Annual Year-End Review!
I won't really have time just before New Year's, given that I'll be leaving for India on New Year's Eve (!!) so I thought I'd get this in a few days early...
For reference, the 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, and 2003 ones are linked... it amuses me that in the first of these years, 2003, the first "new thing" I had done was eat Indian food. This year, on New Year's Eve, I leave for India... what appropriate bookends.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Moved to New York City. Enrolled full-time in grad school. Moved in with craigslist roommates. Hosted a Nantais friends reunion. Was a bridesmaid (Em!). Had a flu shot.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I will make more, but perhaps a few days late, once I'm back from India. =) I did not do most of my resolutions from last year with anything like full commitment; I am sorry to say. I stopped exercising regularly when I moved to New York - because working out at NYU isn't feasible schedule-wise, and I can't afford a Brooklyn gym. I did continue writing my novel, over the summer, but I haven't been able to while I have been a student, and I definitely didn't finish it by fall. I have invested myself deeply in my grad program, so that one's down. Back when I was teaching, I was not any more efficient with grading than I had been before. And I definitely, definitely, do not eat out less than before - I can't do it in a New York lifestyle!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Kelley! Baby Owen was born in mid-November, and he's adorable.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? I went to Quebec with Jenna in June, which was wonderful. And I won't land in India 'til it's technically a new year, so... I suppose that's the extent of my 2009 foreign travels. =)
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Last year I said "comfortable living," which didn't exactly happen. I think I meant it as financial and physical comfort, which I haven't had to any real extent, as comfortable as I have been in a more ontological way.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory? Obama's inauguration. And July 8, the day I moved to Brooklyn.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Seeing my students make (on the whole) huge growth was amazing. Getting in to all four graduate schools and having my pick of them was tremendous, too. And then, I feel like my very transition into my life has been achievement of its own.
9. What was your biggest failure? I failed to save as much money as I would have liked... viva New York.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a terrible flu last spring that landed me in the hospital, but since then, I have been really lucky. *Crosses fingers for India*
11. What was the best thing you bought? My flights, variously to Maine, Chicago, India? My grad school education? Take your pick.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Ben's. He's been a truly amazing boyfriend, the likes of which I've never known before.
13. Whose behavior made you feel disappointed? I've been disappointed in a friend or two's occasional bouts of incommunication since I've moved to NY, but nothing grave. =)
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills, travel, and FOOD.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about in 2009? My students' success. Getting into grad school. Moving to New York. My program. And INDIA.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Girl Talk (the DJ) in general. Counting Crows' "Baby I'm a Big Star" and the other songs on Eric's mix.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, whole tons happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably the same weight-wise, but the gym stoppage led to the revenge of the love handles...
iii. richer or poorer? Considering I'm living in debt, poorer. But I am living a more comfortable day-to-day life fiscally.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing, again, at least since summer. And learning Spanish
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Grading, again, heh. And silly procrastination games on facebook.
20. How did you spend Christmas? In Portland, though it has yet to happen. I did celebrate an early Christmas with Ben on Saturday night, with a fancy-shmancy date in an amazing restaurant, gift exchange, and cuddling in the snow.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009? I already was...=)
23. How many one-night stands? None. I'm a taken girl. =D
24. What was your favorite TV program to watch in 2007? Lost, though it was a while ago.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? no.
26. What was the best book you read? Possibly Beloved by Toni Morrison, though the novels I read by Forster were also superb.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Girl Talk or MGMT or many many many many more.
28. What did you want and get? An amazing life in New York, grad school awesomeness, proximity to my boyfriend.
29. What did you want and not get? Enough money from scholarship/aid to get through grad school debt-free.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? Up in the Air edges out the others, I think.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 26. Ben treated me to a great dinner at a great restaurant. And then I went out with a bunch of friends in Portland.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Very little. It's been a wonderful one. But maybe finishing that novel?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? New York chic, with boots and a focus on the accessories.
34. What kept you sane? Daily emails to Ben, phone calls to family, my laptop, and my friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? none to speak of per se.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Education!
37. Who did you miss? For the first half of the year, Ben. For the last half of the year, everyone in Maine. It was most acute in my missing my nieces and nephew, who change so much between times that I see them.
38. Who was the best new person you met? lovely NYU friends...several great ones.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: Proof is in the pudding.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "This will be our year; Took a long time to come." (The Zombies)
For reference, the 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, and 2003 ones are linked... it amuses me that in the first of these years, 2003, the first "new thing" I had done was eat Indian food. This year, on New Year's Eve, I leave for India... what appropriate bookends.
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Moved to New York City. Enrolled full-time in grad school. Moved in with craigslist roommates. Hosted a Nantais friends reunion. Was a bridesmaid (Em!). Had a flu shot.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I will make more, but perhaps a few days late, once I'm back from India. =) I did not do most of my resolutions from last year with anything like full commitment; I am sorry to say. I stopped exercising regularly when I moved to New York - because working out at NYU isn't feasible schedule-wise, and I can't afford a Brooklyn gym. I did continue writing my novel, over the summer, but I haven't been able to while I have been a student, and I definitely didn't finish it by fall. I have invested myself deeply in my grad program, so that one's down. Back when I was teaching, I was not any more efficient with grading than I had been before. And I definitely, definitely, do not eat out less than before - I can't do it in a New York lifestyle!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Kelley! Baby Owen was born in mid-November, and he's adorable.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No.
5. What countries did you visit? I went to Quebec with Jenna in June, which was wonderful. And I won't land in India 'til it's technically a new year, so... I suppose that's the extent of my 2009 foreign travels. =)
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Last year I said "comfortable living," which didn't exactly happen. I think I meant it as financial and physical comfort, which I haven't had to any real extent, as comfortable as I have been in a more ontological way.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory? Obama's inauguration. And July 8, the day I moved to Brooklyn.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Seeing my students make (on the whole) huge growth was amazing. Getting in to all four graduate schools and having my pick of them was tremendous, too. And then, I feel like my very transition into my life has been achievement of its own.
9. What was your biggest failure? I failed to save as much money as I would have liked... viva New York.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? I had a terrible flu last spring that landed me in the hospital, but since then, I have been really lucky. *Crosses fingers for India*
11. What was the best thing you bought? My flights, variously to Maine, Chicago, India? My grad school education? Take your pick.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Ben's. He's been a truly amazing boyfriend, the likes of which I've never known before.
13. Whose behavior made you feel disappointed? I've been disappointed in a friend or two's occasional bouts of incommunication since I've moved to NY, but nothing grave. =)
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills, travel, and FOOD.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about in 2009? My students' success. Getting into grad school. Moving to New York. My program. And INDIA.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008? Girl Talk (the DJ) in general. Counting Crows' "Baby I'm a Big Star" and the other songs on Eric's mix.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, whole tons happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? Probably the same weight-wise, but the gym stoppage led to the revenge of the love handles...
iii. richer or poorer? Considering I'm living in debt, poorer. But I am living a more comfortable day-to-day life fiscally.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of? Writing, again, at least since summer. And learning Spanish
19. What do you wish you'd done less of? Grading, again, heh. And silly procrastination games on facebook.
20. How did you spend Christmas? In Portland, though it has yet to happen. I did celebrate an early Christmas with Ben on Saturday night, with a fancy-shmancy date in an amazing restaurant, gift exchange, and cuddling in the snow.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009? I already was...=)
23. How many one-night stands? None. I'm a taken girl. =D
24. What was your favorite TV program to watch in 2007? Lost, though it was a while ago.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? no.
26. What was the best book you read? Possibly Beloved by Toni Morrison, though the novels I read by Forster were also superb.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery? Girl Talk or MGMT or many many many many more.
28. What did you want and get? An amazing life in New York, grad school awesomeness, proximity to my boyfriend.
29. What did you want and not get? Enough money from scholarship/aid to get through grad school debt-free.
30. What was your favorite film of this year? Up in the Air edges out the others, I think.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 26. Ben treated me to a great dinner at a great restaurant. And then I went out with a bunch of friends in Portland.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Very little. It's been a wonderful one. But maybe finishing that novel?
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? New York chic, with boots and a focus on the accessories.
34. What kept you sane? Daily emails to Ben, phone calls to family, my laptop, and my friends.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? none to speak of per se.
36. What political issue stirred you the most? Education!
37. Who did you miss? For the first half of the year, Ben. For the last half of the year, everyone in Maine. It was most acute in my missing my nieces and nephew, who change so much between times that I see them.
38. Who was the best new person you met? lovely NYU friends...several great ones.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: Proof is in the pudding.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "This will be our year; Took a long time to come." (The Zombies)