Final words on 2009

As seen @Sharon's:

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Talked to a NASCAR driver.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
On the whole, yes I did. I haven't made any resolutions for 2010, except to continue on the ones I set for 2009.

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

4. Did anyone close to you die?
My favorite uncle, "Pizza Man."

5. What countries did you visit?
Just the good old USA.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Jeep Wrangler.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
The day in June when we got news of a horrible thing.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Losing weight.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Indulged way too much in a vice (but I wised up and quit, so it wasn't a total fail).

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
No.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Race tickets.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Amanda snapped out of her slump.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Sperm donor.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Every-second-Saturday gay cafe.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
NASCAR.

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
The Devil's Inside My Head.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? Happier.
b) thinner or fatter? Thinner.
c) richer or poorer? Richer.

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

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

20. How did you spend Christmas?
In Little Rock with the in-laws.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes.

22. What was your favorite TV program?
NASCAR Raceday.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Hate is poison.

24. What was the best book you read?
I read only one book in 2009, The Glass Castle.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Banjo lessons.

26. What did you want and get?
Success with the gay cafe.

27. What did you want and not get?
Cured of my demons.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
The Blind Side.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
We celebrated by going to the State Fair; I was 49.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A cure for depression.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Tomboy.

32. What kept you sane?
My wife and lots of exercise.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Cameron Diaz (What Happens in Vegas). I want her arms.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
I've given up on politics.

35. Who did you miss?
Don't know.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Spiggle.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Never trust anyone until they earn it.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
No Compassion (Talking Heads). I'm not as insensitive as this implies. It's been a bad year for a lot of people and I know how that goes (my bad year was 2002). It can take a long time to rebound (seven years in my case), and people who suffered setback this year are likely going to feel the effects for a long time to come. My heart goes out to them. All I can say to these folks is stay the course, believe in yourself, work hard, and you will ultimately see light at the end of the tunnel and it won't be an oncoming train. On the other hand, I met so many people this year (mostly through our cafe) who felt they deserved everything without doing anything to earn what they wanted. I really have no compassion for their drama.