still remember bringing you out to an event in May. You seemed sort of nervous but I’m glad that you decided to go out to more! Its been great messaging with you from afar this past year but I’m looking forward to spending more time hanging out with you in the year ahead!
I would absolutely agree with your assessment. My trip to Australia taught me a lot about myself and my resourcefulness. And also that things really aren’t as scary as they seem!
I’m also disappointed we haven’t had a chance to hang out much this year. When are you going to move downtown? ;)
TL:DR ;)
I have to say that I really respect your choice for heading out to Australia and exploring, I’m sure it still plays a part in who you are now and the sort of decisions you make going forward. I hope in a few years I can take a similar sort of journey and just take time to explore and learn. You’ll have to help me plan out that trip when the time comes!
It was great meeting you Emma and I’m a bit disappointed we haven’t hung out very much. I still remember bringing you out to an event in May. You seemed sort of nervous but I’m glad that you decided to go out to more! Its been great messaging with you from afar this past year but I’m looking forward to spending more time hanging out with you in the year ahead!
I would absolutely agree with your assessment. My trip to Australia taught me a lot about myself and my resourcefulness. And also that things really aren’t as scary as they seem!
I’m also disappointed we haven’t had a chance to hang out much this year. When are you going to move downtown? ;)
My heart felt sad with the heart break story. I went through that once — thinking you're going to be with this person for years and years and that there's no one more perfect for you. Having that end without being near close ready for it to be is pretty devastating.
Almost a year for you now, though! Glad you're happy and confident and more amazing than ever more — it shows! I'd never now you had fallen apart at the beginning of the year : )
What's Bill Bryson like? I'm looking for some new reads.
Thanks Rayanne. It’s definitely been an interesting year, emotion-wise, heh. But glad I don’t show it!
Bill Bryson is, historically, a travel writer. He’s so funny though. I love his dry wit. He’s done other books though, recently, including one on Shakespeare, a memoirs of growing up in small town america in the 50s and more. I have a bunch of his books if you want to read any!