End of the year round-up: was 2006 a good year or a bad year for you?

In My Humble Opinion
61

I thought about this for about three days, and I think this afternoon pushed “good” over the top. Or maybe it just allowed me to not feel bad about saying that.

Good
*Met a girl and fell in love, having a crazy good time after six months
*Numerous excellent concerts
*Lost 10-15 pounds
*Bought a really nice bass guitar
*Standup comedy debut
*Became editor of a newspaper
*Started singing lessons and decided I’m okay at it
*Auditioned for Jeopardy - although they still haven’t called back

Bad
*Death of a good friend of 10 years - an ex from high school - very suddenly, in July
*Got mono

Good again
*Started a scholarship in friend’s memory, organized an improv night that was a great success; raised $12,000
*Today, got hired by a certain well-known wire service

62

Woohoo! Congrats!

63

GOOD: It’s not 2005
BAD: Still haven’t taken revenge on 2005
GOOD: 2007 promises to be better

64

It’s been a very difficult year. 2007 WILL be more of the same, but I will get by.

65

Bad:

  • My younger sister had a heart attack and completely freaked me out. She’s ok now, but still . . .
  • My 10 year old dog has an odd growth on his side. The vet says its nothing, just a fatty tumor, but it reminds me so much of the tumor my other dog had that turned out to be inoperable cancer, it scares me. Otherwise, he’s healthy and sassy.
  • I’ve come to the conclusion that my work is not valued, even tho’ it is relatively high profile in the community. Also, from some conversations I’ve had with my boss, I’m getting the sinking feeling she is attempting to take credit for some of the work I actually do. I’m monitoring the situation.
  • My co-workers have evolved into whining, entitlement-minded crazies, and lately have been trying to pull me into their drama. I’m too overworked to defend myself.
  • The second job I have to help keep me afloat financially has kept me so busy that I’ve neglected my small business to the point where I’m considering closing it at the end of the year.
  • My 12 year old car is leaking oil, despite hundreds of dollars in repairs. I’m in a quandry to unload it while I can still get some trade-in value on it, or just wait until it completely dies and start all over again. In the meantime, I keep a case of motor oil handy and hope for the best.
  • The semi-significant other is dealing with a lot of issues, and is emotionally closed off much of the time. I listen, but am totally frustrated that I can’t fix his problems.
  • The dental problems continue. In March and April, I was at the dentist once a week for one problem or another, caps, fillings falling out, etc. Maxxed out dental insurance in 5 months.
  • Gained about 6 lbs. despite increased exercise, lower-fat diet choices, etc. It is killing my back. This is on top of the 15 lbs. I gained in 2004-2005 after I quit smoking. And I started smoking again in 2005, but the weight will not come off. I feell most days like a fat, old loser.

Good:

  • I still have a 9-5 job that pays the bills and has health insurance, plus some interesting perks. I got to go up in a vintage B-25 bomber and write a story about it, plus got into some events free that were fun.
  • After sister’s heart attack, I went to a doctor for the first time in over a decade for a checkup. The doctor ordered tests, particularly for my heart (given my sister’s condition, plus a family history of heart problems). Went in for a stress EKG to determine if I have heart damage – I had rheumatic fever twice – and there was no evidence of damage (as a matter of fact, they were impressed with my cardiac health). Also had a mammogram as the doc thought he felt a lump, but just come to find out I have lumpy boobs. Whew! Everything else is good, except for high cholesterol (now on a statin drug). Given my horrible family medical history, this is wonderfully good news.
  • My crazy neighbor across the street moved out last week. The one everyone suspected of being a peeping tom. Yeah!
  • I got an insurance payment for hail damage to the roof, and am planning to use the money toward a major home improvement in 2007 . . . if I can get a home equity loan or something.
  • The freelance work is coming in steadily, and I’ve been able to use the money to completely pay off my credit cards – have been holding 0 balance now for 10 months. Plus have some money put away for retirement. And not living on popcorn and water, to boot.

2006 appears to be kind of a wash for me – everything balanced out, I suppose.

66

Thanks very much, twicks. :smiley:

67

Wow, we’re living eerily parallel lives, as I got hired by a certain well-known television network (though I’ll be woking in their online division). Congrats, fellow journalist!

68

This was one LONG year, and while rather neutral I cannot wait for it to be over.

Bad:
Did horribly last semester.
Lost most of my direction in life, drifting through school at the moment trying to figure out what to do.
Moved in to my boyfriend’s 12x14 dorm room with his roommate because of ongoing problems with my current roommate.
Had an absolutely horrible ‘internship’ over the summer that I couldn’t get away from.
Good:
Finally convinced parents to let me move onto the on-campus apartments.
Relationship with boyfriend is better than ever before.
I have a job I absolutely love.
Finally figured out what I wanted to do in life.
Bought my first car.
Unlike many of you above, no one died or had any major problems this year (thank god!) other than a few close calls with my grandfather. Mentally and grade wise this has been a horrible year, but Im hoping to tackle it head on next year!

69

Thanks, and the same to you. :slight_smile:

70

For me it’s been one of the best years of my life, because of item 1 under the “good” list:

GOOD:

  1. I got married to the woman of my dreams. Something I never imagined I’d be able to say.
  2. I got two substantial raises at work.
  3. I was pretty seriously and agressively recruited to work for another company, indicating how well I’m regarded in my industry. But in the end I decided to stay where I am.
  4. I went to Europe three times this year, twice for vacation and once for business.

BAD:

  1. A beloved uncle died.
  2. I seem to have some health issues with my kidneys I have to be careful about.

Ed

71

Good:

got to spend summer at home with my favorite people
made straight A’s last semester
my car is still going strong with no problems (love my ten year old Eclipse!)
finally saved up enough to buy my Nikon d50
grandma moved back near us away from her asshole boyfriend or whatever (grandpa died 10 years ago)
moved into my first apartment - freedom (and damnit I can smoke and drink in here and I won’t get in trouble like in the dorms! and I have a kitchen and living room and a bathroom I only share with one person!)
finally made the hard decision to move back home and go to a different school with a new major - finally feel secure about my future
my friends back home are still there for me, always. when I visit it’s like I never left.

Bad:

first apartment is shitty kinda and in a crap area
worked a shit job last semester - dining hall. hard, thankless work for little pay
grades this semester are not good - hopefully I’ll pass french and my journalism class (sadly I don’t know if I will)
have to change majors due to some introspection and it will be logistically difficult on a few levels
my new job is crap but pays well for what it is I suppose
my migraines are back with a vengeance
I can’t quit smoking
I’ve been getting progressively more lazy this year and am procrastinating a whole lot
I’ve been pretty depressed this semester which led me to decide to move back home after 3 years here - which is good and ‘meh’ rather than totally bad because the end result will be good I think
new job does not allow for time off during holidays really - only got 48 hours home for Thanksgiving (used to taking the whole week that school gives us) and will only get 2.5 days for Christmas (we get a month off from school)
I am always stressed about school or work or something and it’s taking its toll

I think 2007 will be WAY better - my courseload next semester is actually courses I find interesting so I won’t be stressed out as much. Job will get easier after holiday season is over. Moving back home in May (tentatively) and will be back with the people I care about. Starting new major I feel extremely confident about (psychology).

72

  1. Still not living with, and having a hard time being able to talk to the man I’m in love with.

  2. House burned down. Well, not down but burnt enough so we haven’t been able to live there most of the year.

  3. Cat died. When house burned down.

  4. Lost job when house burned down.

  5. Spectacular…no, actually rather mundane which is why I can’t get any help with them…health problems. Spent the summer trying.

  6. Been to the ER, and then to the hospital for the first time in my entire life.

  7. No artistic spark. Where did it go?

  8. Everyone I know seems to be equally flumouxed.

On the bright side at the ass end of anus horriblis (pun intended) we are back in the house with insurance company paid hard wood floors (to replace the burnt up ones) and a new paint job on my room like I always wanted and the Dems have taken Congress. But I look at that as part of 2007…I hope.

73

Without going into detail, it was a bit of a roller coaster.

74

The Good:

*Lost well over 100 lbs, due to rue-en-Y.

*Clinically cured of High Blood Pressure.

*Clinically cured of Diabetes.

*Knee Surgury: knee now good as new.

*Insurance Benefits covered 100% of both surgeries.

*Wife seems much more affectionate.

*Women at the Office seem to make excuses to talk to me. (Might need to be shifted to the ‘Bad’ column. One comment: ‘You know, you look like that Ray Liotta guy.’ :cool: )

*Got to see kids get a year older; watching them grow is one of the unsung pleasures of life.

*Discovered love of making salsa. (The Board helped me a Lot.) I’m actually getting complements & am being asked to make more when visiting friends. 

*Restored my Father In Law’s Subaru to road-worthiness; drive it weekly.

*My eldest has chosen a musical instrument and is practicing it faithfully.

*Finally cut down those 4 pesky trees; but it made m bitch about how my sister’s husband glommed Dad’s good Stihl chainsaw when I had to do it with hand-tools.

*Old clothes fit again. Old-old clothes fit again. I have jeans older than HS kids that fit like a glove!

*Donated 10 bags of clothes to Good Will. (Hard Times come to people in Plus sizes too.)

*Executor of my Mom’s estate says I’ll be getting largest share, as there are no ‘unpaid loans’ I owe the estate. (downside: He may be lying to me)

*Finally replaced doors & locks with Nice Strong ones that my siblings Don’t Have The Keys too…!

*Upgraded camping gear significantly; I still would like an external-frame backpack for both son and myself for scouting trips and the bags are only rated to 30 degrees, but hey, I had Nothin’…!

*My ‘Christmas Wish List’ is noticeably small, as I really have all that I need.

*I can tele-commute virtually at will; if you have kids, this is a Good thing.

Came back to Straight Dope. :smiley:
**
The Bad*

*My Mom Died a slow miserable death.

*My siblings, who were still squabbling/ scrabbling over things to glom from when Dad died now are Much, Much worse. I no longer count most if not all of my siblings as ‘family’.

*Lost my Father-in Law.

*I lost my uncle (last living sibling of my father’s; I’m going to miss my cousins, as I know I’ll never get to see them again).

*Work may or may not be building a case to fire me for internet use (or maybe they’ll just ‘bad review’ me into quitting). It feels like only the office-politic brown-nosers are appreciated around here.

*Can’t ever drink beer of carbonated beverages ever again.

*Was supposed to quit coffee completely, but I’ve started sneaking 6-8oz daily. I can’t seem to get through team meetings w/o coffee.

*Starting to get tempted by foods I shouldn’t be eating.

*I’m worried about my Mother In Law. We depend on her a Lot to watch the boys (once a month?) and we’d be S.O.L. should something happen to her.

*Brothers-In-Law (both alcoholics) have moved in with Mother In Law; only one has a job.

*I’m dreading my first Pitting. (I know its coming & it’ll be dragging 200 years more chains behind it than Marley ever did.)

In retrospect, it was a roller coaster for me also. Bring back ‘boring’; I appreciate ‘boring’ so much more now…

75

On balance a very good year indeed. In order of significance,

Good

1.) 13 days into 2006 I became a dad, baby is healthy and beautiful.
2.) 5 months into the year I got my first car.
3.) 11 months into the year I got a promotion away from the office I hated.

Bad

1.) Nothing much, only the realisation that I’ve overcooked it financially and will have ot be sensible (for the first time in years) from the end of the year onwards.

76

Good I think.

Since I imagine you’re not interested in reading my resume, let’s just chop it down to “most of my family is in better health than they have the right to be; Mom is busy elsewhere; I’ve changed jobs three times and each time for the better, plus I work in a sector where this isn’t viewed as bad; I still don’t know whether I have MS or not but have only had one episode of ‘whatever it is’ since April and it was caused by great, unexpected stress”.

Now if I can get my Swiss work permit and my apartment and my local bank account and my 'net connection and divorce the family… :stuck_out_tongue:

77

People look at me funny on account of the chains, but nobody’s ever Pitted me for them.

78

K, I’ll bite:

Good:

  1. I got the lead in a play I’ve been aching to do since high school (15 years, now).
  2. I got a new job that got me out of the depressing, stress-inducing, go-nowhere hell for which I was overqualified but into whose rut I’d stuck myself pretty deeply.
  3. Said new job pays me to sit and read and figure things out, all from a top-floor office with a window overlooking the lake. New computer, new ergonomic chair.
  4. Said job also came with a 13% raise, which allowed for:
  5. The new house we bought in September.
  6. Said new house has allowed me to discover that I am somewhat handy at home fixit type stuff. Red Green, move over.

Bad:

  1. We’re now broke.
79

The empty bottle of vodka beside me says it was a bad year.

80

But the whole message of that tale was that time does not heal all wounds, and that you can’t go back again. Which is how I feel about 2006, personally.

2006: Bad.