|| END OF YEAR MEME - 2009 ||
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
Cut my hair really short. Well, at least I haven't since 1983. I have a pixie cut right now. I guess I can say I have never had super short hair as an adult.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions because I think they are set ups for emotional failure.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Amy had a baby boy in July. My niece Rima had a baby boy in August. My co-worker Erin had a baby boy on December 14th.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No family or IRL friends, but I must pay tribute to sisterpandora, who was a friend, a kind and brave person, and a thoughtful woman.
5. What countries did you visit?
La-La Land
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? I like bekkio's answer, so I'll piggyback on it. I would like to regain my sense of direction and purpose. I would like to learn how to live better with myself and my particular needs, and to fully take command of my mental acuity. I would like to ensure my childrens' happiness and not let my own needs always supercede theirs (this is kind of < / cryptic > ). I would like more money in savings. I would like to have a working bathtub - I miss my baths and am sick of only showering. I would like more friendship in 2010, both to have and to give. I would like a consistenly clean and organized home. I would like glasses that work! I might like to have a cat.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 20, 2009 - the innauguration of President Barack Obama! I was there, with wordplay, , and shewalksonroses. Good God, it was cold. So very, very cold. Bone-chillingly, freezing cold. But I was there and it was amazing! June 1, 2009, for a personal reason. July 15, 2009, for a personal reason. October 18 - October 22, for a personal reason. November 5, 2009, for a personal reason.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not egging the entire special education team at my daughter's former elementary school during her IEP meeting.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I did not balance my checkbook all year long. I think it's fair to say that in 2009, I failed big time at data entry in general.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new digital camera - Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1. It's an SLR, so a step up from my point-and-shoot. It's seriously amazing. It has settings for just about any scenario you'd want to photograph. It even has a specific setting for taking pictures of food!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My children's behavior continues to be consistently well-mannered, positive, humorous, and respectful. For this I am grateful.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?
My next door neighbors, who let their teenagers party loudly until 4 or 5 a.m. and who keep their three little dogs outside almost 24-7 even when it's bitterly cold and/or snowing. The balloon boy's parents - WTF were they thinking? South Carolina governor Mark Sanford - man, he sure did yee-haw on the rope swing right into the crazy pond!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage; debt reduction; expenses for the kids
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Obama's innauguration; my son testing into DPS' highly gifted and talented program; our summer trip to Arizona; Mad Men and Glee on the telly; decluttering and geting rid of excess material goods.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Pokerface by Lady Ga Ga
Girls by Franz Ferdinand
If You Seek Amy by Britney Spears
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder, but I'm working on that!
ii. thinner or fatter? The same, really. I would like to get back to the gym.
iii. richer or poorer? Oh, about the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Relaxed.
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
You know, I wish that I had not focused so much of my energy on my job - working late, bringing work home after hours and weekends, etc. I need to learn to leave the job at 5 p.m. and not look back.
20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
I spent it in my pajamas at home, with my family. I ate pieces of Brie, had a glass of wine to celebrate the occasion, and watched Desperate Housewives. It was relaxing and lovely!
21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2009?
Cried in front of someone who I really didn't want to.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Only with my husband ♥
23. How many one-night stands?
None, obviously.
24. What were your favorite TV programs?
Glee, Mad Men, True Blood, Hoarders (OMG!), White Collar, Friday Night Lights, Criminal Minds, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, House M.D.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I've had some strong resentments towards others over the past year.
26. What was the best book you read?
Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy, a book on time management.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Glee!
28. What did you want and get?
SLR digital camera; more time with my children and Shawn; travel; little things that make me happy and content
29. What did you want and not get?
A new couch!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Star Trek, hands down.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 40 in 2009, gah! It seems like yesterday that I was just turning 20, and I remember feeling that 20 was so old! I had a really great 40th birthday in the end. I spent the day doing home visits for Probation (not the fun part of the day). When I got home, Shawn had a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me from him and the kids and a really great card. Then, he surprised me with my iPhone! It was a great birthday! I also got a Prada purse, and y'al know I love me some Prada ♥ I was saying to jlh, though, that designer purses are often not exactly designed for, you know, actual use as an actual purse. My bag is pretty, but the handles are uncomfortable against the skin if I'm just holding it in the crook of my elbow. The handles are also slightly too small to easily and comfortably wear the purse over my shoulder. It's more an aesthetic accessory than a functional bag, which is too bad because it is super roomy.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Oh, I don't know. Footage on The Daily Show of Dick Cheney in a wheelchair being rolled down the red carpet at Barack Obama's presidential innauguration, to the Emperor's theme from Star Wars, pretty much satisfied me.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Home: pajama pants, hoodies, tank tops, fuzzy socks, skinny jeans
Work: Black or charcoal colored dress pants, Sunny Leigh blouses, ballet flats, flats in general, diamond solitaire earrings, jeans on casual Fridays
Hair: Cut off my standard bob for a more dramatic pixie cut - very short!
34. What kept you sane?
Nothing!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Barack Obama; Jon Stewart; Elisabeth Moss; Jon Hamm
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Health Care; health care reform; national health care as public policy
37. Who did you miss?
When Shawn and the kids went up to Canada for ten days, and then became stranded for an additional week in Williston, North Dakota due to car trouble, I missed all three of them terribly. I was so relieved when they came home.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I can't think of anybody new that made a huge impression on me.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
That when you have a truly serious, life-altering issue crop up in your life, that most people will back away or disappear from your life. And that that is really, really shitty. It's shitty to do to someone, and it's shitty to be on the receiving end of it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Thousand rivers from the same tear
Protect me keep me safe
Wheel of Fortune shapes the landscape
Record memories on tape
Still the thought of happiness haunts me
Like a lost soul in a house
Maybe one day it will catch me
And give me the skill to breathe
Sequence my thoughts
'cause nothing seems real
Keep my heart in steady beat as I download a soul
-Is Everything Real? by Icon of Coil
Cut my hair really short. Well, at least I haven't since 1983. I have a pixie cut right now. I guess I can say I have never had super short hair as an adult.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I don't make resolutions because I think they are set ups for emotional failure.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Amy had a baby boy in July. My niece Rima had a baby boy in August. My co-worker Erin had a baby boy on December 14th.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No family or IRL friends, but I must pay tribute to sisterpandora, who was a friend, a kind and brave person, and a thoughtful woman.
5. What countries did you visit?
La-La Land
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? I like bekkio's answer, so I'll piggyback on it. I would like to regain my sense of direction and purpose. I would like to learn how to live better with myself and my particular needs, and to fully take command of my mental acuity. I would like to ensure my childrens' happiness and not let my own needs always supercede theirs (this is kind of < / cryptic > ). I would like more money in savings. I would like to have a working bathtub - I miss my baths and am sick of only showering. I would like more friendship in 2010, both to have and to give. I would like a consistenly clean and organized home. I would like glasses that work! I might like to have a cat.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 20, 2009 - the innauguration of President Barack Obama! I was there, with wordplay, , and shewalksonroses. Good God, it was cold. So very, very cold. Bone-chillingly, freezing cold. But I was there and it was amazing! June 1, 2009, for a personal reason. July 15, 2009, for a personal reason. October 18 - October 22, for a personal reason. November 5, 2009, for a personal reason.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Not egging the entire special education team at my daughter's former elementary school during her IEP meeting.
9. What was your biggest failure?
I did not balance my checkbook all year long. I think it's fair to say that in 2009, I failed big time at data entry in general.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Yes.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
My new digital camera - Sony Cybershot DSC-HX1. It's an SLR, so a step up from my point-and-shoot. It's seriously amazing. It has settings for just about any scenario you'd want to photograph. It even has a specific setting for taking pictures of food!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My children's behavior continues to be consistently well-mannered, positive, humorous, and respectful. For this I am grateful.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and/or depressed?
My next door neighbors, who let their teenagers party loudly until 4 or 5 a.m. and who keep their three little dogs outside almost 24-7 even when it's bitterly cold and/or snowing. The balloon boy's parents - WTF were they thinking? South Carolina governor Mark Sanford - man, he sure did yee-haw on the rope swing right into the crazy pond!
14. Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage; debt reduction; expenses for the kids
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Obama's innauguration; my son testing into DPS' highly gifted and talented program; our summer trip to Arizona; Mad Men and Glee on the telly; decluttering and geting rid of excess material goods.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Pokerface by Lady Ga Ga
Girls by Franz Ferdinand
If You Seek Amy by Britney Spears
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Sadder, but I'm working on that!
ii. thinner or fatter? The same, really. I would like to get back to the gym.
iii. richer or poorer? Oh, about the same.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Relaxed.
18. What do you wish you'd done less of?
You know, I wish that I had not focused so much of my energy on my job - working late, bringing work home after hours and weekends, etc. I need to learn to leave the job at 5 p.m. and not look back.
20. How will you be spending New Year's Eve?
I spent it in my pajamas at home, with my family. I ate pieces of Brie, had a glass of wine to celebrate the occasion, and watched Desperate Housewives. It was relaxing and lovely!
21. What was the most embarrassing thing that happened to you in 2009?
Cried in front of someone who I really didn't want to.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Only with my husband ♥
23. How many one-night stands?
None, obviously.
24. What were your favorite TV programs?
Glee, Mad Men, True Blood, Hoarders (OMG!), White Collar, Friday Night Lights, Criminal Minds, The Good Wife, Grey's Anatomy, House M.D.
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No, but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I've had some strong resentments towards others over the past year.
26. What was the best book you read?
Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy, a book on time management.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Glee!
28. What did you want and get?
SLR digital camera; more time with my children and Shawn; travel; little things that make me happy and content
29. What did you want and not get?
A new couch!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Star Trek, hands down.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 40 in 2009, gah! It seems like yesterday that I was just turning 20, and I remember feeling that 20 was so old! I had a really great 40th birthday in the end. I spent the day doing home visits for Probation (not the fun part of the day). When I got home, Shawn had a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me from him and the kids and a really great card. Then, he surprised me with my iPhone! It was a great birthday! I also got a Prada purse, and y'al know I love me some Prada ♥ I was saying to jlh, though, that designer purses are often not exactly designed for, you know, actual use as an actual purse. My bag is pretty, but the handles are uncomfortable against the skin if I'm just holding it in the crook of my elbow. The handles are also slightly too small to easily and comfortably wear the purse over my shoulder. It's more an aesthetic accessory than a functional bag, which is too bad because it is super roomy.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Oh, I don't know. Footage on The Daily Show of Dick Cheney in a wheelchair being rolled down the red carpet at Barack Obama's presidential innauguration, to the Emperor's theme from Star Wars, pretty much satisfied me.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Home: pajama pants, hoodies, tank tops, fuzzy socks, skinny jeans
Work: Black or charcoal colored dress pants, Sunny Leigh blouses, ballet flats, flats in general, diamond solitaire earrings, jeans on casual Fridays
Hair: Cut off my standard bob for a more dramatic pixie cut - very short!
34. What kept you sane?
Nothing!
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Barack Obama; Jon Stewart; Elisabeth Moss; Jon Hamm
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
Health Care; health care reform; national health care as public policy
37. Who did you miss?
When Shawn and the kids went up to Canada for ten days, and then became stranded for an additional week in Williston, North Dakota due to car trouble, I missed all three of them terribly. I was so relieved when they came home.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
I can't think of anybody new that made a huge impression on me.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
That when you have a truly serious, life-altering issue crop up in your life, that most people will back away or disappear from your life. And that that is really, really shitty. It's shitty to do to someone, and it's shitty to be on the receiving end of it.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year
Thousand rivers from the same tear
Protect me keep me safe
Wheel of Fortune shapes the landscape
Record memories on tape
Still the thought of happiness haunts me
Like a lost soul in a house
Maybe one day it will catch me
And give me the skill to breathe
Sequence my thoughts
'cause nothing seems real
Keep my heart in steady beat as I download a soul
-Is Everything Real? by Icon of Coil