So, 2018 is almost over...

[Prowler]

Another year is coming to an end. We'll be entering 2019 in less than 3 weeks and we'll thus be getting very close the end of the current decade. Also, 2030 is closer nowadays than 2000 is. Crazy, huh?

It's not over yet, but how has 2018 been for you on a personal level? It's been an average year for me. Much better than 2017, but not as fun or memorable as 2015 and 2016 were.
I've turned 28 this year and thus am officially in my late 20s and getting ready to enter my 30s. Strange to think about it.

I travelled by airplane again for the first time since 2005 this year. That was cool.

Now, as for the world... well yeah politics and conflicts as usual. I'd rather not waste energy dissecting this now.

In the video game industry there's lots of interesting stuff happening, especially regarding the Nintendo Switch. But I won't buy it this year yet. It's pricey!

There was a World Cup this year. Those are always memorable, but Portugal didn't impress much.

Another thing to note is how hot the weather was this year. Hottest summer ever where live with temperatures reaching and surpassing 40C! And we even had a hurricane in our country for the first time ever. Ouch!

2018 has felt like a transitional year for me personally and for a lot of things I see around me. I dunno if I'll remember this year much in the future.

I'm ready to say goodbye to 2018 and welcoming 2019, to be honest. Even if 2018 wasn't a bad year for me.

What about you? How would you sum up 2018?

[neatoman]

What about you? How would you sum up 2018?

Stan Lee is dead, Steve Ditko is dead, Harlan Ellison is dead, Burt Reynolds is dead, Stephen Hillenburg is dead, Mort Walker is dead.

[Prowler]

Stan Lee is dead, Steve Ditko is dead, Harlan Ellison is dead, Burt Reynolds is dead, Stephen Hillenburg is dead, Mort Walker is dead.

Well, I didn't know half those names until they died and I haven't really watched or read anything they worked on, so to me their deaths didn't hit me hard like they did to some other people. So I can' say those are the first things I think of when I think of 2018.

Anthony Bourdain's death was kind of sad and shocking, though.

[Andrew NDB]

My daughter stopped being wowed with little kid things and now says things like, "I'm not naive anymore, Dad!" Sad! Shot another movie. Had (have) the pleasure of seeing another TMNT book come together. Helped a couple of friends in some dark times of theirs. Celebrated with some friends in their really good times. Beyond that, sort of a deep disappointment in our cultural now that I try not to think about too much beyond punchy debate/discussion.

[Vegita-San]

nephew got born and i seem to be one of his favorite people. other than that, same old can't get ahead in life crap.

[Leo656]

They're all mostly the same once you hit a certain age.

Work-wise, it's gone well. I'd have to look at my statements, but I may have earned more money this year than ever; still far from rich, but I cashed some of my biggest checks ever this year. And, almost 8 years with the same employer is apparently a fairly big deal nowadays.

Wrestling-wise, it's whatever. The group I'm with now seems to like me a lot, but it's a small crew and likely to stay that way. I have nuclear, "If I ever see you again I'm gonna curb-stomp you in front of your kids" heat with a few guys I used to work with, so I purposely removed myself from working at several places, because the fake-ass rasslin' business isn't worth me going to jail over. Shame, because I used to make good money in a few of those towns, but it just isn't worth it. I'm retiring soon, so f*ck 'em. Life gets really simple once you realize you don't HAVE to be around people you don't get along with.

Health-wise, it's okay. Neck is shot. Fusion surgery is a possibility, it sounds like. Not looking forward to that, but at least it's not a "right now" concern. Still, that was probably the lowlight of my year.

After 10 years I finally cleared out my storage unit at the warehouse I used to work, which is good in that I finally have all my stuff in one place again, including that massive beast of a comic book collection, but going through it all has been a huge chore. I was finally able to start working on a home library and getting everything organized the way I want it, though, so that's good.

I think the best part of 2018 was all the video game time I got in. Gaming is one of the most important things in my life, and this year I got a ton of stuff done. The first half, I mostly focused on playing stuff I'd never played before, and a few things I hadn't played in forever. End of Summer, I got addicted to Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker, which pushed me to finally get around to the "play the entire series in story order" run I've been talking about doing for years. That's probably going to take me well into January, at this rate, but that's fine.

It's been what it's been. Definitely eventful. As I was saying to one of my clients today, time seems to fly by very fast, until you look back and realize everything that happened in between. For me, it was a decent year. I mostly judge how "good" a year was by the size of my paychecks, so this one was nothing to complain about. Hopefully that continues into 2019.

[Utrommaniac]

Barely got anywhere with the degree I got last year, nor had any success finding work anywhere.

But, I at least started something with my internship in Ohio.


Also, two of my cats died.


I did have a dating relationship end for the better though. We're still friends, but we were no longer in a position where dating was a good idea, especially for his mental health.

[Vegita-San]

I did have a dating relationship end for the better though. We're still friends, but we were no longer in a position where dating was a good idea, especially for his mental health.

I'm still friends with the person I think got away. Sadly we just met too early in life and I don't think she was ready for the dating world early in high school, and was just humoring me along, heh. figures though. at least three other people in HS found life long partners and are still together this day. Just my luck it didn't work out the same way :) Now she's married with two kids and i'm still single cause i don't get out enough to meet people out of their job...

sigh.

[ZariusTwo]

I'm still friends with someone I tried to ask out a couple of years ago, she turned me down, but with the way we interact and get on we might as well be married:D

As for 2018...nice enough year, though I don't get out half as much as I used to due to ever amounting anxiety issues. Dan Slott no longer writes Spider-Man (thank god), Nick Spencer salvaged ASM and redeemed himself for Secret Empire, Doctor Who managed to not be as bad as people claim, but was still offensively problematic and mediocre.

Harlan Ellison, wrestler Vader, Stan and Ditko all dying was the bummer. Bendis taking over Superman had the usual rollercoaster results but I've found myself liking it more than others.

Wrestling took it's biggest nosedive in recent memory this year in terms of ratings and overall product, with the mayhem peaking with the disastrous Crown Jewel promotion and Roman Reigns receiving cancer for all his hard work. Aquaman was a solid film. Spidergeddon hasn't been half as depressing as Spider-Verse (the comic, not the movie) was. Brexit still hangs over our heads and we nearly lost our Prime Minister this week in a no-confidence vote.

[Vegita-San]

I'm still friends with someone I tried to ask out a couple of years ago, she turned me down, but with the way we interact and get on we might as well be married:D .

that's kind of how mine goes too. we even like the same things and think the same damn way. hence why I Think she's the one that got away, if I ever had a chance in the first place heh.

[Leo656]

Smart people stay single anyway. You're fine, guys.

A relationship is an expectation society implants into you. It is by no means a prerequisite for happiness. After a very short time, all relationships devolve into a simple arrangement of convenience, with two mostly-content people nonetheless sacrificing huge chunks of their own individual happiness because of what's "easiest" for everyone. And often, that breeds long-term resentment anyway. Most long-term "successful" relationships are just two people who can barely stand each other, but don't want the hassle of dividing possessions or struggling to pay bills on their own. It's a pragmatic exercise in tolerance, at that point. Definitely not "love" or romance.

If you're surviving just fine on your own, your safest bet is to keep it that way. Especially if you're a dude; you have NO IDEA what chicks are capable of post-menopause. I've seen and heard horrific things from friends and family who never saw it coming, but all had the same refrain: "I never should have gotten involved."

Relationships, to me, are like smoking. It's a personal choice that will do very little good in the long run, but will take years off your life and leave you broke. And in both cases, most people will swear they never should have started in the first place. So, that seems like all around good advice.

Meanwhile, yes, I've been with the same person for almost 19 years; sew that into whatever you like.

Anyways, don't sweat it, man. If nothing else, your money and your time is yours alone. Call that a huge win.
---------------

Zarius: How DARE you imply wrestling isn't at a huge peak. Don't you listen to Stephanie? WOMEN'S REVOLUTION! Things are better than ever, you sexist pig! :lol:

No, yeah, they've been sh*t for decades. I haven't watched hardly anything, but it sure sounded like a lousy year.
-------------------

EDIT: I guess I should mention, "2018 was the year I finally came back to this forum after much pleading from many people, only to be thoroughly reminded why I left in the first place."

Feel free to pour extra champagne for New Years; I promise, you won't be seeing much of me in 2019. Good for all of us.

[Powder]

Bretty gud.

[Prowler]

They're all mostly the same once you hit a certain age.


Yeah, I've been noticed that since the end of university. Well, been kinda feeling that since I finished HS, actually. Once you become an adult, the years slowly begin blurring in together. But no longer dividing years by school years is kinda strange to adjust to at first. I can still divide them into football seasons, though, since they start in late August in most of Europe and end in May.

I'm still friends with someone I tried to ask out a couple of years ago, she turned me down, but with the way we interact and get on we might as well be married:D

As for 2018...nice enough year, though I don't get out half as much as I used to due to ever amounting anxiety issues. Dan Slott no longer writes Spider-Man (thank god), Nick Spencer salvaged ASM and redeemed himself for Secret Empire, Doctor Who managed to not be as bad as people claim, but was still offensively problematic and mediocre.

Harlan Ellison, wrestler Vader, Stan and Ditko all dying was the bummer. Bendis taking over Superman had the usual rollercoaster results but I've found myself liking it more than others.

Wrestling took it's biggest nosedive in recent memory this year in terms of ratings and overall product, with the mayhem peaking with the disastrous Crown Jewel promotion and Roman Reigns receiving cancer for all his hard work. Aquaman was a solid film. Spidergeddon hasn't been half as depressing as Spider-Verse (the comic, not the movie) was. Brexit still hangs over our heads and we nearly lost our Prime Minister this week in a no-confidence vote.

I thought Vader had forgotten Vader died this year and not last year.

[Vegita-San]

Smart people stay single anyway. You're fine, guys.

maybe, but it sure gets boring having no one to do anything with. would love to see rob paulsen in ny heh.

[Leo656]

Is it a genuine transportation problem? Or more of a, "This would be more fun with someone else?" kinda thing?

Take it from a certified Old Goat: The latter isn't true. My photo albums are FULL of pictures of me having some terrific experiences, in which my biggest regret is that I'm not the only one in the picture. Lots of people I haven't talked to in years and never will again, hopefully, and while I'm still glad I went to those places and did those things, the fact I had to share them taints those memories pretty thoroughly.

I've said this before, but it bears repeating: You can't live for other people, or depend on them to make you happy. Not friends, relatives, relationship partners, whatever. Your happiness is all on you. All others betray. If you wanna go somewhere or do something, then find a way. But don't depend on someone else to facilitate it, because they may not, and don't count on having someone to share the experience with making it "better", because after that person's not in your life anymore, you're not even gonna be able to enjoy the memory.

Just worry about yourself. That's the single best bit of advice anyone can ever get.

[Prowler]

I'd say it depends. There's definitely tons of unhappy people together just because they're either os used to it by now or because they just can't bear the thought of being alone.

Human beings are social creatures by nature and it makes sense for them to search for partners to mate and share life with. But a lot of people get into relationships for wrong reasons and it's no wonder most relationships fail. Plus, tons of people fall in love with each other when they're very young. There's a reason why most HS couples don't last very long. Also, if you meet your bf/gf when you're both 20 and start dating... from then to your 30s-40s you can both change a lot as can your lives, and who knows if by then you still love each other. I'd not be surprised if this was the cause of many breakups as well. A 20 and a 35-40 year old are rather different in terms of goals and personalities and priorities, and it's possible you might grow up to realise you've been with the wrong person. Otherwise divorce rates wouldn't be so high in industrialised nations nowadays.

I obviously can't tell by the couples I know and see outside if they're 100% happy or to what extent they fight, since they obviously don't share those relationship road bumps on FB.

Back to the "wrong reasons to get into relationships" bit, honestly I think it's mostly about the sex for younger people. If humans generally didn't enjoy kissing and having sex nearly no one would get in romantic relationships.There's a reason why we notice someone's physical appearance at first before noticing their personality flaws. Once a relationship gets past the honey moon phase that's when the problems begin and suddenly, your gf being hot as hell with a firm ass and a pair of tig ol' bitties isn't good enough to prevent arguments with her anymore.:lol:

The spark just disappears often in relationships beyond a certain point, I guess. I do wonder how much long term couples have to argue about and how much of their egos they need to put aside in order to make decades long relationships work.

[Leo656]

Either way, if "I'm single" is the biggest "problem" in someone's life, that person needs better priorities. If everything else is where it should be, then just be happy you're winning.

I tell people this a lot, but they mostly don't listen. Putting one's own self-interest ahead of all else is the simplest and cleanest path to happiness. Waiting for friends, family, and/or a relationship partner to be your "missing piece" is indicative of a much larger problem, usually that being the person doesn't love themselves enough.

To that I say, a little narcissism goes a long way, and once you truly love yourself, you don't need anyone else. The rest takes care of itself.

I'd like to see more people happy, which is why I'd also like to see them pine over relationships less. If the rent's paid and you're eating well, it doesn't matter if you're doing it alone, you're ahead of a lot of folks. Just be glad.

[Prowler]

Either way, if "I'm single" is the biggest "problem" in someone's life, that person needs better priorities. If everything else is where it should be, then just be happy you're winning.

I tell people this a lot, but they mostly don't listen. Putting one's own self-interest ahead of all else is the simplest and cleanest path to happiness. Waiting for friends, family, and/or a relationship partner to be your "missing piece" is indicative of a much larger problem, usually that being the person doesn't love themselves enough.

To that I say, a little narcissism goes a long way, and once you truly love yourself, you don't need anyone else. The rest takes care of itself.

I'd like to see more people happy, which is why I'd also like to see them pine over relationships less. If the rent's paid and you're eating well, it doesn't matter if you're doing it alone, you're ahead of a lot of folks. Just be glad.
Oh yeah, that I agree with. I dunno why so many people feel sorry for single people, tbh. And I notice a lot people think that being single is only good if you're having one night stands and having short-lived hookups on a regular basis.

I might feel a bit envious if I see a former classmate or a friend in a happy relationship... but once babies start popping out I suddenly stop being envious and consider myself fortunate for not being a father :lol:

[sdp]

Lot's of change, not all goals were met but plenty others were. Can't wait to see what 2019 brings but I already loaded it up with stuff to make the most out of it and not let it go to waste! I learned a few years ago that by setting up the things you want to achieve each year you end up doing more than if you don't, even if you don't get to them all, it's really made each year be more rewarding at the end of it.

[IndigoErth]

Middle of the road. Better than some, no worse than others.

Only real main event in it is the loss of a job (and getting to see what dealing with a store liquidation is like -- never again) and the fortune of finding another pretty quickly; one that I actually largely like and had originally tried to get (but didn't) back in 2015. So I'm grateful that it not only worked out this time, but, since I'm a vendor/retail merchandiser for a company and openings are limited, the timing of an position being available close to home (which is kind of required) sort of made it meant to be. And I don't normally luck out like that.


getting very close the end of the current decade.
This hurts in an increased way more than most of you can understand. Unless you're at least in your 20s and your current age also happens to end with a 9. The end of a personal decade.

No, I'm not ready for 2018 to end... Will cling tooth and nail to its every last second...and then the first roughly 111 days of 2019. :ohwell: lol

[Leo656]

Oh yeah, that I agree with. I dunno why so many people feel sorry for single people, tbh. And I notice a lot people think that being single is only good if you're having one night stands and having short-lived hookups on a regular basis.

I might feel a bit envious if I see a former classmate or a friend in a happy relationship... but once babies start popping out I suddenly stop being envious and consider myself fortunate for not being a father :lol:

Oh, man, my FB feed is the sh*ts. Lots of single people lamenting the fact that they're single, and even more parents shoving their kids in everyone's face. The rest is all "wrestling people", and you know how THAT goes.

The best are my relatives; all they do is fight with their partners and yell at their kids, which they didn't want, but of COURSE on social media they're "happy" and loving life. :roll: Sometimes I wanna "out" them, just to be a dick. Like, "Remember all the times you told me how you wished you'd never gotten married? Remember when you said those kids are your single biggest regret, and especially the times you said you wished you were dead because being a parent is just that much torture?"

Instead I just chuckle, and scroll down. I don't "Like" any of those "Look at my wonderful family and how happy we are!" posts because they're lies. Obviously, they're not gonna air our family's dirty laundry in public, nor should they. But I have to laugh whenever people I know for a fact are miserable put on a fake show just so other people will like them or whatever. It's so phony and pathetic.

Frankly I can't see having kids as anything but slow-motion suicide. I hated kids when I WAS one. Forget about now.

[ZariusTwo]

Feel free to pour extra champagne for New Years; I promise, you won't be seeing much of me in 2019. Good for all of us.

https://zaredit.files.wordpress.com/2018/12/1544981053307.png?w=450

[Leo656]

https://memegenerator.net/img/instances/67891732/hes-fat.jpg

Love you brutha.

[Prowler]

Oh, man, my FB feed is the sh*ts. Lots of single people lamenting the fact that they're single, and even more parents shoving their kids in everyone's face. The rest is all "wrestling people", and you know how THAT goes.

The best are my relatives; all they do is fight with their partners and yell at their kids, which they didn't want, but of COURSE on social media they're "happy" and loving life. :roll: Sometimes I wanna "out" them, just to be a dick. Like, "Remember all the times you told me how you wished you'd never gotten married? Remember when you said those kids are your single biggest regret, and especially the times you said you wished you were dead because being a parent is just that much torture?"

Instead I just chuckle, and scroll down. I don't "Like" any of those "Look at my wonderful family and how happy we are!" posts because they're lies. Obviously, they're not gonna air our family's dirty laundry in public, nor should they. But I have to laugh whenever people I know for a fact are miserable put on a fake show just so other people will like them or whatever. It's so phony and pathetic.

Frankly I can't see having kids as anything but slow-motion suicide. I hated kids when I WAS one. Forget about now.

Tbh I don't see any of my FB friends lamenting being single. Maybe because I'm younger and most people I have added on FB are between the ages of 21-28 and thus the bitterness of approaching middle age alone hasn't struck them yet? :lol: What I do see at times, however, are decent looking girls bragging about being single and not needing a man. Then their closer female friends circlejerk with them about that. I have a feeling that's code for "I'm single and available. Feel free to hit on me" aimed at their male friends... or at least the ones they'd like to be hit on by. :trazz:

[Leo656]

Well, to be completely open - and I say this "with love" - a LOT of those "Why am I single?" types on my FB page could stand to hire a personal trainer and/or get an entirely new head grafted onto their neck. That would solve the problem for like 85% of them, male or female.

Not sure if anyone's let them know that that is, indeed, a big chunk of why they're single. I know I haven't. Not MY job. :trazz:

[Prowler]

Well, to be completely open - and I say this "with love" - a LOT of those "Why am I single?" types on my FB page could stand to hire a personal trainer and/or get an entirely new head grafted onto their neck. That would solve the problem for like 85% of them, male or female.

Not sure if anyone's let them know that that is, indeed, a big chunk of why they're single. I know I haven't. Not MY job. :trazz:

USA has a high obese population, though. Surely many marry each other, no? :lol:. And also, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Ok, that was kinda mean. But anyway, I've seen COUNTLESS of couples where one of the parties is quite better looking than the other one, so I don't think looks always play into that. Just like there's people who complain about still being virgins at the age of 24(mostly guys) and then they share their photos and often either look like average dudes you run into everyday or even surprisingly decent looking guys. But due to lack of self-confidence, friend/social circles and courage to approach girls or knowing how to talk to them; they end up in a situation like that. And then only realise it by the time it's a bit late and most people they see are in long-term relationships.

I more often see good looking chicks with plain or ugly looking guys than the other way around. Everyone is shallow, but I think women are more likely to overlook a guy's not so impressive physical looks as long as he makes them laugh, has confidence and is successful. Hence why so many ugly male singers, actors and athletes get quality women. And I'm not even talking about gold diggers. Some of those women genuinely seem attracted to them.

I know a guy in HS who was short, fat and already balding by the age of 16. He was very popular and got a lot of girls. And no, he wasn't rich.

As for obese and ugly chicks... yeah, they have it worse than ugly and obese guys overall, I'd say.

[Leo656]

That's certainly a theory. :lol:

[Prowler]

That's certainly a theory. :lol:

Well, I might be wrong. Perhaps even gross looking women have a desperate guy or two fawning over them, dunno :trazz:

[Vegita-San]

Is it a genuine transportation problem? Or more of a, "This would be more fun with someone else?" kinda thing?

Take it from a certified Old Goat: The latter isn't true. My photo albums are FULL of pictures of me having some terrific experiences, in which my biggest regret is that I'm not the only one in the picture. Lots of people I haven't talked to in years and never will again, hopefully, and while I'm still glad I went to those places and did those things, the fact I had to share them taints those memories pretty thoroughly.

I've said this before, but it bears repeating: You can't live for other people, or depend on them to make you happy. Not friends, relatives, relationship partners, whatever. Your happiness is all on you. All others betray. If you wanna go somewhere or do something, then find a way. But don't depend on someone else to facilitate it, because they may not, and don't count on having someone to share the experience with making it "better", because after that person's not in your life anymore, you're not even gonna be able to enjoy the memory.

Just worry about yourself. That's the single best bit of advice anyone can ever get.

didn't mean to drag this thread off track :)..

more of a 'would just be better shared' type of thing. I can get there, but then i'm there all by myself. sometimes that's fine. like at a movie. other events are best shared, IMHO.

I can totally understand the other part of your comment though.
I took the wrong girl to her first convention.....and it was ALSO the first time I was wearing a pretty expensive costume/prop. about the only time I did it. first it didn't go well because I emailed instead of called telling I was around, and THEN she started getting impatient in the photo line, and I told her to go roam around abit and I'd call when it got moving. TWO Friggen minutes after that, the line handler called for the photo session I had, and there was no time to call her back. by the time she did come back, she had had enough of her first con and left. that was it with that heh. this is how my luck in life goes :).

Now, everytime I look at that photo, I think of how badly that day went... and i felt horrible that it ruined the experience to boot.

but, I still think if you find the right person, it's more fun to share the experience :).

[Leo656]

Well, I might be wrong. Perhaps even gross looking women have a desperate guy or two fawning over them, dunno :trazz:

Well, maybe not desperate so much as "pragmatic". Some people are wise enough to recognize that they're not going to do any better, and a good personality can make up for lack of looks while the opposite isn't generally true long-term.

didn't mean to drag this thread off track :)..

but, I still think if you find the right person, it's more fun to share the experience :).

HALF-right, Prowler! Someone said it, but not anyone who we expected. :lol: (Inside joke, Vegeta, don't worry about it)

I do kinda agree. I mean, a lot of those experiences were with my wife, and definitely more fulfilling having been shared. At the same time, when we fight, there's always that lingering thought of, "If this ultimately doesn't last, I'm gonna have to get rid of a whole lot of things, and avoid ever thinking about them again." And that just sucks.

[Prowler]

Well, maybe not desperate so much as "pragmatic". Some people are wise enough to recognize that they're not going to do any better, and a good personality can make up for lack of looks while the opposite isn't generally true long-term.

Good point.

Anyway, am I the only one who doesn't really do new year's resolutions? I mean, if I want to change things I don't need to wait until the next year to do them. Plus, I might not even know or think of doing something in 2019 atm, but might find something new in April or something. So yeah...

[Leo656]

No, I hear ya man. It's like I tell folks at the gym: "If you're waiting for the calendar to change before you start self-improving, you're already falling behind."

I feel like it's one of those things people say just to FEEL like they're doing good, without really doing anything. Since "Nobody REALLY keeps their New Year's Resolutions", after all, you're off the hook if (when) you don't stick to it. But you still get the pat on the head for "good intentions". It's stupid.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

I have to chime in on the relationship bit here. I know some feel they are a waste, and better off without, but my own personal feeling/experience is that I have NEVER regretted mine, am far happier in mine than I ever was before we were together, and we have had, in over 21 years together, a total of FIVE "big fights". A few minor tiffs, but most were just little bickering arguments that blew over in minutes. Differences of opinion mostly. But even with all the problems we've had- mostly health-related, and a few financial issues- we've never "fallen out of love", and are as close and happy together now as we were in the beginning. Closer, even, given that we both know the other is there for each other no matter what. That's what REAL love is all about, and how it should be.

As for the rest, I fully believe that happiness is a personal thing, no you shouldn't "rely" on another for it, but if you find "the right one" to share it WITH, happiness is multiplied. Happiness is about what you want out of life and whether you have that and who you choose to share it with (if anyone), not what you HAVE, or how successful you are. Kids, even, are not a measure of happiness, unless that's what you really want. I am glad I had one, and for where/how she is now, but I would not go through that again, and had never intended to in the first place, but I am still happy, that she is here, and that she is a part of us that will live on.

[Andrew NDB]

Most obese people aren't attracted to obese people. Many also have a distorted view of self.

Working out takes care of a lot of things all by itself.

I'm trying to get "big" myself. I've been pumping iron since the spring.

[Utrommaniac]

I actually recently got out of a relationship last week. And while he isn't do great (even though it was his idea and has gone into a deeper emotional spinout because of it), I couldn't be more relieved. Because his own mental health was starting to weigh down on me in a way that was too much for me to handle as a girlfriend.


So it's probably going to be another couple years before I think I get back into another relationship, because I need to sort my own sh!t out.

[Andrew NDB]

I actually recently got out of a relationship last week. And while he isn't do great (even though it was his idea and has gone into a deeper emotional spinout because of it), I couldn't be more relieved. Because his own mental health was starting to weigh down on me in a way that was too much for me to handle as a girlfriend.

Definitely have to cut your losses at a certain point.

it's probably going to be another couple years before I think I get back into another relationship, because I need to sort my own sh!t out.

Two years is quite the wait to get back in the game. I could see a 3 month retreat... but 2 years? Sheesh.

[Utrommaniac]

I went at least six years after my first relationship ended. Don't even have an idea of how long it could be before I try again, but I'd at least like to be living on my own first.



Maybe I shouldn't be dating guys I knew as a kid...

[DarkFell]

2018 has been what it has been. I found a decent job that I'm doing well at and, I decided to keep two kitties that were orphened by their mother last year.

It's been a mixture of contentment, stress, more learning, and other what-not for me.

I won't be be sad to see 2018 depart.

[Vegita-San]

other topic continued in everything else forum :).

as for 2018, i won't be sorry to see this one go. I'm tired of every weekend being rained out.

[Anarchistguy]

Maybe I shouldn't be dating guys I knew as a kid...

Precisely!!!

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Depends on the guy. Mr D and I knew each other and were in the same circle of friends in high school, but didn't actually get together until about a year after we graduated. Neither if us had really considered the other as a possible mate, yet here we are, decades lated, still together. Life is funny that way sometimes....

[Utrommaniac]

My thing was I knew this guy in third grade and we were fairly good friends. Then he moved near Houston. Then moved back in high school, but we didn't really reconnect until college.

And his self-esteem was a garbage fire on top of another garbage fire. Still is, but a little less so. And that's part of what made him realize we needed to be just friends.



The other guy I dated, I had dated all through middle school and high school. It wasn't until I was at least two semesters into college that I realized that we were not compatible at all and I'm super glad to be rid of him.

[Prowler]

Interesting story. Come to think of it, I don't think I know any couple with a similar story. Meeting someone when you're a kid but then meeting them years later when you're both adults and start dating seems a bit awkward to me. I don't think I'd do it.

I do know like two couples that have been together since their teens, though. One of them has been together since 8th or 9th grade even and both are 28 years old now. Must be tough, though, people can change A LOT from the age of 14 to 18 and from 18 to 25 as well. So that couple really is an exception that confirms the rule of "HS couples don't last forever".

Anyway, back to the topic itself, I still remember when 2018 was a very distant year. I remember watching live FIFA announcing the host nations of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups back in 2011, I believe? And me thinking they were both very far away still; but meanwhile the 2018 WC has gone by already. Am I'm sure 2022 will be here before we know it.:lol: :tlol:

Euro 2016 was over two years ago already and I'm already mentally preparing myself for Euro 2020. :trazz:

This decade has been... how should I put it? The decade of nostalgia, hipsters, identity politics, social networking, the burst of the bubble(it began in 2007-2008 technically but many places only began feeling it around 2010 or so), streaming services that changed our media consumption habits forever, etc.

In this decade, I also noticed the world became more homogeneous in terms of culture. Social networks and such made contact and spread of ideas between different people even easier and European cities are getting more plastic, expensive and gentrified. Honestly, if this is the future, every developed nations being the same and also getting more americanised then that's sad. :roll:

Globalisation only serves corporations at the end of the day.

[IMJ]

There is some really interesting personal stuff from everyone in this thread. Things that really mirror the concept of "an ending and a beginning" of a new year that are reflective in the many posts by people here. I appreciate reading a lot of this. I've had my own ups and downs too, but I think the thing that we are all always striving for is just to continue to move forward and grow.

I hate to draw this comparison, given the recent inexplicable actions by the fed, but life is like the stock market. It's full of these hills followed by dark valley's, but you hope that in the long run it continues to climb upward and that the next valley is still higher than where the last valley was.

Some of you guys write stuff I click with immediately and others don't, but that aside, I hope that the next year is a great one for all of us. Truth.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

I've spent a majority of my life wanting someone special in my life. This year, it feels different. I just decided to stop caring as I was tired of trying too hard to show interest in someone because at that point, I realized that I would even settle for just anyone and that's the worst thing you can do. I guess I've just been focusing on myself and getting my life together so I can be financially stable. I would love to own my own house one day despite how expensive it is. But as far as relationships go, I don't care about this at the moment but if someone comes I'll leave the door open.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Anyway, back to the topic itself, I still remember when 2018 was a very distant year. I remember watching live FIFA announcing the host nations of both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups back in 2011, I believe? And me thinking they were both very far away still; but meanwhile the 2018 WC has gone by already. Am I'm sure 2022 will be here before we know it.:lol: :tlol:

It was announced on 2 December 2010

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9250612.stm

[Prowler]

It was announced on 2 December 2010

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/9250612.stm

Oh, I could swear it was in the middle of 2011. Weird. Memory playing tricks on me, then.

[IMJ]

I've spent a majority of my life wanting someone special in my life. This year, it feels different. I just decided to stop caring as I was tired of trying too hard to show interest in someone because at that point, I realized that I would even settle for just anyone and that's the worst thing you can do. I guess I've just been focusing on myself and getting my life together so I can be financially stable. I would love to own my own house one day despite how expensive it is. But as far as relationships go, I don't care about this at the moment but if someone comes I'll leave the door open.

How old are you, LTLB?

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Oh, I could swear it was in the middle of 2011. Weird. Memory playing tricks on me, then.

It was the drawing of the qualifying games for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. It was in late-July 2011.

https://www.goal.com/en-gb/live-update/346/fifa-2014-world-cup-preliminary-draw

[Prowler]

You know, it's funny. Many people, myself included, sometimes complain or say that things don't seem to change much, but looking back at the past 8 years, things sure have changed a lot throughout this decade. It's like time and events go by and happen faster outside of our mind than in it. Then, by the time we realise those changes, it's already a bit too late.

[IndigoErth]

I've spent a majority of my life wanting someone special in my life. This year, it feels different. I just decided to stop caring as I was tired of trying too hard to show interest in someone because at that point, I realized that I would even settle for just anyone and that's the worst thing you can do. I guess I've just been focusing on myself and getting my life together so I can be financially stable. I would love to own my own house one day despite how expensive it is. But as far as relationships go, I don't care about this at the moment but if someone comes I'll leave the door open.
Kind of spooky how this echos exactly the same perspective I've come to over the last number of years. Hopefully you're younger and will find those things in your life in due time.



Definitely one of the things I've learned, that life just is what it is and it's not always going to turn out how we wanted, but there's really only two choices... a person can let themselves be miserable over what they're lacking, or find and focus on the happier parts of life. And personally I'd rather not be miserable.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

streaming services that changed our media consumption habits forever, etc.

I'm tankfull scheudled television was finally killed off for good. These days, I mostly watch live broadcastings of sports competitions as scheudled television.

[LeotheLateBloomer]

How old are you, LTLB?

31, birthday's in May. Born the year of the FW toon.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Now, 2018 is over.

[Prowler]

Indeed. It was an average year. Not too good, not too bad.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

In this decade, I also noticed the world became more homogeneous in terms of culture. Social networks and such made contact and spread of ideas between different people even easier and European cities are getting more plastic, expensive and gentrified. Honestly, if this is the future, every developed nations being the same and also getting more americanised then that's sad. :roll:

Globalisation only serves corporations at the end of the day.

I like American culture, because its mixes elements from all over Earth. The only similair countries (historical) are Australia, Canada and New Zealand and, to some degrees, the United Kingdom. South Africa would probably also have been if it wasn't for the National Party.

American culture has always been popular in Sweden, but customs and culture from Canada (ice hockey), China (rice), Germany (Advent star, Christmas tree), Italy (Lucia, pizza), Japan (manga), Mexico (taco), the Netherlands (Santa Claus), the UK (pop music, soccer) and many, many many other countries have been adopted too.

These days, any custom can be easily adopted in any country. Can you imagine how boring countries would be without that?

[Prowler]

I like American culture, because its mixes elements from all over Earth. The only similair countries (historical) are Australia, Canada and New Zealand and, to some degrees, the United Kingdom. South Africa would probably also have been if it wasn't for the National Party.

American culture has always been popular in Sweden, but customs and culture from Canada (ice hockey), China (rice), Germany (Advent star, Christmas tree), Italy (Lucia, pizza), Japan (manga), Mexico (taco), the Netherlands (Santa Claus), the UK (pop music, soccer) and many, many many other countries have been adopted too.

These days, any custom can be easily adopted in any country. Can you imagine how boring countries would be without that?
Not all elements and stuff is good. I don't feel like extrapolating on which, because that'd mean derailing the thread into possible political discourse.

Besides, no culture is as hegemonic as American culture is. Even the UK and Japan don't seem like they're forced upon us as much.

And some European countries are more americanised than others. Germanic speaking nations seem to be quite americanised.

Countries like mine, Italy, Greece, France and Spain; while obviously we get American content and such, their culture and such is still somewhat alien to us. The way their society and culture is is WAY different than our ways of life and our cultures. In Portugal's case, we're still a quite traditional country. And the fact we weren't in WW2 also meant no Marshall Plan and no highly significant influences from American culture and society in our culture, society, legal system and architecture like countries like Germany got. Ofc we get their pop culture, but so does everyone else. It's simply what it is. Doesn't really influence our way of life and our culture. We also love Japanese animation and our country certainly doesn't feel Japanese/Asian at all.

You mentioned sports, well we only like football here and then futsal(indoor football) and roller hockey. No one plays ice hockey here, baseball or american football. And the ones who do are prolly like 0.00001% of our population.

Interesting you also mention food. In Portugal we're very proud of our cuisine in general and most Portuguese people will tell you their country has the best food in the whole world. Foreign food we eat here is mostly Italian(that one hardly counts as foreign cuisine anymore, tbh), Chinese and Japanese. We mostly eat our own stuff or ordinary food. There's not this habit of eating foreign food on a weekly basis like people in many other industrialised countries do.

And lastly, USA has a very low Portuguese diaspora in comparison to countries like France, Germany, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Brazil or even Canada have. Adding to the fact we've never colonised territory that's today part of USA that means our culture didn't influence theirs at all nor is there much contact between citizens of both countries, meaning American culture is quite alien to us in comparison to what it is to Brits, Irish, Scandinavians and Germans, for example.

So yeah, I guess I can see why a Swede like yourself would be more familiarised with American culture and be more willing to adopt many of its customs than someone like me would, for example.

[Original TMNT Cartoon Fan]

Portugal and Sweden both took Marshall aid, even if none of them fought in the war.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marshall_Plan