I think ultimately this year has been exactly the length a year ought to be. Subjectively, that is. It was eventful, but not so long that i feel depressed about it and not so short that i feel terribly older than i did last year. I turned twenty-three this year. I just got my very own car insurance policy, marking my final baby step into adulthood and independence. At least that’s how i looked at it, for whatever reason. The end of the year is usually marked by a certain sadness for me, especially because of all the reflection it brings. But this year is definitely an exception. This year has been wonderful, despite a few difficulties along the way. Some really important things and people were lost, but it makes me all the more appreciative of what was found.
I began two-thousand-eight living in Ames with black hair and a job i was growing discontent with. The winter was long and cold, and there isn’t much else to say about it. The spring was a glorious relief, and saw me dancing, playing a lot of wii and going to a lot of big concerts – Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters, and Radiohead. I got laid off, and started looking for jobs all around the country. I managed to land one in Portland, which was my highest goal, but when i got there to check out apartments and such, i just couldn’t do it.
The summer was somewhat chaotic: more job hunting, the end of a relationship, a move to Des Moines, and the loss of a lot of artwork to the Iowa floods. I had to leave some friends, too, but reunited with or met for the first time a slew of others. I managed to miss the fireworks on the Fourth of July. Mom and i went traipsing randomly around Iowa and Wisconsin in August. I celebrated my birthday with some good old friends and was feeling pretty pleased with my new position in life as the summer ended.
In late September i met Nathan. On the very same day that my Grandma died. But that day to me felt more like the beginning of something big than the end, and judging by the way things have played out over the three months since, i know that what i felt that first day was genuine. We’ve been mostly inseparable since then, except for my expedition to Oregon for Dad’s wedding and then to California in October, and Nathan’s trip to Texas in November. Taking part in the election of Barack Obama for President was a huge moment of pride for me, as was running a race for the first time. The Fall was so gorgeous in so many ways, and even the snow now can’t blot out my gratitude.
The holidays this year were really nice, although it would have been even nicer if Grandma had been here to see them. I feel like we who remain in the family are a little closer now, and i don’t know whether it will last, but i’m enjoying it. It was great to see Dustin at Christmas and to go out on the town with him and Nina and Karl. I miss living down the street from those two, but I’ve gotten to see them several times since they moved, so i’m glad for that.
I saw my family a lot this year. That’s a big part of what made it wonderful. The friends i’ve made here in Des Moines were a really important part of it, too. And, of course, Nathan. Of course Nathan.
Some albums i acquired in 2008:
The best: it’s got to be So Jealous by Tegan and Sara, but i’m not entirely sure i didn’t get that one in ’07, so my second-fave is The End of History by Fionn Regan. I know neither of those were actually released in ’08. I’m pretty sure We Started Nothing by the Ting Tings is fantastic, but i only have four tracks of it so far.
Best song of the year goes to Spiraling by Keane, although Red Star by Third Eye Blind got put on repeat several times as well.
Some movies i saw in 2008:
And many others. The best: Be Kind Rewind, with a close second being The Fall. The worst was probably Zack and Miri. Funny, yeah, but the “romantic” scenes? They made me want to puke.
I’m having a hard time remembering books i’ve read this year. I read The Stranger and i’m almost done with Titus Groan, and i read bits and pieces of The End of Faith, Nothing, The Woman Who Can’t Forget, Sons and Lovers and probably others. I have a hard time staying focused.
I’m looking forward to getting back into running in 2009. I want to go faster this year. I may be making another move, and a trip to Texas. Other than that, i’m not really sure what lies ahead, but i’m definitely excited for whatever it is.
Happy New Year, everyone!
Oh shoot, i’ve got to start composing my end-of-year blog entry! In the meantime, here are some photos from Christmas:
The gifts under my tree, most of them for me from Nathan
This is a rather poor composition, but i still like it.
Mom gave me this Christmas card the other day:
I laughed a lot. I don’t think there’s a card out there better suited to me. My recent English tip blog posts have been so popular that i’m thinking of starting a new blog dedicated entirely to finding English misuse and correcting it. Each post will have a photo or screenshot, i may have multiple contributors eventually, and i’ll post the correction along with the error. It will feature common errors, in hopes that someone who makes such errors will read it and learn a thing or two. And we who use English flawlessly (*cough*) will get a good chuckle every day.
I wouldn’t have phrased it that way, considering that Dustin only lived in Iowa until he was seven, but he himself said it on Myspace. Nathan and i picked him up at the airport on Saturday, and we had a mini-Christmas with him and Tim and Jamie that evening. It’s been ridiculously cold here, as a nice big “Welcome!” The high yesterday was negative one, and the wind-chill factor made it feel something like thirty below. It didn’t keep us indoors all day, though! Last night mom, Nathan, Dustin and i went out for dinner and a few drinks.
Dustin was so impressed by the beer and scotch selection at the Royal Mile that he asked that we take him back before he leaves on Friday. There’s still a lot of partying left to do this week!
Time for another English lesson, since the first one went over so well.
I was just reading an online review of a new bar & grill in town, and it was described by the Datebook as a “none-to-crowded niche.” I commend the author for correct hyphen usage, but he or she has unfortunately used the wrong “to.”
What he meant was “none-too-crowded.”
I’ll once again quote my favorite grammar website, because it is so succinct:
Just remember that the only meanings of “too” are “also” (“I want some ice cream, too.”) and “in excess” (“Your walkman is playing too loudly.”). Note that extra O. It should remind you that this word has to do with adding more on to something.
“To” is the correct spelling for most other situations. And we all know that “two” is merely the spelling of the number 2.