1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Touched the forehead and tongue of a beluga whale. Visited Greece. Held a giveaway on this blog (for Envirosax, one of my favorite green personal products) Ran/walked/limped a half-marathon and lived to swear about it.
2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I don’t make resolutions.
3. Did anyone close to you have a child?
My sister welcomed her third and final child, a beautiful boy named Chase.
4. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank goodness.
5. Where did you travel?
Greece, of which Crete was undoubtedly my favorite. Florida, for a low-key family vacation. Minnesota, for the lovely wedding of Sean’s cousin.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Resolution. Resolve. Results.
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory?
I’m not good with dates.
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
The half marathon, without a doubt. It’s a total cliché, but it’s true!
9. What was your biggest failure?
Nothing major, I don’t think - maybe balancing my checkbook?
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Other than some running-related hip pain, no.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
A manicure. A cup of coffee. The things I am usually most pleased with having bought are almost always the “little things.”
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister’s for giving birth. My parents for allowing me to move into their home, thereby preventing my own impending breakdown. My own, for realizing that I had some decisions to make, and no one was going to make them for me.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Where do I start, because let’s be honest: OPINYUNS – I HAZ THEM. Rod Blagojevich. Chad Johnson. Dick Cheney. Tiger Woods. Glenn Beck. The citizens of the state of California (collectively) for supporting Proposition 8.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Everywhere and nowhere – organized places, like savings, and Credit Union accounts belonging to really exciting things, like property taxes. Ooooh. Also? Nordstrom. I'm just keepin' it real, people.
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Our trip to Greece. My friend Kate’s engagement. My nephew’s birth. New opportunities for all of the important people in my life.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009?
Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: a) happier or sadder? b) thinner or fatter? c) richer or poorer?
Happier. Fatter. Richer. Surprisingly, the three answers are somewhat unrelated to one another.
18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Exercising. Planning. Talking to people face to face, and not over some form of electronic media. Smiling.
19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Fretting. Fussing. Snapping at people who were just trying to be helpful. Wasting time.
20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Christmas was spent in Florida with my closest family and Sean. The tree was a palm, and our Christmas eve pjs had orange alligators on them, so definitely NOT our norm, but very special.
21. Did you fall in love in 2009?
Yes!
22. What was your favorite TV program?
Castle. Dancing with the Stars. So You Think You Can Dance.
23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I don’t hate anyone – I never have. So, I guess the answer is no.
24. What was the best book you read?
Tough call – I read a lot. Definitely not Anna Karenina, much to my surprise. Maybe Temple Grandin’s books?
25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
The Avett Brothers. Space Cowboy. Chromeo.
26. What did you want and get?
An amazing, memorable last year of my twenties.
28. What did you want and not get?
An affordable, effective eye cream.
29. What was your favorite film of this year?
I really liked Up.
30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
My birthday was a weekday, so I didn’t really do anything super special. By the time I woke up, I had already turned 30. Gulp. Sean took me to see AC/DC (and to work with Belugas) to celebrate, so there were definitely amazing events to memorialize the passing of my 20’s. But on the actual day, almost nothing. Which is just how I like it.
31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having a clearer picture of what I wanted, and a better knowledge of how to get it for myself.
32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Efforts made are worth the time spent!
33. What kept you sane?
Books. My family. Sleeping.
34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Umm, Gerard Butler. YES, AGAIN (although I have to say Simon Baker is starting to put up a fight for second).
35. What political issue stirred you the most?
The world’s acceptance (and non-acceptance) of Barack Obama’s first year in the American Presidency.
36. Who did you miss?
Nobody, really. I am grateful to have the important people in my life around me.
37. Who was the best new person you met?
Tie between Kristin of
Tall-n-Lucky, and Linda of
All & Sundry.
38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
Self-acceptance is a war that is waged in many small, significant battles.
