I shamelessly stole this blog format from a blogger called Cynical Dad who I'm pretty sure has no clue of my existence. If you are a regular reader of my blog (thank you!), you don't have to read them again. They're not necessarily my best writing, the most profound, the most touching, or the most humorous. They're just ones I liked. My blog, my rules.
It was a toss-up between recapping my favorite blog topic for each month and posting my favorite photographs of 2009. Then I discovered that I didn't take many photos in 2009.
I don't usually make New Year's resolutions, but I am resolving to take more photographs in 2010. If I take many, many photographs, some of them are bound to be decent.
I also resolve to ride my bicycle more miles than the 619 I rode in 2009. I had a goal of riding 2009 miles in 2009, and I missed it by a BUNCH. I rode 1063 in 2008, 1813 in 2007, and 2006 was the year I had set a goal to ride 2000 miles that year and ended up with 1998..... Two stinkin' miles short! It was cold, rainy, and drizzly on New Year's Eve that year, and I was going to ride my bike up to the middle school and back (2 miles round trip), but Hubby pointed out the low visibility and talked me out of it. I decided having him plan my funeral on his birthday would be sort of a downer, so I accepted the fact that I ALMOST reached my goal.
I'm going to have to draft Katydid, Rozmo, and VT to help me reach my goal of 2010 miles in 2010. Come on, y'all!
Here are my favorite posts from 2009.
January:
A very strange coincidence that fascinated me.
February:
The dangers of creating cycling routes using computer software.
March:
A picture of me and all my cousins on the front porch of our grandparents' house. Since this blog post was written, the mystery of whether or not my brother was flipping the bird has been solved.
April:
A post about one of my most precious former students. She still gets in touch with me every now and then, and I still love her.
May:
A heartwarming story about another former student. This time it wasn't really about her, but about the kindness of strangers.
June:
An unsolved mystery letter I found in my mom's things along with pictures and other memorabilia. I wish I had the energy to solve this particular mystery.
July:
A hilarious story about my former sister-in-law. I go back and read it every now and then when I need a good laugh.
August:
This one about my clean desk. I repeat it here because we are halfway through the school year, and my desk has remained clean ALL YEAR.
September:
The letter I wrote to members of the 6:30 spinning class at the "Y" letting them know how I feel about their staring in the door toward the end of our line dancing class.
October:
Signs of the apocalypse from the casino.
November:
A post full of joy after a wonderful bike ride with two out of three of my favorite cycling buddies. VT wasn't able to come that day.
December:
A proud post about an award that my Sweet Girl got.
Happy New Year to everyone who reads my blog, and to every single person you love. Mwah!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tough Times.......
This has been a horrible year for a lot of people, but for the most part we've been insulated from it. We haven't known anyone directly affected in a catastrophic way, so it was easy just to tut-tut and say, "Times are tough for everyone."
I found out today, though, that my hairdresser and her husband are losing everything. Their house, her business, his business, some property they bought from his mother and really thought they could sell as a piece of commercial real estate, everything.
I know that people all over the country met their financial demise through a combination of poor decisions and bad timing, and some others simply due to greed. I guess ANY decision could be considered a poor one if the timing is bad. The same decision could have been a brilliant one in better economic times. How do you know?
I have whined and complained from time to time that I would like to move to a new house, one on a single level, one not in a subdivision that has gone mostly to rental properties, one that Hubby has not shared with other wives.
Hearing my hairdresser's story today, though, has made me grateful for what I have. Our house is paid for, and Hubby's last day of work is tomorrow. We have it so much better than a lot of people. She works in the cafeteria of one of the local schools for ZERO money, just so they can have benefits. In her words, "It's like we're going back to being eighteen again." And not in a good way. They have a daughter a year older than my own Sweet Girl, and they may have to move into her basement. She will probably have no trouble getting a job in a salon, because even in the worst of economic times, people are going to spend money getting their hair cut. But after all these years of working for herself? To start over? I can't imagine. They have no savings, no 401k, no retirement, nothing.
It has made me tremendously sad tonight. I hope 2010 is much better for them ... how can it NOT be? And for many, many other people too.
I found out today, though, that my hairdresser and her husband are losing everything. Their house, her business, his business, some property they bought from his mother and really thought they could sell as a piece of commercial real estate, everything.
I know that people all over the country met their financial demise through a combination of poor decisions and bad timing, and some others simply due to greed. I guess ANY decision could be considered a poor one if the timing is bad. The same decision could have been a brilliant one in better economic times. How do you know?
I have whined and complained from time to time that I would like to move to a new house, one on a single level, one not in a subdivision that has gone mostly to rental properties, one that Hubby has not shared with other wives.
Hearing my hairdresser's story today, though, has made me grateful for what I have. Our house is paid for, and Hubby's last day of work is tomorrow. We have it so much better than a lot of people. She works in the cafeteria of one of the local schools for ZERO money, just so they can have benefits. In her words, "It's like we're going back to being eighteen again." And not in a good way. They have a daughter a year older than my own Sweet Girl, and they may have to move into her basement. She will probably have no trouble getting a job in a salon, because even in the worst of economic times, people are going to spend money getting their hair cut. But after all these years of working for herself? To start over? I can't imagine. They have no savings, no 401k, no retirement, nothing.
It has made me tremendously sad tonight. I hope 2010 is much better for them ... how can it NOT be? And for many, many other people too.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Another Jason Story.....
My BFF Jason took me to my first UGA football game (so you can at least partly blame my obsession on him) when we were juniors in high school.
After the game we went to a fraternity party. I have no idea why or how we got there, but there we were. Jason and I got separated immediately, at least as far as I remember.
I assume my mother knew we were going to the football game. I'm guessing the fraternity party was nowhere in her knowledge base.
Some time around midnight my mother becamea little extremely concerned because her not-quite-sixteen-year-old daughter had not returned from a football game that had started some twelve hours prior. She wasn't much on sports, but she did know it shouldn't take more than twelve hours to play a game. Heck, this was in the time before college ball HAD overtime, so that couldn't be it.
This was also in the time before cell phones, so she had no way to get in touch with us.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
When there's a will, there's a way.
As I THINK events unfolded, she marched over to Jason's parents' house, where they told her that we were somewhere on the UGA campus and they didn't know how to get in touch with us either.
So Mother said she would be contacting the state police about her missing daughter. That certainly put a new twist on things.
I don't know how, but Jason's parents FOUND him at the frat party. And then somehow HE found ME. Because he was always chivalrous and braver than I would have been in the same situation, he walked me to the door when we got home.
When he spoke up in my defense, Mother told him to shut up. Nicely.
Then Mother said to me, "And I guess that's alcohol on your breath."
Well, she's holding all the evidence, so nothing to do but for me to agree. Nicely.
"I guess it is."
Then she asked one of those world-famous rhetorical questions, for which she was not really expecting an answer.
"And why, may I ask, were you drinking?" [Before you completely condemn me, this was when the drinking age in Georgia was 18. And Jason was almost..... Oh shut up.]
Because I was never smart enough to keep my mouth shut, because I always refused to let an opportunity for sarcasm pass no matter what the danger, because I was not quite sixteen years old, I answered,
"Would you believe because I was thirsty?"
I'm just glad this was NOT the time Mother had the butcher knife in her hand, because she was known to smack you with whatever she had handy. [She didwhip spank beat discipline me with the butcher knife once, and I don't even remember why.] This time it was just her hand. She had a cobra-like open hand slap, and my head rocked back on my neck before I knew what was happening.
I don't remember if Jason beat a hasty retreat then or if he was invited to leave at that point, but the most amazing thing is that he continued to be my BFF. And his parents continued to let him hang out with me.
Mother eventually forgave Jason, and she HAD to forgive me. She just had to put it in perspective and be thankful that I wasn't the child she was having to go see on Sundays during visiting hours. Only, however, by the grace of God.....
After the game we went to a fraternity party. I have no idea why or how we got there, but there we were. Jason and I got separated immediately, at least as far as I remember.
I assume my mother knew we were going to the football game. I'm guessing the fraternity party was nowhere in her knowledge base.
Some time around midnight my mother became
This was also in the time before cell phones, so she had no way to get in touch with us.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha.
When there's a will, there's a way.
As I THINK events unfolded, she marched over to Jason's parents' house, where they told her that we were somewhere on the UGA campus and they didn't know how to get in touch with us either.
So Mother said she would be contacting the state police about her missing daughter. That certainly put a new twist on things.
I don't know how, but Jason's parents FOUND him at the frat party. And then somehow HE found ME. Because he was always chivalrous and braver than I would have been in the same situation, he walked me to the door when we got home.
When he spoke up in my defense, Mother told him to shut up. Nicely.
Then Mother said to me, "And I guess that's alcohol on your breath."
Well, she's holding all the evidence, so nothing to do but for me to agree. Nicely.
"I guess it is."
Then she asked one of those world-famous rhetorical questions, for which she was not really expecting an answer.
"And why, may I ask, were you drinking?" [Before you completely condemn me, this was when the drinking age in Georgia was 18. And Jason was almost..... Oh shut up.]
Because I was never smart enough to keep my mouth shut, because I always refused to let an opportunity for sarcasm pass no matter what the danger, because I was not quite sixteen years old, I answered,
"Would you believe because I was thirsty?"
I'm just glad this was NOT the time Mother had the butcher knife in her hand, because she was known to smack you with whatever she had handy. [She did
I don't remember if Jason beat a hasty retreat then or if he was invited to leave at that point, but the most amazing thing is that he continued to be my BFF. And his parents continued to let him hang out with me.
Mother eventually forgave Jason, and she HAD to forgive me. She just had to put it in perspective and be thankful that I wasn't the child she was having to go see on Sundays during visiting hours. Only, however, by the grace of God.....
Monday, December 28, 2009
Season's End.....
After a disappointing season, to finish with a huge upset win over Georgia Tech and a bowl win over Texas A & M takes some of the sting away. I have a few questions as the UGA football season comes to a happy end.
Who will be our quarterback next year? One of the two freshman phenoms, or Logan Gray? If he doesn't quarterback, will Logan Gray ONLY perform fair catches? I could play that position.
Who will be our defensive coordinator, and whom will he bring with him?
Will we ever, ever try another blackout game? After the Bama debacle last year, we sort of tried a half-assed effort with black pants and helmets against Florida this year. That didn't work either. Gimmicks will never substitute for good play.
At what point will they dump the Gatorade on Mark Richt? Will Mark get as pissed as he did at the end of the Georgia Tech game? (It wasn't because they soaked him. It was because, as he said, "Double zeros. You don't celebrate until the scoreboard shows double zeros.")
When will Uga VIII be named? And how much does Russ get paid for standing in for him these two months?
Will any announcers ever learn how to pronounce Washaun Ealey's name? First or last? I can understand struggling with the first name, but Ealey? It's got no "R" in it, people, it isn't pronounced like the opposite of "late".
Will Ealey switch jerseys and wear #3 next year, as he wants to?
Will A.J. Green ever duplicate this catch that he made in high school?
Who will be our quarterback next year? One of the two freshman phenoms, or Logan Gray? If he doesn't quarterback, will Logan Gray ONLY perform fair catches? I could play that position.
Who will be our defensive coordinator, and whom will he bring with him?
Will we ever, ever try another blackout game? After the Bama debacle last year, we sort of tried a half-assed effort with black pants and helmets against Florida this year. That didn't work either. Gimmicks will never substitute for good play.
At what point will they dump the Gatorade on Mark Richt? Will Mark get as pissed as he did at the end of the Georgia Tech game? (It wasn't because they soaked him. It was because, as he said, "Double zeros. You don't celebrate until the scoreboard shows double zeros.")
When will Uga VIII be named? And how much does Russ get paid for standing in for him these two months?
Will any announcers ever learn how to pronounce Washaun Ealey's name? First or last? I can understand struggling with the first name, but Ealey? It's got no "R" in it, people, it isn't pronounced like the opposite of "late".
Will Ealey switch jerseys and wear #3 next year, as he wants to?
Will A.J. Green ever duplicate this catch that he made in high school?
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Sexism is Alive and Well......
Subtitle: I might have expected it from a man.....
I went to the grocery store today, proudly sporting my "United States Navy Mom" sweatshirt. That way I could glare at the guy wearing the Florida Gators t-shirt, and he wouldn't be able to figure out why.
As I was checking out, the cashier asked me, "Where is your son stationed?"
Granted she was an older woman, but she was a WOMAN!!!
Come on, people, this is 2009 ... almost 2010. The Navy has been allowing women since ... oh, other than the auxiliary roles in wartime, approximately the 1970's.
I was more amused than offended, but this isn't the first time it has happened. Why, in the 21st century, would people assume that a child in the Navy is a son? Particularly in the post-9/11 era, when enlistment by BOTH genders in ALL branches soared.
Maybe I need a shirt that's more specific. I wonder if they make one that says, "United States Navy Mom of a DAUGHTER"?
I went to the grocery store today, proudly sporting my "United States Navy Mom" sweatshirt. That way I could glare at the guy wearing the Florida Gators t-shirt, and he wouldn't be able to figure out why.
As I was checking out, the cashier asked me, "Where is your son stationed?"
Granted she was an older woman, but she was a WOMAN!!!
Come on, people, this is 2009 ... almost 2010. The Navy has been allowing women since ... oh, other than the auxiliary roles in wartime, approximately the 1970's.
I was more amused than offended, but this isn't the first time it has happened. Why, in the 21st century, would people assume that a child in the Navy is a son? Particularly in the post-9/11 era, when enlistment by BOTH genders in ALL branches soared.
Maybe I need a shirt that's more specific. I wonder if they make one that says, "United States Navy Mom of a DAUGHTER"?
Saturday, December 26, 2009
End of SOME Annoying Commercials.....
With Christmas over and done with for this year, at least I don't have to worry about hearing some of those annoying Christmas commercials. Earlier this week I heard three advertisements IN A ROW with some aggravating version of "Jingle Bells." Isn't there a law on the books somewhere against that? It's inhumane at the very least. And don't even get me started on "Garmin dot com Garmin dot com Garmin dot com."
The annoying commercials will shift this weekend to quitting smoking and fitness centers. I fully expect Valentine's candy to appear in stores this weekend. It may already be there ... the farthest I ventured today was a walk in the park with Gus. I avoid shopping the day after Christmas with the same vigor as Black Friday. I didn't even go to the grocery store today for fear that some of the truly rabid sales-seekers might have leaked over there.
Hubby retires in 5 days ... sort of. Although his company knew the exact date of his retirement for MONTHS, they didn't quite get his replacement hired in time. So he has to work for a temp agency for a couple of weeks to get the new guy fully trained. That will probably be better for both of us anyway. I'm grumpy enough when I have to go back to school after Christmas break (come on lottery numbers, come on lottery numbers), but it was going to be even worse if I had to get up and go to school and leave Hubby sleeping. Or having a leisurely cup of coffee.
I wonder what new coach at Florida I'm going to have to learn to hate now.....
The annoying commercials will shift this weekend to quitting smoking and fitness centers. I fully expect Valentine's candy to appear in stores this weekend. It may already be there ... the farthest I ventured today was a walk in the park with Gus. I avoid shopping the day after Christmas with the same vigor as Black Friday. I didn't even go to the grocery store today for fear that some of the truly rabid sales-seekers might have leaked over there.
Hubby retires in 5 days ... sort of. Although his company knew the exact date of his retirement for MONTHS, they didn't quite get his replacement hired in time. So he has to work for a temp agency for a couple of weeks to get the new guy fully trained. That will probably be better for both of us anyway. I'm grumpy enough when I have to go back to school after Christmas break (come on lottery numbers, come on lottery numbers), but it was going to be even worse if I had to get up and go to school and leave Hubby sleeping. Or having a leisurely cup of coffee.
I wonder what new coach at Florida I'm going to have to learn to hate now.....
Friday, December 25, 2009
GPS Fun......
Disclaimer: This post may be the result of carbohydrate/sugar/food in general overload. Proceed with caution.
I was playing around with the GPS feature on my new iPhone this afternoon, mainly because I had just spent a solid four hours playing Jewel Quest and I wanted to look like I was actually doing something useful.
I am fascinated by GPS technology. I can think of about a million times in my life when it might have come in handy, if only it had existed then.
Like the time I got lost in the town of Bogart, Georgia, when I was only going to the post office. I lived just outside Bogart. Go ahead, go look it up. I'll wait....
The time we went to Chicago after Sweet Girl's graduation from boot camp. We took the train into Chicago and ventured no further than 3 blocks from the train station in any direction. But we couldn't find it. The policeman we stopped and asked had no idea either. I thought Hubby would get arrested when he asked the cop, "How the hell do you get home in the afternoons?"
The time Katydid, brother Jack, and I were in a group of cyclists who started following the wrong set of painted marks on the road and wound up at the wrong state park for a rest stop that wasn't there. We felt a little better when we learned that the guy who painted the turn arrows on the road was also in the group following an OLD set of painted marks.
But I digress.
I think it's so cool that you click on "maps" on the iPhone, and it already knows where you are. Even the computer, which thinks it's so stinkin' smart, has to be told your starting address.
I entered Sweet Girl's address and asked for directions. The phone told me it was 395 miles and I could get there in 6 hours and 15 minutes. I can actually do it in five and a half hours.
Just for kicks, I clicked on "walking".
It said I could get there in 4 days and 4 hours.
It was kind enough to adjust the route and take me off the interstate.
It said to proceed down Highway 81, and under "navigation tips" it said, "Proceed with caution."
I'm not sure it was worthy of quite the degree of hilarity I experienced. Hubby is absolutely certain of it.
It may not be that funny tomorow.
I was playing around with the GPS feature on my new iPhone this afternoon, mainly because I had just spent a solid four hours playing Jewel Quest and I wanted to look like I was actually doing something useful.
I am fascinated by GPS technology. I can think of about a million times in my life when it might have come in handy, if only it had existed then.
Like the time I got lost in the town of Bogart, Georgia, when I was only going to the post office. I lived just outside Bogart. Go ahead, go look it up. I'll wait....
The time we went to Chicago after Sweet Girl's graduation from boot camp. We took the train into Chicago and ventured no further than 3 blocks from the train station in any direction. But we couldn't find it. The policeman we stopped and asked had no idea either. I thought Hubby would get arrested when he asked the cop, "How the hell do you get home in the afternoons?"
The time Katydid, brother Jack, and I were in a group of cyclists who started following the wrong set of painted marks on the road and wound up at the wrong state park for a rest stop that wasn't there. We felt a little better when we learned that the guy who painted the turn arrows on the road was also in the group following an OLD set of painted marks.
But I digress.
I think it's so cool that you click on "maps" on the iPhone, and it already knows where you are. Even the computer, which thinks it's so stinkin' smart, has to be told your starting address.
I entered Sweet Girl's address and asked for directions. The phone told me it was 395 miles and I could get there in 6 hours and 15 minutes. I can actually do it in five and a half hours.
Just for kicks, I clicked on "walking".
It said I could get there in 4 days and 4 hours.
It was kind enough to adjust the route and take me off the interstate.
It said to proceed down Highway 81, and under "navigation tips" it said, "Proceed with caution."
I'm not sure it was worthy of quite the degree of hilarity I experienced. Hubby is absolutely certain of it.
It may not be that funny tomorow.
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