How was your 2008?

[sillygirl]

I'm sorry for everyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one. I lost both my parents in 2004 (and almost a brother) so after that nightmare of a year the only way is up.

This year I did something I never thought I would - I had this little guy:



This whole Mum thing is hard - but I have a crazy healthy little guy and I think I'm pretty lucky.

AC/BABY! He of the grip of death!

[sublight]

Investments are in the shitter, but I wasn't planning on selling anytime soon anyhow, so no real disaster there.

Other than that, it was a decent year. Company made enough profit for nice bonuses, son turned 2 and is doing great, started biking everyday and slimmed down nicely (had my first bike race last week and did well), and a cancer scare in November came up negative.

Here's hoping we're all around for the "How was your 2009?" poll.

[taisaku]

Seeing what others wrote I can certainly not complain. I had a very good year:

(*) I got married and had a honeymoon held in three parts: one in Japan and two overseas.
(*) Got promoted at work. This increased my workload but that is not a bad thing as the previous job got me pretty bored. Also an interesting bone (= project) got thrown at me recently which basically means that 2009 also looks to become an interesting year, work wise.
(*) Registered as member at FG, after browsing this board several years in anonymity.

The only downside I can think of is that my investments (all in funds) dropped severely. But, as I think that I won't need the money in the near future, I think that I can wait until that has recovered.

[Takechanpoo]

3 days before, I requested a not-much-beautiful Japanese lady at age 38 to date in Eve with me but she ruthlessly rejected it..... I really want to kill myself.
I should had been a substitute for sillygirl's sister.
I wholeheartedly think so.

[Iraira]

I'm sorry for everyone who has suffered the loss of a loved one. I lost both my parents in 2004 (and almost a brother) so after that nightmare of a year the only way is up.

This year I did something I never thought I would - I had this little guy:





This whole Mum thing is hard - but I have a crazy healthy little guy and I think I'm pretty lucky.

Kid is very cute, can I borrow him? He would make it easy to pick up girls.

[Iraira]

Ok, let's detail everything from 2008
Got a company health physical back that showed two liver enzymes were abnormally very very very high. Got Hep A, B, and C (including RNA test), HIV tested. One-legged doctor spent 10 minutes lecturing me on the etiology, symptoms, therapies, and prognosis for hep before telling me that I was negative for everything.
They did an endoscopy, which made me spill state secrets...fuck waterboarding, shove a rubber pipe down a person's throat and they'll confess to killing Julius Caesar. Had the colonoscopy, which was a good weight loss tool and watched the H.R. Geiger-like video of my large intestine (totally cool). Nothing found in either of those tests. Had a CT scan, wherein the imaging solution that was IV dripped into me caused an internal warming sensation which was also a cosmic experience. Results: nothing wrong at all.
Eventually, Dr. Dad asked whether I had taken some Erythromycin (rather weak antibiotic often prescribed for low level bacterial infections) which after many years of use can sensitize the liver and cause Hep-like/alcohol chirrosis-like symptoms. Realize that I had, gave the Erythromycin to the crows in the neighborhood, and I've lovely again.

That I'm not dying and don't feel like someone shoved 50 kgs of wet cotton into my head, which is how I felt for all of last winter and spring, is reason enough to feel 2008 wasn't so bad at this time.
Came here in 1999 weighing about 210 lbs, and over the 9 years have reduced to 170 lbs....no car=weight loss.

To all that have had a great to a shitty year, hope that the last 2 weeks of '08 and the entirety of 2009 rocks for you.

Lastly, met and am dating the lovely girl in my avatar......ok, that's a bit of a lie, but for a moment some of you were enviously wishing death upon me weren't you?

[baka tono]

My 2008 was pretty average. I lost weight too but only a little compare to some of you, just 5 kilos.

[cliffy]

First off my sympathy for those who lost loved ones this year as I did jan 3, my Great Aunt died of cancers (Plural) in a fog of opiates and perfect retention of All my funny stuff-ups in life!

Congratulations for those who brought forth or continued to raise the next generation of whom-evers may they please and torment those who need it.

My year, other than losing Aunt Mavis, was blessedly neutral other than my superannuation dipping in value, the finances are on the up, the health has stabilized, (Old sporting injuries not getting worse) and on the romance front, stuff-all, so no change there.

So best wishes to all for a good new year and keep posting the good stuff.

[Sentakki Fried Chicken]

I was going to whine and moan about how this year was the worst of my life, but some of the things people have been through here have put things into perspective for me. I was heartbroken to hear of some people's losses, especially the tragic circumstances surrounding sillygirl. My heart really goes out to you all. I pray things
I just thank (add preferred mythical Supreme Being figure's name here), whoever He/She/It is, for giving me a chance to keep on going to see if 2009 can top this pretty awful year (touch wood...still 12 days to get through).
I hope everyone has a tremendous 2009 (and beyond)

[kurohinge1]

3 days before, I requested a not-much-beautiful Japanese lady at age 38 to date in Eve with me but she ruthlessly rejected it..... I really want to kill myself.
I should had been a substitute for sillygirl's sister.
I wholeheartedly think so.

I'm surprising myself as I write this but - don't do it Take-chan!

This board would not be the same without you. You make the rest of us crazies seem so much more normal.

Just next time, don't tell the girl she's "not-much-beautiful" when you ask her out and you might do better.

[The above message should not be taken as an endorsemet to breed or raise or educate children.]

[Tsuru]

Fucking excellent, thank you very much

- I became uncle to a beautiful baby girl named Nao, whom I've had the honour to finally meet when visiting Japan earlier this month
- Got involved in construction and relocation activities for my company, earning lots of dosh in the process and seeing major career advancement opportunities at an unusually young age.
- Without going into detail, things are going very well at home.
- I really don't know what else to wish for at this point in time... maintain a steady course, apply full throttle and aim for the cerulean blue I suppose

[gkanai]

I have a crazy healthy little guy and I think I'm pretty lucky.

Heh, that's that Gap Baby 1-piece

I know my infant fashions

[gomichild]

Kid is very cute, can I borrow him? He would make it easy to pick up girls.

Sure - the rental rate is 2,000 yen an hour.

[gomichild]

Heh, that's that Gap Baby 1-piece

I know my infant fashions

Heeeee!

[halfnip]

-Daughter was born in December of 07' and it's been a year of diapers, drool, sleepless nights, ruined shirts, no more eating out, no more late nights in Roppongi, but forget about all of that when I see that smile.

-Managed to get out to about 10 or so onsens with the fam to relax and escape the concrete madness for a few days once every month or so.

-Had about 3 close friends give birth this year, so mommy's happy that she has someone to chat about parenthood with which in turn loosens up the leash she has on me.

-Packed up and left Japan officially on 12/9 to take a job back in CA and things have been pretty decent overall.

The family is healthy, I've got a job and no debt, so I'd be stupid to complain about ALL_OF_THAT_F&*KING_MONEY that I've lost in the market---oops!

Happy New Year to all---!

[sillygirl]

Having said that (points to shit list what I wrote):

My job is wicked - been promoted and last week we recruited

MY
OWN
SECRETARY

And I got to go to Japan and see GG, Taro, Mulby, Dirty Ole Gajin and old friends from when I lived there and made plenty of new friends including the host family who me and my mum are staying with next year....plus got to hear Greji's cute accent.

I'm usually a 'glass half full' type (which needs topping up frequently I might add) so things can only get better, eh....thanks for your nice words though.

Come on 2009, bring in ooo-oon!

[Adhesive]

My sister - she was 38 years old.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Forest-Fields-murder-Accused-courtarticle-347726-details/article.html

That's awful. I'm really sorry.

[kamome]

Wow, condolences and congratulations as appropriate to all. Special condolences to sillygirl. I can't imagine the pain you and your family are going through.

It was an average-to-good year for me. Started out bad with the passing of my grandmother. But stayed busy at work, am still employed and received a bonus this year, for which I can only be thankful. Investments not great but not totally in the shitter either. Moved to a bigger and cheaper apartment so even if salary doesn't increase in 2009 (a real possibility), my expenses - including debts - should decrease this coming year.

It seems from the votes that people had extremes - either a very good year or a very bad year. I voted "average", which, considering what many people are going through, is probably equivalent to "very good".

[Behan]

Well, with two weeks to go, 2008 is drawing to a close.

For me personally it has been a really shitty year, both in business and in my personal life.

How about everyone else? How was your 2008?

Me, too, on both scores. But one good thing about a shitty year is the belief that the following one couldn't be any worse. Knock on wood.

[CrankyBastard]

Most of the time I can't remember what kind of day I've had.
As for a whole year, that's asking way too much.

[ichigo partygirl]

My heart goes out to all of you that have suffered losses in 2008 - i truly hope that 2009 brings you happiness.

As for me its been a pretty damn good year

I've done a few months traveling
Living in an awesome house with great flatmates who have become like my family
Mum survived a cancer scare and is now all healthy
Finished my Masters Degree!!!! this was a massive achievement for me as i never really believed i could do it. I submitted my thesis last week and hopefully will graaduate in May.
Have a decent paying job that i enjoy and am starting to save money for my next adventure
Met a guy who can actually stand to be around me :P

So yeah although some health scares and mega stress related to my study it has been a pretty fantastic year

All the best to all of you for 2009

[Greji]

Met a guy who can actually stand to be around me :P

Hey, better be careful there ichigo. Check him out closely, like take him to the pub and if he don't shout, drop him quick.....
Have a great 2009!

[Rustym83]

Almost entirely terrible.

The first few months I was looking after a constantly sick and crazily stressed girlfriend, who then sacked me off to go live in New York. So then I moved back to my parents house in the UK.

Ive developed a MONSTER drinking problem and fallen out with most of the people I know. Throughout the year Ive lost about 8 phones, slept rough, fallen into a canal....

My best friend developed a nasty coke habit and for a while a heroin habit.

In the summer I got a good job, then got sacked and re-hired in the space of about 5 weeks. But now back at my parents house with the added joy of travelling for 2 hours a day.

Now Im gonna spend Xmas avoiding people I really dont wanna see. My gf just moved out of her husbands house though and is coming here for new year so at least Ill be starting on a positive note.

Shit year though.

[kurohinge1]

. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . . Met a guy who can actually stand to be around me :P

See, you had me believing you until then!

Just kidding - have a great X-mas & New Years IPG, and everyone on FG.

[Mulboyne]

I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year. If you aren't in the mood yet, try listening to a folk song by Rachel Unthank & The Winterset which you'll find by moving the slider to just before the 40 minute mark in this radio broadcast.

[kusai Jijii]

Merry Christmas everyone.
Love & peace over the festive season, ne. Enjoy your KFC and love hotels.
KJ.

[Takechanpoo]

I hope you all have a great Christmas and New Year. If you aren't in the mood yet, try listening to a folk song by Rachel Unthank & The Winterset which you'll find by moving the slider to just before the 40 minute mark in this radio broadcast.

Now I am listening this.
[YT]D3-TgDjcBL0[/YT]

[Jack]

The shittiest year on record for me. 2008? Good fucking riddance.

[ichigo partygirl]

Hey, better be careful there ichigo. Check him out closely, like take him to the pub and if he don't shout, drop him quick.....
Have a great 2009!

well he is Dutch so im working on making him slightly more liberal with his wallet :P

[Sentakki Fried Chicken]

Now I am listening this.
[YT]D3-TgDjcBL0[/YT]

Take, don't worry dude...there'll be a nice woman out there for you in 2009, I'm sure. Good luck.