2009 and what I got out of it.

I was talking to V the other day about how its that time of the year to write that customary end of year post. He was saying that if it was just customary then I could go without writing it. I gave him a reason (I told him that the reason of writing it was getting closure!) that seemed highly sensationalized and preposterous then. Later when I thought about writing the post and reasons for doing so, it seemed to make sense and actually have a point unlike many of my other posts.

I usually spend all of 10 minutes composing the year that was posts over the last few times. This year around, I decided to give it more time and it actually sat in my drafts for a few days before seeing the light of the blogosphere.

I don't know where to start. And I don't know what to write. Considering the long preamble, I don't want to make it a bullet-style post. So actually putting in more thought than a year end post actually warrants, well, mainly because it has been that kind of an year. Typically, I also don't like it when an year ends; only because, it seems like time is flying by and along with it, growing up and growing old, eventually. And with that comes decisions. Not like I don't want to make decisions. No, I mostly like them because they let me be in control of my own life. I only don't like them when I have to make a decision and I am given no choice. And it has happened more than once this year. And it makes me feel like I don't deserve anything that I have worked for all these years. All this said, the crux is that I am glad to see this year come to an end. Then again not necessary that the year ending has to mean that things have to or will get better necessarily; just the fact that proverbial starts and ends (including those of years, days etc) invoke some reaction in humankind, mostly positive.

If I can say anything about 2009 for me, it is that I saw change. and still see it. Change is good as long as it hasn`t been thrust upon you by someone, shoved down your throat, and that too when the perpetrator is not sure of it either. Change is good as long as it doesnt make you every single day wondering how you will get through it. Change is good as long as it doesn`t leave you without stripping you of your sanity or self confidence for that matter. Change is good as long as only one aspect of your life changes for the worse at any given point of time.

But life aint a bed of roses. And all you can do finally is say "it is what it is". But what you can do is learn something out of it. Analyze the scenario, bisect, disect, mutilate, put under a microscope, postmortem every single incident to figure out and unearth nuances. And that is what I did. And this is what I came up with:

1. My perspectives have changed. While they (should) change, with every passing year or age, the magnitude of the change is exponential and not for the better in certain aspects. Which is not a bad thing necessarily. It makes me a much bigger cynic and sceptic than before (I did not think that was possible!!LOL). But I know better now.
2. My perceptions have changed (obviously!)
3. Everything in life is subject to the questions: "At what/whose cost?. At the end of the day, no one is indispensable.
4. Unconditional love is a f%^&*$# load of  f%$^&*$ bullshit. People are ok when it comes to receiving and basking in it, and not while giving it.
5. My belief system, well, lets put it this way, is currently non existant.
6. I am so much more driven and ambitious than I realized myself.
7. Never imagined how confident having a strong career at hand makes me feel.
8. My ability to bounce back scares me. Makes me think I am not as deep as I have always been told I am.
9. How much people who dont stand up for what they beleive in (still) disappoint me.
10. How much integrity, respect for others` time, deadlines, choices, ideals, ideas and goals always seem to be a point of consideration only for me  only for very few people. I would think it would be important when it is of someone who (supposedly) means a lot to you.
11. My belief of how if you worked hard enough for it, you always got it took a hit and made me realize that things like destiny, luck etc etc actually exist.
12. How certain people miraculously turn into pillars of support. You all know who you are. And you helped me much more than you can ever imagine.

The one thing that gives me utmost happiness and satisfaction is the fact that I gave everything I did over the year my entire being regardless of anything else and managed to keep my head from drowning when the floods hit the roof.

That, my friend, is reason enough for me to celebrate.

Happy Holidays everybody.

Over & Out
Bugs

List Mania!

Things I Have Done!!!!!

(Simple enough.... bold the ones you've done, italicize the ones you want to!)

here goes..................

01. Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive.... ooh, so want to do this!
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone (hope showers count)
08. Said 'I love you' and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables (I hope tomatoes and mint count!)
19. Touched an iceberg.
20. Slept under the stars (In a tent ok?)
21. Changed a baby's diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse (even if it was only $1)
30. Taken a sick day when you're not ill (there are sick days for sick people too?)
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
48. Had two hard drives for your computer

49. visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government's official in that country to avoid notice (Seems interesting!!!)
61. Midnight walk on the beach
62. Sky diving
63. Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer then you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger's table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetised your records (and CD's and tapes and and and...)
70. Pretended to be a superhero
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don't regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who's not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered your blog (double emphasis!)(Many times!!)
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better - NOT YET!!BUT SOON!
84. Started a business (does a stall in the school fair count?)
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn't have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch
99. Won first prize in a costume contest
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice

What are yours?? :D

over and out
bugs

If life had an OST....

Why do some songs feel like they are the OSTs of my life different times? Right now...

"I feel like no-one ever told the truth to me
About growing up and what a struggle it would be
In my tangled state of mind
I've been looking back to find
Where I went wrong."

~ Queen,Too much love will kill you.

Back to Palos Verde Shelf Superfund evaluation....

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Bugs