2009: The Year in Review

At the end of 2008 I had big hopes for big changes in 2009 and figured I'd be back on the upswing in no time. Reality was a bit different. It saw abortive attempts to switch jobs, dissatisfaction with and destruction of my car, and the near-death of my social life. It ended much as it began, with me toiling away at SKF and unsure of the future. The year was fairly uneventful and my blogging suffered as a result. In 2009 I posted about one-fifth of my average for the previous two years. Also unlike previous years, I can only separate 2009 into two parts rather than three: before and after moving out.

The Year in Segments
I. January-June
The first part of the year had few notable events. I started the year dissatisfied with my job and in an attempt to change it, signed up for the Cincinnati Bartending School at the end of February. My background in chemistry and easy way with customers made me a natural and I passed the classes and got my certification. The job hunt was, unfortunately, not successful. 2009 saw the worst of the recession and jobs that would have been easy to get before now had dozens of applicants. I applied to 27 local bars, clubs, and restaurants. I got a single interview that didn't end in a job. By May, I had more or less abandoned the search and resigned myself to staying at SKF for the time being. I prepared myself for the coming move and hoped I would have the money to afford rent and food and keep my car running. On April third, I accidentally started a rivalry between Sarah and Alicia and experienced Thunder over Louisville, a giant fireworks and airshow put on as part of the Kentucky Derby festival. On May 26, I had my first run-in with a jumpy semi. It caused cosmetic damage to the Jetta and I debated whether or not I'd continue to upgrade my car as planned. I decided instead to repair what wasn't working and hope for the best.
At the beginning of June, I moved out. The transition was interesting, but I quickly adapted to living in an apartment away from home and settled into a new routine that was fairly similar to the one I'd had for the last year. I frequently wonder if I accomplished anything by moving out. I was, however, very stressed out by the end of June and resolved to take a vacation to escape my routine.
II. July-December
In July, I held up my end of a promise I'd made in 2007: I returned to New York to visit Emily. Courtney and I set off from Cincinnati in the Jetta on a rainy Saturday morning and headed northeast. We learned that Volkswagens were made for travel and are pretty comfortable for an 800-mile journey. While in the city, I experienced new things and relaxed like I hadn't in months. I ate bull penis and got briefly lost in Manhattan. I walked more in one week than I usually do in three. I sat in on another class at SVA and ate delicious food. At the end of the week, Courtney and I returned to Cincinnati feeling refreshed and optimistic.
Unfortunately, that feeling didn't last. Within weeks I'd returned to the daily grind at SKF and waited for my next escape at the end of September. Labor Day Weekend, however, was another disappointment. The fireworks weren't up to par and the drama was obscene. Meagan and I had a falling out as a result of the incidents that occurred that weekend and we still have not met, though we have exchanged a few words on occasion and could probably resume our friendship at this point. After that weekend, I continued my new routine of waiting for the next holiday and hoping things would get better.
Halloween was something of an improvement. We had a party here without incident the week before, but with less excitement than I'd expected. Many of the regulars had parties of their own to attend. I spent Halloween in Louisville and quickly returned to my sad routine. Thanksgiving was a highlight, and I spent it mostly in Louisville and/or hanging out with Emily and Andrew. I ate at Mark's and reflected on the things that had gone in my favor, few as they were. December rolled in quietly after and brought with it none of the usual holiday cheer. Being out of the house managed to isolate me from what excitement most people have and I heard the sentiment from many friends and coworkers that it just didn't feel like Christmas. My birthday was uneventful and the small party I planned ended in nicotine poisoning from a cigar that was more potent than I expected.
The year unfortunately ended with a bang. After the nonstop issues with reliability, I finally decided to sell my car in the spring when the heated seats and great winter capabilities would no longer be as important. Instead, the car was taken from me on December 16th. A truck demolished the car and left me with no car, no insurance money, and no injuries. I was happy to be unhurt but saw the event as typical of a shitty year. Shortly thereafter, my PayPal account was hacked and $600 vanished. PayPal is working on fixing the situation, but it doesn't dull the sting of so many unfortunate events at once.
On December 30th, I replaced the Jetta. I now drive a burgundy 1997 Acura Integra GS with a manual transmission. I think, in the end, the Jetta was hexed. The time that I had it saw constant repair bills, fractured friendships, the end of my time at UC, and two miserable years. I now have to take the opportunity I have before me. I have a new car. I have a new year.

The People in Review
I spent this year mainly growing apart from people, though there were a few exceptions. I'd like to reconnect with a lot of them but I frequently don't have the time or simply haven't put forth the effort. Here's the people I spent enough time with to make a note of:
Mike Mills - Mike is a 60-year-old man from Louisville who works with me at SKF. He's the one coworker I particularly get along with and makes sure to start the shift off with a conversation with me. He always stops to say hi to Sarah when she's in town and shows up with lunch and is a lot of the reason work is bearable.
James Greis - James has actually been a solid roommate and dependable friend through the year. We have our differences, but when they come to the fore we generally go to our own parts of the apartment and the conflict is over.
Alicia Zwiebel - Alicia and I share an apartment but have unfortunately been growing apart the last year or so. She doesn't get along with Sarah and spends long periods in Texas, so we don't talk like we used to. I've been making more of an effort the past few weeks, though. I have no desire to let this friend go.
Stephen Reynolds - Stevo is a solid contact in Louisville and as usual, a dependable friend. When you spend a third of your weekends in a different city with your girlfriend, having someone else there comes in handy fairly often.
Brandon Black - It seems like all Brandon and I have done for years is argue. I haven't seen him in months and have come to the conclusion that as we grew up, we simply developed important differences that have kept us a little distant. Brandon is now on the verge of burning out or so it seems, so it'll be interesting to see where he goes.
Emily Wernet - After having little contact in 2008, Emily and I made an effort to talk more in 2009 and have regained a lot of the closeness we once shared. I spent an unforgettable week with her in New York that may be the highlight of 2009 and am quite disappointed that she won't be in town at the end of the week for the New Year. We've always been able to understand each other and despite the distance, I consider her one of my closest friends.
Courtney Henderson - Courtney and I have very different schedules and almost never see each other. When we do, the conversation is always easy and natural and we get along very well. I invited her along on my trip to the Big Apple in July and we shared a lot of ludicrous moments during the Jetta's only real road trip. I'd hang out with her more if I could, though I rarely get around to even IMing her for a conversation.
Meagan McNeilan - Meagan and I had been drifting apart all year, but the friendship was at risk of ending after Labor Day weekend when I declared that I'd no longer put up with her dramatic drinking shenanigans. We haven't really talked at all since, but seem to be on friendly terms again. I know we're both ready to forgive each other for the events of that night, and hope to see her early in 2010
Sarah Lamb - Sarah and I are in the middle of our second year together and I often think that she's keeping me from full-scale depression. I haven't seen many stabler relationships than ours and have no desire to end it. She no longer gets along with some of my friends, however, and I sometimes struggle to balance my personal and social lives. Still, I think she's good for me and has been my main source of support in the last year and a half.

The Year in Music
I acquired little new music this year and changed my tastes only subtly, so there'll be no big countdown. At some point iTunes started using more memory than my computer can offer, so I switched to Pandora and have discovered some new artists. Unlike XM, this hasn't led to any purchases. My old standbys through the year have been Ben Folds and The Format.

Summarizing 2009
2009 is really a continuation of the downward spiral that was 2008. I spent the whole year working at the same shitty job I started last year and end the year with plans to abandon this city when my lease is up. I lost my car to a semi and have constantly battled the non-clinical depression of a man who is all too aware of his own failings. I'm really glad that this piece of shit year has come to an end. I have a new car now. I have a girlfriend who means the world to me and maybe, for the first time in years, I have a little ambition. I want to reconnect with friends I've ditched. I want to drink less and smile more. As December came to a close, so too did the year's misery. I recently re-established my friendship with Alicia and promised to text more. I invited Nikki to a movie and decided that she may be dramatic sometimes, but I want Meagan in my life. I'm so tired of this year, yes, but I'm about to be rewarded by its end.
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Now playing on Pandora: Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track
via FoxyTunes

Twenty-Two

Next Friday is my birthday. I may try to plan something. I can get off at ten and still get paid for the two hours I miss, so I'd like to do something that night. If you have any ideas and are free, let me know.

I was maybe thinking a sort of classy party, like Brandon suggested a while ago. It'd be a party with a dress code and alcohol as an optional side item instead of the focus like it is with most parties. I'd hunt down some fake champagne or something (Like Welch's sparkling white grape juice) and a good cigar. I don't intend to have more than two drinks of anything alcoholic that night. I just want it to be relaxed and fun.

If that sounds good to a couple of you, I'll make a Facebook event out of it. Otherwise, I'll try to figure something out.

Update: Looks like I'm going ahead with the plan. I need to know if it should be Friday or Saturday, though, so I stuck a poll up here and welcome your comments on my most recent Facebook wall post before I make an event of it.