This was a crazy, crazy year for the world. It feels like so much of it went to shit, and yet there's this feeling of hope that comes with a new president, and what seems like a general resolve to not let things go to shit.
For me personally, things were significantly less turbulent. It's probably the closest thing to a "normal" year that I've had in a long time. Parts of it didn't go smoothly, but overall, I don't have a lot of room to complain.
The year started with the most significant change, when Diana and the kittehs moved in. In the general sense, living together has been pretty easy. We have quirks and minor annoyances for each other, but none of it is show-stopping material. Dare I even say that it's what Gonch describes as not being a lot of work. People say that relationships are things you have to work at, but ours doesn't seem like that much work.
The one thing that wears on Diana is that she still has her house, which has not sold after eight months. She sometimes feels like a freeloader of sorts because she doesn't contribute to "my" mortgage. I think it was particularly hard for her when I wasn't working. But it doesn't bother me at all. I knew it wasn't going to be particularly easy to sell her house.
In late May, we finally got engaged. This was not a decision I took lightly, which is why I didn't bring it up a lot sooner. I loved Diana dearly, obviously, but I didn't want to do it just because it seemed like the next logical step. I've got abandonment issues, and a history of feeling that I wasn't good enough or the right guy or the right time or whatever. I'm grateful for having some really epic relationships, probably more than my fair share, but I needed to work it out in my head that the list ended here. I don't think it really had anything to do with anything Diana did or didn't do; I just needed to understand in my own mind how this had nothing to do with previous relationships. What makes Diana special is that she's Diana. It isn't more complicated than that.
My career took some interesting turns too. The year started with me working in a different group at ICOM, one where it seemed that there was going to be more opportunity for me to really take ownership in some things and be a contributor beyond code monkey work. As the first half went on, it felt like that wasn't how things were working out. The problem was two-fold. There were already too many other people I'd subside in the shadows too, so I wasn't being utilized to my fullest potential. The second problem was that I wasn't able to figure out how to engage either. Between those two situations, it's probably not that surprising that they decided to let me go when the company needed to shed some people.
I really took that in a variety of ways. On one hand, I felt like maybe I got as much as I could out of the gig. On the other, I felt a great sense of loss, because it was the people there that made me what I am. In those two and a half years, I would periodically try to create opportunities, by prototyping this, or championing that. But I could never quite get a foothold. There were already too many rock stars there, with a lot more tenure, and it was hard to compete with that. But how can you not like having the opportunity to work with people who are so fucking smart? I've not had any other jobs that impacted me to that extent, and who knows if I will again.
About a month before being laid-off, I had the chance to interview at Microsoft. It was totally random, and I'm still not sure how they paired me with the particular position. It frankly didn't go very well, but I was excited to be flown out for it. The people I met with, except for one not part of the position I was in for, were not very cool, and I left disappointed. It doesn't color my opinion negatively of the other groups that I've had contact with in the last few years, however.
I spent July and August building CoasterBuzz part-time. The rest of the time I was experimenting and trying to learn as much as I could. I also had a gig that I was hoping would become a reality, if the guy's client came through. It would have me leading a team to do interesting things, playing more of an architectural role and mentoring. That finally came to be a reality in late September.
And by reality, I mean it wasn't at all what we had talked about, and showed no sign of becoming that either. It was really disappointing, because I blew off a fair number of gigs for that. Finally, in early November, he let me go. I was looking anyway, but that still made it easier.
Less than a month later, my current employer called me, I met them on a Friday, started the next Monday as their technical architect. My role in the broad sense is to raise their game and in the long run, guide their platform. It's exactly the kind of gig I wanted, and so far, so good. I'd like this one to last... I'm sick of looking.
An area of my life that has not gone well is that of taking care of my body. I slipped up a lot this year. I'm about ten pounds over my 2005 weight. I'm lazy, and I don't do shit. Not coaching has been a disaster. In the anxiety of my various job hunting activities, I was eating for comfort. I need to get my shit together, and drop at least those ten pounds before the wedding.
The big activity this year for me was easily travel. I racked up 12,500 miles on Continental alone, and another 2,000 or so on our wedding shopping trip. Oddly enough, we didn't go to many different places, but we sure racked up the miles.
It started with a $95 round-trip to Orlando in February to start drinking Disney Kool-Aid. Then in March I went to Vegas on ICOM's dime to the Mix conference, which was completely awesome. At the end of March we went to Seattle for Nina's baptism. In June I flew to Seattle again for the Microsoft interview, and later that week went to Orlando for some Universal action. In August we went to Ft. Myers for the wedding recon. In October, to the Twin Cities to visit Kara. November got us to Disney World and IAAPA.
I got somewhat in touch with my coaster geek roots too. We went to CP, Kings Island, Waldameer, Kennywood, Holiday World, Valleyfair and the Mall of America. And of course, all of the Disney and Universal parks.
The Disney World trip was pretty intense. I really enjoy the place, despite years of feeling like I shouldn't. And with Diana never having been there, everything was new to her. Heck much of it was for me too. It's still very fresh in my mind as one of the highlights of the year. I just wish it would've been warmer. We'd like to go back, perhaps during the Christmas season.
I feel like I had a lot less angst this year. The stability of my relationship life has certainly allowed me to think a great deal about my professional life. Working for The Man doesn't have to be bad if he's not giving you soul crushing work. I still do a nice business on the side with minimal effort. I see the potential for harmony. Maybe I'm figuring it out.
As for 2009, I don't see a lot of reason to make a bunch of promises. I definitely need to take care of myself better, but beyond that, my goal is to get married and have an epic life and new adventures. I feel like I've set myself up well for that. Let's hope the rest of the world gets there as well.
No comments yet.