Per mermaidrain:
A year-in-review meme:
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before? I started a hardcore workout, and I kept up with it three days a week, faithfully, for over seven months now.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Didn't make any last year, won't make any this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No, but I just found out one of my former co-workers in Japan is pregnant.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. I can name my Aunt Grayce, sweet woman she was, and Masta of the ramen shop. But I have no idea how many of my neighbors, coworkers and students died.
5. What countries did you visit? Visit? None. Lived it? Japan and the US.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? A job would be nice. Very nice.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 11, 2011. I'm sure I don't have to explain that one.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I survived a natural disaster.
9. What was your biggest failure? I haven't been able to find a new job.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A few minor illnesses, no injuries to speak of.
11. What was the best thing you bought? A couple of small gifts for Mom and Dad for Christmas. I couldn't give much, but I wanted to give them at least a token of my appreciation.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? The people of Japan.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Everybody killing other people. Doesn't the planet itself do enough damage? Do we really need to add to it? Why so sucky, humans?
14. Where did most of your money go? New wardrobe, new toiletries, new necessities in general . . . and some computer games, because a girl needs fun.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Coming home.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? One of my favorite karaoke standards to sing is Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", and it'll always remind me both of Japan and coming home.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder. But I think I've earned it. And it's okay.
ii. thinner or fatter? Slightly thinner, but with a lot more muscle.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer by far.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing, definitely. I also wish I'd gone for a drink with Bobby and Annie before I left Morioka. Things were so up in the air, though.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? To borrow mermaidrain's answer: Worrying.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Christmas with Mom and Dad. We went over to Seth and Elaine's for Christmas dinner, which was ham, creamy mashed potatoes, roasted carrots with dill (you wouldn't believe how good they were), sauteed broccoli (again, way better than you'd expect from the description) and rolls. Delicious meal, great company.
21. How will you be spending New Years? I'm going to a matinee with Nate (the guy I've been dating), and I'll spend the evening either at home or at Seth and Elaine's.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011? No. But at least I dated, which is better than I can say for far too many years of my adult life
23. How many one-night stands? None. Ever. I appreciate some people enjoy them, but they're not for me.
24. What was your favorite TV program? DW, obviously. But I really enjoyed So You Think You Can Dance as well.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No. I don't do hate.
26. What was the best book you read? There were way too many great books released this year for me to narrow it down to just one.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? I'm weird in that I don't listen to much music. I enjoy it, but I don't go out and buy albums or download songs. *Shrug* That said, I think Adele is one of the great voices of her generation.
28. What did you want and get? A new computer, courtesy of my dear friends.
29. What did you want that you didn't get? A job.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 37 and celebrated with my family.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Soaking in the North Pacific Gyre. Replaced piecemeal. Adequate.
34. What kept you sane? The support of friends and family.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can't think of anyone.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Politics make me sad. Don't make me talk about politics.
37. Who did you miss? My sisters and their families, and mermaidrain.
38. Who was the best new person you met? Kazuki, the little old man who saw a wandering Westerner in a disaster zone and decided to help her out.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. Take it moment by moment. Sometimes, being safe, clothed and sheltered has to be enough. You can't let fear of the future paralyze you.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "If you're lost, you can look and you will find me/Time after time/You can fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting/Time after time."
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before? I started a hardcore workout, and I kept up with it three days a week, faithfully, for over seven months now.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Didn't make any last year, won't make any this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? No, but I just found out one of my former co-workers in Japan is pregnant.
4. Did anyone close to you die? Yes. I can name my Aunt Grayce, sweet woman she was, and Masta of the ramen shop. But I have no idea how many of my neighbors, coworkers and students died.
5. What countries did you visit? Visit? None. Lived it? Japan and the US.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011? A job would be nice. Very nice.
7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? March 11, 2011. I'm sure I don't have to explain that one.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? I survived a natural disaster.
9. What was your biggest failure? I haven't been able to find a new job.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? A few minor illnesses, no injuries to speak of.
11. What was the best thing you bought? A couple of small gifts for Mom and Dad for Christmas. I couldn't give much, but I wanted to give them at least a token of my appreciation.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? The people of Japan.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Everybody killing other people. Doesn't the planet itself do enough damage? Do we really need to add to it? Why so sucky, humans?
14. Where did most of your money go? New wardrobe, new toiletries, new necessities in general . . . and some computer games, because a girl needs fun.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Coming home.
16. What song will always remind you of 2011? One of my favorite karaoke standards to sing is Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time", and it'll always remind me both of Japan and coming home.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder. But I think I've earned it. And it's okay.
ii. thinner or fatter? Slightly thinner, but with a lot more muscle.
iii. richer or poorer? Poorer by far.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing, definitely. I also wish I'd gone for a drink with Bobby and Annie before I left Morioka. Things were so up in the air, though.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? To borrow mermaidrain's answer: Worrying.
20. How will you be spending Christmas? I spent Christmas with Mom and Dad. We went over to Seth and Elaine's for Christmas dinner, which was ham, creamy mashed potatoes, roasted carrots with dill (you wouldn't believe how good they were), sauteed broccoli (again, way better than you'd expect from the description) and rolls. Delicious meal, great company.
21. How will you be spending New Years? I'm going to a matinee with Nate (the guy I've been dating), and I'll spend the evening either at home or at Seth and Elaine's.
22. Did you fall in love in 2011? No. But at least I dated, which is better than I can say for far too many years of my adult life
23. How many one-night stands? None. Ever. I appreciate some people enjoy them, but they're not for me.
24. What was your favorite TV program? DW, obviously. But I really enjoyed So You Think You Can Dance as well.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? No. I don't do hate.
26. What was the best book you read? There were way too many great books released this year for me to narrow it down to just one.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? I'm weird in that I don't listen to much music. I enjoy it, but I don't go out and buy albums or download songs. *Shrug* That said, I think Adele is one of the great voices of her generation.
28. What did you want and get? A new computer, courtesy of my dear friends.
29. What did you want that you didn't get? A job.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part II
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 37 and celebrated with my family.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? A job.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011? Soaking in the North Pacific Gyre. Replaced piecemeal. Adequate.
34. What kept you sane? The support of friends and family.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I can't think of anyone.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Politics make me sad. Don't make me talk about politics.
37. Who did you miss? My sisters and their families, and mermaidrain.
38. Who was the best new person you met? Kazuki, the little old man who saw a wandering Westerner in a disaster zone and decided to help her out.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011. Take it moment by moment. Sometimes, being safe, clothed and sheltered has to be enough. You can't let fear of the future paralyze you.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "If you're lost, you can look and you will find me/Time after time/You can fall, I will catch you, I'll be waiting/Time after time."