Happy New Year!
So now I can post my Yuletide reveal without being so oafish. This was my first time participating, and I had a great time. I wrote Secrets, a Mad Men/ Pan Am crossover for Gorgeous Nerd (who seems not to be on LJ). It was really fun sorting out the timeline and working in the details. And I received a superb gift that I know know is from Niamh_St_George, called The Hands of Fate and Time, which is a lovely vignette of Harriet Vane and her undergrad chums at Shrewsbury. So my Yuletide theme turned out to be 20th Century gen fic with female protagonists, and that's just how I like it.
And now, behind the cut, an abridged version of that New Year's meme.
* What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Ate at Chez Panisse. My birthday dinner there was something I'd schemed about for a long time, and it was as lovely as I'd hoped, shared with my husband and my mother.
* Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I had any conscious resolutions for last year, and definitely not for this year. I have been operating way too much in survival mode to make that sort of plans. So I guess my resolution, such as it is, would be to get myself back into a more stable and sustainable lifestyle.
* Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. A couple of coworkers, but no close friends or family.
* Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thank goodness. There had been quite enough of that the past few years.
* What countries did you visit?
None. This made me really sad. I don't even have a current passport right now.
* What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Financial stability and a clearer career path.
* What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 26 - My birthday was just the way I wanted it to be for the first time in a long time. We had a really lovely vacation to California where I saw all my family and was able to give my husband his first real taste of my home state. I spent the day itself floating in the hot mineral pools at Harbin Hot Springs and getting a mind-bending Watsu treatment.
* What was your biggest achievement of the year?
At the very last moments, I think I have mostly recovered from a very deliberate smear campaign by my former boss. I hate that the only way to prove myself was by working hard to salvage a project that would not have gone off the rails if not for the above-mentioned sabotage, but if it had gone smoothly, that would not have been noticed by The Big Boss. Paradoxical, but I will take it where I can get it.
* What was your biggest failure?
That whole period of sabotage leading up the past month. I knew things weren't all hunky dory, but I utterly misread the extent and nastiness of the campaign against me. I guess that speaks to my fundamentally positive nature, that I really don't think of all the bad things people can do, but it made me feel naive and foolish as well as mistrustful.
* Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had another tooth pulled, which was less painful than annoying. I am looking forward to getting started with an implant for it this year, because it's in a place that easily gets food stuck in it. I feel like my back pain is worse as well, but I have not had the time or money to go back to physical therapy, another hope for 2012.
* What was the best thing you bought?
Not one, but two, pink argyle sweaters. Sometimes it's the little things.
* Whose behavior merited celebration?
I am constantly humbled by the kindness of strangers.
* Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
President Obama. It took a long time for me to sour on him, but his caving on the Plan B birth control issue was the last straw.
* Where did most of your money go?
Bills, especially medical.
* What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my long-planned workflow strategy implemented at last, even if other people grabbed the credit.
* What song will always remind you of 2011?
I barely listen to pop music anymore. Until the middle of this summer, there was the anomaly of a good rock radio station in New York City (WRXP), which introduced me to my favorite new song, "Pumped Up Kicks," by Foster the People. Cheerfully whistling murderers seem just right for 2011.
* How did you spend Christmas?
For Christmas Eve, we went to a gorgeous Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. On the day itself, we enjoyed sharing a traditional turkey dinner with my oldest friend and her family. Very low-key and a pleasantly uninvolved relaxation after a very stressful month. I was also rather astonished to realize that this was my fifth Christmas with Leit. It still feels like we have so far to travel in our relationship, but I mean that in the very best way.
* What was your favorite TV program?
I've continued to be a giant Fringe fan, but I really fell in love with Pan Am this year. I have always been a crazy fangirl for career girl adventures; it's so clear this show is written and produced by women. I hope it survives. I'm also digging Once Upon a Time, but I'm not really sucked into it the same way.
* Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes, actually. I generally don't believe that hatred is a good psychological investment, but someone really screwed me over this year, and I have not been able to let it go yet. I also feel extreme anger and frustration over the behavior of the Republican party and its obstructionist "lawmakers." The treatment of the Occupy protesters saddened me but was not unexpected. The protesters themselves have been a real bright spot of the year for me.
* What was the best book you read?
The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal. It's a fascinating true story, and the writing is achingly beautiful.
* What did you want and get?
A beautiful California vacation.
* What did you want and not get?
Steady employment for my spouse.
* What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Our California vacation, which was full of wonderful family and friends and lots of beautiful places and delicious food. I turned 52.
* How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Frugal, pink.
* What kept you sane?
Dogged determination and bigger happy pills.
* What political issue stirred you the most?
The Occupy movement really inspired me. I have been wishing and wishing for Americans to wake up to what's happening to our country and our economy and step away from their haze of individualistic fantasy. It's refreshing to see young people engaged in politics again, and to see them understand that it really does matter.
* Who did you miss?
My coworker Deen. She died over two years ago, but I still find myself thinking I want to share something with her and then realizing she is gone.
* Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
I'm going to go ahead and swipe this answer from sallysimpleton:
"The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them." - Maya Angelou
And now, behind the cut, an abridged version of that New Year's meme.
* What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
Ate at Chez Panisse. My birthday dinner there was something I'd schemed about for a long time, and it was as lovely as I'd hoped, shared with my husband and my mother.
* Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't think I had any conscious resolutions for last year, and definitely not for this year. I have been operating way too much in survival mode to make that sort of plans. So I guess my resolution, such as it is, would be to get myself back into a more stable and sustainable lifestyle.
* Did anyone close to you give birth?
No. A couple of coworkers, but no close friends or family.
* Did anyone close to you die?
No. Thank goodness. There had been quite enough of that the past few years.
* What countries did you visit?
None. This made me really sad. I don't even have a current passport right now.
* What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Financial stability and a clearer career path.
* What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 26 - My birthday was just the way I wanted it to be for the first time in a long time. We had a really lovely vacation to California where I saw all my family and was able to give my husband his first real taste of my home state. I spent the day itself floating in the hot mineral pools at Harbin Hot Springs and getting a mind-bending Watsu treatment.
* What was your biggest achievement of the year?
At the very last moments, I think I have mostly recovered from a very deliberate smear campaign by my former boss. I hate that the only way to prove myself was by working hard to salvage a project that would not have gone off the rails if not for the above-mentioned sabotage, but if it had gone smoothly, that would not have been noticed by The Big Boss. Paradoxical, but I will take it where I can get it.
* What was your biggest failure?
That whole period of sabotage leading up the past month. I knew things weren't all hunky dory, but I utterly misread the extent and nastiness of the campaign against me. I guess that speaks to my fundamentally positive nature, that I really don't think of all the bad things people can do, but it made me feel naive and foolish as well as mistrustful.
* Did you suffer illness or injury?
I had another tooth pulled, which was less painful than annoying. I am looking forward to getting started with an implant for it this year, because it's in a place that easily gets food stuck in it. I feel like my back pain is worse as well, but I have not had the time or money to go back to physical therapy, another hope for 2012.
* What was the best thing you bought?
Not one, but two, pink argyle sweaters. Sometimes it's the little things.
* Whose behavior merited celebration?
I am constantly humbled by the kindness of strangers.
* Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
President Obama. It took a long time for me to sour on him, but his caving on the Plan B birth control issue was the last straw.
* Where did most of your money go?
Bills, especially medical.
* What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Seeing my long-planned workflow strategy implemented at last, even if other people grabbed the credit.
* What song will always remind you of 2011?
I barely listen to pop music anymore. Until the middle of this summer, there was the anomaly of a good rock radio station in New York City (WRXP), which introduced me to my favorite new song, "Pumped Up Kicks," by Foster the People. Cheerfully whistling murderers seem just right for 2011.
* How did you spend Christmas?
For Christmas Eve, we went to a gorgeous Midnight Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. On the day itself, we enjoyed sharing a traditional turkey dinner with my oldest friend and her family. Very low-key and a pleasantly uninvolved relaxation after a very stressful month. I was also rather astonished to realize that this was my fifth Christmas with Leit. It still feels like we have so far to travel in our relationship, but I mean that in the very best way.
* What was your favorite TV program?
I've continued to be a giant Fringe fan, but I really fell in love with Pan Am this year. I have always been a crazy fangirl for career girl adventures; it's so clear this show is written and produced by women. I hope it survives. I'm also digging Once Upon a Time, but I'm not really sucked into it the same way.
* Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Yes, actually. I generally don't believe that hatred is a good psychological investment, but someone really screwed me over this year, and I have not been able to let it go yet. I also feel extreme anger and frustration over the behavior of the Republican party and its obstructionist "lawmakers." The treatment of the Occupy protesters saddened me but was not unexpected. The protesters themselves have been a real bright spot of the year for me.
* What was the best book you read?
The Hare with Amber Eyes by Edmund de Waal. It's a fascinating true story, and the writing is achingly beautiful.
* What did you want and get?
A beautiful California vacation.
* What did you want and not get?
Steady employment for my spouse.
* What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Our California vacation, which was full of wonderful family and friends and lots of beautiful places and delicious food. I turned 52.
* How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Frugal, pink.
* What kept you sane?
Dogged determination and bigger happy pills.
* What political issue stirred you the most?
The Occupy movement really inspired me. I have been wishing and wishing for Americans to wake up to what's happening to our country and our economy and step away from their haze of individualistic fantasy. It's refreshing to see young people engaged in politics again, and to see them understand that it really does matter.
* Who did you miss?
My coworker Deen. She died over two years ago, but I still find myself thinking I want to share something with her and then realizing she is gone.
* Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
I'm going to go ahead and swipe this answer from sallysimpleton:
"The first time someone shows you who they are, believe them." - Maya Angelou