Shit from 2009. Shit for 2010.

The usual New Year post. I find it amusing/interesting how one day can inspire an abundance of emotions – hope (for the New Year ahead to be good), relief (that the previous year is behind you), wonderment (“How fast did this year fly by?”), sadness (that time is flying by so quickly), under-achievement (of not fulfilling plans and resolutions for the year before) and over-achievement (plans and resolutions  for the year ahead).

My emotions for a new year are usually poignant, tinged with cynical hope. What a difference a day makes. And in the morning light of January the 1st, you realise that nothing has changed, everything will be the same, the year will still proceed as quickly as the ones it follows and resolutions and the best laid plans will soon be forgotten. It will still take me several weeks (at best) to get accustomed to writing the new date.

Of course, the usual mental stock-take occurs – accomplishments, mistakes, friends lost and found, good nights out, bad nights in, lost vacation time, spending too much money on your wardrobe, spending too little time on yourself – the proverbial scales fight to gain balance when the clock strikes 12.

Suffice to say, I have not lead the most exciting life (in 2009 or any other year…) but I still enjoy a mini stock-take as much as the next person. So, here is my pitiful offering to the New Year Gods, in the sad hope that 2010 would be a year I enjoy growing older in.

Shit from 2009

• Enjoyed 2 stellar performances (fulfilling life dreams) from Nine Inch Nails and Aimee Mann.
• Discovered a small patch of beach on Pasir Ris just for Dolce and myself
• Officially turned 30
• Made some new friends (people I actually like)
• Experienced alcohol induced memory loss (for the first and second time)
• Learnt to never go on vacation with a morning sickness stricken pregnant woman
• Finally started watching Californication (yes, this made my list!)
• Discovered I am not an emotional wasteland
• Discovered the joys of cuddling
• Discovered the potency of mixing a codeine based cough syrup with Zyrtec (yes, that made the list too!)

Shit for 2010

• Will get a new phone in February (so long, you pink piece of crap!)
• Will finally get my bicycle (When? Who knows!)
• Need to learn how to drive (yes, this is a roll-over from the Great Resolutions of 2008)
• Will continue my 2009 resolution of having a massage every month (was surprisingly diligent about this!)
• Learn how to give my brain a creative break
• Get a new job (can I shift this to No.1?)
• To actually see more performances and concerts (instead of just getting excited about it and then procrastinating with buying tickets)
• Get my IC done (this should probably be No.1 since I think I’m hitting illegal status and expect to be exiled to Timbuktu with short to little notice)
• Have a holiday outside of Asia (a pipe-dream!)
• Start a proper, grown-up savings account (also, a pipe-dream!)

So, really, not a whole lot of exciting things but I figure it could be a whole lot worse. In the meantime, Happy New Year!