The Year 2010

I thought 2010 was a wonderful year.
I finally feel adulthood breathing into my body as I leave my college antics behind… actually no. that’s not true I’m still partying every weekend. JUST KIDDING!
but seriously, 2010 was a fun year. It’s like one of those overdramatic, predictable, plot goes nowhere movies. Girl finds true friends, loses others, meets boy, wears the pants, knows that it’s time to focus on school instead of long walks on the beach, and realizes that life was meaningless without Unilocal.But then, girl realizes that food is her true love and promises to make 2011 a bigger, better, food and booze filled, Unilocality year.
–directed by M Night Shyamalan
I bury myself at the university library because I NEED THIS DEGREE GODDAMMIT and before you know it, it’s almost February 2011. FUCK. I will start Unilocaling again soon my friends. It will be filled with more commentary, allusions to food network shows, and life changing experiences.
–Til then, Lanie

It was a year of rising to the occasion; handling your shit; the boys being separated from the men.
It was a year of absurdity and scandal (in the best way possible, despite its ups and downs.)
It was a year of perfecting a balance between work and play, being a socialite and being a homebody, food vices and exercise.
It was a year of new friends, new experiences, and spectacular music.
Oh, 2010. You’ll go down in history and I’ll remember you forever.

I would give 5 stars to this year for giving me the friends that I’ve made from Unilocal but I can’t help but remember the troubles it brought me as well.
The good: while Angela K’s invite to the early summer Mustache Bash kicked off my re-​yelping with vigor, it was Jennifer L (and the flat girl power I was to find in her and Kira) that really kicked me into Unilocal-​gear, with the meet up at the UYE at Island Soul. I have found a few wonderful friends here and since I can credit 2010 with that, I do give it some props.
Other super fun Unilocal UYE and EE’s were to be had and I also spent some quality time with some friends from across the mountains in Leavenworth as well as in Portland.
Every year brings my family closer and I have more fun, 2010, it was no exception and while it took away our synergistic 4 – 10 days as a group, it brought happiness with that change.
The bad: I spent more time than one should at the doctor’s office dealing with what thankfully turned out to be nothing more than failing tonsils although the up and down included a million invasive tests, threats of a Cpap machine for life and the big «C» scare.
There were bad times at work, bad times with some friends and difficulties with money. Our yearly trek to the Red Rock wasn’t as magical as in year’s past and that made me sad, I’m counting on 2011 to fix that.
Overall, I didn’t hate 2010, but it won’t even make it into the top 10 of my years or feature in many ‘unforgettable memories’ of a positive nature.

«It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness…» and I am grateful for every minute.
Why 5 stars? Why the hell not?
I’m alive. I’m healthy, I have great friends and an awesome family.
Yup, certain aspects of 2010 left a bad taste in my mouth, but if not for them I wouldn’t be able to learn and continue to grow more every year.
As for 2011 I hope everyone does what I plan to do and that’s «Make it a great one!»

I’m still Unilocaling???
FML…
Alright alright!
— Volunteered on the Silent date and met Radfortd T.
— Found my Twin Sistah Elle P.
— Hung out with the Cassies crew more than EVER (Cassy, Cassandra, Jro)
— Got another Ladies group (Rachel A. Stella D. Natasha L. Jocy C)
— Organized UYEs in Queens (Thanks to Lizz K.) and met more Unilocalers!
— Karaōke with CM of Queens (AKA Leighann)
— Slept with Peter D.
— Took couple of pics with Jane K.
— Wing C. kept trying to talk to me
— Jennifer C. and I know a lot of people from outside Unilocal
— Got really close with all of you after Roddy past away (I STILL F*CKING MISS YOU ROD!).
— I got weirdos adding me on Unilocal. (IT’s NOT A DATING SITE)
— I thought Yosub K. was Effing Cool, but he just keeps Ignoring me.
— Hung out more with Joolie K., Maria M., Tony C., Javier M. (My first Unilocalers!)
— Chun L. Pimpin me OUT
— Isabella !! Another Latin Asians (REPRESENT!)
And many more Unilocalers, I’m having a great time with this fellows members:
Matteo R., Angelina K., Will C. Jenn L, Jimmy C., Sandy C. (Both of them), Liz K., Chris H., Britton B. Jamel O, James F., Laura A., Mabel S., Briana M., Coty S.
PS… I’m addding more and more to this Review!
PPS… I’m hanging out with you guys more than my FRIENDS! (basically you took over their place. Le Sigh…)
So I Unilocaled.

Oh gawwd! I’m not a complainer. I’m really not. But 2010, I’m glad you’re history.
I have never experienced so many financial and emotional ups and downs in a single year. It was a freakin’ rollercoaster. I’m just glad I survived without the need for medication. I accomplished alot, but it all had a price tag associated with it. Being an adult sucks.
— I traded home ownership for a much bigger, less expensive rental. But selling the house was a pain in the (…)
— I got married and had to talk myself out of eloping in Vegas and/​or taking up a heavy drinking habit.
— I train-​hopped across Europe and seriously considered moving to London.
— Finally got my Master’s degree (now if I could only get a promotion).
— But there were also job losses, car accidents, moving… sheesh!
I’m still exhausted. 2010, you owe me a drink.

Annus horribilis.
I couldn’t see the back of you fast enough, 2010. If I could inject my brain with anisomycin and erase every single memory of this awful year, I would. A nice, comforting void to replace this wasted year.
Two bright stars illuminated this year:
— The release of Aung San Suu Kyi
— Liu Xiaobo is awarded the Nobel prize for peace.
For everything else: yeah, fuck you too, 2010.
Here’s something cheerful for you:

2010, you were supposed to be a good year because you’re an even number!
Side note: Historically, years that end in odd numbers are horrible for me.
You started off strong and positive but then, the last 3 months were just plain rough.
Cut me a break in 2011, k?

2010 is a year that brought a few good things, but overall it sucked major donkey balls. Too many ups and downs to deal with in one single year and I had been very optimistic about it in the beginning. I was in a new apartment, with a new boyfriend, had a new dog and a bunch of new friends. So why was it so bad? Let me explain.
My family almost lost our home to the city because the hoarding situation was deemed unsafe. This caused all of us to spend much more money than we ever expected on clearing the place out and traveling back and forth to do this every month.
Everyone’s health went to shit. I had some type of lymph node infection that completely knocked me out for weeks and cost an arm and a leg to fix without insurance. My mother almost bled to death from her own health complications and my father is now dealing with the consequences of a life of avoiding doctors. Among other, smaller health issues, he has throat cancer that cannot be operated on as of now, and may still not be operable. Still waiting to find out.
The living situation could be worse. The boyfriend and I separated back in August, but I’m still living here. Can’t afford to move. So while I would like to get out of here and have no desire to be with him, it sucks to see he treats his new GF way better than he treated me. It also opened my eyes to how a number of friends treated the situation in its entirety.
My finances are in shambles right now. I came out of college debt-​free and have managed to dig a deep hole that is hard to get out of. I was finally chipping away at it thanks to my internship with a large corporation, but they downsized and sent me packing just a few weeks before Christmas. I’ve finally accepted the fact that although I should probably be working in a private college environment, a craptastic job is a job and it pays the bills. I’ve applied to work at a pizza place. FML.
The only bright side to all of this is that toward the end of the year things looked up a little bit. I’m realizing who my real friends are and making a bunch of new ones. My confidence has grown and I know not to take shit from people. I still have my awesome dog and I think I’m getting more control of my own body. I am optimistic for 2011. Let’s hope it doesn’t pull a 2010.

The Year 2010 was one of the worst years of my life. It will always be remembered as a year of regret, massive life mistakes, cross country moves, being stripped of my confidence, a suffering apparel industry, mingling with too many psychotic designers, and just plain dumb decision making on my part. However, it is over with and I have learned from my mistakes and can move on now.
Dear 2011,
Please be the opposite of 2010.
Thank You,
Coty

Wow… it seems like just yesterday that I was «reviewing» 2009 on Unilocal.My poor, innocent self had high hopes for 2010… only to be brutally disappointed. 2010 was the absolute worst year of my life including unemployment, an abusive relationship which thankfully ended, poverty, etc. It is a lost year of my life and thank God it is over. 2010 caused me to lose confidence, develop a horrible case of depression, and I basically spent every day staring at the wall crying.
I did stick it through due to the help of friends, a food bank, charities, my faith, Unilocalers, and my own inner strength.
Ironically, the horrible year ended with my meeting the person that is the best thing that ever happened to me.
I hate you 2010. 2011: I will kick your ass if you try to be as horrible as 2010.

We only get so many years on this Earth, so the concept of a lost one is really frustrating to me. And that’s what 2010 was — a lost year. I feel like it was a year that was gently floating upward like a balloon; and I figured at some point I could catch it. But by the time I tried, it was too high in the sky to grasp and I just let it float away, counting it as a loss.
Then I cried a lot — as a kid who loses a shiny balloon tends to do.
Mostly it was a lost year because of the loss. This was the year that I was awoken on a Sunday in June to news that my boss had died of a heart attack. And this was the year that my sister’s ex-​boyfriend met the same fate in early April. Both were such happy, funny, and carefree people that they seemed like even more of a loss to the world.
But the worst part is, at the start of the year, I had a firm grasp of this metaphorical balloon. I was going out all the time and, despite the fact that I was still in the grips of a major depression, was having fun. Then it all seemed to go wrong. It felt like I suddenly stopped getting included in everything and it sucked. Seemingly losing my social life didn’t help me cope with the other loses.
At least 2010 didn’t kill me. Though it tried. Getting hit by a car (by a distracted driver who took his foot off the brake at a stop sign) on New Year’s Eve (in the afternoon, sober) was a great goodbye present. At least the scar I might have on my hand is something to prove that 2010 actually existed.
On that «happy» note, here are some happy (for real) notes that kept 2010 from getting a one-​bomb:
— I gained travel to Italy and Montenegro. I got to discover that the crappy Italian food that we eat here is more flavorful and vibrant than the real deal. And I got to see sights that were so full of grandeur (and in the case of Montenegro that are still, largely, unexplored) that I couldn’t block 2010 out of my mind even if I wanted to.
— I gained the experience of New York City through the eyes of actual New Yorkers. I discovered hidden bars in the real New York City (that being Brooklyn, of course) and got to explore the Borough of Kings.
— I gained more freedom from debt. I finally paid off two credit cards that had been hanging over me and haranguing me with harassing phone calls. And I got back on track with all of my college loans.
— I gained more than a few dates off of OK Cupid. Sure, none of them went anywhere, but I got to discover new restaurants in different parts of the city. And, the e-​mailing chase is certainly a lot of fun. I discovered that, in the grand dating pool, I’m kind of a prize.
— I gained the knowledge that marketing is what I really want to do with my life (especially social media marketing). Now I just need to gain the funds to pursue my passions.
Now I gain a whole new balloon for 2011. I just hope it doesn’t pop loudly up in the sky, out of my grasp, like 2010’s did.

«Like sands through the hourglass… so are the Days of Our Lives.»
Yup, a year of Unilocaling hardcore has left me battered and bruised and speechless at times.
2010 was interesting and challenging.
Blood, Unilocal and Tears best describes 2010.
It’s been a roller coaster ride and for the most part, the «When I grow up, I wanna be…» well, I’m all growns up.
Although Unilocal has been a big part of 2010, it’s time to move forward and live life.
Unilocaling smart in 2011.

This is where I share my grief, love for Unilocal,thanks to all who have sent kind words and the need to let ALL of my friends (some whom I’ve not yet met) know thank you.
=====================================================
My Dad was a good man and at 4:55 AM today he went away… away from my Mom, my brother’s Mark, Mitch, me and ALL who knew and loved him.
I shed many tears this past week and now I am relieved that he is no longer suffering… that he did not die alone from the Pulminary Fibrosis he lived with for over 3 years as my Mom, Mark, my sister in law Janette and Pat the Hospice nurse were there.
I have no «if only if I’d just stayed a few more days», we had our talk Tuesday night and I thanked him for everything, told him how proud I was to be his son, that everything he did, taught me etc. stuck and that I use ALL of that knowledge as I need to.
He told me that he wished he had the courage to do and deal with the things I did to become the son he loved so much.
So you see my friends when I left New Years Day as he and Mom were watching the Rose parade, I kissed him good bye, told him I loved him and he told me he loved me too, I whispered into his ear «I’ll see you later» and he said «I know». And, as I walked away I knew that was the last time I’d see him.
How glad I am that we spent that hour together… he never cried (as I did) as we spoke and reminisced, and gave thanks for loving and knowing one another.
The Youtube song in the original review still says it all… through the mirror of my mind, time after time, I have reflections of you and me.

Really 2010 was an average year.
The good: family celebrated my parents’ 50^th anniversary; I got to visit with family & friends in their cities & my own.
The bad: Mardi Gras was really early & really cold. I swear I wore more clothes in January & February than a girl should have to in the sub-​tropics.
What brings it up to 4 star status? Why the Saints winning the Superbowl in February. Awesome!!!

I’m the luckiest person in the world and 2010 was another year to prove that.
Another wonderful year with a terrific husband, nice teenagers (truly), and a funny dog that makes me laugh and love her more every day. Although the first half of this year was full of crazy medical garbage, things are looking up in many ways and I’m counting on full recovery before jet ski season hits this summer. Hang loose to all you Unilocalers and may 2011 be the best year of your lives (at least until 2012)!!

WORST.
YEAR.
EVER.
Glad it’s finally over

2010 was an AMAZING year for me.
I got married to my best friend, I moved from Utah back to California, the GIANTS WON THE WORLD SERIES and I spent tons of time on Unilocal.
I am completely excited about what 2011 has in store.
:0)

Five stars for the fundamental reasons. I’m alive. All is cool with M & D and my brother and his family. Nobody broke any bones this year. Nor were hearts broken. There were no hearts at all, but that’s beside the point.
I did meet some pretty cool Unilocalers. That’s a highlight. Especially Rene. He rocks.
And five stars to you, 2010, because you’re over. Make room for tomorrow, baby, because it’s going to be good.

CHEESY SENTIMENTAL REVIEW ALERT! …cuz it’s my #100^th review, baby! ;)
When I look back at 2010, there were many significant events that took place. Both good and bad. But through all the ups and downs there was definitely an overlying theme that was consistent throughout the whole year. The theme for me was FRIENDSHIP. Meeting new people, making new friends, maintaining friendships, and being there for my friends.
To new friendships, as a person who is socially awkward and has introverted tendencies, I am grateful to those who have invited me to gatherings, brought me along on adventures, and made plans to meet up for a lunch or a drink. Sure I get sad when I think about certain friendships that ended but I still have many good memories.
Special shoutout to friends I’ve had pre-​2010. I feel like I’ve gotten to know you all a lot better and I’ve learned so many good life lessons from our conversations. And because of you, getting over «stupid life stuff» (and occasional serious life stuff) was much easier. Thank you for always being there!
Special shoutout to my hula ohana! This year was the best journey yet and I am grateful to have experienced it all with you :)
Special shoutout to all my new Unilocal friends too! You all brought lots of smiles to my face :) …and it’s nice to finally meet some genuinely awesome people in this crazy town!
Happy New Year, my friends! (now in Hawaiian: Hau’oli Makahiki Hou!!!) I hope that I was as good of a friend to you all as you have been to me! Luv you all and hugs all around! See you in 2011 :)