A Query to the Assembly

Nov 16 2009

A Query to the Assembly

Published by John Scalzi at 6:32 pm

Is it just me, or does it seem that pretty much everyone wants 2009 to be over with already?

96 responses so far

96 Responses to “A Query to the Assembly”

# Rob T.on 16 Nov 2009 at 6:39 pm

Actually, I’m about ready for this entire blessed decade to be over. On the other hand, I’m so weary having gone through it that I’m not especially looking forward to putting forth the effort of making the next decade better, so I’m thinking of the next month-and-a-half as a breather before that time.
# Bradon 16 Nov 2009 at 6:40 pm

Yes. In my case it has to do with the fustration of graduating college and not finding employment.

Hopefully the new year will bring better economic circumstances.
# fellow-ohioanon 16 Nov 2009 at 6:42 pm

no way 2009 rocks (altho i am looking forward to the last season of lost which doesnt start until 2010)
# Juleson 16 Nov 2009 at 6:50 pm

Yes please. As great as this year has been for me on many fronts and I should be very happy, I just want it over.
# K.Ramseyon 16 Nov 2009 at 6:51 pm

YES!!

So far this year my grandma died, my parents dog died, and two of my friends have lost their mothers. 2009 has sucked an inordinate amount.
# Jennieon 16 Nov 2009 at 6:53 pm

…and don’t let the door hit it in the ass…
# heteromeleson 16 Nov 2009 at 6:55 pm

Heck no. Got too much to do still!
# Thomas M. Wagneron 16 Nov 2009 at 6:55 pm

Well, 09 was a much better year for me than 08 and especially 07, so for me, the only reason I look forward to the passing of 09 is my hope the upward trend continues into 10.
# Michael Cummingson 16 Nov 2009 at 6:58 pm

Wait…its still 2009??? CRAP. AFK.
# JJSon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:14 pm

I want winter to be over with already. Yeah June!!
# Angieon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:14 pm

2009 has sucked rocks – major illnesses, emergency hospital stays, deaths of family members, lots of friend and family laid off/lost their homes/whatever.

I am very ready for 2010. It could start tomorrow, that would be good.
# domynoeon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:21 pm

I was fine until the house we were buying fell through a few weeks ago (after putting in almost $5000, which we did not get back) and my husband lost his job right around the same time. Now we’re facing eviction from our current place and shut off of utilities even if we do manage to find all the money for the rent.

So, yea, I am ready for this year to be over. I’d like it to be over with a roof over my head, but it’s hard to be positive with everything imploding all at once.
# Codruson 16 Nov 2009 at 7:21 pm

I’m ready for the holidays to be over already, if that counts. Christmas ornamentation comes earlier every year…why take them down at all?

But hell, if 2009 is delcared over, we’re going to have to replace it with something new. We could just add 1 to the number like we have in previous years, but that seems stale. I for one feel that we should stick to 2009 and only start the new year when we’ve got great features and bug fixes in place. People have grown used to 2009’s problems after all.
# JESRon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:23 pm

I’m on record as wishing I could just fast forward from November through February every year, but I’ve been ready for 2009 to be over since the middle of May.
# georgmion 16 Nov 2009 at 7:26 pm

Yes, I am very much looking forward to being six weeks closer to my grave*.

OK, six-and-a-half.
# Juliaon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:26 pm

I fired November its very first night, when my cat who had always hated the very idea of going back outdoors slipped out when I was saying goodbye to a visiting friend.

2009 is SO over. Can we just accelerate?
# georgmion 16 Nov 2009 at 7:27 pm

*Footnote deleted for TMI, asterisk left in because I’m an idiot.
# annaon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:27 pm

Yes please, although as a broke-ass college graduate I want it to be over in a way that doesn’t skip me getting paid at my new job.
# Kevin Riggleon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:32 pm

I want to be graduated from college already dammit, so, given that at the end of 2009 I’ll be a month closer to that goal, yes, please, 2009 can’t end soon enough.
# eviljwinteron 16 Nov 2009 at 7:32 pm

2009’s end would end the crappiest decade I’ve seen. And yes, I remember the 1970’s. It’s loomed large in my mind since 2001, and not in a good way.
# Lisaon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:33 pm

I’ve learned the hard way to never wish for it to be any other moment than right now.
# Keithon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:36 pm

It could have ended six months ago already.
# Roxanneon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:37 pm

2008 was worse, IMO. I’m sort of with Rob T. though: The whole decade has been a downward slide. The 21st Century was never supposed to be like this. Can we go back to 1999 and have Do-Over?
# Rembranton 16 Nov 2009 at 7:39 pm

meh. One decade’s as good as the next or the last.
I will second the whole lets skip the hollidays. They aren’t much fun without kids around. They are even less fun without gainful employment.
Capital meh.
# Max Kaehnon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:39 pm

General consensus among my friends is that 2009 is fired.
# Sheilaon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:47 pm

Was given notice in January, had my final day on the job in February and been looking for steady work ever since. Yeah, 2009 hasn’t exactly been one of my best years, but I’ll see if I can make the most of what’s left of it.
# Steve Burnapon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:51 pm

I guess I am lucky but mine is mostly OK other than a number of annoying equipment failures. (Including a PS3 “Yellow Light of Death” that is holding save games hostage.)

I’m a bit terrified of 2010 because of a high-profile project with an aggressive deadline.
# vianon 16 Nov 2009 at 7:56 pm

Nah – I’m good with it lasting a little longer. At least till I’ve had my birthday. And besides, from the Sunday before Melbourne Cup Day until either Australia Day or Valentine’s Day (if you’re that way inclined) is Party Season in my circle. we’ve made it through the dark of the year, so now it’s time for some hard-earned fun!
# Joe Sherryon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:01 pm

I’ve never understood the whole “ready for the year to be done” sentiment before…but between divorce and two pay cuts and general unhappiness with certain things…i could use a new year.
# Leah Bobeton 16 Nov 2009 at 8:03 pm

My 2009’s actually been pretty good, if occasionally a bit scary with the hairpin turns.

I have heard a lot of the “done now,” though.
# The Mad Hatteron 16 Nov 2009 at 8:05 pm

Please just make it stop. Two floods in one year in the same house is too much.
# AliceBon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:14 pm

Years move fast. I’m in no hurry. Even when it sucks. (And it has in big ways this year.)
# Robinon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:15 pm

K. Ramsey, as someone whose grandma died a few months ago and whose parents’ and sister’s beloved dog has just been diagnosed with lymphoma and is on her last legs, I sympathize.
# adelheidon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:21 pm

The only good thing to happen to me is that we’re finally closing on our refinance. Other than that, you probably don’t want to hear the list of things that weren’t good that happened to me or my family members this year. I’m so ready for a fresh start.
# Tumbleweedon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:23 pm

I don’t know about having any personal vendetta against 2009 as such, but I have a full week off scheduled each for the weeks of Thanksgiving and Xmas/New Years, which I’m really rather looking forward to.

One more step towards the apocalypse of 2012, really. And since I’ve seen the movie, I now know how bad it will truly be. I think the most horrific thing about the end of the world is how ham-handed it’s going to be. :(

I’d really much prefer a zombie-type apocalypse.
# Joelon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:27 pm

The economy sucks and I have a job that I don;t hate working with people I respect and mostly even like. 2009 could do lots worse.

On the other hand, I’d really like 2012 t obe over with. Enough already. When will the world end next?
# --Eon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:29 pm

It’s not just you, but I’m not in your camp. I’ve had a pretty good 2009. It had ups and downs as life will, but the ups outweighed.

I can’t believe it’s mid-November already. It was 2008 only a couple of weeks ago, right?
# GregLondonon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:30 pm

Only if the economy gets better in 2010.
# MWTon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:33 pm

I’d kind of like it to hang around for as long as possible, actually, so I have more time to get my act together and figure out what I want to do next with my life.
# benon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:47 pm

It’s you.
# Cat Faberon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:56 pm

What? You want to skip my birthday, my husband’s birthday, our trip to see my dad and my brother, AND *Yule*? Are you MAD?

I have an idea. If you really need a fresh start that badly, just declare tomorrow to be January 1 2010. There you go. You’ll be a bit ahead of the rest of us, but that’s an easy fix– you vamp, repeating January 1 2010, until we catch up with you. You can put it on your checks and reset your computer’s date and time and generally amuse your friends with it.

I will be over here, getting presents and eating cake and giving presents and eating cake and bringing a tree inside and getting presents and eating cookies and cake and pumpkin pie and chocolate and possibly even a candy cane, and I’ll let you know when I’m good and ready to be done.

Which will happen. I mean, you can only eat cake so long. But not *yet*.
# CaseyLon 16 Nov 2009 at 8:56 pm

It’s not just you. 2009 has sucked so far.

However, there’s no reason to think 2010 will be any better – and some reason to think it’ll actually be worse: e.g., unemployment’s not going down anytime soon but unemployment *benefits* will be expiring throughout 2010, so people (like me, f’rex) who’ve managed to hang on by their fingernails because UI benefits were helping pay the bills are going to lose their grip altogether.

I can tell you I am not looking forward to losing everything and starting from scratch, not at my age.
# LeftFieldon 16 Nov 2009 at 9:00 pm

Not I. Anytime with family and friends is good. Not to say you or others would not agree. But the issues that bug me about 2009 will still remain in 2010
# Deborahon 16 Nov 2009 at 9:04 pm

I’m watching two children grow up entirely too fast for my old heart.

They can take their time and so can the year.

Besides, if 2009 is over, I’m really late getting those Millennicon Artshow flyers out.
# Mary Arrrron 16 Nov 2009 at 9:24 pm

No!!! It can’t be over yet, I need the three paychecks to finish saving up for a vacation/research trip, the remainder of which is due in January.

2009 has blown chunks, however. And the rest of it is going to be spent with my husband going through a meds shift. Arrrggghhh!!!
# atsikoon 16 Nov 2009 at 9:35 pm

What a bunch of whiners. 2009 hasn’t been perfect, but no year has been perfect since I was ten. So not much of a judger, there.

And who says next year will be better? 2009 is just an arbitrary number, and 2010 is the same.
# Emilyon 16 Nov 2009 at 9:37 pm

I’m with Lisa. Much as 2009 has sucked, I’d rather see it out the old-fashioned way.

Besides (touch wood) nobody in my family has died this year, making it the first in half a decade with no memorials/funerals.
# Laurettaon 16 Nov 2009 at 9:42 pm

As bad as 2009 has been, a) I am thankful to be alive and those of my family that are alive are alive + b) I am doing something I enjoy with customers (I sell books) that I enjoy. Sometimes I just have to adjust my expectations downward and focus on what I HAVE.

I’ll be thinking of you all with the hope that 2010 will be better =\-
# angie kon 16 Nov 2009 at 10:26 pm

Yes, please. It’s been a good year in some respects for me and just unbelievably horrible in others. I’m over 2009. I wish I could fast forward until the beginning of next year.
# jesson 16 Nov 2009 at 10:48 pm

As of the last few years it seems that late odd years have been pretty lousy to me and even years are better.

2009 started with me losing my job and ends with me in graduate school.
# watercoloron 16 Nov 2009 at 10:58 pm

I have three major deadlines before the end of the year. Time needs to sloooooooow doooooown………….
# Amiton 16 Nov 2009 at 11:20 pm

No way. My son’s a year old today. 2009 has been _awesome_.
# Raynreon 16 Nov 2009 at 11:21 pm

2009 has been kind of a letdown.
Hopefully 2010 will be equally as boring.
# derekjgoodmanon 16 Nov 2009 at 11:43 pm

2009 has been my best year yet, especially coming after the crapfest that was 2008. So no, I’ll be sad to see it go.
# Mr. Gon 17 Nov 2009 at 12:22 am

@ 52:Amit – Yay for your one year old; mine was recently three, and he is awesome on toast.
# Carrie V.on 17 Nov 2009 at 12:38 am

I’ve had worse.

But things happened this year that will live in infamy in my memory henceforth.

On the other hand, I finished all the year’s deadlines last week, am leaving on vacation on Thursday, and I plan on enjoying the hell out of the last six weeks of 2009.
# Maureenon 17 Nov 2009 at 12:48 am

I *would* want to fast-forward to the Winter Solstice already, except for a) Thanksgiving and b) my father’s birthday (he’s already had too many birthday-Christmas combination presents.) Stupid living-on-the-eastern-edge-of-the-time-zone.
# MWon 17 Nov 2009 at 12:49 am

Oh, yeah. 2009 will go down as the year that I spent my Bday (#36, no less) in the emergency room getting my face stitched back on (when lettuce attacks! I wish I was kidding.), and my BFF/non-genetic-twin was diagnosed with AIDS.

I’ve had better years.
# robon 17 Nov 2009 at 12:52 am

After a few tours in Iraq, I fall into the “Every day is a bonus” line of thought.

You have to go through to today to get to tomorrow, make the most of your time.
# agmon 17 Nov 2009 at 1:27 am

Actually, things started downhill mid-March 2008 and just got worse from there, peaking in maximum “wow life sucks” around oh, mid-Feb this year (i.e., only one major crisis ocurred after that). So, on the whole the worst is past, I don’t see how rushing forward to the next decade will improve things, but YMMV.
# Christopher Hawleyon 17 Nov 2009 at 2:48 am

I’m okay with 2009 for two more days … after that, it can be any year pulled from of a hat.

Stuck in the middle/between Checkuary and Nextember
Seeking the riddle/which I subsequently won’t remember
# MakrHBon 17 Nov 2009 at 3:29 am

Got to LA just in time for the VFX industry to shrink like a snowbound scrotum.

Got horribly ill with Swina Bifida.

Lost both parents within a month to cancer.

Made less money than 2002.

Die, 2009. Die in the cold.
# The Gray Areaon 17 Nov 2009 at 7:07 am

The worst part of my year just ended, so I’m a happy camper! WOOT!
# Frankon 17 Nov 2009 at 7:10 am

The older I get, the more I realize life is going by way too fast.

I don’t even want to hurry through to the weekends anymore.

So no. I can wait.
# Nikittaon 17 Nov 2009 at 7:29 am

2009 has definitely been a step upwards from 2008 for me, though there’s still room for improvements.

February 2008, I came back to Denmark after things went bad with my now ex-boyfriend, who I had lived together with for 3 years at the time.

So, I spent some months living on my mother’s couch and looking for a job. Found an okay job in May and found a room to rent in July.

In 2009, I finally got a small flat and I got accepted to study at the scool for library and information science – started that in September.

Yeah – definitely better.
# John Whiteon 17 Nov 2009 at 7:37 am

This year has been one of the best of my life! I don’t want it to end!
# Neal Asheron 17 Nov 2009 at 7:57 am

Wishing 2009 was over with? Shit, that’s like wishing you’d finished your beer so you can start on the next. And hey, there’s a limited number of beers in that crate.
# John Scalzion 17 Nov 2009 at 8:01 am

But sometimes the beer you’re drinking gets warm! And the next beer is ice cold!

(This analogy is of limited utility to those who drink beers at temperatures other than “ice cold.)

(Or, you know, who don’t drink beer.)
# Nick Harkawayon 17 Nov 2009 at 8:41 am

[cue Bodyguard dive]

NOOOooooooOOOOoooooo!

Because I have not finished my book yet and I will scream and throw things if I have not finished it by 2010.

Which I damn well will.

Unless y’all bring 2009 to an end today, in which case I will cry on you until you are soggy.

So there.

NH
# Joelon 17 Nov 2009 at 9:18 am

I will cry on you until you are soggy.

Nice invective. Nothing vulgar, slighty amusing, with overtones of guilt and shame for the person responsible. Sends a clear message of “Oh no you don’t” without being all hostile and stuff.

Plus, working in an elementary school, I actually get to see this with some regularity.
# Howard Brazeeon 17 Nov 2009 at 9:23 am

There’s a couple of books I have had on order for moths that I’m anxious to get, but other than that, time moves way too fast.

I remember when a year was a 6th of a lifetime, now a decade is a 6th of a lifetime.

I can picture some SF immortal, exclaiming on how quickly that century went by.
# rob lon 17 Nov 2009 at 9:28 am

And miss two months of my boy growing up? Thanksgiving with my family(who are all crazy but I’m old enough now to enjoy the insanity) and Christmas with an almost 3 year old who’s excited to give mommy a present this year?

I’ll hang on, thanks.
# Michelle Mon 17 Nov 2009 at 9:34 am

Yeah, Um. I’m ready.
# The Other Keithon 17 Nov 2009 at 9:37 am

The (drunken) mantra at my 40th b-day party a couple of months ago:

“Any day on this side of the dirt is a good day.”
# Another Lizon 17 Nov 2009 at 9:38 am

Yeah, this fall hasn’t been so great for friends and family. And I’d like the annual holiday layoffs to be over.

MW: I do want to hear about how lettuce took off your face…
# LizrdGizrdon 17 Nov 2009 at 9:43 am

I’ve still got vacation left for 2009 so just wait ’til I’ve used it up.
# Kevin S.on 17 Nov 2009 at 9:43 am

2009 has been the most amazing year of my life. I bought a house, which I never thought I’d be able to do, and I got married. I’m a generally melancholic person, but I’m on cloud nine and looking forward to the holidays.
# Quartoon 17 Nov 2009 at 10:09 am

Too much to do before 2009–like save up all that tax money the silly government wants from me. Being a businessman in an…um…irregular economy is exciting, yes?

Give me a few more months before December so I can get more stuff done. That would be good.
# Bearpawon 17 Nov 2009 at 10:10 am

Are you people crazy? I know I’m not in any hurry to get into that whole mess next February.

Oh right, you folks don’t know about that yet. Never mind, forget I said anything …
# Neal Asheron 17 Nov 2009 at 10:25 am

I guess for some we’re into the lukewarm frothy remnants of the year, John. Time to chase it with a large whisky I suspect.

I like the other Keith’s mantra.
# Daryl Swinsonon 17 Nov 2009 at 10:34 am

Yes, 2009 must die! Put a stake in its heart. Cut off its head. Stuff itwith garlic. Douse it with holy water. Burn its body. And scatter its ashes at aa crossroads.

The VA hosed up my retirement pay for over 2 months, failed to admit it was its fault for months, then had to threaten itself with legal action to get sundry suborganizations to comply with its own regulations and laws! And then, restored my lost retirement pay, but had damaged my finances so wickedly that I have only just stabilized. And higher interest rates, a credit rating that looks like Rocky after Apollo Creed got done with him, and no repercussions for the VA public servants errors or even an apology was forthcoming. No, 2009 has not been a banner year for me an dmine. I urinate in 2009’s general direction and dampen its ashes with malicious streams of righteous wrath!!!

OK, I’m done now. I’ll even put the seat down so as not to anger the womenfolk… ;)
# Mark Evanson 17 Nov 2009 at 11:16 am

It has not been 2009 as such but the past 13 months that have been bad. One parental death the day after the presidental election, another this past spring, some cracked ribs, 2 break-ins and another attempt, a water line gone bad, the hassles of settling two estates, the hassles of raising 2 teenagers, an old and dependable hot tub giving up the ghost (a luxury but great for stresses), getting stuck on back roads in WV (in an area where the local folks told me that the meth labs burned down last week) and assorted other deaths and health issues. On the other hand… Well, not much.
# Howard Brazeeon 17 Nov 2009 at 11:27 am

Daryl – on your side-track – the issue about men leaving the seat up and the women leaving it down never applied in my household. Both my son and I put the *lid* down, while the womenfolk left it up.

Putting the lid down saves dropped shavers and toothbrushes from falling in, not to mention pets.

Whenever people argue about the seat, and which gender is more inconsiderate, I vote them both as guilty. Considerate people would consider the lid, not the seat.
# Brandonon 17 Nov 2009 at 11:48 am

2009’s been good to me in most categories.

However, if 2010 promises to be less annoying in terms of “omg, Americaz going to endz”, I’m all for getting to the 2009 Safehouse and restocking my health kits for the next stage.
# Chukon 17 Nov 2009 at 12:39 pm

Nah, it’s been pretty good so far, except for the swine flu but I’m better now.
# M.A.on 17 Nov 2009 at 1:15 pm

This one hasn’t been too bad, actually, but next year I might get to retire! Yahoo! And spend the first 6 months reading that backlog of Big Idea books…
# Howard Brazeeon 17 Nov 2009 at 1:18 pm

One big plus for this year is that I reached retirement age. In bad economic times, that is a comfort, even as I keep working and building up my pension.
# MikeBon 17 Nov 2009 at 1:23 pm

Every day above ground is a good one. I don’t count years much these days, gets way to depressing.
# Brittanyon 17 Nov 2009 at 1:37 pm

2009 hasn’t been too bad – no one close to me died, I’m in school so I don’t have to worry about a job or paying back student loans (yet), and in a few weeks I get to go home and spend time with friends and family that I haven’t seen since August. So no, I’ve had worse years.
# daniel websteron 17 Nov 2009 at 1:55 pm

The only reason I would like 2009 to end would be to get the sunshine back (he writes from Seattle).

Otherwise, (knock wood) 2009 has been a very fabulous year. I met the woman of my dreams.

My empathy and compassion to those for whom the year has sucked. For me, that was 2008. THAT year was fired for gross incompetence even after a corrective action plan was put in place two thirds of the way through.
# Ruckuson 17 Nov 2009 at 6:50 pm

I’m of two minds on time.
When things are good there’s never enough. When not so good there’s always too much.
But throw age in the mix and that changes everything. The days seem shorter and some of the passion is missing. But then you get to remember there were worse days. And better. And you know that in the end that’s all there is. Good days and bad.
That said I don’t really care about what year it is, I just want the economy to get better. And less worthless, needless war.
# MarkHBon 18 Nov 2009 at 3:08 pm

Success in 2009 is survival. I wish you all every success.
# ioresulton 18 Nov 2009 at 5:53 pm

My first kid was born in January 2009 and he’s doing great. I’m enjoying every minute of being with him and my wife. I’ve got a great job and mortgage interests are at a all time low, but they’ll go up in 2010. Oh and my wife’s pregnancy test she took last Sunday was positive (as we hoped, of course).

All and all, I’ve got nothing to complain about 2009.
# Mr Aon 18 Nov 2009 at 7:08 pm

I am ready for it to be over, but it wasn’t outright bad. The high expectations that 2010 entices is likely 75% of why I am anxious to move into the new year.
# EternalDensityon 19 Nov 2009 at 11:09 pm

I’m looking forward to getting out of “the year in which the first half of Stargate Universe Season 1 aired” and a decent way into “the year in which the second half of Stargate Universe Season 1 and hopefully the first half or so of Season 2 airs”.
# EternalDensityon 19 Nov 2009 at 11:10 pm

That and the Black Mesa mod (fan remake of original Half Life in the HL2 engine) is supposed to be out before 2010 starts (so probably December 31st).

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