New Year's Eve

Today I was describing SFist to my mom as "almost like having a second job", and she asked "but does that second job pay?" Well, no, it doesn't. But, at least for me, that's not what it's about. Don't get me wrong, if Gothamist LLC started paying all of its editors a crapload of dough, I would not be turning it down, but until then I think we're like that Starship Troopers bus kiosk ad campaign, "in it" for varying reasons, none of which involve actual direct compensation.

See that? See how I said "we're" back there? I know we've all mentioned it, but the "we" thing really insinuates itself into your brain. I've sent work email in the "we", notes to family in "we", and frequently think in "we". It's both confining and liberating, as it makes me feel both disturbingly faceless and like I'm a little safer to express my opinions, because I'm not "me", I'm "we".

But right now, today, I'm not "we", I'm me, and this is my damn year-end wrapup. After the jump, take a look at a lot of the reasons I'm "in it".

It's SFist Franny, everyone!

I'm in it for the movies: While I appreciate all the movies I get to see for the site, I can't even tell you how thrilled I was to get to see and write about almost all of the movies at Yet Another Hole In The Head. I took years off my life with marathon days of movie viewing, and even got to go drink with some of the filmmakers. That festival was my absolute best film-going experience of the year.

I'm in it for the camaradie: I never imagined, when Jackson, Rita, and I first met up, that so much of my social life would end up revolving around SFist. (This is especially hilarious because I am hermitlike by nature, but I'm always so happy to be out once I'm out there.) Over the past year I've developed some great friendships with folks I'd never have met otherwise. I think I'd gotten pretty complacent and willing to hang out at home with my boyfriend and pets, but 2005 has seen me going out and doing stuff at my best pace in years, and loving it.

I'm in it for the access: As plain old Eve Batey, I would never have had the opportunity to do a lot of the cool s**t I get to do as Eve Batey, Co-Editor of SFist. For example, I got to go watch my favorite local theatre troupe, The Primitive Screwheads, rehearse for their show Re-Animator of the Dead. It's like getting to sit at the cool kids table, for just a minute.

I'm in it for the random email: No, I'm not talking usual reader email, I'm talking about the sort of weird, unexpected email I get from readers. Like the one I got after I did my Sumo Lounge review, who suggested I get a professional bra fitting, because the one I'm wearing in the photos "isn't doing the trick." Well, you know what? I did go get one, (Susie, at the Market Street Nordstrom? Amazing) and you were absolutely right, anonymous reader, the trick wasn't being done. But it is now, and how!

Yeah, I'm not making any money on SFist, and I don't expect to. But the other things I get out of it -- the chance to work the fantastic SFist staff, which boasts some of the brightest minds in the Bay Area (especially my dream-date co-editor Rita, who is the best good cop and partner any blogger could ever want), the chance to see and do stuff I thought I'd never get to see and do, and the chance to meet all sorts of people I'd never get to, otherwise -- those are what makes it all worthwhile, and what makes 2005 one of my personal best years ever.