In The Year Two Thousand Nine

I'm borrowing this template from a blogger I follow.
(People planning to follow the link above, treat this as an "Adult Content" advisory!)

1. What did you do that you’d never done before?
Flew to the USA. Yahooooooooooo !

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I can't remember making any New Year Resolution. This year's resolution is pretty simple - Loose Weight, Save Some Money and Master The Game!
;)

3. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Happiness, Friends, Companionship, and hopefully, mastery over "The Game"

4. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory?
    March 1 - Dropped my papers at TCS
    Jun 29 - Got On The Flight To New York
    Nov 21 - Nov 29 - Let's just call it my "Holiday In Goa!" week

5. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I hurt my ankle pretty bad, thanks to a game of Volleyball that I went to play. Was limping for 10 days, and it took me about 1.5 months for the pain to ebb away completely and for me to be able to run again.

6. What was the best thing you bought?
My GPS. Don't leave home without it.

7. Where did most of your money go?
Living expenses, paying off my education loan, a little bit of investing here and there, my first car and saving up for an MBA.

8. What did you get really, really excited about?
Flying to the USA on a project assignment ... Finally!!! I've been wanting to do that ever since I joined the IT industry (which started in Jun 2005). It finally came true in Jun 2009.

9. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder?
I don't think I am sad per se, but, I know for a fact that last year around this time - I was happier. Especially because I was surrounded by friends and family, whereas this year, I spent my new years sitting at home and watching "Santosh Subramaniam"

b) thinner or fatter?
Definitelly thinner. Last year this time of the year, I was working out 6 days a week - 2 hours a day. I was buff dadmmit! And this year - I weight 262.5 pounds and am lazy as a sloth and am eating loads of high calorie frozen food cause I'm too damn lazy to cook myself a meal!

c) richer or poorer?
Last year this time - I was around 400,000 INR away from being completely debt free, and this year I'm about 100,000 INR away.
So, yeah, I guess I'm richer this year!
(You gotta loooooooooooooove that USD -> INR conversion rate!)

10. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Hit the gym, socialize, work on my freelancing business.

11. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Procrastinate, Eat junk food.

12. How will you be spending new years?
2009 - I spent it at home.
2010 - (Target) Chilling at some exotic location with some exotic babe!
       (Reality) Since I'll be going to India on vacation at that time, I think I'll be spending it with family.

13. Did you fall in love in 2009?
I think I did. But - as always - It didn't last too long though!
The chain of events in smiley flowchart diagram:
    ;)   =>   :D   =>   =>  B-)   =>   >:)   =>   :P   =>   :(


14. How many one-night stands?
None. Dratz!

15. What was your favorite TV program?
Right now I'm hooked onto "The 70's Show". Finished watching Season 1 & 2. About to start watching Season 3 & 4.

16. What was the best book you read?
Didn't read too many books this year.
(Mental note to self - Need to do more of that this year!)

17. What did you want and get?
I always wanted to get myself a gun, and I got an air-pistol. Next step - once I get my NYC drivers licence - I wanna get myself a shotgun/hunting rifle. Next hunting season, I'm gonna kill me some deer!

18. What did you want and not get?
I wanted to buy myself a Hayabusa. With any luck, I'll buy one of em in 2010.
(Touchwood!)

19. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I was busy shopping and packing for my trip to the US. I just turned 25.

20. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Since I was working as a trainer from Jan - March, I was introduced to the world of wearing a tie to work.
From April - Jul, my then employer, UST Global, required us to wear ties to work.
From Jul - Dec, since I was at the client location, I had to wear very nice clothes (no ties thankfully!)
So, in short, my fashion sense in 2009, was crisp, formal and all business.

21. What kept you sane?
The thought that tomorrow is going to be a better day than yesterday and today.

22. What political issue stirred you the most?
Obama's anti-H1B stance. It pissed the crap out of me!

23. Who was the best new person you met?
Brian Sparks - My roomie. Thanks to him, I've learnt how my car works, and also some quick-fixes that could save me some money in the future.
Audrey - A total sweetheart of a lady, who's been nothing but nice to me since I met her. God bless your soul babe!

24. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
"The person who has the upper hand in any relationship is the one that is least invested in it!"
I heard it in the movie "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past"
And trust me when I say - it's 101% true!