Top 9 of '09

Below are my Top 9 favorite memories.  This is 2009 in review.

1&2.  David's wedding week / New Year's Eve

I've covered David's wedding week and the Jingle Bell in December's Top 5. 

3.  Nidan

I've covered my nidan test and promotion in rather small detail here and here. 

Having had some time to look back, it really seemed to be my last big hurrah with Metamora Martial Arts for the time being.  Aside from only a handful of appearances since the summer, my biggest presence with the program has been virtual. 

I will be back in a limited capacity for the next two months teaching at Riverview, though I'd like to receive some training myself.  Three months over the summer doesn't cut it for me.

I honestly believe if the cost of the Ireland trip wasn't in the way, I would've been more serious about taking up MMA this fall and advanced my martial arts knowledge.  Maybe someday.

It's been disappointing knowing that I won't be receiving much further training myself for the time being.  Teaching will be okay, but I still like to sit back and let somebody else take charge.  I guess 2010 is up for new challenges in that direction.

Nidan has been a nice end of a chapter.  I think it's time to turn the page to a new one.  Sensei Adam?  That's got a nice ring to it.

4.  End of an Era

This year marked the end of an era in the local music scene, as I've already noted. 

I've noticed that due to venue issues and whatnot, I've gone to far less shows than I used to.  There were times in high school where there would be a show to go to every week.  It seems to me I can only make a few badass shows a year now.

2009 also saw other new concert acts for me, which included George Thorogood & The Destroyers, Megadeth, The Gaslight Anthem and Murder By Death (twice). 

5.  Planting the Harvester

July marked the second year in a row that we put on a dumb little wrestling show in the backyard.  This one didn't have quite the magic the first one did, so I'm not too stoked on a repeat.  I think we had anticipated the second one so much it wouldn't live up to our expectations no matter what we did.

However, I still love the creativity of everybody involved.  Sam's green man appearance topped everything, but the marijuana-themed match for the Bud Belt between Scott Stoner, J-Mysterio, Kevin Hash, and first-ever champion The Undertoker was genius too.

The Harvester of Sorrow and Stone Cold Steve Adam are currently tied at 1-1.  If there's a rematch next year, it's going to be ridiculous.

6.  My Birthday

I had honestly forgotten what I did for my birthday this year.  I remembered last year's, but thought it was this year's.

Once I read about it to remember it, my birthday was, to steal a line from Bob, "some bomb-ass shit."  I ate with my family at Aztekita, opened presents, played ultimate frisbee, and went to Buffalo Wild Wings (so it must've been a Tuesday).  Almost every close friend I had in high school reunited for the game of frisbee, so that was sweet. 

7.  Sam's 21st

It was my first time going to Sam's club, as Beau called it, and lo and behold, I was on the house rules: "No Adam Bocklers."  This was in addition to a rule I can't remember, and "Nobody is on a fucking boat."

I'll be prepared to fight the next time I go to his place.  This particular day, Rego met with me with a katana.  On New Year's, David proceeds to get me in a clinch and we grapple.  Be warned, friends of mine, I'm coming with guns loaded at the next party he hosts.

8.  Shift Mgr.

A lot of people hate their job.  So do I, at times, but I've said it before and I'll say it again - it's a nice gig for me, it's relatively easy and I'm hoping it leads to something better.

This was my first full year as a manager.  Lots of times I don't know what I'm doing still.  But there are a lot of fun people I get to work with and a lot of characters that come in; don't get me wrong, there's some real douches I've had the misfortune of getting stuck with.

9.  School

I'd be leaving out a lot if I left school off this list.  I met a lot of cool people this year.  I still think the majority of Bradley students are douchebags, but I've decided to let my guard down this year and have a more open mind to some of the people that attend the school. 

Plus I completed a lot of papers and projects I'm pretty with.