Things That Were Awesome for 2009
Lots of people are looking back on things that affected them, and I'm still sick, so I'm going to give it a shot. Here are recaps of my ten favorite awesome things this year in no particular order:
Wings of Avatars: Finishing a book for the first time since Derek died. Finally crossing that finish line on November 29th, barely under the wire and full of spelling errors, but due to obsessive planning beforehand, delightfully free of plot holes and plot cul-de-sacs.
demonicsymphony: I've always been impressed with her as a person, but seeing how she bore up under the worst of circumstances was breathtaking.
autumnraina: The whole experience of her and Toby coming here and staying with me was so awesome it was unreal. Being able to drive to my house between two TMBG concerts in the same day -- seeing this so-familiar band while surrounded by friends and familiar landmarks -- was a treat for me. I imagine this is the way most people experience TMBG, but for me it was an awesome novelty, made all the better for the fact that autumnraina was there and doing the opposite. Seeing her in all the familiar places of my life was even better than seeing the band around my hometown. It reminded me that while discovering the awesomeness of their live shows was great, the best parts were the places I dared to go and the people that are now such wonderful friends. The support of these people freed me from fears and horrors of the past.
August 31st: The day the city I love celebrated my birthday. I celebrated with an awesome friend and her awesome friendly family, I met an awesome new friend, I got free drinks and cake, and I wandered around in a happy dream all day. It's the first time I went off on my own to have my birthday, and it's another one of those things I'd never have been able to do had it not been for autumnraina and TMBG introducing me gently to NYC.
Betsy: Without her I wouldn't have been able to get through this month. Not at all.
Diana Wynne Jones: I think maybe I had a couple of her books last year, but I think of this as the year I really immersed myself. Her writing is so accessible and yet quite grown up for all that it's been hidden in the 'young adult' section. Mainly due to her mostly underage protagonists. Her writing is inspiring to me.
Neil Patrick Harris: That guy's awesome.
Christmas: For the first year since before Derek died I actually enjoyed the day. I think a series of fortunate happenstances collided to make that possible, and Joe and Betsy deserve a lot of credit, even though I know they'd be surprised I think so.
TiddlyWiki: It took months of hard work and coding, but I now have a database of all the notes I've made on the fantasy world I've been incubating and playing in since 1993. It's got lovely pictures, self-made generators to inspire and create, and the recipes that build my worlds and stories from scratch.
Tea: It always seems to be around in my life now, a morning and afternoon treat, something I've thrust upon so many friends now I must seem like a maniac. I'd fit right in at the Mad Tea Party. What am I saying? I AM a mad tea party! (Things That Will Be Awesome for 2010: 'Alice in Wonderland' in 3D IMAX. Yes, I'm pre-approving it. I don't care. I'm fiercely determined to find something in this movie to fall in love with and I suspect it will be Alice, as usual.)
Speaking of Alice: Alice on the Wall. Disney's 'Alice in Wonderland' synced to Pink Floyd's 'The Wall.' If you can, watch it in an altered state of some kind. The thing practically is one anyway, but even a little wine helps make it that much better.
Wings of Avatars: Finishing a book for the first time since Derek died. Finally crossing that finish line on November 29th, barely under the wire and full of spelling errors, but due to obsessive planning beforehand, delightfully free of plot holes and plot cul-de-sacs.
demonicsymphony: I've always been impressed with her as a person, but seeing how she bore up under the worst of circumstances was breathtaking.
autumnraina: The whole experience of her and Toby coming here and staying with me was so awesome it was unreal. Being able to drive to my house between two TMBG concerts in the same day -- seeing this so-familiar band while surrounded by friends and familiar landmarks -- was a treat for me. I imagine this is the way most people experience TMBG, but for me it was an awesome novelty, made all the better for the fact that autumnraina was there and doing the opposite. Seeing her in all the familiar places of my life was even better than seeing the band around my hometown. It reminded me that while discovering the awesomeness of their live shows was great, the best parts were the places I dared to go and the people that are now such wonderful friends. The support of these people freed me from fears and horrors of the past.
August 31st: The day the city I love celebrated my birthday. I celebrated with an awesome friend and her awesome friendly family, I met an awesome new friend, I got free drinks and cake, and I wandered around in a happy dream all day. It's the first time I went off on my own to have my birthday, and it's another one of those things I'd never have been able to do had it not been for autumnraina and TMBG introducing me gently to NYC.
Betsy: Without her I wouldn't have been able to get through this month. Not at all.
Diana Wynne Jones: I think maybe I had a couple of her books last year, but I think of this as the year I really immersed myself. Her writing is so accessible and yet quite grown up for all that it's been hidden in the 'young adult' section. Mainly due to her mostly underage protagonists. Her writing is inspiring to me.
Neil Patrick Harris: That guy's awesome.
Christmas: For the first year since before Derek died I actually enjoyed the day. I think a series of fortunate happenstances collided to make that possible, and Joe and Betsy deserve a lot of credit, even though I know they'd be surprised I think so.
TiddlyWiki: It took months of hard work and coding, but I now have a database of all the notes I've made on the fantasy world I've been incubating and playing in since 1993. It's got lovely pictures, self-made generators to inspire and create, and the recipes that build my worlds and stories from scratch.
Tea: It always seems to be around in my life now, a morning and afternoon treat, something I've thrust upon so many friends now I must seem like a maniac. I'd fit right in at the Mad Tea Party. What am I saying? I AM a mad tea party! (Things That Will Be Awesome for 2010: 'Alice in Wonderland' in 3D IMAX. Yes, I'm pre-approving it. I don't care. I'm fiercely determined to find something in this movie to fall in love with and I suspect it will be Alice, as usual.)
Speaking of Alice: Alice on the Wall. Disney's 'Alice in Wonderland' synced to Pink Floyd's 'The Wall.' If you can, watch it in an altered state of some kind. The thing practically is one anyway, but even a little wine helps make it that much better.