Regardless of the hoo ha on timeline:

• Lost my Job
• Moved from my beloved apartment in Long Beach back home.
• Entered into what would be a 5 year relationship.
• Surgery for Apendicitis
• Began writing.
• Cousin Lisa and Baby Anthony died.
• Broke up with boyfriend.
• Traveled to Detroit to see Tron and Apples.
• Witnessed the birth of my nephew and niece.
• Joined a public speaking Group.
• Began Masters Program in Spiritual Psychology.
• Moved to LA
• In second year of School.

What comes next? My dream project, the story of my cousin's journey to healing in the afterlife. I will bring this to women's shelters.

A lot of deep deep stuff. So thankful for the life I'm living and all the healing

NDRU said:

novabrkr said:

Okay here's how it goes:

2000 - the first year of the decade

2001 - the second year of the decade

2002 - the third year of the decade

2003 - the fourth year of the decade

2004 - the fifth year of the decade

2005 - the sixth year of the decade

2006 - the seventh year of the decade

2007 - the eighth year of the decade

2008 - the ninth year of the decade

2009 - the tenth year of the decade

2010 - the first year of a new decade

2011 - ... and so on...

It's like 1990 was the first year of the 90's and not 1991 . According to that manner of thinking, 1990 would have been the last year of the 80's.

Only if the first year was year zero, and I don't expect that it was. Generally we count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Still I see your point, how could 2000 be the last year of the 1900's? Makes no sense, but 10 is the end of the first 10 numbers, 11 is the start of the next 10, and so on.

You're mixing up the last digit of a number that designates a specific year with the numbers produced when you are counting things. Sorry for the technical explanation that follows, but I'll try to make it easily understandable as well. I'm not sure if you were taught these type of concepts in school (they used to be taught in grade school in the past decades). They are used on validating on how we count things.

According to a convention, the first year of a decade ends with the digit "0" and it gives the year its proper name. That is the first year that is counted, because we're essentially counting their names in this case. In technical terms: the "set" of "the first decade of this millennium" has ten "members", {"2000", "2001", "2002", "2003", "2004", "2005", "2006", "2007", "2008", "2009"}. That's ten years. Although notice that the definition of a "decade" isn't really mathematical in any other sense than that it consists of ten members ("ten successive years"). In short, years are not ordinal numbers. A cardinal number is used for the function of referring to them.

What usually seems to confuse people is that they think a year such as "2000" has something to do with the number "0", whereas the year "2001" would have something to do with the number "1". But that's just an associative confusion. "2000" isn't the same thing as "0" and "2001" isn't the same thing as "1". That's why we have different strings of symbols for them in the first place.

Furthermore, this has nothing to do with the debate of the first year being "0" or "1" either, because we're simply speaking of strings of ten years. There's no need to refer so far back as we're only counting the first ten years of this millennium. The only connection that aspect could possibly have in relation to the concept of a decade has to do with the total number of these "sets of ten years". However, that's irrelevant to the concept of a "decade" itself, as it is not based on any other mathematical rule than consisting of "ten members" ("ten successive years"). The way we speak of, e.g. "the 1960"s" with the years 1960-1969 is due to a social convention and it's not founded on how many years, or full sets of ten years, there have been in total. We may speculate on how many "full sets" there really have been, but that has nothing to do with how we use the word "decade". In any case, the date mentioned on the top post - January 1st, 2000 - was nearly eleven years ago, not ten years ago. There are ten years in a decade by all known definitions, not eleven.

Phew, this should clear it up. Just refer to my earlier post if this is too complicated.

But yeah, let's not let that ruin the idea of the thread. I just find it odd that people didn't seem to notice it.

[Edited 10/28/10 3:41am]

I usually take note of such things, but hadn't given any thought to this being the end of a decade. But now that I am thinking of it, I'm just left feeling rather anxious. These years since 2000 have been more disturbing than pleasant for me, so I will probably close out this decade in prayer and quiet introspection; in hopes that the next decade will be better (...for everyone).

Hmm, I thought 2009 was the last year of the Millenium decade and 2010 was the start of a new decade... BUT it doesn't matter I'll answer the question...

I plan to end 2010 by partying and celebrating peace, love and happiness currently in my life.

[Edited 10/28/10 4:36am]

retina said:

Lammastide said:

Good luck.

I may be going for mission work, assisting in school builds and elementary education for a few weeks. It's an expensive undertaking, though. I hope it works out.

Expensive for whom? Do they make you pay your own way entirely? If you're working for free you'd think the church would at least offer you a room and a couple of meals a day.

Either way it's very noble of you to consider helping with such a good cause.

As I understand it, the not-for-profit organization I'd be going with offers a sort of package deal on travel, lodging, food, incidentals, etc. It's at a cost well below what would be market, but it still isn't cheap. All in all, it sounds worth it, though.

NDRU said:

novabrkr said:

Okay here's how it goes:

2000 - the first year of the decade

2001 - the second year of the decade

2002 - the third year of the decade

2003 - the fourth year of the decade

2004 - the fifth year of the decade

2005 - the sixth year of the decade

2006 - the seventh year of the decade

2007 - the eighth year of the decade

2008 - the ninth year of the decade

2009 - the tenth year of the decade

2010 - the first year of a new decade

2011 - ... and so on...

It's like 1990 was the first year of the 90's and not 1991 . According to that manner of thinking, 1990 would have been the last year of the 80's.

Only if the first year was year zero, and I don't expect that it was. Generally we count 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10

Still I see your point, how could 2000 be the last year of the 1900's? Makes no sense, but 10 is the end of the first 10 numbers, 11 is the start of the next 10, and so on.

0 year does not exist- our era began with year 1 so the new decade will begin 2011- yeah that makes since because the first year is 1 not zero.....

I already explained it above that the concept of a decade has nothing to do with that.

novabrkr said:

I already explained it above that the concept of a decade has nothing to do with that.

it does if im saying the new one begins 2011.....

Uhm, okay.

You could also have the common sense to admit that you've made a simple mistake. It's not the end of the world and a lot of people make the same mistake all the time.

novabrkr said:

Uhm, okay.

You could also have the common sense to admit that you've made a simple mistake. It's not the end of the world and a lot of people make the same mistake all the time.

wasnt even thinking along those lines- its all very interesting to me-

but it's a shame that you feel the need to call me out over it...

I thought we were having a conversation- obviously i'm underqualified to respond to your super-intelligence

Holy shit.

Evvy said:

novabrkr said:

Uhm, okay.

You could also have the common sense to admit that you've made a simple mistake. It's not the end of the world and a lot of people make the same mistake all the time.

wasnt even thinking along those lines- its all very interesting to me-

but it's a shame that you feel the need to call me out over it...

I thought we were having a conversation- obviously i'm underqualified to respond to your super-intelligence

This is a yet another childish response.

Being able to count to ten has nothing to do with super-intelligence. If you make an error, re-evaluate your statements and move on.

novabrkr said:

Evvy said:

wasnt even thinking along those lines- its all very interesting to me-

but it's a shame that you feel the need to call me out over it...

I thought we were having a conversation- obviously i'm underqualified to respond to your super-intelligence

This is a yet another childish response.

Being able to count to ten has nothing to do with super-intelligence. If you make an error, re-evaluate your statements and move on.

you're being rude and ignorant right now- but i'm not gonna let you ruin my day

Have a good day then.

Listen, there's no reason to get insulted by it. My previous comment might have been rude, but it was a response to your far too personal comment made before it. In any case, it's a common error.

[Edited 10/28/10 7:36am]

Being the diplomat I am, everyone is right. A decade is simply a period of ten years.

The first decade was years 1-10. However the 60's were 1960-1969.

We started a new decade in 2010, and we are starting one in 2011 and we started one today.

Aye Yai Yai. Can't believe the turn the thread took

doing my best NOT to look back!!

sure I got married and had kids but the sucker punches of the last decade overshadow those good days... (and don't GET me started on politics!!)

To the 10 years that are choking on my road dust all I can say is "BYE BYE BITCHES!!"

There's this chick in one of my college courses. She just joined the class today. She's cute, funny so far, smarter than the exes for sure. Based on my first impression, I think I could get along extremely well with her. We'll see though.

Wishful thinking, but closing out the decade with her could be okay. Now to stop being the least vocal dude in class...

Well this is how my decade went, I dealt with depression too throughout most of it and am still dealing with it though I'm trying to get out of it

2000-in 11th and 12th grade, and started vocal lessons, coming in second place at my first competition, working at the family business, starting to learn how to drive and then giving up after 3 months

2001-parents arguing a lot and having conflicts, me continuing to write and learning how to dance on my own, coming in third place at my vocal competition, seeing janet during all for you promo and during the all for you tour

2002-being accepted into 6 of the 7 universities I applied to and starting in fall, working at a bank in summer, depression starting without me realizing cause of getting high off mj and staying busy. Dad isn't around much, moves out of the home at the end of the year, family is down

2003-depression is on and off, feeling depressed about what was happening to mj, dad opens up about what's going on with him, dating a guy I lost touch with years ago and reunited with though it only lasted for a short time, teaching religious education to children, tutoring in 8th grade english briefly and a little bit of math, working at a bank again in summer

2004-Continuing to learn driving for a few months and finally getting the license(without the highway test), seeing janet during damita jo promo, working as a camp counsellor in summer and then a baby sitter for an entire month, continuing to teach religion, doing field work at a women's organization, going back to vocal classes, dancing to mj songs at school events to show what I learned and to show my support to him, starting counselling, cutting off contact with dad for a few months until it felt ok again, choreographed a dance item for kids

2005-feeling the depression and pressure some more cause of really really feeling upset about what was happening with mj and getting mad at my dad for being mean about him when I was still bitter about the seperation (I don't mean to make him sound bad, I was upset with my mom too other days and couldn't stand her too, wished I lived near school instead those years), starting anti depressants, coming in second place for duets at my vocal competition, patching things up with my first cousin after something terrible happened in 1999, placement at another women's organization, choreographed another dance item, a little bit of babysitting, mom started seeing someone

2006-tried to live with my dad for awhile though I would go home often too and re-met who would become his new wife, graduated from university and got my degree, tried a retail job for 2 weeks and was politely laid off, parents signed divorce papers and both were being impossible, mom was not understanding why I couldn't find work immediately and it was upsetting and I felt depressed with my behaviour getting aggressive now, teaching a dance item, working at the family business and doing a little bit of tutoring for math

2007-finding a job in my area of study to get my feet wet, got my first car, being a camp counsellor, did a couple of temp jobs, getting facebook which improved my social life and had me reunite with so many people, dating a guy who taught me how to have fun despite also working hard in life, but I didn't trust him to be committed and I was right though we're still friends, weaning off my anti depressants though I would have withdrawl symptoms occasionally, auditioning for canadian idol and passing the two screenings until I got rejected, doing some vocal performances at events, going to new jersey and new york city for the first time though not how i expected , dad getting remarried

2008-finding a full time job in my area of study, injuring my back when I was rear ended really hard despite being parked legally with my car off, giving vocal performances all over the place, mostly at charity events, going to new york city and paris, meeting janet jackson backstage at the rock witchu tour and attending her soundcheck, plus enjoying the show, dealing with an abusive coworker, depression slowly returning but being in denial staying busy

2009-dealing with an abusive coworker, depression really really getting bad now with unwanted thoughts, dealing with excitement of getting mj tickets but also being anxious about planning that cause of an online friend getting me the tickets, still singing at times but eventually stopping, volunteering with my religious community, being on the verge of a breakdown and eventually changing from full time to temporary at work so I could treat my depression after it just wasn't going away, as soon as I do that mj dies :*( and I'm finished, few days before it, dad's wife says something and then I cut off contact with dad's family for a few months again, at this point everything of this past decade just exploded in my face...kept going for treatment for depression but also ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks and also kept going downhill and uphill, being diagnosed as bipolar

2010-beginning to manage depression but it's still hard, getting my full license with the highway test, creating a huge credit card debt from last year, those were the first half of the year; second half of the year, still in debt, finding a second job in addition to the one I still have though not full time, and now I'm with a guy who is so much like me with a lot in common with me but also very very positive and such a high achiever and though he's done more than me, he reminds me of how ambitious i used to be. This second half is the start of something new for me but I don't know how to enjoy a good thing anymore cause of all the disappointments I've endured over the decade. And the drugs I'm on are making me so sleepy and affect my cycles, I don't want this stuff to affect us , it sort of did a little bit for some time and we talked about it.

As for how the future relates to this, I want to overcome my depression, find a full time job and feel peaceful with it, learn how to cook and settle down with this guy if it's meant to be. I don't want kids, I want to travel, be creative, make a difference, inspire, spiritual and religious cause though I am, I stray off it a lot too.

[Edited 11/2/10 15:38pm]

the end of 1999 i traveled to brazil for the first time to meet a fellow orger and my best friend.

in 2000 i ended a very bad and abusive relationship with my boyfriend at that time. i became very depressed, but i started doing volunteer work at the local senior center and fire dept. and that seemed to take my mind off of my personal issues.

2001 i went on my first missionary trip to rio de janeiro brazil to help those living in the slums. made lasting friendships, and had some of the best times of my entire life!

2002 i traveled on my second mission trip to rio de janeiro brazil and met my husband that i've now been married to for the last 7 years. i stayed and lived in brazil for some time and loved it. another wonderful time in my life, that i feel so blessed to have experienced!

2003 i got married in brazil, and then moved back to usa to begin the immigration process to bring my husband here to live. he was granted his visa, and came to usa to live. this was a difficult time because the INS stamped his visa with the wrong info. and he was unable to work for the first 8 months he was here. so we had to live with my parents, and it was a living hell in their house. during that time we found out that we would have our son. but living with my parents was just a nightmare. and they were very abusive to us.

2004 our local congressman finally got my husband's visa/passport corrected, and he was able to start working. i gave birth to our wonderful son joshua, and right afterwards i started working overnights at walmart saving up money for us to move out of my parents house. we found our first apartment, moved out, bought a used car. and were the most happy people in the world to actually have our own little one bedroom apartment. and not have to answer to anyone but ourselves.

2005 we moved to sutter creek to a very nice brand new one bedroom apartment.

2006 my husband was promoted at his job. we went on vacation to brazil so my husband's family could meet their grandson for the first time. we bought a brand new car.

2007 my husband was promoted again, so i was able to quit my job and be a stay at home mom for our son, which i loved! and we were able to move into a beautiful 2 bedroom apartment.

2008 saw it's up's and downs, but we enjoyed doing things as a family, going for day trips to lake tahoe, and other fun places.

2009 my husband was promoted again, and was given a job transfer to the area we are living at now. that was a BIG change for us! son started kindergarten.

2010 went to visit my parents in san antonio texas on vacation, our son graduated from kindergarten, son started first grade. husband went to the u.s. open at pebble beach, and the other night he met his favorite singer omara poruondo.

as for the end of the year? hmm...i don't have any plans, other than enjoying the holidays with my husband and my son. because after the new year we have some serious changes we have to look into for the future again, which may include another move.

so the last decade of my life has had some very low points (that i didn't go deeply into here), but also some of the best times of my life so far, traveling to brazil, doing mission work, meeting my husband, getting married, having our son, building our lives together as a family. i do feel truly blessed. and i'm mighty thankful to God for everything!

Lammastide said:

Let's see: Since 2001...

* I ended a really toxic relationship that had lingered for too long

* I sank into a major depression

* I came out as gay to family and friends

* I became a father

* I watched my dad die of Alzheimer's

* I got myself fired from a job for the first time in my life

* I got myself kicked out of grad school

* I was gonna kill myself, but the logistics unraveled

* I was finally hospitalized and diagnosed with severe depression

* I was released and began preparations, again, to kill myself after certain business was taken care of

* I found new work

* I bought a house, renovated it for my wife and daughter, got all my money and affairs in order

* I was gonna kill myself again... but something stopped me

* I got aggressive careerwise, worked for a few area publications and ultimately did a career jump from journalism to library science

* I decided to leave the United States, go back to grad school and pursue theological work in Canada

* I graduated

* I somehow managed to end up alive, family intact and relatively happily by the end of this all

There, but for the grace of God, go I.

I plan to close out the decade primarily in three ways: 1) Taking a trip to Maui in December, where I'd like to steal a bit of solo time to do some introspection/decompressing; 2) initiating the Canadian citizenship process; 3) pinning down an approach to finish doctoral work.

wow! you've been through a lot! so glad you're here with us!

^ me too, depression is terrible