This is terrific, and only barely Chicago-centric ~ ~ Sooz

And now comes the end

Of two thousand and nine

Some days it was awful

Some days it was fine.

Some days it was thrilling --

"OBAMA TAKES OATH!" --

Some days it was scary

Some days it was both.

Recession, depression

Folks laid off from work

Plus furloughs and buyouts

Your job was your perk!

Foreclosures, evictions

And clunkers for dough

The bankers played paupers --

Now that was a show.

And health care was hot

In the public debate

(But not quite as hot

As Jon Whozitz and Kate).

The birthers went bonkers

The tea parties booed

The town halls got ugly

I mean really rude!

The death panel rumors

Incited the mob:

Poor grandma's a goner --

Plus out of a job!

The people were mad!

They were deeply offended!

Obama went gray

And was widely defriended ...

... Except by Norwegians

Who said, "Whatthehell

Your prez is for peace --

He deserves a Nobel!"

Yet war was still raging

And also -- achoo! --

We lined up for shots

For the dreaded swine flu.

Obama stayed cool, tho

And said, "Never fear

Some changes come slowly

Let's chill with a beer."

Some days there was news

Full of comfort and joy --

But not Octomom or

That fake balloon boy.

And Tiger, the champ,

Crashed his car like a nutter

(Enough with the news

About him and his putter).

And Mark Sanford swore

He was not chasing tail

The guv was in luv

i.e., "hiking the trail."

And here in Chicago

The mayor had woes

The parking deal burned him

The new boxes froze.

"I'll get the Olympics!"

He vowed, "Yes, I will!"

But no! The Olympics

Are off to Brazil.

Our bid was a failure

Despite all our charms

Despite all our clout

And Michelle's brawny arms.

Now Lovie's a loser

And Oprah said, "Ciao!"

The Sears became Willis

We cried, "Holy cow!"

Plus Blago got booted

And Patti ate bugs

Ah well, dat's Chicago

All loonies and thugs.

We sexted on iPhones

And tweets were in vogue

And Sarah was back,

With a wink, as a rogue.

The King of Pop left us

Ted Kennedy's gone

Brit Murphy, Bea Arthur

Walt Cronkite passed on.

But here's a new decade

It's two thousand ten

The stock market's rising

And health reform's in.

A toast to the new year!

A tip of the hat

To days that are brighter --

There's no app for that.