ADIOS, GOODBYE, GTFO 2020 thread

First of all, "To Die For" is brilliant. I got the chance to tell Nicole Kidman how much I loved her performance in that movie years ago and am still glad I did.

I had a lot of plans for 2020. After getting sidelined by health problems in 2019, this was going to be the year when things changed. Well, they did. Not the way I expected them to, but they did.
My list as of now?
Do good.
Continue to do good.
Stop being afraid. I've had a glimpse of the worst that could happen. I don't want to get a closer, protracted look. If I stay scared, I probably will.
Be a better friend.
Be more disciplined about my goals.
Walk away from evil. Neil Gaiman and Angela Carter wrote about the reality of bad people. I used to think everybody has the potential to grow and change. Maybe they actually do and just decide it's easier to be bad. They have the right to be who they are, but they are not entitled to my attention or energy. I can now walk away without feeling like a bad person.
And last... I've always kind of felt like the healthiest attitude about stuff is to have what I want and want what I have. This year I haven't found anything I want. At all. It's all here. When I encounter people who have to have things, it seems so detached from reality. Probably not fair of me to think that way.

Happy holidays and holding out hope for a better year ahead.

 

That. 2021 doesn’t really start until Biden’s hand is on the Bible.

 

I’d like to thank all y’all for helping me get through this year. One day, I’d like to buy everybody a beer, coffee or whatever.

Happy holidays to all. And fuck 2020.

 

I'd like to think 2021 will be better than 2020. But something tells me it will still be a rough ride with COVID, politics, social isolation ... Especially with COVID.

One prediction made with optimism: Hopefully 2021 will be the year my 27 years in the newspaper business comes to an end. It's time.

 

Ellie's granddaughter had a song a few years back that might apply today.

 

Doesn't feel like 2020 will really be "over" until we start making significant progress to getting back to normal. Jan. 20 will be a big deal. Getting on a plane and going on vacation will be an incredible feeling.

I'll always follow the guidelines, but not wearing a mask, whenever that time comes, is going to be great. I will NOT miss that even a little bit.

 

Cheers Moddy.

 

I'm fortunate that I haven't felt the financial repercussions of this year like so many others have. I recognize that and very much appreciate that. I even got a small cost of living raise and our bonuses for next year are somehow going to come through. I had written both off possibilities in April.

Mentally, this year has been a bitch. I've drank way too much, mostly out of boredom. I've been sort of stuck in a bubble with the same few people, who I adore, but god dangit, I miss the ability to go out and strike up random conversations with people. I have anxiety because you're made to feel like some sort of terrible person every time you go out, even if you do it in a (reasonably) safe manner. If I ever hear the term risk budget again, I'll scream.

I've come to realize that I need the structure of an office day, because it's way to easy to fuck off at home, even when you're trying your damnedest not to. I was at my most productive this year when life was somewhat close to normal, when I was out covering events and away from the drudgery that my home routine had become.

There is light at the end of all of this, so that at least is something to work toward.

I have the rest of the year off work, and after this weekend, I'm going to take some time to visit some state parks that I've missed, or rediscover my love for fun (i.e., non work related) photography. Or pick up disc golf. Anything to try to get a spark going heading into 2021.

 

Life doesn’t change when the New Years Eve countdown begins and we have to eat a dozen grapes before it ends (a custom from my wife’s years in Spain) but as life begins evolve into something better as COVID subsides and the stains in the White House carpet begin to fade, I hope that I will have some appreciation for aspects of life I formerly took for granted.

Things such as the opportunity to bounce ideas off of co-workers without having to set up a formal meeting, being able to visit family and friends without the fear that I’m threatening their life and health or mine, perhaps a shift in everyone’s outlook from doom and gloom toward something positive with potential good for all.

I’m pretty sure if any of that might happen, it probably won’t be long before I forget just how special and important those changes would be. But, for now, I’ll hold on to the hope that 2020 has changed me a little for the better.

 

Everything Cosmo wrote applies to me, except perhaps the random conversations. Those happen only when I’m drunk.

This was a good year for me in a few ways. At last I pulled off the Band-Aid and gave up on journalism. I also realize it sucked for about 80 percent of people. I’ve been stuck in a middle-class bubble where most of the people I know are still working (from home) and relatively unscathed. Goal for 2021: breaking out of it.

Thank you for tolerating my stupid, inane comments on about 90 percent of my posts as well as a very few deep thoughts. I’m an introvert, so this board for better or worse serves as an important outlet for me, more so this year. I hope you all have a great 2021.