Thursday, December 31, 2009

Let's get this party started...

Like I did every year when I had a Livejournal (and once on my myspace, although I had to delete it because the head-nun found it online and asked me to remove it because of "inappropriate talk of masturbation"), I am going to recap 2009 in 42 questions. And while I have a tendency to hyberbolize responses in an effort to garner more laughter, you can take each answer with a grain of salt and sort out fact from fiction as you like.

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Travel-wise, I went to Boston. Other than that, everything was old hat.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I rocked my resolutions! Mainly, I wanted to get a job in Houston, find a place to live near my family and settle into a "new life" rather seamlessly. Done and done. AND I dropped 30 pounds between Christmas 2008 and Christmas 2009. Hello skinny pants...

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, although the pressure for that person to be me is getting a little intense.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, no one close. As I get up in years, though, I'm afraid this one is about to change.

5. What countries did you visit?
Just America. Sadly, no hardcore travel in 2009. And as long as my "partner" refuses to get on a plane, I fear that my international travel is temporarily on hold, at least until I can get my hands on some good drugs and trick him into getting on a plane.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
A boyfriend the entire year. And rock-hard abs.

7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Too many important dates to count. This was a big year of ups and downs, all of which are etched upon my memory.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting back into my skinny pants. And snagging a quality man.

9. What was your biggest failure?
New Years alone (as a way to celebrate my independence) was a pretty epic failure. Also being broke up with over a $325 dinner (that I paid for) wasn't quite a highlight of my year.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
My immune system is the shiz-nit. No problems there.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Things are not important to me. But the thousands of dollars I spent on booze to help me drown my sorrows and/or make a fun time even funner were probably a solid investment.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
I don't really care about anyone but myself, and landing a kick-ass job and settling into my "new life" has been a pretty celebratory experience.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
People do what they must. Having my heart broken at the start of my "new life" wasn't so pleasant. But it all worked out in the end.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Moving. And Wendy (my car). I really could have done some awesome stuff with that $10,000, but alas, it was not meant to be.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Robert. I'm still really excited about that...

16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Let My Love Open the Door by Pete Townshend

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
Way happier. Thank baby jesus.

ii. thinner or fatter?
See #2 and #8

iii. richer or poorer?
See #14

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
I do whatever I want, whenever I want. But, spending more time with my friends from LA before the move is probably something I wish I had done differently.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Less couch time. But it was good bonding for me and the kitty cats, so it wasn't without its perks.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
Woke up with Robert, went to 3 family functions, and ended up back at home with Robert. My Christmas day was a great little gift of its own, wrapped up nicely and tied off with a pretty little bow.

22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes, twice. But only one took. And it's my favorite love ever.

23. How many one night stands?
None. My whoring days are over. I'm getting too old. If someone is looking for a one night stand they should probably choose someone younger and more flexible.

24. What was your favorite TV program?
I can't get enough of It's Always Sunny and The Office.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Life's too short to be a hater.

26. What was the best book you read?
How about the best 4 books I read: the Twilight saga.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Justin introduced me to a lot of quality music. And now that I'm dating someone who is kind of like a beatnik nuevo cowboy, I've had to get on board with The Doors. More than I ever thought I would.

28. What did you want and get?
A job, thinner thighs, a quality man...the list goes on and on. 2009 was pretty good to me.

29. What did you want and not get?
A raise.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Too many movies to count. Many above par, but none that stand out as a new fav.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I got a job and spent the weekend in San Diego. Solid birthday weekend. I turned 29.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Nothing. It's been pretty freaking good (if you subtract August - the month of my heartbreak).

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
My fashion is all over the place. Business casual and sweats are my two basic styles of dress though.

34. What kept you sane?
Happy hour.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Tim Robbins, Clive Owen, Anderson Cooper, Anthony Bourdain, and Ryan Gosling. Same answer every year.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I live in SheriLand where there are no political issues. I know...I am an ostrich. (answer stolen from my 2004 responses)

37. Who did you miss?
Rob, Mel, Beam, and JH. All my Buckley crew.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
For the first half of the year, I'd say Justin (although I officially met him in 2004). For the second half of the year, I'd say Robert (although I officially met him in 1995). Apparently I'm not meeting anyone new but instead re-establishing relationships with people from my past.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
If you let yourself be vulnerable, you also allow yourself to truly feel. The "Sheri Show" is awesome for self-preservation, but not so much for personal growth.

40. What was the best thing to happen to the web this year?
I couldn't name just one thing. The internet rules. If I couldn't stalk people and/or research every thing that I question about life, I would be considerably less happy and informed.

41. Who did you steal this from?
Monica Shaw. In 2004.

42. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
I was lost. And I'm still lost. But I feel so much better.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Money, money, money. If I had a little money. It's a rich man's world.

In an effort to earn a little cash money before the holidays, and to motivate myself to do more than the minimum 8 hours of work a day, I have taken on a few "side jobs."

I started tutoring the 7th grader that lives below me. For the low, low price of $50 an hour, you, too, can be tutored by me, in my sweat pants, at my kitchen table. I figure the 33% discount I cut the family is a fair trade for the convenience and comfort of tutoring in my own home. An hour a week in exchange for a fair amount of money to cover booze for 7 days - yes please!

And after witnessing Dobie's Decathlon Team in action this past Friday, I felt a pang to get in on the action. Starting Sunday, I am the team's new Math Coach. I already have notes typed and copied, and a fairly solid plan of action to ready them for Region competition. "Ready to switch to the dark (public) side?" you ask. Nope. But willing to get in on some of the action that provided nearly the only satisfaction I received during the duration of my highschool career? Yes.

So mama's bringing home a little extra money these days. And thank sweet baby Jesus because I have been overspending my monthly income by about $50 every month since I moved back to this humid, godforsaken flat land. For someone with two degrees in math, you think I could manage my money a bit better. Suzie Orman would rip me a new one.

Happy Thursday.

Thursday, December 3, 2009

And I know it will be an easy ride...

For the first time since I started my job in August, I totally have my act together.

Whenever you are a teacher, the first year is rough. The second year is also taxing, but every year after that is cake. Problem is, when you are like me, you have lots of "first years." This is my third "new" teaching job in 6 years. A "new" teacher has to build a curriculum: write notes and lessons, prepare homework solutions, and write appropriate tests and quizzes. And all of these tasks can be daunting and overwhelming. On a good day, I am two days ahead of the students. On a bad day, I am mere hours ahead. But right now, at this moment, I am almost completely planned through the end of the semester.

Score one for me.

This week has been exceptionally easy to boot. Three days of review for a test, and then test day today. Translation: 15 minutes of checking homework 5 times a day for 3 days, and then sitting at my desk for the entirety of the day today. It's been amazingly relaxing and has done wonders for my mental health.

"When it rains, it pours" the saying goes. I have found that this is true of good things as well as bad, and right now I'm in the middle of one of the best storms I've had in ages.

My job is going well. I am in a relationship that brings me more joy each day than the day before, and I am looking forward to the future possibilities that lay ahead, both personally and professionally. As the optimistic clothing/accessory company would say, "Life is good."

And it's supposed to snow this weekend.

Here's to hoping that I don't die in a icy-road accident on my 30 mile commute to or from work tomorrow. That would really put a damper on my happiness.

As my new friend Bob once said, "I've been waiting for Friday for two weeks." Peace out, Thursday.