That One Meme
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Had an MRI, a mammogram, and a broken tooth extracted with laughing gas, which is hi-larious.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions for 2008? Will you make more for 2009?
I don't recall making any. I didn't yesterday, either.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not like a relative or really close neighbor, but I got a namesake down south.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year, thank God. I'm running out of people here.
5. What countries did you visit?
Stayed in the USA this year, but went to Richmond, VA for the first time as well as the gratuitous SoCali visits and my first Esalen experience.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More fun. And I need to work on making that happen.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th. I still can't believe it sometimes.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working through that first major lower lumbar arthritis bout and some silly medical fears such as MRIs, mammograms and tooth pulling.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't know that anything that happened this year could be considered a big failure.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Arthritis, broken tooth
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Probably that Esalen trip for Shauna and me. That was an awesome experience all the way around - a writing workshop and spa experience with amazing healthy food and yoga.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jeremie's. She turned her life around. Is getting nearly straight As in her Vet Tech certification program.
13. Whose behavior made you mad and ill-willed?
Why dwell on that? People are who they are. I can stay mad about stuff or move on with my life.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Temporarily not available due to the stock market crash. I still own the paperwork, so it will creep back some day.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Oh, Jesus - the election! Cried like a baby election night.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I can't really jump onto one song like that.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder?
Feeling more in control of my body in terms of the arthritis. I have some good tools now.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
LJ memes. Whoops...
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Just with Jeff, Jeremie and Maddie, since Shauna and her family went to SoCal. It was quiet.
21. How did you spend New Year's Eve?
Just here, quietly.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
Not my style.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Got completely addicted to Boston Legal. James Spader is simply amazing.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not into hating.
26. What was the best book you read?
Time Traveler's Wife, I think. All of a sudden I am reading books again, which I hadn't done much of for a few years.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Continuum by John Mayer.
28. What did you want and got?
I think I am getting another girls' wine tour of the Willamette Valley from Shauna. And Jeremie and Jeff bought me a wonderful appliqued paper lantern from a local artist.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think I maybe saw two or three. Ironman. Yay for Robert Downey, Jr.'s comeback.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Jeremie and Jeff took me out to dinner at Anthony's Hearthfire Grill where they make smoked salmon pot pies!!!!!!!!!1 and Shauna took me to Chuckanut. I turned 58.
32. What's one thing would have made 2008 immeasurably more satisfying?
There are several. But none of them are things that can't happen this year, so it's all good.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I am developing a Northwest style which includes a lot of cashmere underlay with wool/acrylic atop. Suede boots. Jeans. The usual turquoise jewelry. I got my hair cut, which was a big step...
34. What kept you sane?
Could anything?
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election in general. I'm glad we don't have the daily mudslinging anymore.
37. Who did/do you miss?
You know.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Not anyone in particular. I haven't made any new friends, really. I HAVE gotten closer to a neighbor gal, though.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Life is what you make it. And it is learned best at a slower pace than most of us travel.
Had an MRI, a mammogram, and a broken tooth extracted with laughing gas, which is hi-larious.
2. Did you keep your New Year's resolutions for 2008? Will you make more for 2009?
I don't recall making any. I didn't yesterday, either.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not like a relative or really close neighbor, but I got a namesake down south.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not this year, thank God. I'm running out of people here.
5. What countries did you visit?
Stayed in the USA this year, but went to Richmond, VA for the first time as well as the gratuitous SoCali visits and my first Esalen experience.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
More fun. And I need to work on making that happen.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th. I still can't believe it sometimes.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Working through that first major lower lumbar arthritis bout and some silly medical fears such as MRIs, mammograms and tooth pulling.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I don't know that anything that happened this year could be considered a big failure.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Arthritis, broken tooth
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Probably that Esalen trip for Shauna and me. That was an awesome experience all the way around - a writing workshop and spa experience with amazing healthy food and yoga.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Jeremie's. She turned her life around. Is getting nearly straight As in her Vet Tech certification program.
13. Whose behavior made you mad and ill-willed?
Why dwell on that? People are who they are. I can stay mad about stuff or move on with my life.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Temporarily not available due to the stock market crash. I still own the paperwork, so it will creep back some day.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Oh, Jesus - the election! Cried like a baby election night.
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
I can't really jump onto one song like that.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder?
Feeling more in control of my body in terms of the arthritis. I have some good tools now.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Exercise
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
LJ memes. Whoops...
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Just with Jeff, Jeremie and Maddie, since Shauna and her family went to SoCal. It was quiet.
21. How did you spend New Year's Eve?
Just here, quietly.
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
No.
23. How many one-night stands?
Not my style.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
Got completely addicted to Boston Legal. James Spader is simply amazing.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Not into hating.
26. What was the best book you read?
Time Traveler's Wife, I think. All of a sudden I am reading books again, which I hadn't done much of for a few years.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Continuum by John Mayer.
28. What did you want and got?
I think I am getting another girls' wine tour of the Willamette Valley from Shauna. And Jeremie and Jeff bought me a wonderful appliqued paper lantern from a local artist.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
I think I maybe saw two or three. Ironman. Yay for Robert Downey, Jr.'s comeback.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Jeremie and Jeff took me out to dinner at Anthony's Hearthfire Grill where they make smoked salmon pot pies!!!!!!!!!1 and Shauna took me to Chuckanut. I turned 58.
32. What's one thing would have made 2008 immeasurably more satisfying?
There are several. But none of them are things that can't happen this year, so it's all good.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
I am developing a Northwest style which includes a lot of cashmere underlay with wool/acrylic atop. Suede boots. Jeans. The usual turquoise jewelry. I got my hair cut, which was a big step...
34. What kept you sane?
Could anything?
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The election in general. I'm glad we don't have the daily mudslinging anymore.
37. Who did/do you miss?
You know.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Not anyone in particular. I haven't made any new friends, really. I HAVE gotten closer to a neighbor gal, though.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Life is what you make it. And it is learned best at a slower pace than most of us travel.