This is something that I’ve done for a few years now (which I had taken down, but I just put them back up again here and here), so I might as well keep with tradition.
The year in retrospect…to the tune of the alphabet. One last look back before I can officially look forward.
A- AmandaBlogandKiss- I never expected that my blog would be the best thing to happen to my social life since vodka and lime, but it was. It is. I’ve met tons of great people- people who are also bloggers and who walked off of the computer screen into my real life, and for that I am intensely grateful.
B- Berlin- who knew that Berlin was such a vegan mecca? Certainly not I. This trip was my first time there in years and I saw it in a completely different light. It’s a great place to spend some time, so I’m sure I’ll be back soon!
C- Cologne Christmas Markets- This was a quickie roadtrip weekend trip with friends that I never got a chance to write about because directly afterwards I was struck down with the flu. Foiled! But Angela wrote two great pictorial posts about it: Part One and Two.
Photo by Mats Einarsen
D- Damien- New flatmate in the house! He walks around semi-naked, and yet I am still forbidden from doing so myself. Surely a perfect example of a double standard. He is quiet and unassuming, and we like to pretend that he has women chained up in his bedroom. There must be something wrong with him, no one is this perfect.
E- Ego- My ego took a bashing this year. Poo on me.
F- Flu- I got my very first flu this year! And I handled it like a three year old child. Because I can. So nyah.
G- Glasgow- How lucky am I to have the kind of friends who will whisk me away on a girly weekend in a time of personal crisis, help me shop until my wallet screams, and laugh with me through hungover mornings recounting tales of the night before? VERY lucky, to put it frankly.
H- Hot Chip- one of the best shows I saw all year….although come to think of it this may have been 2008….but I can’t think of anything else for H so it’s staying!
I- Ireland-We took a driving holiday around Ireland in January and saw some sights that I’ve been meaning to get to, like the Kilmainhaim jail in Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Burren. But what stands out most in my head is when I fell in the mud. Funny how that memory remains above all.
J- Jersey Shore- Yes. Yes I am including the MTV reality show Jersey Shore in my yearly update of the year’s highlights. WHUT.
K- de Koffie Saloon- I drank a boatload of coffee at my neighborhood coffee joint this year, most of the time catching up with friends (Jolanda in particular) and just taking a brief hour out of the day to enjoy good company and good coffee. I’m grateful that I have a place like this so close….although it sucks when you’re trying to give up coffee.
L- London for the Cringe book release- Badow! My ass got published in a book. …and someone else got alll the money for it! This trip was also of note because I saw friends that I haven’t seen in about 7 years, made new friends, and finally met an online friend that I’ve had for about 3 years!
M- Mommers- She moved back to the States. Traitor.
N- the New Tig (Parck)- finally a pub to fill the gaping hole that The Tig Barra left when it closed down well over a year ago. A new local…and they also do cocktails! Tig Barra version 2.0?
O- Overtoom buurt- Just another shout out to the best damn neighborhood in Amsterdam. We’ve got it all here on the Mighty Mighty Overtoom. Why go anywhere else?
P- Prague- A surprise trip for my birthday to Prague! Who’s a lucky girl? (puts hand up)
Q- Quiz Night- could very well be the best thing to happen to Monday nights since…forever? Our team has grown from 6 people to about 14, and we always win. ALWAYS. Here’s to The Incontinentals! In this photo are Mats, Angela, John, me, and Andrew.
Photo by Lissa!
R- Roadtrips! – From Medemblik here in the Netherlands, to Germany, to Belgium, this year saw me wrack up a lot of kilometers in the (rental) car. Which is astounding because before that I haven’t driven or even been in a car in a few years. Viva la bike culture! But sometimes cars are nice. Here is a photo from when Jolanda drove us to her hometown of Medemblik.
S- Shoulder- This marked the start of my ill fortunes. I woke up one day to a right arm that wouldn’t work, no matter how hard my brain demanded it. This lasted for over a month, leaving me helpless as a baby and totally sympathetic to one-armed people the world over.
T- Tourists- I hit one with my bike. He had it coming. But I was the one who got hurt. First knee scrape since I was about 10 years old. Now my pretty battle scar. I still feel bad about screaming at him from where I lay on the cold pavement, twisted under my bike. But in fairness, why the hell can’t tourists stay off of the bike path, or at least look before crossing one?
U- Unemployment- Had a job, didn’t have a job, got another job, lost that job, didn’t have a job, got another job. Now I’m quite happy with my job! (Did you follow that?)
V- Hotel V- This, of course, being the job that I am quite happy with. Great people, awesome atmosphere! Nothing to complain about!
W- Work at Lush- The job that I had for 6 months and then lost because my face looked sad and I was too old. WAY TO MAKE A WOMAN FEEL SPECIAL LUSH! Still…I fucking love their products. And sorely miss that staff discount!
X- ex flatmate Veronica- The Lakester was back in town for a few weeks this summer and it was like the good old days again! Here she is on my birthday, drunk as a skunk and chatting to John.
Y- Y…Why is Y always so hard to think of something for?
Z: Other things of note this year: Facebook (and a LOT of it). Friends (some faded into the background, others stepped out of the woodwork). Nearly got in a fight at the Florence and the Machine concert. Dancing at the Passion Pit show. GMail Chat.
Hey, followed you here from Renee’s blog. Quite enjoyed reading this, and am VERY jealous that you have quiz night. Is it in English? I’d never find that over here in Rotterdam I think. Pity! Sometimes I wish we lived in Amsterdam… sometimes. hehe
Going to read some more!
Hi Breigh! Yes the quiz is in English (well Dutch and English- the questions are read out twice). If you ever find yourself in Amsterdam on a Monday night, you should pop by!
P.s. Jersey Shore would be on my list too. It’s so painful to watch but I just can’t stop myself.
I HEART RONNIE!!!!
LOVE this! Awesome way to showcase the year!!
Thanks!
So glad I got to know you through your blog this year! Here’s to 2010!
Likewise! And here’s to 2010! At least we know that you’re going to for sure have a good one!!!
Your 2009 had maybe a few ups and downs….but you got some good stuff there. I hope your 2010 exceeds.
Thanks! 2009 was one of the worst and also best years of my life. Funny how that works!
This is the best list ever! Such a good idea.
LOVE this!
[...] Eve slip by without a little alphabetical trip down memory lane (just as I did in 2006, 2007, and 2009…..but not in 2008- that was a bad [...]