[Original Mike]

Just wanted to drop in to wish all of my friends here a happy and safe 2009! I can't believe 2008 has left us already. I guess it's true that, the older you get, the faster times go.

Now, brought to you without commercial interruption is my own "Hybrid" top ten list featuring my five "best Things" from 2008 and my five "Worst Things". I've also added a "HUH?" section for stuff that's just beyond belief, for good or bad. Feel free to add your own choices and let's get it rolling:

Best of 2008:
1. President-Elect Barack Obama
2. My new job (I love it!!)
3. "The Dark Knight": Visually stunning and a tour de
force perfomance for Heath Ledger
4. The Summer Olympics and a really good roll model
for kids in Michael Phelps
5. My nephew asking for his first Star Wars toys for
Christmas (another generation of sci-fi geeks is
born!!!!!)

Worst of 2008:
1. The endless war in Iraq
2. The economic meltdown
3. The passing of icons like Tim Russert, Paul Newman,
and Eartha Kitt
4. The Jonas Brothers (sorry, folks, no talent here.
They're only popular because they're pretty)
5. Ted Stevens and Rod blagojevich for reminding us
that corruption and stupidity are truly bi-partisan

HUH????
1. New York's governor caught hiring $5,000/hr hookers
2. Rachel Ray: Can we say "Overexposure"?? Enough
already!!!!
3. A new trend around here for teens: co-ed
sleepovers. Gee, NOTHING could go wrong there...
4. An Ipod docking station built into a toilet paper
holder. (Seriously, do we really need this????)
5. Paris Hilton's 15 minutes of fame STILL haven't
ended.

Anyway, have fun with your lists and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Mike

[Kerbchek]

Your lists are great! I agree about the time flying faster with every year that passes, and I have high expectations for 2009 ! ! Happy New Year!

[waited2long]

Adding my Happy New Year to everybody!!!!

[lucyjoy]

I'm not up on real life events but

Best of 2008
1.Molefest
2.Bed and Breakfast in Indianapolis
3.Balitimore(though wish illness hadn't been involved)
4.Boston before the actual conference started
5.T turned 18 and moved out

Worst of 2008
1.My son raped somebody
2.I gained weight
3.My pipes froze
4.My son went to Iraq
5.Watching my mom lose her memory

Huh?
1.All the teachers in Mo caught dating students
2.Schools in Mo don't teach writing or think it's needed
3.School considers 46% passing
4.Baby's mom's think they don't have to allow dad rights
5.My son drove his truck into a house.

Next year, I hope to be less self absorbed and have a clue about what is actually happening outside my bubble.

Happy New Year!

[kretzklan]

Best of 2008
1. Slumdog Millionaire - saw it on December 31st and LOVED it...
2. Miley Cyrus' Vanity Fair pictures - come on...no one really thought she was THAT sweet, did they???
3. The final leg of the relay at the Olympics...Michael Phelps should be giving Jason Lezak half his earnings!
4. Me taking control in my house!

Worst of 2008
1. The nastiness of everyday people during this election...come on people no matter who got elected, no one was leaving the country and we all have to be ok with it...Don't start to think that you can sway others political beliefs...makes an *** out of you and me...
2. Nancy Pelosi - enough said
3. The bailout...they messed up and I'm pissed that I'm paying for it
4. My children's Attachment disorder

Huh???
1. The Spitz hooker getting a whole hour of airtime on ABC (who cares???)
2. The greatest catch ever in football at the Super Bowl - it could be in best moments, but I'm not a Giants fan and I'm still saying HUH...how did he do that?
3. Plaxico Burress shoting himself in the leg - really???
4. My children thinking that a different result is coming for the exact same action!

[Lylac]

Happy New Year Friends!!

I'm not gonna list stuff outside of my world..kinda copying Lucy here.

The WORST of 2008

#1 Lyla getting raped on the school bus
#2 My son is still not home..but getting closer.

The Best of 2008

#1 Abbie's adoption
#2 Being chosen for JN

The HUH's of 2008

There's too many to list

[mrsred]

My best for 2008

1. Has to be the wonderful friendship I have found here in Yelm
2. Starting up in my direct sales business, getting out of the house, having fun and making money - all plusses.
3. Obama's victory
4. My church

Worst
1. Dad's diagnosis and prognosis. Ending the year this way sucks (he's dying of cancer).
2. The gap between E and "normal" contiinues to expand
3. T continuing to push me and anyone else that cares away.
4. J's poor grades, despite his obvious above average intellect.
5. The crumbling economy
Huh??
1. Sarah Palin
2. School determined that E does not qualify for special services, because when they pull him out of the classroom for individual testing he proves to be quite capable, even though he doesn't produce anything while in the classroom - which I told them ahead of time would be their results.
3. Sarah Palin

[waited2long]

MrsRed!! LOL on Sarah Palin!!! ROTFLMAO!!!

[AmyAnne]

THE BEST of 2008:

1. Reconnecting with my cousins in the area
2. Celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary
3. "Everyone's Birthday" at Cypress Gardens with my kiddo and my two best friends
4. President Elect Barack Obama
5. Seeing my brother

WORST of 2008:

1. Being at odds with my Mom
2. My cousin Liisa's unexpected death
3. The loss of our bunny and our parakeet
4. Gaining weight
5. The economy

HUH?

1. Sarah Palin
2. THe number of abandoned kittens my son has found and brought home
3. The weather here in Philly

[ajjhmf]

The Best

-M learning to talk.
-Getting J's dxs and meds straightened out
-H starting dance classes
-DH successfully avoiding back surgery with physical therapy
-J's school and their understanding of my son and letting us change classes


The Worst

-J hitting bottom on the wellbutrin in June
-M's constant screaming because he couldn't communicate
-My dad's trip down the rabbit hole over Christmas
-Fighting with J's original 3rd grade teacher
-Learning that J would continue to fall behind his peers despite his and our efforts


HUH?

-Sarah Palin
-The bailouts

[momraine]

Ok I will try too.

The best:
-My sister and her daughters moving out, Which was like a raise for us to be back to only supporting 6 people.
-S getting his first job and being good at it!
-Molefest
- our new church
-M making progress in the fall
-The whole election. My kids seeing supposed adults namecalling and doing all the things I try to teach them not to do. (both sides!)

The worst
- little sis moving out with her girls, it means they went back to the miserable conditions they were in before, I worry about my neices and the fact that little sis would rather mooch off of people, even changing religions and letting them completely control her life if that's the cost.
- dd failing in school and her self confidence going in the toilet.
-M hitting rock bottom over the summer.
- W's new girlfriend, too manipulative and too possesive and he is very passive and too nice for his own good.

[Yvette]

Best of 2008:
1. My daughter made the Honor Roll for the first time!
2. Surviving Hurricane Ike
3. President Barack Obama

Worst of 2008:
1. My dog is now 14, blind and deaf
2. Hurricane Ike


HUH?
1. What was McCain thinking!
2. Sarah Palin for VP!