Your Unemployed Daughter

photo credit: bsteve76

My mom has always said that on the first day of a new year you should do all of the things you hope to do throughout the year. I mean, not in a crazy-high expectations sort of way, like finishing your entire novel in one day, but if you hope to write a book during the year, at least spend time on that first day writing a bit, and ditto with all of the other aspirations you have: get some exercise, love yourself more, cook a nice meal, whatever.

But if the first day of the new year is dedicated to those sorts of positive-future-bringing activities, what of the last day of the old year? I would guess, maybe, that it’s for doing all the bad shit we still want to do in 2009. Getting it out of our systems, if you will.

Well, yesterday I did some bad shit. I spent money, too much money, on a new pair of jeans. I also bought a shirt, but it was on sale, so I feel less guilt-ridden about it. I ate two dinners. I didn’t even have the wherewithal to finish my second episode of Mad Men and turned off the TV 15 minutes in. And, if you must know, I experienced a tad bit of self-loathing, a tad more of self-questioning, and I didn’t go to the gym. All this because the night before I drank enough to float a house.

Which means, for me, I think my bad shit day is done. Today I’m going to write some posts, do some exercise, make my bed with clean sheets, and give my super his bonus. Maybe I’ll even stock up on edibles for tomorrow so I can stop my delivery pattern in 2010. Or maybe not. And later, I’ll go drink some wine and eat some yummy food with at least one good friend, and that will be that for the year. Over and out.

I have this habit of aging myself before my time. Before my next birthday, I start thinking I’m the age I’ll actually turn. And then when I turn that age, it’s less of a big deal. I mean, I’d been thinking it already for 6 months, so it’s almost like I’m younger.

In that sort of way, I think I’m already onto 2010. And I do hope it will be a good year—nay, decade. It’s a new fucking decade, peeps! And remember how all that stuff we were soooooo concerned about back before the beginning of our last decade never even happened?

Well, maybe that’s the case now, too. I hope so, because never has a year messed with me the way 2009 did. (If you’re new to this blog, just read backward for evidence.)

But on the last day of 2009, I woke up to a dusting of snow on my fire escape and my apartment was peaceful and cozy, and I couldn’t even hear my neighbor’s trombone. And the milk in my fridge has yet to spoil, despite me leaving it for the week of Christmas. My basil plant lives. Oh, and it sounds like jobless claims are down.

All that has to bode well, don’t you think?