2009 Year-End Survey
If for some reason, LiveJournal were to ever disappear into the abyss, I wouldn't miss it until the end of the year.
Previous year-end surveys: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
I went to San Diego. And I got an iPhone. That was pretty awesome.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Never. But I did make one for next year!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A coworker who I get along with had a baby, but that was before I met her. My cousin in England also had a baby, but I don't see him often, due to the "in England" thing.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
America. Although sometimes parts of it feel like another country.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Here was my answer last year: Money, stability, a job, insurance, and a winter jacket.
I now have everything except insurance. So, hurray for that!
In 2010 I'd like to have more patience with people, better overall health, and a better handle on my commitments.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 5th, the day I left Arizona.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I moved back to Nebraska and secured a good job and got promoted within 3 months.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Gaining weight. Again.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major, thank goodness.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I haven't purchased much, but I am making headway in purchasing more furnishings for my new place.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mrs. White, who let me stay in her house when I moved back until I found a job and a place to live.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
They shall remain unnamed, but I was definitely appalled more than depressed.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, and way too much fast food. Hopefully the second thing will be remedied in 2010.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The prospect of seeing my friends and family more. I tell everybody here now that I'm not leaving again until I have a really, really good reason to do so.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Party in the USA.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, considering I was unemployed and grumpy last year.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but still not rich by any means.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time watching stupid television shows. It eats up so much of the day.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Trying to make an old relationship work.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas mostly alone (I do not like the holiday) but I did enjoy Christmas dinner with family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No, I fell out of love in 2009. It was much harder.
23. How many one-night stands?
I plead the fifth. And no, that does not mean five.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Daily Show, The Amazing Race, Glee and The Wire
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I have different perspectives on a few people, but the resulting emotion is not hate, thankfully. I'm trying to be positive.
26. What was the best book you read?
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby. I've started reading Superfreaknomics which is already great.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I know this is corny, but I love Lady Gaga. Also, Jack's Mannequin (though I loved Something Corporate previously so I don't know if that counts).
28. What did you want and get?
I got a reprieve from all the stresses that came with life in a relationship. That sounds like some kind of backhanded compliment but it was really freeing to not have to plan everything in life to try to make somebody else happy.
29. What did you want and not get?
This is a hard question because I feel like if I set a goal to obtain something I would have gotten it. It's not that there aren't things in life that I want, like a better videocamera or a new car, I just haven't focused on those. So my short answer is nothing.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
500 Days of Summer
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27 this year. I don't remember doing anything special, but I know I spent it with friends.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A winning lottery ticket. Other than that, I feel like I had an okay year.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Lots of black and gray, and all of it semi-comfortable.
34. What kept you sane?
Megan and Dustin.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have a longstanding crush on John Mayer. I can't help it.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Health Care bill. I really hope it gets reconciled quickly, because I'm anxious for affordable health care.
37. Who did you miss?
Eddie, Leah, Amy, Kristen, Ben -- all the best people I know from Arizona.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Neil and Jillian, who make Game Night at the Shonkas' a lot more fun.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
There's no shame in going home again.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
When the sun shines, we'll shine together
Previous year-end surveys: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before?
I went to San Diego. And I got an iPhone. That was pretty awesome.
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Never. But I did make one for next year!
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
A coworker who I get along with had a baby, but that was before I met her. My cousin in England also had a baby, but I don't see him often, due to the "in England" thing.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.
5. What countries did you visit?
America. Although sometimes parts of it feel like another country.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Here was my answer last year: Money, stability, a job, insurance, and a winter jacket.
I now have everything except insurance. So, hurray for that!
In 2010 I'd like to have more patience with people, better overall health, and a better handle on my commitments.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
May 5th, the day I left Arizona.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
I moved back to Nebraska and secured a good job and got promoted within 3 months.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Gaining weight. Again.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Nothing major, thank goodness.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
I haven't purchased much, but I am making headway in purchasing more furnishings for my new place.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Mrs. White, who let me stay in her house when I moved back until I found a job and a place to live.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
They shall remain unnamed, but I was definitely appalled more than depressed.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, and way too much fast food. Hopefully the second thing will be remedied in 2010.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The prospect of seeing my friends and family more. I tell everybody here now that I'm not leaving again until I have a really, really good reason to do so.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Party in the USA.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, considering I was unemployed and grumpy last year.
ii. thinner or fatter? Fatter.
iii. richer or poorer? Richer, but still not rich by any means.
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Spending time watching stupid television shows. It eats up so much of the day.
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Trying to make an old relationship work.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas mostly alone (I do not like the holiday) but I did enjoy Christmas dinner with family.
22. Did you fall in love in 2009?
No, I fell out of love in 2009. It was much harder.
23. How many one-night stands?
I plead the fifth. And no, that does not mean five.
24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Daily Show, The Amazing Race, Glee and The Wire
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
No. I have different perspectives on a few people, but the resulting emotion is not hate, thankfully. I'm trying to be positive.
26. What was the best book you read?
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby. I've started reading Superfreaknomics which is already great.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I know this is corny, but I love Lady Gaga. Also, Jack's Mannequin (though I loved Something Corporate previously so I don't know if that counts).
28. What did you want and get?
I got a reprieve from all the stresses that came with life in a relationship. That sounds like some kind of backhanded compliment but it was really freeing to not have to plan everything in life to try to make somebody else happy.
29. What did you want and not get?
This is a hard question because I feel like if I set a goal to obtain something I would have gotten it. It's not that there aren't things in life that I want, like a better videocamera or a new car, I just haven't focused on those. So my short answer is nothing.
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
500 Days of Summer
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 27 this year. I don't remember doing anything special, but I know I spent it with friends.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
A winning lottery ticket. Other than that, I feel like I had an okay year.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Lots of black and gray, and all of it semi-comfortable.
34. What kept you sane?
Megan and Dustin.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
I have a longstanding crush on John Mayer. I can't help it.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The Health Care bill. I really hope it gets reconciled quickly, because I'm anxious for affordable health care.
37. Who did you miss?
Eddie, Leah, Amy, Kristen, Ben -- all the best people I know from Arizona.
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Neil and Jillian, who make Game Night at the Shonkas' a lot more fun.
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009:
There's no shame in going home again.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
When the sun shines, we'll shine together