I will do an update on this decade, but for now you get to enjoy this review of this year.

In summary, 2009 sucked and was a terrible year.

OK, that’s not entirely true.  It could have been a lot worse and to be honest, I made it through.  I’m here, I’ve got friends, and I’ve done a lot of cool things this year.  So here is my Top Five things of 2009!  Top Five, as in they were super important to me or were very changing of this year.

FIVE!

Getting better physically.

After the surgery, I lost a ton of weight but then gained back more.  This hurts, because for the first half of the year I was walking every day, going to the gym, and watching what I ate.  After the surgery I lapsed in this especially when I couldn’t move and it shows.  Ugh, does it show.

I’m not proud of this, and I want to change it.  I know everyone says they want to lose weight for the new year but I’m going to do this, damn it!

FOUR!

Friends come in at a strong four!

I have lots of friends.  Some are online, some I’ve met through work.  Others I’ve met through friends, and even more are acquantances who I don’t mind hanging out with from time to time.  Heck, if you’re reading this web site you’re either a friend of mine or an adbot!

I had to count on my friends in 2009 more than ever before, especially during my surgery.  So many of you sent presents, get well cards, and good thoughts over Facebook or in my email.  Thank you all for the kindness you’ve shown me, especially when I needed help.  I just hope I can repay you guys for all the help in 2009!

THREE!

My nephew, Jack, makes number three!

He’s the first new family member we’ve had in a long time.  He is 10 months old as of now, and he has been an awesome little guy.  While he is not my kid, he has helped me change and grow as a person.

…what, too sentimental?  Tough shit!

The fact is, he’s helped me become more patient.  I’ve learned to take things slowly around him.  Because of him, I’ve started to watch my language.  I’m not censoring myself, rather I’m just learning to be more considerate around children.

I’m not normally a fan of children.  For years, I had to deal with them at Vons and clean up after their messes.  I still remember when a kid spilled an entire 72 oz drink on a book shelf and how furious I was with him.  (And with the parents who didn’t realize he’d spill his jumbo drink in our store and refused to pay for it.)  I’ve also never dealt with babies before.

I love my nephew, and I think he’s the  most awesome person I know.  I hope it stays this way for a good long time.

TWO!

Working with Peryton Publishing is my number two.

I managed to negotiate a fiction deal with them and I managed to do it while recovering from surgery.  I’ve also sold short stories this year that should come out in 2010, and while I did not have that many things released this year I’m confident that my writing career is progressing.

It’s hard being a writer.  For starters, most people don’t understand what it is you do!  Most people go “Oh, anyone can write.  Please read my five thousand word fanfiction on Sepiroth fighting Spike then scoring with Buffy.”  I’m not saying I am the “end all” of writers by any means.  I have a long way to go, and I need to brush up on a few things before I can safely feel confident in my own skills.  Still, I think I’ve come a long way.

Since most people do not know, I started writing professionally five years ago.  I started working for a company called FJ Gaming and I wrote an adventure for them for their Gunslingers RPG line.   Since then, I have worked for a few companies and I finally made my way to White Wolf Publishing this year with my first supplement published with them for Collection of Horrors (Caveat Emptor).  I’m really glad I got to work with them, and I like where my career is headed.  It’s going onwards and upwards, which is good.

ONE!?!?!

This one is easy.  The surgery tops out my 2009.

Earlier this year, I had a “Laproscopic Microlumbar Surgery on my L5 Vertebrae with removal of a mass on my nerve cluster.”  In layman’s terms, I had a small pipe inserted into my spine where they cut out a solid mass that was bulging from my spine and crushing my sciatic nerves.  I could barely move my foot, and I was in solid pain throughout June.  The pain was so unbearable that I was forced to break down and get a $2000 CAT scan and I was barely able to leave my home.  I couldn’t even operate my car as my foot was paralyzed.

The surgery was successful, and I’m able to move my right leg and foot now.  However for July I could’t do anything and while at Gencon I was in so much pain I passed out each night around 10.  Still, I didn’t die on the operating table and they correctly diagnosed the problem and treated it.

Does it still hurt?  Yes.  Does it get better from day to day?  Sort of.  I can see a lot of improvement and I’m glad I had the surgery although I still have a lot of pain.  I have a numb patch on my right foot that will never go away.  When I say I have pain, I have pain in my back that prevents me from going up and down stairs, lifting heavy things, even from sitting for too long!  The most irritating part about this is that I hurt my left knee on a hike a few weeks ago and it’s taking forever to mend, which only makes me more cranky.  I would do almost anything for this pain to be over!  However, I am doing better.  Slowly, I am doing better.

I predict that in 2010 I will feel better and my spine will recover.  Until then, I’ll just have to cope with this pain.