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Year-end meme, lifted from ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
discoverylover
Post the first line of the first (non-quiz, non-private) post of every month for the year. It will supposedly tell you how your year went. (I'm also posting the title for the entry, which helps put it in context, and the first paragraph, rather than just the first line.). Let's see how 2009 was for me:
Melbourne cabs
Love him or not, Jeff Kennett left a lasting legacy from his time as Victorian Premier. He reorganised Melbourne’s taxi system, directing that cabs be painted yellow, that drivers wear uniforms, and a number of other things.
Taxi twitters
11:06 Awake again to a glorious new day! Going back to bed.
Pete's Saturday
Finished up early Saturday morning. My last job was dropped off about 0215 and I didn't bother going back in for another drunk from Alinga Street. I would have had to line up, take them home and then go to one of the few Shell servos open in the wee smalls to gas up and clean the car. That might have taken me well past three in the morning, and I was tired. Usually I stop for a power nap around 2300, but there was too much work for that.
Cool apps
Playing with new apps for iPhone. V-Cockpit simulates aircraft instruments, such as a HUD, artificial horizon etc. iPhone mounted in the cab, I whip around the roundabouts and the horizon tilts! Has a digital speed and direction readout etc. For added enjoyment you get random airtraffic control chatter and a voice saying "Pull up!" if you are close to stalling.
Pete at the pumps
While my day driver's off on a five week holiday - yesterday he drove the Great Ocean Road - I'm on the day shift. At first I was doing doubles, meaning that I could drive the car whenever I wanted within the 24 hours of the day, maybe with a nap here and there, and then I was supposedly given a night driver, putting me on the day shift.
Wednesday whales
In the morning light, our hostel showed itself to be every bit as fresh and friendly as last night. We took a stroll down the main street for some breakfast foods, enjoying the cool and empty town. Boutiques, bars, brasseries – this must be a great place to relax!
Family to family with family
My sister has been visiting over the weekend. She and her husband and two of the sweetest, most engaging young boys you could imagine. Young K has an interest in Lego, and as it happened I had a couple of boxloads of it left over, which kept the lads busy for much of the time.
Getting back into shape
The world trip was good for me, if not my bank balance. I'm at my lowest weight for a decade now. All those alternate days of walking around sprawling cities and eating airline food have paid off. I'm not getting much exercise now I'm back at work, but I've consciously tried to cut back on food, and there's less of me every day. I'm punching new holes in my belts.
Discoverylover delight
A few months ago, when Discoverylover was on her way to Camp Potomac Woods, I arranged for her to get a bunch of stuff. I sent Tim Tams and chocolate, others sent other goodies, and I also ordered some goodies from Levenger, basically a letter size Circa journal, a portable page punch and some photo holders. This was partly to save on postage, because it costs a fortune to send stuff over from the USA. Levenger Fedexes their packages, and that's big bucks, especially when I usually don't need something immediately. I can wait a few weeks.
Three amigos
It's always a bad sign when a passsenger is rejected by the cabbies ahead of me. I know they are going to come and ask me something ridiculous.
Back to the real world
Yesterday (Friday) I was in San Francisco, riding cable cars and enjoying the sparkling blue view out over the bay. Today, I'm home, having dinner at Mecca Bah and coffee at Artoven.
Widdler on the roof
You want to know who's been bumping up the prices of Tales of the City videos and books on eBay? C'est moi, I blush to disclose. I'm rapidly running into the end of the first book and I can see the brick wall coming up, and aaaaaargggh! I can't stop!
That was the year that was. Three awesome overseas trips. Driving two beautiful women up a New Zealand valley between snow-capped mountains. Walking with my beautiful daughter through Edinburgh's mediaeval lanes. Driving three beautiful women through America in a Dodge van.
My father came back into the family. I broke my arm. I began writing fiction again. I thought deeply about philosophical questions. I rode the emotional rollercoasters of the lives of my friends. Some very bad moments and some wonderful highs.
I think I'm finding myself. Making myself into a better person. I'm enjoying life, and I just wish wish wish there were more hours in the day to do the things I want. More years in my life would be good. I guess I've got to prioritise.
All told, a wonderful year. One to remember fondly. Some fabulous moments. Sperm whales. Sharing a family evening with Rebecca and Jason. The Meiji shrine. The Golden Gate Bridge. Family and friends - telling my wife I love her, seeing my children leave the last teenage year, sharing hugs and smiles across the world.
And some moments of utter desolation. There was one rainy night when my heart just cracked open for a friend, blasted with one disaster after another. Another in Kansas City, when I should have been on top of the world, but I felt the pain of another friend instead.
Two sides of the one coin. Without sadness, joy is empty. Love is amazing. Life is too short. Thoughts can never be deep enough.
Thank you to all of my family and friends. Without you, my life would be flat and bland. You give me riches with a smile or a tear. You make each new day a fresh wonder. You inspire me.
Melbourne cabs
Love him or not, Jeff Kennett left a lasting legacy from his time as Victorian Premier. He reorganised Melbourne’s taxi system, directing that cabs be painted yellow, that drivers wear uniforms, and a number of other things.
Taxi twitters
11:06 Awake again to a glorious new day! Going back to bed.
Pete's Saturday
Finished up early Saturday morning. My last job was dropped off about 0215 and I didn't bother going back in for another drunk from Alinga Street. I would have had to line up, take them home and then go to one of the few Shell servos open in the wee smalls to gas up and clean the car. That might have taken me well past three in the morning, and I was tired. Usually I stop for a power nap around 2300, but there was too much work for that.
Cool apps
Playing with new apps for iPhone. V-Cockpit simulates aircraft instruments, such as a HUD, artificial horizon etc. iPhone mounted in the cab, I whip around the roundabouts and the horizon tilts! Has a digital speed and direction readout etc. For added enjoyment you get random airtraffic control chatter and a voice saying "Pull up!" if you are close to stalling.
Pete at the pumps
While my day driver's off on a five week holiday - yesterday he drove the Great Ocean Road - I'm on the day shift. At first I was doing doubles, meaning that I could drive the car whenever I wanted within the 24 hours of the day, maybe with a nap here and there, and then I was supposedly given a night driver, putting me on the day shift.
Wednesday whales
In the morning light, our hostel showed itself to be every bit as fresh and friendly as last night. We took a stroll down the main street for some breakfast foods, enjoying the cool and empty town. Boutiques, bars, brasseries – this must be a great place to relax!
Family to family with family
My sister has been visiting over the weekend. She and her husband and two of the sweetest, most engaging young boys you could imagine. Young K has an interest in Lego, and as it happened I had a couple of boxloads of it left over, which kept the lads busy for much of the time.
Getting back into shape
The world trip was good for me, if not my bank balance. I'm at my lowest weight for a decade now. All those alternate days of walking around sprawling cities and eating airline food have paid off. I'm not getting much exercise now I'm back at work, but I've consciously tried to cut back on food, and there's less of me every day. I'm punching new holes in my belts.
Discoverylover delight
A few months ago, when Discoverylover was on her way to Camp Potomac Woods, I arranged for her to get a bunch of stuff. I sent Tim Tams and chocolate, others sent other goodies, and I also ordered some goodies from Levenger, basically a letter size Circa journal, a portable page punch and some photo holders. This was partly to save on postage, because it costs a fortune to send stuff over from the USA. Levenger Fedexes their packages, and that's big bucks, especially when I usually don't need something immediately. I can wait a few weeks.
Three amigos
It's always a bad sign when a passsenger is rejected by the cabbies ahead of me. I know they are going to come and ask me something ridiculous.
Back to the real world
Yesterday (Friday) I was in San Francisco, riding cable cars and enjoying the sparkling blue view out over the bay. Today, I'm home, having dinner at Mecca Bah and coffee at Artoven.
Widdler on the roof
You want to know who's been bumping up the prices of Tales of the City videos and books on eBay? C'est moi, I blush to disclose. I'm rapidly running into the end of the first book and I can see the brick wall coming up, and aaaaaargggh! I can't stop!
That was the year that was. Three awesome overseas trips. Driving two beautiful women up a New Zealand valley between snow-capped mountains. Walking with my beautiful daughter through Edinburgh's mediaeval lanes. Driving three beautiful women through America in a Dodge van.
My father came back into the family. I broke my arm. I began writing fiction again. I thought deeply about philosophical questions. I rode the emotional rollercoasters of the lives of my friends. Some very bad moments and some wonderful highs.
I think I'm finding myself. Making myself into a better person. I'm enjoying life, and I just wish wish wish there were more hours in the day to do the things I want. More years in my life would be good. I guess I've got to prioritise.
All told, a wonderful year. One to remember fondly. Some fabulous moments. Sperm whales. Sharing a family evening with Rebecca and Jason. The Meiji shrine. The Golden Gate Bridge. Family and friends - telling my wife I love her, seeing my children leave the last teenage year, sharing hugs and smiles across the world.
And some moments of utter desolation. There was one rainy night when my heart just cracked open for a friend, blasted with one disaster after another. Another in Kansas City, when I should have been on top of the world, but I felt the pain of another friend instead.
Two sides of the one coin. Without sadness, joy is empty. Love is amazing. Life is too short. Thoughts can never be deep enough.
Thank you to all of my family and friends. Without you, my life would be flat and bland. You give me riches with a smile or a tear. You make each new day a fresh wonder. You inspire me.