2008, in summary.
The tradition began in 2004 and continued in 2006, 2007, and now it's the 2008 edition of the end of the year wrap up.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
seriously thought about converting to Judaism for the first time; faced a major setback in my career; was in a car accident; received a ticket for trespassing
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept the resolution encouraging people to have HIV/AIDS testing (though I didn't have one myself) and I have made just one for 2009, inspired by the Interlochen motto: "Do less in more time."
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
not really
4. Did anyone close to you die?
no, baruch hashem
5. What countries did you visit?
none
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
a relationship that is based on love and mutual respect
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 1, the day Ben and I went to Coney Island for the third time in six weeks and he read Philip Roth's "Goodbye, Columbus," our favorite book, aloud to me on the train and on the beach
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
not sinking into utter depression when being handily rejected from PhD programs (and yes, I realize that this is not much of an accomplishment in the positive sense)
9. What was your biggest failure?
being rejected from six PhD programs
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
nothing serious; lots of bugs from being around high schoolers
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn't buy it, but the best new thing I have is my apartment, which is ideally located, in the same building as Ben and other fantastic neighbors, and even earned the approval of my parents.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Ben, over and over
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
my students! (only sometimes)
14. Where did most of your money go?
rent & paying back credit card debt/loans
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
being in New York & election night
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Everything Changes" by Ryan Adams
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? a little sadder
Older or wiser? wiser, in a bad way
Thinner or fatter? fatter (teaching has been really bad for my waistline)
Richer or poorer? richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
advancing my real career; volunteering for Obama
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
driving
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
half in my home, working on the Posen book which is supposed to be turned in by the 31st, and half in my parents' home, dining and exchanging gifts
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
out with the college crew
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
no, but the question seems irrelevant compared to how much I learned about love through friendship this year
23. How many one-night stands?
one
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office & 30 Rock
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
no
26. What was the best book you read?
"Goodbye, Columbus," all four times
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Bon Iver, thanks to NPR's All Songs Considered, and the Beach Boys
28. What did you want and get?
OBAMA, Yiddish, New York, friendships of very deep magnitude, a great job, a great apartment, sex
29. What did you want and not get?
a serious relationship, entry to a PhD program, the chance to move to New York
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think I only saw one movie in the theater all year: Sex and the City. But the best film I saw was probably Capote.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 24, and I have absolutely no recollection of how I spent the day. Which is by design.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
either (1) staying in graduate school, or (2) falling in love
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
short dresses, empire waists, leggings, scarves
34. What kept you sane?
friends
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ryan Adams
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
the election
37. Who did you miss?
Ali, Sonia
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Ben
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
2nd place is 1st loser
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Oh the glory when he took our place, and he took my shoulders and he shook my face, and he takes, and he takes, and he takes" (Casimir Pulaski Day, Sufjan Stevens)
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
seriously thought about converting to Judaism for the first time; faced a major setback in my career; was in a car accident; received a ticket for trespassing
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I kept the resolution encouraging people to have HIV/AIDS testing (though I didn't have one myself) and I have made just one for 2009, inspired by the Interlochen motto: "Do less in more time."
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
not really
4. Did anyone close to you die?
no, baruch hashem
5. What countries did you visit?
none
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
a relationship that is based on love and mutual respect
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
August 1, the day Ben and I went to Coney Island for the third time in six weeks and he read Philip Roth's "Goodbye, Columbus," our favorite book, aloud to me on the train and on the beach
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
not sinking into utter depression when being handily rejected from PhD programs (and yes, I realize that this is not much of an accomplishment in the positive sense)
9. What was your biggest failure?
being rejected from six PhD programs
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
nothing serious; lots of bugs from being around high schoolers
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I didn't buy it, but the best new thing I have is my apartment, which is ideally located, in the same building as Ben and other fantastic neighbors, and even earned the approval of my parents.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Ben, over and over
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
my students! (only sometimes)
14. Where did most of your money go?
rent & paying back credit card debt/loans
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
being in New York & election night
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
"Everything Changes" by Ryan Adams
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
Happier or sadder? a little sadder
Older or wiser? wiser, in a bad way
Thinner or fatter? fatter (teaching has been really bad for my waistline)
Richer or poorer? richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
advancing my real career; volunteering for Obama
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
driving
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
half in my home, working on the Posen book which is supposed to be turned in by the 31st, and half in my parents' home, dining and exchanging gifts
21. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
out with the college crew
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
no, but the question seems irrelevant compared to how much I learned about love through friendship this year
23. How many one-night stands?
one
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office & 30 Rock
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
no
26. What was the best book you read?
"Goodbye, Columbus," all four times
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Bon Iver, thanks to NPR's All Songs Considered, and the Beach Boys
28. What did you want and get?
OBAMA, Yiddish, New York, friendships of very deep magnitude, a great job, a great apartment, sex
29. What did you want and not get?
a serious relationship, entry to a PhD program, the chance to move to New York
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think I only saw one movie in the theater all year: Sex and the City. But the best film I saw was probably Capote.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 24, and I have absolutely no recollection of how I spent the day. Which is by design.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
either (1) staying in graduate school, or (2) falling in love
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
short dresses, empire waists, leggings, scarves
34. What kept you sane?
friends
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Ryan Adams
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
the election
37. Who did you miss?
Ali, Sonia
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Ben
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008:
2nd place is 1st loser
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Oh the glory when he took our place, and he took my shoulders and he shook my face, and he takes, and he takes, and he takes" (Casimir Pulaski Day, Sufjan Stevens)