Final Fives

Five Coolest Things to Happen this Year

5. I didn't get laid off - I'm always ready to move on and hunt for another job, but I'd like a few more years of experience before that happens. Getting laid off after a good amount of time on the job looks better to potential employers. Oh yeah, the paychecks and benefits are nice too.

4. 6-month Relationship - She got me to pay attention to politics, she got me to read again, she showed me small-town Minnesota. Although it ended when it had too, it was definitely cool for a few months.

3. Seeing California - It was the first time I was west of the Mississippi and East of the Pacific Ocean. I enjoyed hanging out with old friends from college, and I got to see a totally different version of America.

2. Nieces Born - My parents finally get girls in the family. I get to buy fireworks for kids in a few years...and my brothers don't need to live vicariously through me anymore. They've got families now.

1. Illegal eviction Case Settles - After over two years of wondering what's taking so long, and answering the same question over and over again ('what happened with the landlord case?'), we can close the chapter on that. I got out of credit card debt, and justice was served. How much better can that get?


Five Lessons

5. Internet Dating is for Sucks - I don't care if it's kosher in New York. The first date feels like a job interview and those profiles just give you false hope that something can come out of internet dating. I need to grow some courage and just learn how to ask people out in-person and after a decent conversation.

4. I'm a Nerd - I knew the writing was on the wall, but I didn't really accept this fact until recently. I mean...c'mon...I have a weblog...That's the first sign. I was closeted to myself...and all this time I thought I was cool.

3. People Believe the President - The economy wound up in the shitter, the president went to war, his cronies get lucrative contracts...yet he's a hero. Things line up well when you can control everything between you and your constituency.

2. I need to learn how to date locally - See #5. I haven't had a semi-serious relationship without the distance factor since high school. I like my space, but I think my fear of commitment is scoring some permanent emotnial scarring.

1. I need a car - Public transportation is perfect for getting to places within a mile of a train station. Getting anywhere else is a total pain in the ass.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

. . [~] . 0 (Grumble) Grumbles .