So here goes: a brief history of 2009, in bullet points. With pictures.
- I went to South by South West, and it was just as marvellous as the fabled stories I had heard back when I live din England. I saw a lot of bands I didn't know, and several I did know, and they were all pretty good. We even got to see Razorlight for free. For free! I also had my first ever Chipotle, and met Dan le Sac, who is a personal hero of mine. I also had my face painted like a mouse. I also got a lot of free t-shirts. It was basically a wannabe indie-hipster kid's dream comne true. So much plaid! So many tall skinny men of questionable sexuality! So much live music! We also attended the mini-festival FxFY (f*ck by f*ck you) which is held in someone's back garden in Austin. There was free beer, and a goat, and Japanese bands, and a band called 'A gun that shoots knives'. So naturally we had an excellent time.
- Alex and I took a long weekend and went to visit Melissa in Nashville and attend the Rites of Spring concert. I had to pretend to be Steph in order to get in to the concert, which was cool, as I've always wanted to be taller and more athletic. We saw a lot of different artists: Q-Tip and Okkervil River were good; TI was most definitely not. The headliners of the second day were the Flaming Lips, who always provide a good show. Halfway through their set, it started to lightly rain, as they released a lot of streamers. It was the most atmospheric thing that has ever happened to me (except that one time with the thunderstorm... but that's a whole other story.) I also had my first ever gelato... I know, I know. How had I not had it before? I lived so much closer to Italy than here for so much of my life! It was delicious, and as a result I am now what could be described as 'pleasantly tubby'. However, the main lesson of the weekend was that Vandy kids really like making out in public. REALLY. It is highly possible that two people had sex on Alex's back during the concert. We can never be sure.- I won the ladies' division 
of the Tuttle ice cream eating contest. It was one of the proudest moments of my life, for sure. Yeah, I'm pretty badass. I got a trophy and everything. Alex also won the mens' division, so it was a weekend of Champions.
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Chad and I decorated Matt and Alex's house for Christmas whilst they were in Japan. It was hilarious and the results were adorable. So, they may never leave me as their keyholder when they're out of town again... but I'd say the results were worth it. You can be the judge of that.
- I surprised my family for Christmas.
They had no idea I was coming, so it was kind of like something from a low-budget lifetime movie. In order to keep it low budget, I had one of the most complex flight schedules ever. Between the return trip, I hit six different airports in three countries on four separate days. I'm not even kidding about that. Just ask me about the adventure that was 'One Night In Amsterdam'. (If anyone's interested, those airports were Oklahoma City, Memphis, Detroit, Heathrow, Schipol and Minneapolis. Phew.) Anyhow, my family were suitable surprised and there was much exclaiming of joy and eating of cake and taking of delayed graduation pictures and snow-based frolicking. I got to see many of my favourite friends and relatives, and had a lot of hugs.
And that is the story of what I did in 2009, by Charlotte aged 23 3/4. Stay tuned for details of the momentous and marvellous weekend in DC, and the equally riveting 'Things I have done thus far in 2010'. Until then, peace. Darrel, I believe the ball's in your court now... unless I get round to writing about DC soon. I'm impatient enough that waiting is unlikely. Oh, and I wouldn't get too excited about my recent adventures. In 2010, I have become a model of wholesomeness and domesticity. Well, sort of. But only really on Saturday mornings.
-- Charlotte, or Carlata (as I am now known in Mexico... more on that at a later date.)
PS. Sorry about the formatting. I tried hard. I am not very good at computers though. Darrel is the technical whiz.
