2008 & 2009

2008 was in interesting year, with a full lunar & solar eclipse that stretched halfway across the world. It was also the year that Fidel Castro stepped down in Cuba & President Barack Obama, the first African American President in US history, stepped up. It was a landslide victory for Obama & Biden, who beat out McCain & Palin in the election. Americans were proud to see a moment that civil activists throughout history only dreamed would ever happen & they celebrated in DC & across the nation as the votes were counted.
Amidst Americans rejoicing over that major milestone, there was much fear & concern over the economy, with bank bailouts and the biggest DOW decline in one day EVER. Americans feared the economy was being plunged into the worst time ever since the Great Depression.
2008 was also the year that many wealthy people took a hit, including my favorite Kevin Bacon, as Bernie Madoff was proven to be a lying, thieving bastard. Speaking of pirates, there were several pirate attacks on ships in 2008, which I hope had nothing to do with the success of the Pirates of the Caribbean series starring the ever delicious Johnny Depp.
Remember Brad Renfro, from such movies as The Cure & The Client? Well, in 2008 he was unfortunately laid to rest, along with Heath Ledger, Charlton Heston, Sydney Pollack, George Carlin, & Paul Newman.
2009 was a troublesome year internationally. Iceland's economy & banking system crumbled, Israel was in the midst of major political turmoil, and the Taliban released a video showing the beheading of a polish geologist. North Korea played around with nuclear weapons as the heads of several governments were either overthrown, taken over, or committed suicide. It seemed a year in which many governments were unraveling while our own government scrambled to fix the the struggling economy & come to some sort of bi-partisan agreement. 
As if that wasn't stressful enough, helloooooo Swine Flu, something new to worry about worldwide!!!
Perhaps the biggest news story of 2009 was the death of controversial pop sensation Michael Jackson. While not my personal taste, post Thriller that is, many Americans mourned the loss of that pop icon. 
Also lost that year were two other icons, Farrah Fawcett & Patrick Swayzee. Both passed away after long battles with Cancer. Farrah was best known for her work on Charlie's Angels, but she was a beautiful fashion icon who's famed poster of her in a red bathing suit, nipples ablaze, was a best seller among men & boys for years. It helped that she had a luxurious feathered mane more famous than "The Rachel" cut of the 90's. Many a woman waltzed into a salon during the 70's asking for "The Farrah", although not many pulled it off as well as her. 
As for Patrick Swayzee, name me one woman that didn't allow Johnny Castle to dirty dance his way into their hearts for just a moment. For me, he stayed there through many notable films including Donnie Darko, Roadhouse, Ghost, & The Outsiders. Not only was he an amazing family man with a successful marriage that's often unheard of in Hollywood, but he was a talented actor, dancer, and director. I will never forget his work in one of my favorite SNL skits with Chris Farley, where they both played Chip N Dale Dancers. Patrick, you are SORELY missed!
We do not want to overlook Brittany Murphy, John Hughes, & Ted Kennedy who also passed away in 2009. 
On the charts in '09 were Carrie Underwood, Lady GaGa, Katy Perry, Brittney Spears, Kelly Clarkson, Susan Boyle, Beyonce, & Taylor Swift. Adele also won best new artist, making 2009 the year of the ladies in my opinion---you go girls!
If you weren't listening to music, then you were DEFINITELY watching movies & in 2009 that meant checking out the smash hits Avatar, Harry Potter, Twilight New Moon, or The Hangover. Maybe by 2013 I will have actually seen a Harry Potter movie...