Same as it (n)ever was.

At face value, 2009 was not a year for the history books. Honestly, it felt like Karma more or less shunted me to the bad table for social misfits in the junior-high cafeteria. Could have been better, but I fully realize it could have been a lot worse.

If you look back at Jan. 1, 2009, I'd predicted a lot of things for myself in the coming year... And, wow, most of it didn't get done.

10. Yep, still a grown woman. And, yep, still biting my nails. This is going to be the year! I've said that every January for the past quarter of a century. But who knows? I do believe miracles occasionally happen. There's got to be a patron saint of cuticles and fine-looking nail beds out there somewhere.

9. OK, I have a good excuse for this. I love this station! It's like they're piping right into my brain muzak every moment of the day. That said, I am now using my morning and late-afternoon commute time to tune into my favorite folks @ NPR. I'm really tired of Dr. X starting every conversation with, "Did you hear that story on NPR today?" Well, now I did (er, do).

8. At this point, it's not just a pooch. It's a litter between my ribcage and hips, and it's time to walk those dogs out of the kennel and abandon them forever. In October, I hurt my leg (more on that later) so I'm basically starting from scratch - again. But I would like to buy a two-piece swim suit this summer. And wear it! There I said it. Now I need to just do it. (Gag, I really didn't want to use that phrase.)

7. I didn't finish a triathlon. I ran four miles of a marathon. And I won't complete a half marathon this month either. None of my running/training aspirations held up last year. My lofty goals were patched together with severe undertraining combined with extreme overtraining. And little to no cross training. And then compounded by a stressed IT Band. In the past two months, I haven't exercised anything but my mouth as it greedily gorges on a wide variety of sinful holiday goodies. Nothing makes me feel better than running and I hope to heal my leg so that I can get back to doing something that I love so much. That said, my heart isn't into training for anything but my own well being right now. I hope to do another half marathon - maybe late this year or early next. But this year is going to be all about just falling back in love with running and general exercising - at mostly shorter distances, but long on personal growth.

6. Well, this is a pleasant surprise! I thought I'd promised to read 50 books in 2009! That didn't happen, but I did read 43. Thus, actually achieving a real goal! Eight more books than last year. Woot! And I'm not talking about sitting down with multiple Little Golden Books alongside Daughter X, either. No, I'm talking 43 novels. Some lengthier than others, certainly. And some certainly more literary than others, too. Favorite? "East of Eden," by far. Least favorite? That horrible Dan Brown trash. How is that man a best-selling author? He makes Stephenie Meyer look Nobel worthy! I've basically given up watching TV, so maybe I will hit 50 this year. If not, no big. My real goal this year is that every third read I crack open has to be a classic. Of some sort. After I get through the first books on my current reading list, I'm hitting up "The Moonstone."

5. I feel a little conflicted over my writing goals for 2009. I barely posted here which is shameful. I promise to do better. Everyone wants to know how extraordinarily ordinary I am, right? I didn't write a novel, but I did write two short stories and come up with ideas for lots of other stuff. My writing group fell apart, but I'd like to take another formal class -maybe this summer. I realize I'm never going to get anything big accomplished for awhile in this department; I'm just not in that place in my life. Or maybe it's just until I get bit by a really wonderful idea. I hope that happens this year! Until then, I'll probably tinker with another short story or two, take a class and become a better writer by continuing to read a lot. And I'd really like to participate in NaNoWriMo this year!

4. A little hit or miss with the timeliness, cleanliness and organization-ness, but there were definite improvements in this area. And there's room for more.

3. Did. Done. Need to do better. Some of my favorite memories from this year? Midnight on the beach in July with my husband, sisters, their significant others, and my cousin. Seeing Daughter X's face when she saw Cinderella's castle for the very first time. Sharing that goat cheese tart with Dr. X at Balthazar's in NYC on our 10th wedding anniversary. Those long, humid mornings in the park pounding out the long mileage with Disco. Laughing or hacking my way through a blasphemous conversation with KB/BK. Fruituzy with MummyToe. I could go on. These people - they make me love my life.

2. Luckily, the hair grew back. Not sure I can say the same for my optimism after a tough year in which we lost several family members, my perceived future changed with the outcome of a simple surgery, and a tendon tied up my hopes of running-related therapy. Like I said, could have been loads worse. And I will be working significantly this year on being good to myself, being good to others, and living in the moment to be happy where I'm at right now.

1. Loving each day and the people I share this life with are what make me happy. And will continue to make me happy in 2010!

Happy New Year!