End of Year Round-up
So let's move on to the annual accounting:
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Presented a seminar on generational differences in communication at a National Convention (Out & Equal) on behalf of my company.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any, still not sure if I want to do any this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one really close.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope, and glad of that. My step-mom passed, but we weren't close, and she never replied to the couple of letters I'd sent.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, yet. Soon, I hope....
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
*sigh* A tidier house.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Obama's win in the Presidential election.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
A few minor successes at work, and a lot of work at workplace LGBT equity. Coining the word "Velicious".
9. What was your biggest failure?
Time management. It's starting to effect my effectiveness at work, and will be one of the bigger items to focus on.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
To my delight, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
It's dorktastic, but I bought for myself a new toaster and new electric hot water kettle, both in shiny metallic cherry-red finish. They make me go squee~.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
[info]mewsgryphoncat, who for many reasons that I won't go into here, has been functioning far and above the call of duty.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mostly, myself. XP
14. Where did most of your money go?
Gas, utilities, food, home repairs.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Austin.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Viva La Vida
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? Both, but overall, happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
iii. richer or poorer? About the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Things for myself, working out, relaxing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Avoiding trouble. It just waits for you to get back home.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
The day itself was spent with G-cat. For the weekend, we split up and went to our respective parents.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
[info]kaitou1412 Another person just filled with awesome. ^_^
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I am sooooooo in love. ♥
23. How many one-night stands?
*laughs* No way.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Ummm... do people still watch that?
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a waste of energy, and an affront to the belief of a loving creator. No thank you.
26. What was the best book you read?
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Coldplay. (Yeah, I'm slow.)
28. What did you want and get?
A roomba and a wonderful family.
29. What did you want and not get?
World peace.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Wall-E
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Worked, went out to dinner afterward. Over 40. ^_^
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I think we're back to world peace.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Non-existent
34. What kept you sane?
My friends
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one....
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election. Prop 8.
37. Who did you miss?
Some people, but I consider the internet as almost as good as being there, so no one to awful excess.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Too many to list here, between work, the roundtable and other friends.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
No one changes for you, only for them self. All you can do is decide on how you choose to react to what they say and do.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
The mist is lifting slowly
I can see the way ahead
And I've left behind the empty streets
That once inspired my life
And the strength of the emotion
Is like thunder in the air
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Coordinated the vendors for an AIDs treatment center fund-raiser.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year, but G-cat and I have resolved a number of things for the upcoming year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Ummmm... still none? Hoping, though!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Simplicity.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
This year is such a big blur.... I guess January 5th, when the company I work for laid off a friend of mine in a series of cuts that became 10% of our work population.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I'm tempted to say "staying employed". Redoing the bathroom was pretty nifty, though.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I saw less of friends and family than I wanted to, but we're starting to change that. Maybe never getting the roomba set up.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only the garden-variety upper respiratory nonsense.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
*grin* Oh, probably the couch.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
[info]mewsgryphoncat and [info]soranokumo, certainly, for just putting up with my shenanigans. Outside the family, I'd have to say that our friend Greg is amazing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
*Shuts off CNN* I'm sure there's a few, but it's not worth dwelling on. I refuse to give others license to make me "depressed".
14. Where did most of your money go?
Surviving.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
All cynicism aside this was not a year of great highs and lows, it was a year to get through. I did make some wonderful new friends though, and re-connect with old friends, and that's always a joy.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Ummm probably Nickelback's "If Today Was Your Last Day"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? Happier, or at least more peaceful and centered.
ii. thinner or fatter? *sigh* Fatter. I'm such a stress eater.
iii. richer or poorer? Probably poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Learned to read Japanese. Spent time with my Mom.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I regret nothing.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with G-cat all morning. It was lovely to just slack and not worry about 7 hours of driving. In the evening we shared dinner with [info]elionwyr, and chattered together. Then it was present-wrapping time and bed to prep for the drive.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
In person - [info]shadowriderhope, who we were delighted to discover knew our mutual friends up north in MI. Virtually, [info]xanath and [info]xlovelylightx are delightful folks. Maybe someday!
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
To quote 9 Chickweed Lane - "I just keep falling."
23. How many one-night stands?
None, silly.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Errmmmm... still not a big TV watcher, but [info]kaitou1412 introduced us to the wicked-fun that is "Merlin".
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. Period. End of sentence. Hate is a waste of time.
26. What was the best book you read?
Mmmmm... no stand-outs this year, which obviously means I'm not reading enough. Maybe "Integrity", by Dr. Henry Cloud came closest to being my "must have" book.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Funny, none this year though I did note Colby Callais, and Taylor Swift. I think I mostly went into nesting mode, and went back and explored old favorites.
28. What did you want and get?
A Wii, more harmony.
29. What did you want and not get?
Nothing of importance.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
"Ponyo" and "The Soloist"
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Worked, went to do chinese for dinner. Still in my forties, thanks.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Seeing less of politicians being utter, selfish, partisan ass-holes.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Non-existent! (But at least I'm consistent about that.) Give me blue jeans and I'm happy.
34. What kept you sane?
Very good friends
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Oh please, that's just a waste of good time.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Healthcare, and the sad state that partisanship dragged a good concept into the dirt. ENDA.
37. Who did you miss?
Some of my internet friends have been harder to reach (but mostly because of good reasons and divergent schedules)
38. Who was the best new person you met?
What, I'm supposed to rank people? I think not. XP
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Letting go is just as important as hanging on.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
See #16.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Held training conferences via telephone with European IT professionals. Attended PAX East.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
We kept some of them, though we could do better in the health department.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
None as yet. Must get a passport, though.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Better control of our finances. (and that's begun!) Maybe a new driveway.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No dates, just certain months that were awesome. March (PAX), May (PERSAD), August (Otakon), October (Ann, Vel, Chas, Morgan).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Work: Building relationships with the Nordic, BeNe, and GSA regions. Home: Ditching almost 20 bags of garbage while cleaning up one (1!) room.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Advising someone to take a job that didn't work out as expected.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing significant.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Redoing the mortgage to a lower rate (and with less time).
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Gryphoncat and Catt, as always. You guys are brave and awesome in a billion ways. ILU
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
US Politics, the Roman Catholic Church
14. Where did most of your money go?
Treading water. Though this is the first year in quite a while that we saw salary actions.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Catt's opportunity to go teach in Japan.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
That's probably a three way tie between 'Raise Your Glass', 'Glitter in the Air' and 'Just The Way You Are'
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? About the same - mostly happy.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spent time with my Mom/family.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Probably comfort eating.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas morning mass, gifts with Gcat's family, Dinner with my family, Overnight with Jenn and Steve.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
In person - [personal profile] m_steelgrave, Chas, [profile] luco_millian (Okay that wasn't the first time we've met... just the first time we had time to spend.)
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Every day, over and over.
23. How many one-night stands?
None, silly. ♥
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Sherlock. (BBC)
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate? Never. Feel sorry for, am annoyed by? - on occasion. (not a saint, dude)
26. What was the best book you read?
"Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands" has been very useful. "Natsume's Book of Friends" never fails to make me sniffle.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nose flute.
28. What did you want and get?
More challenges at work. Refinancing.
29. What did you want and not get?
Less of Ed.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Kung Fu Kid (live action), How to Train Your Dragon (animation)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Zoo, movie and then dinner. Yup, still forties. XD
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Would have been nice if the economy had rebounded sooner.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
"Is it clean?"
34. What kept you sane?
Hugs.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
DADT. ENDA. Gay marriage
37. Who did you miss?
(I have to improve my aim, I suppose...)
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Every one of them.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
"When you're going through hell... just keep going."
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breathe and asked yourself will it ever get better than tonight?
I cannot, cannot believe how fast this year has gone...
So let's talk about
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Teleconferencing - both for work and for personal use
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do resolutions, per se, but I do try and steer myself to better decisions. A heavy work schedule undid a lot of that, though.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. We lost the woman I considered a good friend and mentor in January to cancer.
5. What countries did you visit?
Nope, still haven't traveled... yet.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Memories of travel, a new driveway, better household maintenance.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jan 11, when Ann escaped her battle. Oct 15th, the wedding of my friends Beth and Ruth.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
One quarter million dollars for PERSAD. Creating a truly global IT database at work, while we searched out the best commercial option to start a global consolidation.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Keeping up with the cleaning, staying in touch with my family, controlling my diet. I hate being a stress-eater. XP
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
In April I did a partial tear of my MCL (knee ligament).
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new laptop - Sony VAIO.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Gryphoncat and Catt, of course. Both are amazing and graceful under adversity and challenge.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Work politics, and politics in general. My eldest brother.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Basic living. Paying down some of our debts.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ahhh.. I don't know if I can recall anything.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
CeLo Green - F*ck you. (Not for any particularly bad reason. It's just delightfully bouncy.)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Mixed. I'm happy, but the overall stress is higher.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. I miss feeling creative.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time in reading CNN.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Traveling 500 miles with my best friend and a three-legged kitten to see family.
21. What Journal users did you meet for the first time?
None. (I think this is the first year that I didn't find a way to meet online friends.)
Edit: We have the super fortune of hosting the lovely and charming
squeemu... and yes, I still have your note pinned to the door. XD
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
^_^ You just keep practicing until you're perfect.
23. How many one-night stands?
XD
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Ever After. (Really, the only one a watch...)
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Still not into the "hate" thing... though the republican candidates come close.
26. What was the best book you read?
Reading... that's something you do when you're not working, right?
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Book of Mormon.
28. What did you want and get?
A calmer home... at least until the 3-legged kitten, thing...
29. What did you want and not get?
Better health.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Probably "Puss in Boots" - predictable but fun.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Worked. Chinese dinner. Old enough to know better.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better control of our finances, I think.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
"Is it clean? Does it fit?"
34. What kept you sane?
Friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
DADT. ENDA. Gay marriage.
37. Who did you miss?
Catt.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Every one of them. Jen, Mike, Joanna...
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
It's never too late to start again.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Don't stress, relax, let life roll off your backs...
This entry was originally posted at http://rissicat.dreamwidth.org/93255.html. Please comment there using OpenID.
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Presented a seminar on generational differences in communication at a National Convention (Out & Equal) on behalf of my company.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Didn't make any, still not sure if I want to do any this year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No one really close.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Nope, and glad of that. My step-mom passed, but we weren't close, and she never replied to the couple of letters I'd sent.
5. What countries did you visit?
None, yet. Soon, I hope....
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
*sigh* A tidier house.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Obama's win in the Presidential election.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
A few minor successes at work, and a lot of work at workplace LGBT equity. Coining the word "Velicious".
9. What was your biggest failure?
Time management. It's starting to effect my effectiveness at work, and will be one of the bigger items to focus on.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
To my delight, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
It's dorktastic, but I bought for myself a new toaster and new electric hot water kettle, both in shiny metallic cherry-red finish. They make me go squee~.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
[info]mewsgryphoncat, who for many reasons that I won't go into here, has been functioning far and above the call of duty.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Mostly, myself. XP
14. Where did most of your money go?
Gas, utilities, food, home repairs.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Going to Austin.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Viva La Vida
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? Both, but overall, happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
iii. richer or poorer? About the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Things for myself, working out, relaxing.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Avoiding trouble. It just waits for you to get back home.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
The day itself was spent with G-cat. For the weekend, we split up and went to our respective parents.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
[info]kaitou1412 Another person just filled with awesome. ^_^
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
I am sooooooo in love. ♥
23. How many one-night stands?
*laughs* No way.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Ummm... do people still watch that?
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a waste of energy, and an affront to the belief of a loving creator. No thank you.
26. What was the best book you read?
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Coldplay. (Yeah, I'm slow.)
28. What did you want and get?
A roomba and a wonderful family.
29. What did you want and not get?
World peace.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Wall-E
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Worked, went out to dinner afterward. Over 40. ^_^
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
I think we're back to world peace.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Non-existent
34. What kept you sane?
My friends
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one....
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election. Prop 8.
37. Who did you miss?
Some people, but I consider the internet as almost as good as being there, so no one to awful excess.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Too many to list here, between work, the roundtable and other friends.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
No one changes for you, only for them self. All you can do is decide on how you choose to react to what they say and do.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
The mist is lifting slowly
I can see the way ahead
And I've left behind the empty streets
That once inspired my life
And the strength of the emotion
Is like thunder in the air
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Coordinated the vendors for an AIDs treatment center fund-raiser.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't make any last year, but G-cat and I have resolved a number of things for the upcoming year.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
Ummmm... still none? Hoping, though!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Simplicity.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
This year is such a big blur.... I guess January 5th, when the company I work for laid off a friend of mine in a series of cuts that became 10% of our work population.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I'm tempted to say "staying employed". Redoing the bathroom was pretty nifty, though.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I saw less of friends and family than I wanted to, but we're starting to change that. Maybe never getting the roomba set up.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Only the garden-variety upper respiratory nonsense.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
*grin* Oh, probably the couch.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
[info]mewsgryphoncat and [info]soranokumo, certainly, for just putting up with my shenanigans. Outside the family, I'd have to say that our friend Greg is amazing.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
*Shuts off CNN* I'm sure there's a few, but it's not worth dwelling on. I refuse to give others license to make me "depressed".
14. Where did most of your money go?
Surviving.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
All cynicism aside this was not a year of great highs and lows, it was a year to get through. I did make some wonderful new friends though, and re-connect with old friends, and that's always a joy.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Ummm probably Nickelback's "If Today Was Your Last Day"
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? Happier, or at least more peaceful and centered.
ii. thinner or fatter? *sigh* Fatter. I'm such a stress eater.
iii. richer or poorer? Probably poorer.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Learned to read Japanese. Spent time with my Mom.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
I regret nothing.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
At home with G-cat all morning. It was lovely to just slack and not worry about 7 hours of driving. In the evening we shared dinner with [info]elionwyr, and chattered together. Then it was present-wrapping time and bed to prep for the drive.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
In person - [info]shadowriderhope, who we were delighted to discover knew our mutual friends up north in MI. Virtually, [info]xanath and [info]xlovelylightx are delightful folks. Maybe someday!
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
To quote 9 Chickweed Lane - "I just keep falling."
23. How many one-night stands?
None, silly.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Errmmmm... still not a big TV watcher, but [info]kaitou1412 introduced us to the wicked-fun that is "Merlin".
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. Period. End of sentence. Hate is a waste of time.
26. What was the best book you read?
Mmmmm... no stand-outs this year, which obviously means I'm not reading enough. Maybe "Integrity", by Dr. Henry Cloud came closest to being my "must have" book.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Funny, none this year though I did note Colby Callais, and Taylor Swift. I think I mostly went into nesting mode, and went back and explored old favorites.
28. What did you want and get?
A Wii, more harmony.
29. What did you want and not get?
Nothing of importance.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
"Ponyo" and "The Soloist"
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Worked, went to do chinese for dinner. Still in my forties, thanks.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Seeing less of politicians being utter, selfish, partisan ass-holes.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Non-existent! (But at least I'm consistent about that.) Give me blue jeans and I'm happy.
34. What kept you sane?
Very good friends
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Oh please, that's just a waste of good time.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Healthcare, and the sad state that partisanship dragged a good concept into the dirt. ENDA.
37. Who did you miss?
Some of my internet friends have been harder to reach (but mostly because of good reasons and divergent schedules)
38. Who was the best new person you met?
What, I'm supposed to rank people? I think not. XP
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Letting go is just as important as hanging on.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
See #16.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Held training conferences via telephone with European IT professionals. Attended PAX East.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
We kept some of them, though we could do better in the health department.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
None as yet. Must get a passport, though.
6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
Better control of our finances. (and that's begun!) Maybe a new driveway.
7. What dates from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
No dates, just certain months that were awesome. March (PAX), May (PERSAD), August (Otakon), October (Ann, Vel, Chas, Morgan).
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Work: Building relationships with the Nordic, BeNe, and GSA regions. Home: Ditching almost 20 bags of garbage while cleaning up one (1!) room.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Advising someone to take a job that didn't work out as expected.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing significant.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Redoing the mortgage to a lower rate (and with less time).
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Gryphoncat and Catt, as always. You guys are brave and awesome in a billion ways. ILU
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
US Politics, the Roman Catholic Church
14. Where did most of your money go?
Treading water. Though this is the first year in quite a while that we saw salary actions.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Catt's opportunity to go teach in Japan.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
That's probably a three way tie between 'Raise Your Glass', 'Glitter in the Air' and 'Just The Way You Are'
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? About the same - mostly happy.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spent time with my Mom/family.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Probably comfort eating.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Christmas morning mass, gifts with Gcat's family, Dinner with my family, Overnight with Jenn and Steve.
21. What LJ users did you meet for the first time?
In person - [personal profile] m_steelgrave, Chas, [profile] luco_millian (Okay that wasn't the first time we've met... just the first time we had time to spend.)
22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
Every day, over and over.
23. How many one-night stands?
None, silly. ♥
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Sherlock. (BBC)
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate? Never. Feel sorry for, am annoyed by? - on occasion. (not a saint, dude)
26. What was the best book you read?
"Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands" has been very useful. "Natsume's Book of Friends" never fails to make me sniffle.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Nose flute.
28. What did you want and get?
More challenges at work. Refinancing.
29. What did you want and not get?
Less of Ed.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Kung Fu Kid (live action), How to Train Your Dragon (animation)
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Zoo, movie and then dinner. Yup, still forties. XD
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Would have been nice if the economy had rebounded sooner.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
"Is it clean?"
34. What kept you sane?
Hugs.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
DADT. ENDA. Gay marriage
37. Who did you miss?
(I have to improve my aim, I suppose...)
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Every one of them.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010.
"When you're going through hell... just keep going."
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Have you ever wished for an endless night?
Lassoed the moon and the stars and pulled that rope tight
Have you ever held your breathe and asked yourself will it ever get better than tonight?
I cannot, cannot believe how fast this year has gone...
So let's talk about
1. What did you do in 2011 that you'd never done before?
Teleconferencing - both for work and for personal use
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't do resolutions, per se, but I do try and steer myself to better decisions. A heavy work schedule undid a lot of that, though.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Yes. We lost the woman I considered a good friend and mentor in January to cancer.
5. What countries did you visit?
Nope, still haven't traveled... yet.
6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
Memories of travel, a new driveway, better household maintenance.
7. What dates from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Jan 11, when Ann escaped her battle. Oct 15th, the wedding of my friends Beth and Ruth.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
One quarter million dollars for PERSAD. Creating a truly global IT database at work, while we searched out the best commercial option to start a global consolidation.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Keeping up with the cleaning, staying in touch with my family, controlling my diet. I hate being a stress-eater. XP
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
In April I did a partial tear of my MCL (knee ligament).
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A new laptop - Sony VAIO.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Gryphoncat and Catt, of course. Both are amazing and graceful under adversity and challenge.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Work politics, and politics in general. My eldest brother.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Basic living. Paying down some of our debts.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Ahhh.. I don't know if I can recall anything.
16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
CeLo Green - F*ck you. (Not for any particularly bad reason. It's just delightfully bouncy.)
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Mixed. I'm happy, but the overall stress is higher.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter
iii. richer or poorer? Richer
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Writing. I miss feeling creative.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting time in reading CNN.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Traveling 500 miles with my best friend and a three-legged kitten to see family.
21. What Journal users did you meet for the first time?
None. (I think this is the first year that I didn't find a way to meet online friends.)
Edit: We have the super fortune of hosting the lovely and charming
squeemu... and yes, I still have your note pinned to the door. XD
22. Did you fall in love in 2011?
^_^ You just keep practicing until you're perfect.
23. How many one-night stands?
XD
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Ever After. (Really, the only one a watch...)
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Still not into the "hate" thing... though the republican candidates come close.
26. What was the best book you read?
Reading... that's something you do when you're not working, right?
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Book of Mormon.
28. What did you want and get?
A calmer home... at least until the 3-legged kitten, thing...
29. What did you want and not get?
Better health.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Probably "Puss in Boots" - predictable but fun.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Worked. Chinese dinner. Old enough to know better.
32.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Better control of our finances, I think.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
"Is it clean? Does it fit?"
34. What kept you sane?
Friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
DADT. ENDA. Gay marriage.
37. Who did you miss?
Catt.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Every one of them. Jen, Mike, Joanna...
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
It's never too late to start again.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Don't stress, relax, let life roll off your backs...
This entry was originally posted at http://rissicat.dreamwidth.org/93255.html. Please comment there using OpenID.