Now that 2010 is finally here, it’s time to take a look back at a the year that was 2009.

GOALS

As regular readers know, I’m a notorious goal-setter. In 2009, my main goals for the year were the completion of my 30 before 30 lists.  Included on the list was the stretch goal to read 52 Books during the year, and to watch 30 “classic” movies that I had never seen.  Unfortunately, my hectic December travel schedule prevented me from accomplishing either goal fully, but I made great strides towards both goals, reading 42 books, and watching 21 of the 30 books I had targeted. Here are the books (in quasi-chronological order):

While I didn’t quite make it to 52, I’m pleased with the results. My prior best for a year was 29 books, set in 2008, so I made a great leap forward. Plus, I have the opportunity to get to 52 again this year, and finally reach that BHAG. I’m always looking for recommendations for good reads – drop me a line if you have any favorites. Some of my favorites from this year include:

• The 4-Hour Workweek. This will undoubtedly be an inspiration for later Lou! Challenges. Some of the main principles are about quality of life, and end purposes behind why we work and ways to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and properly identify the driving forces behind our lifes.
• Laughable Loves. The author of Unbearable Lightness of Being (also a great movie with Daniel Day-Lewis), compiling a few short stories. Kundera’s writing style is different and refreshing, taking real-life broken, fractured, gray-area relationships and putting them in strange landscapes and situations. This collection of stories was published in 1981, but the stories take place in 40′s through 60′s eastern European nations dealing with revolutions and political unrest. Considering I rarely read fiction, this one comes recommended.
• The Cube. A great book to have around at a house party; it is a game of self-discovery and psychology. It’s difficult to explain without ruining the game, but if you need a good coffee-table book, this is a great one.
• Emergency. I already loved Neil Strauss for his book about the underground society of pickup artists, but this one takes a very different path to success. Strauss’s conversational writing style makes for a quick read as you follow his adventures gaining dual citizenship in St. Kitts & Nevis, becoming a survivalist, hunting wildlife, training for CERT designation, and fighting paranoia for the pending end of days.

My movie list began with a comment from a co-worker. “What do you mean you haven’t seen Gone With The Wind?!?!?” She exclaimed. I consulted with friends and family, researched online, and came up with a list of “classic” 30 movies that were considered offensive for me to have never seen. The list is below, with X’d movies getting watched this year.

Strangely, or maybe fittingly, I never made it to Gone With The Wind. I actually had the DVD in my possession from Blockbuster Online… but I had no interest in watching it even then. As the calendar turned to 2010, it made for an easy decision to just send it back. The same thing happenned with English Patient and Life is Beautiful; my interest level just isn’t there. My favorites from this journey included:

• Citizen Kane. Great plot, great acting, great cinematography. It simply didn’t feel like a movie from 69 years ago. Loved it.
• Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. My friends were split on this one; they either loved it or hated it. I had always avoided the film due to an intense distaste for the campy Jim Carrey, so perhaps I went in with low expectations… but this one blew my socks off. Great film; original and captivating. Well acted, engaging, and leaves you thinking, which are always good things.
• Maltese Falcon. I hadn’t realized how many of today’s movie elements came straight from this film. A fun story, very entertaining.
• Network. Didn’t have any expectations going in, but this one blew me away. Loved it.

Least favorites from the group: Fargo (I still don’t see what the big deal was all about with this one), Great Escape (boring, too long, nothing happens, ugh), and A Streetcar Named Desire (just not my subject matter; probably why I don’t want to see Gone With the Wind). Finally… I’m still taken aback by the Exorcist and the ending from Rosemary’s Baby. Wow.

My nomination for best movie of 2009 has to be 500 Days of Summer. Not only was it a great film, it meant a little something extra to me given where I was at in my life. Any time I want to get in a better mood, I watch the dance scene right after they hook up for the first time. Classic.

My second favorite movie of the year has to be Avatar, which is, bar none, the most visually stunning film ever created. If only the plot line wasn’t taken directly from Ferngully…

I’ve also heard that Inglourious Basterds was a great one; I’ll let you know my thoughts after I watch it later today.

My favorite concerts this year include the ridiculous stage at the Georgia Dome for the U2/Muse show, Phoenix at Variety, Dear Hunter at the Bowery Ballroom with Clay & Emi, The Handsome Furs and their swaety craziness on stage, hanging out with the Heartless Bastards in Atlanta, and The Counting Crows/Franti/Augustana show with great friends.

My favorite album this year was likely Metric – Fantasies.

I realize that I will lose all credibility after this comment, but I really like the new Pearl Jam single, and My Girls from Animal Collective. And not only do I hate Animal Collective, I also hate people who tell me how much I should like Animal Collective… so I guess that means I hate myself.

Favorite football breakout – Ray Rice.

Favorite detriment to my social life – the advent of the Superleague.

Favorite good news in this economy – I still have a job.

Favorite Month – December (Cincinnati for Christmas, Amelia Island with Dad, and Cancun trip)

Favorite unexpected storyline: John Wall / Coach Cal / UK.  As my friend told me, “John Wall has made my life 10% better.”